Gather the Outcasts

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Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Call to Intercessors

Dear Beloved: Call to Intercessors

The Lord has given me dreams recently for two cities, Cincinnati and New York City. Dream of 4/26, people were streaming away from Cincinnati, I was aware that there had been a terrorist attack of some kind. People were streaming away and were going out into the countryside, looking for food. They were going onto farms looking for pigs and chickens and other food to steal. At one point I thought, "This is the first time many of these people have really been in the country."

Dream of 4/16, there was destruction in New York City, telephone and electric lines were down, in the spirit I was trying to salvage something from the wreckage. In another scene in the dream I was taken into a theater that was mostly empty, and a large, formal turquoise gown was standing in the center of the stage. This may mean something to someone from New York City.

Please intercede for these cities. We are vulnerable to the enemy. Pray for the glory of the Lord to be our rear guard, Isaiah 52:12. But you will not go out in haste, Nor will you go as fugitives, For the Lord will go before you, And the God of Israel will be your rear guard. Blessings, Jim Rowh

blocks to healing pt2

Dear beloved: As we fast and pray the Lord would like to speak about two more blocks to healing that may be preventing you from receiving your breakthrough. In Mark 11:25 (Jesus)" and when your stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone; so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your transgressions." v26 "but if you do not forgive, neither will your Father who is in heaven forgive your transgressions." And again in Matthew 6:14 Jesus says the same, "For if you forgive men for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. v15 But if you do not forgive men, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions." Jesus even takes it farther by saying if anyone has something against you, not you against them, don't even bother to leave your offering at the altar until an attempt has been made at reconciliation. Matt.5:23 "If therefore you are presenting your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, v24 leave your offering there before the altar, and go your way; first be reconciled to your brother, then come and present your offering." v25 "Make friends quickly with your opponent at law....v44 but I say to you love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you." Jesus has raised the bar extremely high, He is saying do not take offense, either by your friends or your enemies. When we hold on to offenses, we judge and criticize, and we want to deliver some punishment and take vengeance into our own hands.

Paul says in Romans 12:19 "never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord. v20 "But if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if thirsty, give him drink; for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head".... so beloved, let go of every offense against you, forgive every person totally and without condition and it will allow the blessings of God to flow freely into you.

The second thing that will block healing is unrepentant sin in your life. Psalm 34:15 The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears are open to their cry. v16 The face of the Lord is against evildoers, to cut off the memory of them from the earth. v17 The righteous cry and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of their troubles. v18 the Lord is near to the brokenhearted, and saves those who are crushed in spirit. v19 Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the Lord delivers him out of them all. v20 he keeps all his bones; not one of them is broken. v21 Evil shall slay the wicked; and those who hate the righteous will be condemned. And again in Psalm 145:18 The Lord is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. v19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He will also hear their cry and will save them. v20 The Lord keeps all who love Him; But all the wicked, He will destroy. So as you fast and pray this day, repent of any sin that is in you, both sins of commission and sins of omission (things you know you should be doing for the Kingdom but are not), so that your heart will be cleansed before the Lord.

As we prepare our hearts for the coming of our Lord Jesus, he wants us to get out all the ugly spots, stains, and wrinkles out of our garments. Ephesians 5:26 That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, v27 that He might present to Himself the church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. v32 This mystery is great, but I am speaking with reference to Christ and the Church. May God bless you this day as you cleanse your heart before the Lord, in Christ, Jim

Monday, April 26, 2010

blocks to healing

Dear beloved: As you pray for healing for yourself, there may be blockages to healing that are keeping the full impact of God's blessing to be felt. What are some of these blocks, and how do we get rid of them? Probably the first and biggest block is littleness of faith. In Matthew 17:15 a man brought his lunatic son to the disciples to have him healed, but nothing happened, they were not able to cure him. This was the result even though in Matthew 10:1 it reads..And having summoned His twelve disciples, He gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. So as believers and disciples of Jesus Christ we also have been given the same authority over unclean spirits and every kind of sickness. After Jesus cast the demon out in Matt. 17:18 the disciples asked in v19, then the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked "Why could we not cast it out?" v20 and He said to them," because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, "move from here to there, and it shall move; and nothing shall be impossible to you. v21 but this kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting." So we should pray for the Lord to increase our faith, to help our unbelief. In Mark 9:22b a man came to Jesus asking again for healing for his son, and he said to Jesus, " and it (demon) has thrown him into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us!" v23 and Jesus said to him, "If You can! All things are possible to him who believes." v24 Immediately the boy's father cried out and began saying, " I do believe, help my unbelief."

Do you catch yourself saying things that express your littleness of faith and unbelief? If so, ask God to forgive you of your unbelief and start speaking as if you believe God can do anything in your life, and that you believe He has truly given you authority over every unclean spirit and sickness, and every disease, including emotional healing, mental illness, and every kind of bondage. Ask God to increase your faith. Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please Him, for He who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him. v7 by faith Noah, being warned by God about things not yet seen, in reverance prapared an ark for the salvation of his household, by which he condemned the world, and become an heir of the righteousness which is according to faith.

In Mark 11:22 And Jesus answered saying to them "have faith in God," v23 "Truly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, Be taken up and cast into the sea, and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that what he says is going to happen, it shall be granted him. v24 Therefore I say to you, all things for which you pray and ask, believe that you have received them, and they shall be granted you." Oh beloved, how our attitudes would change if we truly believed that the things we have asked God for we believed that we HAVE ALREADY RECEIVED THEM!

I spoke yesterday about a man being raised from the dead because of prayers offered up to God in faith and obedience. It had been spoken prophetically over me as I was sent out to Costa Rica, that "signs, wonders, and miracles would follow me everywhere I went, even to see the dead raised," so I was expecting and praying believing that God would do anything I asked Him to do, even to raise the dead. When that situation presented itself, I was already believing and in agreement with God that the mountain of sickness and death in that Pastor would be moved into the sea. What are the mountains in your life? Physical infirmity, mental illness, addictions to alcohol, tobacco or pornography, lack of finances, unsaved loved ones, the list could go on and on. Write down your mountains on a sheet of paper and start speaking to those mountains, and then pray believing that you have already received the answer to your prayer. Start praising God as you watch those mountains go into the sea! Praise Him, for nothing is impossible for God! God bless you this day, in Christ, Jim

Friday, April 23, 2010

prayers for healing

Dear beloved: As we approach the end of our fast, many of you should be feeling much better physically, that is to be expected as we know that Daniel and his friends fared much better at the end of the ten day test period than did the servants of the king who were eating the king's choice food. Daniel 1:15 And at the end of the ten days their appearance seemed better and they were fatter than all the youth's who had been eating the king's choice food. v16 So the overseer continued to withhold their choice food and the wine they were to drink, and kept giving them vegetables. God cares about our physical bodies, and he wants our bodies to be healed and whole and ready for service in the Kingdom.

Psalm 103:2 Bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget none of His benefits v3 who pardons all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases. And Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; The chastening for our well being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. ...and again in 1Peter 2:24 He himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed...and again in James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord; v15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

Jesus declares in Mark 16:18, that one of the hallmarks of us as believers is that ..".they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover". And again when Jesus sent out the disciples in Matthew 10:7, he told them " and as you go preach, saying the kingdom of heaven is at hand. v8 Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons; freely you received freely you give." So Jesus fully expected us to pray for healing not only for ourselves, but for others, and for us to receive the healing that he appropriated for us by His shed blood.

Healing is in the atonement, the shed blood of Jesus. In Mark 2 we see an interesting example. Mark 2:5 And Jesus, seeing their faith, said to the paralytic "My son, your sins are forgiven. v6 but there were some of the scribes sitting there reasoning in their hearts, v7 why does this man speak this way? He is blaspheming; who can forgive sins but God alone? v8 And immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were reasoning that way within themselves, said to them, "Why are you reasoning about these things in your hearts? v9 which is easier to say to the paralytic" your sins are forgiven; or to say to the paralytic, Arise, take up your pallet and walk?" v10 but in order that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, He said to the paralytic, v11 "I say to you, rise, take up you pallet and go home". v12 And he arose immediately and took up his pallet and went home in the sight of all; so that they were all amazed and were gloryfying God,saying, "we have never seen anything like this." ...So Jesus said, it is all the same, forgiveness of sins, and healing of our bodies, minds, and soul. His blood does it all.

A few years ago I was in a remote part of Costa Rica ministering to the Cabecar indigenous people, and God put me in a situation to pray for the pastor of the village church who was very sick unto death. When we started to pray for him, he had no breath and no pulse (dead). We prayed in faith for about 20 minutes and God put His breath back into him, I saw it come in and raise up his chest and he began to breathe. The next morning the pastor was up at 5am (he had been in bed for several days) with the rest of us to pack up the horses and see us off. No trumpets or fanfare, just the power of God moving in our midst exactly the way he promises us in His word. Believe for healing, beloved, and you will be healed. May God bless you this day for healing, in Christ, Jim

Thursday, April 22, 2010

fasting for the innocents

Dear beloved: As we pray and fast this day remember that this week is Sanctity of Human Life Week.( written January 18,2010) We should all intercede for the most innocent and defenseless of all victims, those who are taken out of their mother's womb and sacrificed. This shedding of innocent blood is not going unnoticed by God, for God is a God of justice and He will eventually require payment for all that innocent blood being shed. Genesis 9:5 (to Noah) And surely I will require your lifeblood; from every beast I will require it. And from every man, from every man's brother I will require the life of man. v6 Whoever sheds man's blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man....and again in Numbers 35:33 So you shall not pollute the land in which you are; for blood pollutes the land and no expiation can be made for the land for the blood that is shed on it, except by the blood of him who shed it....and again in Psalm 106:37 and they even sacrificed their sons and daughters to the demons, v38 and shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Cannan; and the land was polluted with blood. v39 And they became unclean in their practices, and played the harlot in their deeds. v40 therefore the anger of the Lord was kindled against His people, and He abhorred His inheritance.. v41 Then He gave them into the hand of the nations; And those who hated them ruled over them. v42 their enemies also oppressed them, and they were subdued under their power....and again in Proverbs 6:16 There are six things which the Lord hates, yes, seven which are an abomination to Him; v17 Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, v18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil; v19 a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers.

I could cite many more passages of scripture about God's feeling towards those who shed innocent blood, suffice it to say God abhorrs it and will eventually right the wrong. In Jeremiah 18:3, God tell the kings of Judah and inhabitants " behold I am about to bring a calamity upon this place, at which the ears of everyone who hears of it will tingle. v4,..., and because they have filled this place with the blood of the innocent. v5 and have built the high places of Baal to burn their sons in the fire as burnt offerings to Baal, a thing which I never commanded or spoke of, nor did it ever enter My mind....can you imagine that, the omnicient God of all creation saying that to sacrifice innocent babies had never even crossed His mind! May God have mercy on us as we continue to sacrifice innocent blood to the idols of Baal here in America, 50 million since 1973 when our Supreme Court open up the floodgates of baby sacrifice.

Today (Jan. 18, 2010), Lou Engle of the Call, along with many other Christian leaders from across the land, will be leading a march and prayer vigil in Houston, Texas, in front of a 78,000 sq.ft. abortion supercenter that is being built by Planned Parenthood in the middle of black and hispanic neighborhoods in Houston. Be in prayer for Lou and many others as they expose this racist and perverse agenda of Planned Parenthood, and pray that this diabolical altar of Baal will be exposed for what it is, a temple of sacrifice to the demons. Our money is being used to pay for this as many taxpayer dollars go to support Planned Parenthood. Cry out for Roe vs. Wade to be reversed, that God would bring correction into the Supreme Court and the Congress, and that God would stop the construction of this abortion supercenter. Cry out for mercy on America, for the blood debt we owe is great, and when God decides to collect, it will be a heavy burden for us to pay. Cry out for the Christian community to step up and adopt all the unplanned children, that every pregnant woman would know that her baby could be raised in a good Christian home. Cry out for forgiveness if you have played any part in abortion, and understand that God forgives those who repent, for He is a God slow to anger, and abounding in lovingkindness. Cry out for the women who are contemplating abortion this very day, that they would change their mind.

I will close with Jeremiah 19:8 " I shall make this city a desolation and an object of hissing; everyone who passes by it will be astonished and hiss because of all its disasters. v9 and I will make them eat the flesh of their sons and of their daughters, and they will eat the flesh of one another in the siege and in the distress with which their enemies and those who seek their life will distress them" Lord God, have mercy on us this day we pray, in Jesus name, Amen. God bless you, in Christ, Jim

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

fasting for ministry

Dear beloved: To some of you who are mature in your faith, God may be speaking to you about doors that will open in ministry. Be open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 4:1 Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil v2 And after He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, he became hungry.....so you see, the ministry of our Lord began with fasting and prayer. In that showdown with the devil, the devil tried to entice Jesus to serve him and his kingdom. v8 again, the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world, and their glory; v9 and he said to Him "all these things will I give you, if you fall down and worship me." v10 Then Jesus said to him " Begone satan! For it is written, you shall worship the Lord your God and
serve Him only." v11 then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and began to minister to Him.

You will notice that according to verse 2, it was at the end of the fast that the devil came to tempt Him. Stand strong as you near the end. Had Jesus not stood strong to the end, the outcome for all mankind would have been much different. Another example we have in God's word of fasting for ministry is in Acts 13, where several prophets and teachers had gathered to seek the will of the Lord for their lives. Acts 13:2 And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said "set aside for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." v3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. v4 So, being sent out by the Holy Spirit, they went down to Selucia and from there they sailed to Cyprus....So Paul and Barnabas began their missionary ministry in the same way that Jesus did, with prayer and fasting.

Last year as I fasted for 21 days with this group, then the Lord told me to go on to 40, so I was obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit, just as Jesus had been. I did not know what the Lord had in store for me, I was just following His leading. On day 28 of the fast, I was working at the farm and received a call on my cell phone from a lady in Georgia, who I did not know. She prophesied over me for about one and a half hours, in fact, my cell phone went dead and I went to a neighbor's house and we finished up for another 30 minutes, then sang a hymn together before we signed off! She prophesied 21 different points of ministry or personal doors that would be open for me in the days and years ahead. She said to me " You will never forget this day, 1-28-09, for as long as you live." , and I have certainly found that to be the truth. The number twenty, which stands for holiness, tried and approved, and eight, which speaks of new beginnings, has been burned into me and I stand amazed even today as to how the Lord orchestrated all the events of that day and the fast. I won't go into the details of the prophecy other than to say it spoke in great detail about ministry doors here nationally as well as internationally that would be opening for me, and she said that much of this would be happening quickly. I have already seen some of these prophecies come to pass, others are unfolding as we speak, and I can see more on the horizon, not only for myself, but also some of the opportunities are for my family members who are walking into ministry. So beloved be obedient to the leading of the Holy Spirit and see where He leads you.

As you pray about your life, and the body of Christ, keep open to the leading of the Holy Spirit. Matthew 28:18 and Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying " All authority has been given to Me in heaven and earth. v19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, v20 teaching them all that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Go beloved, for God is with you! God bless you, in Christ, Jim

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

Intercessory prayer

Dear beloved: I spoke yesterday about intercessory prayer and binding and loosing. I'd like to elaborate on that some more today. As we mature in our walk with the Lord, our prayer life will start to focus not so much on our own needs, but more upon the needs of others. It's fine to pray for yourself and your specific needs(prayer of petition), in fact Jesus said in the Lords's prayer, pray ye like this, " give us this day our daily bread". That is a prayer for our provision and daily needs. But as you pray and fast God will bring to your mind and place before you people that have needs, ranging from a need to be saved to deliverance from demonic oppression, freedom from sickness, prayers for those who are your enemies and persecute you, and on and on.

Jesus said in Matthew 18:18 "Truly whatever I say to you, whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. v19 Again I say to you, that if two of you agree on earth about anything that they may ask it shall be done for them by My Father who is in heaven". That is why corporate prayer is so powerful, the more multiples of twos there are praying together, an exponential effect takes effect. And likewise if you have no other to agree with you, there is still two with you and the Holy Spirit. When Daniel was in intercessory prayer for his people in Daniel 10 he had no others praying with him, Dan 10:2 In those days I, Daniel, had been mourning (in intercession) for three entire weeks v3 I did not eat any tasty food, nor did meat nor wine enter my mouth, nor did I use any ointment at all, until the entire three weeks was completed. Yet we know that God heard and answered his prayer. v12 then ( the angelic messenger) said to me, "do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself (fasting) before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words." So God hears your every word as you pray and intercede for the needs of your lost or sick loved ones.

So what is it you are binding? In Daniel's case he was binding the demonic realm standing in the way of the deliverance of his people, who were being held in captivity in Babylon. v13 but the prince (demonic principality) of the kindom of Persia was withstanding me for 21 days; then behold, Michael, one of the chief princes (angelic messengers) came to help me, for I had been left there with the kings of Persia. v14 now I have come to give you an understanding of what will happen to your people in the latter days, for the vision pertains to the days yet future.....note that the time of Daniel's fasting and mourning was the exact same time it took for Michael to overcome the demonic prince of Persia. As you intercede for people, bind the demonic entities in their life if you know what they are, naming them specifically, for God said he heard EVERY WORD! Mark 3:26 And if satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand but he is finished! v27 but no one can enter the strong man's house and plunder his property unless he first binds the strongman, and then he will plunder his house.

So what is it you are loosing? As we see in Daniel 10, God dispatched His angelic messengers. V10 and behold, a hand touched me and set me trembling on my hands and knees. v11 and he said to me, "oh Daniel, man of high esteem, understand the words that I am about to tell you and stand upright, for I have now been sent to you" And when he had spoken these words to me, I stood up trembling. All through the bible we read of God dispatching his angels to render service to His people in response to their request or at God's pleasure. Hebrews 1:14 Are they ( in speaking of the angels) not all ministering spirits, sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?

How does the Holy Spirit help us when we go into intercessory prayer for our lost or sick loved ones? Paul explains it in Romans 8:26 and in the same way the Spirit also helps us in our weakness, for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself also intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. What is Paul talking about here? He is talking about tongues, the language of prayer between God and man. 1 Corinthians 14:2 for one who speaks in a tongue speaks not to men, but to God; for no one understands, but in his spirit he speaks mysteries. So intercede in your prayer language if you have one, for in so doing your spirit connects through the Holy Spirit directly with the Spirit of God, and no man or demonic entity can interphere. If you don't have a prayer language, pray to receive one, and in the mean time, intercede with utterances of your mind as the Spirit leads you. 1 Cor. 14:15 what is the outcome then? I shall pray with the spirit (tongues) and I shall pray with the mind also(understanding); I shall sing with the spirit and I shall sing with the mind also. v16 otherwise if you bless in the spirit only, how will the one who fill the place of the ungifted say the "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not know what you are saying? This is only a problem in corporate worship or prayer, and is not a factor in private intercessory prayer times.

God is calling us, fasters, to intercede. Jesus Christ himself shows to us the spirit of intercession . Isaiah 53:12 ...yet He Himself bore the sin of many, and interceded for the transgressors. And again in Isaiah 59:16 and He (God) saw that there was no man, And was astonished that there was no one to intercede; then His own arm(Jesus) brought salvation to Him, and His righteouness upheld Him. Bless you this day fasters as you intercede. Take on the spirit of intercession that Jesus shows to us by His death on the cross, by shedding his blood for all sinners that we could be reconciled back to God! God bless you, in Christ, Jim

Monday, April 19, 2010

prayer and fasting pt7

Dear beloved: Last night the Lord showed me that many of you are receiving what the Lord has for you in dreams and revelations, but some are also swinging and missing and some are also watching good pitches, right down the center of the plate, go by without swinging at all. In the ball game in the dream some of these pitches would be considered " putting it out there on a platter", and would be a home run pitch. God wants us to hit home runs for Him, to bring glory to His name and to His kingdom, so be ready to park that pitch coming down the center of the plate into the centerfield bleachers. Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him v18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, v19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might. v20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. v22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church, v23 which is His body, the fulness of Him who fills all in all.
In other words, in Jesus we have authority over all the demonic realm, whether sickness, death, poverty, addictions, strongholds, and any other temptation that the devil may throw against us. We have it through the blood of Jesus Christ, who gives us that authority. Start taking in everything the Lord has for you today. Exercise your authority in the kingdom by binding and loosing as God has given us authority to do. Open up the eyes of your heart to see what God's will is for you and for your family, then move out in the power of the Holy Spirit into victory!
Psalm 18:7 Then the earth shook and quaked; and the foundations of the mountains were trembling and were shaken, because He was angry....v18 They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay. v19 He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me, because He delighted in me. God bless you fasters, take in what the Lord has for you this day. in Christ, Jim

prayer and fasting pt6

Dear beloved: Last night the Lord gave me a dream in several parts, I will give the two parts that relate to this group. Part 1 a couple of people were in a pole vaulting competition, and they cleared the lower heights. The officials moved the bar up to 19 feet. part 2 We were in a banquet of some sort, and people were standing up one at a time and speaking scripture. It was awesome as the word of God came rolling out of people, the Spirit was really moving. part 3 I was looking in a phone book or directory for suppliers of bulk bags of pinto beans. Interpretation: part 1 some of you in the group are setting a very high standard for yourself, and going over the bar. Praise God! Isaiah 59:19 when the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of the Lord shall lift up a standard against him. Colossians 3:1 If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. v2 set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. v3 for you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Part 2 We are becoming saturated with the word of God, keep reading your Bible every day, live on the word. Hebrews 4:12 for the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as the soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart. part 3 the Lord is saying to prepare for that which is coming, famine and food shortage. This group has been brought together not just for today, but for what is coming to America in the future. If you haven't started storing up some food, get started today.
What happened in Haiti is a warning shot for us here in America, the devastation here could be much worse. Ezekiel 7:2 And you son of man, thus says the Lord God to the land of Israel," an end, The end is coming to the four corners of the land. v3 Now the end is upon you, and I shall send My anger against you; I shall judge you according to your ways, and I shall bring all your abominations upon you. v4 For My eye shall have no pity upon you, nor shall I spare you, but I shall bring your ways upon you, and your abominations will be among you; then you will know that I am the Lord! ...v15 The sword is outside, the plague and the famine are within. He who is in the field will die by the sword; famine and plague will comsume those in the city. Please read all of Ezekiel 7 and pray fervently that God withholds His anger and thank Him for His great mercy towards us. God bless you fasters, stay in the word, stay on your knees, keep pressing in for more victories! God bless you, in Christ, Jim

prayer and fasting pt5

Dear beloved: As we enter into the middays of the fast, satan will do everything he can to try to get you to relax your resolve, to go slack on your pledge to the Lord. Do not give in to him, do your best to keep your pledge, to hang in there. Again Matthew 4 is a great passage to study as Jesus went into the wilderness to fast and pray for 40 days. You will notice that Jesus began His ministry not by preaching or casting out demons or healing the sick, He began it by fasting and praying. Matt4:2 And after He had fasted 40 days and 40 nights, He then became hungry. v3 and the tempter came and said to Him" if you are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread." v4 but He answered and said, " it is written, man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God". Therein lies the way to resist the devil when he tries to tempt you away from your resolve. Learn to live, sustain yourself on the word of God. Ezekiel 3:1 Then He said to me, "son of man, eat what you find; eat that scroll, and go, speak to the house of Israel." v2 So I opened my mouth and He fed me the scroll. v3 and He said to me, "son of man, feed your stomach, and fill your body with this scroll that I am giving you". Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. v4 Then He said to me, "Son of man, go to the house of Israel and speak with my words to them"..... God wants to put His word into your stomach so you can go and speak to a stubborn and rebellious house v10 Moreover He said to me," son of man, take into your heart all My words which I will speak to you, and listen closely. v11 and go to the exiles, to the sons of your people, and speak to them and tell them, whether they listen or not", thus says the Lord God.... God calls us to go speak to the exiles, to give them the word of God, the good news of salvation. Do not be content with just "making it through a fast", whatever that means to you. Ask God to start showing you your destiny in His kingdom, to reveal to you your divine purpose.
Last night at the prison a man got up and gave a testimony. Has has only been a Christian 4 months and God is already starting to reveal to him his destiny. He was given a dream by the Lord in which he was preaching at a gathering in Wichita, his home city, and rival gangs came into the meeting and began to lay down their gang colors. God is showing him his divine destiny. In another dream a homeless man came to him and thanked him for feeding him sandwiches and hot coffee. In the real life before he went to prison, the brother giving the testimony had taken his money and bought sandwiches and hot drinks for a bunch of bums living in a park in Wichita. God will reveal to you the purpose for which you were created as you press in during this fast. 21 days can seem like a long time to fast, but it is a very precious and special time. God has led you to this point in your life for a divine encounter with Him, your Creator. Ask Him for more, He will give it to you.
I will close with this word from Psalm 37:4 Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart. v5 commit your way unto the Lord, and He will bring it to pass. God bless you fasters, may the God of all Creation give you strength. in Christ, Jim

Monday, April 12, 2010

prayer and fasting pt4

Dear beloved The question has been posed to me Is it too late to pray for America, or is God's judgement on America inevitable and forthcoming? God tells the prophet Jeremiah, concerning Judah(the Southern Kingdom) in Jer7:16 As for you, do not pray for this people, and do not lift up cry or prayer for them, and do not intercede with Me; for I do not hear you. Again in Jeremiah 14:11 So the Lord said to me, Do not pray for the welfare of this people. v12 When they fast, I am not going to listen to their cry; and when they offer burnt offering, I am not going to accept them. Rather I am going to make an end of them by the sword, famine, and pestilence. These prophecies were given to Judah even after Judah had seen their brothers in the Northern Kingdom carried off by the Assyrians about 95 years earlier.
. ....and yet, at the time God tells Jeremiah not to pray for Judah, He stiil holds out hope for them in their backslidden condition. Jer22:3 Thus says the Lord, Do justice and righteousness, and deliver the one who has been robbed from the power of his oppressor. Also do not mistreat or do violence to the stranger, the orphan, or the widow; and do not shed innocent blood in this place. v4 For if men will indeed perform this thing, then kings will enter the gates of this house, sitting in David's place on his throne, riding in chariots and on horses, even the king himself and his servants and his people. Judah did not repent, however, and years later also went into 70 years of captivity.

God has given to me over the past several years many prophetic dreams of the calamities and destruction that are coming to America. If you have not seen them, you can go to my website at www.gathertheoutcasts.com and click on prophetic words and dreams and read them or listen to them for yourself. I still stand by these prophecies as they are words from the Lord. I did not ask for them, nor does it give me any joy in delivering them to the Body of Christ, just as Jeremiah did not ask for his assignment. They will come to pass as sure as the sun rises tomorrow if America does not turn from her wicked ways, repent, and seek the Lord. However, God's mercies are made new every day. Lamentations 3:22 the Lord's lovingkindnesses(mercies) indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. v23 They are new every morning; great is Thy faithfulness.

God sent Jonah to preach to Nineveh, a great city, and cry against it; for their wickedness is come up before Me. Jonah1:2 After some ducking and dodging and a ride in a whale's belly, Jonah finally ends up in Nineveh and gives them the message: you have 40 days to repent or you will be overthrown (perish), yet an amazing thing happened, Nineveh repented! Jonah3:5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, and proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. ....and after days of fasting and repentance, the King says v9 Who can tell if God will turn and repent, and turn away from His fierce anger, that we perish not? v10 and God saw their works, that they turned from their evil way; and God repented( changed His mind) of the evil that He had said He would do unto them; and HE DID IT NOT!
God has not told me to quit praying for America so I will steadfastly continue, for the sake of my children and grandchildren, even the timing, intensity, and duration of the judgement could all be effected by our prayers, not to mention the most important thing, the salvation of individual people before, during, and after all these things come to pass. We are all called to share the good news of the gospel to a lost and dying world, and pray without ceasing. To do any less would be to back away from our calling. Get your heart right with the Lord today, today is the day of salvation, do not harden your heart,Hebrews 3:15. Share the good news, it's not too late. God bless you, in Christ, Jim

prayer and fasting pt3

Dear beloved: Last night the Lord gave me a dream about one of our fasters in a tractor pulling a fallowmaster through fallow ground. She didn't know how to raise the plow when she got to a brick road, so the sweeps were bouncing off the bricks when she got out of the field. Part 2 of the dream, a truck pulled up to a field at night and its lights shined into the field and a couple of skunks took off running in the other direction away from the truck. Interpretation: We are having victories individually and as a group, note the answer to the prayers for Rodney. A lady in this group is breaking up new or fallow (unplanted) ground, preparing to plant the seed of the word into the soil. Hosea 10:12 sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till He comes and rains righteouness on you. v13 you have plowed wickedness, you have reaped iniquity, you have eaten the fruit of lies, because you did trust in your way in the multitude of men. .... each person must break up the fallow ground in his own life, stop sinning, sow to righteouness, and receive God's mercy. Our hearts and wills must be broken to receive God and His will for our life. Be willing to receive the word of God in your life. Psalm 119:105 Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. 1 Cor. 3:6 (Paul) I have planted, Apollos watered, and God gave the increase or growth. v4 so then neither he that planted or watereth is anything, but God gave the increase. ...
The second part of the dream is obvious, the stinky things in our life( skunks) are being put on the run. 1 Cor 2:14 but thanks be to God who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests in us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place v15 for we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing. v16 to one an aroma from death to death. to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?...We are beloved, so receive your victory in Jesus today. Give Him the praise, keep breaking up that fallow ground, get ready for a mighty planting of the Lord to bring in a great harvest for the kingdom. God gives the increase! Tomorrow I'll talk about is it too late for America to turn from her wicked ways. God bless you, in Christ, Jim

fasting and prayer pt2

Dear beloved The Lord gave me a dream last night about this fasting group. The game has started, again it is a football game and I am in the stands watching with another man, there are 9 people on each side. The fasting group receives the opening kickoff and two ladies receive it but do not run with the ball or advance it, they just walk off to the sidelines. The first plays not much happens, then a pass to a receiver is complete and a guy breaks loose for a score, fighting through to the goal line for every inch. The good guys score a couple more times, and come close to the goal a couple more and we are winning, but it is a fiercely fought battle. On one play a guy gets gang tackled and really pummeled at the bottom of the pile, but I comment to whoever is beside me, we are making some headway. Interpretation: the battle has started, it is a spiritual battle. Two ladies in the group are not sure they want to play (you are new to fasting and spiritual warfare), the Lord is saying to you stay in there, the battle belongs to the Lord. One player is fighting for every inch right now, the Lord is giving you his strength to keep making gains, and another player is being beat up by the enemy, you feel like the enemy is ganging up on you and working you over at the bottom of the pile. The 9 number on a side indicates fruitfulness or harvest or fruition, this is the time for us as a group and individually to harvest what has been sown, also God's harvest of judgement, individually and as a nation. ...
When Gomer was taken back again by Hosea in Chap.3 of Hosea, Hosea promised to forgive and keep her, and she again became his wife. God is taking America back again and forgiving us of our harlotry, but you will notice is chapter 4 of Hosea that God starts to bring up the sins of Israel and Judah and compare them to the harlotry of Gomer, Hos4:1 Hear the word of the Lord ye children of Israel,for the Lord has a controversy with the inhabitants of the land, because there is no truth, no mercy, no knowledge of God in the land. v2 by swearing, lying, and killing, and stealing, and committing adultery, they break out and blood touches blood( violence) everywhere. v6 My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge because they have rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee from being My priest. Since you have forgotten the law of your God, I will also forget your children....about a dozen times in chapter 4 God speaks about His people and harlotry, adultery, or whoredom. What is He saying? God says come back to Him, turn from your idolatry, come back into a right relationship with Him. The harvest of judgement is coming upon the land, no one can escape it, only those firmly established on the Rock of Jesus will be saved, He is the rock of stumbling for those who do not believe, i Peter 2:6-8 Hosea 6:1 Come, let us return to the Lord, for He has torn us but He will heal us; He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. v2 He will revive us after 2 days. He will raise us up on the third day, that we may live before Him. Beloved, we are third day people,
more than conquerors, victorious in Jesus. Pray for those hesitant to go on in our group, and also for that one at the bottom of the pile. God bless you, in Christ, Jim

prayer and fasting pt1

Dear beloved The Lord showed me in a dream last night that we are not one yet. In the dream we were a football team, the ball being the Holy Spirit, and we made several attempts to start off on the same count. Each time the ball was snapped, some of the line or backfield people were already across the line or starting to run the play. This went on for several plays and looked pretty funny as I watched it. Of course, in a real football game this would result in a penalty called false start and we would be penalized for each infraction. Jesus prayed the prayer of unity in John 17:1 Father the hour has come, glorify thy Son that thy Son may glorify Me. v2 as Thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as Thou hast given Him v3 and this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou has sent. ...Jesus goes on to ask the Father for their unity( the disciples) in verse 21, that they may all be one, even as Thou, Father, art in me, and I in Thee, that they may also be in Us, that the world may believe that Thou did send me. v22 and the glory which Thou has given Me I have given to them; that they may be one, just as We are one. ...brothers and sisters, the time has come for Jesus to again be glorified. As of midnight on Jan. 1, 2010, there will be a great shift in God's attitiude towards America. He has remarried the harlot America, just as God asked Hosea to remarry his prostitute wife, who had left him to commit harlotry with her former lovers. Hosea 3:1 Then the Lord said to me, go again, love a woman who is loved by her husband, yet an adulteress, even as the Lord loves the sons of Israel, though they turn to other gods and love raisin cakes. v2 so I bought her for 15 pieces of silver and a homer and a half of barley. v3 Then I said to her you shall stay with me for many days. You shall not play the harlot, nor shall you have a man, so I will also be toward you.... beloved, Hosea bought his harlot wife for the price of a slave, 15 shekels of silver, and again forgave her and brought her out of prostitution. As you fast and pray today, give God praise for again taking us out of harlotry personally, for our families, and for this nation. Would you become a slave to Jesus Christ, a bondslave to Him as Paul was to Him. Can we all agree together to become bondslaves to Jesus Christ, can we agree in the Spirit to pray for unity as one bondslave to do the will of Jesus Christ? Stay focused on Him, no more penalty flags! Tomorrow I'll talk more about the consequenses of this attitude shift of God. God bless you all, in Christ, Jim

Thursday, April 8, 2010

the Anointing pt10

Dear beloved: Though we are not all called to the office of apostle, prophet, or evangelist, pastor or teacher, we are all called to preach the gospel, that is the fulfillment of the great commission. A commission is an authorization or command to act in a prescribed manner, often the authority to act in the place of another. When Jesus gave the great commission in Matthew 28:19, he was giving every believer not only a command, but also the authority to act in His behalf. In verse 28:18 He declares His authority by saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Then He gives it away to all of us in verse 19, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, v20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you; and lo, I will be with you always, even to the end of the age." And so we have been given the authority to make disciples, to preach and teach and observe all the commandments.

In referring to yesterday's teaching, Anointing pt9, we see that God took a man who was violently opposed to the spread of the gospel and turned him around to bring glory to His own name. If the Lord can do that for Paul, just think what He can do with you. Paul says this about himself in 1 Timothy 12:1 I thank Jesus Christ our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he considered me faithful, putting me into service; v13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and persecutor and a violent aggressor. And yet I was shown mercy, because I acted ignorantly and in unbelief; v14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love that are found in Jesus Christ. v15 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am the foremost of all. And then in 2Timothy1:7 Paul says, For God has not given us a spirit of timidity(fear), but of power and love and discipline. v8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, or of me His prisoner, but join with me in suffering for the gospel according to the power of God, v9 who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity.
The power of the Holy Spirit anointing is not only for ourselves, but to flow through us to others, so that they may come to know Jesus Christ and His grace and mercy also. Paul became a preacher of the gospel because he felt the love and mercy Jesus had for him and felt obligated to share that with others. 2 Timothy 1:11 for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle and a teacher. v12 For this reason I also suffer these things, but I am not ashamed; for I know whom I have believed and I am convinced that He is able to guard what I have entrusted to Him until that day. Beloved, do not let fear cripple and stifle what God wants to do through you to spread the gospel. Romans 10:14 How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him in whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? v15 And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring glad tidings of good things!"
Beloved, God wants to bless your feet today. Have your spiritual eyes open to the needs of others, to those who are broken, without hope, and lost in sin and darkness. You may be the very person God is calling to bring hope and good news into their life. Don't miss the opportunity! May God bless you this day and you share the hope in Jesus name. In Christ, Jim

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

the Anointing pt9

Dear beloved: An interesting transfer of anointing and of destiny took place in the life of Stephen, the first Christian martyr. Stephen was selected as one of the seven deacons set aside to serve the tables of the Hellenistic Jews in Acts chapter 6. Acts 6:3 But select from among you, brethren, seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. v4 But we (elders) will devote ourselves to prayer, and to the ministry of the word. v5 And the statement found approval with the whole congregation; and they chose Stephen, a man full of faith and the Holy Spirit..v8 And Stephen, full of grace and power, was performing great wonders and signs among the people. And so we see that Stephen was originally ordained by God to be a deacon, a servant of the widows, and then he flowed into the calling of evangelist, full of grace and power, with attending signs and wonders. Acts 6:9 But some men from what was called the Synagogue of the Freedmen, including both Cyrenians and Alexandrians, and some from Silicia and Asia, rose up and argued with Stephen. v10 And yet they were unable to cope with the wisdom and Spirit with which he was speaking. Verse 15 tells us that Stephen had a powerful anointing upon him,v15 And fixing their gaze on him, all who were sitting in the Council saw his face as the face of an angel.
Acts chapter 7 is the powerful message that Stephen spoke to the council, and it cut the unbelievers to the quick. Acts 7:54 Now when they heard this, they were cut to the quick, and they began gnashing their teeth at him. v55 but being full of the Holy Spirit, he gazed intently into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God; v56 and he said, "Behold, I see the heavens opened up and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God." And then we are introduced to a man named Saul who is standing at the scene, maybe even the ringleader, v58 And when they had driven him(Stephen) out of the city, they began stoning him, and the witnesses laid aside their robes at the feet of a young man named Saul. v59 And they went on stoning Stephen as he called upon the Lord, and said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit!" Acts 8:1 And Saul was in hearty agreement with putting him to death. v3 But Saul began ravaging the church, entering house after house; and dragging off men and women, he would put them in prison.
And so we see that the destiny of Stephen was cut short, hastened and facilitated by a man named Saul, a man who interestingly enough, becomes the focus of the rest of the book of Acts. Saul was on a mission to round up and quench the message of these upstart followers of Christ, but God had a much different plan for his life; God's plan was that Saul take up the anointing and destiny of Stephen and finish what Stephen had started! The story of Saul's conversion unfolds in Acts 9:1 Now Saul, still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest, v2 and asked for letters from him to the synagogues at Damascus, so that if he found any belonging to the Way, both men and women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. v3 And it came about as he journeyed, he was approaching Damascus, and suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him; v4 and he fell to the ground, and heard a voice saying to him,"Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?"v5 And he said, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And He said, "I am Jesus whom you are persecuting." It is interesting to note that Saul immediately knew that his jig was up, he even knew that it was Jesus the Lord who was talking to him. The transfer was completed in Acts 9:17 And Ananias departed and entered the house, and after laying his hands on him said, "Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight, and be filled with the Holy Spirit. v18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he arose and was baptized. v20 and immediately he began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, "He is the Son of God."
And so God used Saul in a mighty way to fulfill the destiny and calling of Stephen; and we know the exploits of Saul as he became Paul and all that he did to spread the gospel to the gentiles. Beloved, seek the Lord while He may be found and you will avoid the painful ordeal that Saul went through. Psalm 105:4 Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. May God bless you this day as you seek Him, in Christ, Jim

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

the Anointing pt8

Dear beloved: As the end days draw near we are warned in the book of 1 John that the anointing will be very valuable to us to keep from being deceived by the antichrist. 1 John 1:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you have heard that the antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have arisen; from this we know that it is the last hour. v19 They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, in order that it might be shown that they all are not of us. v20 But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you all know. v21 I have not written to you because you do not know the truth, but because you do know it, and because no lie is of the truth. v22 Who is the liar but the one who denies that Jesus is the Christ? This is the antichrist, who denies the Father and the Son. And so we see that without the anointing it will be very easy to be led astray into false doctrines, the new world order, the one world religion, and eventually into denying Jesus Christ.
One of the gifts of the Holy Spirit for the new testament believer is the discernment (distinguishing) of spirits. 1 Corinthians 12:10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. Because the antichrist will be very charismatic and eloquent in speech and style, many will fall under his spell and be easily enticed to follow him. Jesus warns us that in the last days many will claim to be the Christ. Matthew 24:23 "Then if anyone says to you, 'Behold, here is the Christ,' or 'There He is,' do not believe him. v24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and show great signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the elect. v25 Behold, I have told you in advance. v26 If therefore they say to you, 'Behold, he is in the wilderness', do not go forth, or 'Behold, he is in the inner rooms,' do not believe them." If the elect can be led astray, you can imagine how easy it will be for the antichrist to lead non believers and those who have no leading of the Holy Spirit to be deceived. Recent events here in America magnify the truth of Jesus words; we all saw how easy it is for a charismatic speaker to sway the masses.
Paul says in 2 Timothy 3:1, But realize this, in the last days difficult times will come. v2 For men will be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, arrogant, revilers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, unholy, v3 unloving, irreconcilable, malicious gossips, without self control, brutal, haters of good, v4 treacherous, reckless, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; v5 holding to a form of godliness, although they have denied its power; and avoid such men as these. Paul doesn't paint a very pretty picture of what will happen in the last days, and yet we know when we look at the nightly news that the picture he painted is exactly what is happening in America and many other places in the world today. The only antidote to the problem is the anointing and leading of the Holy Spirit of God; without it there is no hope!
John makes reference to the anointing a second time in 1 John 2:27 And as for you, the anointing you received from Him abides in you, and you have no need for anyone to teach you; but as His anointing teaches you about all things, and is true and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you abide in Him. He does not mean that we have no need of teachers of the gospel, but that the Holy Spirit will be our primary teacher of the truth in all things. John 15:25 "These things I have spoken to you, while abiding with you. v26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you. v27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you; not as the world gives, do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful." Beloved, pray for the anointing of the Holy Spirit to increase in your life, for the gift of distinguishing of spirits to sharpen, and that you will not be troubled or fearful; God will be faithful to answer your prayer. May God bless you this day, in Christ, Jim

Monday, April 5, 2010

the Anointing pt7

Dear beloved: Many times a corporate anointing comes when we are in a meeting where the Holy Spirit is really moving with power, and for that reason it is important that we seek out revivals and other meetings where we expect the power to manifest. In 1 Chronicles 5:13, after the building of the temple in the time of king Solomon, the temple was dedicated v13 in unison when the trumpeters and the singers were to make themselves heard with one voice to praise and glorify the Lord, and when they lifted up their voice accompanied by trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and when they praised the Lord saying, "He indeed is good for his kindness is everlasting," then the house, the house of the Lord, was filled with a cloud, v14 so that the priests could not stand to minister because of the cloud, for the glory of the Lord filled the house of God. So we see that when the glory cloud came down it was so powerful the priests could not stand up, they fell down under the weight of it.
The Lakeland Revival of a couple summers ago was just such a meeting. Although it was a mixture of fire because some of the leadership had unconfessed sin in their lives, the power of the anointing and the glory cloud over that revival was very strong. Many healings, miracles, and other blessings were poured out on the people that came there over a 5 month period of time. God met the people because the Holy Spirit was not being quenched, and the people came with high expectations of receiving a blessing from the Lord, and He did not disappoint them. The praise and worship times were extremely powerful and people were receiving healings just from participating, and the glory cloud was so strong that many were falling down under the weight of it without anyone touching them or praying specifically over them, the same corporate anointing that came on Solomon's temple.
There will be many more outpourings of the Holy Spirit in the days ahead; God wants to manifest His presence in this land in such a way that everyone has a chance to stand under the glory cloud of His anointing. On the way home from Lakeland the Lord gave me a dream that revealed to me I was to take the corporate fire from Lakeland and spread it across the land. In the dream I was in an airplane(ministry) and I was flying over the heartland of the USA at night. As I looked down upon the land, I could see fires burning in many different places, connected to each other by chords or strings of fire. It looked a bit like a city with electric street lights glowing at night. God was showing me to take the fire and spread it all over the land, and that the fires would all be connected to each other as the kingdom was built up. The second part of the dream a giant wave of water came up against the fires, and the Lord was showing me that the demonic forces coming against the fire of the Lord would be very strong also, and would attempt to put the fires out. We can certainly see that happening in America today, the devil is doing his best to quench the fire of the kingdom and he is pulling out all the stops to take down God's people.
The corporate anointing that came upon the people in Acts 2 was of coarse the explosion that set off the church, and we are still beneficiaries of that anointing today. Acts2:1 And when the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. v2 And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent, rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting. v3 And there appeared to them tongues of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them. v4 And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance. Beloved, God wants to pour out His anointing, His glory, and His fire onto you, and He doesn't care whether in a church, a revival, or an open field. You will see in the days ahead tremendous outpourings of revival that will dwarf the revivals of the past. Seek Him as you see the glory manifest and you will receive a blessing! May God bless you this day as you seek Him, in Christ, Jim

Saturday, April 3, 2010

the Anointing pt6

Dear beloved: Is it possible for one to lose the anointing after receiving it from the Lord? We will look at the answer to that question in the story of Saul. Saul was a man appointed and anointed by the Lord to be the prince of the people Israel. In 1 Samuel 9: 15, the Lord said to Samuel, Now a day before Saul's coming, the Lord had revealed this to Samuel saying, v16 "About this time tomorrow I will send you a man from the land of Benjamin, and you shall anoint him to be prince over My people Israel; and he shall deliver My people from the hand of the Phillistines. For I have regarded My people, for their cry has come to Me." The actual ceremony of the anointing takes place in 1 Samuel 10:1, Then Samuel took the flask of oil, poured it on his head, kissed him and said, " Has not the Lord anointed you a ruler over his inheritance?". And in verse 6 Samuel tells Saul he will be changed. v6 "Then the spirit of the Lord will come upon you mightily, and you shall prophesy with them and be changed into another man." We know from reading on further that Saul did become a changed man, began to prophesy, and became a great warrior king of Israel.
The anointing of the Lord, the pouring out of the Holy Spirit, should dramatically change your life! If it does not, you must wonder if you really have the anointing. Joel 2:28 "And it shall come about after this, That I will pour out My Spirit on all mankind; And your sons and daughters will prophesy, Your old men will dream dreams, And your young men will see visions. v29 And even on the male and female servants I wiil pour out My Spirit in those days." Just as Saul began to do mighty exploits for the Lord, so should you; however, Saul was not totally obedient to the Lord, and so the anointing was taken from him. 1 Samuel 13:13 And Samuel said to Saul, "You have acted foolishly; you have not kept the commandment of the Lord your God, which He commanded you, for now the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. v14 But now your kingdom shall not endure. The Lord has sought out for Himself a man after His own heart (David), and the Lord has appointed him ruler over His people, because you have not kept what the Lord commanded you." And again in 1 Samuel 15:22, Samuel tells him, "Has the Lord as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifice as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, And to heed than the fat of rams. v23 For rebellion is as the sin of divination, and insubordination is as iniquity and idolatry. Because you have rejected the voice of the Lord, He has also rejected you from being king." So just that fast Saul was finished and God brought in His new man David. in fact, in verse 35, we read that Samuel did not see Saul again until the day of his death; for Samuel grieved over Saul. And the Lord regretted that He had made Saul king over Israel.
Again we see that the anointing and the keeping of it, and the intensifying of it, is directly dependent upon our obedience to the Lord. What is God calling you to do today? It may be something small or very big. He may be asking you to give up something to spend more time in fellowship, in prayer, in study of His word, or maybe to step up in service to the fellowship; or maybe He is calling you to short or long term mission work, to preach or to prophesy. Whatever the calling, in obedience God will provide the anointing and give you the power and strength to do the work. Several years ago I was given the opportunity to tour 9 churches in Eastern Colorado on a speaking/singing tour, the only problem from my point of view was it came right in the middle of the fall produce harvest, the busiest time of the year on the farm. However, I answered the call and went on the tour. The Lord blessed me with a great offering from the churches, and in addition I got called back to four of them for revivals or other speaking engagements. When you answer the call God wlll provide, he wants to take us from glory to glory as we move upward in the kingdom. Paul says it in Phillipians 3:13, Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, v14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Answer Him today, let Him change you and take you where He wants you to go! May God bless you this day as you answer Him. In Christ, Jim

Friday, April 2, 2010

the Anointing pt5

Dear beloved: One of the great examples in the Bible of the transfer of the anointing is the story of Elijah and Elisha. Elijah was a prophet and man of God and performed many mighty miracles in the name of the Lord, 16 miracles in all are accredited to him. He tapped Elisha to be his understudy in 1 Kings 19:19, So he (Elijah) departed from there and found Elisha the son of Shephat, while he was plowing with twelve pairs of oxen before him, and he with the twelfth. And Elijah passed over to him and threw his mantle on him. v20 And he left the oxen and ran after Elijah and said, " Please let me kiss my father and mother, then I will follow you." And Elijah said to him, "Go back again, for what have I done to you?' v21 So he returned from following him, and took the pair of oxen and sacrificed them and boiled their flesh with the implements of the oxen, and gave it to the people and they ate. Then he arose and followed Elijah and ministered to him. So we see that not only did Elisha immediately answer the call that had been placed on his life, he also put in his own provision (his oxen and implements of farming) to get his mission career started.
The story picks up again in 2 Kings 2:1-14. v1 And it came about when the Lord was about to take up Elijah by a whirlwind to heaven, that Elijah went with Elisha from Gilgal. v2 And Elijah said to Elisha, "Stay here please, for the Lord has sent me as far as Bethel." But Elisha said, "As the Lord lives and as you yourself live, I will not leave you." So they went down to Bethel. Three times Elisha was challenged by Elijah to leave and not follow him to the next place; three times Elisha told him,"as the Lord lives, I will not leave you." So Elisha was persistent, he knew Elijah was about to leave and that there would be a great blessing at the end, so no matter what he was determined to stay with him. It takes persistence and sacrifice of our own personal desires to move to higher realms of anointing, and many will try to deter you and talk you out of it, including your own family and church brethren. Be persistent! Elijah took Elisha from Gilgal, where faith begins, to Bethel, place of surrender, to Jericho, place of warfare, and finally to Jordan, the place of deliverance and vision. This cycle can be repeated throughout our life as we walk our own path and also as we are woven in and out of the paths of others that God places beside us.
The payoff for Elisha came in verse 9, Now it came about when they had crossed over, that Elijah said to Elisha, "Ask what I shall do for you before I am taken from you." And Elisha said, " Please, let a double portion of your spirit be upon me.' v10 And Elijah said, "You have asked a hard thing. Nevertheless, If you see me when I am taken from you, it shall be so for you; but if not, it shall not be so." We know from verse 12 that God allowed Elisha to see the chariot and horses of fire that took Elijah up to heaven, and in verse 13 Elisha also took up the mantle of Elijah that fell from him. He then returned and stood by the bank of the Jordan, and in verse 15, the first miracle recorded to Elisha takes place as he struck the waters of the Jordan and they divided, and Elisha crossed over! In all 32 miracles are accredited to Elisha, the double portion compared to 16 accredited to his mentor Elijah.



Beloved, you must be persistent in seeking the double portion anointing to move into higher realms of glory. God will take you through endless cycles of faith, surrender, warfare, and then to deliverance and vision where it starts all over again. Seek out people in your life that will challenge your faith, that will challenge you to walk deeper, study more, pray more, and finally you will receive that double portion and become greater than your mentor. In recounting my story from yesterday's teaching (anointing pt4) about the man of great faith that had prayed over me for the anointing of creative miracles, God showed me in a dream that very week that I was to share the anointing with others, just as Elijah had with Elisha. In the dream, I was praying over a whole line of people and every one of them received the anointing and went down under the power of God just like dominoes falling! Fear not, and may you seek out and stay with those with greater anointing, and you will be blessed. In Christ, Jim

Thursday, April 1, 2010

the Anointing pt4

Dear beloved: The anointing is transferrable and one of the main ways to transfer it is by the laying on of hands, as we see in many passages of scripture in both the old and the new testaments. Some example we see include Numbers 8:10, where the Levites were set aside by the laying on of hands. v10 and present the Levites before the Lord; and the sons of Israel shall lay their hands on the Levites. v11 Aaron shall then present the Levites before the Lord as a wave offering from the sons of Israel, that they may qualify to perform the service of the Lord. And in the new testament in Acts 6:6,And these( the new deacons) they brought before the apostles; and after praying, they laid their hands on them. Paul and Barnabas were also set aside by the laying on of hands in Acts 13. v2 And while they were ministering to the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, "Set apart for Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them." v3 Then, when they had fasted and prayed and laid their hands on them, they sent them away.
Jesus even laid hands on the children, which should be a great example for us to seek the anointing just as the children did. Matthew 19:13 Then some children were brought to Him so that He might lay His hands on them and pray; and the disciples rebuked them. v14 But Jesus said, "Let the children alone, and do not hinder them from coming to Me; for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these." v15 And after laying His hands on them, He departed from there. Paul describes the laying on of hands as part of elemental teaching in Hebrews 6:1, Therefore leaving the elementary teaching about the Christ, let us press on to maturity, not laying again a foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, v2 of instruction about washings, and laying on of hands, and the resurrection of the dead, and eternal judgment. And so we see that laying on of hands is the physical manifestation of what is happening in the spirit realm, the power is flowing from greater to lesser just as water flows downhill.
A few years ago I was given the opportunity to have a great saint and servant of the Lord lay hands and pray for me at a great outpouring revival here in America. I was in a room with about 100 people of a total of 500 pastors and ministers that were set aside to be prayed for at the end of the meeting. As the man of God came down the line, I had my eyes closed and was softly praying in the spirit in anticipation of what was to come. As he stood in front of me, he touched my forehead with oil and spoke two words, "creative miracles", and then quickly went on down the line. I felt a lightning bolt of electricity shoot down through my body, and my feet felt like they were welded to the floor. I prayed in the spirit for another minute or two, and then opened my eyes; much to my surprise, I was one of only about 5 people in the room still standing, every one else was flat out on the floor! The power was amazing. God then showed me in a dream later that week to take the anointing for creative miracles to the Cabecar people of Costa Rica, which I was about to do the following spring when I laid hands on every person in the village of La Colonia; even the babies got touched and prayed for and were given the anointing.
Beloved, seek the anointing, and don't let anyone push you away or deter you as the disciples did around Jesus. The kingdom of heaven is made for those who seek Him, will you be one of those? May God bless you this day as you seek His face, in Christ, Jim