At the International House of Prayer I often tell visitors, "Welcome to the Kansas City BBQ". People come here and smell the pleasing aroma of worship and intercession arising to God 24-7. Guests often also comment on how in depth the teaching (singing and prophesying) from the meat of the Word of God is. A lot of people then want to come and move here. They do and experience the great smelling aroma, eating the meat of the word, and the feast of godly fellowship among believers. The Aroma of cooking smells great, but many then begin asking the question, "Why is eating this BBQ often so painful? The flames seem to be a little bit more active right now".
Then they look down on the grill and AAAUUUUURRRGGGHHHH! OOOWWWWEEEE! The thing that is being barbecued is none other than their fleshly, soulish, sin nature!
Recently, the flames on the Kansas City BBQ seem to be a bit more active. There is much smoke which makes clear personal vision from the LORD much more difficult to articulate. (Why in the world did I come here again? Oh yeah...God pretty much mandated me to come. Those scrape marks on I-35 before they resurfaced the road were my finger nails as soulish nature said nooooooo!)
God has strategic prophetic assignments he is preparing us for. God promised that he would refine the priesthood to get them ready. Therefore, God is turning up the heat of refining fire to get us ready. Where there is smoke, there is fire. (Where there is MORE smoke, there is MORE fire.) Many people right now are having difficulties seeing clearly (in terms of purpose and vision) in the midst of the smoke (which stings the eyes) as there is much transition occuring right now.
In my last post (yesterday), I wrote why God is turning up the heat- God is jealous for us to have only one affection as the fulfillment of our highest purpose and pleasure. So even as the heat of his refining fire is on us, enjoy the Kansas City BBQ!
Monday, March 10, 2008
Sunday, March 9, 2008
THE STATE OF THE UNION: IS THERE ANY HOPE?
So far, 2008 has turned into a very difficult year for many in America. The United States Economy faces the threats of severe inflation, a housing market falling like a rock, a credit crunch, the loss of jobs, and a massive recession. The War on Terror in Iraq and Afghanistan continues without a clear victory in sight. Now Terrorism has struck Israel again and threatens the stability of the region. Even the winter has been difficult with unusual severe weather patterns, extreme cold temperatures, and record snowfalls in some cases. There have been incidents of people snapping and going on a killing spree. All of this has left society asking the question: Is there any hope?
Meanwhile, Bill 777 has passed in California which encourages immorality (and homosexuality) in the public school system of California. Mike Huckabee has now conceded the Republican nomination to John McCain, leaving no explicit pro-life candidates running for President in America. Meanwhile, there hasn’t been much in the way of clear prophetic direction. It’s been 9 months since the 40-day fast last June and July and we have yet to see a massive spiritual awakening in America. All of this though many people have spent many days in fasting, praying, and weeping before God. Much of the Church is asking the same question: Is there any hope? Is this fasting, weeping, and mourning thing really the wisdom of God?
The real hope of America…
Let me say this: The answer is in your tears. The fact that so many of you are deeply discouraged, in mourning, and their hearts are full of pain is a sign that God has not given up on America. Your tears in themselves are a sign that there is still hope for America. There is still hope for your children, your families, your churches, your workplaces, and your cities. If you are yet moved with tears of compassion, mercy, and righteous indignation against wickedness over the headlines, there is still hope for this nation. Where do you think the yearnings for righteousness, justice, and compassion originate from? If you are moved to tears of compassion, and indignation over wickedness and unrighteousness, how much more is God Almighty who delights in showing mercy and takes pleasure in pouring out kindness in righteousness and truth?
We serve the God who holds the hearts of the kings and rulers of the nations in the palm of His hand. The nations are but nothing before Him. History is filled with instances where God intervened with supernatural acts on heaven and the earth in response to sustained fasting and prayer. For example, God used a leader who was involved in Freemasonry at the highest levels (Freemasonry is a secret society that gives its allegiance to Lucifer through odd rituals and oaths) to be instrumental in birthing the nation of Israel (a prophetic sign of God’s final breaking in and driving Lucifer’s influence off the planet).
All this started from a movement of extended fasting and prayer that was birthed out of San Diego in 1946. Franklin Hall wrote a book called Atomic Power with God through Prayer and Fasting. Inspired by this book, thousands of God’s people went on extended fasts (21+ days) and God answered from heaven with signs and wonders. Most of all, against all odds, the Jewish State was born to the glory of God. This was about the same time when the United States became recognized as a global superpower.
What does God want most?
God is jealous for our affections and desires. His Jealous affections are like a Mother Grizzly Bear who diligently watches over her cubs. In training her cubs for the wild, she will sometimes hide herself as her cubs search for food or play. All the while, her cubs remain within her guarded sight. Anything that threatens her cubs brings an immediate response and wrath. Should you get in between a Mother Grizzly bear and her cubs, start saying your prayers!
If a mere Grizzly bear is burning with desire for her cubs, how much more does our great Bridegroom God burn with zealous desire for us to be fully his as a Bride? Jesus’ eyes are a flaming fire, full of passion and delight over you and me. Woe to anything that we wrongly put in front of our Bridegroom God as the object of our highest affections! It is better to get in between a Mother Grizzly bear and her cubs than to put something in between a passionate Bridegroom God and the one He loves- the Bride of Christ. I somewhat experienced this first-hand (cringe).
As many of you know, in November and December, I was part of an apostolic team that traveled to Malaysia and Korea. I saw great and astounding things where God shifted the political landscape of nations. The shifting of the nations was accompanied by shifts in the literal Pacific plates as earthquakes rocked Alaska, New Zealand, and Indonesia. There was only one HUGE problem. All of this, along with a few other astounding answers to prayer in those months caused something to get in front of the burning zeal and desire of Jesus and my passions. It was called spiritual pride. The emotional sustenance that made me feel important (especially in the eyes of people) began to shift from the pure love of Jesus (knowing in my emotions that God likes me) to the great and awesome things God had done through me in intercession.
The shift began subtly, but within 2 months, the self-centered conceit and pride in my heart led to feelings of entitlement (I am the great man of God, I deserve _{fill in the blank} ) When I didn’t get _{fill in the blank} from people, I began getting angry with God (as if _{fill in the blank} could really satisfy the deepest desire of my heart?). All of my relationships ended up suffering from the bitterness I had with God. Other problems listed in Romans 1:18-32 began to appear as well. This was a horrible season, where I was stuck in oppression and the spirit of murder began knocking at the door. It was only within this last week or so that I feel that God in his grace got me “un-stuck”.
Who (or what) are we looking at for America’s salvation?
It was in 1 Samuel 8 where the people of Israel were crying out for a king like all the other nations had. The LORD responded brokenheartedly, “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as King.” This was the same great God (who gave instructions concerning a king in Deuteronomy 18:14-20) who said with burning, passionate love, Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever. (Deuteronomy 5:29).
Samuel continued to plead with the people of Israel about the trouble that would come with a king and yet the people persisted in their rejection of God and desiring a human leader. In 1 Samuel 12:16-18 we read, Now then, stand still and see this great thing that the LORD is about to do before your eyes! Is it not the wheat harvest now? I will call upon the LORD to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the LORD when you asked for a king. Then Samuel called upon the LORD, and the same day, the LORD sent thunder and rain.
I completely agree with the need for godly leadership in civil government. If we do not end abortion, God will- and the result will be a very, very tragic and sad day for America. These elections are very, very important. However, the President is only human. Neither Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, nor anyone else is able to save America. With this, I need to ask a really painful and thorny question: In the perceptions of many Christians, did Mike Huckabee wrongly get in between the Bridegroom God and our highest affections much like my self-centered pride did (in a negative way) with my little story above?
I find it interesting that on Super Tuesday, the worst outbreak of tornadoes for February in many decades struck the states that Mike Huckabee actually won! We’ve been crying out for God’s mercy and perhaps God is showing us mercy by preventing anything from getting wrongly in between God and the church that He so loves.
1 Samuel 8 also gives the reason why Israel wanted a King- the priesthood was unfaithful in their ministry before God! This brings us to another thorny question-especially for leaders in the Body of Christ like me: Have we been faithful as the Bride of Christ in our priestly ministry of worship and prayer as a lifestyle before God? OUCH!
As the result, we are at the end of our resources and hope. We are a broken Church in pain, the midst of a broken nation (that generally does not yet perceive of how much trouble we are now in). We are facing complex, and difficult problems that must be solved quickly; where there is simply no solution. This is a great spot for us to be in so that God can now win our hearts fully back to Him and dazzle us with His kindness.
Meanwhile, Bill 777 has passed in California which encourages immorality (and homosexuality) in the public school system of California. Mike Huckabee has now conceded the Republican nomination to John McCain, leaving no explicit pro-life candidates running for President in America. Meanwhile, there hasn’t been much in the way of clear prophetic direction. It’s been 9 months since the 40-day fast last June and July and we have yet to see a massive spiritual awakening in America. All of this though many people have spent many days in fasting, praying, and weeping before God. Much of the Church is asking the same question: Is there any hope? Is this fasting, weeping, and mourning thing really the wisdom of God?
The real hope of America…
Let me say this: The answer is in your tears. The fact that so many of you are deeply discouraged, in mourning, and their hearts are full of pain is a sign that God has not given up on America. Your tears in themselves are a sign that there is still hope for America. There is still hope for your children, your families, your churches, your workplaces, and your cities. If you are yet moved with tears of compassion, mercy, and righteous indignation against wickedness over the headlines, there is still hope for this nation. Where do you think the yearnings for righteousness, justice, and compassion originate from? If you are moved to tears of compassion, and indignation over wickedness and unrighteousness, how much more is God Almighty who delights in showing mercy and takes pleasure in pouring out kindness in righteousness and truth?
We serve the God who holds the hearts of the kings and rulers of the nations in the palm of His hand. The nations are but nothing before Him. History is filled with instances where God intervened with supernatural acts on heaven and the earth in response to sustained fasting and prayer. For example, God used a leader who was involved in Freemasonry at the highest levels (Freemasonry is a secret society that gives its allegiance to Lucifer through odd rituals and oaths) to be instrumental in birthing the nation of Israel (a prophetic sign of God’s final breaking in and driving Lucifer’s influence off the planet).
All this started from a movement of extended fasting and prayer that was birthed out of San Diego in 1946. Franklin Hall wrote a book called Atomic Power with God through Prayer and Fasting. Inspired by this book, thousands of God’s people went on extended fasts (21+ days) and God answered from heaven with signs and wonders. Most of all, against all odds, the Jewish State was born to the glory of God. This was about the same time when the United States became recognized as a global superpower.
What does God want most?
God is jealous for our affections and desires. His Jealous affections are like a Mother Grizzly Bear who diligently watches over her cubs. In training her cubs for the wild, she will sometimes hide herself as her cubs search for food or play. All the while, her cubs remain within her guarded sight. Anything that threatens her cubs brings an immediate response and wrath. Should you get in between a Mother Grizzly bear and her cubs, start saying your prayers!
If a mere Grizzly bear is burning with desire for her cubs, how much more does our great Bridegroom God burn with zealous desire for us to be fully his as a Bride? Jesus’ eyes are a flaming fire, full of passion and delight over you and me. Woe to anything that we wrongly put in front of our Bridegroom God as the object of our highest affections! It is better to get in between a Mother Grizzly bear and her cubs than to put something in between a passionate Bridegroom God and the one He loves- the Bride of Christ. I somewhat experienced this first-hand (cringe).
As many of you know, in November and December, I was part of an apostolic team that traveled to Malaysia and Korea. I saw great and astounding things where God shifted the political landscape of nations. The shifting of the nations was accompanied by shifts in the literal Pacific plates as earthquakes rocked Alaska, New Zealand, and Indonesia. There was only one HUGE problem. All of this, along with a few other astounding answers to prayer in those months caused something to get in front of the burning zeal and desire of Jesus and my passions. It was called spiritual pride. The emotional sustenance that made me feel important (especially in the eyes of people) began to shift from the pure love of Jesus (knowing in my emotions that God likes me) to the great and awesome things God had done through me in intercession.
The shift began subtly, but within 2 months, the self-centered conceit and pride in my heart led to feelings of entitlement (I am the great man of God, I deserve _{fill in the blank} ) When I didn’t get _{fill in the blank} from people, I began getting angry with God (as if _{fill in the blank} could really satisfy the deepest desire of my heart?). All of my relationships ended up suffering from the bitterness I had with God. Other problems listed in Romans 1:18-32 began to appear as well. This was a horrible season, where I was stuck in oppression and the spirit of murder began knocking at the door. It was only within this last week or so that I feel that God in his grace got me “un-stuck”.
Who (or what) are we looking at for America’s salvation?
It was in 1 Samuel 8 where the people of Israel were crying out for a king like all the other nations had. The LORD responded brokenheartedly, “Listen to all that the people are saying to you; it is not you they have rejected, but they have rejected Me as King.” This was the same great God (who gave instructions concerning a king in Deuteronomy 18:14-20) who said with burning, passionate love, Oh, that their hearts would be inclined to fear me and keep all my commands always, so that it might go well with them and their children forever. (Deuteronomy 5:29).
Samuel continued to plead with the people of Israel about the trouble that would come with a king and yet the people persisted in their rejection of God and desiring a human leader. In 1 Samuel 12:16-18 we read, Now then, stand still and see this great thing that the LORD is about to do before your eyes! Is it not the wheat harvest now? I will call upon the LORD to send thunder and rain. And you will realize what an evil thing you did in the eyes of the LORD when you asked for a king. Then Samuel called upon the LORD, and the same day, the LORD sent thunder and rain.
I completely agree with the need for godly leadership in civil government. If we do not end abortion, God will- and the result will be a very, very tragic and sad day for America. These elections are very, very important. However, the President is only human. Neither Republicans, Democrats, Independents, Libertarians, nor anyone else is able to save America. With this, I need to ask a really painful and thorny question: In the perceptions of many Christians, did Mike Huckabee wrongly get in between the Bridegroom God and our highest affections much like my self-centered pride did (in a negative way) with my little story above?
I find it interesting that on Super Tuesday, the worst outbreak of tornadoes for February in many decades struck the states that Mike Huckabee actually won! We’ve been crying out for God’s mercy and perhaps God is showing us mercy by preventing anything from getting wrongly in between God and the church that He so loves.
1 Samuel 8 also gives the reason why Israel wanted a King- the priesthood was unfaithful in their ministry before God! This brings us to another thorny question-especially for leaders in the Body of Christ like me: Have we been faithful as the Bride of Christ in our priestly ministry of worship and prayer as a lifestyle before God? OUCH!
As the result, we are at the end of our resources and hope. We are a broken Church in pain, the midst of a broken nation (that generally does not yet perceive of how much trouble we are now in). We are facing complex, and difficult problems that must be solved quickly; where there is simply no solution. This is a great spot for us to be in so that God can now win our hearts fully back to Him and dazzle us with His kindness.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)