WHERE THERE IS SMOKE, THERE IS FIRE!

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!