Well, we are at it again. Here comes another 40 day fast!
The scriptures this fast are based out of are Ezekiel 33:17; 1 Kings 19; Revelation 2:17 and Revelation 3:12. This is the time to "wrap our face in the mantle of God's name."
I am also very aware that this fast is about a breakthrough into Asia. Confuscianism has a massive grip on areas of China, Japan, and Korea with influences in the rest of Asia such as Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Myanmar, and other areas. In Confuscian philosophy, societal worth is deeply connected with position of authority or age. Many Asian cultures are deeply rooted in shame/honor dynamics. "Saving face" is really important because the whole concept of internal personal honor is so critical.
It is clear that God has some major plans for Asia in terms of finishing the great commission. It is clear that it will take young, apostolic missionaries to go on the front lines who are willing to risk everything. (Generally, the older people get, the harder it is for them to go into situations where they are willing to risk everything.) However, to unleash the youth of Asia into the harvest field, it will mean the shifting and changing of many in positions of honor within the Church.
Without a heavenly identity, many in Asia will deeply resist such changes if it means a demotion of personal honor. This whole fast is about going deep into knowing who we are to God and wrapping our identity around how valued we are to Him. (Jesus didn't consider coming from heaven to earth to the cross for us to be too high of a price.)
Sunday, June 29, 2008
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Jess's prophetic history part 5 humility required.
In the last 4 sessions I have shared some of the prophetic things that God has spoken over my life in quite astounding ways. Now I want and need to share with you the key to unlocking all of these promises.
Many years ago, God clearly let me know, "I am requiring EXTRAORDINARY humility upon your life." Someone pointed out that it seems that the statement contradicts itself...until we throw some scriptures into the mix:
1. James 4:6- "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble".
2. 2 Corinthians 12:8 "Three times, I pleaded with the LORD to take it {a thorn in the flesh} away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' "
3. Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth."
In otherwords, it will require extraordinary humility to recieve extraordinary grace from God to do extraordinary things in God.
In choosing humility, there is a voluntary dimension based on living out the Sermon on the Mount Lifestyle of Matthew 5-7. In fasting/prayer, giving extravagently, serving without demanding repayment, practicing righteousness, and blessing enemies (avoiding bitterness like its the plague). If you think about it, this is what you DON"T DO if you want to be come powerful and rich upon the earth unless there is a God.
There is also an involuntary dimension of choosing humility- (When you get to visit heaven, ask Paul about it...ha ha) it's spelled T-R-O-U-B-L-E. This is the part I don't like. In most Christian circles, people walk in a measure of humility because they don't want trouble. However, because of 2 Corinthians 12:7; Paul (who definitely chose humility, calling himself the chief of sinners except for God's grace) catalogs all of his trouble and difficulty in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29.
STORY; July-August 2004
Julie Meyer goes to Mike Bickle after having a visitation from the LORD related to IHOP's stock going way up; a 5x5 rock crashing through the ceiling, and a period of 30 days of silence before the LORD; followed by a simple key that will unlock the End-Times. Julie gets the scripture Daniel 12:3-4 to give to Mike. Unknown to her, Mike has been meditating on Daniel 12:3-4. As the result IHOP-KC goes on a corporate 30-day fast.
Daniel 12:3-4 "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end."
I start on this fast...but am really frustrated. I'm hoping for significant personal breakthrough and not much happens for the first 10 days. I'm pretty much out of money and this whole thing of living as an intercessory missionary is not practically working. I can't even fast right! After saying "no" for 10 days in the middle, God's spirit convinces me to pick it up again for the last 10 days.
On a typical Friday in the prayer room, God suddenly connects a whole bunch of scriptures. He gives me James 3:13-18 which connects to Isaiah 14:12-15; Philippians 2:1-14; Revelation 13:18; and Daniel 12:3-4! What all these scriptures are about are the wisdom of God vs. the wisdom of satan.
After this whirlwind of revelation, I sat there stunned. God had given me some prophetic revelation that a 30 day fast had been called over. I also was in horror as I saw WAY TOO MUCH of the wisdom of satan operating in my life and WAY TOO LITTLE of the wisdom of God operating in my life.
The next day, staggered and put in fear by this understanding, I went to a contemplative prayer group at the Doria's home group. I asked for prayer from the children after the prayer meeting. They prayed and God gave me a few visions related to some healing God would do in my life.
The encounter continued to escalate as I was then caught up into a trance (where I was aware of what was going on in the room, yet clearly also somewhere else). I then saw Jesus walking towards me with tears in His eyes, that I could tell were tears of joy. He told me in this trance, "Jess, do you realize what you have been asking for? I have longed to give this to My Church this for ages! I will help you recieve this."
SUMMARY:
God has given me tremendous prophetic promises related to Israel, apostolic power, and revival upon my individual life. To walk in these prophetic promises in this age, will require extraordinary humility (both voluntarily choosing humility and involuntary trouble that forces humility for survival).
Many years ago, God clearly let me know, "I am requiring EXTRAORDINARY humility upon your life." Someone pointed out that it seems that the statement contradicts itself...until we throw some scriptures into the mix:
1. James 4:6- "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble".
2. 2 Corinthians 12:8 "Three times, I pleaded with the LORD to take it {a thorn in the flesh} away from me. But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' "
3. Matthew 5:5 "Blessed are the meek for they will inherit the earth."
In otherwords, it will require extraordinary humility to recieve extraordinary grace from God to do extraordinary things in God.
In choosing humility, there is a voluntary dimension based on living out the Sermon on the Mount Lifestyle of Matthew 5-7. In fasting/prayer, giving extravagently, serving without demanding repayment, practicing righteousness, and blessing enemies (avoiding bitterness like its the plague). If you think about it, this is what you DON"T DO if you want to be come powerful and rich upon the earth unless there is a God.
There is also an involuntary dimension of choosing humility- (When you get to visit heaven, ask Paul about it...ha ha) it's spelled T-R-O-U-B-L-E. This is the part I don't like. In most Christian circles, people walk in a measure of humility because they don't want trouble. However, because of 2 Corinthians 12:7; Paul (who definitely chose humility, calling himself the chief of sinners except for God's grace) catalogs all of his trouble and difficulty in 2 Corinthians 11:23-29.
STORY; July-August 2004
Julie Meyer goes to Mike Bickle after having a visitation from the LORD related to IHOP's stock going way up; a 5x5 rock crashing through the ceiling, and a period of 30 days of silence before the LORD; followed by a simple key that will unlock the End-Times. Julie gets the scripture Daniel 12:3-4 to give to Mike. Unknown to her, Mike has been meditating on Daniel 12:3-4. As the result IHOP-KC goes on a corporate 30-day fast.
Daniel 12:3-4 "Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever. But you Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end."
I start on this fast...but am really frustrated. I'm hoping for significant personal breakthrough and not much happens for the first 10 days. I'm pretty much out of money and this whole thing of living as an intercessory missionary is not practically working. I can't even fast right! After saying "no" for 10 days in the middle, God's spirit convinces me to pick it up again for the last 10 days.
On a typical Friday in the prayer room, God suddenly connects a whole bunch of scriptures. He gives me James 3:13-18 which connects to Isaiah 14:12-15; Philippians 2:1-14; Revelation 13:18; and Daniel 12:3-4! What all these scriptures are about are the wisdom of God vs. the wisdom of satan.
After this whirlwind of revelation, I sat there stunned. God had given me some prophetic revelation that a 30 day fast had been called over. I also was in horror as I saw WAY TOO MUCH of the wisdom of satan operating in my life and WAY TOO LITTLE of the wisdom of God operating in my life.
The next day, staggered and put in fear by this understanding, I went to a contemplative prayer group at the Doria's home group. I asked for prayer from the children after the prayer meeting. They prayed and God gave me a few visions related to some healing God would do in my life.
The encounter continued to escalate as I was then caught up into a trance (where I was aware of what was going on in the room, yet clearly also somewhere else). I then saw Jesus walking towards me with tears in His eyes, that I could tell were tears of joy. He told me in this trance, "Jess, do you realize what you have been asking for? I have longed to give this to My Church this for ages! I will help you recieve this."
SUMMARY:
God has given me tremendous prophetic promises related to Israel, apostolic power, and revival upon my individual life. To walk in these prophetic promises in this age, will require extraordinary humility (both voluntarily choosing humility and involuntary trouble that forces humility for survival).
Monday, June 23, 2008
Jess's prophetic history part 4
In the last sessions of my prophetic history, I have shared significant parts of my prophetic story- in otherwords, the positive things that God has dynamically spoken that have shaped my walk with Jesus. So we need to ask a broader question: What's the point of all this? (Is it just for me to have a little bit of excitement?)
Over the last several years, God has clearly connected my heart to the nation of Israel, particularly the Messianic Jewish people. Hebraic worship music had a large part in bringing me to Jesus Christ at the first Bible camp I attended. I picked Israel in doing a year-long news watch in 9th grade.
I now understand that revival in the nation of Israel and the rising up of an apostolic Messianic Jewish Church is the key to unlocking to the release of widespread signs and wonders, the transfer of wealth into the hands of the righteous,the shifting of national political governments, the final global harvest of more than 1 Billion souls ablaze for Jesus (particularly in Muslim nations), and the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ! In order to win the Jewish people to Yeshua in large numbers, God is going to raise up an apostolic witness in power to the all the Gentile nations to make Israel desire Yeshua once again. On IHOP Prophetic History CD #7; When Mike had the chariot experience where his clock said 2:15; it was more than Joel 2:15. Let's look at some scriptures first and then I'll tell two stories.
Romans 11:14-15 Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in hope that I may arouse my own (Jewish) people to jealousy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Ephesians 2:15 His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of two (Jew and Gentile), thus making peace and in this one body to reconcile both of them to god through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
STORY: Oratorio Terezin.
In February-March 2004, I went on a significant fast over Israel mandate and the revival going on in New Zealand at the time with YWAM and Impact World Tour.God opened my understanding to His purpose for Israel. In the midst of the fast, I got connected to Pamela and Ruth Fazal at the innaugural Israel mandate conference.
Ruth shared about how God touched her heart for the Jewish people when someone handed her a book of poems called "I never saw another butterfly" from children who were imprisoned (and later, most were killed) in Terezin. The LORD challenged Ruth to weave the poetry together with orchestral music into an Oratorio to comfort the Jewish people...that the nation could reconsider the goodness of God.
I felt I was being given a deep invitation by God to be part of this project-and His larger purposes for Israel. I was aware that Hitler had used Martin Luther's writings to justify the holocaust. As someone with a Lutheran heritage, I felt that perhaps God would use another Lutheran to be part of the healing process. I also knew that I had suffered serious brokeness emotionally and I knew that God often used weaknesses to show His power.
In June 2004, I was formally invited into this when in the midst of worship, I was caught up in an open vision. Jesus appeared to me wearing a Jewish prayer shawl and he handed me a piece of Jewelry shaped like a musical note. However, in place of the "note" indicating what pitch it was, there was a heart. Jesus asked me, "Will you take this to Jerusalem for Me?" I took it saying, "I can't...unless you take me by my right hand..." and I realized I was directly quoting Isaiah 45:1-3!
With an opportunity to love Jesus radically like that, this was the time for me to go "All in" (using Texas Hold'm terminology). The resulting season in April-May 2005 was one of highest-level prayer assignments that I had ever had- and one of the most thrilling ever as well.
One New Man 2007
It was early February 2007 and I knew that 2007 was going to be a very important year in the grace of God. I had been on another significant fast. I was in the prayer room as Bill Johnson was speaking at the signs and wonders conference and there was no room for anyone at the conference. The prayer meeting was focused on ending the evil of human trafficking.
I was caught up in a vision and I was seeing the Revelation 4-5 throne of God and His strategy to end this evil. I also became acutely aware that I was part of the problem, not the solution because of some subtle compromise with lust. I was brokenhearted over this reality as I knew flesh could only give birth to flesh. I then took communion.
Jesus then came to me and showed me a greeting card and said, "Will you carry this for me?" He then showed me a greeting card and opened it. On the inside was a picture of His broken heart. I knew his heart was broken over the state of “the One New Man”…the reality talked about in Ephesians 2:11-22. I also knew that the “One New Man reality” would release the final End-Time harvest of more than 1 Billion souls.
Overwhelmed, I then asked Jesus about the harvest in Taiwan because I had promised to pray for Jaeson Ma. He looked at me but I could sense he said, "You don't realize how much more I want to bring in this harvest." How can I say 'No'?"
The whole prophetic visitation was later confirmed in a number of significant ways. The most significant was on the last night, I found out that God used Jaeson in an astounding miracle in Taiwan that was shown all over the island of 5 million people on television.
Over the last several years, God has clearly connected my heart to the nation of Israel, particularly the Messianic Jewish people. Hebraic worship music had a large part in bringing me to Jesus Christ at the first Bible camp I attended. I picked Israel in doing a year-long news watch in 9th grade.
I now understand that revival in the nation of Israel and the rising up of an apostolic Messianic Jewish Church is the key to unlocking to the release of widespread signs and wonders, the transfer of wealth into the hands of the righteous,the shifting of national political governments, the final global harvest of more than 1 Billion souls ablaze for Jesus (particularly in Muslim nations), and the 2nd Coming of Jesus Christ! In order to win the Jewish people to Yeshua in large numbers, God is going to raise up an apostolic witness in power to the all the Gentile nations to make Israel desire Yeshua once again. On IHOP Prophetic History CD #7; When Mike had the chariot experience where his clock said 2:15; it was more than Joel 2:15. Let's look at some scriptures first and then I'll tell two stories.
Romans 11:14-15 Inasmuch as I am the apostle to the Gentiles, I make much of my ministry in hope that I may arouse my own (Jewish) people to jealousy and save some of them. For if their rejection is the reconciliation of the world what will their acceptance be but life from the dead?
Ephesians 2:15 His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of two (Jew and Gentile), thus making peace and in this one body to reconcile both of them to god through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.
STORY: Oratorio Terezin.
In February-March 2004, I went on a significant fast over Israel mandate and the revival going on in New Zealand at the time with YWAM and Impact World Tour.God opened my understanding to His purpose for Israel. In the midst of the fast, I got connected to Pamela and Ruth Fazal at the innaugural Israel mandate conference.
Ruth shared about how God touched her heart for the Jewish people when someone handed her a book of poems called "I never saw another butterfly" from children who were imprisoned (and later, most were killed) in Terezin. The LORD challenged Ruth to weave the poetry together with orchestral music into an Oratorio to comfort the Jewish people...that the nation could reconsider the goodness of God.
I felt I was being given a deep invitation by God to be part of this project-and His larger purposes for Israel. I was aware that Hitler had used Martin Luther's writings to justify the holocaust. As someone with a Lutheran heritage, I felt that perhaps God would use another Lutheran to be part of the healing process. I also knew that I had suffered serious brokeness emotionally and I knew that God often used weaknesses to show His power.
In June 2004, I was formally invited into this when in the midst of worship, I was caught up in an open vision. Jesus appeared to me wearing a Jewish prayer shawl and he handed me a piece of Jewelry shaped like a musical note. However, in place of the "note" indicating what pitch it was, there was a heart. Jesus asked me, "Will you take this to Jerusalem for Me?" I took it saying, "I can't...unless you take me by my right hand..." and I realized I was directly quoting Isaiah 45:1-3!
With an opportunity to love Jesus radically like that, this was the time for me to go "All in" (using Texas Hold'm terminology). The resulting season in April-May 2005 was one of highest-level prayer assignments that I had ever had- and one of the most thrilling ever as well.
One New Man 2007
It was early February 2007 and I knew that 2007 was going to be a very important year in the grace of God. I had been on another significant fast. I was in the prayer room as Bill Johnson was speaking at the signs and wonders conference and there was no room for anyone at the conference. The prayer meeting was focused on ending the evil of human trafficking.
I was caught up in a vision and I was seeing the Revelation 4-5 throne of God and His strategy to end this evil. I also became acutely aware that I was part of the problem, not the solution because of some subtle compromise with lust. I was brokenhearted over this reality as I knew flesh could only give birth to flesh. I then took communion.
Jesus then came to me and showed me a greeting card and said, "Will you carry this for me?" He then showed me a greeting card and opened it. On the inside was a picture of His broken heart. I knew his heart was broken over the state of “the One New Man”…the reality talked about in Ephesians 2:11-22. I also knew that the “One New Man reality” would release the final End-Time harvest of more than 1 Billion souls.
Overwhelmed, I then asked Jesus about the harvest in Taiwan because I had promised to pray for Jaeson Ma. He looked at me but I could sense he said, "You don't realize how much more I want to bring in this harvest." How can I say 'No'?"
The whole prophetic visitation was later confirmed in a number of significant ways. The most significant was on the last night, I found out that God used Jaeson in an astounding miracle in Taiwan that was shown all over the island of 5 million people on television.
Sunday, June 22, 2008
Jess's prophetic history part 3
I have dated very few women in my lifetime, partly because of the call of God upon my life. However, if I were to put out a personal ad, it would probably go something like this:
WANTED: Relatively young Proverbs 31 woman who is an intercessor and a worshipper of God (preferably a worship leader). Has experience in confronting principalities and powers in Christ with the healed-up wounds to prove it. Knows that they will likely suffer, be imprisioned, and martyred for the Gospel. Preferrably knows several languages, likes to travel, and likes intense situations. CALL I- Ha,Ha,Ha,-He he.
Goofing off and personal ads aside, Here are some scriptures:
Isaiah 6:8- Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore into all world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; teaching them to obey all I have commanded you. And I am with you always, even unto the End of the age."
1 Corinthians 4:13 When we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
STORIES:
During a time of overt mistreatment by an older roommate in 2006 God directly gave me the bottom scripture (when I didn't know about this passage) as a prophetic word in describing why he allowed so much pain and difficulty during my elementary school days where I was literally treated as "the scum of the earth". This was not the first (or last) time I had been given a prophetic word like this.
Holy Spirit Conference 2003 story.
I knew that this was my last Holy Spirit conference before I would go to IHOP-KC. R.T. Kendel had spoken about overcoming offense and I went forward, though I was not consciously aware that I was holding offense against someone. Earlier in the day, God spoke to me a little bit about why He was sending me to Kansas City.
I got prayer from Bob and his partner who were captains of the altar ministry team. They begin praying over me and Bob strongly gets the prophetic word, "Apostle". (Oh great...maybe he knows God is sending me to KC.) His partner gets a vision of me in the middle of a parade, leading it along the street with large crowds on the side. Add this to IHOP history CD #7 and what God had spoken earlier in the day and I was trembling with the fear of God.
The next day, I didn't want anything to do with the conference but I came back for the evening session. I got prayer from my friends in my Church Bill and Teresa. Bill prayed something like this:
"Oh Lord, bless Jess as he goes to Kansas City...and make Him a leader, and let Him touch millions and millions of people."
This 2-day incident had confirmed 2 other major prophetic encounters I had experienced in the last year:
1. August 10th, 2002- Open vision where I saw the flags of the nations of the earth rotating around the earth, me preaching in power to fields of people as far as the eye could see. God gives me Matthew 28:18-20.
2. February 21st, 2003- Another open vision where I saw the floods of glory, judgment, mercy, and grace filling the earth. God gave me Ephesians 5:25-27. It was about the call of God upon my life.
September 16th 2006- I was sitting at the front when I was asked to move. It turns out that someone had forgotten to reserve 2 spots for some key Cyrus partners. Mike was staring at me in the midst of this whole awkward drama.
All this was going as Mike Bickle was reviewing the parade experience (in CD #7). I was sitting near the front. He mentions in sharing the story, "Those whom God calls to this type of ministry will be known for their meekness, for their identity will be in who they are before God, not what they are doing before people."
What's the ultimate purpose of this individual ministry call? Tune in tommorrow...
Jess Gjerstad
WANTED: Relatively young Proverbs 31 woman who is an intercessor and a worshipper of God (preferably a worship leader). Has experience in confronting principalities and powers in Christ with the healed-up wounds to prove it. Knows that they will likely suffer, be imprisioned, and martyred for the Gospel. Preferrably knows several languages, likes to travel, and likes intense situations. CALL I- Ha,Ha,Ha,-He he.
Goofing off and personal ads aside, Here are some scriptures:
Isaiah 6:8- Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, "Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?
Matthew 28:19-20 "Go therefore into all world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; teaching them to obey all I have commanded you. And I am with you always, even unto the End of the age."
1 Corinthians 4:13 When we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.
STORIES:
During a time of overt mistreatment by an older roommate in 2006 God directly gave me the bottom scripture (when I didn't know about this passage) as a prophetic word in describing why he allowed so much pain and difficulty during my elementary school days where I was literally treated as "the scum of the earth". This was not the first (or last) time I had been given a prophetic word like this.
Holy Spirit Conference 2003 story.
I knew that this was my last Holy Spirit conference before I would go to IHOP-KC. R.T. Kendel had spoken about overcoming offense and I went forward, though I was not consciously aware that I was holding offense against someone. Earlier in the day, God spoke to me a little bit about why He was sending me to Kansas City.
I got prayer from Bob and his partner who were captains of the altar ministry team. They begin praying over me and Bob strongly gets the prophetic word, "Apostle". (Oh great...maybe he knows God is sending me to KC.) His partner gets a vision of me in the middle of a parade, leading it along the street with large crowds on the side. Add this to IHOP history CD #7 and what God had spoken earlier in the day and I was trembling with the fear of God.
The next day, I didn't want anything to do with the conference but I came back for the evening session. I got prayer from my friends in my Church Bill and Teresa. Bill prayed something like this:
"Oh Lord, bless Jess as he goes to Kansas City...and make Him a leader, and let Him touch millions and millions of people."
This 2-day incident had confirmed 2 other major prophetic encounters I had experienced in the last year:
1. August 10th, 2002- Open vision where I saw the flags of the nations of the earth rotating around the earth, me preaching in power to fields of people as far as the eye could see. God gives me Matthew 28:18-20.
2. February 21st, 2003- Another open vision where I saw the floods of glory, judgment, mercy, and grace filling the earth. God gave me Ephesians 5:25-27. It was about the call of God upon my life.
September 16th 2006- I was sitting at the front when I was asked to move. It turns out that someone had forgotten to reserve 2 spots for some key Cyrus partners. Mike was staring at me in the midst of this whole awkward drama.
All this was going as Mike Bickle was reviewing the parade experience (in CD #7). I was sitting near the front. He mentions in sharing the story, "Those whom God calls to this type of ministry will be known for their meekness, for their identity will be in who they are before God, not what they are doing before people."
What's the ultimate purpose of this individual ministry call? Tune in tommorrow...
Jess Gjerstad
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Jess's prophetic history part 2
In this series, I am putting parts of my prophetic history on-line. This is the second installment. First, I want to share a scriptures...
Acts 4:29-30 "Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak you word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
The context of this prayer was that God had just released a notable miracle when the lame man at the temple gate was healed. It caused a massive stir in the city to where the religious leaders arrested John and Peter, beat them, and threatened them further. Meanwhile, the number of disciples multiplied as the result of that miracle in Jerusalem.
The apostles knew that if God answered their prayer for miracles. persecution and trouble would greatly multiply. (This is in deep contrast to hidden motive on why many ask for power today...seeing the wealth and honor that also comes with this type of anointing)However, the apostles also knew if God answered their prayer, multitudes would turn and follow Jesus. To the apostles, the trade-off of greater trouble and pain for more souls being saved was a GREAT deal because they loved Jesus and his people so much.
STORIES
Miraculous signs and wonders are part of the Church's birth right. My first encounter with the prophetic/supernatural dimensions of God came immediately after I gave my life to Jesus on July 16th, 1990. Later than evening, Grant prophesied that God wanted to do some powerful things the next night (July 17th).
The next night, Greg Berglund preached on the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Not having a clue what this was about (Who's the Holy's Spirit?), I was the only kid to go up front for a little bit of an experiment. They prayed for me (expecting me to speak in tongues or something...) nothing happened. I then prayed for a lady who's arms were unequal by 5 inches because of a serious shoulder injury (not having a clue what I was doing). In front of everyone at the camp, her arm suddenly grew out by God's power, causing Holy hyperactivity to burst forth. Over the next 2 years, between 100-200+ students came to Christ in these youth groups of the 4 churches present at the camp.
MAY 2004...
I was pacing back and forth in the back of the prayer room. I sensed the tender presence of the Holy Spirit. I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me: "This summer, I will begin to release the flood of signs, wonders, and miracles in your life. Like a small stream growing into a mighty river, so shall My Glory come like a flood. Watch the river as I flood it with mercy and grace. Even as the river will flood in the natural, so I will flood your life with My Glory"
That evening I had an INTENSE prophetic dream. (While I was aware there was thunder and lightning outside.)
I dreamt that Many Warner(someone on the worship team I was on at that time) was heavily anointed by God. She went over to Rick and prayed for Him. He went down under the power sobbing. Then someone laid their hands on my back three separate times. Once on my lower back, once on my the middle of my back, and once on the upper back/ back of my head. Each time, fiery pain shot through my body, the most intense being the third time. The third time affected my manhood identity and other things. In the midst of the third time, I was worshipping God.
Suddenly, God picked me out in the midst of darkness and I felt a strong wind right in my face. God was blowing on my face! I was immediately caught up in the Spirit. The voice said, “Feel the wind of the Spirit. I am taking you higher and higher.” I then said something like, “My first priority is to share this with others right?” He then turned and with a majestic, still, small kind voice said, “Your first priority is ME. As a gift, I am giving you this prophetic dream.”
The next morning I go into the 5:30 AM briefing and Mandy warner is all excited telling all of us about her dream. She talked about me in this dream and I was writhing in pain as if I was having back surgery. (I didn't share the dream I had.)
Later that afternoon, I took a friend to the airport. On returning home, I was going down Red Bridge about to cross over the Blue River. To my surprise, the road was closed because of flood waters. Over 5 inches of rain had fallen upstream in the river basin. I later heard that one of the IHOP-KC staff almost got swept away in her vehicle because the water rose so dramatically!
April 2008;
On March 31st, God gave me an open vision experience in the midst of praying in tongues. In it the Spirit said loudly, "You have not yet touched the Spirit of Grace and supplication I am willing to give this generation." I wrote about it in an earlier blog entry this last month. Scriptures associated with this experience were Zechariah 12:10-12; Luke 22:43-44; and others. This was to set up another encounter with God a few weeks later:
April 17th, 2008 I have a very vivid dream where I was at Redeeming Love Church decorating the wall. the Holy Spirit visited me and says, "I am Jehovah Rapha, no disease known to man will stand before me. Some other things happen in this dream and the Holy Spirit gives me a mantle saying, "You must not lose this mantle." This is in context to the priestly function of the people being their primary identity; not apostle, prophet, or a so called "title". The next day, (April 18th), Todd Bentley prophesies about the healing anointing/widespread signs and wonders coming to Kansas City next!
So far, I have only seen a trickle of the miraculous power of God in both healing miracles and other answers to prayer. However, I believe God intends to send a flood of miraculous signs and wonders in the days ahead.
Acts 4:29-30 "Now Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak you word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform miraculous signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus."
The context of this prayer was that God had just released a notable miracle when the lame man at the temple gate was healed. It caused a massive stir in the city to where the religious leaders arrested John and Peter, beat them, and threatened them further. Meanwhile, the number of disciples multiplied as the result of that miracle in Jerusalem.
The apostles knew that if God answered their prayer for miracles. persecution and trouble would greatly multiply. (This is in deep contrast to hidden motive on why many ask for power today...seeing the wealth and honor that also comes with this type of anointing)However, the apostles also knew if God answered their prayer, multitudes would turn and follow Jesus. To the apostles, the trade-off of greater trouble and pain for more souls being saved was a GREAT deal because they loved Jesus and his people so much.
STORIES
Miraculous signs and wonders are part of the Church's birth right. My first encounter with the prophetic/supernatural dimensions of God came immediately after I gave my life to Jesus on July 16th, 1990. Later than evening, Grant prophesied that God wanted to do some powerful things the next night (July 17th).
The next night, Greg Berglund preached on the baptism of the Holy Spirit, Not having a clue what this was about (Who's the Holy's Spirit?), I was the only kid to go up front for a little bit of an experiment. They prayed for me (expecting me to speak in tongues or something...) nothing happened. I then prayed for a lady who's arms were unequal by 5 inches because of a serious shoulder injury (not having a clue what I was doing). In front of everyone at the camp, her arm suddenly grew out by God's power, causing Holy hyperactivity to burst forth. Over the next 2 years, between 100-200+ students came to Christ in these youth groups of the 4 churches present at the camp.
MAY 2004...
I was pacing back and forth in the back of the prayer room. I sensed the tender presence of the Holy Spirit. I felt the Holy Spirit whisper to me: "This summer, I will begin to release the flood of signs, wonders, and miracles in your life. Like a small stream growing into a mighty river, so shall My Glory come like a flood. Watch the river as I flood it with mercy and grace. Even as the river will flood in the natural, so I will flood your life with My Glory"
That evening I had an INTENSE prophetic dream. (While I was aware there was thunder and lightning outside.)
I dreamt that Many Warner(someone on the worship team I was on at that time) was heavily anointed by God. She went over to Rick and prayed for Him. He went down under the power sobbing. Then someone laid their hands on my back three separate times. Once on my lower back, once on my the middle of my back, and once on the upper back/ back of my head. Each time, fiery pain shot through my body, the most intense being the third time. The third time affected my manhood identity and other things. In the midst of the third time, I was worshipping God.
Suddenly, God picked me out in the midst of darkness and I felt a strong wind right in my face. God was blowing on my face! I was immediately caught up in the Spirit. The voice said, “Feel the wind of the Spirit. I am taking you higher and higher.” I then said something like, “My first priority is to share this with others right?” He then turned and with a majestic, still, small kind voice said, “Your first priority is ME. As a gift, I am giving you this prophetic dream.”
The next morning I go into the 5:30 AM briefing and Mandy warner is all excited telling all of us about her dream. She talked about me in this dream and I was writhing in pain as if I was having back surgery. (I didn't share the dream I had.)
Later that afternoon, I took a friend to the airport. On returning home, I was going down Red Bridge about to cross over the Blue River. To my surprise, the road was closed because of flood waters. Over 5 inches of rain had fallen upstream in the river basin. I later heard that one of the IHOP-KC staff almost got swept away in her vehicle because the water rose so dramatically!
April 2008;
On March 31st, God gave me an open vision experience in the midst of praying in tongues. In it the Spirit said loudly, "You have not yet touched the Spirit of Grace and supplication I am willing to give this generation." I wrote about it in an earlier blog entry this last month. Scriptures associated with this experience were Zechariah 12:10-12; Luke 22:43-44; and others. This was to set up another encounter with God a few weeks later:
April 17th, 2008 I have a very vivid dream where I was at Redeeming Love Church decorating the wall. the Holy Spirit visited me and says, "I am Jehovah Rapha, no disease known to man will stand before me. Some other things happen in this dream and the Holy Spirit gives me a mantle saying, "You must not lose this mantle." This is in context to the priestly function of the people being their primary identity; not apostle, prophet, or a so called "title". The next day, (April 18th), Todd Bentley prophesies about the healing anointing/widespread signs and wonders coming to Kansas City next!
So far, I have only seen a trickle of the miraculous power of God in both healing miracles and other answers to prayer. However, I believe God intends to send a flood of miraculous signs and wonders in the days ahead.
Friday, June 20, 2008
Jess's prophetic history part 1
In the next several entries, I am going to put parts of my prophetic story online.
You may be wondering why I named my blog lightning from heaven- it originated from an incredible story. However, I have a few scriptures I want to share first.
Matthew 23:37- "Love the Lord your God will all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind."
Song of Songs 8:6-7 Set me as a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm, for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. it burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. if one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.
Luke 10:18 "I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven."
Story:
It was July 26th, 2003 and it was in the middle of my first fast in excess of 7 days. I was on the computer looking at Jill Austin's word about the pearl of great price and the lightning storm. Meanwhile, I was also simultaneously listening to IHOP prophetic history CD #9 where Noel Alexander prophesied related to Matthew 23:37 and lightning struck the building. The same CD had John Wimber's story about the earthquake.
In the midst of all this activity, I hear the Spirit of God tell whisper to me, "That is you, ask Me to send lightning on the day you arrive- and you can pick the date." With a total lack of faith, I said to God, "August 26th".
I'm a weather watcher and I knew there was no rain forecasted for Kansas City on August 26th. The forecast was hot (100-105F)and no rain forecasted through Labor Day!
As I start driving, the KTIS Focus on the Family program is talking about Revelation 4-5, living in the "God Zone" and the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ (normally they talk about how to deal with problems in the family but today they were talking about this?!). The program thundered as I passed Downtown Minneapolis, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Meanwhile the Holy Spirit told me that my time in Minneapolis was over.
When I arrived in Kansas City, the sky was lit up with lightning ALL NIGHT LONG!
You may be wondering why I named my blog lightning from heaven- it originated from an incredible story. However, I have a few scriptures I want to share first.
Matthew 23:37- "Love the Lord your God will all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind."
Song of Songs 8:6-7 Set me as a seal over your heart, like a seal on your arm, for love is as strong as death, its jealousy unyielding as the grave. it burns like blazing fire, like a mighty flame. many waters cannot quench love; rivers cannot wash it away. if one were to give all the wealth of his house for love, it would be utterly scorned.
Luke 10:18 "I saw satan fall like lightning from heaven."
Story:
It was July 26th, 2003 and it was in the middle of my first fast in excess of 7 days. I was on the computer looking at Jill Austin's word about the pearl of great price and the lightning storm. Meanwhile, I was also simultaneously listening to IHOP prophetic history CD #9 where Noel Alexander prophesied related to Matthew 23:37 and lightning struck the building. The same CD had John Wimber's story about the earthquake.
In the midst of all this activity, I hear the Spirit of God tell whisper to me, "That is you, ask Me to send lightning on the day you arrive- and you can pick the date." With a total lack of faith, I said to God, "August 26th".
I'm a weather watcher and I knew there was no rain forecasted for Kansas City on August 26th. The forecast was hot (100-105F)and no rain forecasted through Labor Day!
As I start driving, the KTIS Focus on the Family program is talking about Revelation 4-5, living in the "God Zone" and the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ (normally they talk about how to deal with problems in the family but today they were talking about this?!). The program thundered as I passed Downtown Minneapolis, "Well done, good and faithful servant." Meanwhile the Holy Spirit told me that my time in Minneapolis was over.
When I arrived in Kansas City, the sky was lit up with lightning ALL NIGHT LONG!
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Thorny revelation...
Well, it's been a while since I have written! I've gone back to Minnesota and started a new service position here in Kansas City in the meantime. God shared (or re-affirmed) some thorny truth.
Through my whole life, I have had problems with Asperger's syndrome- a mild form of autism that only affects the emotional parts of the brain. What it causes in real life is increased sensitivity emotionally- the equivalent of my emotions "screaming on the mic" (for those of you who have been to prayer room at IHOP-KC) ALL THE TIME in regards to decision making processes. The net effect is that it has caused great problems emotionally, socially, and relationally which has negatively affected other things. I have asked God to take it away (with some long fasts) and basically, God has said "no" giving me 2 Corinthians 12:6-9. (Uggghh...Why God?)
2 Corinthians 12:9 (Jesus said to Paul) "My Grace is sufficient for you and My power is made perfect in weakness."
James 4:6 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
God has also made it clear to me (both before coming to IHOP and now beyond) that He is requiring EXTRAORDINARY humility upon my life. This last weekend, "connected the dots" related to this:
1. God has given me (and may of you) invitations to do great exploits with Him in Kansas City and beyond.
2. The great exploits God has called me to partner with Him in are going to require extraordinary grace.
3. Extraordinary grace requires extraordinary humility (James 4:6; 2 Corinthians
12:9)
4. In terms of weakness and humility, I believe there is the voluntary weakness/choosing humility dimension through living out the Sermon on the Mount Lifestyle (Serving, giving, fasting/prayer, choosing righteousness, and avoiding bitterness like the plague/blessing enemies). I also believe there is an involuntary dimension through difficulty.
It's interesting to me that God increased the pain associated with asperger's syndrome (where it now often affects me physically with severe headaches) right after the first 40-day fast that I had ever called in 2005 related to the release of the prophetic promises over my life. I now realize what probably happened and how God answered my prayer(See 2 Corinthians 12:7-8...uggh).
I believe that this is the season where I need to begin sharing more of my prophetic testimony on my life. I would so much rather do it WITHOUT the thorn of aspergers, but what if it is the only way to walk in the prophetic promises without becoming conceited?
(Groaning forward) but grateful to Jesus goodness
Jess
Through my whole life, I have had problems with Asperger's syndrome- a mild form of autism that only affects the emotional parts of the brain. What it causes in real life is increased sensitivity emotionally- the equivalent of my emotions "screaming on the mic" (for those of you who have been to prayer room at IHOP-KC) ALL THE TIME in regards to decision making processes. The net effect is that it has caused great problems emotionally, socially, and relationally which has negatively affected other things. I have asked God to take it away (with some long fasts) and basically, God has said "no" giving me 2 Corinthians 12:6-9. (Uggghh...Why God?)
2 Corinthians 12:9 (Jesus said to Paul) "My Grace is sufficient for you and My power is made perfect in weakness."
James 4:6 "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."
God has also made it clear to me (both before coming to IHOP and now beyond) that He is requiring EXTRAORDINARY humility upon my life. This last weekend, "connected the dots" related to this:
1. God has given me (and may of you) invitations to do great exploits with Him in Kansas City and beyond.
2. The great exploits God has called me to partner with Him in are going to require extraordinary grace.
3. Extraordinary grace requires extraordinary humility (James 4:6; 2 Corinthians
12:9)
4. In terms of weakness and humility, I believe there is the voluntary weakness/choosing humility dimension through living out the Sermon on the Mount Lifestyle (Serving, giving, fasting/prayer, choosing righteousness, and avoiding bitterness like the plague/blessing enemies). I also believe there is an involuntary dimension through difficulty.
It's interesting to me that God increased the pain associated with asperger's syndrome (where it now often affects me physically with severe headaches) right after the first 40-day fast that I had ever called in 2005 related to the release of the prophetic promises over my life. I now realize what probably happened and how God answered my prayer(See 2 Corinthians 12:7-8...uggh).
I believe that this is the season where I need to begin sharing more of my prophetic testimony on my life. I would so much rather do it WITHOUT the thorn of aspergers, but what if it is the only way to walk in the prophetic promises without becoming conceited?
(Groaning forward) but grateful to Jesus goodness
Jess
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