escape velocity...

NASA scientists often talk about something called "escape velocity"- In layman's terms it is the speed an object needs to be traveling at to overcome the force of gravity. If we can make an object go fast enough, (without causing it to burn up due to heat friction), it can escape the influence of gravity on the earth.

Now what does this have to do with following Jesus- Well are you tired of certain besetting sins in your life? We "psyche ourselves up" to escape from a pattern of sin (let's pretend it is anger- something I don't struggle with...or am I adding deception as another problem ugghhh). We use lots of energy to avoid sinning with anger. The heat and pressure increases on our life...and then... uggghhhh; we the "gravity" or craving of sin gets to us and we crash- and we are still stuck in the same base problem. (Sort of frustrating... and I am now really angry about it.)

So what's the issue? The problem is not about trying harder, but its about recieving more! Assuming that we are exerting emotional and psychological energy (our human will) to resist sin, The issue becomes receiving God's grace. Grace is the free gift of power from God. It is grace that gives us the ability to go faster and escape the "gravity of sin".

In general, the power is manifested in the inner man to handle life with joy and victory. 2 Peter 1:3-4 tells us, His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them, you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. However, the same paradigm also works for manifesting God's grace in the physical realm (prophecy, miraculous healings, and other miracles in the natural realm).

In this passage is a promise from heaven that God will empower us to escape the grip of sin- as we set our hearts to love Jesus and His righteousness. Things such as fasting, prayer, serving, giving, avoiding offense (a grace killer) and pursuing righteousness position our life to recieve more of God's grace safely-without "burning up". When a whole community practices this out of a heart of love for Jesus, a corporate grace is released that transcends anything we could do individually.

Q: Are you ready to launch out for righteousness and escape the gravity of sin?

Israel Mandate conference...

The Israel Mandate Conference is coming up June 5th-7th.

This is critical for IHOP-KC's overall ministry mandate. The other day God showed me that the Israel mandate is critical to making all of the other IHOP-KC mandates to work well.

Jesus clearly told all of us that He will not return to earth in Matthew 22:37-39 until Israel cries out, "Blessed is he (Anyone) who comes in the name of the LORD." Generally, Orthodox Jews are very hostile to the idea of Jesus Christ of Nazareth being the Messiah. Many of them view anyone who turns to Jesus like this as committing "high treason". Meanwhile, secular Israel is suffering from an identity crisis in which they would rather be like everyone else who is deeply prosperous.

It will take extreme trouble and pressure along with an undeniable apostolic witness by the entire Gentile Church (confirmed by widespread signs and wonders; wisdom that is mind-boggling, love that is stronger than death along with apostolic conviction) to provoke Israel to jealousy and then salvation.

God is raising up a worldwide prayer movement centered on the final inbreaking of His Kingdom (i.e. the 2nd coming of Jesus). Jesus will only come back when the whole Church from every nation is ready and invites Him. (Matthew 24:14; Revelation 5:9-10; 22:17.)

Are you ready?

IHOP 10 year anniversary

Tommorrow is IHOP-KC's 10 year anniversary and there is a special program at FSM.

It is going to be quite a rush to get to the meeting because there are 2,500+ people in the IHOP community and the building holds roughly 1,500 people.

IHOP-KC opened on May 7th, 1999. I remember that week pretty well as it was on that day (a Thursday) when the revival at Bethel College (where I was attending school) began breaking forth as a few hundred students gathered to pray- something unusual for that school at that time.

Jess

the glory of the 1st commandment

Over the last few weeks, I have been reviewing some of my most strategic prayer assignments that I have been involved in related to IHOP-KC.

All of them have "Onething" in common: They were all deeply rooted in a tangible expression of the 1st commandment.

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. This is the first and the greatest commandment. (Matthew 22:37-39)

In all of the special prayer assignment cases, God gave me an opportunity to love Jesus in a physical, tangible way in terms of time, money, physical strength etc. In every situation, God made his pleasure known after He empowered me to walk this out.

Q: What happens if a small group of people walk this out fully in a deep way? The world wants to find out!

Jess Gjerstad

Newsworthy updates...

Here are some important newsworthy updates...

1. I've been studying the breakthrough anointing. I also know that with this anointing comes an extra measure of problems... (oooyyy...I wish I knew everything I knew now about this anointing in early 2008; it would have really saved me from some serious problems!)

2. Wanted in Myanmar: 100 apostolic church planters that can rapidly make disciples of Jesus. Must be firmly rooted and grounded in the love of Jesus, radically love Jesus, love people, and be prepared for hardships, opposition, and have a martyr spirit (i.e. "I'm ready to pour out my 'steaming blood' in this place for Jesus...")

3. May 7th 2009 is the 10 year anniversary for IHOP-KC. We were all asked as staff and IHOP family to share our memories and honor people. I had to pick on the "AA" association from my pastoral care days.

4. Reading a new book, "Healing the Tongue" by Derek Prince. It seems like my tongue needs healing and my pocketbook needs a prolonged "restoration" process (thanks to IRS).

It seems after a long period of lots of nothing happening...that something is happening again.

storm spotter training.

Yesterday, I went to the final session on storm spotting in Peculiar MO. Before coming to IHOP, I have always had a fascination with weather and storm. Here is what I really want to see:

1. A relatively calm storm season nation-wide until...

On a very strategic day...

A sharp negative-tilt trough punching in from the Northwest with height falls in excess of 200 Mb; A rapidly deepening surface low tracking from central Kansas to central Iowa between 18z and 06z with a central pressure of less than 995 mb falling to less than 980mb; LLJ from SSW at 60+kts; 500mb jet from the SW at 100+ kts; 300 mb Polar Jet and Subtropical jet blowing 120 kts+ interacting with strong divergence; several days of rich gulf moisture advecting northward; surface temps into the low 80’s and dew temps in the upper 60’s in the warm sector across eastern Kansas, Missouri, Arkansas, Eastern Texas, Eastern Oklahoma, Illinois, Indiana, and into the south east; overtopped by lapse rates of 8 degrees Celsius/km; with rain/snow on the back side of the mid-latitude cyclone (temperature contrast of 50 degrees or so).

For any meteorologists out there, lets root/pray for a set up like this...

Writing on and on...

Well, it appears that there may be some hidden open doors forming related to my writing. This next Wednesday Meeting will be really interesting as it is a potential opportunity to "sell" my writing.

I guess I have 3 different books on my heart-

1.) Spiritual warfare at the End of the Age; This one is in the works. More on this one later.

2.) Governing prophetic people- the heart of the matter; Prophetic people can either cause a breakthrough or a breakdown depending on the humility level of the prophetic people AND the rest of the team. Bottom line- HUMILITY IS REQUIRED!

3.) Something on Israel and practically why it is necessary to pray for Israel. (Most of the wildest prayer stories I have are related to Israel.)

60th birthday party

This last weekend, I briefly "snuck up" north to celebrate my dad's (Kerry Gjerstad) 60th birthday. It was sort of an interesting weekend because I ended up staying with a relative who's values do not match mine.

However, seeing my dad's face in reaction to seeing me was worth the trip.

Scripture tells us that we need to honor our father and mother (that it may go well and your days may be long on the earth). If you have two parents who actually love each other and love you, you are one of the declining percentage of youth or children who are extremely blessed. Divorce is a pandemic in the Church and fatherlessness is an epidemic. This has led to all sorts of problems including a really distorted image on who God the Father is.

No one on earth has a perfect earthly dad-sorry, they simply don't exist (Mine might be next to perfect though). However, it is really clear that in raising me that my Dad did a lot of things right for which I am really grateful.

things looking really interesting suddenly...

Well, things suddenly look and feel very interesting in walk with Jesus. A few pieces of evidence in the last week suggest a major season shift is underway. It may be the start of the shift from a winter season to spring.

For those of you who follow this, Spring is a time to plow and to plant. It is time to sow righteousness at a deeper level than previously happened in the winter.

Also finished a study on presumption...(Ouch) It is good to get rid of this now. Some significant fasts were called in the past based on some hidden wrong assumptions that have now come to light. (In God's wisdom and grace, it did not diminish the impact of the fast on my life or on many others. However, hidden false assumptions at the heart level gave the enemy a target for counter-attack.)

Will be working on how to get rid of false assumptions.

Entering into the Rest of the LORD part 1

The IHOP-KC Barbecue- awaken to the sweet smell of sinful nature being "barbecued" every day!

I woke up this morning and...OUCH! That hurt so good

I was gently reminded by reading an article about the need to learn to rest in the LORD. It goes way beyond just taking off one day a week to go to Church in observing "The Lord's Day".

This morning the LORD let me know that one of the reasons why God suddenly pulled the anointing of the Spirit off my life (where a certain dimension has generally gone dorment) in January 2008 was because I didn't know how to use rest as a weapon of Spiritual warfare.

Who I am before Jesus is WAY more important than anything I can ever do with or for Him. Resting in this truth is absolutely critical!

SPIRITUAL WARFARE ALERT!

This week the trial of George Tiller started in Topeka.

For those who do not know who he is, he is a doctor who performed numerous late-term abortions in Kansas. The state is putting him on trial because of reports of illegal abortions (related to the 3rd trimester).

President Obama has recently repealed the ban on partial birth abortion.

This is a critical trial to determine the sanctity of life in the United States. As such, demonic hordes related to the spirit of death have gone to war over this.

We need LIFE!!!!

prophetic dreams and visions.

Long time since I've posted...

Anyway, I am currently taking the Prophetic dreams and visions class. I have had more than a few dreams and visions from God in my lifetime so I have a different objective in taking the class than what is normal.

The primary reason why I am taking the course as an audit is because I want to learn how the primary leaders on the IHOP-KC base carry their hearts (assuming that they regularly get visions and dreams) and avoid self-centered conceit in the midst of either being put on a pedestal or mistreated. God has made it clear that this is critical for the season that I am coming into.

Life is precious...

Well, today, I just about lost it- referring to my life.

I was making a right turn on a road and suddenly a car swerved around me. Turns out that if the other guy had been going faster and hit me driver-side at 40+ MPH, I would probably not be here writing this.

After this, I asked the LORD, "What was THAT all about?!" The still small voice came, "See, I've got your back!"

Later this evening, Lou Engle preached on Psalm 139 at the passion for Jesus conference- mainly he told stories related to Joseph...and his ups and downs.

Up: Joseph has a dream of being great
Down: His brothers want to kill him for having a dream, Joseph is put in a pit and sold to Egypt.
Up: Joseph becomes trustworthy in Potipher's eyes
Down: Potipher's wife betrays Joseph and he gets thrown in prison (another pit)
Up: Joseph interprets the cupbearers dream (believing it to be his ticket out of jail and into favor)
Down: The Cupbearer forgets about Joseph, Joseph is still in prison without hope
Up: Pharaoh has a dream, Joseph interprets and is made ruler over many.

One of the most prophetic points he made was that if you trace Joseph's ups and downs in God's life script, it makes a crown!

Father, make my life a fitting crown for Jesus, the Worthy Lamb who was slain!

SAVE SOULS!

This past week, the reality of eternity has deeply been pressed into my spirit. My Grandpa passed away this last Friday, February 20th. In addition, I have had a number of prophetic encounters about signs and wonders in recent weeks. It's all about eternity breaking into space and time. Are we ready for it?

One thing I really appreciate about the Baptist theological stream is their burning desire for evangelism and soul-winning. I went to Bethel College and Seminary for a season and one of their strengths is the emphasis on personal evangelism.

On a personal level, the only thing that is equally glorious to a fiery heart for Jesus is a fire starter who sets other people on fire with love for Jesus.

Valentine's day

Since personal ads are sort of funny and cute; Here's mine:

Wanted: Relatively young woman who radically loves Jesus and is pursuing the prophetic spirit. Loves to live out the Sermon on the Mount Lifestyle. Preferrably able to lead worship. Loves God's purpose in the nations of the earth. Knows that she will most likely suffer and even be martyred for preaching the Gospel of the Kingdom.

Prophetic training lesson 1: RECIEVE MORE!!!

This morning we had a healing and prophetic training with IHOP-KC.

God interrupted our training to send a wave of refreshing. People were out laughing under the anointing of the Spirit.

I guess the lesson of this morning:

Step 1 to effective prophetic and healing ministry: RECIEVE MORE!!!!
(My stomach hurts from the whole joy thing...hee hee...ha...ha...)


By the way, the REVIVAL WATCH for IHOP-KC is now in effect!

The Fear of the LORD part 3

The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever. I am so thankful to Jesus that I will be standing in awe of God's goodness and mercy forever. Even today, God has begun to reveal the deep things of wisdom on why I went through such a painful ordeal in 2008. God's leadership is magnificent!

In writing a book I hope (by the grace of God) to publish, I was recalling an prophetic encounter I received in 2004 about the nation of Israel. God gave me a specific commission and I was terrified!

It was not a terrifying thing that if I failed, I would burn in hell forever. It was terrifying to me because 1.) I was in awe of God's kindness and goodness and 2.) God had asked me to do something that really meant something important to Him. I was trembling with the fear of the LORD.

It was a similar feeling to a novice violin player being handed a Stradivarius violin and being asked to play a piece. However, it was something far more precious- God was sharing with me part of His dream for Israel and he was telling me to carry it in prayer!

I was terrified because I know my own propensity to sin and "veer off" into error. Meanwhile, God was sharing something precious with me that he wanted me to serve Him in. I was "terrified" because I might fail the One I love so deeply. I was trembling under the Fear of the LORD where perfect love and perfect fear met and kissed each other.

My prayer is that many would be found worthy and invited into loving Jesus by handling with Him what is deeply sacred.

The Fear of the LORD part 2

Last post began to I talk about the Fear of the LORD. At its beginning level it's being afraid of sinning against the LORD because otherwise something bad might happen to us. As little children, we hopefully learn what it means to "fear our parents" like this because we don't want to encounter something painful.

However, there are deeper dimensions of the Fear of the LORD. To "fear" something also means to stand in awe of something or in this case someone. Isaiah was one who was consumed by the Fear of the LORD because of who He encountered- the Holy One of Israel.

Meditation on what God did to save us should cause the Fear of God to rise up within us. What he did for us is awe-inspiring in its severity and beauty. It takes a pursuit of 100% obedience and love for Jesus to begin to understand His pursuit and love for us. God's love is awe-inspiring and terribly awesome. Therefore I fear the LORD.

The Fear of the LORD part 1

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. (Proverbs 1:7)

The fear of the LORD is one of the least talked about things in the Church. How could a God of love want us to fear Him? Meanwhile, we wonder why sin is running rampant in the Church (let alone the world). Is there something we are missing? I think so!

At the elementary levels, the Fear of the LORD is about punishment. The worst "punishment" the LORD can give us is to let us have our self-centered way without restraints. If we track the progression of sin in Genesis 3-6; It begins with self-centeredness at the expense of God and others. Self-centeredness and selfish conceit invariably lead to bitterness. Bitterness invariably leads to hatred which is the seedbed for murder.

Once murder is in the heart, it erupts through words (character assassination) and actions. Cain murdered his brother Abel. Lamech murdered, and then justified doing it to other people who "hurt us" (psychologically, emotionally, or physically). Genesis 6 gives us a picture of a world filled with hatred, violence, and murder in the days of Noah.

We need the judgments of God in our midst! When the judgments of God are in our midst, at least people are afraid to openly do wrong (and it gives us more time for God to change the heart). I don't know how many times the fear of God's eternal judgment has stopped me from doing things that are really foolish. We need the Fear of the LORD deep in our lives and society.

The beginning of the fear of the LORD is self-centered and that we don't want to experience the judgment of God for our sin. However, there is much more available!

Another GBF and Revival watch coming for KC

I'm sitting here writing in the midst of another Global Bridegroom Fast.

So far the prayer meetings have primarily focused on the release of apostolic power with miraculous signs and wonders confirming the Gospel. The prophetic evidence is mounting in my own life and another REVIVAL WATCH will likely be "issued" this summer.

Recently, the Holy Spirit has been increasing the prayer burden related to Psalm 28. That I now understand the connection of this passage with the healing anointing is a sign to me.

We need a voice!

Well, President Obama has now taken office and one of the first things he does is to try an ram a stimulus package that "stimulates" planned parenthood and the pro-death (choice) forces. Is there any answer?

It's quite obvious that Lou Engle is in distress over this. On the surface it appears that 5 years of work to end abortion in America has been wiped out by our new presidents pen. Now what?!

Out of this has come a cry that God would raise up an Isaiah 62:1/ Isaiah 40:1-3 voice (that Lou Engle does not currently have) that would shake this nation to its core and confront America with the bloodguilt in the land and prepare the way of the LORD. This is America's only hope.

Meanwhile, God has been speaking to me about this... (I will be releasing a special bulletin on this soon...)

The significance of 08-08-08

I think that I have pieced the whole 8-8-8 thing together.

Last year, IHOP-KC and Morningstar ministries went on a 40 day fast ending on 8-8-08. God had given Lou Engle the word out of Exodus 32, "Show me your glory!" Meanwhile, Mike Bickle was given a word about the necessity to wrap our face in the mantle of His name. We were hoping for 1 Million on the Mall for TheCALL DC II and an overt demonstration of His power. (It didn't happen the way we wanted it.)

Meanwhile, in a recent bulletin, Rick Joyner said that the End-time Church was birthed at 08-08-08, a statement sure to get a whole lot of controversy! Continuing on, he wrote that there are 8 churches in the book of Revelation; the first 7 of Revelation 2-3 and the Bride of Revelation 19.

It was about that time of year that I learned that I had misinterpreted a key prophetic word (that I have posted on this blog). All the crazy stuff was about the last phrase of the prophecy...
Who I am before God is much more important than anything God does through me.

Putting it all together...
The last-days church will be the greatest Church. God has saved the best wine for last. The prayer of Jesus in John 17:15-20 will surely be answered. We will be in whole-hearted unity with God (even as Father, Spirit, and Son are one) and in whole hearted unity with each other, all with radiant love in the darkest times.

The only way unity at this level comes is through extraordinary humility. It is only through understanding our greatness before God is in the fact we radically love Jesus (when so many do not), not at what mighty works God does through us (or decides not to do through us) by His Spirit.

In Matthew 4:1-10, satan tempted Jesus using the phrase, "If you are the Son of God..." Three times he struck, two of them striking at his identity...and then the temptation to misuse his identity. In every case, Jesus said "NO" for the sake of love. Loving the Father rightly was His identity, no matter what the cost.

The End-time Church will have their primary identity in who they are before God...as those who Love him with an unstoppable, ever lasting love. Some will be before multitudes with many talents, others will simply be before God with one talent. Most will be somewhere in between.

What will prevent bitter envy and jealousy from taking root in the End-Time Church is that their greatness and glory will all about loving the Father and Son with an unstoppable, fiery love accompanied by infectous joy, unshakable peace, and awesome acts of power. One generation will serve and help the next generation go farther in God and so on until we all obtain mature understanding of the ways of God. It will be our finest hour!

That was interesting...

This morning's 10-12 set was sort of interesting.

The whole set focused on the issue of power on our words (James 3). "What goes up, must come down! For you move at the sound of our voice." We were praying for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit in Kansas City.

In the midst of this whole thing, I saw a vision of an angel (with significant authority) standing above IHOP-KC with it's sword drawn. I saw on the blade of the sword was inscribed "The Fear of the LORD." I was trembling because I was thinking, "What if its true...that our words carry that weight of authority (including words when we are outside the prayer room) and cause things to happen -both good or bad?!

Being before Doing...

John 13:1-3 "It was just before the Passover Feast. Jesus knew that the time had come for him to leave this world and go to the father. Having loved his own who were in the world, he now showed them the full extent of His love. The evening meal was being served and the devil had already prompted Judas Iscariot, Son of Simon to betray Jesus. Jesus knew that the Father had put all things under his power, and that he had come from God and was returning to God"

This passage contains VITAL truth that I need deeply at the core of being. In context, John 13-20 talk about the greatest act of apostolic love and humility that has ever been seen. Beyond "sinless perfection", the excellencies of Jesus Christ in what he did FOR US cannot be touched. However, the verses above describe some of the internal reality of Jesus Christ the God-Man.

Prophetic story...

In 2006, the LORD gave me the following prophetic download. Since then, everything listed in this prophetic word has either come or is coming to pass before my eyes.

2007 is when it begins. In 2007 I will begin sending you to the nations. I am sending you in power. I will send you to Kenya. I will send you to Korea. You will go in My power
You must humble yourself. I say YOU MUST humble yourself as a great shaking will hit your life if you don’t. If you embrace humility, my shaking will only solidify you in what you know…in who you are.
I am going to shift and shake the structures around you. I am going to shift the international dept. There will be a shifting and restructuring. I am bringing in and placing new leaders. Have I not said that My house shall be a house of prayer for all nations? I am releasing many new leaders that must be set in place.
I will release the finances. I will release the key connections. As you humble yourself, I will make broken places a place of glory, the crooked places straight. You will see My glory upon your life first in the wisdom in how I shift things. You will then see My glory in power.

J.(edited out).... is to be a key friend to you. (edited out about J.) You are to raise up an army together who do not love your lives unto death.

I shall release the finances. I shall cause this work to flourish. There are many that must be equipped with humility, apostolic love as a weapon of war. I am bringing together the Mary of Bethany, the Deborah, and the Daniel anointing together.

I have ordained a massive solemn assembly in Korea this year (for 2007). There shall be a massive shaking in Korea this year. Do you hear the sound? I shall shift the foundation of this nation through intercession. I am bringing you back to your land to accomplish a shift in the spirit. It shall be a quake heard around the world. Look even to the ring of fire as I shall shift the plates in the Pacific.

Jess, I want you to set apart some time. If I send you with the power that I intend to in your current situation, you will be destroyed. I want to rewrite some of your emotional DNA. Who you are to Me is much more important than anything you can do for Me.

In 2007 and 2008, I have seen every part of this prophecy get fulfilled or begin coming into fulfillment. The year 2007 was incredible ministry-wise, culminating with seeing South Korea's elections (and a key Muslim Nation) literally shift through prayer and fasting.

In the midst of the incredible ministry, things started shifting in 2007 and then the whole International department shifted in 2008 (where I was in leadership). This and a few other things ugly discoveries caused a significant amount of pain in 2008. Why did God do (or allow)this? The last phrase (which I thought was a minor point at the time) is actually the key point of the whole prophecy.
Who you are to Me is much more important than anything you can do for Me.

Last summer in 2008, a 40-day fast was called by Lou Engle and Mike Bickle around Exodus 33:18 and wrapping our face in the mantle of God's name. The whole fast was about this critical truth...highlighted in John 13:1-3. It also explains why God suddenly ended my fast on 7/16/2008 and the Spirit of God broke in at the 8-10am set...and let me know what was happening (it was perhaps the hour where God released breakthrough in the heavenlies for the nation of Myanmar).

What ever my eventual position or ministry function(s) before people, this truth is CRITICAL for me to be deeply rooted and grounded in. It is the secret glory (that I don't understand well at all) behind the Cross!

Who I am before God (as a friend, a son, the Bride, a priest etc.-sealed with unquenchable, unstoppable fiery love for Jesus) is more important than what I end up "doing" for God in the natural (Whether taking a nap or raising the dead).

On Jill Austin and the prophetic...

I'm sad to report that Jill Austin went home to be with Jesus on Friday Night at 9:48pm. (Of course, Jill Austin would probably say, "What are you so sad about?) However, I will definitely miss her until the day Jesus returns! Now what?

In 2003, Derek Prince, (Truly a "Prince" in the kingdom of God) went to His heavenly reward. He was a key intercessor for Israel and he shook nations through intercession as the result. He wrote the international best seller, Shaping History through prayer and fasting. A life sown into the ground as a prayer will reap a harvest. As the result, many ministries on the earth are beginning to focus on the nation of Israel in writing as of 2009.

It was in 2003 that I was starting to pray for Israel as part of IHOP-KC. I believe God allowed me to "catch" part of his mantle in praying for Israel. God has allowed me to be part of some astounding apostolic projects that have touched the nation of Israel. (Hint: When all of Israel gets saved...guess what happens according to Matthew 23:37-39?)

I believe that God will do the same with Jill Austin's life of faithfulness of standing for the prophetic and glory realm. I look forward to seeing the increase in the prophetic ministry!

Please pray for Jill Austin and the prophetic...

Please pray for Jill Austin!
She is in critical condition because of complications regarding intestinal problems. details can be found at http://www.masterpotter.com/ She is a spiritual mother in the spirit to many and God desires to use her in a very strategic way on the earth in training and mentoring many to hear the voice of the Lord and operate in the anointing of the Spirit.

HUNGER FOR THE PROPHETIC...
At Onething '08 I was part of the prophetic ministry team. We purposely did not emphasize personal prophetic ministry at the conference because the focus was preparing for the ultimate prophetic event: the return of Jesus! However, our "hiding" of this blessing ministry didn't stop people from finding it!

In the midst of ministering encouragement, exhortation, and comfort to people hungry for Jesus, I was watching the lines. Many people were turned away from receiving prophetic ministry because there simply wasn't time to accommodate all the people. At times, there were not enough people on prophetic teams to minister so some of the leaders drew from other IHOP-KC staff who had some prophetic gifting and willingness. We still weren't able minister to everyone who desired it.

I must add that the prophetic ministry teams I am a part of are not "highly skilled and highly anointed". We simply love Jesus with all of our hearts and sometimes hearing or see things from God for other people through a veil. I would guess our skill level is maybe a 2 or 3 on a scale of 1-10...and yet many think that we are always hearing "directly from God".

NEEDED: PROPHETIC LEADERS TO MENTOR THE NEXT GENERATION.
What happens when the prophetic anointing on people goes to a 5 (numerous "scary accurate, specific, detailed prophecy), or a 7 ( when the "scary accurate" prophetic is accompanined by widespread signs and wonders) or even a 10? With a little bit of success in the prophetic ministry comes A LOT of notoriety and pressure from people, demons, systems, and other difficult dynamics. Of the few who consistently moved in "high-end" prophecy almost all have gotten snared by the enemy and "badly injured" in the battle. However, we as the Church will need many more to move in these deeper realms of the Holy Spirit to survive the End-time glory and trouble.

Jill Austin is one who has moved in serious prophetic anointing for decades and has a call to help train many who will practically operate in the prophetic anointing (including miracles) like has not yet been seen in a company of people. It will take the apostolic/prophetic ministry operating in signs and wonders to bring in the harvest.

So what does the enemy do? (We all know now...)

Needless to say, this is potentially involving strategic-level spiritual warfare.

Ist day of Great Big-- I mean, Global Bridegroom Fast

It is the first day of the Global Bridegroom fast, a 3 day solemn assembly of prayer and fasting for the breaking in of the power of God in Revival, the great harvest, the salvation of Israel, the raising up of houses of prayer, the turning of laws unto righteousness, and the release of apostolic messengers among other things.

I am becoming more convinced than ever that this is the year for the breakthrough for signs and wonders. Healing was purchased for us at the cross of Jesus. Widespread signs and wonders are a tool (a means to the end) to fill the houses of prayer, and alert people to the coming events surrounding the Return of Jesus the King. I am also aware of many of the traps associated with operating in widespread signs and wonders. (There is still one trap at the heart level I do not have an answer for...but that will change!)

2009-The year of the cross

Happy New Year everyone!



I am entitling 2009, the Year of the cross. I believe God has spoken clearly on this emphasis for this year.

The story…
You probably know by now that IHOP-KC has a real emphasis on understanding the End-Time plans of God culminating in the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ. However, God gave us a prophetic surprise on December 26th 2008. That evening, Misty Edwards was leading worship and Mike Bickle was prayer leading. In the midst of the worship set, God gave Mike Bickle a prophetic word around Jeremiah 23:18-20 concerning an invitation to stand in the council of the LORD and know his heart:

But which of them has stood in the council of the LORD to see or to hear his word? Who has listened and heard his word? See the storm of the LORD will burst out in wrath, a whirlwind swirling down on the heads of the wicked. The anger of the LORD will not turn back until he fully accomplishes the purposes of his heart. In the days to come, you will understand it clearly.

In the midst of this powerful prophetic word, I began to wonder if God would confirm this word with a sign- even as Isaiah 44 talks about:

I am the LORD…who carries out the words of his servants and fulfills the predictions of his messengers. (Isaiah 44:24-26)

Sure enough, I got awakened at around 4:30am the next morning. Suddenly the winds picked up to a howling pitch. It sounded like the windows were going to burst inward. The severe squall line ended up producing tornadoes in Missouri and Illinois, ripping a roof of an apartment building nearby, toppling trees, and cutting power to thousands, while producing freezing rain behind the cold front in December! NBC action news has a special article on the atmospheric mayhem of that morning. http://www.nbcactionnews.com/news/local/story/Power-Restored-After-Weekend-Storm/TmgdW9IQlk-mlo_7eAKXBQ.cspx

An invitation to take up our cross and follow Jesus at a whole new level:
The cross of Jesus is at the core of our relationship with God. In the midst of the shaking in 2008, I lost sight of the cross because I was blinded by the “heady wine” of 2007. All this wreaked havoc on my relationship with God. Without the cross of Jesus, we would be stuck in sin as enemies of God without hope. What Jesus did for us at the cross for me means everything!
Equally glorious for us about the cross is exploring why Jesus went to the cross for us. The glorious answer to “why” will be answered by God for all of eternity. Paul prayed that the believers in Ephesus would know the width, the depth, the height, and the breadth of the love of Christ in Ephesians 3. The on-going dedication of Jesus towards me means everything!
With elementary understanding of the cross comes a cry of justice out of gratitude for what Jesus has done. The Moravian missionaries had a rallying cry based out of Revelation 5:12; “Win for the Lamb the reward of His suffering!” He is worthy to be crowned by our love.
Jesus has given us an invitation on how we are to do this on an individual level: “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. (Matthew 16:24-25). It is only through entering into the difficulty and pain of “taking up our cross” daily in allegiance to Jesus that we can begin to understand the extent of God’s love.

Judgment activities: An invitation to discern the heart of Jesus the Judge through the cross.
God’s zeal against sin and love for broken people meet at the cross. It is only through the cross that we can understand His jealous love for us and his wrath against sin. It is out of His great mercy and wisdom that his destructive judgments are released on earth before His Son’s return.
Consider the prophetic word confirmed by a freak storm as a divine invitation. We have been officially invited to draw near to God by the cross. The door is open for us to press in and stand in the counsel of the LORD through prayer, fasting, embracing meekness, and delighting in righteousness. We have the opportunity to enter into the deeper levels of the spirit of prophecy which is the testimony of Jesus. The invitation has been given to know the heart of Lamb of God who is also the righteous judge. Who will to take up their cross so that they can stand in the counsel of God?