A transcribed word from Bob Hartley, from March 26th in the IHOP–KC Prayer Room
This is a recap of a series of dreams—hundreds in fact—about Marketplace Reformers. These dreams were alarming, stunning, shocking and they were all do to with how Marketplace Reformers had not responded to mercy. The narrator of this dream said, "American Marketplace Reformers were to take people from sorry to soaring." This was to be especially applicable to the nation of Australia.. Shortly a month after this dream, Australia declared a ‘Sorry Day’. Which I knew wasn’t right since it did not reflect true mercy. I spoke to comrades about this in Canberra, Wellington, and Melbourne about this at our recent event in their area.
Marketplace Reformers
[Begins the transcribed prayer]
The Lord began this series of dreams and took me back to memories of 1983. He said in order to understand and call forth Marketplace Reformers, [referring to] political and Church reformers, you would have to see from the beginning what has happened and how and others have gone out to learn compassion on mercy. I saw the people that I knew from 1983 (South Kansas City Fellowship, Kansas City Fellowship, etc). Then all the others, from the present day, arrived in the dream. They were the Hilary's, the Obamas and the John McCains. The narrator was going through details of their personal lives, of which I didn’t pay much attention to because I was still dealing with my own issues. I was nobody else’s judge of how they were starving for mercy or not.
Definition of True Mercy
The narrator started talking about Marketplace Reformers and began to describe what true mercy looked like... Mercy was valuing God, His blood, and the incredible worth that He had placed on human beings. As I went through hours of listening to the narrator address different people and how they responded, the dreams showed me four or five ways where I saw how I measured the willingness of people, not seeing the true willingness of their heart or the value He placed on them. And I had been like Moses—hit the rock twice with other people. I also was dealing with my shame over not receiving mercy in areas that he had died to give me. I turned to the other person next to me and they said, “It will be a harder lesson to learn mercy than we ever thought it would be and yet, that’s what was required of us." And I knew that in the marketplace there was a lazy spirit about this and it was tremendous discipline commitment to learn mercy.
Bridging the gap between Marketplace Reformers & the other Reformers
He spoke to the Marketplace Reformers that they were to reflect mercy and the different faces of God in the marketplace. They were to be different than political or Church reformers. Because of the differences in their callings, the other reformers might misunderstand thoe called to the marketplace. The good news - the Lord would build a bridge to help create a heart connect. The reformers were to reflect a face of God in mercy through patriarchal means, which would lead the marketplace redemption. As a result, they would have the Zechariah 12:10 experience:
"And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of grace
and supplication. They will look on me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him
as one mourns for an only child, and grieve bitterly for him as one grieves for a firstborn son."
Simon & the Marketplace Reformers
He spoke to the Marketplace Reformers next and said “You’re like Simon; you were the prostitutes in other ways in the Luke 7 passage.”
"Simon replied, 'I suppose the one who had the bigger debt canceled.' 'You have judged correctly,' Jesus said. Then he turned toward the woman and said to Simon, 'Do you see this woman?' I came into your house. You did not give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. You did not give me a kiss, but this woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. You did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little." Then Jesus said to her, 'Your sins are forgiven.'"
To the marketplace reformers, He is saying, "I had given you mercy; however, you were incapable to give mercy to the prostitutes when they came in. Even more what you fail to realize is that the prostitutes were really YOU. You have been prostituting yourself in business as a consequence of not giving yourselves mercy."
I saw that we were like David when asked by Nathan what he would do to a man that stole another man’s prized lamb. David was harsh in punishment towards that man, and yet he himself was that very man. In the same way, we are not appraising how much mercy we ourselves need, and are not releasing it to others. And then He said, the only place you’ll understand this mercy is on your knees.
Getting on our knees
We ask that you join with us and pray the Philippians 1:8-9 prayer.
"God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer:
That your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight…"
Pray to receive the true knowledge of discernment of His mercy. In the dream, the Lord was giving everybody an invitation to mercy. I saw us walking on a high ridge path that lead to a place called Mercy. This path, I believe is modeled in the life of Daniel, who lived a holy life, so that they didn’t lessen His mercy toward others or the king himself.
From that place of living like Daniel, He would take us on this journey of mercy and He would tell us more on the days to come, just like he relased in that hour. Let us take the high ridge path to mercy through living a holy and intensely devoted life as exemplified by the life of Daniel. Let us get on our knees, receive His invitation to mercy and encounter Him in the place of love. Now is the time to be merciful. Now is the time to receive mercy. We must freely give and freely receive this, and most of all, we must do it together.
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Tuesday, April 22, 2008
A word of encouragement
April 22, 2008
Kathi Pelton: GOD IS ASKING US, "WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"
Recently, my husband and I stood with two of our dearest friends as they buried their precious son, Jason. Walking with them through his brief illness and death these last few weeks was both agonizing and beautiful. The pain and grief has been truly agonizing, and yet, as they kept their eyes fixed on the One who is forever faithful, we witnessed true beauty.
As we watched Jason's casket being lowered into the ground at his graveside service, his two young daughters (ages nine and two) moved as close as they could in order to wave goodbye to their daddy one last time. The scene would have moved the hardest of hearts to tears, and in the midst of it, I heard the Lord whisper to me, "Who do you say that I Am?"
Faithful and True
"I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies of Heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:11-16
Though often we do not understand God's thoughts or His ways, our spirits know without a doubt that He is forever faithful and true. Is God faithful to our friends, who just lost their son in the prime of his life? Is He "true" even though there were many unfulfilled promises that they buried with him? Though my mind cannot comprehend, my spirit cries out, "Yes...He is still faithful and true!"
On the night of Jason's death, I was taken into a brief encounter at the very time of his passing that greatly impacted my life. This encounter was not like having a vision or a dream; it was more like being taken somewhere unknown for a brief moment in time. In this encounter, I was standing in a place with swirling colors all around, and directly in front of me stood a man with curly hair. I knew in my spirit that it was Jason. I reached out to grab hold of him, but as I did, he saw something that I could not see and shouted, "My Husband!" and ran to the One he obviously could clearly see. Jason's words, "My Husband!" jolted through me like an electrical charge and instantly ended the encounter.
This very brief experience literally imparted something so beautifully intimate and full of life to my spirit that it is still difficult to describe. Those words, "My Husband!", carried in them a fulfillment of hope like nothing that I have ever experienced. It was like hearing the hope of all creation fulfilled in one moment, and in one life. I have watched video clips of American soldiers returning from Iraq to the arms of their wives and children, and even those moving reunions pale in comparison to what I heard in Jason's voice. He ran to the One who is forever faithful and true, the One who fills every promise with just one glance of His beauty, and the One who is the only King of kings and Lord of lords.
The God of Bethel
This month marks a ten-year anniversary in my life. In April 1998, I was confined to a treatment hospital for sixty days with a serious eating disorder. Though I was the wife of a pastor and mother of four small children, I had a problem that threatened to take my life. I asked my husband and our church family to help me get into a Christian treatment center so that I could recover and get the support I needed.
I had married young as a new Christian. Within a year after our wedding, my husband and I went off to Bible College together for him to study missions. Due to the fact that I had been raised in an abusive and dysfunctional home as a child, I should have taken the time to let the Lord heal me from the years of pain and wounding that I had experienced. But we were young and in love with each other and with Jesus, and we wanted to be world-changers.
During our years in Bible College, I didn't know how to deal with the pain that would emerge from my past, and I didn't understand the compassion that Jesus has on the broken-hearted. I had quickly developed a religious mindset that falsely believed that Christians didn't have broken places. Oh, how young we were! Therefore, my outlet became the development of an eating disorder that lasted over fifteen years, leaving me void of healing and full of shame.
When I came to the point of desperation and was able to humble myself and reach out for help, knowing that many would not understand, it was as though I entered a time and place in my life that I would call, "My Bethel."
The God Who Speaks
"Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel." Genesis 35:15
Though I look back on my time in the treatment center as my "dark night of the soul," I would also say that it became my Bethel. Bethel means "House of God," and in this time and place, God spoke to me more clearly than I had ever heard before and it became my House of God. I began to learn just who God was to me. Though I had called Him my Savior and Friend, in that time, I began to experience Him as Savior and Friend.
Living in the midst of sixty other broken lives, I began to discover the beauty of humility and dependency. I watched young girls and women who had lived through great suffering come face-to-face with the compassion of Christ and the love of their Heavenly Father. I was one of them. Though some did not recover, those who did stand today as pillars in the House of God. They carry a compassion for the broken and an understanding of the mercy of God like few I have ever met.
In this time, our God is speaking to those who have ears to hear. I sense that this season will mark for many a "Bethel" experience where God has spoken to His people, and it will be like an altar in their lives of moving from darkness to light.
The God Who Overcomes
"Now the salvation, and the power, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the Blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." Revelation 12:10-11
Recently, I have become keenly aware that God is calling forth the broken ones and those who have felt the darkness; He is calling them to step into the Light of His love and be transformed. These will become pillars called "Overcomers," and they will know the One who is faithful and true; the One who has written on His thigh the words "King of kings and Lord of lords."
"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of Heaven from My God; and I will also write on him My new name..." Revelation 3:11-13
Just as His name is written upon His thigh, so will His name be written on our lives as we overcome the accuser of God's people. We are in a type of spiritual boot camp where we are learning to overcome the world so that we can go into the world and not be overcome by it. It is a very vulnerable time because we are facing places of darkness. Yet, we are gaining authority through great adversity, and we are being prepared as a great army of overcomers...through the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimonies.
The God Who Keeps His Promises
Though most of us entered this year believing with great excitement that we were entering a new day, this new day, for many, has not come in the way we expected. I am sure that our friends who lost their son did not think that this new day would begin with such a great loss. I am also sure that many of you reading this did not expect to face some of the trials that you have encountered in the first months of this year. But do not lose heart! When the Israelites crossed the Jordan into the land that God had promised them, the first things they encountered were fortified walls and great enemies. Remember what Joshua said not long after crossing the Jordan:
"And Joshua said, 'Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!'" Joshua 7:6-8
Even great men of faith like Joshua questioned God's ways. God never said that we would not face great battles; He said that we would win great battles. I believe that Jason's family has not yet seen the end of the story of his life. His life will be known as a victory! The battles that you are facing may be fierce and look as if they will overcome you...but through the Blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony, YOU WILL OVERCOME!
There is great authority in this time being given to those who face such trials and overcome. God is creating pillars in His house. Pillars are made to hold things up! When the storms come and the battles rage, it is the pillars that strengthen the building under siege.
So, who do you say God is? I say that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. I say that He is faithful and true, even when we don't understand. I say that He is the God who keeps His promises, the God who gives us victory, and the God who heals our wounds. He is the Great I Am! He is the Author and Finisher of our faith, the beginning and the end, and our Everlasting Father.
God is asking us, "Who do you say that I Am?"
Kathi Pelton
Light Streams Ministries
Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net
Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.
ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250
Kathi Pelton: GOD IS ASKING US, "WHO DO YOU SAY THAT I AM?"
Recently, my husband and I stood with two of our dearest friends as they buried their precious son, Jason. Walking with them through his brief illness and death these last few weeks was both agonizing and beautiful. The pain and grief has been truly agonizing, and yet, as they kept their eyes fixed on the One who is forever faithful, we witnessed true beauty.
As we watched Jason's casket being lowered into the ground at his graveside service, his two young daughters (ages nine and two) moved as close as they could in order to wave goodbye to their daddy one last time. The scene would have moved the hardest of hearts to tears, and in the midst of it, I heard the Lord whisper to me, "Who do you say that I Am?"
Faithful and True
"I saw Heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He Himself. He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God. The armies of Heaven were following Him, riding on white horses and dressed in fine linen, white and clean.
Out of His mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations. 'He will rule them with an iron scepter.' He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty. On His robe and on His thigh He has this name written: KING OF KINGS AND LORD OF LORDS." Revelation 19:11-16
Though often we do not understand God's thoughts or His ways, our spirits know without a doubt that He is forever faithful and true. Is God faithful to our friends, who just lost their son in the prime of his life? Is He "true" even though there were many unfulfilled promises that they buried with him? Though my mind cannot comprehend, my spirit cries out, "Yes...He is still faithful and true!"
On the night of Jason's death, I was taken into a brief encounter at the very time of his passing that greatly impacted my life. This encounter was not like having a vision or a dream; it was more like being taken somewhere unknown for a brief moment in time. In this encounter, I was standing in a place with swirling colors all around, and directly in front of me stood a man with curly hair. I knew in my spirit that it was Jason. I reached out to grab hold of him, but as I did, he saw something that I could not see and shouted, "My Husband!" and ran to the One he obviously could clearly see. Jason's words, "My Husband!" jolted through me like an electrical charge and instantly ended the encounter.
This very brief experience literally imparted something so beautifully intimate and full of life to my spirit that it is still difficult to describe. Those words, "My Husband!", carried in them a fulfillment of hope like nothing that I have ever experienced. It was like hearing the hope of all creation fulfilled in one moment, and in one life. I have watched video clips of American soldiers returning from Iraq to the arms of their wives and children, and even those moving reunions pale in comparison to what I heard in Jason's voice. He ran to the One who is forever faithful and true, the One who fills every promise with just one glance of His beauty, and the One who is the only King of kings and Lord of lords.
The God of Bethel
This month marks a ten-year anniversary in my life. In April 1998, I was confined to a treatment hospital for sixty days with a serious eating disorder. Though I was the wife of a pastor and mother of four small children, I had a problem that threatened to take my life. I asked my husband and our church family to help me get into a Christian treatment center so that I could recover and get the support I needed.
I had married young as a new Christian. Within a year after our wedding, my husband and I went off to Bible College together for him to study missions. Due to the fact that I had been raised in an abusive and dysfunctional home as a child, I should have taken the time to let the Lord heal me from the years of pain and wounding that I had experienced. But we were young and in love with each other and with Jesus, and we wanted to be world-changers.
During our years in Bible College, I didn't know how to deal with the pain that would emerge from my past, and I didn't understand the compassion that Jesus has on the broken-hearted. I had quickly developed a religious mindset that falsely believed that Christians didn't have broken places. Oh, how young we were! Therefore, my outlet became the development of an eating disorder that lasted over fifteen years, leaving me void of healing and full of shame.
When I came to the point of desperation and was able to humble myself and reach out for help, knowing that many would not understand, it was as though I entered a time and place in my life that I would call, "My Bethel."
The God Who Speaks
"Jacob called the place where God had talked with him Bethel." Genesis 35:15
Though I look back on my time in the treatment center as my "dark night of the soul," I would also say that it became my Bethel. Bethel means "House of God," and in this time and place, God spoke to me more clearly than I had ever heard before and it became my House of God. I began to learn just who God was to me. Though I had called Him my Savior and Friend, in that time, I began to experience Him as Savior and Friend.
Living in the midst of sixty other broken lives, I began to discover the beauty of humility and dependency. I watched young girls and women who had lived through great suffering come face-to-face with the compassion of Christ and the love of their Heavenly Father. I was one of them. Though some did not recover, those who did stand today as pillars in the House of God. They carry a compassion for the broken and an understanding of the mercy of God like few I have ever met.
In this time, our God is speaking to those who have ears to hear. I sense that this season will mark for many a "Bethel" experience where God has spoken to His people, and it will be like an altar in their lives of moving from darkness to light.
The God Who Overcomes
"Now the salvation, and the power, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the Blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death." Revelation 12:10-11
Recently, I have become keenly aware that God is calling forth the broken ones and those who have felt the darkness; He is calling them to step into the Light of His love and be transformed. These will become pillars called "Overcomers," and they will know the One who is faithful and true; the One who has written on His thigh the words "King of kings and Lord of lords."
"I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown. Him who overcomes I will make a pillar in the temple of My God. Never again will he leave it. I will write on him the name of My God and the name of the city of My God, the new Jerusalem, which is coming down out of Heaven from My God; and I will also write on him My new name..." Revelation 3:11-13
Just as His name is written upon His thigh, so will His name be written on our lives as we overcome the accuser of God's people. We are in a type of spiritual boot camp where we are learning to overcome the world so that we can go into the world and not be overcome by it. It is a very vulnerable time because we are facing places of darkness. Yet, we are gaining authority through great adversity, and we are being prepared as a great army of overcomers...through the Blood of the Lamb and the word of our testimonies.
The God Who Keeps His Promises
Though most of us entered this year believing with great excitement that we were entering a new day, this new day, for many, has not come in the way we expected. I am sure that our friends who lost their son did not think that this new day would begin with such a great loss. I am also sure that many of you reading this did not expect to face some of the trials that you have encountered in the first months of this year. But do not lose heart! When the Israelites crossed the Jordan into the land that God had promised them, the first things they encountered were fortified walls and great enemies. Remember what Joshua said not long after crossing the Jordan:
"And Joshua said, 'Ah, Sovereign LORD, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan!'" Joshua 7:6-8
Even great men of faith like Joshua questioned God's ways. God never said that we would not face great battles; He said that we would win great battles. I believe that Jason's family has not yet seen the end of the story of his life. His life will be known as a victory! The battles that you are facing may be fierce and look as if they will overcome you...but through the Blood of the Lamb and the word of your testimony, YOU WILL OVERCOME!
There is great authority in this time being given to those who face such trials and overcome. God is creating pillars in His house. Pillars are made to hold things up! When the storms come and the battles rage, it is the pillars that strengthen the building under siege.
So, who do you say God is? I say that He is King of kings and Lord of lords. I say that He is faithful and true, even when we don't understand. I say that He is the God who keeps His promises, the God who gives us victory, and the God who heals our wounds. He is the Great I Am! He is the Author and Finisher of our faith, the beginning and the end, and our Everlasting Father.
God is asking us, "Who do you say that I Am?"
Kathi Pelton
Light Streams Ministries
Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net
Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.
ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250
Monday, April 21, 2008
Reese's Pieces
Some of you may have heard me talking about following the Reese's Pieces trail that God lays out for us and how much fun it is to walk out the adventure with Him. This article does an excellent job at explaining it and encouraging us to engage in it. It is a fundamental approach that we take in the House of Prayer pretty regularly and I look forward to exploring the mysteries with you. Found a Reese's Piece just the other day in Brooklyn after representing Long Island at the House of Prayer meeting there. Check out www.thestorefront.cc and let me know what you think.
Also, on another note, there is an interesting worship gathering taking place in Kansas next month called Paradise08. love, t
Steve Witt: ""Moving from Mystery to Clarity
--Learning the Language of Heaven"
(Playing Hide and Seek with God)
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
Nature's Mysteries
There has been an urban legend that states that bees shouldn't be able to fly. Scientists are puzzled at the unique aerodynamic aspect of the wings of insects, in general. Obviously, the bees fly anyway! It is somewhat of a mystery.
I have hundreds of ducks and geese that live in my back yard. Some of them are domestic ducks that I purchased to populate our small pond. Several years ago, I wanted to move one of them to another pond about a mile away. I captured one of my large, white ducks and placed it in a closed box in my car and drove him to his new home.
After being released from the box, the white duck was surprised and puzzled at his new home, but he seemed to adjust fine. I had some work to do and periodically looked across the field to check on my new tenant. After an hour of work, I glanced to check on his progress. I couldn't see him and became alarmed, thinking a fox or large turtle might have consumed him. I investigated closer, but the duck had disappeared. I searched all over the property, lamenting over the loss of my duck...and the $15 it cost me!
I finished my work and returned home. I shared the mystery with my wife, poured a large glass of iced tea, and headed to my back deck to relax. The prodigal white duck was sitting by my lawn chair! It appeared angry at me. He had walked (he's too fat to fly) across roads, over a stream, and through fields for one mile and found his way back home. I've heard stories like this before, but I have never personally experienced it. It's a mystery.
Beer Parable
Last summer, I began to crave beer. I am not a beer drinker, nor do I even like it. Strange enough, I was craving a certain beer: Guinness. Can you crave something that you've never tasted? Apparently so! It became a joke around our house. Although I had no intentions of buying a Guinness, the strange connection continued for several weeks.
Then on a Friday morning, at 7:15, my prophetic friend, Marc Dupont, called. He began to give me a word about 2008 and, at the conclusion, recommended a book for me to read. I wrote the title of the book down, "Prophetic Untimeliness." In order to purchase the recommended book, I inquired regarding the author's name. Marc responded saying, "Guinness...Os Guinness." It was one of those odd moments. It's another mystery.
Several days later, I devoured the book, and it was life changing. Does God speak through such mysterious language? Bees that can't fly do anyway. Ducks find their way home without maps, and cravings are codes for upcoming books. He hides, we seek. He conceals, we search.
There are many mysteries in life. God is the greatest mystery, with our own destiny running a close second. The challenge of life is solving the mystery of God's communication. Is it meant to be difficult? I suppose that depends on your view of God as a Father.
Easy to Find
My children are all grown now, but I remember when they wanted to play "hide and seek" as a child. They would put their little hands over their eyes and begin counting. Quickly, I made my way to a place that would be easy to discover. Typically, I hid behind the window curtains with my feet sticking out at the bottom. In mere moments, the little kids would scream with glee and hug the daddy-shaped image in the curtain. Loving fathers hide...but not real well. We want to be found! It's a mystery, but not a difficult one. Anyone can play, and everyone can win! God is a loving Father and does the same thing.
Consider this following Scriptural passage in Deuteronomy 30:11-14:
"For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in Heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into Heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it."
God's mysteries are meant to be solved. They are unto something. They are meant to reveal destinies, plans, strategies, and tactics. He does not hide them far, and invites us to participate. He loves to use terms like seek, ask, and knock.
Trusting the Father
My father used to play a similar game with me. He had a large, old-fashioned, jug sitting inside our front door. When he came home from work each day, he would empty the change out of his pocket into the jug. When vacation time would come, we would empty it, count it, and use it for something fun.
I worked my first real job when I was about sixteen. I came home one day with my first payday. My father must have tuned into my excitement about having cash in my wallet. He looked at me and said, "How much money do you have in your wallet?" I wasn't totally sure, but said, "About thirty dollars." He then said, "I'll give you everything in that jug for everything in your wallet."
This was not uncommon. It was his way of training me to take risks and make quick decisions. I asked him if I could lift the jug, because I couldn't remember when we had emptied it last and how much money it might contain. He declined. I had to take a risk, and I had to make the decision quickly. He told me that the offer was running out fast. I looked at the jug and into his eyes...back to the jug and responded, "You've got a deal." I handed him the thirty dollars and ran to empty the jug. A quick estimate was later confirmed...I had made a good deal. There was over one hundred and twenty five dollars in the jug. Do you know why I made the deal? My father loved me and I knew it! I knew that he would never make an offer to me that wouldn't work for my benefit. A loving God will not tease or trick a son or daughter. That was one of many deals we made over the years. His love empowered me to take risks. He made it easy for me to solve the dilemma, because He loved me.
"...but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." Daniel 11:32b
It is essential for every believer to enroll in the school of interpretation. Questions need to be answered about God and about each human purpose. It is easy to back off in discouragement at dreams or circumstances that do not make sense. God is inviting us into a life of discovery...solving the mystery. To those that enroll, a life of epiphanies and glorious revelation will occur. Many marriages end today due to a lazy approach to relationship. Mysteries are replete in marriage and need to be sought out. It takes time and energy, but after all, doesn't anything of value require an investment?
Fear runs deep in our culture today. Thoughts of terrorism, sub-prime mortgage issues, and the teetering economy in general, as well as the diluting of our cultural values, leaves many living in a prison of worry. One of the fastest growing medical industries in the United States is geared toward sleep disorders. Movie star Heath Ledger's recent tragic accidental blending of medications to bring rest is a metaphor for our times. People are without rest. They have questions. They need a pioneering people that know the way and are willing to help others find it.
The Winter '08 issue of Leadership Journal had an interesting article regarding why Muslims convert to Christianity. The article had a thread of common theme throughout it. Muslims are intrigued by the lifestyle of Christians. The "pro-woman, loving God, love-filled, supernatural" lifestyle was magnetic to those that are searching and seeking. They are finding something that has previously been a mystery. They are finding that the Christian experience seems to emphasize a loving God versus the Muslim view of a punishing God. God is revealing what has previously been a mystery to many. They are discovering what many Christians have uncovered...that Jesus came to declare a "year of favor," versus a "day of judgment." The favor ratio is 365 to one. He is more favorable than judgmental.
Tricks of Heaven
God apparently loves puzzles. Why does He use mystery? I search this out in my recent book, "Voices: Understanding and Responding to the Language of Heaven." In chapter one, I tell the story of my son at the age of two. He was a typical toddler, full of energy and eager to play. Many times, I'd come home from work, just wanting to relax. He though, was eager to play, but wanted to get me off of the sofa. I'd lay there and call to him to come and give me a hug. He coyly replied, "No!" Being the lazy man I am, I developed ways to draw him to come to me. I called across the room and said, "Josh...come seg moy yum." I continued to repeat a version of this nonsensical statement over and over again. He was curious. He moved slowly closer, studying my lips, trying to understand what his Dad was saying. Eventually, he was standing right in front of me! Unaware that he had been lured into my trap through a mystery, I reached out and began to tickle him. He would go screaming to his mother. Mystery has the power to draw you in. God uses it to draw us closer to Him and reveal His purposes. Have you ever heard a sound from Heaven that said something like, "Come seg moy yum?" Many of us are unwilling to take the time...pay the price...seek the voice.
Desire is Needed
Moses had been living in the wilderness for forty years. His life was quickly turned upside down by a voice coming from a burning bush. The Bible says that he, "Turned aside to see the great sight." The text then says, "When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look...God called to him" (Exodus 3:3-4). In this case, a simple "turning aside" provided a doorway to revelation. The mystery of a burning bush was solved by simply taking a moment and reflecting. God saw it, and responded. Could it be possible that "intentionality" is needed to solve many mysteries? If we just stop and desire to understand, we might solve the mysteries of life? Many of us are frustrated and say, "If God really wanted me to do this, He would be clear." A simple look at the Gospels clearly shows that much of the time the disciples were confused as to Jesus' intentions. Phrases like, "And they knew not what He meant," occur often.
Jesus began to build curiosity regarding the next phase of God's unfolding plan by cryptic communication regarding His leaving and the Holy Spirit's coming (Luke 24:49). By the time that Acts 2 has appeared, Jesus is gone and they are waiting patiently for...a mystery. One hundred and twenty people are spiritually sequestered in an upper room, excited, unified, and probably very curious! The Holy Spirit came in power with unusual accompanying of manifestations. The followers of Christ had experienced tongues of fire and apparent drunkenness, with a new ability to communicate in seventeen different languages! The mystery of the new age of His Kingdom was unfolding.
Questions Needing Answers
This historic day brought up two major questions in the early Church, "What does this mean?" and "What must we do?" These will always be the two mysteries for the Church to solve. These are the same questions that people have today about every mystery in life. To the degree that the Church is able to answer these questions is the degree of influence it will have in today's culture. The questions demand wisdom, but at a deeper level, they call for a prophetic people. The people that hear from God will rule the day. They will be the lights. They will be the guides.
Many dilemmas face our society today. The challenging battle between traditional medicine and alternative medicine is flaring up, with record amounts of organic foods and alternative treatments being unveiled. Ecological and business concerns are starting to come together. These former enemies are finding common ground and solving the mysteries by finding symbiotic ways of forming alliances. Evangelicals and Charismatics have worn down walls and distinguishing between them is becoming more difficult.
Mysteries have been solved with record pace over the past twenty years. The Church needs to be at the forefront of the revolution of discovery. Where are the people who will hear the voice of Heaven? God has called us to solve the puzzles of life. Nehemiah had a plan to rebuild Jerusalem. Daniel received revelation regarding his King and the future of the kingdom. Joseph saved Egypt and secured the Jewish people during a time of famine. The recent movie, "Evan Almighty," brings this ancient challenge into the contemporary times. It's the story of a recently elected congressman that is given a Noah-like call for the 21st century. It is humorous, yet prophetic. An unfolding clarity came to Evan as he was challenged deeper into God's will for his life. Will we implement the interpretation of God's communication into our current lives? Will we take the time to listen...turn aside...and respond to the voice of Heaven? Our futures may be determined by how we answer this question.
Some mysteries will take greater time. The challenges today can be very complex, demanding a solomonic level of wisdom. How will we cope with extreme mysteries? I believe that 1 Corinthians holds the answer. When you encounter something that comes as a foreign language, what do you do? Consider this passage that speaks to a common mystery in the church of Corinth:
"For he who speaks in a tongue do not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries...There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me...Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret." 1 Corinthians 14:2, 10-11, 13
Mysteries come in many ways. Mysteries are to be interpreted. The onus is upon us. We are learning to be interpreters. Like a foreign language, conundrums of the day will need interpretation. Paul challenges us that when we face a mystery, "Pray that you may interpret." A life of intimacy will begin to unveil the mysteries of the ages. Enter God's language school. Give yourself to understanding His voice.
Learning a Language
There are basic components to learning any language. Learning the language of Heaven is similar. Here are the five paths to successful learning of any mystery...including language:
1. Motivation--Whether it's French, Spanish or Heaven, you must desire deeply to understand.
2. Equipping--The Bible is God's language book. Study it and know how He communicates. You'll be amazed at what you will discover about Heaven's language through the Bible.
3. Environment--Create a church culture that celebrates Heaven's voice and communication.
4. Humility--Every language will humble you as you begin to speak its sounds. Don't be afraid to fail. Find an environment that encourages and celebrates risk.
5. Time--Crash courses will leave you anemic regarding understanding. There are few shortcuts. Take the time to get it right. Learn the voice of God!
Where is the Church heading? How will leadership shift in the future? What is the right model for building a true Kingdom culture? Are tragic situations going to radically change how we live? What is my true destiny? What are the futures of my children?
These are all mysteries...are you up for solving it? We may never understand about the ducks and the bees, but God is willing to help us solve some of life's greatest mysteries. Are you willing to turn aside, be curious, move close and hear the heartbeat of God?
Steve Witt
Email: admin@istevewitt.com
Steve Witt has been a church planter for 30 years. He has been a leader in the Vineyard in Canada and former apostolic team member for Partners in Harvest (Toronto). He served as a business coach for nine years and has done training in over 25 nations. He is currently pastor for Metro Church South in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. Steve is married to Cindy and they have four grown children.
Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.
ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250
Montauk to Manhattan: Every House a House of Prayer
Loving Long Island with 24-7-365 Worship-Filled Prayer
Links to IHOP-LI: the Ark House of Prayer on Long Island
http://www.IHOP-LI.com
http://www.theburn247.com/longisland/
http://www.squidoo.com/IHOP-LI/
http://gworship9.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7748449673
http://www.myspace.com/ihoplongisland
http://www.myspace.com/burnlongisland
http://www.joconetwork.org/ihop-li
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IHOP-LI/
Also, on another note, there is an interesting worship gathering taking place in Kansas next month called Paradise08. love, t
Steve Witt: ""Moving from Mystery to Clarity
--Learning the Language of Heaven"
(Playing Hide and Seek with God)
"It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the honor of kings is to search out a matter." Proverbs 25:2
Nature's Mysteries
There has been an urban legend that states that bees shouldn't be able to fly. Scientists are puzzled at the unique aerodynamic aspect of the wings of insects, in general. Obviously, the bees fly anyway! It is somewhat of a mystery.
I have hundreds of ducks and geese that live in my back yard. Some of them are domestic ducks that I purchased to populate our small pond. Several years ago, I wanted to move one of them to another pond about a mile away. I captured one of my large, white ducks and placed it in a closed box in my car and drove him to his new home.
After being released from the box, the white duck was surprised and puzzled at his new home, but he seemed to adjust fine. I had some work to do and periodically looked across the field to check on my new tenant. After an hour of work, I glanced to check on his progress. I couldn't see him and became alarmed, thinking a fox or large turtle might have consumed him. I investigated closer, but the duck had disappeared. I searched all over the property, lamenting over the loss of my duck...and the $15 it cost me!
I finished my work and returned home. I shared the mystery with my wife, poured a large glass of iced tea, and headed to my back deck to relax. The prodigal white duck was sitting by my lawn chair! It appeared angry at me. He had walked (he's too fat to fly) across roads, over a stream, and through fields for one mile and found his way back home. I've heard stories like this before, but I have never personally experienced it. It's a mystery.
Beer Parable
Last summer, I began to crave beer. I am not a beer drinker, nor do I even like it. Strange enough, I was craving a certain beer: Guinness. Can you crave something that you've never tasted? Apparently so! It became a joke around our house. Although I had no intentions of buying a Guinness, the strange connection continued for several weeks.
Then on a Friday morning, at 7:15, my prophetic friend, Marc Dupont, called. He began to give me a word about 2008 and, at the conclusion, recommended a book for me to read. I wrote the title of the book down, "Prophetic Untimeliness." In order to purchase the recommended book, I inquired regarding the author's name. Marc responded saying, "Guinness...Os Guinness." It was one of those odd moments. It's another mystery.
Several days later, I devoured the book, and it was life changing. Does God speak through such mysterious language? Bees that can't fly do anyway. Ducks find their way home without maps, and cravings are codes for upcoming books. He hides, we seek. He conceals, we search.
There are many mysteries in life. God is the greatest mystery, with our own destiny running a close second. The challenge of life is solving the mystery of God's communication. Is it meant to be difficult? I suppose that depends on your view of God as a Father.
Easy to Find
My children are all grown now, but I remember when they wanted to play "hide and seek" as a child. They would put their little hands over their eyes and begin counting. Quickly, I made my way to a place that would be easy to discover. Typically, I hid behind the window curtains with my feet sticking out at the bottom. In mere moments, the little kids would scream with glee and hug the daddy-shaped image in the curtain. Loving fathers hide...but not real well. We want to be found! It's a mystery, but not a difficult one. Anyone can play, and everyone can win! God is a loving Father and does the same thing.
Consider this following Scriptural passage in Deuteronomy 30:11-14:
"For this commandment which I command you today is not too mysterious for you, nor is it far off. It is not in Heaven, that you should say, 'Who will ascend into Heaven for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' Nor is it beyond the sea, that you should say, 'Who will go over the sea for us and bring it to us, that we may hear it and do it?' But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it."
God's mysteries are meant to be solved. They are unto something. They are meant to reveal destinies, plans, strategies, and tactics. He does not hide them far, and invites us to participate. He loves to use terms like seek, ask, and knock.
Trusting the Father
My father used to play a similar game with me. He had a large, old-fashioned, jug sitting inside our front door. When he came home from work each day, he would empty the change out of his pocket into the jug. When vacation time would come, we would empty it, count it, and use it for something fun.
I worked my first real job when I was about sixteen. I came home one day with my first payday. My father must have tuned into my excitement about having cash in my wallet. He looked at me and said, "How much money do you have in your wallet?" I wasn't totally sure, but said, "About thirty dollars." He then said, "I'll give you everything in that jug for everything in your wallet."
This was not uncommon. It was his way of training me to take risks and make quick decisions. I asked him if I could lift the jug, because I couldn't remember when we had emptied it last and how much money it might contain. He declined. I had to take a risk, and I had to make the decision quickly. He told me that the offer was running out fast. I looked at the jug and into his eyes...back to the jug and responded, "You've got a deal." I handed him the thirty dollars and ran to empty the jug. A quick estimate was later confirmed...I had made a good deal. There was over one hundred and twenty five dollars in the jug. Do you know why I made the deal? My father loved me and I knew it! I knew that he would never make an offer to me that wouldn't work for my benefit. A loving God will not tease or trick a son or daughter. That was one of many deals we made over the years. His love empowered me to take risks. He made it easy for me to solve the dilemma, because He loved me.
"...but the people who know their God shall be strong, and carry out great exploits." Daniel 11:32b
It is essential for every believer to enroll in the school of interpretation. Questions need to be answered about God and about each human purpose. It is easy to back off in discouragement at dreams or circumstances that do not make sense. God is inviting us into a life of discovery...solving the mystery. To those that enroll, a life of epiphanies and glorious revelation will occur. Many marriages end today due to a lazy approach to relationship. Mysteries are replete in marriage and need to be sought out. It takes time and energy, but after all, doesn't anything of value require an investment?
Fear runs deep in our culture today. Thoughts of terrorism, sub-prime mortgage issues, and the teetering economy in general, as well as the diluting of our cultural values, leaves many living in a prison of worry. One of the fastest growing medical industries in the United States is geared toward sleep disorders. Movie star Heath Ledger's recent tragic accidental blending of medications to bring rest is a metaphor for our times. People are without rest. They have questions. They need a pioneering people that know the way and are willing to help others find it.
The Winter '08 issue of Leadership Journal had an interesting article regarding why Muslims convert to Christianity. The article had a thread of common theme throughout it. Muslims are intrigued by the lifestyle of Christians. The "pro-woman, loving God, love-filled, supernatural" lifestyle was magnetic to those that are searching and seeking. They are finding something that has previously been a mystery. They are finding that the Christian experience seems to emphasize a loving God versus the Muslim view of a punishing God. God is revealing what has previously been a mystery to many. They are discovering what many Christians have uncovered...that Jesus came to declare a "year of favor," versus a "day of judgment." The favor ratio is 365 to one. He is more favorable than judgmental.
Tricks of Heaven
God apparently loves puzzles. Why does He use mystery? I search this out in my recent book, "Voices: Understanding and Responding to the Language of Heaven." In chapter one, I tell the story of my son at the age of two. He was a typical toddler, full of energy and eager to play. Many times, I'd come home from work, just wanting to relax. He though, was eager to play, but wanted to get me off of the sofa. I'd lay there and call to him to come and give me a hug. He coyly replied, "No!" Being the lazy man I am, I developed ways to draw him to come to me. I called across the room and said, "Josh...come seg moy yum." I continued to repeat a version of this nonsensical statement over and over again. He was curious. He moved slowly closer, studying my lips, trying to understand what his Dad was saying. Eventually, he was standing right in front of me! Unaware that he had been lured into my trap through a mystery, I reached out and began to tickle him. He would go screaming to his mother. Mystery has the power to draw you in. God uses it to draw us closer to Him and reveal His purposes. Have you ever heard a sound from Heaven that said something like, "Come seg moy yum?" Many of us are unwilling to take the time...pay the price...seek the voice.
Desire is Needed
Moses had been living in the wilderness for forty years. His life was quickly turned upside down by a voice coming from a burning bush. The Bible says that he, "Turned aside to see the great sight." The text then says, "When the Lord saw that he turned aside to look...God called to him" (Exodus 3:3-4). In this case, a simple "turning aside" provided a doorway to revelation. The mystery of a burning bush was solved by simply taking a moment and reflecting. God saw it, and responded. Could it be possible that "intentionality" is needed to solve many mysteries? If we just stop and desire to understand, we might solve the mysteries of life? Many of us are frustrated and say, "If God really wanted me to do this, He would be clear." A simple look at the Gospels clearly shows that much of the time the disciples were confused as to Jesus' intentions. Phrases like, "And they knew not what He meant," occur often.
Jesus began to build curiosity regarding the next phase of God's unfolding plan by cryptic communication regarding His leaving and the Holy Spirit's coming (Luke 24:49). By the time that Acts 2 has appeared, Jesus is gone and they are waiting patiently for...a mystery. One hundred and twenty people are spiritually sequestered in an upper room, excited, unified, and probably very curious! The Holy Spirit came in power with unusual accompanying of manifestations. The followers of Christ had experienced tongues of fire and apparent drunkenness, with a new ability to communicate in seventeen different languages! The mystery of the new age of His Kingdom was unfolding.
Questions Needing Answers
This historic day brought up two major questions in the early Church, "What does this mean?" and "What must we do?" These will always be the two mysteries for the Church to solve. These are the same questions that people have today about every mystery in life. To the degree that the Church is able to answer these questions is the degree of influence it will have in today's culture. The questions demand wisdom, but at a deeper level, they call for a prophetic people. The people that hear from God will rule the day. They will be the lights. They will be the guides.
Many dilemmas face our society today. The challenging battle between traditional medicine and alternative medicine is flaring up, with record amounts of organic foods and alternative treatments being unveiled. Ecological and business concerns are starting to come together. These former enemies are finding common ground and solving the mysteries by finding symbiotic ways of forming alliances. Evangelicals and Charismatics have worn down walls and distinguishing between them is becoming more difficult.
Mysteries have been solved with record pace over the past twenty years. The Church needs to be at the forefront of the revolution of discovery. Where are the people who will hear the voice of Heaven? God has called us to solve the puzzles of life. Nehemiah had a plan to rebuild Jerusalem. Daniel received revelation regarding his King and the future of the kingdom. Joseph saved Egypt and secured the Jewish people during a time of famine. The recent movie, "Evan Almighty," brings this ancient challenge into the contemporary times. It's the story of a recently elected congressman that is given a Noah-like call for the 21st century. It is humorous, yet prophetic. An unfolding clarity came to Evan as he was challenged deeper into God's will for his life. Will we implement the interpretation of God's communication into our current lives? Will we take the time to listen...turn aside...and respond to the voice of Heaven? Our futures may be determined by how we answer this question.
Some mysteries will take greater time. The challenges today can be very complex, demanding a solomonic level of wisdom. How will we cope with extreme mysteries? I believe that 1 Corinthians holds the answer. When you encounter something that comes as a foreign language, what do you do? Consider this passage that speaks to a common mystery in the church of Corinth:
"For he who speaks in a tongue do not speak to men but to God, for no one understands him; however, in the spirit he speaks mysteries...There are, it may be, so many kinds of languages in the world, and none of them is without significance. Therefore, if I do not know the meaning of the language, I shall be a foreigner to him who speaks, and he who speaks will be a foreigner to me...Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret." 1 Corinthians 14:2, 10-11, 13
Mysteries come in many ways. Mysteries are to be interpreted. The onus is upon us. We are learning to be interpreters. Like a foreign language, conundrums of the day will need interpretation. Paul challenges us that when we face a mystery, "Pray that you may interpret." A life of intimacy will begin to unveil the mysteries of the ages. Enter God's language school. Give yourself to understanding His voice.
Learning a Language
There are basic components to learning any language. Learning the language of Heaven is similar. Here are the five paths to successful learning of any mystery...including language:
1. Motivation--Whether it's French, Spanish or Heaven, you must desire deeply to understand.
2. Equipping--The Bible is God's language book. Study it and know how He communicates. You'll be amazed at what you will discover about Heaven's language through the Bible.
3. Environment--Create a church culture that celebrates Heaven's voice and communication.
4. Humility--Every language will humble you as you begin to speak its sounds. Don't be afraid to fail. Find an environment that encourages and celebrates risk.
5. Time--Crash courses will leave you anemic regarding understanding. There are few shortcuts. Take the time to get it right. Learn the voice of God!
Where is the Church heading? How will leadership shift in the future? What is the right model for building a true Kingdom culture? Are tragic situations going to radically change how we live? What is my true destiny? What are the futures of my children?
These are all mysteries...are you up for solving it? We may never understand about the ducks and the bees, but God is willing to help us solve some of life's greatest mysteries. Are you willing to turn aside, be curious, move close and hear the heartbeat of God?
Steve Witt
Email: admin@istevewitt.com
Steve Witt has been a church planter for 30 years. He has been a leader in the Vineyard in Canada and former apostolic team member for Partners in Harvest (Toronto). He served as a business coach for nine years and has done training in over 25 nations. He is currently pastor for Metro Church South in the Cleveland, Ohio, area. Steve is married to Cindy and they have four grown children.
Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.
ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250
Montauk to Manhattan: Every House a House of Prayer
Loving Long Island with 24-7-365 Worship-Filled Prayer
Links to IHOP-LI: the Ark House of Prayer on Long Island
http://www.IHOP-LI.com
http://www.theburn247.com/longisland/
http://www.squidoo.com/IHOP-LI/
http://gworship9.blogspot.com/
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7748449673
http://www.myspace.com/ihoplongisland
http://www.myspace.com/burnlongisland
http://www.joconetwork.org/ihop-li
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IHOP-LI/
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