Spiritual Growth

Do you want to do big things for God? Usually, the first step in our journey with the Lord is to walk through a time of deep, deep healing.  This time of year is called the Days of Awe. It’s a moment of hearing God more clearly for your destiny, especially for the coming year. During this season, God will look at your heavenly books. All the days of your life were written in God’s book before even one of them took place. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be. Psalm 139:16 NIV We’ve been given a choice to do the things God has written for us. But we pick up mental blocks over the course of our lives that keep us from entering into the fullness of God’s destiny for us.  Healing from rejection “Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.” Luke 10:16 NIV We can expect some degree of rejection for carrying the message of Jesus.  Throughout the history of revival, many past revivalists that we hold in high esteem actually suffered a great deal of rejection from the established Church of their day. This is so common that even Jesus was rejected by most people, especially religious leaders and even people in His hometown. The stone which the builders rejected has become the chief cornerstone. This...

Can you recall one of the darkest hours that you have ever had to face? I certainly can. Many of my darkest hours come to mind, such as: My parents’ home-going; Miscarrying our first child; Going through 3 more miscarriages; Facing my siblings’ home-going; and Financial crisis. These are just a few, and I’m sure you can join in with me in sharing moments of darkness such as the ones that I have mentioned--and more. But, one thing is for sure: Your trouble will not always last! The only consolation that comes with your darkest hour is the fact that Jesus warned us about it. He said: “In this unbelieving world you will experience trouble and sorrows, but you must be courageous, for I have conquered the world” (John 16:33 TPT)! Jesus promised us that darkness would come, trouble would come, trials will come, and then He offers comfort: “For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13 NASB). “God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (Ps. 46:1 NLT). “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you” (Psalm 9:10 NLT). ‘The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17 NKJV). The thing about darkness and trouble is that it will not...

“1 Kings 19 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Elijah’s Journey to Horeb 19 Ahab told Jezebel everything that Elijah had done and how he had killed all the prophets with the sword. 2 So Jezebel sent a messenger to Elijah, saying, “May the gods punish me and do so severely if I don’t make your life like the life of one of them by this time tomorrow!” 3 Then Elijah became afraid and immediately ran for his life. When he came to Beer-Sheba that belonged to Judah, he left his servant there, 4 but he went on a day’s journey into the wilderness. He sat down under a broom tree and prayed that he might die. He said, “I have had enough! Lord, take my life, for I’m no better than my fathers.” 5 Then he lay down and slept under the broom tree. Suddenly, an angel touched him. The angel told him, “Get up and eat.” 6 Then he looked, and there at his head was a loaf of bread baked over hot stones, and a jug of water. So, he ate and drank and lay down again. 7 Then the angel of the Lord returned for a second time and touched him. He said, “Get up and eat, or the journey will be too much for you.” 8 So he got up, ate, and drank. Then on the strength from that food, he walked 40 days and 40 nights to Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 He entered...

Have you ever noticed repeated spiritual warfare manifesting in your life? Spiritual Warfare that repeats itself around certain seasons, events, or holidays? I used to get attacked in a certain month of the year and around a certain holiday each year. As this went on for years, I pressed into the Lord to see how I could combat such attacks. I didn’t want to feel defeated when Jesus has purchased my victory. Are you financial continually being attacked? Is it difficult to move forward in prosperity? Do you feel as though your relationships or employment opportunities are being sabotaged? Can you notice months or seasons you seem to be under intense warfare? These are some of the many signs a familiar spirit can be at work in your life. Identifying where the familiar spirits are at work in your life will assist you in relinquishing their attacks. Follow the steps I will be giving you to release the familiar spirits and spiritual warfare perpetrating your life: Identification: · Do you get depressed around the anniversary of the death of a loved one? Not depressed because of grief, but does it appear something else attacks you around that time to make you sad, angry, or frustrated? · Is there a holiday that is important for you to celebrate, but 2-4 weeks before the holiday, you find yourself struggling with sickness, dissension in a relationship, or financial strain? · Have you noticed around your birthday or anniversary, especially a month before receiving...

The calling on my life is worship intercession, but there have been times where I felt to just throw in the towel because the warfare upon worship was so intense. I remember one time I actually was leaving a conference because I could not break through even to worship. One man asked me where I was going. I told him what I felt and he said not to look on the warfare, but to look to Jesus who leads us in the battle. He has the breaker anointing and He will make the way. From that day on I’ve kept my eyes on Jesus and was able to have a breakthrough in worship. Times have even gotten more intense than before. Many praise teams have been robbed from congregations. People are having a hard time singing out, because of the spirit of intimidation. There has been much oppression and deadness of spirit during worship that it is disheartening where I just feel like crying out to Jesus to set the captives free. We can’t work it up in the natural. Only Jesus can set us free! Recently I was deep in worship and felt led to kneel down. I’ve never had a problem wherever I’ve been to kneel down on hard surfaces — but this was different. I felt it and really bad upon my knees and legs. I said, “LORD, what do I do? I don’t want to quench Your Spirit when you lead me to bow down, but...

This is the story of a humble man—the son of a devout Presbyterian pastor from Illinois, by the name of John Nelson Hyde. It all began when John’s older brother, Edmund, heard his father fervently pray that God would send workers into the harvest. To that end, Edmund enrolled in the seminary, planning to be one of those harvesters. But it wasn’t long before he became ill, and his dream was cut short by his death. It was then that his brother, John, then caught the vision and studied to go to the mission field in Punjab, India. During that time, there were nearly a million unbelievers in an area served by only five missionaries. His efforts required incredible patience because it was a painstakingly slow transition. After his first year on the field, he penned the following letter to his seminary. Yesterday, eight low-caste persons were baptized at one of the villages. It seems a work of God in which man, even as an instrument, was used in a very small degree. Pray for us. I learn to speak the language very, very slowly: can only talk a little in public or in conversation.” Hyde was partially deaf, which no doubt added to his struggle to master the complex native languages. Though mission authorities tried to encourage him, they were frustrated when he spent more time studying his Bible than he did in language study. And rather than displaying the outgoing personality of a missionary, he seemed much more...

When the thrill of the experience has waxed cold and the fog lifts and the glow of the ambient light has dimmed in the presence of offending fluorescence, there is a questioning of the longevity of this sacred romance called Christianity. As a Christian, I realize that encounter and experience once took precedence in my life. It was the thrill of God seeming to chase me and give me a word, to have the “man or woman of God” call me out and declare greatness and mighty exploits. Hot tears and those euphoric goosebumps were my litmus test that He had touched me through the years. Is this how many of us have operated with God? It was not until this year that I came to grips with the truth. I was a starving sheep, feasting on encounter and messages with fillers and lacking true sustenance while snacking on His Word. Yes, I love Jesus Christ and have from the day that He became my Lord and Savior eighteen years ago. But without realizing it, this relationship had become “Jesus plus”. This is where many are in the body of Christ right now if there is brutal honesty. Either the plus is works based to win favor with God, which is not possible, or the plus is the experiences that trigger emotion and excitement. It seems that Jesus is not enough. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit and the call to be holy and sanctified is not enough. His Word...

I Dreamed I was crying. A Word by Dawn Baker "Jesus wept". We've all frivolously quoted that verse. We've known it as 'the shortest verse in the bible' but could Father God truly want us to delve deeply into the heart of it. Jesus wept. He is the very image of The Holy God, embodying everything good and right; yet, He is so full of compassion for 'us' that tears fell from Jesus eyes and He wept, cried for us. Wow! The longer I live, and the more interaction I have with people, the more I'm amazed and ponder hearts. Jeremiah said the heart is "deceitfully wicked". Yet, Jesus died for our hearts; that's how important our heart is to God and how much He wants it! The war has always been over 'our heart'. And a heart transformed by Jesus is undeniably recognizable as His. 'THE HEART' pumps blood through the entire body, bringing life to all the bodies organs/members. Without the blood flowing we die. Are we as heart carriers, of God's heart, forgetting our job/our purpose is to 'pump' life to every organ, all members? We have the blood. Not one member/organ will function well without the heart being well and doing all it was created to do. Dawn Baker integrityphysicians.com...

Are you possessed? Jesus is on His way! A Word by Edie Bayer Are you waiting for your miracle to come? During devotionals this morning my husband reminded me of this scripture passage in Luke 8. I believe this is a prophetic word that I think will help you! Jesus had just driven out Legion from a man in the Gerasenes, sending the demons into the pigs. The people then turned on Jesus and drove Him out, as they were “possessed and suffering with dread and terror,” (Luke 8:27 – 37 AMPC). Next thing you know, He was approached by a man named Jairus, a ruler in the synagogue. His daughter was dying, and he asked Jesus to come and heal her, (v. 41-42). However, on the way, his journey was interrupted by the woman with the issue of blood. She reached out to Him in faith, believing if she could just touch Him she would be healed, (v. 44). Jesus felt her faith pull the healing virtue right out of Him (v. 46), and she was healed. Next scene, one of Jairus’ associates showed up and told Jairus that his daughter had died (v. 49). Immediately, Jesus said, “Do not be seized with alarm or struck with fear; simply believe and she shall be made well,” (v. 50). They all went to Jairus’ house, where Jesus only allowed the BELIEVERS in with Him and kicked everybody else out. He then called her out of death back into life and...