NOTES

AND

QUOTES

3
Compiled by Joan Royer
 FORWARD

Write down the revelation

and make it plain on tablets
so that a herald may run with it.
HABAKKUK 2:2

FOR YEARS AND YEARS I HAVE COPIED INTO MY JOURNALS FAVORITE QUOTES FROM
BOOKS and messages as I have read them. I collected them in a computer file called
Wonderful Writings from Various Christian Authors. Also as I've listened to
conferences on the internet, I have often taken notes on what the speakers were
saying.
I thought these were just for my private use. But one day the Lord told me to
share these wonderful writings with others in a book He called Notes and Quotes. So
I gathered many of these into this series of books to share with you.
It is my desire that these notes and quotes are a blessing to you as they have
been to me. I have put the author or speaker's name at the beginning of each article,
and have put a list of their names at the end (End Notes) of the book.
 -1-

TIME TO LEARN TO FLY

(RICK JOYNER: BULLETIN: "Highway to Heaven - It is Time to Learn to Fly")

President-elect Obama won the election because he seized the high ground of hope for the future.
The hope he gave was mostly undefined and superficial, which only goes to show the power of
hope, especially in difficult times. This is a lesson we must learn. One of the most tragic mistakes
of Christianity has been to focus on the prophecies of judgment about the end of the age instead of
fulfilling the commandment to preach the Gospel of the Kingdom. Gospel means "good news," and
it is the greatest news the world has ever or will ever hear. When that greatest hope of all is
articulated, no message on earth will have ever had a greater impact. It is time to take up this
charge.

This is not to imply that we should overlook the prophecies about the troubles that will come upon
the world at the end of this age. A good case can be made that these troubles are already unfolding.
We are foolish if we do not heed these and prepare for their fulfillment. However, the devil has
been successful in getting the world to believe that Christians are fearful prophets of doom who are
against just about everything and are out to spoil everyone's fun. Many Christians have helped to
feed that image by the message they preach, and the message they have preached has made them
into that kind of Church. This will soon change.

As this age comes to a close and the world enters its most trying times, the Church and her message
are going to change. As the greatest of all hopes takes its place in the heart of the Church, her
demeanor is going to become one that exudes vision and purpose. In the greatest darkness, she will
be the greatest light, growing in the joy and peace of the Lord, demonstrating the greatest and
happiest society the world has ever seen.

The Biblical prophecies are clear that things are going to shake more and more as we get closer to
the end of this age, until everything that can be shaken will be shaken. Those same Scriptures
explain clearly how we can build our lives on the Kingdom which cannot be shaken. If we obey the
Lord we have nothing to fear in these times, but rather the opposite—we have the promise of
increasing glory (see Hebrews 12:26-29). When this hope, peace, and joy arise in the midst of such
trials, it will be even brighter and will cause the nations to flock to the light, as we see promised in
Isaiah 60:1-5:

"Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you. For
behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the Lord will rise
upon you, and His glory will appear upon you. And nations will come to your light, and kings
to the brightness of your rising. Lift up your eyes round about, and see; they all gather
together, they come to you. Your sons will come from afar, and your daughters will be
carried in the arms. Then you will see and be radiant, and your heart will thrill and rejoice;
because the abundance of the sea will be turned to you, the wealth of the nations will come to
you."
The Gospel of the Kingdom is the greatest hope for the future this world has ever heard. This is the
unshakable promise that we have from God that His Kingdom is going to come to this world and
His will is going to be done, right here on Earth as it is in Heaven. When His Kingdom comes, He
is going to restore the earth into the paradise that it was originally intended to be. The lions will lie
down with the lambs, and children will play with cobras, because no one is going to hurt anyone
else. All the mourning, pain, disease, famine, and even death itself will have been removed from
the earth. At that time, the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea.

The power of the Gospel of the Kingdom is greater than any other message. The power of hope is
great, but there is no other message of hope like the one we have been given. The Church will not
continue to let cults, such as the New Age movement, seize the high ground of hope for the future.
This is our special domain. It is time to raise the banner and stand for hope in the future as the
Gospel of the Kingdom so powerfully does.

Think about it. Even the most far-fetched concepts and dreams of utopia fall short of how great it
will actually be right here on the earth after the Kingdom has come and the earth has been restored.
However, the greatest promise of all is that God is going to make His dwelling place on earth
among men. As awesome as His creation is, God is far more interesting, compelling, and lovable
than His creation. God will again walk with men in paradise and dwell among them. This will
indeed make the earth the center of the universe. When mankind is restored to God and to our
original purposes, the creation will come back into harmony and become the home for man and
God that it was originally intended to be. This will be far more wonderful than we can comprehend
at this time. That is the hope given for the original creation, but what is promised for the new
creation will be far better.

The new creation is the great company of those who responded to God in this age and who were
redeemed, reconciled, and restored to Him. These are the ones who gave their lives to His service
in preparing the way for His coming Kingdom and will have "a better resurrection" (see Hebrews
11:35). As the Lord Jesus testified, they will be like Him in His resurrected, glorified Body and will
have transcended the natural realm to be "partakers of the divine nature" (see 2 Peter 1:4). These
will also rule with Christ over the earth during the "period of restoration of all things" (see Acts
3:21)—the one-thousand year reign of Christ over the earth.

We can see in the Scriptures that the restoration of the earth to the paradise it was originally created
to be will take one thousand years. The earth and all of the people on it will go through a renewing
process similar to what a Believer goes through after being born again. We are not instantly
perfected and mature, but we must have our minds transformed as we grow up "into Christ." This is
similar to what the whole earth will go through, but it will be much easier after the Lord's return
and satan is bound. The period of restoration will be filled with wonders just as the progressing
Christian life is. Again, all of this is seen in the prophecies of Scripture.

The reason why the Lord did not bind satan and cast him into the lake of fire immediately after His
resurrection (which He had the authority to do), was because He did not want it to be easy for us.
The entire Church age has the purpose of calling and perfecting those who would actually become
true sons and daughters of God, co-heirs with Christ. These do not just have to prove their
devotion, but they need the trials and tests to make them into who they are called to be. King David
endured much to prepare him to be the great king that he was. Trials are not things God does to us
but for us.

There is a prevailing concept that when the Lord returns the earth will be instantly perfected. That
is not the case as the prophecies make quite clear. In fact, that is not the way the Lord has ever done
anything. The whole period of history since the Fall reveals His patient process with man.
However, when He returns, it is obvious that the process of renewal will be hastened and made
much easier for the earth and its inhabitants.

Paradise Restored

I have had prophetic experiences in which I was shown brief pictures of how wonderful the
Kingdom of God on the earth will be. With sin and evil removed, the mental capacity of people
grew to be many times what we have now. It has been estimated that even the greatest geniuses
only use about 10 percent of their brains. In the Kingdom, the rest of the brain will be awakened,
not just for people, but for all creatures. This will result in an ability to perceive and understand
many times what we are able to now. The animals were also freed mentally so that there was a
communication and understanding between all living things.

Animals such as lions seemed to have an intelligence approaching what people have now. The
communication between people and animals was conversational and intelligent. I was shown that
this was actually the condition in the Garden before the Fall, which is why Eve was not startled
when the serpent talked to her—she was used to having conversations with animals.

After the Fall, the discord between man and creation grew as man fell deeper into depravity and
selfishness. Noah, who had maintained a level of harmony with God, also had maintained a level of
harmony with His creation. This enabled Noah to be comfortable with the animals in the ark and to
communicate with them. That, too, is an insight into what the messengers of the Kingdom will be
like. They will not only save man but the creation as well. The Lord loves the earth that He made
for us, and He loves all of the creatures on it.

In the visions I have been given of the age to come, men were not teaching the animals tricks but
high level concepts and the ways of the Lord. The creatures worshiped Him too and wanted to
know Him and be close to Him. The animals were also sharing with men their understanding of
Him and their understanding of the creation. It was as if man was having the kind of fellowship
with the animals that God has with men. Knowledge was still increasing, and it was truth that led to
an increasingly abundant life.

Because the curse on the earth was removed, the climate seemed much more uniform over the
earth. This enabled plants to grow much faster and larger. Fruit was produced continually, not just
seasonally. People did not seem to need as much food as they do now. The productivity of fruit and
grains was so abundant that the earth could be occupied easily by many times the number of people
who had lived during this age. In fact, several times the number of people who had lived on the
earth could have lived in what is now an area less than the size of Texas. There was that much more
productivity out of the land and less consumption by man and the animals.
Technology was also far beyond what we have now. Energy was given by nature in a way that was
not only a ready source but clean and completely renewable. The energy from the sun was
converted in such an efficient way that roads absorbed it and transferred it directly to vehicles
traveling over them, with no pollution. There was air travel also, but the fuel source came from
solar energy that was absorbed on the surface of aircrafts and was transferred directly into power.
Engines were so quiet that they seemed to be an electric and magnetic combination. The energy
transfer was so efficient that there was no waste and no pollution.

Travel was extensive for recreation, education, and trade. Commerce and interchange was vibrant,
but without hype, pressure, and competition. There was not a mentality of getting the most out of a
transaction, but rather giving the most. This made for a peace and tranquility that pervaded over all.
Survival was not an issue and neither was prosperity, so fear and greed were no longer a part of
human transactions. This made every day full of life and joy, and learning was the great treasure for
everyone.

I did not see space travel but understood that the solar system was "the backyard" that those on
earth were devoted to settling and bringing to life. To help life become abundant where it was not
yet found was a great focus and devotion. The technology of harnessing the sun's energy was
making this possible for even distant planets and moons. The creation of this type of technology
and this devotion to bring life where it was not yet found brought great pleasure to the Lord. It
seemed that all of mankind's now considerable genius was devoted to spreading life and helping it
to thrive.

Why was I shown this? I think it was simply because I asked to understand what mankind would be
doing after the earth was restored. It was just a curiosity, but I felt that it brought great pleasure to
the Lord to show me these things. I was just given a brief glimpse, and we know His plans for us
are far beyond what we can ask or think.

The New Creation

What I have described above was what I was shown for mankind, but the "new creation" is given
far more than this. As stated, those who attained to the high calling of God by overcoming in this
age were given "a better resurrection." They were not just resurrected as humans on the earth, but in
the nature of Christ in His resurrection. They could visit the natural realm at will, but they did not
dwell there—rather they dwelled in the spiritual realm.

In this life we can only see in part and know in part, and I have not been shown much more than
this about those who attain to the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. This is the race that the
Apostle Paul wrote about (see 1 Corinthians 9:24). It was also what he was seeing when he said
that he did not consider himself to have yet attained to it, but he pressed on toward the high calling
of God in Christ Jesus. Of course, Paul was not thinking about his redemption or salvation, which
we attain as soon as we believe. He saw something so great concerning a high calling that he
pressed on to attain the "one thing" (see Philippians 3:13-14), and he did not consider at that time
that he had.
The mentality that in the resurrection we will all be the same is disputed throughout the Scriptures.
There are rewards and even the manner of our resurrection is obviously affected by how we serve
Him in this life. Not understanding that how we live this life will affect our place in eternity is
probably one of the main open doors to lukewarmness and even debauchery among Christians.
Obviously, the Lord's own disciples understood this or they would not have asked for certain
positions in the Kingdom.

The Scriptures actually make it quite clear that there will be a resurrection to the Heavenly realm
for some and the earthly realm for others. A full study of this is not possible in a bulletin, but we do
need to understand the rewards. Even Jesus endured the Cross because He was looking to the
reward.

Even being resurrected to the lowest state will be far more wonderful than the highest state in this
life. However, there clearly is a "high calling" that even perceiving a little should wake us up to the
greatest devotion. I have had some conservative evangelical leaders say that not understanding this
is the one thing that is hurting the Church in our times, and understanding it could have a bigger
impact on the Church than any other single factor. I am not sure if I would quite go that far, but no
doubt it is very important.

Where Are We?

Even the best map is useless unless you know where you are. Every Christian should know where
they are on the path of life, and they should also know the signs of the times in which they live.
This is declared quite clearly in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11:

"Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to
you. For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in
the night. While they are saying, 'Peace and safety!' then destruction will come upon them
suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. But you,
brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all
sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness; so then let us not sleep as
others do, but let us be alert and sober.

"For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love,
and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but for
obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we are
awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore encourage one another, and build
up one another, just as you also are doing."

It says here that we are not to be in darkness so that the day overtakes us like a thief, but if we are
sons of the day, or of the light, we should see and understand what is happening. There were
prophets in the Old Testament that were shocked if anything significant happened without them
foreseeing it. We have "a better covenant" with more glory, so we should be doing better than that.
How do we get there? There is a way that has been prepared. All we have to do is get on the path.
The way to do that is to discern it and be devoted to staying on it. In Isaiah 40:3-5 the prophet
declares:

"A voice is calling, 'Clear the way for the Lord in the wilderness; make smooth in the desert a
highway for our God. Let every valley be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low.
Let the rough ground become a plain, and the rugged terrain a broad valley. Then the glory
of the Lord will be revealed, and all flesh will see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has
spoken.'"

We prepare the way for the Lord by building a highway. To build a highway, the ground needs to
be leveled, bringing down mountains and hills, and raising up the low places. A lot of work is done
for us to be able to drive on our super-highways and zip along at 70 mph. Likewise, many have
done a lot of work on our spiritual highway so we can go much further and faster than those who
went before us. This is one reason why it is so important and crucial for our spiritual health to
honor our fathers and mothers in the Lord, who did so much to make our way straight and smooth.
It is likewise our job to keep building this highway until it is complete and the Kingdom comes.

There is a straight, smooth highway right through the difficulties the world is presently
experiencing. Regardless of how dark and confusing it gets in the world, for those who are on the
highway, it will be getting increasingly bright and full of hope, just as we are told in Proverbs 4:18:
"But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, that shines brighter and brighter until
the full day." If we stay on the path of the righteous, our lives will get continually brighter. We
should see our path more and more clearly. If this is not the case, then somewhere we have gotten
off the path. If this is the case, we can get back on the right path by a simple act called
"repentance." As C.S. Lewis observed, in the Lord the wrong path will never turn into the right one,
so if we have gotten off the right path we must go back to where we missed the turn. That is
basically what repentance is.

The "path of the righteous," or the right path, is doing what is right in the sight of the Lord. Staying
on this path is simply walking in basic, Biblical discipleship. The Lord made this very clear in such
Scriptures as Luke 14:27: "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be
My disciple." True disciples are not Christians for what they can get, but for what they can give,
the most basic of which is their life. The apostle made this clear in 2 Corinthians 5:14-15:

"For the love of Christ controls us, having concluded this, that one died for all, therefore all
died; and He died for all, that they who live should no longer live for themselves, but for Him
who died and rose again on their behalf."

To have eyes to see, we must be delivered from selfishness and self-seeking so that we are devoted
completely to the Lord and His purposes. To the degree that we are devoted to Him, we will see
through His eyes and understand with His heart. If we are going to walk in understanding and
discernment of the times, we must return to basic, radical discipleship. The Lord said in Matthew
16:24-25: "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and
follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My
sake shall find it."
The Lord explained in the Parable of the Sower that the seed, which is His Word, will be choked
out by the cares and worries of this world. If we spend more time caring for the things of this world
than we do for the Lord, then those things have become our first love or a devotion that we have
above Him, which is an idol. An idol is not just something you bow down to, but it is what you put
your affection or your trust in instead of God. Just as the judgments of God that came upon Egypt
were for the purpose of setting His people free, the judgments coming upon the world in our times
are also intended to help set His people free.

To build our lives on the Kingdom, or to stay on the path of life, there is a simple key—the key of
the Kingdom. The key of the Kingdom is explained in Matthew 6:33, "But seek first His
Kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." It is a sure
promise of God that if we will put His Kingdom first, He will take care of everything else we need.
That is the best business deal we will get in this life!

How do we seek His Kingdom first? We should start by putting His Kingdom first in our decision
making. The key to the Kingdom is to never make a major decision on what we want or what others
want but on the interests of the Kingdom. For example, if we made the decision on where we would
live based on where the best job opportunity is, the geography we liked, or to be close to friends or
relatives, rather than where the Lord wanted us, we could be in the wrong place for our purpose in
Him. It may be nice for a while, but when the shaking comes, we will pay a dear price for not
having sought the Kingdom first. This is probably the number one reason why so many Christians
do not feel that there is a Church close to them where they fit—they are in the wrong place. If we
do not esteem being in the right place in His Body more than having a good job, then we certainly
are not seeking the Kingdom first.

If this is the case with us, what do we do? First, do not do anything rash, but start a radical pursuit
of the Lord and His purposes. We can have great jobs and things may be going well at work, but if
we are in the wrong place it can cost us our children, our peace, and our joy. We are told in Romans
14:17, "for the Kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and
joy in the Holy Spirit." Righteousness, peace, and joy are far more valuable than any material
things we can receive in this world. Multitudes of very wealthy people will testify of this on
judgment day.

I have been privileged to get to know quite a few of the world's most successful people, and,
without exception, if they did not know the Lord, they did not have either peace or joy in their
lives. Those in the world often seek joy first as their chief pursuit, but the only path to true peace
and true joy is by starting with righteousness, which is doing what is right in the sight of the Lord.
This alone can lead to true peace, which is the only foundation for true joy.

For Christians who have lost their peace and joy—get back on the path of righteousness! This alone
can restore our peace and joy. Doing what is right in the sight of the Lord is seeking and doing His
will above all things. If this is our chief pursuit, it will be what we seek first when making any
major decisions in our lives. The path of life is walking in the will of the Lord. Jesus is the Way,
the Truth, and the Life. If we really know the Way, He will also be our Truth and our Life.

The Best of Times

There will be an increasing distinction between those who are on the path of life and those who are
not. Churches and individuals who are on the right path will see increasing revival. Great and
exciting new movements are about to be born all over the earth. The wise will rejoice in all of
them. These will not bring competition but will be the streams that make glad the city of God.

The Church is going through a radical transformation, and radical, Biblical Christianity will
continue taking root across the earth. Miracles will again be a main currency of the Church,
verifying its message of the Kingdom, which will begin to be preached. Every new stream or
movement will help carry the whole Church further toward her ultimate destiny. The whole Church
should embrace new movements the way a congregation embraces new Believers.

Power and Dominion

The great Apostle Paul wrote that the Cross is the power of God (see 1 Corinthians 1:18). Those
who will walk in the greatest power are those who embrace the Cross the most, taking it up daily
and living a life of sacrifice for the purpose of serving God and His people. I have been a Christian
nearly forty years and have spent a good deal of my studies over that time reading the great
Christian voices who impacted their times, and often all succeeding times. There is a common
denominator you can sense in all of their writings—it is the message of the Cross. They preached
and lived a life of sacrifice. I was told over twenty years ago that the Cross would be popular again
and that it would be the message of our times—I know that we have come to that time. When this
becomes a reality, it will pave the way for unprecedented supernatural authority to be given to the
Church.

The emerging generation is not responding to the self-centered message that much of the Church
drifted into over the last few decades. If you look at the congregations of typical Churches, it is
composed mostly of old people and their parents. However, the youth are coming to Christ in great
numbers, but they are not going to be found in boring Church meetings, and they are not giving
themselves to the self-centered message that the former generation fed on. The emerging generation
is being drawn to movements that preach radical discipleship and a life of sacrifice.

True Christianity is the ultimate adventure and the greatest cause. True Church life is to be a part of
the ultimate fellowship of the most noble, courageous souls. This is being restored in our times, and
though a good example of it may not be found in every community yet, it will be. The Gospel of
the Kingdom will be preached in every place before the end of this age can come. Just as the
Gospel of salvation can only be preached by those who have salvation, the Gospel of the Kingdom
can only be preached by those who are living in the Kingdom. The highway to the Kingdom is
open and many are traveling it. It is the higher-way of God.

A New Beginning

The number 8 in prophecy often refers to a new beginning, and 2008 was certainly a year of new
beginnings. However, when a person is born, they are far from being what they will be when they
mature, and the new things that have been born in the Church this year are a long way from being
mature. Because of this, to see what the Lord is doing we often need the vision of Simeon the
prophet, who could see in a mere infant the salvation of the world (see Luke 2:25-34). For this
reason, the Lord compared faith to a seed. Faith can see a mature tree in a seed. You may only see
it now with the eyes of faith, but the last-day Church was actually born in 2008.

On 8/8/08, we had a gathering to celebrate this new beginning. It was an outdoor event on the
grounds at Heritage and it drew thousands. The Lord gave us "signs in the Heavens" to testify that
He was indeed bringing forth a new beginning. For days before, the heat had been hitting 100
degrees or more, and the humidity was almost too much to bear for more than a few minutes. Of
course, we were concerned about the people in the open fields. However, the Lord turned on His air
conditioner, and as we gathered for the meeting the temperature was a very comfortable 88 degrees
with low humidity, and the wind was blowing 8 mph.

The presence of the Lord was remarkable, and there were many signs and wonders that day. Even
so, the Lord had spoken through a number of dreams that September 21 was going to be an even
more important day. We had changed the dates of our Harvest and Worship & Warfare
Conferences so that September 21 was the Sunday between them. It was a powerful day, but not
more than we were used to at conferences, and it did not seem that anything very significant
happened—but it did.

Through a number of prophetic dreams and experiences given to those who had gathered with us
and others who were far away, the Lord proclaimed that day as the end of the Laodicean Church
and the beginning of age of the 8th Church of the Book of Revelation. This is not to add to the
Book of Revelation, but there is actually an 8th Church in it—the Bride that is prepared for Him
and comes down out of Heaven.

The Laodicean Church was the one that had so much she did not seem to need the Lord. We have
certainly been in a very blessed time in the natural, but much of the Church has fallen into the most
depraved and deceived state of lukewarmness. That will now change. That Church is going to fade
away, and a new Church with a new nature is going to emerge. The difference between these two
Churches will be like the difference between a caterpillar and a butterfly. The caterpillar is a worm
that has to crawl on the earth and therefore conforms to the earth. The butterfly soars high above it
and is carried about by the wind of the Spirit.

It is said that the greatest struggle of the life of a butterfly is breaking out of its cocoon. However, if
it was not for that great struggle, the butterfly would not have the strength to use its huge wings. A
struggle is happening in the Church, but it is for our sakes so that we will be able to use the great
authority that the Lord will give His people who are called to preach the good news of His coming
Kingdom. It is now time to obey Romans 12:1-2:

"I urge you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and
holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. And do not be
conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may
prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
The Greek word that is translated "transformed" in this text is actually the word that we derive our
English word "metamorphosis" from, which is the process a caterpillar goes through to become a
butterfly. It is time to learn to fly.

Rick Joyner
MorningStar Ministries
 -2-

THE FEAR OF THE LORD

(From The Fear of the Lord by John Bevere, pg xvi)

The fear of the Lord is not grasped by the mind but etched in our hearts. It is revealed by the Holy
Spirit as we read His Word. It is one of the manifestations of the Spirit of God (Isa. 11:1-2) God
will impart it to the hearts of those who earnestly seek Him. (Jer. 29:11-14; 32-40)

(From The Fear of the Lord by John Bevere, chapter beginnings)

1. Do you think the King of Kings and Lord of Lords is going to come into a place where He is
not given due honor and reverence?
2. There are people who are quick to acknowledge Jesus as Savior, Healer, and Deliverer…yet
they reduce His glory to the level of corruptible men by their actions and heart attitudes.
3. The more extensive our comprehension of God's greatness…the greater our capacity for fear or
reverence of Him.
4. Before God's glory comes, there first must be divine order
5. We cannot expect to be admitted into His presence with an attitude of disrespect.
6. Jesus makes it clear that to follow Him, we must first count the cost…the price is nothing short
of our lives.
7. If you desire the praise of man, you will fear man. If you fear man, you will serve him--for you
will serve what you fear.
8. The greater God's revealed glory, the greater and swifter the judgment of irreverence!
9. Where we have been and where we are is not where we are headed! We must raise our eyes to
the horizon and look for His coming glory!
10. Prepare the way of the Lord by making His people ready for His glory!
11. A person who fears God trembles at His Word and in His presence.
12. The fear of the Lord will keep us from compromising God's truth for the pursuit of personal
gain.
13. To fear God is to believe God. To believe God is to obey Him.
14. Holy fear gives God the place of glory, honor, reverence, thanksgiving, praise, and preeminence
He deserves.

What does it mean to tremble at His Word? It can be summed up in one statement: to willingly
obey God even when it appears more advantageous to compromise or not obey His Word. (p141)

Proverbs 2:1-5
My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, So that you incline your
ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; Yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift
up your voice for understanding, If you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden
treasures; Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God.

Ecclesiastes 12:13
Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is
man's all.

Proverbs 23:17
Be zealous for the fear of the Lord all the day.

Psalm 25:14
The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.

Psalm 25:14 NLT

Friendship with the Lord is reserved for those who fear Him. With them He shares the secrets of
His covenant.

Psalm 111:10
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; a good understanding have all those who do His
commandments.

2 Corinthians 7:1
Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh
and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

Psalm 55:19
Because they do not change, therefore they do not fear God. (do not change when they hear God's
Word)

Philippians 2:12-14
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will
and to do for His good pleasure. Do all things without complaining and disputing.

Deut. 5:29
Oh, that they had such a heart in them that they would fear Me and always keep all My
commandments, that it might be well with them and with their children forever!

Exodus 20:20
And Moses said to the people, "Do not fear; for God has come to test you, and that His fear may be
before you, so that you may not sin."

Hebrews 2:1
Therefore we must give the more earnest heed to the things we have heard, lest we drift away.

Hosea 6:1-2
Come, and let us return to the Lord; for He has torn, but He will heal us; He has stricken, but He
will bind us up. After two days He will revive us; on the third day He will raise us up, that we may
live in His sight.

Romans 11:22
Consider the goodness and severity of God.

Hebrews 12:28
Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.

Ecclesiastes 8:11-13 NLT

When a crime is not punished, people feel it is safe to do wrong. But even though a person sins a
hundred times and still lives a long time, I know that those who fear God will be better off.

2 Corinthians 5:10 NLT

For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the
good or evil we have done in our bodies.

1 Peter 1:15-17
He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, "Be holy, for
I am holy." And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's
work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear.

Psalm 25:14
The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.

Philippians 2:12
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

Psalm 19:9
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever.

Proverbs 16:6
By the fear of the Lord one departs from evil.

Leviticus 10:3
By those who come near Me I must be regarded as holy; and before all the people I must be
glorified.

Psalm 34:9
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

Psalm 89:6-7
For who in the heavens can be compared to the Lord? Who among the sons of the mighty can be
likened to the Lord? God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be held in
reverence by all those around Him.

Positions our hearts to receive answers:

Hebrews 5:7
Who, in the days of His flesh, when He had offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement
cries and tears to Him who was able to save Him from death, and was heard because of His godly
fear.

Assures that God's great goodness abounds:

Psalm 31:19
Oh, how great is Your goodness, which You have laid up for those who fear You, which You have
prepared for those who trust in You in the presence of the sons of men!

Promises angelic protection:

Psalm 34:7
The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear Him, and delivers them.

Secures God's attention:

Psalm 33:18
Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, on those who hope in His mercy.

Supplies His provision:

Psalm 34:9
Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Him.

Contains great mercy:

Psalm 103:11
For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him.

Provides assurance of food:

Psalm 111:5
He has given food to those who fear Him; He will ever be mindful of His covenant.

Promises protection:
Psalm 115:11
You who fear the Lord, trust in the Lord; He is their help and their shield.

Fulfills our desires and delivers us from harm:

Psalm 134:19
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.

Provides wisdom and understanding:

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is
understanding.

Is our confidence and refuge:

Proverbs 14:26
In the fear of the Lord there is strong confidence, and His children will have a place of refuge.
 Is life and protection in the face of death:
Proverbs 14:27
The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life, to turn one away from the snares of death.

Provides peace of mind:

Proverbs 15:16
Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure with trouble.

Results in life, satisfaction and not being visited with evil:

Proverbs 19:23
The fear of the Lord leads to life, and he who has it will abide in satisfaction; he will not be visited
with evil.

Leads to riches, honor, and life:

Proverbs 22:4
By humility and the fear of the Lord are riches and honor and life.

Will keep us on the path:

Jeremiah 32:40
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them
good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me.

Provides households:
Exodus 1:21
And so it was, because the midwives feared God, that He provided households for them.

Provides clarity and direction:

Psalm 25:12
Who is the man that fears the Lord? Him shall He teach in the way He chooses.

Results in enjoyment of our labor, and full, rewarding lives:

Psalm 128:1-4 NLT
How happy are those who fear the Lord--all who follow His ways! You will enjoy the fruit of your
labor. How happy you will be! How rich your life! Your wife will be like a fruitful vine, flourishing
within your home. And look at all those children! There they sit around your table as vigorous and
healthy as young olive trees. That is the Lord's reward for those who fear Him.

Produces successful leadership:

Exodus 18:21
Moreover you shall select from all the people able men, such as fear God, men of truth, hating
covetousness; and place such over them to be rulers of thousands, rulers of hundreds, rulers of
fifties, and rulers of tens.

2 Samuel 23:3
The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spoke to me: "He who rules over men must be just, ruling
in the fear of God."
Isaiah 33:5-6 NIV
The Lord is exalted, for he dwells on high; he will fill Zion with justice and righteousness. He will
be the sure foundation for your times, a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge; the fear
of the Lord is the key to this treasure.
 -3-

ETERNAL JUDGMENTS

(From Driven By Eternity by John Bevere, p 8-9)

Many today are not building their lives on the eternal--God's Word--but rather cultural
thinking, tradition, assumptions, and emotional feelings about who God is. This doesn't just apply
to people who are not Christians, but to many believers as well. It's a scary thing to believe
something temporal as being the eternal truth. If this is done, your foundation is faulty and setting
you up for a sure fall. You'll believe a lie and are in a deceived state.
I am amazed at how many people I meet who base their lives on what's not eternal. Some
will tell me of God and their belief in His Son, but whom they declare just isn't the One revealed in
His Word. The deception runs deep. How can they believe what they have simply imagined within
their own minds, shaped by a society that has already been declared contrary to God's nature? Jesus
said:

He who…does not receive My words, has that which judges him--the word that I have
spoken will judge him in the last day. For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the
Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.
(John 12:48-49 Emphasis mine)

There is a Judgment Day, which has been appointed from the foundation of the world (Acts
17:31). That day will not bring new revelations of truth; rather, it will measure all things by what
has already been spoken. His Word, which we currently possess, will judge us in that last day. It is
eternal. It is final. There are no exceptions, alterations, or revisions. Wouldn't it benefit us to know
and live by what He says, rather than assume what He said?
The judgments made in that day are called eternal (Heb. 6:2). In other words, the decisions
made that day, which will be based on how we lined our lives up with His eternal Word, will
determine how we spend the rest of eternity! There will never be any changes to those decisions,
for they are called eternal judgments.
So many, both believers and nonbelievers, are ignorantly allowing the appointed judgment
to hasten toward them without cause for investigation. They've taken a false hope in concepts that
are not found in the Bible. Some think God will take into account all the good they've done and if it
outweighs the bad, they will find favor. Others who profess a new birth experience have thought
that they will not stand before Jesus as Judge because He is their Savior. They believe they are
exempt from any form of judgment. They will be most surprised. There are some who think
everything will just pan out. They are trusting in an unscriptural mercy.
None of these concepts are what the New Testament reveals and teaches. These notions and
many others that people have devised in their own imaginations are temporal, not eternal, and will
not stand in that day. There will be stunned men and women, and I personally think there will be
more professing Christians than unbelievers who are shocked on Judgment Day.
 -4-

TIME FULFILLED

(From http://www.nbseminary.com/Moments/Moment_5.htm from article Discerning God's Timing)

The first words that Jesus speaks in Mark's Gospel (Mark 1:15) are these: "The time stands
fulfilled and the kingdom of God stands near." Only Mark among the Gospels includes in
Jesus' proclamation the statement about fulfilled time in relation to the coming of God's
kingdom.

"Time fulfilled" is code that marks the beginning of a new action by God. He has a
schedule for implementing His rule that He is following, only partially known to humanity
and only as He chooses to reveal it. Yet it lies behind all that happens in our world. When
Jesus preaches that "the time stands fulfilled", he declares himself to be God's prophet, one
to whom God has revealed knowledge about His kingdom schedule and plan. Further, he
warns us that a strategic new stage in God's activity is beginning and we must pay
attention and discern what God is doing, otherwise we will be unable to keep in step with
God.

In a very real sense Mark's entire story about Jesus revolves around people recognizing or
failing to recognize what "time" it is according to God's schedule.

God's schedule does not end with the cross and Jesus' resurrection. One event still to occur
is the return of the Son of Man (Mark 13:26-27, 32-33). Jesus himself told us that we do
not know "when that time is". All we, as God's people, can do is to be in a constant state of
readiness, vigilant and watching. The initial fulfillment of God's time (Mark 1:15) gives us
confidence that the second part of God's plan will arrive on schedule, even though only He
knows when that will happen.
 -5-

DREAMING GOD'S DREAMS

(From Dream Language (by James and Michal Ann Goll)

(pg. 75, quote from Mark Rutland)

“To receive a dream is the human obligation that begins to move the divine
purpose from the mind of God to become reality in human history. God originates
the greatest dreams of mankind and grants them as a special grace to the
fearless and the faithful. To be open to dreaming His dreams is to be open to the
very mind of God.

“God is a dreamer who envisioned every microscopic detail of the universe before
He spoke the first word of Creation. Now He summons us into that creative work,
to dream and speak and bring forth that which we dream.”
 -6-

PEOPLE OF THE SPIRIT

(Quotes are from The Seer by Jim W. Goll)

(forward by Mark Chironna)

(11)
“We live in a day when all too many “scholars” and even believers have reduced the Word of God
to a purely rational and logical explanation. Granted, the Word of God appeals as reasonable and
logical in its unfolding to the human mind: provided that mind is surrendered, yielded and in the
process of being transformed by the Spirit! The natural mind is not capable of receiving anything
whatsoever from the Spirit of God.

“In the beginning, the wind and breath of God, the Spirit of God, brooded, hovered and vibrated
over chaos and brought about order. The Spirit of God manifests the presence of God. You cannot
know the presence of God purely by logic and reason. The presence of God can only be known by
experience, and that experience is tantamount to revelation. Your eyes have to be opened, your
heart has to become vibrant and alive, and your ear has to be attuned to a level beyond the normal
octaves that the human ear can hear.

(12)
“When the Spirit is released both upon and within a person, their eyes, ears and heart are opened to
a world beyond their limited seeing, hearing, feeling and discerning. That world is the more real yet
invisible world. It is the world from which the visible world derives its existence.

“The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. There is a Man in the glory and He is ordering
our lives anew by His Spirit brooding deep within us and opening up to us worlds beyond our
natural ways of knowing. What makes us uniquely the people of God is that we are called to be
people of the Spirit. Immersed in that Spirit our speech changes because our eyes, ears and hearts
have been opened to see beyond the world in front of our eyes to the world that lies behind what
our eyes can see.

“If one were a true prophet under the Old Covenant, Jeremiah tells us that the earmark of a true
prophet was that they stood in the divine council and conclave (see Jer. 23:18). In the New
Covenant, the Day of Pentecost caught the entire Church up into the divine council. Potentially,
every believer has access to that which exists before the very throne of God.

(13)
“The coming of the Spirit at Pentecost was the beginning of an ongoing event for the Church
throughout the ages. We need to be continually immersed in the world of the Spirit if we are to see,
hear, feel and discern the things that the Spirit of God intends for us to know and understand.
Without that immersion and direct experience we will fail to fulfill our destiny, fail to honor God’s
eternal purpose, and fail to know the Father as Christ intends for us to know Him.
“In these last great days of visitation God is growing up a people who can be effective in bringing
the things of the invisible world to bear on the visible world. There is a great ingathering taking
place and it is on the increase, not because of pure human logic and reason. The harvest is being
gathered because the Spirit is moving again over the chaos of people’s lives and giving them direct
experiences with God through His Son the Lord Jesus.

“Step by step, Jim Goll will carefully explain to you the nature of the prophetic experience at every
level: from what it means to hear from God, speak for God, experience seeing something that
relates to the nature of God and His purpose, and how to discern the genuine experience of God in
the Spirit from the false experiences that are counterfeited by the powers of darkness.”
 -7-

PROPHECY

(Quotes are from The Seer by Jim W. Goll)

(19)
“Prophecy means the expressed thoughts of God spoken in a language that no man in his natural
gift of speech could articulate on his own. The substance and nature of prophecy exceed the limits
that the human mind is capable of thinking or imagining. Its purpose is to edify, exhort, and
comfort either individuals or the corporate Body of Christ. Although prophecy comes through the
mouth or pen of man, it comes from the mind of God.

“A prophet or prophetess, then, is a spokesperson for God; one who hears the voice of the holy
Spirit and speaks or pens God’s mind or counsel through a “divinely anointed manner.”

(20)
“God imparts this prophetic word in a number of ways. All prophecy comes from God through the
Holy Spirit, but it operates differently in different people. The Old Testament uses several different
Hebrew terms to describe the various modes of impartation.

(21)
1. nataf which means “to let drop like rain.” This describes a slow, gentle process where the
prophetic word comes upon us little by little and accumulates in our spirit over a period of time.

2. massa which refers to the “hand of the Lord” that releases the “burden of the Lord.” When God’s
hand comes upon us, He imparts something to us--a prophetic “burden”--and when His hand lifts,
that burden remains. The Lord deposits something in our spirit that was not there before, and even
after He lifts His hand, we carry that burden as a word or commission from Him. He lays on us a
“burden” for a particular situation, and we may carry that impartation for days, weeks, months, or
even years.

“God’s hand comes upon us and then departs, leaving behind a supernatural enablement of grace, a
Holy Spirit endowment to prophesy and intercede in a way we never could before.

3. nabiy’ is the action of “flowing forth,” or “bubbling forth like a fountain.” This perfectly
describes the inspirational gift of prophecy we see so often in meetings, particularly in a setting of a
plurality of elders and seasoned, gifted individuals working together as a coordinated team--the
“prophetic presbytery.”
 -8-

THE SEER

(Quotes are from The Seer by Jim W. Goll)

(21)
“Within the overall realm of the prophet lies the particular and distinctive realm of the seer. ...all
true seers are prophets but not all prophets are seers. The word seer describes a particular type of
prophet who receives a particular type of prophetic revelation or impartation.

“The Old Testament uses two words primarily to refer to a seer: ra’ah and chozeh. Ra’ah literally
means “to see,” particularly in the sense of seeing visions. Other means include “to gaze,” “to look
upon,” and “to perceive.” Chozeh literally means “a beholder in vision” and can also be translated
as “gazer” or “stargazer.”

(22)
“When it comes to prophetic revelation, a prophet is primarily an inspired hearer and then speaker
while a seer is primarily visual. In other words, the prophet is the communicative dimension and the
seer is the receptive dimension.....The first lays emphasis on a prophet’s relationship with the
people; the second, on a prophet’s revelatory relationship with God.

(23)
“Nabiy’ prophets and ra’ah and chozeh seers are all legitimate expressions of God’s prophetic
stream. As far as prophetic gifting is concerned, prophets and seers are equally valid.

“All true seers are prophets, but not all prophets are seers. A prophet may have the particular grace
to hear and proclaim the word of the Lord and yet not necessarily function as profusely in the
revelatory visionary capacity as a seer does. The seer, on the other hand, may move quite
remarkably in this visionary dream capacity yet not be as deep in the inspirational audible graces of
hearing and speaking. Nevertheless, both move and operate in the prophetic realm, but in different
capacities or dimensions.

“The seer realm describes a whole other aspect of the way the prophetic operation occurs.
Generally speaking, seers are people who see visions in a consistent and regular manner. For the
most part, their prophetic anointing is more visionary than auditory. Rather than receiving words
that they attempt to repeat or flow with, they often see pictures that they then describe. These
pictures may be in the form of waking visions, or as dreams while sleeping.

"I know other people who are profoundly gifted in “seeing”--they see angels, demons, lights and
colors, dreams and visions--but who do not manifest as much in the inspirational capacity to
encourage people spontaneously and verbally.

“One of the differences is that whereas the prophetic word of a nabiy’ is often spontaneous and
activated by faith, that of a ra’ah or chozeh seer is more dependent upon the manifested presence of
God. Many seers will see something beforehand. For example, before going to a meeting or
strategic appointment, a seer may receive a picture of a certain person at that meeting sitting in a
certain place dressed in a certain color. The seer may even be given the person’s name. Later, in the
meeting, the seer will begin scanning the crowd looking for that particular person. If that person is
actually there, this becomes a “green light” for the seer to move forward. Seeing in the natural what
they had already seen in the spirit activates their faith and calls forth courage within them.

(24)
“This kind of prophetic anointing has a lot to do with quietly waiting on God. Paul Cain, a highly
anointed and sensitive seer of our day, has remarked on how hard it is sometimes to wait on God.
There are times, he says, when he waits on God all day, only to have Him come at the last minute.
Quite often, impartation in the seer realm comes only after a time of patient waiting and
contemplative meditation upon the Lord. But thank the Lord, if we wait, He will come!
 -9-

THE PURPOSE OF PROPHET AND SEER

(Quotes are from The Seer by Jim W. Goll)

(27)
“Whether nabiy’ or ra’ah, audible or visual, all prophecy comes from the same source: God the
Father through Jesus Christ by the present-day ministry of the Holy Spirit. The purpose of both the
prophet and the seer is to reveal the glorious wonders of Jesus Christ, God’s purpose in each
generation, and bring an awareness of eternity, Heaven and hell, and the Father’s great presence
among His people, whether by audible or visual means, and whether by spontaneous inspiration or
by reflective contemplation.”

“There are two scriptural prayers that I have prayed regularly, even daily, for over 20 years.....Both
prayers have to do with the seer anointing--the capacity to “see” in the spiritual sense.

“The first of these is Paul’s great prayer in the first chapter of Ephesians:

[I pray] that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to
you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that
the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the
hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the
saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who
believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might
which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and
seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and
authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in
this age but also in the one to come. (Eph. 1:17-21)

(28)
“I pray the prayer something like this: “Lord, give me that spirit of wisdom, grant me that spirit of
revelation so that I will be captured by Jesus Christ.” Then I pray over the eyes of my heart:
“Release shafts of revelation light into them, that I might know the hope of Your calling, that I
might know the glorious inheritance that lives inside of me, and that I might know the surpassing
greatness of Your power that works in me.”

“The other Scripture I have prayed constantly for years is found in Second Kings chapter 6. Here is
the situation: the king of Aram wants to capture the prophet Elisha, and has sent his army to
surround the city of Dothan, where Elisha is living. Elisha’s servant sees the great army and is
terrified:”

Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out,
behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant
said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do? So he answered, “Do not
 fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then
Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And
the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was
full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha (2 Kings 6:15-17).

(29)
“This Scripture shows that we can pray for someone else to be enlightened.....Through the prayer of
one who was a seer came an impartation to another of the capacity to see.”
 -10-

A PLACE OF QUIET COMMUNION

(From Jim Goll’s book Wasted On Jesus)

(85)
“Just as in the natural there is an eye, or center, of quiet in the midst of every hurricane, so it is in
the realm of the Spirit. There is a refuge to which we can turn from the storms and pressures of life.
Just as there was a progression in Moses’ tabernacle from the outer court to the Most Holy Place,
so there is within every believer a progression through the tempests of life into a place of quiet
communion in the Spirit. That is the place where God dwells, and in Him there is perfect peace.”

(p 87)
“God has placed a river of living water--His Spirit--inside each of us. He wants that river to pour
forth from us even more than we want it to. The way we tap into that river is by entering the center
of quiet. There we can pray that not a trickle but a gusher of living water will pour out, that we
might be a well-watered garden and a pool of refreshing where others can come and renew
themselves in the life-giving flow of the Lord.

(90)
“The more time we spend praying in our “inner room,” the more our capacity for prayer will grow.
The more of ourselves we yield to the Lord in prayer, the more of His heart He can entrust us
with.”
 -11-

TRUE AND FALSE PROPHECY

(Engaging The Revelatory Realm of Heaven by Paul Keith Davis)

(p 69)
The Holy Spirit desires that we carry this anointing (of faith and supernatural vision) that opens
eyes and distinguishes between the deceptions of our adversary and the provision of our Redeemer.

The fruit of the Spirit - that’s what we get to take to heaven with us and keep; it has eternal value.

(p 79)
List for:
True Prophetic Ministry False Prophetic Ministry
Power of God Think they are spiritually rich
Glory of God Think they are spiritually complete
God’s refining fire Needing nothing
Clean hands Moved by their soul
Pure heart Misleading messages
Fruit of God evident Birthed in soulish imagination
Blessings of peace, hope, faith, charity Flattery
Sharing Lord’s nature Self promotion
Trained in warfare Useless to serve God in radical purity and
Spiritual fortitude faithfulness or keep His word earnestly
Victory over enemy Deception
Diligence Subtle patterns of blame-shifting
Determination Inhibit people’s ability to stand righteously
Fervent prayer-intercession before God
Grounded in God’s Word Edgar Cayce
Acknowledge Holy Spirit’s work Nostradamus
through God’s grace Divination
Truly build God’s kingdom Divine communication polluted and wrongly
Discover and disclose schemes of administered
adversary Selfish gain
Insight into enemy’s strategy Employ gift through soul
Identify enemy’s spies infiltrating Ambition
our camp Greed
Intimacy with the Lord Covetousness
Establish own name/ministry

(p 86)
The earth is entering into a season of travail. Travail for birthing is heaviest and hardest and most
painful at the end.
(p 130)
God is enjoining us to be strong and of good courage, without fear or reservation in our approach to
this next season of the Spirit.

(p. 138-139)
It is the Spirit of the Lord overshadowing His bride and inciting her to do the works He did while
on earth in human form.
 -12-

TRUSTWORTHY STEWARDS

(Thrones of Our Soul by Paul Keith Davis)

(p. 86)
To be ambassadors for Christ and His representation on the earth, we must be trustworthy stewards
of the power and authority that accompanies the “Keys to the Kingdom.” This can be achieved only
when we share in the Lord’s nature and character by overcoming the corruption that presently
exists in our soul.

When we allow the Holy Spirit to reveal and extract the seeds of corruption, it will produce the
necessary character and divine attributes that make us candidates not only to be called, but also to
be chosen and sent.

(p 124)
The Lord is looking for a righteous agent on earth to stand in the gap on behalf of a sinful
generation and represent Him and the revelation of His Kingdom.

(p 125)
The ‘friends’ of God will occupy an important place of intercession on behalf of the people, not
because of any excellence of their own but because of His great compassion.

(pg 118)
List of intercession ideas
Because of His great compassion
From a position of favor
Calling upon the grace of God
Calling to grant a heart of divine repentance
The knowledge of truth
Escape snare of devil

(p. 126)
This would be good to pray: “The Scriptures declare that the breath of God gives understanding. He
is going to breathe upon us to give comprehension of these times and the things we must do to walk
intimately with Him as His habitation.”

The Scriptures make it plain: the Word of the Lord had not appeared to Samuel until a very specific
commissioning experience released him into his purpose and calling. Great and profound
expressions of the Spirit are imminently awaiting these leaders once the grooming is complete and
the timing appropriate for their release.

(p 129)
The Joseph anointing:
1. Authority - full influence of the King
2. Priesthood - clothed in nature of Christ; meekness of heart because of the natural and spiritual
resources confided in them
3. Prosperity - purposes of God will require great sums of resources to fully accomplish End-Time
ministry

(p 129)
Place of refuge and provision for persecuted, those displaced by extreme natural disasters, those
displaced by military confrontations
 -13-

WILLIAM BRANHAM

(William Branham-A Forerunner Ministry by Paul Keith Davis)

During the early 1930s an extraordinarily gifted prophet began to emerge as a spiritual
leader of a new ministry model. His name was William Branham. He was a very simple,
uneducated man raised in the hills of Kentucky and ordained as a Baptist minister. Even
so, God wonderfully graced this humble man with a revelatory gift and supernatural
power not seen since the early Church. Not only were the miracles and healings that
accompanied his ministry astounding, but he was also shown numerous future events
with remarkable accuracy that now are a matter of historical record.

Following a series of evangelistic meetings, Branham held a baptismal service on June 11,
1933, for new converts. Some four thousand people lined the banks of the Ohio River to
observe and celebrate the service. While baptizing the seventeenth person, a whirling
amber light descended from Heaven and rested directly above Branham. Virtually all the
witnesses present could see this supernatural sign. Many eyewitnesses ran in fear, while
others fell to their knees and worshipped because they recognized this was God doing
something truly extraordinary.

In this experience God gave William Branham a forerunner message for his life and
ministry. I believe he was a token or prototype of an entire body of people who will
emerge as Jesus' bridal company. By his own acknowledgment, Branham was a harbinger
of something new and fresh the Lord planned for the last days. This supernatural
dimension will be commonplace in end-time life and ministry.

Numerous news organizations picked up the story and circulated it around the U.S. and
Canada. One headline read, "Mysterious Light Appears over Baptist Minister While Baptizing
in the Ohio River." The Jeffersonville Evening News reported the incident with the
subheading, "Mysterious Star Appears over Minister While Baptizing." Though many may
debate the full meaning of the event, its authenticity is not disputed.

This public display of God's awesome power framed a heavenly intention. No design of
Heaven is ever administered futilely. Every word and demonstration that proceeds from
the mouth and hand of God will return fruitfully. A Kingdom message for today's Church
was sent to that prior generation-and we are responsible for its consummation. The Living
Word desires to rest in His bride. Jesus wants to become flesh once more and demonstrate
His Kingdom power and redemptive virtue.

Early Supernatural Models

If that episode on the Ohio River was just an isolated incident then we could be thrilled by
such a display of God's power and move on. However, that was only one of many
expressions of God in the life of this forerunner.

During his early ministry, Branham had several supernatural experiences for which he
had no frame of reference or ability to understand. Neither he nor those with whom he
was in ministry relationship comprehended the revelatory realm of God. Only the Bible
provided any source of enlightenment; very few people had personally experienced this
supernatural dimension of God. Unfortunately, most Christians at the time believed those
kinds of expressions had happened in the Bible but did not any longer. Words like trance
and vision rarely existed in the spiritual vocabulary of that day.

The years after World War I were difficult. Few people had access to libraries or Christian
material. Branham, raised in extreme poverty in the hills of Kentucky, certainly had no
way of researching how God's supernatural power had manifested throughout Church
history. Nonetheless, the Spirit showed him things that would occur in the future. He
shared those encounters openly with those around him. To everyone's amazement, the
events came to pass in precisely the manner he predicted. Tremendous healings
frequently accompanied his revelatory experiences.

It wasn't until an angelic visitation on May 7, 1946, though, that Branham came to
understand more fully the purpose and validity of the supernatural dimension into which
he had been thrust. This minister of God was desperate to understand the spiritual realms
he was witnessing or he would die trying. He set his intent on discovering whether his
visions and trances were from God or from the enemy. He loved the Lord too much to
allow deception to rule him.

Branham withdrew to a secluded wooded area in rural Indiana. There was no food,
electricity, or other provision. All he did was lay before God in humility and sincerity.
Wonderfully, the Lord answered the cry of His servant.

An angel was sent to Branham and told him about his life and calling in a face to face
encounter. This heavenly messenger came to impart spiritual understanding and a divine
commission.

The Commissioning
According to Branham's personal testimony which he often shared publicly during the
late '40s and throughout the '50s, something supernatural occurred late that night after
many hours of prayer. A heavenly light appeared; it looked like an amber or emerald star
of fire, illuminating the room around him. It was the same manifestation that had
appeared over the Ohio River thirteen years earlier. At that moment Branham heard
footsteps walking toward him and saw someone standing in the light.
An angelic messenger greeted him as in the Bible: "Fear not, for I am sent from the
presence of Almighty God." The angel, according to Branham, was six feet tall and
weighed approximately two hundred pounds. He had an olive complexion, with dark
hair that touched his shoulders, and he wore a white robe that reached to his feet. As soon
as Branham heard the greeting, he recognized the angel's voice as the one he had heard
throughout his youth and early ministry.

An appointed juncture in Church history had arrived. The Lord was looking for a
messenger to fulfill a divine mandate and to introduce the supernatural dimension of
Heaven to a new generation. Clearly the humility and devotion of Branham captured
Heaven's attention and opened the door for this man to be used in significant ways. A
plan, initiated before the foundation of the world, was set in motion for him. The time had
arrived for destiny to be fulfilled.

The angel informed Branham that he was called to take a message of divine healing
around the world. The angel promised him that if he could get people to believe, nothing
would hinder the fulfillment of his prayers-not even cancer. Branham introduced his
generation, and ours, to the revelatory realm of Heaven. These signs and wonders acted as
a platform to birth faith in the supernatural power of God.

Notable supernatural impartation was released during this visitation. The angel told him
that just like Moses, he would be given two gifts as signs of this impartation. Whenever he
took a person's right hand with his left, he would by revelation perceive the person's
physical condition. This was the first spiritual gift: it allowed the minister to detect
through revelatory insight the specific illnesses, demonic oppressions, and deadly
diseases afflicting the people.

Whenever Branham prophesied a precise illness or condition, his listeners' faith in God
was elevated, allowing incredible healing and miracles. His first public healing meeting
after his commissioning took place on June 14, 1946, in St. Louis, Missouri. Immediately
creative miracles and phenomenal demonstrations of healing were generated on such a
massive scale that theologians termed it an unprecedented event in Church history. As
Gordon Lindsay once said, "there were no hard cases." No matter how severe the malady,
the Lord was present to heal.

The angel promised Branham that God would give him a second gift if he used the first
with humility. The next gift gave him discernment of thoughts and secrets of the heart
and would take people to an even deeper level of faith.

As Jesus' encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well had, the unfolding of personal
history and intimate secrets ignited faith. People rose above shame and unbelief and
engaged the revelatory realm of Heaven. Their response is a prophetic model for our
generation.
The Bible declares that the living Word is alive, active, and a discerner of the thoughts and
desires of the heart (Hebrews 4:12). The gift of discernment offers a far greater dimension
in God than the expression of a simple "word of knowledge." It is a reflection that the
Lord has removed the veil dividing soul and spirit, and all things are open and exposed to
Him.

When operating in the gift of revelatory discernment, Branham would stand before the
people and communicate, by supernatural insight, their name, illness, history, address,
private prayers and desires, and many other secrets known only to the Lord. Those
present in those meetings testify that this dimension of God generated a tangible
expectation of faith. People believed that anything was possible in such an atmosphere of
heavenly anointing.

The messenger from Heaven shared many things with Branham during their lengthy
conversation. Branham's ministry introduced a different dimension in God, not seen or
demonstrated on such a scale at any time throughout Church history. Its foundation was a
union with Christ, with the Lord living in the midst of His people and doing, through
them, the same works that He did while on earth.

Gordon Lindsay, founder of Christ for the Nations, wrote of this spiritual experience: "The
results of the angelic visitation to William Branham have been a steadily rising tide of
revival that has sounded out throughout the world, and the end is not yet."

Igniting Revival
Following his angelic encounter, Brother Branham emerged with a deep anointing of
revelation and power that directly or indirectly touched millions of people and launched a
worldwide revival. Countless thousands were miraculously healed of the most hideous
infirmities and deadly diseases during the ministry of this man and others who followed.

Naturally God puts His great treasures in earthen vessels. Like all human beings-with the
exception of Jesus Christ-Brother Branham made mistakes and missteps along the way.
Even so, his revelatory encounters were marked with uncanny accuracy. It is the
revelation of Heaven that is of paramount importance. But just as important is the proper
stewardship of the treasures of insight and wisdom with application today; we must
carefully unfold God's blueprint.

A divine presence distinguished Branham's life and ministry. The living Word discerned,
and communicated through Branham, the thoughts of the heart with profound precision.
He was given glimpses into the plan and destiny of Heaven for individuals and corporate
bodies. His ministry was a forerunner model that foresaw the impact of a body of
believers who will emerge in our day and embody the living Word. The signs and
wonders that follow will release a bridal revival that will be identified according to John
14:12-a "greater works" generation.
Extracting Understanding
It is always wonderful to recount stories of God's goodness to people. However, there is
much more for us to understand about God's dealings with Branham's generation. A
platform had been established for heavenly truth, and we must comprehend the
significance of this type of ministry for our generation. These events were much more
than revival; they were the beginning of end-time ministry; they pointed to a generation
of destiny prophesied in Scripture. As with Moses, these signs were given so that the
people would believe.

The time has come to revisit the awesome visions given to this godly man, along with the
other pieces of the divine puzzle entrusted to other Christians. Like Daniel studying the
prophecies of Jeremiah, we should meditate upon these supernatural encounters to extract
their application to both Branham's time and our own. We can learn from past mistakes
and extract the seeds of God, replanting them in the soil of our honest and sincere hearts.

As in the days of Moses and the Lord Jesus, the enemy recognizes times and seasons that
mark the appearance of spiritual deliverers. Rampant abortion, murder, and suicide
should be a clear indication of the efforts used by the enemy to stop the emergence of
mighty spiritual warriors. He wants to snuff out those endowed with the virtue of Heaven
to carry out the plan of God.

A day of destiny is upon us. The "victorious ones" mentioned in the prophecies of Joel are
being prepared to emerge as an army, the bridal company joined to the Bridegroom.

Ending an Age
With that brief history in mind, we should revisit a trance given to William Branham in
June 1933.

On that day he was taken in the Spirit and told of Mussolini's impending invasion of
Ethiopia and eventual death in 1945. Branham was shown that an Austrian named Hitler
would rise as dictator of Germany and lead the world into another war. He was also
shown that America would be drawn into a Second World War under Roosevelt's
leadership and likewise saw a specific location where many Americans would die in
battle-a prophetic picture of the place known as the Siegfried line.

Furthermore, the vision emphasized that there were three "isms"-fascism, Nazism, and
communism-to watch for. The first two would come to naught, he was told, but
communism would continue to flourish after the war. He was specifically informed that
Russia would play a prominent role as a world power in the future.

Along with the political events, other insights were given concerning science, the moral
decline of the nations, and the spiritual compromise and confrontations of the Western
Church. All these spiritual forecasts were shared publicly years before they actually
occurred.
In one insight, Branham was given the year 1977 as a pivotal time. Although he
acknowledged that he didn't understand the full implications of that year, Branham
predicted that something major would occur in 1977 to mark the end of the Laodicean
church age. He was careful to note that the prediction was not a "thus saith the Lord" like
the other world events revealed in the trance, but rather a calculation based on the insight
from the revelations.

As the years passed, this personal prediction prompted a lot of misunderstanding. Many
people believed that he was foretelling the rapture of the Church or the return of Christ.
However, that was not what he had stated and, furthermore, the Bible plainly declares
that we will not know the day nor the hour of those events.

Something spiritually profound did occur in 1977, though. God had a grand design that
was meticulously falling into place for a future generation through the numerous
supernatural wonders He was performing. Great spiritual investments were being made
to position us for an inevitable day of destiny. The transition into our day had begun.

1977
In 1977 Roland Buck, a dearly beloved pastor of an Assembly of God Church in Boise,
Idaho visited Heaven's throne room, initiating a string of visitations from the angel
Gabriel. On twenty-seven separate occasions, this archangel, often accompanied by other
ministering spirits and warring angels, visited with Buck.

In October 2002 Wanda and I had the privilege of spending a morning with Roland Buck's
widow and daughter in Boise, Idaho. They shared with us some of the highlights of Buck's
encounters with the messengers from Heaven, and unquestionably something of notable
prophetic consequence occurred during those few years. An appointed time, set by the
Father Himself, had arrived, for in Buck our Lord found the qualities He desired.

If the angel Gabriel is sent as a messenger, it behooves us to discover the heart and
strategy of the Father in that endeavor. The Bible records that universal transitions and
transformations occur following visitations with this particular angel. While we only
desire Jesus Christ and the life He gives us, history clearly indicates that significant world
events occur when we encounter high-ranking spiritual beings like Gabriel and Michael.
That pattern continues today.

Heavenly Directives
The angelic messenger told Buck many of God's plans in preparation for the latter-day
confrontation with darkness. Gabriel highlighted emphatically the power of redemption
purchased through the blood of Jesus Christ. He stressed that very few Christians fully
comprehend or appropriate the power imparted to them through heavenly grace. Many
walk well below their allotted provision because of deceptive and seductive spirits that
steal their heritage in Christ.
Buck was also informed of Heaven's concentrated efforts to bring workers into the
Kingdom in preparation for a great harvest. He was shown how angels are assigned to
labor together with the saints. When believers pray earnestly for loved ones' salvation,
angels are empowered to awaken the lost in their cooperative work with the Holy Spirit.

Throughout the visitations, Gabriel emphasized the importance of communion with

Christ and intimate fellowship with God. The Lord Jesus is looking to sanctify wholly the
spirit, soul, and body of a company of believers and take up residence in them to do
greater works. Yet Heaven's endowment for these greater works will only be unleashed
by radical intimacy and friendship with God. Waiting on the Lord will be the key to
launching many into the mystical realms of Heaven.

Gabriel also highlighted the prophetic implications of the feasts of Israel. The careful and
meticulous plan of Heaven is being carried out. The Lord has provided the blueprint
through His Word, and now revelation and insight are being apportioned and authority
delegated to actualize that Word. Clearly the visitations of the archangel Gabriel were
addressing the maturing of the times and the emergence of the saints.

Buck's experiences marked a transition from what has been known as the Church ages
into a more complete revelation of the Kingdom realm. Most importantly, it marked the
passage into a day when the fullness of the overcoming King will be introduced. We are
entering the days in which we will taste the good word of God and the powers of the age
to come. Fresh releases of power and authority are being entrusted to an overcoming body
of believers. We must claim this revelation of Heaven and walk in the destiny ordained
for this season.
 -14-

DR. DAVID JEREMIAH

(From book Escape The coming Night by Dr. David Jeremiah)

I have been reading a book by Dr. David Jeremiah called Escape The Coming Night. Dr. Jeremiah
is Senior Pastor of Shadow Mountain Community Church in El Cajon, CA where he serves as
Chancellor of Christian Heritage College. He is the founder of Turning Point, a ministry committed
to providing sound Bible teaching through national radio and television broadcasting. His practical
teaching on topics such as family, stress, the New Age, biblical prophecy, and overcoming
adversity, forms the foundation of Turning Point. The inspiring messages of Turning Point are
currently broadcast weekly from more than 1,100 national and international radio outlets and
televised in all 50 states. More information regarding Turning Point can be found at
www.turningpointradio.org.

This book (Escape The Coming Night) goes through the whole book of Revelation and explains it
carefully. In the book he encourages people to be sure they are currently in right relationship with
God through Jesus Christ - so they can be among the Christians who are taken out of the earth in an
event called The Rapture. The Rapture takes place before the difficulties described in the book of
Revelation take place on earth. Below are quotes from his book:

A person does not come to Christ by his intellect alone--or even with his heart alone. He
comes to Christ because he decides to do so. It is a matter of the will--whosoever will, let
him come. What is the requirement for salvation? It's so simple--just take the free gift that
is offered. We don't have to work for it or give up anything for it, we just need to decide to
take it. God's desire is for us to accept the gift of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross that
we might be saved and have eternal life in the New Heaven and the New Earth…Here's
how you can know Jesus as your Lord and Savior:

• Because of your sin, you are separated from God. For all have sinned and fall short of
the glory of God. (Romans 3:23)
• The penalty for your sin is death. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is
eternal life in Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23)
• The penalty for your sin was paid by Jesus Christ. But God demonstrates his own love
for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:8)
• If you repent of your sin, then confess and trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, you
will be saved from your sins. Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be
saved." (Romans 10:13) "If you confess with your mouth, 'Jesus is Lord,' and believe
in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9)
• Can you be sure that if you ask Christ to save you, He will? Everyone who believes that
Jesus is the Christ is born of God…I write these things to you who believe in the name
of the Son of God so that you may know that you have eternal life. (1 John 5:1a, 13)
If you made a decision to accept Jesus Christ as your Savior, call Turning Point toll-free at
1-800-947-1993 and request your complimentary copy of "Your Greatest Turning Point."
 -15-

GOD'S "NOW" TIME

(From book God's Timing For Your Life by Dutch Sheets)

In his book called God's Timing for Your Life, Dutch Sheets says "Life is a series of
changes--a process of going from the old to the new--from chronos [a general process of
time] to kairos [an opportune, strategic, or now time]. Growth, change, revival--all are
processes. Life is connected. Not understanding this, we tend to despise the chronos
times of preparing, sowing, believing and persevering… We're not losing or wasting time,
we're investing it. And if we do so faithfully, the shift will come."
 -16-

HEALING

(Quotes from Healing Is A Choice by Stephen Arterburn)

(vii)
Healing is a choice; it is God's choice…there are choices we can make to ensure we experience
whatever healing God, in His eternal purpose, has for us…He is the ultimate decision maker as to
how, when, and from whom we receive healing.

(ix)
The properties of healing are not found just within our bodies. They are also present in our minds
and souls.

(xv)
This book is about your healing and the choices you have to make to experience the healing God
has for you.

(xxii)
I don't know of anyone who would not prefer his or her healing to be instant and easy…All of us
want it that way, but it seldom happens that way. God's ways are not our ways.

(xxiv)
God could instantly heal you, just as He could have instantly healed Naaman, but perhaps that is
not the path God has chosen.

(xxv)
I believe there are ten choices God wants all of us who desire healing to make…None of these
choices are easy, but all of them can be life changing. Healing is a choice, but there are choices that
each of us must make if we are to experience whatever healing God has for us.

(1)
The first choice: the choice to connect your life. The first big lie: "All I need to heal is just God and
me."

(7)
The most common of all the lies that prevent people from connecting with others or allow them to
stay disconnected is the lie, "All I need is God and no one else." …The "only God" lie is actually a
form of denial…God's plan is for us to connect with each other to facilitate healing in our lives.

(8)
You cannot read what God has to say about connecting with each other and be convinced that He
wants us to face our pain with just Him and Him alone. (Romans 12:5, 15; 15:14; 1 Corinthians
12:25; 1 Thessalonians 5:11, Ephesians 4:2; 5:21; Hebrews 10:24; 1 Peter 4:10; James 5:16;
Galatians 6:2)

(12)
Connection was always difficult for me. The reason was simply inexperience--I was not raised
around it.

(13)
Many people become isolated because of their fear of connection with others.
 -17-

HEAVEN

(Quotes from book called Heaven by Randy Alcorn)

(24)
"Hell will be inhabited by people who haven't received God's gift of redemption in Christ
(Revelation 20:12-15). After Christ returns, there will be a resurrection of believers for eternal life
in Heaven and a resurrection of unbelievers for eternal existence in Hell (John 5:28-29). The
unsaved--everyone whose name is not written the Lamb's Book of Life--will be judged by God
according to the works they have done, which have been recorded in Heaven's books (Revelation
20:12-15). Because those works include sin, people on their own, without Christ, cannot enter the
presence of a holy and just God and will be consigned to a place of everlasting destruction
(Matthew 13:40-42)."

(27)
"If we understood Hell even the slightest bit, none of us would ever say, "Go to Hell." It's far too
easy to go to Hell. It requires no change of course, no navigational adjustments. We were born with
our autopilot set toward Hell. It is nothing to take lightly--Hell is the single greatest tragedy in the
universe.
God loves us enough to tell us the truth--there are two eternal destinations, not one, and we
must choose the right path if we are to go to Heaven. All roads do not lead to Heaven. Only one
does: Jesus Christ. He said, "No one comes to the Father except through me" (John 14:6). All other
roads lead to Hell. The high stakes involved in the choice between Heaven and Hell will cause us to
appreciate Heaven in deeper ways, never taking it for granted, and always praising God for his
grace that delivers us from what we deserve and grants us forever what we don't."

(28)
"Earth is an in-between world touched by both Heaven and Hell. Earth leads directly into Heaven
or directly into Hell, affording a choice between the two. The best of life on Earth is a glimpse of
Heaven; the worst of life is a glimpse of Hell. For Christians, this present life is the closest they
will come to Hell. For unbelievers, it is the closest they will come to Heaven.
"The reality of the choice that lies before us in this life is both wonderful and awful. Given
the reality of our two possible destinations, shouldn't we be willing to pay any price to avoid Hell
and go to Heaven? And yet, the price has already been paid. 'You were bought at a price' (1
Corinthians 6:20). The price paid was exorbitant--the shed blood of God's son, Jesus Christ."
"The price has been paid. But still, we must choose. Like any gift, forgiveness can be
offered, but it isn't ours until we choose to receive it…Christ offers each of us the gift of
forgiveness and eternal life--but just because the offer is made doesn't make it ours. To have it, we
must choose to accept it."

(42)
"By definition, an intermediate state or location is temporary. Life in the Heaven we go to when we
die, where we'll dwell prior to our bodily resurrection, is "better by far" than living here on Earth
under the Curse, away from the direct presence of God (Philippians 1:23). Still, the intermediate
Heaven is not our final destination. Though it will be a wonderful place, the intermediate Heaven is
not the place we are made for--the place God promises to refashion for us to live in forever. God's
children are destined for life as resurrected beings on a resurrected Earth. We must not lose sight of
our true destination. If we do, we'll be confused and disoriented in our thinking about where, and in
what form, we will spend eternity."

(156)
"The moment we set foot on the New Earth, we'll know it's exactly where we belong. But we don't
have to wait until we die to learn about Heaven.
"As a bride lives daily in anticipation of the bridegroom's arrival, coming to take her to the
house he's built for her, we should think daily about Jesus and about Heaven. Instead of feeling
abandoned, the bride feels honored because she knows that she will live in the home the
bridegroom has lovingly constructed with her in mind. She may experience some loneliness and
difficulty, but she knows he hasn't forgotten her and what he's doing for her will assure her future
happiness. Her present happiness depends on trusting him, believing that he will come to take her
home, where they'll joyfully live together forever."

(204)
"We've been born into the family of an incredibly wealthy landowner. There's not a millimeter of
cosmic geography that doesn't belong to him, and by extension to his children, his heirs. Our Father
has a family business that stretches across the whole universe. He entrusts to us management of the
family business, and that's what we'll do for eternity: manage God's assets and rule his universe,
representing him as his image-bearers, children, and ambassadors.
"God will make all things right, rewarding his people for trusting him. He will turn this
upside-down world right side up, placing it in the care of his beloved children.
"The promise of a New Earth reminds us that the events of human history aren't
meaningless. Rather, they are heading toward the fulfillment of a divine plan, involving a New
Earth with culture and citizens that glorify God."

(283)
"On the New earth, I think we'll continually be discovering, to our delight, what we never knew
existed, what we've been missing all our lives. No joy is greater than the joy of discovery. The God
who always surpasses our expectations will forever give us more of himself and his creation to
discover."

(307)
"On the New Earth, some of our greatest discoveries may relate to the lives we're living right now.
Columnist and commentator Paul Harvey made a career of telling 'the rest of the story.' That's
exactly what we'll discover in Heaven again and again--the rest of the story. We'll be stunned to
learn how God orchestrated the events of our lives to influence people we may have forgotten all
about."
"We won't ever know everything, and even what we will know, we won't know all at once.
We'll be learners, forever. Few things excite me more than that."
(308)
"We will find in Heaven a continual progression of stimulating discovery and fresh learning as we
keep grasping more of God."
"We can anticipate an eternity of growing in Christlikeness as we behold God's face and are
continuously 'transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory' (2 Cor. 3:18). We can begin
this joyful process here and now, and there's every indication it will continue forever."

(309)
"When we enter Heaven, we'll presumably begin with the knowledge we had at the time of our
death. God may enhance our knowledge and will correct countless wrong perceptions. I imagine
he'll reveal many new things to us, then set us on a course of continual learning, paralleling Adam
and Eve's.
"We will also study….it's not only truth we want, it's also the pleasure of learning the truth.
God reveals himself to us in the process of our learning, often in bite-sized chunks, fit for our finite
minds."

(311)
"Intellectual curiosity isn't part of the Curse--it is God's blessing on his image-bearers. He made us
with fertile, curious minds so that we might seek truth and find him, our greatest source of pleasure.
In Heaven our intellectual curiosity will surely surface--and be satisfied--only to surface and be
satisfied again and again."

(313)
"I believe that on the New Earth, we'll also read books, new and old, written by people. Because
we'll have strong intellects, great curiosity, and unlimited time, it's likely that books will have a
greater role in our lives in Heaven than they do now. The libraries of the New Earth, I imagine,
will be fantastic."

"If our loved ones are in hell, won't that spoil heaven?"

(348)
"Although it will inevitably sound harsh, I offer this further thought: in a sense, none of our loved
ones will be in Hell--only some whom we once loved. Our love for our companions in Heaven will
be directly linked to God, the central object of our love. We will see him in them. We will not love
those in Hell because when we see Jesus as he is, we will love only--and will only want to love--
whoever and whatever pleases and glorifies and reflects him. What we loved in those who died
without Christ was God's beauty we once saw in them. When God forever withdraws from them, I
think they'll no longer bear his image and no longer reflect his beauty. Although they will be the
same people, without God they'll be stripped of all the qualities we loved. Therefore, paradoxically,
in a sense they will not be the people we loved.
"I cannot prove biblically what I've just stated, but I think it rings true, even if the thought is
horrifying."

(p 453-4)
Questions in light of heaven:
▪ Do I daily reflect on my own mortality?
▪ Do I daily realize there are only two destinations--Heaven or Hell--and that I and every person I
know will go to one or the other?
▪ Do I daily remind myself that this world is not my home and that everything in it will burn,
leaving behind only what's eternal?
▪ Do I daily recognize that my choices and actions have a direct influence on the world to come?
▪ Do I daily realize that my life is being examined by God, the Audience of One, and that the
only appraisal of my life that will ultimately matter is his?
▪ Do I daily reflect on the fact that my ultimate home will be the New Earth, where I will see God
and serve him as a resurrected being in a resurrected human society, where I will overflow with
joy and delight in drawing nearer to God by studying him and his creation, and where I will
exercise, to God's glory, dominion over his creation?
 -18-

HOLD ON

(From book Heaven Is Real by Don Piper)

(p 105)
Hold on - for you are still in transition. This is what Don Piper (Heaven Is
Real) recommended to those going through transitions - to hold on and let
God bring you through and teach and train you as you go. Then, at the right
time, He will use you for the ministry He has for you using what you learned
during the transition.
 -19-

SECRET POWER

(Notes from The Believer’s Secret of the Abiding Presence compiled from the writings of Andrew
Murray and Brother Lawrence by Louis Parkhurst, Jr. (Minneapolis, MN, Bethany House
Publishers, 1987) (italics mine)

(15)
To comfort the disciples, Christ gave them the promise of the Holy Spirit, with the
assurance that they would then have Him (Christ himself) in His heavenly presence in a
sense far deeper and more intimate than they had ever known on earth….being with Him,
living in unbroken fellowship with Him, would give them the secret power by which they
would preach and tell others about Him.

(16)
For all time, this principle remains valid for all His servants. Without the experience of His
presence always abiding with them, their preaching will have no power. The secret of their
effectiveness will be the living demonstration that Jesus Christ is with them every moment,
inspiring, directing, and strengthening them….Through a living faith, the Christian's
success in his work depends upon his consciousness of the abiding presence of the Lord
Jesus with him.

(16)
Establish a sense of God’s presence in your life by continually conversing with Him.

(17)
Today, I renew my vow of loyalty to you (Jesus), and I thank you for being as faithful to me
as you have been to all your followers.
 -20-

HUMILITY

(Quotes from the book Humility by Andrew Murray)

(Preface)
In our fallen state, humility points us to the only way by which we can return to our rightful place
as creatures. As Christians, the mystery of grace teaches us that as we lose ourselves in the
overwhelming greatness of redeeming love, humility becomes to us the consummation of
everlasting blessedness.

Nothing is more natural and beautiful and blessed than to be nothing in order that God may be
everything… it is not sin that humbles but grace. It is the soul occupied with God in His wonderful
glory as Creator and Redeemer that will truly take the lowest place before Him.

"Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant" (Matthew 20:26). He was
teaching us the truth that there is nothing so divine as being the servant and helper of all. The
faithful servant who recognizes his position finds real pleasure in supplying the wants of the master
or his guests. When we realize that humility is something infinitely deeper than contrition, and
accept it as our participation in the life of Jesus, we will begin to learn that it is our true nobility,
and that to prove it in being servants of all is the highest fulfillment of our destiny as men created in
the image of God.

Charles Spurgeon: "Humility is the proper estimate of oneself."

(15)
God desired to reveal himself in and through His creatures by communicating to them as much of
His own goodness and glory as they were capable of receiving. But this communication was not
meant to give created beings something they could possess in themselves, having full charge and
access apart from Him. Rather, God… meant that the relationship of His creatures to himself would
be one of unceasing, absolute dependence. …but we must also present ourselves as empty vessels,
in which God can dwell and manifest His power and goodness.

(16)
The life God bestows is imparted not once for all but each moment by the unceasing operation of
His mighty power. Humility, the place of entire dependence upon God, is from the very nature of
things the first duty and the highest virtue of His creatures.

And so pride--the loss of humility--is the root of every sin and evil… In heaven and on earth, pride
or self-exaltation is the very gateway to hell.

(The Spirit of Prayer, edition of Moreton, Canterbury, 1893, part 2, 73.) "…evil can have no
beginning but from pride and no end but from humility… The truth is this: Pride must die in you or
nothing of heaven can live in you. Under the banner of the truth, give yourself up to the meek and
 humble spirit of the holy Jesus. Humility must sow the seed or there can be no reaping in heaven.
Look not at pride only as an unbecoming temper, nor at humility only as a decent virtue; for the one
is death and the other is life; the one is hell and the other is heaven. So much as you have of pride
within you, you have of the fallen angel alive in you; so much as you have of true humility, so much
you have of the Lamb of God within you."

(16)
And so it follows that nothing can save us but the restoration of our lost humility, the original and
only true relationship of the creature to its God. And so Jesus came to bring humility back to earth,
to make us partakers of it, and by it to save us. And now the salvation He imparts is nothing less
and nothing else than a communication of His own life and death, His own disposition and spirit,
His own humility, as the ground and root of His relationship with God and His redeeming work.
Jesus Christ took the place and fulfilled the destiny of man as a creature by His life of perfect
humility.

(17)
The life of those who are saved, the saints, must bear this stamp of deliverance from sin and full
restoration to their original state; their whole relationship to God and to man marked by an all-
pervading humility. Without this there can be no true abiding in God's presence or experience of
His favor and the power of His Spirit; without this no abiding faith or love or joy or strength…
Humility is not so much a virtue along with the others, but is the root of all, because it alone takes
the right attitude before God and allows Him, as God, to do all.

God has so constituted us as reasonable beings that the greater the insight into the true nature or the
absolute need of a command, the quicker and more complete will be our obedience to it… It
(humility) is not something that we bring to God, or that He bestows; it is simply the sense of entire
nothingness that comes when we see how truly God is everything.

When the creature realizes that this is a place of honor, and consents to be--with his will, his mind,
and his affections--the vessel in which the life and glory of God are to work and manifest
themselves, he sees that humility is simply acknowledging the truth of his position as creature and
yielding to God His place.

As strong as sin is a motive for it, there is one still wider and mightier influence: it is that which
made the angels, Jesus himself, and the holiest saints humble. It is the first and chief mark of the
relationship of the creature to God, of the Son to the Father--it is the secret of blessedness, the
desire to be nothing, that allows God to be all in all.

(18)
This humility is not something that will come of itself, but… it must be made the object of special
desire, prayer, faith, and practice.

Let us at the very outset of our meditations, then, admit that there is nothing so natural to man,
nothing so insidious and hidden from our sight, nothing so difficult and dangerous as pride. And
acknowledge that nothing but a very determined and persevering waiting on God will reveal how
lacking we are in the grace of humility and how powerless we are to obtain what we seek.
We must study the character of Christ until our souls are filled with the love and admiration of His
lowliness. We must believe that when we are broken under a sense of pride and our inability to cast
it out, Jesus Christ himself will come to impart this grace as a part of His wonderful life within us.
 -21-

DREAMS

(Quotes from the book In A Dream, In A Vision of the Night by Susan Noone Riddle.)

Susan's writings on dreams can be found at www.tehillah.org ) I received her book for a Mother's Day
gift from Beth, and am now starting to read it. I want to record here things from her book that I want
to have in my journal.

P3
Circumstances we "feel" and "see" should not motivate our dreams or actions, but the moving of
the Holy Spirit deep on the inside of us. When we learn to walk in the Spirit in our waking hours,
we will learn to do the same in our sleep.

P6
As we walk with Him and our relationship with Him develops more and more, we begin to find that
our dreams are shorter and more to the point.

(1 Corinthians 13:12) "For now we see through a glass darkly." Dreams are imparted
knowledge given in part. A dream must come from the Holy Spirit, through our born again spirit,
and then through our soul that is still being renewed day by day. Our souls still remember who we
are. Our Lord uses language that our soul man can understand in dreams. They are dark because we
are in need of being continually ENLIGHTENED. Light dispels darkness!

P7
Those of us that are called to the mysteries of the kingdom can know and interpret the parables we
receive from the Lord in the form of a dream, trance or vision. Those that are not believers do not
understand because their natural minds cannot understand the language of the Spirit.

P8
There are even some dreams that are all entwined with our own feelings and desires. The longer we
truly walk with the Lord and yield to His will we find that less and less of our own will and way is
found in the dreams we dream.

P9
If we will draw away from the crowd every day spending quality time with our Lord, He will speak
to us also. He will explain all things to us. We are meant to know the mysteries as we walk with
Him everyday.

In Job 33:14-18, it says, "For God may speak in one way or in another, yet man does not
perceive it. In a dream, in a vision of the night, when deep sleep falls upon men, while
slumbering on their beds, then He opens the ears of men, and seals their instruction." What I
understand this to mean is that if we have a dream, which we cannot understand, we can rest. The
Lord will seal the instruction of the dream. In other words, we will understand what we need to
understand while the Lord does the rest.

P 15
The only three places that I know of dreams come from are the Lord, from the devil, and from
within us. The Lord will speak to us in this manner for many different reasons.
▪ To tell us something about ourselves that is good
▪ To tell us something about ourselves that needs to be changed
▪ To reveal a spiritual truth
▪ To reveal something to us about a brother or sister so that we can pray for them
▪ To confirm something to the dreamer
▪ To give direction in a dream

P 18
Eight major ways to understand a dream:

1. Attributes of Places
What is the significance of the location of the dream?
What does this place mean to me?
What characteristics does this place have in the Bible?
Is it a positive or negative force in the dream? (can be both)

2. Attributes of Characters
What is the significance of the people in the dream?
What do they mean to me?
Are they a positive or negative force in the dream? (can be both)
What characteristics do they have that people in the Bible have?

3. Attributes of Objects
What is the significance of the objects in the dream?
What do they mean to me?
What characteristics do these objects have that are in the Bible?
Are they a positive or a negative force in the dream? (can be both)

4. Attributes of Animals
What is the significance of the animal or animals in the dream?
What do they mean to me?
What characteristics do they have to animals in the Bible?
Are they a positive or a negative force in the dream? (can be both)

5. Actions or Conduct
What are my actions or behavior in this dream?
What are the actions and behavior of others in this dream?
How do these actions relate to the actions and behavior of the characters of the Bible?
Are these actions a positive or a negative force in the dream? (can be both)
6. Attitudes or Feelings
What are my feelings and attitudes in this dream?
What are the feelings and attitudes of others in this dream?
How do these emotions relate to the feelings and attitudes of characters of the Bible?
Are the feelings a positive or a negative force in the dream? (can be both)

7. Array of Colors
What are the significant colors of clothes and objects in this dream?
How do these colors relate to the meaning of colors in the Bible?

8. Analogy of Numbers
What are the significant numbers of people and objects in this dream?
How do these numbers relate to the meaning of numbers in the Bible?

P 24-5
One hundred-fold is revealing the hearer that receives the fullness of the Word. The 60-fold hearer
represents the one who receives more than half, but not the fullness. The one who receives 30-fold
received some impartation of revelation from the Word of God, but not much.
 -22-

FORGIVENESS

(Quotes from the book Island of Saints: a story of the one principle
that frees the human spirit by Andy Andrews)

(p 117-120)
(Danny) "Daddy, why does Helen act mean?"
(Daddy) "Do you think Helen is mean?"
"No, Daddy, I don't think Helen is mean…I was saying, 'Why does she act mean?'"
"Well…you know Helen has had some tough things happen in her life…and because of
those tough things, Helen has gotten mad."
"Mad at what?"
"Helen is mad at everything right now. She is a good person. But sometimes when a person
is angry, that person can act mean. Helen has let her anger consume her. Right now it has become
her. And anger is about the only way Helen expresses herself."
"Mama says that if Helen would forgive some people, then she would not be so sad."
"Forgiveness can occur only because we have been given the ability to make choices. We
have the choice to forgive or not to forgive…and nobody can make us do either one."
"We begin to forgive by choosing to forgive…by deciding, not by feeling. Our feelings
don't lead us to forgive. Most times, our feelings lead us the other way. That's why a person has to
decide to forgive first. Our feelings always follow along behind our decisions."
"Forgive and forget, you mean?"
"Forgive and forget is not reality. It's not really possible anyway, which is a good thing,
because it is not necessary. Forgiveness does not erase history or excuse what happened. What has
happened…has happened, and nothing can erase the memory of it or its consequences. Forgiveness
means relinquishment, it is that simple."
"It means giving something up. To relinquish something means to give up whatever power
it holds over us. If you forgive somebody for something he did to you, that means you choose to
never again allow that event to determine how you feel or how you act or even how you treat that
person. You may remember the wrong, but by choosing to forgive, you have disarmed it. Then it
can no longer determine what you think, what you say, or what you do.

(pp 128-130)
(Danny) "I'm sorry that you are sad and it makes you act mean sometimes."
(Helen) "I'm sorry...was I mean to you? I didn't mean to be…"
"It's okay. You aren't mean to me. And anyway, you only act mean sometimes. You aren't
mean. I know because I talked to Daddy about it…I know why you're sad."
"Why, Danny?"
"Because your husband died in the war. That's the main reason."
"That's right."
"I know why you're sad, but is that why you're mad?"
"I think that does make me mad."
 "But who are you mad at? If you are mad at a soldier, I think you have to forgive him. You
want to know why?"
"Yes."
"I think you have to forgive him for you."
"Why's that?"
"Because whenever you get hurt by somebody, you can either think about 'em all day long
and let 'em keep hurting you inside...or give them to God."
"Give them to God?"
"Uh-huh. If you forgive them it doesn't mean they get away with what they did…it just
means that you don't have to think about it all the time. You can't do anything anyway, except be
mad. See? You just give 'em to God. Then you can be happy."
(Helen thought) So what does God do with them when He gets them? What do I care? They
don't belong to me anymore
 -23-

WHERE IS HEAVEN?

(Quotes from book Joshua And The Children by Joseph F. Girzone)

(73)
"Where is heaven?"
"Heaven is where God is, and God is everywhere, so heaven is everywhere, all around
you."
"Why can't I see heaven?"
"Heaven is in a world beyond, just on the other side of a thin veil of time. If you could close
your eyes and walk through that veil, you could be there. It is that close."

(96)
Joshua smiled. "I do not attempt to be religious. That has no meaning. To be perfectly
human, as God made us, should be our goal. If we appear to be religious or pious, we've
missed the point and our piety becomes a caricature and unauthentic. Real holiness is the
natural growth of the human personality to its full maturity as an individual, and in the
process, becoming a beautiful person. That is all that God wants of us. And since each
individual is unique, and has a different task to accomplish in God's plan, each one has to
grow differently, so holiness for each individual is different and has nothing to do with
predetermined religious patterns and practices that mimic real holiness."
 -24-

IDENTIFY GOD'S VOICE

(Quotes from the book Light Belongs in the Darkness by Patricia King)

(83)
"I want to emphasize that the source of the true prophetic is the Holy Spirit and the testimony of
Jesus (see Rev. 19:10). The false can be the carnal mind, the voice of the world, or the demonic.
We need to learn to discern the true voice of God.

(84-87)
"A Christ-directed life is easy to walk in, if we walk by faith according to His truth. The key to
prophesying is simply to identify God's voice. We know that He speaks to His children, so it is just
a matter of getting tuned in to His wave-length. Once you hear His voice, then you can
communicate as He directs.

"Development of godly character is the most important aspect about operating in the prophetic gift.
The heart's motive must be pure, or the prophetic flow can be defiled.

1. A Single Heart: In preparing our heart to prophesy, we need to consider our commitment to the
Lord…to be effective in the prophetic, we must have a single focus.
2. Posture: A posture of waiting on the Lord will allow us to hear His voice and receive from
Him.
3. Repentance From Sin: Repentance removes any contamination that can block the prophetic
from flowing.
4. Childlikeness: The prophetic word is best received when we embrace childlike simplicity.
Children don't strive--they trust and enjoy the benefits of their parent's provision.
5. Faith: Believe that you can prophesy. You have everything you need to prophesy, but the gift
must be activated by faith. When prophesying, believe that God speaks and that He will speak
to you. Also, believe that He desires to bless the person you are ministering to; you can reach
into God's heart and hear the special word for that person. Finally, believe that the Lord will
enable you to deliver what He has revealed. The gift of prophecy is always operated by faith.
6. Humility and Servanthood: We are to love and serve in a spirit of humility. We always point
people to Jesus when prophesying.
7. Faithful in Little: When beginning to prophesy, you might feel as if you don't have very much
to offer. (She often said "God loves you with an everlasting love"). That word is true for all
people and for all time. The testimony of its power is amazing! Having been faithful in little,
God gave me increase.

WAYS TO HEAR FROM GOD

(87-91)
God speaks to His people in many ways, but most predominantly through "God thoughts," which
are pictures or impressions seen in the imagination.
1. God Thoughts
Your mind is an organ of the soul that God gave you for the purpose of enhancing relationship with
Him. He has given you the ability to think and reason through your thoughts, which is the place
where you will most often share communication with Him. The mind is a vital organ for spiritual
growth. God speaks His thoughts into your mind consistently, so it is just a matter of learning to
recognize them. Thoughts can come from your soulish nature, a demonic source, the world's
influence, or the inspiration of the Lord, so we must be able to recognize the source. A word from
God is loving, righteous, kind, pure, aligned with truth, and full of wisdom and encouragement.

In preparing to hear from God in your thoughts, take time to cleanse your mind and set it apart for
the Lord's use. Invite Him to give you "God thoughts," and He will. One way to strengthen your
ability to receive God thoughts is to sit down with a journal and Bible and then ask the Lord
questions, believing for an answer. This process is called "inquiring of the Lord." David often
inquired of the Lord and so can you. Before you begin to inquire, pray for cleansing over your
thoughts. Then, invite God to forgive you for any defiling thoughts that entered your mind up to
that point. Declare to the enemy that "the voice of a stranger you will not hear." Bind satan's
influence in Jesus' name and cast down all thoughts that come from your carnal nature. Asking the
Holy Spirit to fill your mind with His thoughts is what prepares you to hear from God.

2. God Pictures
Just as the Lord places thoughts in our minds, He puts images in our imagination. Our imagination
is a vision center created to receive pictures from God. You will never receive a visionary
experience without the imagination being involved to some degree. The imagination is the place in
your heart where you see vision.

Again, consecrating this organ is very important. In our life, we can be tempted to receive vain,
evil, or lustful imaginations. Therefore, it is vital to receive cleansing by asking the Lord to forgive
wrong imaginations and then to set ourselves apart, afresh for His purposes. As with the
preparation process for the mind, make sure to take captive any demonic or carnal influence and
bind the enemy from interjecting his images. One way to stir up your vision center is to meditate on
prophetic visions in the Bible.
 -25-

DISCERNING TRUE FROM FALSE

(Quotes from the book Light Belongs in the Darkness by Patricia King)

HOW DO YOU DISCERN THE TRUE FROM THE FALSE

(91)
The following are a few helpful plumblines to test true prophetic words.

It is unto edification, exhortation, and comfort. Your words should encourage those you minister
to. Ask yourself this question: "Is this word encouraging? Will it bless the one I'm ministering to?
Will it build them up or bring comfort?"

It does not conflict with the Scriptures. John 17:17 states that a true inspired word from God will
never violate the counsel of the Scriptures. Always search the Bible in order to support your
revelation.

It represents God's nature. 1 Corinthians 13 shows God's nature to be loving, kind, and merciful;
He is full of truth and righteousness. Since they represent the Author, true prophetic words will
never be rude, distasteful, judgmental, critical, boastful, or corrupt. They will always represent the
heart of God's saving grace as "the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy" (Rev. 19:10). Jesus
means "Savior," and the spirit of prophecy represents His saving nature.

It bears witness. Most often, a true prophetic word will bear witness in a person's heart, although
sometimes a person might not understand the word right away.

It is often confirmed by outward circumstances. When you speak a word over someone, he or she
can usually confirm it through situations that are happening in his or her life.

Does it come to pass? If a prophetic word has a foretelling dimension, then, of course, its
fulfillment is the ultimate proof.

GROWING IN THE PROPHETIC

(92-3)
Practice, journal, be under good accountability, make wrongs right, overcome Jezebel. Jezebel is an
evil spirit that attacks the prophetic gift. Most often, Jezebel uses intimidating thoughts and
accusations to assault those stepping out in faith. Don't allow intimidation to hold you back.

(95)
Carol Arnott: "It is simply understanding that He is always with us and will give us what we need
to bless another person. It's not about us and what we have to do; it's about Him and what He longs
to do through us… When I approach someone to share the gospel, I know He'll be there. When I
pray for the sick, He'll be there. When I need to give a prophetic encouragement, I am confident
that He is there to give me the inspiration. In the same way that He is with me in my prayer and
soaking times, He is with me everywhere I go and in everything I do. His presence is always there.
It is just so fun holding on to Father's hand and watching Him move."
 -26-

JESUS, OUR COVENANT

(Quote from the book by Patricia King called Light Belongs In The Darkness)

(111)
"If believers are going to bring light into darkness, then we need to understand the message of the
gospel of love. The key to seeing a soul come to Christ is not found in a technique or an
evangelistic program, but rather in a revelation of Jesus Christ, Savior of the world. I am amazed at
how many Christians do not understand the message of the Cross or the eternal, unbreakable, love
covenant that God secured for mankind through Christ. Understanding this very message is crucial
to bringing light into darkness.

(112)
The gospel message is the message of love in its purest form--it is the revelation of Christ, God's
gift to mankind…What manner of love would motivate a perfect, holy, and righteous God to offer a
sinful and rebellious person the right to become His very own dear child and heir of all that He is
and has?

God desired children, and everyone ever born was desired by God. No one was a mistake.
Everyone has value and purpose. God is love, and the nature of love gives and lavishes goodness
and kindness on others. God desired a family so that He could lavish His love on each and every
one; this is His nature.

(113)
God deeply desired children, yet even before man was created, He knew we were going to cause
Him great pain. As a result of foreknowing our sinful failures, He initiated a plan to rescue our lives
from the power of sin. In the Bible, this act is called "redemption." He actually took care of the
problem for us before we even acted out the problem.

God's plan for mankind is to have an eternal relationship established through a covenant, which is a
legally binding agreement between two people or parties. For a covenant to work, there must be
absolute integrity in its making and in keeping all terms.

(114)
God is a covenant-keeping God. He is full of integrity and always keeps the terms of the covenants
He makes.

The original meaning of the word covenant was "where the blood flows." Ancient covenants
always set terms and exchanged names, weapons, and resources. Almost always, these covenants
included a consummation ceremony through the mingling of blood. At the end of the ceremony, a
covenant meal was served to celebrate this union.
God's covenant plan for His relationship with man was a blood covenant (Christ's blood shed for us
at the Cross). He set the terms (through the Old Testament law and prophets) and then defined a
name exchange (Jesus said, "In My name ask…"), a weapons exchange (Jesus' weapons and armor
are ours), and a resource exchange (He became poor that we might become rich). In ancient
civilizations, a representative of one tribe would cut covenant with a representative of another tribe.
When the two leaders cut covenant on behalf of their peoples, both tribes enjoyed the benefits of
covenant. Christ did the same for us when He represented mankind in a covenant with God. Jesus
was, and is, our covenant representative and leader. As our covenant representative, His
responsibility is to keep all terms for us. In exchange, we receive all the covenant blessings. Wow!

(115)
God desired to make a covenant with mankind that would secure us in relationship with Him for all
eternity. He knew, however, that once we fell into sin, we would never be able to keep covenant.
Humans were now filled with a sin nature, which made it impossible for us to hold up our end of
the agreement. To fulfill the covenant terms, God required a sinless representative for mankind who
would keep all the conditions. But no sinless person could be found. As a result He chose to fill this
position Himself. By becoming a man, He took our place in covenant. Jesus also took God's place
in covenant--because He is God. He is both Man and God; in reality then, He was cutting covenant
with Himself. This is how God could cut an eternal, unbreakable, unfailing covenant with humans.
To fulfill this plan, Jesus, who was fully God, left Heaven and came into the sinful world as a man.

When He came as a man, He had to fulfill all of man's covenant terms as laid out in Old Testament
law. If He failed to fulfill every point of the law, or if He gave in to temptation just once, then He
would not qualify as a keeper of covenant on mankind's behalf.

(116)
Jesus came just as the first Adam did. He was of mankind's nature, yet without sin. He was to fulfill
man's requirement in covenant with human power and capabilities. The Holy Spirit came upon Him
to empower Him, just as the Holy Spirit empowers you today. Through the Holy Spirit's power,
Jesus the Man remained sinless throughout His entire life on the earth. You need to understand that
He resisted sin in man's strength, with the power of the Holy Spirit helping Him. Even though Jesus
was perfect and without a sin nature, He had a huge wrestle in His soul against sin.

Jesus had to wrestle to secure the victory as a man so as to restore mankind's rightful place in
relationship with God, like the first Adam had before the fall. Ultimately, at the end of His
"covenant course," Jesus Christ would be acknowledged as a perfect God and a perfect Man who
would sit on a throne at God's right hand.

Christ did not have an easy time resisting sin. At one point, He found resisting temptation to be so
grueling that He sweat drops of blood (see Hebrews 12:4). Jesus did it in man's power for all of us,
so we wouldn't have to in our own strength--because we couldn't. Everything required for mankind
to enter covenant with God was fulfilled through the Man, Jesus Christ. He fulfilled all the law and
the prophets.

(125)
Through simply receiving Jesus as Savior by faith, everyone is invited into eternal relationship with
God. All the work for mankind's redemption has been completed in Christ--it is finished! He cut an
eternal, unbreakable covenant between God and man. In this covenant, He took the place of both
man and God, which is why it can never be broken. The sinless, perfect Lamb of God has done
everything for us. All we have left to do is simply believe.

Everyone who believes in Christ has the gift of everlasting life and is forever sealed into a legally
binding love agreement between God and man. This covenant is an eternal one that is impossible to
break because it is between Jesus the Man and Jesus the God. Through His own sinless life, Jesus
won our place for us. Believing in Him saves you from the separation from God created by sin.
Your identity as a Kingdom child is not in your own ability to accomplish anything, but in His
completed work. His ability is past tense--it is finished!

Pleasing God in your own strength is absolutely impossible! The only way anyone can please God
is by believing in Christ. The arms of Jesus are open to all sinners. Simple faith connects believers
to this glorious eternal salvation. All one needs to do is simply believe--that's it."

(132)
Jesus has commissioned us to preach good news to the lost. The preached word releases a
revelation of Christ that, in turn, births faith. When sharing the gospel, do so with the confidence
that the Word will not return void but will accomplish everything it is sent to do (see Isaiah 55:11).
 -27-

EXACTLY THE RIGHT PLACE

(Quotes from C. Peter Wagner's book Prayer Shield, p. 161-162)

I recall one particular morning when I was struggling with this matter before God in prayer. I said,
"Father, please give me intimacy with you like I am seeing in these intercessors. I want to be like
them."

Then came one of those moments that are few and far between for me, but daily bread for true
intercessors, when I clearly heard God speaking to me in response to my petition. He first told me
to take my pencil and draw three steps, which I promptly did.

God then showed me that the intercessors are on the top step, and I am on the middle step.
Multitudes are on the bottom step. He said that the intercessors are too high to reach down and
help many who are on the bottom step. He told me that He wanted me to be one of His middle-
step people who are in close touch with the intercessors, but who also will help many people
move up the stairway. He said that many whom I do help from the lower step to the middle step
will then move on and pass me.

I sensed that I heard God say my task was not to minister in His throne room, but to be outside
the throne room helping others to come nearer. Those who are already in the throne room will be
a major link in bringing me closer to God.

God assured me that I do have clear access to Him. He affirmed the priesthood of all believers.
Access to Him is not the question, but the degree of intimacy is. He showed me that His family is
large and that He loves all His children. His perfect desire and calling for each child is to be in
the place where they will be the greatest blessing to all. Not all of His children are as yet in the
place He wants them, but He seemed to assure me that I was in exactly the place where I was
supposed to be, and that I was to rejoice in it rather than to fret over it.
 -28-

TAKING OUR THOUGHTS CAPTIVE

(From Praying God’s Word by Beth Moore, p 6)

Then what makes the Word such a powerful stick of dynamite to demolish
strongholds?

We take our thoughts captive, making them obedient to Christ, every time we
choose to think Christ’s thoughts about any situation or stronghold instead of
Satan’s or our own.

What are Christ’s thoughts? The Word of God revealed to us. (idea from 2
Corinthians 10:3-5)
 -29-

REASONS GOD HEALS

(From book Surprised by the Power of the Spirit by Jack Deere)

(p. 62)
Yes, there were extraordinary outpourings of healing power and grace in the life of Peter and the
other apostles, but these were initiated by the sovereign will of their heavenly Father. Their part
was to recognize the Father’s initiative and obey, but not to originate any ministry apart from His
direction.

(p. 125)
Jesus asks them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" (Matthew 9:28) Jesus’ question not
only underscores the importance of faith for healing but also tells us something about the nature of
faith. Faith in God for healing means believing that he has the ability to heal.

(p. 126)
The faith that God requires for healing is not a psychological certainty that he is going to heal us or
those we pray for. It is faith in his ability to heal and in his good will to heal. It is confidence that
God loves his children and regularly heals them. (see Matthew 8:2 “if you are willing.”)

(p. 128)
I cannot produce a psychological certainty (knowing) for healing in individual cases. When I do
have it, it is a gift from God that can only be received, not manufactured.

(p. 128)
(Mark 9:23) Jesus replied that "Everything is possible for him who believes." This is a principle
that Jesus consistently taught (Matthew 21:21-22). Jesus does not put any limitation on what we
may ask God to do. Why should I limit God?

(p. 129)
Three characteristics of faith:
1. Faith in Jesus’ ability to heal is also faith that he does heal.
2. Faith in Jesus’ desire to heal is not to be equated with psychological certainty. He will heal
when we don’t have psychological certainty.
3. Faith does not put restrictions on God’s ability to act on behalf of his children, for "Everything
is possible for him who believes.”

(p. 120)
Reasons God Heals:
• God heals out of compassion and mercy.
• God heals to glorify himself and his Son.
• God heals in response to faith.
• God heals in response to his own promise.
(p. 191)
More than anything else, a passion for God has to be guarded and cultivated or we will lose it. I
find that almost every good thing in my life is all too ready to compete for my time and intimacy
with God. The essence of all of life is loving God and then loving his people. (Matthew 22:36-40)

(p. 196-201)
To develop a relationship with Jesus after you commit your life to Him:
1. Set aside a regular time to be with Him daily so you can get to know Him. Read His Word
daily.
2. If a barrier comes in the relationship, through sin, confess the sin and trust in Jesus’ blood to
take away the guilt from that sin.
3. Put your confidence in Jesus’ ability to lead you, not in your ability to follow.

(p. 210)
To develop passion for Jesus: ask for it. “Father, grant me power from the Holy Spirit to love the
Son of God like You love Him.

(p 201-202)
Passionate love for God is the key to power.

(p. 203)
People who have Mary’s passion for the Lord Jesus can move him in a way that others cannot.
Passion for Jesus gave Mary access to the power of Jesus.”

(From book Surprised By the Voice of God by Jack Deere)

(p. 102-3)
There is a realm of obedience called "careful to do everything written it" (Joshua 1:8). The only
people who will enter that realm of obedience are those who meditate on the Law day and night.

(From book Surprised By the Voice of the Spirit by Jack Deere)

(p. 167)
I made up my mind that I was going to find a group of people who felt the same way I did. We
would come together to meet Jesus, to hear him and be healed by him, to worship him, to be
equipped for ministry, and to bring gifts to build up one another.
 -30-

PROPHESYING OUR DESTINY

(From book The Best Is Yet Ahead by Chuck Pierce and Rebecca Sytsema)

(7)
When God knit you together in your mother's womb, He had a distinct purpose and timing for your
life. He knew before the foundation of the world the time frame for your birth. At that point of
conception, your life cycle began.

During our life cycle, we have many choices. Each day when we arise, our first thought should be,
"Choose you this day whom you will serve." If we serve God we will succeed in the redemptive
plan for which He created us. We will be aware of His presence. We will know when we deviate
from His ultimate plan. We will also know when the enemy of our soul, Satan, attempts to interrupt
the life cycle of God.

The Creator of the universe has created you and has an incredible plan for your life. Choose today
whom you will serve so that your future is assured.

(18)
1. God gives an intercessory call
The first thing God often does is to release an intercessory burden in our lives. A burden is a deep
impression of God's heart and will within our spirit. This burden feels like a weight or a stirring
within us that is so strong that we must respond to God so change can come into our lives or
environment. This is how intercession begins.

(20)
2. God revives unfulfilled prophetic destiny
As we come into agreement with God through intercession, God often reminds us of His plan of
prophetic destiny

(22)
3. God calls us to prophesy into our destiny
God has chosen to use us as a necessary link to bring His will to earth. He calls us to come into
dialog with Him, listen to His voice, and gain prophetic revelation so the hope of our calling can be
fulfilled. He asks us to take that revelation and prophesy it into the earth realm. This action of
declaring prophetic revelation is called prophetic intercession.

Prophesying our Destiny

Level One Prophecy: Coming together

Ezekiel (dry bones prophecy in Ezekiel 36 and 37) took the words that God gave him and declared
them into the desolate situation that had overtaken Judah. That is what we mean by prophetic
declaration. When Ezekiel declared God's will, action began to occur.

(24)
Therefore, we see in the first level of prophecy that when we are prophesying what God has
promised us, we hear a new sound and see a new structure coming together.

Level Two Prophecy: The Breath of Life

(25)
When we encounter a snag in declaring God's word, it does not necessarily mean that we have not
heard God or that we have failed. It often means that there is more and that we need to enter into a
second level of prophecy in order to see life come into that which God is longing to accomplish.

Level Three Prophecy: Spiritual Warfare Over Hope Deferred

When we become filled with lost hope, it can easily deplete our faith for the future. Lost hope often
works with rejection and causes us to feel isolated and cut off. (Proverbs 13:12) Hope deferred
makes the heart sick and releases a spirit of infirmity.

There was hopelessness and infirmity. When this happens in our lives we need to enter into a third
level of prophecy, which is spiritual warfare. We must fight against whatever the enemy is doing to
try and steal the life that God has breathed into our destiny. If we don't go into spiritual warfare and
overturn the enemy's plans to cause death, we won't progress and overturn a spirit of infirmity that
has entered in and is resisting our prophetic fulfillment.

(26)
Much sickness is a result of hope deferred. There is a place in the fulfillment of the promise of God
over our life where we have to deal with the past issues that have come against us to discourage and
defeat us. Notice these bones had to express the hope deferred that was within them. Don't be afraid
to face the problems of your past. By dealing with these past issues, we will be released to move
into the hope for the future.

Level Four Prophecy: Hope for the Future

As Ezekiel prophesied at the fourth level (Ezekiel spoke that their graves would open up, etc.),
resurrection power was released so that the graves could be opened and the people set in their own
land.

(27)
Four levels of agreement and prophesying were necessary to see the fulfillment of God's word here
in Ezekiel. If we choose not to back up but to keep moving forward through the levels of prophecy,
God will perform His will in us and bring about prophetic fulfillment1

(27)
God has a cycle of life for each one of us. Our life cycle begins at conception and moves along in
the following progression:
1. Conception, the beginning of God's purpose by knitting us together in the womb.
2. Birth, the bringing forth of the new life God has created.
3. Age of accountability with an awareness of our need for God.
4. Rebirth when we are quickened from darkness into light.
5. Receiving hope by searching for and receiving the expectation of God for our future.
6. Maturing of our faith into an overcoming weapon of God.
7. Demonstration of God's power and wisdom that unlocks our destiny.
8. Manifestation of God's Glory and inner fulfillment of our identity in Him.
9. A completion of our role in the earth realm, facing death and entering into eternity.
 -31-

THE TRIUMPHANT RESERVE

"I Saw a Vision of the Triumphant Reserve that was Being Held for a Time Such as This"
By Chuck Pierce
Feb 13, 2009
Dear Changing Army:
This month we are concentrating on Creativity in Space and Time! If ever we need to understand
that creative part of us, now is the time! I have just completed the book, Redeeming the Time: Get
Your Life Back on Track with the God of Second Opportunities. In this book I explain what the
Lord called "The Triumphant Reserve." The Lord has given me a window to write this month. Your
prayers are so valuable to keep the Heavens open so I hear what the Spirit is speaking to the
Church! Also, I am writing a small booklet on the Triumphant Reserve to help us understand how
we each fit within God's plan for this season.
A Vision: "The Triumphant Reserve!"
The Triumphant Reserve! This is a phrase that I want you to get used to. When the Lord caught me
up into a realm of vision on May 31, 2008 at Liberty Park, New Jersey, the Spirit of the Lord
showed me the timeframe in which He would work with this nation and other nations to produce
fruit for the future. When I was looking down into the land, there were layers of darkness. I could
see many areas, the glory realms of the earth, that were captured by darkness. I saw how God
would have to change entire structures before He could bring forth the harvest for the future. I
could see evil root systems planted in the land. I could see evil root systems in my own bloodline
based upon land structures that had never been dealt with.
The Lord said, "My people are trying to manage their households and now I am going to have to
cause the roots of the land to be pulled up and jarred. Therefore, you will again manage what I
assign you, but this will be My time of uprooting. Allow Me to pull up evil structures. Manage
what I am assigning you to manage while I am pulling up. Do not let your pride try to stop Me from
pulling things up and out that need to be pulled up."
I saw a Triumphant Reserve that was being held for a "time such as this." Many had been on
shelves, waiting, but now they were being called forth. Others were realigning in new ways so they
could war with their destined tribe. The Spirit of God was calling forth His troops for this hour. The
Spirit of God showed me this Reserve, their strength and position in each state in America. He then
took me higher and showed me the Reserve and their war for the future in the nations of the earth,
God's inheritance. He honored me by giving me a glimpse of the 153 sheep nations in the earth that
the angels were contending over.
Relieve the Front Line!
God has a reserve! At our Starting the Year Off Right conference, I noticed something on the
worship team. LeAnn Squier, who was sick during the conference, came as usual to the front line,
but was limited in the strength she had to bring forth. John Dickson's voice began to struggle. I
heard the Lord say, "Relieve the front line." I called forth others from the back to come to the front
and sing forth prophetically, even though this was not their normal role, and they responded.
One person on the worship team began to pick up where another one was too tired to continue on.
This became like tag team. Weary ones stepped back for a while and others took their places. The
power of revelation never ebbed again. Heaven remained connected in the earth realm and "on
Earth as it is in Heaven" kept occurring so we could walk victoriously throughout the year.
On the battlefield, many casualties can occur when troops get weary. Weariness can create mental
passivity, breakdowns, people going AWOL (Absent Without Leave), and even suicide and death. I
believe the Lord is telling us to watch out for those who are exhausted and help them step back and
get rejuvenated. He will call you to help someone so they can refocus for their victory ahead and
not be taken out by the enemy. He will show you who you are to relieve in service, helps, and
ministry.
Blessings,
Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion Ministries
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: [email protected]
 -32-

FAITH

(From the book The Best of Peter Marshall, by Catherine Marshall, p 81)

The only happy way to deal with them (events we can’t control) is the way of
faith...faith in the purposes of God, faith in the presence of God, faith in the
promises of God, faith in the power of God to deliver us in any trouble.
 -33-

HOW GOD SPEAKS TO US

(From John Ortberg's book The Life You've Always Wanted)

(p.249-250)

To "speak" to someone is simply to direct their thoughts toward something. Because you
are reading these words, you are thinking a series of thoughts that you would not be
thinking otherwise. Your thoughts are being led by another person.

Because I am a finite human being, I have to use indirect means to guide your thoughts. I
must express ideas in words so you can hear them or read them. I need to give them
some physical form in order to communicate with you.

But God does not. God can directly guide my thoughts without the aid of intervening
sounds or images.

Here is the vital point: God may be speaking to you - "affecting your consciousness," -
while you "remain ignorant" of the fact that this very thought is coming from God.

So it is possible that God may speak to us and our thoughts may be guided by him without
our knowing that it is God's guidance.
 -34-

HOPE

(Quote from The Slumber of Christianity by Ted Dekker, pg. 60-62)

Meaning and happiness in this life are subject to meaning and happiness in the next… My search
for happiness was and is futile unless I have the bright light of eternity to show the way.

Who am I? A person destined for bliss beyond this life.

Where do I belong? There, diving deep into my Creator's lake of inexhaustible pleasures.

Am I happy? Only when I embrace hope in a glorious mansion of many rooms prepared for me. For
now the Comforter will ease the pain of the Fall and offer many good blessings as foretastes of my
inheritance. The blessings and the gifts of this life aren't the good news of the gospel. Our hope for
life everlasting, swamped by a never-ending bliss, is the good news.

But Christianity has fallen asleep to this new and living hope. Consequently, we desperately seek
satisfaction in a world where no satisfaction is to be found.

My search for happiness has led me to the secret I now share with you. Life is about heaven. It is
about ecstasy and great pleasure, for God is both of these. They can't truly be found here, on earth.
Knowing this, Jesus sent his Comforter to ease the path between this life and the next. Among the
greatest gifts offered by the Holy Spirit is hope, because without hope for the time when both
ecstasy and pleasure can be found completely in God, there can be no happiness.

Ironically, once our eyes are opened to the riches of our inheritance, the blessings of this life
become far richer… It is by fixing our eyes on the light of eternity that we see clearly the pleasures
of this life.

I now embrace the pleasures of this life with as much or more passion as I did before, but I do so
without expecting those pleasures to provide any more than a foretaste of what is to come--a
tremendously liberating knowledge.

I now enjoy the riches of my inheritance through a nearly miraculous power called hope.
 -35-

PERFECT FELLOWSHIP

(Quote from Juanita Bynum's book The Threshing Floor)

(p. 15)
You can boldly approach God's throne, but only through the pattern of the finished, perfect
works of Jesus Christ. When Jesus said, "I am the way, the truth, and the life," He was
marking the path to effective prayer. The gate is "the way"; the holy place (inner court) is
"the truth"; and "the life" shines through God's perfected light in the most holy place.

(p. 16)
Hebrews 7:11 tells us: "Now if perfection (a perfect fellowship between God and the
worshiper) had been attainable by the Levitical priesthood…" As I read that sentence I
was struck with the comment that perfection was a perfect fellowship between God and
the worshiper! The Holy Spirit showed me that I am working toward that kind of perfection
every day as I come to Him, read the Word, listen to Him, obey His voice, etc. I tended to
feel I wasn't "doing" anything since I spend so much time studying, praying, etc…but this
showed me otherwise.

(p. 17)
Jesus has one goal: to give us a living, breathing, vital relationship with the Father.
 -36-

WORD OF KNOWLEDGE

(Notes from listening to cassette tape on Word of Knowledge by Todd Bentley)

It is a revelatory gift - one of the 3 revelatory gifts: knowledge, wisdom, discerning of spirits

The power gifts are: faith, healing, miracles

DEFINITION:
a definite conviction, an impression, or knowing. Supernatural insight of circumstances, situations,
and problems. A divine piece of information about the past or present. Supernaturally inspired
utterance of facts. Supernatural ability to receive information and proof directly from God. You
know that you know, but don’t know how you know.

Soak for the purpose of hearing, then write it down

Supernatural revelation of facts about a person or situation which is not learned through the efforts
of the natural mind; it is a fragment of knowledge. Pieces of puzzles.

PRESS FOR DETAILS:

male or female, how old, flash of picture of someone the age. Engage the Lord in conversation, get
names

I set the standard on what I receive by what I seek and ask for. Ask for names, or sicknesses, or
what you want. e. g. give me 10 names, Lord. Give me the names of their mothers, or sister, last
name, address, how many details you want.

WHEN PRESENT IT:

Give one detail at a time, slowly and make it around age, etc. This will help raise faith and
expectation and eliminate some who fit first or second detail, but not later ones.

OPERATION:
1 Corinthians 13:9 We know in part and we prophesy in part. Works with the gift of prophecy

NEW TESTAMENT EXAMPLES:

• Luke 19:30-31 passover finding colt tied, etc.
• Samaritan woman about her many husbands
• Revelation of sin: Ananias and Saphira
• Divine knowledge of direction: Acts 9:10 Ananias going to Paul
• Warning of danger: Acts 22:17
• Provision: Matthew 17:27 Where to get coin in fish's mouth.

ASK HOW TO BE POSITIONED TO GET IT.

Sometimes it requires a word of knowledge on who, what, where, why, what phone call to make.
To win children to the Lord: tell them where they were, etc.

OLD TESTAMENT EXAMPLES:

• Warning 2 Kings 5:20 a lie unveiled
• Boat building instructions: Noah
• Successor: Elijah knowing re Elisha
• Lost property 1 Sam 9:16-10:7 Sixteen different words of knowledge

PREPARING TO RECEIVE WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE

Desire: 1 Corinthians 16:1, Romans 1:11

EXAMPLES OF WAYS OF RECEIVING:

• most common way = thoughts and/or impressions
• pain in your body
• dreams Acts 16
• vision Acts 10:10
• still small voice, whisper to spirit or ear
• trance Acts 10:10, 17-20 dream-like state you go into to receive vision, numbing of your
senses like when sleeping
• word of God
• flashback to a previous experience of word of knowledge
• Angels speak in his ear Acts 10:30

QUESTIONS TO ASK
• Is this for this prayer only or publicly ?
• Should I go to church leader first?
• Is this public or private information?
• Will this bring edification to the individual and the church?
 -37-

CHRISTIAN MEDITATION

(From book Speak, Lord, I'm Listening by Larry Kreider, pg. 26)

What Sets Christian Meditation Apart

Western Christians today are often a bit leery of meditation because it is generally seen as
a practice of the New Age movement and its association with Transcendental Meditation
™, which is steeped in Hindu philosophy. There are two major differences, however,
between other forms of meditation and Christian meditation. In Christian meditation, the
believer seeks to fill his or her thoughts with truths about God from the Word of God. "But
his delight is in the law of the Lord, and on his law he meditates day and night" (Psalm
1:2). Rather than emptying oneself, the Christian fills his or her mind with the promises
that God has given in His Word.

In meditation that is practiced with some yoga techniques or by Hindu gurus and Buddhist
monks, the individual seeks to empty self or consciousness of all thoughts, often using a
tool called a mantra - a word or sounds that the person repeats until the mind is
completely empty. This exercise is supposed to allow relaxation and a relief from stress.
However, in this disconnection between the body and spirit, or altered state of
consciousness, a doorway to a false spirit can be opened to the human soul. In sharp
contrast, God's Word encourages us to fill our minds with (meditate on) the Word of God.
As we do so, the Holy Spirit illuminates the Word of God from our spirit to our minds, and
we are changed.

You could simplify the differences between Christian meditation and other meditation by
saying that Christian meditation dwells on the already revealed or inspired revelation of
God's Word, and God as the object of worship and adoration; other forms of meditation
seek some new truth to be revealed, with the object of worship being self.
 -38-

MORNING GLORY

(John Belt: "Morning Glory - Abide in His Light')

Jan 24, 2009

Morning Glory

When we start our day we need to make sure we get a dose of the Morning Glory of God. That
glory, which we experience in our times with the Lord, goes with us throughout the day. Every day
we need to be saturated with His Presence. Every day we need the daily bread from Heaven. We
need to allow the Lord to make His Word alive in our hearts. It is when we come into His glory that
all things, old and new, come alive within our hearts.

John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it
shall be done for you."

It is abiding in the resurrection power of Jesus that opens up the doors of revelation and ignites
our spirits, opening our eyes to the realities of Heaven. We are Heavenly creatures living in the
earthly realm. Our spirit is "more" real than our fleshly body. Our body will perish and we will get a
new one. But our spirit man is eternal. Our spirit is the divine center of all God-activity in our being.

John 7:38, "He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of
living water."

Allow the food for your spirit to take priority over all other things. If we are not experiencing the
deep well within, it may be clogged with earthly distractions. Pay the price to make sure that your
well stays open and functioning at the highest level. There is a maintenance, discipline, and focus
that keeps the well in your spirit flowing.

Enter His Gates

Psalm 100:4, "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful
to Him, and bless His name."

One of the first things we can do to keep our well functioning is to start our day, every day, with
praise and thanksgiving, communing with God in the Spirit. It starts with being Holy Spirit sensitive
and understanding the reality of having our spirit connected into the anointing of His Presence. It is
true that the anointing is for others, but it also true that the anointing is for us to know Him and His
truth.

1 John 2:20, "But you have an anointing from the Holy One, and you know all things."

That anointing from the Lord teaches us all things. There are anointings for specific purposes, but
there is an anointing for our devotional and prayer life. When you begin to develop the habit of
opening your day with praise, thoughts can sometimes come to distract us off course. If they are
important, quickly write them down. If not, cast them down. Then we can move into deeper
worship. Stay on course.
God calls us to intimacy in His glory. Abiding in Jesus is all about starting our days right and
ending our days right. We do this with Him as the beginning and the end. Live a life of
thanksgiving, blessing and encouragement and displace complaining, criticism and accusation.
Complaining opens the door to snake bites and the venom of the enemy. Thanksgiving opens the
door to the healing and life-giving virtue of the Spirit.

Problem Solvers

This year we will have things to overcome - just as every year. It is important, as always, to have
our morning glory time. God is calling us to be problem solvers this year, to be filled with the
wisdom of His Spirit. With this we must be a Holy Spirit people. The Holy Spirit is not an option.

We cannot be enamored with teachings and people but with Jesus and getting to know Him
through the person of the Holy Spirit. All else falls by the wayside. I like good teaching. But the
Lord is the focus. If we are intoxicated with His love, that will be the only motivation we need to
follow Him.

John 16:13-15, "However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth;
for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell
you things to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you."

When we are a people that know the ways of the Spirit and understand His Word, we will be filled
with the ability to overcome difficulties and solve problems. Some can find problems, create
problems and maintain problems, but God is looking for those who solve them. That takes a life of
faith.

Find Victory in Your Heart

It is important to surround ourselves with people who have an overcoming spirit and are filled with
faith so that we are willing to learn and follow that example. Press into that extra mile with the
Lord. Go the distance. Don't settle for mediocrity. His righteous ones will live by His faith. Find
victory in your heart. He is the victory!

1 Samuel 30:6, "...David strengthened himself in the LORD his God."

This life is a journey. Each one of us must walk out our own unique path as the Lord leads us.
Each of us have choices to make; we must make them wisely. Don't worship at the altars of
yesterday. Don't stay somewhere just because your relatives lived and died there. Get out of the
box and find God adventures in your life. You're only on earth one time. Be connected with God,
have a plan, let Him order your steps and find your life in Him.

Isaiah 43:19, "Behold, I will do a new thing...it shall spring forth!"

God is always into "new things." Heaven is loaded with new things. Tap into our heavenly
resources, get creative and remove all the boundaries of the natural mind, believing God for His
best in 2009!

Isaiah 12:3, "Therefore with joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation."
Let your light burn brightly as you dwell in the glory of His light each day and as you wake each
day with a thankful heart.

In His Overwhelming Love,

John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries
Email: [email protected]

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: [email protected]
 -39-

PREPARATION FOR THE JUDGMENT SEAT

(Quote from book by Mark Hitchcock called 55 Answers to Questions About Life After Death)

(p. 148)

The preparation for the judgment seat

The Bible tells us that the great test day for our lives as God's children is coming. But like a kind,
gracious teacher, God has given us the "test questions" for the judgment seat of Christ beforehand.
It's our job to study these test questions so we can be prepared, and make an "A" on the final exam.
Here is a list of some of the main areas in our lives that will be tested when we stand before the
Lord:

1. How we treat other believers (Hebrews 6:10; Matthew 10:41-42)

Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust. He will not forget how hard you have worked for him and how you
have shown your love to him by caring for other believers, as you still do.

Matthew 10:41-42
If you receive a prophet as one who speaks for God, you will be given the same reward as
a prophet. And if you receive righteous people because of their righteousness, you will be
given a reward like theirs. And if you give even a cup of cold water to one of the least of
my followers, you will surely be rewarded.”

2. How we employ our God-given talents and abilities (Matthew 25:14-29; Luke 19:11-26; 1
Corinthians 12:4; 2 Timothy 1:6; 1 Peter 4:10)

Matthew 25:14-29
“Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long
trip. He called together his servants and entrusted his money to them while he was gone.
He gave five bags of silver to one, two bags of silver to another, and one bag of silver to the
last—dividing it in proportion to their abilities. He then left on his trip.
“The servant who received the five bags of silver began to invest the money and
earned five more. The servant with two bags of silver also went to work and earned two
more. But the servant who received the one bag of silver dug a hole in the ground and hid
the master’s money.
“After a long time their master returned from his trip and called them to give an
account of how they had used his money. The servant to whom he had entrusted the five
bags of silver came forward with five more and said, ‘Master, you gave me five bags of
silver to invest, and I have earned five more.’
 “The master was full of praise. ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have
been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more
responsibilities. Let’s celebrate together!’
“The servant who had received the two bags of silver came forward and said,
‘Master, you gave me two bags of silver to invest, and I have earned two more.’
“The master said, ‘Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful
in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. Let’s
celebrate together!’
“Then the servant with the one bag of silver came and said, ‘Master, I knew you
were a harsh man, harvesting crops you didn’t plant and gathering crops you didn’t
cultivate. I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it in the earth. Look, here is your
money back.’
“But the master replied, ‘You wicked and lazy servant! If you knew I harvested
crops I didn’t plant and gathered crops I didn’t cultivate, why didn’t you deposit my
money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest on it.’
“Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with
the ten bags of silver. To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given,
and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they
have will be taken away.

Luke 19:11-26
The crowd was listening to everything Jesus said. And because he was nearing Jerusalem,
he told them a story to correct the impression that the Kingdom of God would begin right
away. He said, “A nobleman was called away to a distant empire to be crowned king and
then return. Before he left, he called together ten of his servants and divided among them
ten pounds of silver, saying, ‘Invest this for me while I am gone.’ But his people hated him
and sent a delegation after him to say, ‘We do not want him to be our king.’
“After he was crowned king, he returned and called in the servants to whom he
had given the money. He wanted to find out what their profits were. The first servant
reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made ten times the original amount!’
“‘Well done!’ the king exclaimed. ‘You are a good servant. You have been faithful
with the little I entrusted to you, so you will be governor of ten cities as your reward.’
“The next servant reported, ‘Master, I invested your money and made five times
the original amount.’
“‘Well done!’ the king said. ‘You will be governor over five cities.’
“But the third servant brought back only the original amount of money and said,
‘Master, I hid your money and kept it safe. I was afraid because you are a hard man to
deal with, taking what isn’t yours and harvesting crops you didn’t plant.’
“‘You wicked servant!’ the king roared. ‘Your own words condemn you. If you
knew that I’m a hard man who takes what isn’t mine and harvests crops I didn’t plant,
why didn’t you deposit my money in the bank? At least I could have gotten some interest
on it.’
“Then, turning to the others standing nearby, the king ordered, ‘Take the money
from this servant, and give it to the one who has ten pounds.’
“‘But, master,’ they said, ‘he already has ten pounds!’
 “‘Yes,’ the king replied, ‘and to those who use well what they are given, even more
will be given. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken
away.

1 Corinthians 12:4
There are different kinds of spiritual gifts, but the same Spirit is the source of them all.

2 Timothy 1:6
This is why I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my
hands on you.

1 Peter 4:10
God has given each of you a gift from his great variety of spiritual gifts. Use them well to
serve one another.

3. How we use our money (Matthew 6:1-4; 1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Matthew 6:1-4
“Watch out! Don’t do your good deeds publicly, to be admired by others, for you will lose
the reward from your Father in heaven. When you give to someone in need, don’t do as
the hypocrites do—blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to
their acts of charity! I tell you the truth, they have received all the reward they will ever
get. But when you give to someone in need, don’t let your left hand know what your right
hand is doing. Give your gifts in private, and your Father, who sees everything, will
reward you.

1 Timothy 6:17-19
Teach those who are rich in this world not to be proud and not to trust in their money,
which is so unreliable. Their trust should be in God, who richly gives us all we need for
our enjoyment. Tell them to use their money to do good. They should be rich in good
works and generous to those in need, always being ready to share with others. By doing
this they will be storing up their treasure as a good foundation for the future so that they
may experience true life.

4. How well we accept mistreatment and injustice (Matthew 5:11-12; Mark 10:29-30; Luke 6:27-
28, 35; Romans 8:18; 2 Corinthians 4:17; 1 Peter 4:12-13)

Matthew 5:11-12
“God blesses you when people mock you and persecute you and lie about you and say all
sorts of evil things against you because you are my followers. Be happy about it! Be very
glad! For a great reward awaits you in heaven. And remember, the ancient prophets were
persecuted in the same way.

Mark 10:29-30
“Yes,” Jesus replied, “and I assure you that everyone who has given up house or brothers
or sisters or mother or father or children or property, for my sake and for the Good
News, will receive now in return a hundred times as many houses, brothers, sisters,
 mothers, children, and property—along with persecution. And in the world to come that
person will have eternal life.

Luke 6:27-28, 35
“But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate
you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.

Romans 8:18
Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.

2 Corinthians 4:17
For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a
glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!

1 Peter 4:12-13
Dear friends, don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something
strange were happening to you. Instead, be very glad—for these trials make you partners
with Christ in his suffering, so that you will have the wonderful joy of seeing his glory
when it is revealed to all the world.

5. How we endure suffering and trials (James 1:12; Revelation 2:10)

James 1:12
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will
receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.

Revelation 2:10
Don’t be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into
prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when
facing death, I will give you the crown of life.

6. How we spend our time (Psalm 90:9-12; Ephesians 5:16; Colossians 4:5; 1 Peter 1:17)

Psalm 90:9-12
We live our lives beneath your wrath, ending our years with a groan. Seventy years are
given to us! Some even live to eighty. But even the best years are filled with pain and
trouble; soon they disappear, and we fly away. Who can comprehend the power of your
anger? Your wrath is as awesome as the fear you deserve. Teach us to realize the brevity
of life, so that we may grow in wisdom.

Ephesians 5:16
Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.

Colossians 4:5
Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.
 1 Peter 1:17
And remember that the heavenly Father to whom you pray has no favorites. He will judge
or reward you according to what you do. So you must live in reverent fear of him during
your time as “foreigners in the land.”

7. How we run the particular race God has given us (1 Corinthians 9:24; Philippians 2:16; 3:13-
14; Hebrews 12:1)

1 Corinthians 9:24
Don’t you realize that in a race everyone runs, but only one person gets the prize? So run
to win!

Philippians 2:16
Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I
did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.

Philippians 3:13-14
No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing:
Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of
the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.

Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith,
let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up.
And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us.

8. How effectively we control our fleshly appetites (1 Corinthians 9:25-27).

1 Corinthians 9:25-27
All athletes are disciplined in their training. They do it to win a prize that will fade away,
but we do it for an eternal prize. So I run with purpose in every step. I am not just
shadowboxing. I discipline my body like an athlete, training it to do what it should.
Otherwise, I fear that after preaching to others I myself might be disqualified.

9. How many souls we witness to and win for Christ (Proverbs 11:30; Daniel 12:3; 1
Thessalonians 2:19-20)

Proverbs 11:30
The seeds of good deeds become a tree of life; a wise person wins friends.

Daniel 12:3
Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to
righteousness will shine like the stars forever.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20
 After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what will be our proud reward and crown as we
stand before our Lord Jesus when he returns? It is you! Yes, you are our pride and joy.

10. How much the doctrine of the Rapture means to us (2 Timothy 4:8)

2 Timothy 4:8
And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous
Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all
who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

11. How faithful we are to God's Word and God's people (Acts 20:26-28; 2 Timothy 4:1-2;
Hebrews 13:17; James 3:1; 1 Peter 5:1-2; 2 John 1:7-8)

Acts 20:26-28
I declare today that I have been faithful. If anyone suffers eternal death, it’s not my fault,
for I didn’t shrink from declaring all that God wants you to know. “So guard yourselves
and God’s people. Feed and shepherd God’s flock—his church, purchased with his own
blood over which the Holy Spirit has appointed you as elders.

2 Timothy 4:1-2
I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the
living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: Preach the word of God. Be
prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage
your people with good teaching.

Hebrews 13:17
Obey your spiritual leaders, and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls,
and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with
sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

James 3:1
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we
who teach will be judged more strictly.

1 Peter 5:1-2
And now, a word to you who are elders in the churches. I, too, am an elder and a witness
to the sufferings of Christ. And I, too, will share in his glory when he is revealed to the
whole world. As a fellow elder, I appeal to you: Care for the flock that God has entrusted
to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but
because you are eager to serve God.

2 John 1:7-8
I say this because many deceivers have gone out into the world. They deny that Jesus
Christ came in a real body. Such a person is a deceiver and an antichrist. Watch out that
you do not lose what we have worked so hard to achieve. Be diligent so that you receive
your full reward.
12. How hospitable we are to strangers (Matthew 25:35-36; Luke 14:13-14)

Matthew 25:35-36
For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a drink. I was a
stranger, and you invited me into your home. I was naked, and you gave me clothing. I
was sick, and you cared for me. I was in prison, and you visited me.’

Luke 14:12-14
Then he turned to his host. “When you put on a luncheon or a banquet,” he said, “don’t
invite your friends, brothers, relatives, and rich neighbors. For they will invite you back,
and that will be your only reward. Instead, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the
blind. Then at the resurrection of the righteous, God will reward you for inviting those
who could not repay you.”

13. How faithful we are in our vocation (Colossians 3:22-24)

Colossians 3:22-24
Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time,
not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear
of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord
rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your
reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ.

14. How we use our tongue (Matthew 12:36; James 3:1-12)

Matthew 12:36
And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you
speak.

James 3:1-12
Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we
who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we
could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every
other way.
We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth.
And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though
the winds are strong. In the same way, the tongue is a small thing that makes grand
speeches.
But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is
a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on
fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame
the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and
Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so
blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and
 sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and
bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you
can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.

Carefully consider this list. Read the verses. Develop and grow in these areas of your life so that
when you stand before the Lord someday, you can hear those words, "Well done, good and faithful
servant" (Matthew 25:21 NIV).
 -40-

TODAY'S MERCIES FOR TODAY'S TROUBLES

(Quote from A Godward Life by John Piper, p. 25-27)

Meditation on Matthew 6:34

Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the
day is its own trouble (author's translation).

Part of saving faith is the assurance that you will have faith tomorrow. Trusting Christ today
includes trusting him to give you tomorrow's trust when tomorrow comes. Often we feel today like
our reservoir of strength is not going to last for another day. The fact is, it won't. Today's resources
are for today, and part of those resources is the confidence that new resources will be given
tomorrow.

The basis of this assurance is the wonderful teaching of the Bible that God assigns only as much
trouble to each day as that day can bear. God will not let his children be tested in any given day
beyond what his mercy for that day will sustain. That's what Paul means when he says, "No test
has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be
tested beyond what you are able, but with the test will provide the way of escape also, that you
may be able to endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13, author's translation).

The old Swedish hymn "Day by Day" is based on Deuteronomy 33:25: "As your days, so shall your
strength be." It gives us the same assurance:

Day by day, and with each passing moment,

Strength I find to meet my trials here;
Trusting in my Father's wise bestowment,
I've no cause for worry or for fear.

The "Father's wise bestowment" is the amount of trouble that we can bear each day - and no
more:

He whose heart is kind beyond all measure

Gives unto each day what he deems best
Lovingly its part of pain and pleasure,
Mingling toil with peace and rest.

With every day's measure of pain, he gives new mercies. This is the point of Lamentations 3:22-
23, "The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are
new every morning; great is Your faithfulness."

God's mercies are new every morning because each day has enough mercy in it only for that day.
This is why we tend to despair when we think that we may have to bear tomorrow's load on today's
resources. God wants us to know that we won't. Today's mercies are for today's troubles.
Tomorrow's mercies are for tomorrow's troubles.

Sometimes I wonder if we will have the mercy to stand in terrible testing. Yes, we will. Peter says,
"If you are reviled for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God
rests on you" (1 Peter 4:14). When the reviling comes, the Spirit of glory comes. It happened for
Stephen as he was being stoned (Acts 7:55-60). It will happen for you. When the Spirit and the
glory are needed, they will come.

The manna in the wilderness was given one day at a time. There was no storing up. That is the
way we must depend on God's mercy. You do not receive today the strength to bear tomorrow's
burdens. You are given mercies today for today's troubles. Tomorrow the mercies will be new.
"God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord." (1
Corinthians 1:9 RSV). "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will act!" (1 Thessalonians 5:24,
author's translation).

(Quote from A Godward Life:120 Daily Readings by John Piper, p. 37

Obedience comes from trusting God for more grace - future grace - and thus magnifying the
infinite resources of God's love and power. "I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I,
but the grace of God which is with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10 RSV). The grace that enabled Paul to
work hard in a life of obedience was the daily arrival of fresh supplies of grace. This is what faith
trusts in - the continuing arrivals of grace. Faith looks to the promises like, I will be with you
wherever you go (Joshua 1:9), and in that confidence faith ventures, in obedience, to take the
land… Trusting in future grace is the enabling strength of our obedience. The more we trust in
future grace, the more we give God the opportunity in our lives to show the glory of his
inexhaustible grace. So take a promise of future grace and do some radical act of obedience on it.
God will be mightily honored.

(Quotes from A Godward Life: 120 Daily Readings by John Piper, pp. 58-59))

THE RIPPLE EFFECT OF THE WORD

Thoughts on Reading and Writing

I've been thinking again about the importance of reading and writing. There are several reasons I
write. One of the most personally compelling is that I read. I mean, my main spiritual sustenance
comes by the Holy Spirit from reading. Therefore reading is more important to me than eating. If I
went blind, I would pay to have someone read to me. I would try to learn Braille. I would buy
books on tape. I would rather go without food than go without books. Therefore, writing feels very
life-giving to me, since I get so much of my own life from reading.
Combine this with what Paul says in Ephesians 3:3-4 (RSV): "By revelation there was made known
to me the mystery, as I wrote before in brief. And by referring to this, when you read you can
understand my insight into the mystery of Christ." The early church was established by apostolic
writing as well as apostolic preaching. God chose to send his living Word into the world for thirty
years, and his written Word into the world for two thousand years. Think of the assumption behind
this divine decision. People in each generation would be dependent on those who read. Some
people, if not all, would have to learn to read--and read well in order to be faithful to God.

So it has been for thousands of years. Generation after generation has read the insights of its
writers. This is why fresh statements of old truth are always needed. Without them people will read
error. Daniel Webster once said,

If religious books are not widely circulated among the masses in this country, I do not
know what is going to become of us as a nation. If truth be not diffused, error will be; if
God and His Word are not known and received, the devil and his works will gain the
ascendancy; if the evangelical volume does not reach every hamlet, the pages of a
corrupt and licentious literature will. (Ernest Reisinger, "Every Christian a Publisher," Free
Grace Broadcaster, no. 51, winter 1995: l7)

Millions of people are going to read. If they don't read contemporary Christian books, they are
going to read contemporary secular books. They will read. It is amazing to watch people in an
airport. In airports alone, at any given moment, there must be hundreds of thousands of people
reading. One of the things we Christians need to be committed to, besides reading, is giving
away thoughtful books to those who might read them but would never buy them. (bold mine)

The ripple effect is incalculable. Consider this illustration:

A book by Richard Sibbes, one of the choicest of the Puritan writers, was read by Richard
Baxter, who was greatly blessed by it. Baxter then wrote A Call to the Unconverted which
deeply influenced Philip Doddridge, who in turn wrote The Rise and Progress of Religion
in the Soul. This brought the young William Wilberforce, subsequent English statesman
and foe of slavery, to serious thoughts of eternity. Wilberforce wrote his Practical Book of
Christianity which fired the soul of Leigh Richmond. Richmond, in turn, wrote The
Dairyman's Daughter, a book that brought thousands to the Lord, helping Thomas
Chalmers the great preacher, among others. (Ibid, 18.)

It seems to me that in a literate culture like ours, where most of us know how to read and where
books are available, the biblical mandate is to keep on reading what will open the Holy Scriptures
to you more and more, and to keep praying for Bible-saturated writers. There are many great old
books to read, but each new generation needs its own writers to make the message fresh. Read and
pray. And then obey.