Inspired Word October 3, 2007

INSPIRED WORD

October 3, 2007

EXHORTATION

We need Him to stir up the flames of the charismatic gifts here in this community. If we are not operating in them and if our fire has become low, how can we expect to minister to those who will come here? Move up closer so that we all can be a close community when we pray for the release of these gifts. Move up closer here to the front! We are going to be praying with each other, so move up closer! God wants us to desire to be used by Him and one way that we are used by Him is through the gifts that He pours forth. He says to us, “Ask for these and you are going to receive them. Believe My word! Ask and you shall receive!” Now we ask and we receive, but in order to receive, we have to act. We have to do something; that means that when the Spirit of God touches us, the way we receive is to respond; that means that if the Lord touches you, the way you receive is you have to proclaim it!

TEACHING

We went to a “Return to the Heart of Prayer” seminar last weekend in New Mexico . It falls in line with this praise gathering. They talked about the different kinds of prayer – contemplative prayer, meditative prayer, spontaneous prayer which could be Prayer Tongues. The Sign of the Cross is a prayer and it has power to drive away evil forces and evil spirits. This praise gathering is also a prayer – when we gather to praise God, we are giving praise through our bodies, hearts, minds and souls. It can all be a prayer.

IMAGE

As we were telling our testimonies, the re-occurring thing was that nothing changed, but that everything was different. When hearing the song, “The River is Here”, imagine a dry river bed. If you are to walk along a dry river bed, it is a very bumpy road. It can have deep cracks, very big rocks, litter, and all sorts of dangerous obstacles in it. Imagine trying to drag your boat through a dry river bed; that is a long hard job. But let rushing water flow down the river bed, it lifts you above so many of these obstacles. It isn't that they went away, but in some cases, it lifts you above them. If you want to do something even harder than the dry river bed, try rowing against the river current.

PRAYER

…gifts of Prophecy that we may proclaim Your word in this place, the gift of Tongues that we may speak out a message in Tongues so that Your message may be proclaimed here, the gift of Interpretation that we might understand it. In us pour forth, O God, that we might minister in Your name to Your people. Grant us renewed zeal, grant us renewed boldness, and grant us new fire, O Spirit of God! Lord, here we are; do Your work in this place in our hearts! Raise us up!!

TEACHING / EXHORATION

Each member has their own mission. Everyone has their job, their task. They don't have to do the whole thing, they do their own task. Together with all of the other tasks, the mission is accomplished. In an army, you don't walk on your own. You follow your general, your commander, your sergeant. God is our General; it is His plan! We don't have to be concerned, it is not our plan. The people whom we need to speak with are brought to us by God. He puts us in the circumstances that we need to be in, so that

we can grow in holiness; so that we can help others along in growing in holiness. We walk together in step; that doesn't mean that there can't be individualism. But it does mean that together, we move faster; we move stronger; we get where we need to go. Don't be afraid of the “General”, He has good plans for your life! Don't be afraid of Him! Don't be afraid to believe that there is a General, Who is guiding your path, Who has a plan. If you feel alone, look around you – you are so NOT alone. God is present in all His people all the time. He is always here! You are not alone!

SCRIPTURE

Ephesians 1: 1 – 17: Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, to the holy ones who are in Ephesus and are faithful to Christ Jesus: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Blessed be the God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavens, as He chose us in Him, before the foundation of the world, to be holy and without blemish before Him. In love He destined us for adoption to Himself through Jesus Christ, in accord with the favor of His will, for the praise of the glory of His grace that He granted us in the beloved. In Him we have redemption by His blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accord with the riches of His grace that He lavished us. With all wisdom and insight He has made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure that He set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time, to sum up all things in Christ, in heaven and on earth. In Him we were also chosen, destined in accord with the purpose of the One Who accomplishes all things according to the intention of His will, so that we might exist for the praise of His glory, we who first hoped in Christ. In Him you also, who have heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and have believed in Him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, which is the first installment of our inheritance toward redemption as God's possession, to the praise of His glory. I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints, and for this reason I do not cease to give thanks for you as I remember you in my prayers. I pray that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give you a spirit of wisdom and revelation as you come to know Him, so that you may know Him better.

IMAGE

I have never had an image before, but I have just received an image of a robust and happy Jesus Who was smiling broadly. We all were in an area like the Holy Land , with the dry desert conditions and some palm trees. Jesus was grabbing each of our hands as He walked among us. He was happily greeting us, welcoming each of us and drawing us to Himself.

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