Call of the Spirit Publications

Last night (Feb. 9, 2006) I had to press through some pretty intense disturbance (somewhat like anxiety) while I was ministering on the drums. I remember wondering what was wrong; asking the Lord if I had missed it somewhere or was out of line at all with Him. There was no response, so I dismissed it.  [On a side note: when God doesn’t show you something’s wrong — then don’t bother about it, and don’t allow the devil to conjure up something either]. Then this morning I had an unrest about me, so I prayed again asking the Lord what was wrong. These words arose in me: “Rest is a decision.”

As I’ve taught in the past: when revelation comes from God you will also get understanding (at least partial — revelation usually grows with time and maturity).

So here’s the understanding I received: as with all of the promises of God (our inheritance), we must possess it, take hold of it; in other words, “labor to enter into” the rest of God (Hebrews 4:11), that takes decision.

Wait a minute, I thought we were talking about resting, and now labor is brought up? First let me mention that rest is not a ceasing of work, nor is it abundance of sleep; one can sleep for ten hours and still not be at rest.

Rest is a quietness of soul, undisturbedness in spirit. The primary labor required to enter into the rest of God is the renewal of the mind with the word of God — then being a doer of what you’ve renewed your mind to. Things like: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6). Or: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). One of my personal favorites is found in Proverbs from the Amplified Bible: “Roll your works upon the Lord — commit and trust them wholly to Him; [He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed” (16:3).

We all want success in life. I dare say most all of unrest or anxiety stems from concern for the things happening all around us — the uncertainty of this planet has spawned a spirit of hopelessness, and if we’re not careful to guard ourselves against it, it’ll get on us!

I strongly believe part of the light and glory that’s to be seen on us in these latter times is the security we have in Christ, Who is our refuge and fortress, our strong tower and Rock of defense!

Quiet your soul today (and every day) with these comforting words, then be ready to give an answer for the hope that’s within you, seasoning the world around you with the rest of Almighty God!

Are you persuaded? True faith is a product of being truly persuaded of a thing; in this case, the will of God on any matter.  You see faith begins where the will of God is known, which comes from hearing in your heart what His will is. This knowledge is an intimate acquaintance with, not just a know by what you’ve heard, but you’ve spent time with and have become acquainted with what you have heard; you’ve taken possession of it and it now has become part of your consciousness.

Another way to say it is: you now see it that way in your life, whether the physical manifestation is before you or not; in your heart (inner-man) it has become a reality, which turns into hope (a confident expectation). Now you see yourself this way; you’ve become persuaded (convinced of it’s reality regardless of outward evidence)!

Paul said he was “persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord!” (Romans 8:38-39).  Mike Leach paraphrase: there’s no death or life, no circumstance or anything that’s created (you know, God is the only thing that hasn’t been created?!) could ever have the power to separate (take us away from) the love of God; the goodness of God; the mercy of God; the grace of God (you get the picture)!

Why? Because He has made us more than conquerors!; He leads our lives in victory!; He is able to keep us from destruction and harm!  Are you IN HIM? Are you PERSUADED of His love for you and His ability to keep you (take good care of you)? Are you persuaded our God is good and His mercy endures forever? Are you persuaded He’ll provide your every need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus? If not, then get persuaded! Read the Book! It’s all in there; He wrote it down for you, so you could become persuaded! “He who has an ear to hear…”

I want to share something that exploded inside me this morning. Let’s look at Ephesians 4:17-19: “…no longer walk (conduct your manner of life) as the rest of the Gentiles (unbelievers) walk, in the futility (useless—vanity) of their mind, having their understanding darkened, being alienated FROM the life of God, because of the ignorance that is in them…who being PAST FEELING, have given themselves over to licentiousness (morally unrestrained), to work all uncleanness with greediness” (parenthesis and caps mine).

First I want to mention that this lifestyle of being ruled by a darkened mind causes one to NOT experience the life of God (that’s a whole other teaching, though).  What I want to emphasize is: being past feeling they gave themselves over to a morally unrestrained lifestyle.  Or we could say it this way: the nature inside them was able to be given full expression as they were PAST FEELING.

Well, I want to encourage each of us to get to the point of being PAST our FEELINGS (stop being moved by how we “feel” all of the time) and allow the LIFE OF GOD, which is already inside us by the Holy Ghost: “the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus has made me free from the law of sin and death” (Romans 8:2), to come out and govern our lives.  The way we think, the way we talk, how we treat others and so on!

Smith Wigglesworth always said: “I’m not moved by how I feel, I’m moved only by what I believe.”  That’s a great way to live.  Let’s shoot for that goal!

September 30, 2005

This morning I was reading in Mark chapter six verse thirty-four: “And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them.” Then I had thought: “How could Jesus stand always being pulled on, never being left alone?”  I know that’s a carnal—selfish thought, but I really want to get my love walk right and the Lord has been showing me areas where I need to change.

As soon as that thought came into my mind my heart received this revelation: I saw in the spirit realm that there are multitudes of spirits vying for our attention that they may influence us and be given expression in this earth. Pulling at and pushing us around with their attitudes and evil ways.

Jesus knows this and desires to bring us into freedom from their influence.  That’s why He was manifested!: “that He might destroy the works of the devil!” (1John 3:8).  The human race is helpless without Him!  But, thanks be to God—we’re NOT without Him!  We overcome the evil forces in this world “by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of our testimony!” (Revelation 12:11a).

That co-worker or family member that’s causing you emotional pain by their cutting words or actions is simply being ‘moved upon’ by our enemy: “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12). The Mike Leach paraphrase would be: we’re not fighting against the people around us, but against the unseen ones they’re being influenced by.

Remember: Love covers a multitude of sins.  Love believes the best of every person.  We overcome evil by doing good.  Love prays for their enemies.  Love prefers others better than himself.  LOVE NEVER FAILS!   

Do you want your lamps filled to overflowing at His return?  Be caught being moved with compassion!

I want to announce to each and every one of you that the enemy of all of mankind IS ALREADY DEFEATED! Whatever battles he may launch — they’re already destined to fail!

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives to the death!”  (Revelation 12:11)

The sealed victory is revealed in this verse in three parts: 1) the blood of the Lamb; 2) the word of their testimony; 3) they did not love their lives to the death.

The blood has already been shed and in the shedding of His blood Jesus “disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil.”  (Colossians 2:15, Hebrews 2:14b respectively)

Another translation says that Jesus paralyzed the devil! GLORY!!!

Now we come to our parts; the word of our testimony regarding the triumph of the cross and not loving our lives unto death.

First, we must daily testify to what Jesus did for us!  Tell those symptoms of sickness, “I’ve BEEN healed by the strips of Jesus.”  Tell your checkbook: “my God supplies ALL of my need according to His riches in Glory by Christ Jesus!”  Everything that pertains to life and godliness, it was all purchased at Calvary with His blood – apply it, speak it, tell it, ENFORCE THE VICTORY!  His power (grace) will cause the results, for He watches over His word to perform IT (not your pastor’s version — the raw, pure word of God) and His word will not return void. If it seems void in your life I have to ask: Are you returning it to Him?

Then the last thing is where most of us fall off: not loving our lives to the death.  What does that mean?  In every realm of God we all come to a crossroad where we have a choice.  The choice boils down to this: following the dictates of the flesh (what seems reasonable, and maybe even responsible) or allowing the witness of the Spirit of God lead us into the unknown.

There’s a death we all face when it comes to obeying God. We want to know the beginning to the end before we step out and do something that seems ridiculous to our thinking (bless our hearts!). But God doesn’t work that way. He says to step out of the boat (on to His word — written or personal) THEN He’ll uphold us!

Well, is it the end of time or not?  Is God speaking truths today that challenge us to do the works of Jesus? Or—are we going to be complacent, live OUR lives in the realm of same-ole, same-ole?  How will that affect our eternity?  What will we have to say to Jesus on that Great Day when He judges the hearts and works of man?

Beloved, it’s not my intention to bring you down, but to lift Him up and encourage us all to prioritize our day with the here-after in our minds!

These words just went off on the inside of me: “What if you knew for sure that Jesus was coming back this weekend; what would you want to accomplish—what’s in your heart to do before the coming of the Lord?”

Let me expound. Scripture teaches that when we delight ourselves in the Lord, He places His desires in our hearts (Ps. 37:4). And I’ll further say that with the desire comes the enablement (grace) to carry out that desire.

The Bible is THE avenue by which we can understand the ways of God. Being our standard we’re further taught that we are LABORERS TOGETHER with God. That means we work together with God (and He works together with us).

Jesus said He could do nothing apart from the Father, but the implication is the Father can do nothing apart from our cooperation. So let’s put the same question this way: “What would the Father like to accomplish THROUGH YOU before the return of the Lord?”

You know, this may or may not be our last week before Jesus raptures us home…who among us is willing to take that chance and put off God and His desires for this planet? There IS coming a week when IT WILL BE the last! Let’s make sure we’re all candidates for the praise of God: “Well done thou good and faithful servant!”

“But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come” (2 Timothy 3:1).

Webster’s dictionary uses words like these to describe perilous: harmful, risky, dangerous.  But I like the margin rendering in my Bible for perilous: times of stress.  If ever the planet earth and the people on it have experienced ‘times of stress’ it’s right now!  Talking of the last days, Jesus said in Luke 21:25 & 26 that there would be “distress of nations” and “men’s hearts failing them from fear.”  Yet in John’s gospel He said: “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” (16:33).  The Amplified Bible finishes that verse like this: “I have deprived it of power to harm, have conquered it [for you]” Glory to God!  That’s good news!

Notice the qualifier is “in Me you will have peace, (for) I have overcome the world.”  First and foremost you have to be IN CHRIST, which is another way of saying you have to be born again.  These truths aren’t automatic though.  Scripture teaches: “You will keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).  Your mind has got to be fixed on God.  Paul put it this way: “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth” (Colossians 3:2).  How does one do that?  Stay in the Word of God!  Read it, listen to teachings from it, put post-it-notes throughout your house reminding you of it.

Jehovah said it like this to the Israelites: “(My Words) you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes…write them on your doorposts… and on your gates” (Deuteronomy 6:8 & 9).  Earlier in this discourse the Lord said to talk about His Word when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down and to teach them diligently to your children.  That’s all day and all night!  He knew the importance of constantly keeping your mind on Him, His provision and what He’ll do for you and what He expects from you.

He told Joshua to meditate His Word day and night, “For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8b).  Notice He said YOU will make YOUR way prosperous and then YOU will have good success.  Allow me to do a Mike Leach paraphrase: “When you view your life through the eye glasses of the Word of God, you will see just how God would do a thing and be successful at it!”  That sounds just like seeking first the kingdom of God, His way of being and doing right.  That sounds like trusting in the Lord, leaning NOT to your own understanding, but in all of your ways acknowledging Him and He directing your paths! (see Matthew 6:33 and Proverbs 3:5-6)

I named this encouraging word “Last Chapter” because the devil would like you to think that the darkness surrounding you now is it for you, this is your LAST CHAPTER.  There’s no hope for you, you’ll never come out of what you’re going through.

Since God never changes and Jesus (the Word made flesh) is the same yesterday, today and forever and He’s no respecter of persons (which is a fancy way to say if He’s done something for someone else, He’ll do it for you) then let’s ask Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-Nego if they felt any heat from the fire before their deliverance came from the Lord (you know they did).  Or, how about the children of Israel under Isaiah’s ministry when he prophesied: “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned” (43:2).  How about Paul writing to the church at Rome that would go through tremendous persecution and trial: “If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him up for us all, how shall He not with Him also freely give us all things?  Who shall bring a charge against God’s elect? … Who is he who condemns? … Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? … Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors THROUGH HIM who loved us” (Romans 8:31b-35a & 37).

Through Him, by Him, with Him are all ways of acknowledging God’s involvement in our lives.  God making up for where we lack.  Paul said he could do all things through Christ that strengthens him.  John wrote that our faith (in God) was the victory that overcomes the world.  Peter wrote that if we would cast our cares on God, He would exalt us in due time.  “While we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen.  For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Corinthians 4:18).

So if the devil is trying to get you to look at circumstances and convince you that this is your LAST CHAPTER, maybe you should talk back to him and remind him that you have already overcome him by the blood of the Lamb of God and the word of your testimony.  Remind him that he’s in his LAST CHAPTER and soon the Books will be opened!

The word I have to speak today is probably the strongest yet most controversial I’ve ever been impressed to write. That’s OK, I’ve settled it with the Lord to speak what He tells me and not be concerned with the persecution that comes from misunderstanding.  I am convinced God has given me a prophetic voice for this last hour to speak His heart on some things (before you pick up any stones—read on!; I said that for your learning, not that anyone would think anything great of me!  Outside of Jesus, I know I’m NOTHING!!).

Furthermore, I’m fully aware the messages I have are not the ONLY messages the Father has to say, and I’m not the ONLY one speaking His will.  So having prefaced with that, I want to talk about identifying with Christ.

While Jesus walked the earth over 2000 years ago, He was a man.  He never stopped being God, but Philippians 2:7 tells us He “made Himself of no reputation.”  What does that mean?  The margin rendering (another way the Greek could have been translated) says He emptied Himself of His privileges, or the very qualities of God that makes Him God.

The four Gospel accounts portray Jesus in each ‘role’ we would later walk in.  He is the Apostle, He is the Prophet, He is the Evangelist, He is the Pastor and He is the Teacher.  Even further: He is the gift given (one who prophecies in proportion to our faith, who ministers, who teaches, who exhorts, who gives with liberality, who leads with diligence, who shows mercy with cheerfulness [Romans 12]).

Having said that, if you’ve been born again the scripture teaches you’ve been baptized into Christ by the Spirit of God (see 1 Corinthians 12:13); you’re IN HIM!  2 Corinthians 5:20 says: “Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us!”  Did you get that?  The only way God is going to speak to this world is through you and I.  So imagine yourself as an extension of Jesus (being extended from Him—that’s what an ambassador is, an extension of someone else, speaking or conducting business on their behalf), in that sense we all have a prophetic voice.

The only reason I said anything about having a prophetic voice for this hour is to help you understand I have discovered one of the extensions of Jesus into this earth He has made me to be.  You, too, are to be an extension of Jesus this hour—whatever that may be.  Let’s grow up and stop quibbling over titles and such and just allow Jesus to manifest through us in whatever way He has chosen.  Fussing about it isn’t going to change anything anyway; “Except the Lord build the house, they labor in vain who build it!”

Identify with Him, be at peace and filled with joy over what He’s doing through you and the glory of the Lord shall be seen upon you!  Nations shall come to the brightness of your shining as Jesus is lifted up in your life and we shall be caught up together with Him shortly!

(October 3, 2005)

I want to talk today about identifying with Christ Jesus (the anointed One and His anointing). If you’ve called on the name of the Lord to be saved then you’re IN HIM!  Yes, scripture teaches that you’ve become a new creature (a new species of being), and that you’ve been regenerated by the work of the Holy Ghost.  But did you know that the same Holy Ghost caused you to be placed IN HIM?  1 Corinthians 12 says: “For by one Spirit we were all baptized (submerged) INTO one body” v.13.  Colossians One puts it this way: “He has delivered us from the power of darkness and translated (transferred; margin) us into the kingdom of the Son of His love” v. 13.  OK, so in Mike Leach terms: God took us out from the kingdom and control of darkness and placed us in His kingdom when we were born-again.

The position we have in His kingdom is IN HIM (Jesus).  We’re seated together with (in) Him, yet while still on this earth we’re His ambassadors.  An ambassador is one who represents another; in this case we represent heaven where our citizenship is from.  The problem is: we’ve identified more with our religion than with Him.  I’ve stopped saying that I’m a Christian (half of America thinks they are!), I now say I’m a man of God!

So how does one truly identify with Christ?  Jesus said: “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes…IN ME the works that I do he shall do also” (John 14:12a).  Did you get that?  First: you have to believe (I’m writing these “words” to help us all believe).  Next: it’s IN HIM (Jesus) that we do the works that He’s doing—cooperating with Him and what He’s doing and wanting to do THROUGH US!

Now let’s look at what could be a controversial scripture.  In John chapter nine the disciples ask Jesus a question of whose sins caused a man to be born blind.  [First let me mention that scripture was NOT written with punctuation’s, the translators added them for the purpose of clarifying what’s being said.  So, I’m not bordering blasphemy by arranging them to better clarify what the Spirit of God is saying.]

John 9:3-4a: “Jesus answered, ‘Neither this man nor his parents sinned (which caused this blindness).  But that the works of God should be revealed in him, I must work the works of Him who sent Me while it is day’” (parenthesis mine).  Do you see it?  So if we’re going to work the works of Him who sends us… “Today, if you will hear His voice, harden not your heart.”  Do you realize you could very well be the only “Jesus” your co-worker, loved one or neighbor might ever come in contact with? Let’s identify with Him!  Let’s work His works!  “When you’re involved in doing God’s work, He’ll see to it yours is done” (the Holy Ghost just said that in me).  I love you all!

Side note: some of these writings are dated to emphasize just how pertinent the Holy Spirit is, regardless of lapse of time. 

September 26th, 2005

Beloved: I want to share a revelation with you on just how big God is. Ephesians 3:20 from the Amplified Bible says: “Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think—infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes or dreams.”

Let that soak in for a minute.  The New King James Version says: “…who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think…”  Exceedingly abundantly above all that we could ever ask or think!

Now for the revelation…the Lord showed me that once He’s done something for us (or revealed something to us), we can now imagine it, ask for it or think about it.  This scripture tells us that He can do above and beyond what we can ask or think!  Once we can think of something—He can DO above and beyond it!!  Do you see it?  There’s no end to just how big our God is!!

Earlier in this same letter Paul wrote: “that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace.” (2:7a)  Grace is God’s power (and willingness to use it on our behalf) to accomplish His will in this natural world in which we live.  It will take eternity to even begin to understand the love that He has for us!

How big is God?  Bigger than you and I can imagine!

I included the date I received this revelation to show the witness of the Spirit, for He showed me this months before I heard Brother Copeland preach it (not that I’m comparing myself with him — PLEASE!!).