Showing posts with label A.W. Tozer. Show all posts
Showing posts with label A.W. Tozer. Show all posts

Monday, February 15, 2016

How to Regard Trials as Pure Joy - R.T. KENDALL CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Here's how you can turn your trials into pure joy.

How to Regard Trials as Pure Joy

Here's how you can turn your trials into pure joy. (Lightstock )
How are we to regard trials as pure joy? Only by sufficient motivation.
In Moses' case it was because of the reward he believed would be his later (See Hebrews 11:24-26). It was even what motivated Jesus. Imagine that! It was the joy that lay ahead that kept Him going (Hebrews 12:2). He was not enjoying the cross, not for a second. But it was because of the great joy that was going to His that He was able to endure the cross. He considered it pure joy because pure joy was coming. And it came!
James tells us, therefore, that trials are a good thing—if we have a positive attitude toward them when they come. He certainly doesn't say we will enjoy them. Instead, we endure them. But we regard the thought of them as pure joy because of what these trials can do for us. They are, says Peter, more precious than gold (1 Pet. 1:7).
The greater the suffering, the greater the anointing. If it is anointing you want, then expect suffering. If it is a great anointing you want, anticipate great suffering at some stage. The anointing is the power of the Holy Spirit to make us do what we do with ease and without fatigue.
The main reason for burnout and fatigue is almost certainly because someone has gone beyond his anointing; he went outside it rather than functioning within it. It was because he could not accept the limits of his ability. None of us can do everything, but to the person who is not content with the anointing or gift that he or she has, there will be trouble ahead.
It is humbling to accept our limits, but there is considerable joy and peace in doing so, not to mention an increase of anointing. We can pray for a greater anointing—namely, an ability to do what we previously could not do in our own strength—but until that anointing has come, we must accept the limits of our faith and ability.
I myself would prefer a greater anointing than anything. It is literally what I want most in the entire world. In a word: more of God. This way, I can achieve all He wants of me. He never promotes us to the level of our incompetence. As long as we are content with the calling He has chosen for us, we will live and move at the level He has seen fit to give us.
This is partly what is meant when the psalmist said, "He chose our inheritance for us" (Ps. 47:4). It can be a testing in itself when we come to terms with His determination of what talent He has decided to give us. We may envy another's anointing. It is the way Peter felt when told how he would die, and all he could apparently think of is how John would die. Jesus replied, in so many words, "That's none of your business—just follow Me and quit looking over your shoulder." (See John 21:18-23).
A.W. Tozer used to say that we could have as much of God as we want. When I first came across this comment, I disagreed. But now I know what he meant. We do not prove how much we want of God merely by the intense desire at the moment. We prove it by how we react to circumstances in life, and the opportunities given to us to do such things dignify the trials He hands us on our silver platter.
When we are content with the anointing God chose for us, we do what we are called to do without fatigue. "I can do everything through him who gives me strength" (Phil. 4:13). When I become mentally and emotionally fatigued in what I am doing, it is a fairly strong hint that I have chosen to move outside my anointing and what God specifically asked me to do. As long as I do what He called me to do and no more, I will not be edging toward burnout.
And yet I would like to have more anointing than I have! This is a legitimate desire because Paul told us to desire earnestly the greater gifts (1 Cor. 12:31). God will answer this request so long as it is sought with His glory in mind; He will answer the request if it is His will (1 John 5:14), God will consequently supply the need for this by granting the necessary anointing required for what I am called to do.
If, then, it is a greater anointing I truly want, and I wake up with one big enormous trial before me, I should grasp it with both hands! I must consider this pure joy! This is because the trial is a fairly strong hint from the Lord Jesus that I am going to receive the anointing for which I long. He knows what I want more than anything, so if He sends a trial or testing my way, then I have every reason to believe that the anointing I long for is coming—if I dignify the trial at hand.
James sees a time ahead for the person who dignifies the trial that will bring indescribable peace, the highest level of anointing, the soul uncluttered by greed, and a heart filled with the very presence of God. It is pure joy.
In other words, if you consider a trial to be pure joy, it will lead you to pure joy. Count it pure joy, call it pure joy, regard the trial as pure joy, and one day you will experience pure joy for yourself. I promise it!
Pure-joyAdapted from Pure Joy by R. T. Kendall, copyright 2015, published by Charisma House. The Christian faith promises inexpressible and glorious joy. This book will show you the difference between trials and temptations and how trials can lead you to joy. It will help you experience the four levels of joy and see how you can receive God's gift of gladness in every trial. To order your copy click here.
Prayer Power for the Week of February 14, 2016
Although you can't avoid trials in this life, determine this week to ask the Lord to help you "dignify the trial" when it comes and count it as "pure joy." Bring your thoughts and feelings into agreement with the Word of God and cry out for His grace (enabling power) to help you to do all things, even give thanks in the midst of your most challenging circumstances. Ask the Lord to show you ways in which you can meet needs, share love and be a blessing to others who are hurting and suffering loss. Continue to pray for the nation and worldwide revival (1 Thess. 5:18).
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Sunday, October 4, 2015

"Practicing His Presence – In Our Daily Experiences" Rick Joyner, Fort Mill, SC


The Elijah List Oct. 4, 2015
Brother Lawrence
Brother Lawrence was born Nicolas Herman in 1614 in the region of Lorraine in France. As a young man his poverty compelled him to join the army and fight in the Thirty Years' War. One day while beholding a barren tree in winter, he had a remarkable conversion experience. Like the tree, he felt dead but held on to the hope that God had a life for him. As he pondered this, the knowledge of God's faithfulness and love flooded his soul. He said that this experience gave him a supernatural clarity into natural, common sight.

After being injured while in the military, he took a job as a valet. He later joined the Discalced Carmelite Priory in Paris, taking the religious name, "Lawrence of the Resurrection." Not having the education necessary to become a cleric, he spent most of his life within the walls of the priory doing the most common labor, working in the kitchen or repairing sandals.

In the religious circles of the time, a belief prevailed that one had to suffer and work through formulas to please God and find His grace. This is what originally compelled Lawrence to join the priory. He felt he must suffer for his failures.However, over time his "supernatural clarity" led him to simply worship the Lord in all that he did, even in the most mundane tasks. This led to one of the most remarkable lives of the peace and joy that we are promised in His Kingdom.

By Lawrence's own admission, it took years of difficult and tedious devotion for him to experience the Lord's presence continually. Even so, his perseverance paid off. He gradually began to experience His presence and see the Lord's glory in all of his labors and daily experiences. He was subjected to great drudgery because of his low position, but it was said that he became happier than a king. In this way he ennobled all labor, treating it as sacred when done as unto the Lord. (Photo via Wikipedia)
Brother Lawrence became so well known for his profound peace and joy that people from all stations in life started coming to him to seek spiritual guidance.The wisdom he communicated through these conversations and in letters became the basis for the book, The Practice of the Presence of God. Father Joseph de Beaufort compiled this work after Brother Lawrence died in 1691. It became popular among Catholics and Protestants alike, impacting such great lights as John Wesley and A.W. Tozer.
ElijahList Prophetic Resources
Some of Brother Lawrence's Wisdom
"The time of business does not differ with me from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquility as if I were upon my knees before the Blessed Sacrament."
"The Church's only road to the perfection of Christ is faith."
"Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. Still more is possible for the person who has love. Nothing is impossible for the person who has all three." (Photo via Pixabay)
"We need to learn to be faithful in dry times. It is during those dry spells that God tests our love for Him. We should take advantage of those times to practice our determination and our surrender to Him."
"Our sanctification does not depend as much on changing our activities as it does doing them for God rather than for ourselves."
"The Lord is not so impressed with the dimensions of our work as much as He is with the love with which it is done."
"To be sure that we are doing God's will we must develop faith, hope and love."
Brother Lawrence insisted that constantly being aware of God's presence is necessary to form the habit of continually talking with Him. He asked for help every time he needed it, and it was his experience that God never failed to provide aid. The foundation of Brother Lawrence's spiritual life was the faith that revealed to him the exalted position of Christ.
Rick Joyner
MorningStar Ministries

Email: info@morningstarministries.org
Website: morningstarministries.org
Rick Joyner is the founder and executive director of MorningStar Ministries and Heritage International Ministries and is the Senior Pastor of MorningStar Fellowship Church. He is the author of more than forty books, including The Final QuestA Prophetic History, and Church History. He is also the president of The OAK Initiative, an interdenominational movement that is mobilizing thousands of Christians to be engaged in the great issues of our times, being the salt and light that they are called to be. Rick and his wife, Julie, have five children: Anna, Aaryn, Amber, Ben, and Sam.
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Friday, October 25, 2013

A.W. Tozer: He Being Dead Yet Speaketh

An Open Letter to John MacArthur From A.W. Tozer: He Being Dead Yet Speaketh


A.W. TOZER, charismanews
A.W. Tozer
That every Christian can be and should be filled with the Holy Spirit would hardly seem to be a matter for debate among Christians. ... I want here boldly to assert that it is my happy belief that every Christian can have a copious outpouring of the Holy Spirit in a measure far beyond that received at conversion, and I might also say, far beyond that enjoyed by the rank and file of orthodox believers today.


















It is important that we get this straight, for until doubts are removed, faith is impossible. God will not surprise a doubting heart with an effusion of theHoly Spirit, nor will He fill anyone who has doctrinal questions about the possibility of being filled.
In light of this, it will be seen how empty and meaningless is the average church service today. All the means are in evidence; the one ominous weakness is the absence of the Spirit’s power. ... The power from on high is neither known nor desired by pastor or people. This is nothing less than tragic, and all the more so because it falls within the field of religion, where the eternal destinies of men are involved.
Fundamentalism has stood aloof from the liberal in self-conscious superiority and has on its own part fallen into error, the error of textualism, which is simply orthodoxy without the Holy Ghost. Everywhere among conservatives we find persons who are Bible-taught but not Spirit-taught. They conceive truth to be something which they can grasp with the mind.
If a man holds to the fundamentals of the Christian faith, he is thought to possess divine truth. But it does not follow. There is no truth apart from the Spirit. The most brilliant intellect may be imbecilic when confronted with the mysteries of God. For a man to understand revealed truth requires an act of God equal to the original act which inspired the text. ... "Now we have received, not the Spirit of the world, but the Spirit which is of God; that we might know the things which are freely given us of God.”
For the textualism of our times is based upon the same premise as the old line rationalism, that is, the belief that the human mind is the supreme authority in the judgment of truth. Or otherwise stated, it is confidence in the ability of the human mind to do that which the Bible declares it was never created to do and consequently is wholly incapable of doing.Philosophical rationalism is honest enough to reject the Bible flatly. Theological rationalism rejects it while pretending to accept it and in so doing puts out its own eyes.
Few there are who without restraint will open their whole heart to the blessed Comforter. He has been and is so widely misunderstood that the very mention of His name in some circles is enough to frighten many people into resistance.

A.W. Tozer
It is no use to deny that Christ was crucified by persons who would today be called fundamentalists. This should prove to be disquieting if not downright distressing to us who pride ourselves on our orthodoxy. An unblessed soul filled with the letter of truth may actually be worse off than a pagan kneeling before a fetish. We are saved only when our intellects are indwelt by the loving fire that came atPentecost. For the Holy Spirit is not a luxury, not something added now and again to produce a deluxe type of Christian once in a generation. No. He is for every child of God a vital necessity, and that He fill and indwell His people is more than a languid hope. It is rather an inescapable imperative.
Now the Bible teaches that there is something in God which is like emotion. ... God has said certain things about Himself, and these furnish all the grounds we require. “The Lord thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; he will save, he will rejoice over thee with joy; he will rest in his love, he will joy over thee with singing” (Zeph. 3:17). This is but one verse among thousands which serve to form our rational picture of what God is like, and tell us plainly that God feels something like our love, like our joy, and what He feels makes Him act very much as we would in a similar situation; He rejoices over His loved ones with joy and singing.
Here is emotion on as high a plain as it can ever be seen, emotion flowing out of the heart of God Himself. Feeling, then, is not the degenerate son of unbelief that is often painted by some of our Bible teachers. Our ability to feel is one of the marks of our divine origin. We need not be ashamed of either tears or laughter. The Christian stoic who has crushed his feelings is only two-thirds of a man; an important third part has been repudiated. Holy feeling had an important place in the life of our Lord. “For the joy that was set before Him” He endured the cross and despised its shame. He pictured Himself crying, “Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost.”
The work of the Holy Spirit is, among other things, to rescue the redeemed man’s emotions, to restring his harp and open again the wells of sacred joy which have been stopped up by sin.
Aiden Wilson Tozer (April 21, 1897–May 12, 1963) was an American Christian pastor, preacher, author, magazine editor and spiritual mentor. This article is an excerpt from The Divine Conquest.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Paul Keith Davis: The Anointing of Jealousy - A New Mature and Extraordinarily Fruitful Priesthood is Emerging in These Last Days

Paul Keith Davis:
The Anointing of Jealousy - A New Mature and Extraordinarily Fruitful Priesthood is Emerging in These Last Days Oct. 4, 2013
Steve ShultzFrom the desk of Steve Shultz:

This is a most excellent and NOW Word for the Body of Christ. Paul Keith Davis truly lives in the revelatory realm of Heaven.

I'll keep this intro short as Paul Keith shares an intro himself below. Be greatly encouraged that God uses everything we've walked through for our good... AND be highly expectant for what He is calling YOU to be in a world that desperately needs HIM in this hour:

"Though many aspects of the past season may have been unpleasant and difficult, they were nevertheless necessary to prepare us to function as both Kings and Priests."

Blessings, Steve
***
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Paul Keith Davis:
The Anointing of Jealousy - A New Mature 
and Extraordinarily Fruitful Priesthood 
is Emerging in These Last Days

Greetings friends,

I trust this E-Letter finds you blessed and prospering in the Kingdom.
As most are aware, I have been in a season of sabbatical over the last few months and have only taken a few meetings this entire year. It has been a good season to obtain strategy and a fresh outlook for new beginnings.

I know one of the main points of emphasis from the Spirit is for us to obtain and follow His will. The Lord did only what He saw the Father doing. It was "His meat" to do the will of the Father. That is going to characterize this next season.

Paul's apostolic commissioning will also have great relevance. He was appointed:

1. To know His will.
2. To see the Righteous One.
3. To hear utterances from His lips.
4. To testify or be a witness of what is seen and heard.
Lord, may that be our commissioning for this season as well.

Richest blessings of favor and grace,

Paul Keith & Wanda and the WhiteDove family
Preparation for Kings and Priests


The pain of the past is our preparation for the future. That is the expression I heard from the Lord in a visionary encounter a few years ago. Like Joseph, we must reconcile ourselves with the past in order to make our future more fruitful.

Though many aspects of the past season may have been unpleasant and difficult, they were nevertheless necessary to prepare us to function as both Kings and Priests. 

The agony of captivity clearly equipped Joseph for the ascension to the throne of Egypt, second only to Pharaoh. Joseph demonstrated this truth in the naming of his sons.

Genesis 41:51-52 Joseph named the firstborn Manasseh, "For," he said "God has made me forget all my trouble and all my father's household. He named the second Ephraim, "For," he said "God has made me fruitful in the land of my affliction."

A new mature and extraordinarily fruitful priesthood is emerging in these Last Days in the order of Melchizedek. In order to posture ourselves for this we must reconcile in our hearts and minds the past season, no matter how difficult or trying, in order to be ready for what is coming.

As the Scripture teaches, the Melchizedek priesthood consolidates the two offices of King and Priest. This Presence driven ministry will take us from Church Age into Kingdom Age, removing the leaven of human reasoning and tradition.

The Church Age was a season of earnest or down payment but the Melchizedek priesthood is the promise for fullness. This grace is assured to God's people to usher in the great harvest and the Lord's coming. Part of that anointing is "godly jealousy" producing and unwavering devotion to God and His Word.
In the Order of Melchizedek

The concept of the Melchizedek priesthood is simply God as the Living Word fully occupying His people, the Body of Christ (John 1). Revelation 5:9 identifies a company of people who sing a "new song." In it they declare that the Lord is the only One worthy to take the sealed book and open it for His people.
Those described in Revelation 5:9 are an overcoming bridal company positionally placed to function as both Kings and Priests. As I began to ask the Lord about the qualities these will possess one of the key attributes that has been highlighted to me is being jealous for Him.

A Loyal Priesthood like Phinehas

AW TozerAs A. W. Tozer once wrote, "within the fold of Christianity there are to be found increasing numbers of persons whose religious lives are marked by a growing hunger after God Himself. They are eager for spiritual realities and will not be put off with words, nor will they be content with correct 'interpretations' of truth. They are athirst for God, and they will not be satisfied till they have drunk deep at the Fountain of Living Water."

There is emerging today those that Tozer prophesied about who are desperate for God with a holy jealousy. This reality is typified in the Old Testament figure of Phinehas. This loyal priest received a divinely issued covenant of peace because of his jealousy towards the Lord and his commitment to the Word. (Photo: A.W. Tozer)

Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, "Phinehas the son of Eleazar, the son of Aaron the priest, has turned away My wrath from the sons of Israel in that he was jealous with My jealousy among them, so that I did not destroy the sons of Israel in My jealousy.

"Therefore say, 'Behold, I give him My covenant of peace; and it shall be for him and his descendants after him, a covenant of a perpetual priesthood, because he was jealous for his God and made atonement for the sons of Israel.'" Numbers 25:10-13

The Bible teaches that God's dealings with Israel are given as an example. The lives of the patriarchs and faithful men and women of old are adopted for our instruction in the ways of God and the different aspects of His Person and anointing. We see this truth especially exemplified in the life of Elijah and the anointing resident in his life that will also characterize a company of people in this generation.

Likewise, many will begin to emerge in this hour with the "anointing of Phinehas" and enjoy personal covenants with the Lord. These will be priests providing to God's people inspired revelation of the Word by calling upon Him that He might show us great and mighty things which we know not.

They will bear a heavenly "jealousy" and integrity by rightly dividing the Word of Truth without mixture or compromise. This anointing will produce in many a healthy ardor and "Zeal of God" for the Spirit of Truth; Furthermore, they will not shun to declare the whole counsel of God nor tremble at the fear of man (Acts 20:27).

Mouth of Brass

The name Phinehas means "mouth of brass." This is a depiction of those who will begin to "judge and discern the thoughts and intents of the heart" and help others identify the entanglements that so easily distract them (Hebrews 4:12). 

When the Living Word is present, all things are open and laid bare before the eyes of Him with whom we have to do. Nothing is hidden. This is not something to fear but embrace to facilitate maturity and purity of soul to access Heaven.

The Bible depicts the revelation gifts unveiling the secrets of the heart so those who observe it will fall on their face and say, "surely God is in this place" (1 Corinthians 14:24-25). This manner of revelation is not rooted in suspicion, but genuine insight from the Lord and disclosure of divine secrets ministered in charity and faithfulness.

This work of the "Phinehas anointing" will usher the Fear of the Lord back into the Church and pave the way for divinely granted repentance leading to the knowledge of the Truth. This will produce a more righteous Body with whom the Lord will become intimate and share His mysteries and power.
Love does no wrong to a neighbor; love therefore is the fulfillment of the law. And this do, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed. Romans 13:10-11

The Anointing Released

There have been two specific occasions in which I have witnessed this anointing being imparted to leaders. The first occasion took place several years ago during a MorningStar conference. On this unique morning, Bob Jones was taken into the realm of the Spirit.

In the experience an angel approached who had been sent from Heaven with a unique commission for a specific individual. He disclosed that he had been released with the "anointing of Phinehas" to be imparted to one of our close friends, Bobby Conner. Bobby later confirmed that an angel visited him that morning and imparted to him "the spear of Phinehas." Clearly, possessing jealousy for God is evident in the life of Bobby.

On a separate occasion, Wanda and I were involved in a conference in Louisiana and were instructed by the Lord to release the "anointing of Phinehas" on a specific leader chosen by the Lord for this region. Since that time, this brother has told us that he is specifically aware of this anointing when it comes upon him.

In his ministry, this anointing assists in releasing a quest for purity and righteousness among those being groomed for a significant release of anointing and authority.

Eleazar—A Faithful Example

In giving true expressions with a heart of jealousy towards God, we will then begin to ardently obey the doctrines of Christ. According to John 14:23:
Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our abode with him."

All those willing to make this commitment will begin to be adorned in fresh garments and endowed with the Spirit's gifts and anointing. These will then be delegated a commission like the one given to Eleazar.
Eleazar, the faithful servant of Abraham, was sanctioned with the great responsibility of obtaining a bride for Isaac. He was given notable gifts, jewelry, clothing and oil to take to the one set apart to be the chosen bride of the promised son. In like manner, the Holy Spirit desires to impart to us the gifts, anointing and the Spirit's manifest Presence to prepare a bride for the Royal Seed of Abraham, the Lord Jesus.

In order to flow in this great responsibility, we must also possess the faithfulness that characterized Eleazar. Great was his devotion and loyalty in the presentation of the gifts. He made certain that Rebekah fully recognized they were not from him but from the one by whom he was sent.

Speak the Truth in Love

Whenever we speak the Word of truth in love, it will have significant effect and will not return void. The present work of the Holy Spirit is to cleanse and nurture a Body of people to faithfully represent the Living Christ to this generation.

Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols. Moreover, I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances. Ezekiel 36:25-27

We are being delegated with a new heart fully devoted to God with jealousy. That will enable us to speak the truth in love allowing our words to be galvanized with charity. As the Scriptures point out, love never fails.

Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
WhiteDove Ministries

Paul Keith Davis has written numerous articles appearing in various Christian publications, including the MorningStar Journal, Charisma and Church Growth International. He has also written four books including "Thrones of Our Soul," "Engaging The Revelatory Realm of Heaven," and "Books of Destiny," all dealing with prophetic mandates placed upon the end-time generation. His newest book, "Angels That Gather," provides a Biblical outline for the harvest and insight to help access our end of the age inheritance. Paul Keith and Wanda reside in Orange Beach, Alabama. Together they have five children.
Paul Keith Davis' Itinerary:
Note: Events are subject to change at the ministry's discretion. We suggest you always check first with the event contact listed here and/or directly visit their website for latest updates on each event.

October 8, 2013 (7pm CT)
School of the Spirit - with guest James Levesque
Baldwin County Coliseum
19477 Fairground Road, Robertsdale, AL 36567
Contact: inquiries@whitedoveministries.org

October 24-26, 2013
People of the Presence
with Barbara Yoder, Randy Clark, Chuck Pierce, Paul Keith Davis and more
Sheraton Airport Hotel
8000 Merriman Rd, Romulus, MI 48174
Contact: 734-662-6040

November 5, 2013 (7pm CT)
School of the Spirit - with guest Kent Mattox
Baldwin County Coliseum
19477 Fairground Road, Robertsdale, AL 36567
Contact: inquiries@whitedoveministries.org