How to Have Prophetic Integrity in an Age of Fake Encounters - JOHN E. THOMAS CHARISMA NEWS

I spent years thinking I couldn't hear from God very well because I rarely heard Him say specific words—I would just know things or feel them. (Pixabay/FotosFuerBlogger)

How to Have Prophetic Integrity in an Age of Fake Encounters

 9/30/2017 JOHN E. THOMAS  CHARISMA NEWS

When I first began walking with the Lord, I didn't understand how He speaks. I would listen to people talk about their experiences with Him—how He came to them and answered their questions while they were praying. Right away I began to build up this picture in my head of God physically walking into the room and starting an audible conversation.

Their stories inspired my prayer life—but not necessarily in a healthy way. I started asking God, "Why don't You love me like You love them? Why don't You come and visit me? I want to sit down and have a conversation with You! Is there something wrong with me that I can't hear You like they do?"

It wasn't until later that I realized what was happening. The stories I was hearing weren't the exact truth.

What Really Happened?

I know they didn't intend to mislead the rest of us. Maybe they wanted to look spiritual. Perhaps they desired to inspire trust in God's willingness to speak, or they wanted to help people believe what they were saying. The problem was, God didn't walk into the room in physical form and have an audible conversation with them. They simply meant they'd felt His presence. While they were praying, they sensed answers to their questions, and because of their history with the Lord, they recognized God was speaking to them. But that was not what they communicated.

The Danger of Exaggerating a Spiritual Experience

There are times when God really does walk into people's rooms and speak to them face to face. These encounters are life changing and precious, but when we exaggerate our everyday experiences with God, people will have trouble knowing what is real. An exaggerated spiritual experience has a similar effect as crying wolf.

I spent years thinking I couldn't hear from God very well because I rarely heard Him say specific words—I would just know things or feel them. Sometimes I would get a sense of a picture in my mind, but seldom would I see anything in the physical realm. Feeling like a failure spiritually didn't help my already painful issue with rejection that needed to be healed.

What the Prophetic Really Needs

In both Hebrew and Greek, the root of the word "integrity" basically means that something is the same on the inside as it is on the outside, that it really is what it appears to be. When we have integrity, what we believe and value is the same as what we do and say. We are trustworthy; people know the persona we present to them is who we are when we're alone.

When it comes to the prophetic, the principle of integrity is essential. We need to be honest about our spiritual experiences. If we feel we have to "blow up" our experiences to get people to believe we had them, we need to take a step back and examine our hearts.

Imagination vs. Revelation

I was in a meeting once where someone was teaching about hearing from God and having encounters with Him. The person explained how the imagination is important in hearing from Him, and if you just imagine you're in Heaven or face to face with God, you can tell everyone it really happened. If you imagine seeing an angel, you really did. The teacher used Romans 12:6 as justification for this concept: "Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith." Their point was that prophesying requires faith.

It is true that faith is vital, but what the teacher described was not faith—it was actually lying. According to The Oxford Dictionary, one definition of lying is to "present a false impression." I have a conviction I cannot shake—I don't believe the Spirit of truth requires deception for someone to be "in faith." It would be contrary to the Spirit's nature to bear witness to spin, exaggeration or falsehood.

Another time we can discuss the role imagination plays in revelation, but one thing is sure: Imagination and revelation are not the same thing! Yes, God will speak to us through our imaginations, but integrity requires that we are honest about what we did and did not experience. When it comes to telling others what we've heard from God, all we have to do is explain how we received the revelation and trust His Spirit of Truth to witness to the experience's validity in people's hearts.

If we think God might have spoken to us in our thoughts, we could say, "I had this thought I believe may be from God." If we saw a picture, we could say something like, "I just saw this in my mind's eye." If an angel stands in front of us in the physical realm, we can say boldly, "An angel came to me." We need to communicate what really happened and let God determine whether people believe it. If we have to convince them the experience was real, we're relying on our powers of persuasion and it won't last.

Integrity in the prophetic requires a high level of honesty. It is not faith to pretend something was more than what it was or to make one thing look like another. Our "yes" should be "yes" and our "no" should be "no" (Matt. 5:37).

We Don't Have to Prove the Revelation

The funny thing is, when we are simply honest with the revelation God gives us, people will believe our words. We don't even have to tell them something was from God—we just put it out there, and they will tell us it was from God. When we speak honestly, the Spirit of truth bears witness to what we say and people respond. We no longer need to persuade people to believe we hear from God, because He does it for us.

We Can Expect People to Take Action

When people believe us, they are much more likely to act on what we say. The probability of a life being changed is greater—because the change doesn't come from what we're saying but from the activity of the Holy Spirit.

We're Role Models

Integrity in the prophetic has another benefit: People learn to hear from God! People who may not be as "studied" in their ability to hear from Him are watching us. Thoughts go through their heads and they aren't sure if they're from God, or they see things and hear things and want to know how to respond.

When we talk about our victories and failures, hope begins to grow in their hearts that they, too, can hear from God. When they find out that our sense of God's answer during prayer changed the direction of our lives and we are now convinced God spoke to us, faith washes through them. They become willing to take a risk with the little thing they're sensing and trust it could be from God, too.

Integrity Leads to Breakthrough

Right now, many people are disillusioned by prophetic words that don't seem to have substance or that are partially correct to not accurate at all. They don't want inflated stories of encounters that do more to puff up the ministry of the person speaking than they do to build up the body of Christ. But we don't need to point a finger at these people. We just need to be the change ourselves.

Let's do our part to practice integrity in the prophetic. Then when God really does walk into the room, people will believe us when we talk about it! 

John E. Thomas is the president of Streams Ministries and the co-author of The Art of Praying the Scriptures: A Fresh Look at Lectio Divina with John Paul Jackson. Teaching on prophetic ministry, dream interpretation and the kingdom of God, he travels internationally and works to help restore the awe of God to a world that has lost its wonder. John and his wife, Dawna, live outside of Dallas, Texas.

To learn more about how God is purifying the prophetic, check out Prophetic Reformation—Maturing Prophetic Communities as well as other resources from John E. Thomas and John Paul Jackson at streamsministries.com.

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Joel C. Rosenberg - The ghastly attacks of 9/11 were not a failure of intelligence but of imagination. (Some personal reflections on that fateful day.)

New post on Joel C. Rosenberg's Blog

The ghastly attacks of 9/11 were not a failure of intelligence but of imagination. (Some personal reflections on that fateful day.) by joelcrosenberg "The most important failure was one of imagination. We do not believe leaders understood the gravity of the threat." -- The 9/11 Commission Report, Executive Summary, page 9. (Jerusalem, Israel) -- Few will ever forget what they were doing on September 11th, 2001, when they first heard the news that the United States was under attack by radical Islamic jihadists using jet planes on kamikaze missions. I certainly never will. On that beautiful, sunny, crystal clear Tuesday morning, I was putting the finishing touches on my first novel, a political thriller called The Last Jihad. It opens with radical Islamic terrorists hijacking a jet plane and flying an attack mission into an American city. What’s more, I was writing the book in a townhouse barely fifteen minutes away from Washington Dulles Airport, where at that very moment American Airlines Flight 77 was being seized and flown right over our home towards the Pentagon. At the time, I had no idea anything unusual was underway. I had begun writing Jihad in January 2001. A literary agent in Manhattan had read the first three chapters that spring. He was convinced that he could get it published, and urged me to finish it as quickly as possible. I took the advice seriously, working feverishly to get the book done before my savings account ran dry. As had become my morning ritual, I had breakfast with my wife, Lynn, and our kids, threw on jeans and a t-shirt, and settled down to work on one of the novel’s last chapters. I didn’t have radio or television on. I was simply typing away on my laptop when, about an hour later, Lynn burst into the house and said, “You will not believe what’s going on.” She quickly explained that after dropping off two of our kids at school she had turned on the radio and heard that the World Trade Center had been hit by two planes. We immediately turned the television on and saw the horror begin to unfold for ourselves. We saw the smoke pouring out of the North Tower. We saw the constant replays of United Airlines Flight 175 plowing into the South Tower, and erupting into massive ball of fire. And then, before we could fully process it all, we saw the World Trade Center towers begin to collapse. Wherever I speak around the world, people ask me what my first reaction was, but I don’t recall thinking that my novel was coming true. I simply remember the feeling of shock. I remember calling friends at the White House and on Capitol Hill, and my agent, Scott Miller, in New York, hoping for word that they were safe but unable to get through, with so many phone lines jammed. I remember Lynn and I getting our boys back from school and the friends who came over to spend the day with us. We tracked events on television, emailed other family and friends around the country and around the world with updates from Washington, and prayed for those directly affected by the crisis, and for our President to have the wisdom to know what to do next. Were more attacks coming? Would there be a 9/12, a 9/13, a 9/14? Would there be a series of terrorist attacks, one after another, as Israel had experienced for so many years? It was not until some time in late November or early December when events began to settle down enough for my thoughts to turn back to The Last Jihad. What was I supposed to do with it? No one wanted to read a novel that opened with a kamikaze attack against an American city. It was no longer entertainment. It was too raw, too real. So I stuck it in a drawer and tried to forget about it. But then something curious happened. Lynn and I were watching the State of the Union address in January of 2002 when President Bush delivered his now-famous “axis of evil” line, warning all Americans that the next war we might have to face could be with Saddam Hussein over terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Lynn and I just looked at each other. It was one thing to write a novel that opened with a kamikaze attack against America by radical Islamic terrorists. It was another thing to write a novel in which such an event triggers a global War on Terror and then leads the President of the United States and his senior advisors into a showdown with Saddam Hussein over terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. But that’s exactly what happens in the novel. Scott Miller called me the next day. “Do you work for the CIA?” he asked. “No, of course not,” I assured him. “Sure, sure,” he replied. “That’s what you’d have to say if you did work for the CIA and just couldn’t tell me.” Scott believed that the dynamic had just changed dramatically and that publishers would now be very interested in The Last Jihad. The country had largely recovered from the initial shock of the 9/11 attacks. We were now on offense against the Taliban in Afghanistan. People were reading everything they could get their hands on regarding the threat of radical Islam. And there were simply no other novels in print or on the horizon that could take readers inside the Oval Office and White House Situation Room as an American President and his war council wrestled over the morality of launching a preemptive war against the regime of Saddam Hussein. As such, he wanted to move quickly. Jihad needed a few tweaks – acknowledging, for example, that 9/11 had happened and thus setting my fictional story a few years into the future – but other than that it was essentially ready to go. A publisher quickly agreed to take a risk on this unknown author and give the book a chance to find an audience. The Last Jihad was rushed through the publishing process and released on November 23, 2002, just as the international debate over Iraq, terrorism and WMD reached a fevered pitch. The novel caught fire immediately. Jihad sold out in many stores in less than twenty-four hours and prompted nine re-printings before Christmas. In less than sixty days, I was interviewed on more than one hundred and sixty radio and TV talk shows. The questions were as much about the novel itself as about the story behind the novel. How could I possibly have written a book that seemed to foreshadow coming events so closely? Was it a fluke? Did I get lucky? Or was there something else going on? More importantly, what did I think was coming next? As you will see if you read the novel, there are a number of significant differences between my fictional scenario and what really happened. But people kept asking me about the striking parallels to real life. During such interviews, I tried to focus people on the bigger picture, summing up the theme of the novel with this line: “To misunderstand the nature and threat of evil is to risk being blindsided by it.” The truth is, America was blindsided on 9/11 by an evil few saw coming. What’s more, those attacks were just the beginning of a long war against the forces of radical Islam, and more recently against the forces of apocalyptic Islam. The most important issue we face in the post-9/11 world is whether we have learned anything as a result of that terrible Tuesday. Do we truly understand that the forces of evil are preparing to strike us again when we least expect it? Can we truly imagine what our enemies are capable of? Are we willing to take any actions necessary to defend Western civilization from extinction? Or are we going to elevate peace over victory, retreat from the world, and simply hope for the best? It has now been sixteen years since that horrifying Tuesday, and almost fifteen years since The Last Jihad was first published. I have written eleven more novels, most of them about worst case scenarios that could occur in the U.S. and the Middle East if Western leaders are blindsided by evil they don’t truly understand. Together, these books have sold millions of copies and have spent months on the national best-seller lists. Such broad interest is, I believe, an indication of the anxious times in which we live. While we no longer face Saddam Hussein, now we face an apocalyptic Iranian regime, a genocidal ISIS caliphate, North Korea testing hydrogen bombs and ICBMs, and Vladimir Putin -- a nuclear-armed tyrant -- invading neighbors, arming our worst enemies, and jailing and "disappearing" journalists and human rights activists. All of this raises troubling new questions: What is coming next? How bad will it be? Where will I be when it happens? And am I ready to meet my Maker if, God forbid, I’m in the wrong place at the wrong time when evil strikes again? How would you answer such questions? They are as relevant today as they ever were. -------------------- I’ll be speaking in Denver on Sept. 30 on the latest threats from Radical Islam, Russia & North Korea. Please register today. I’ll be speaking at the 2017 Epicenter Conference this October 6 & 7 in Southern California — “What Does The Future Hold For Israel & Her Neighbors?” — please click here to learn more and to register Learn more about our 2018 Epicenter Prayer Summit, and Joshua Fund tour of the Holy Land --------------------- Would you like to make a secure, tax deductible investment in The Joshua Fund (www.joshuafund.net)? This is the non-profit organization that my wife, Lynn, and I founded in 2006 to educate and mobilize Christians to bless Israel and her neighbors in the name of Jesus, to care for the poor and needy in Israel (both Jews and Arabs) with food and other humanitarian relief, care for Holocaust survivors, care for Syrian and Iraqi refugees, and strengthen the Church in the epicenter. The Joshua Fund is a member in good standing of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. Please click here to learn more. Thanks so much! Click here to read the 2016 Joshua Fund Donor Report — and watch the short videos, as well Subscribe (free) to the RSS feed (click here) and receive every new posting on this blog directly via email.  joelcrosenberg | September 11, 2017 at 11:36 am | Categories: Epicenter | URL: http://wp.me/piWZ7-8fY

THE CREATIVE PATH by Morris E. Ruddick

Morris Ruddick THE CREATIVE PATH (c) Morris E. Ruddick "God thunders with His majestic voice, doing great things which we cannot comprehend. For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or power."   Job 37:5, Col 1:16 In God's nature is found a basis from which to think, to act and prioritize the decisions of life. It's a creative path. Moses tapped its parameters. So did Joseph and David and Daniel. For each, it changed everything and made them heroes of faith. Jesus then added substance to this framework and raised the bar. At its foundation is the way of the Kingdom. It begins by knowing the One who is the Creator, the One who transcends time and our limited perspectives of the realities around us. In knowing the Lord, we begin uncovering what we refer to as His truth, His nature and His ways. Then as we discipline ourselves to know Him according to His ways, our thoughts and attitudes begin to be aligned with His. It is THEN that the Lord will allow us into His inner sanctum and expose us to the unlimited dimensions of His nature. The Glory of His Presence Solomon inferred that these unlimited dimensions of God were the stuff of kings (Prov 25:3). No doubt a king's perspective, as Solomon bore the responsibility of spiritually guiding those for whom he was accountable. There's no question that these dimensions of God are beyond the ordinary thresholds of how most people are wired to think and act. Paul described these unlimited facets of His presence as the riches of God's glory. Jesus advanced this reality by admonishing His followers to seek the oneness of abiding -- in Him. In His presence is a glory to be partaken when our interactions with Him are pure. The heart of God desires a people willing to transcend the boundaries of human limitations and in truth, meekness and righteousness (Ps 45:4), to share in these dimensions with Him. In approaching these boundless dimensions of His nature, there is a pathway that uncovers, engenders and releases the creative. Discerning the voice of the Lord is the gateway. This gateway leads to the discovery of much more. In heeding his call as prophet, Isaiah was given an assignment that addressed the dullness and desolation that results from NOT hearing the voice of the Lord (Isa 6:9). Isaiah went on to make it plain that God's ways are simply higher than ours and beyond our normal comprehension (Isa 55:9). Similarly, God's nature is to bring increase. From God's promise to Abraham for descendents beyond his ability to number, to Jesus' parable of the talents, God's expectation for good stewards is in bringing increase. As God's very nature is creative, with His Spirit within us, we have the means to go beyond the boundaries of our human limitations and what we, in the natural, perceive and "know." When our way is stymied, one God-thought can be the release. New Mind-Sets With God at the center, this unfolding path holds the potential of being illuminated by our mind-sets, the way we think. While the precepts of men tends to impede progress, the way of the Kingdom, facilitates release. The Catalyst of Vision. When God told Abraham to gaze at the heavens, telling him his descendents would be as numerous as the stars, He was casting vision. He had already told Abraham that He was Abraham's shield, his exceeding great reward. He wanted Abraham to visualize that His promises far exceeded Abraham's ability to grasp them. Abraham's response was to believe God which pleased God greatly. The faith-response of vision is the igniter to bringing that which is not into being, of creating something out of nothing, through God. Investigative-Approach. Proverbs suggests that the prudent man is cautious and considers well his steps (Prov 14:15). That caution is not in believing God, but in the steps that need to be taken. That suggests diligence in doing our homework. It means that there is wisdom in asking questions and investigating a matter thoroughly, as there will always be something hidden or not obvious to be uncovered and considered. That's why it's important to ask the right questions and push the envelope in considering alternatives. Imagination. There is an untapped potential triggered by our imaginations. Imagining is the ability to form new images and concepts in our minds. Our imaginations actuate the bridge between the natural and spiritual worlds, between vision and reality. With faith in God, it carries untapped potential. Jesus noted that one can be guilty of negative things entertained in their imaginations. Likewise, one's imagination gives shape to their vision. It's a vital ingredient for acting in faith. The Process of Planning. Planning and goal-setting is a means of identifying the steps needed to bring vision into reality. It is a process of evaluating the response to alternatives. Planning is continuous. It is a process of evaluating things that recognizes there is always something more. Cooperative planning with the Holy Spirit gives the Lord opportunity to add that expanded dimension of His thoughts into the process of establishing vision, goals and strategies. Strategy. Good strategy is the purpose of good planning. Mapping out the steps for the pathway gives shape to maximizing opportunity and bringing increase. While good strategy is sought, the higher dimensions of God's nature elevate the standard much more than just good ideas. The need is the prophetic dimensions of God-ideas. This is what set Joseph apart in the eyes of Pharaoh and resulted in his promotion. Joseph did more than just accurately interpret Pharaoh's dreams. He mapped out a strategy. Pharaoh recognized the prophetic wisdom resident within Joseph as coming from God. Excellence. Daniel was described as ten times better than any of the advisors of the king's court around him. Excellence involves becoming expert in something, to the degree that whatever the developed gift, it goes beyond that of the standard held by most others. The Strategy of Faith and Prayer Whereas wisdom is the application of God's principles, creativity is the discovery and application of bringing the invisible world into the visible one. God's strategy to bring this about is through faith and prayer. New mind-sets represent a way of viewing things and problem solving. The process of employing these factors generates insights that lead to creative discovery. That's how it operates on an individual level. Yet, God's design for biblical community is the value-added of the creative dynamic available through God. It represents a safe-place fostering these higher dimensions of God. Incorporated in its design is to build from generation to generation. It demonstrates the reality of God through a people. It utilizes a model dating back to Abraham. From age to age, biblical community has engendered consistent success despite adversities and backlash that God's chosen have experienced from the very different, but dominant cultures of which they have been a part. There are specific factors bearing on the strategy of community with which this pathway operates. The Strategy of Community Over the millennia the Jewish people not only have succeeded in retaining their cultural identity, but with disproportionate achievement have served as catalysts and influencers to the civilizations that would rise and fall around them, like the Greeks, the Romans, the Assyrians, the Ottomans, the Babylonians and on and on. Historically, in civilizations without a middle class, the Jewish people have served that function, as merchants and bankers and people of business. They have been advisors to kings, rulers and leaders and financed national agendas in the societies in which they lived. Yet, as a people, Jews have been distinctive. As a people, they have released nuggets of wisdom from the roots of their faith-culture that have impacted the foundations: economically, governmentally, judicially, and morally, for what is now considered as the good and enduring virtues of Western civilization. Today, despite being only .25 percent of the world's population, since 1950, Jews have been the recipients of 27 percent of the Nobel prizes awarded. Studies such as "The Golden Age of Jewish Achievement" and "Startup Nation" attest to their contributions, which statisticians would view as "beyond chance expectation." In short, the means by which Jews have tapped the creative has resulted in them outliving, as a people, the civilizations of which they have been a part. Pertinent Ancient Wisdom Identity. At the foundation of Jewish culture is their identity. They hold to the belief of being a prophetic people of God whose ways were outlined by Moses, the prophets and their forefather Abraham, as they have been blessed to be a blessing. They have resisted assimilation as, from age to age, they have maintained their unique identity as a culture within a culture. Entrepreneurship. True entrepreneurship is by definition creative. Nurturing entrepreneurship changes the status quo and provokes opportunity. It fosters a creativity that builds from the bottom up. Former Cambridge professor, entrepreneurial expert and author, Bill Bolton (with John Thompson, "Entrepreneurs, Talent, Temperament, Technique"), stresses the importance of the creative and innovative dimensions which drive economic opportunity and the dynamic of entrepreneurship. Trust Society. From the days of Moses, Jewish beliefs nurture the dynamic of community as much or more than any other culture; but with the approach of being a trust society. A highly respected social economist has uncovered some unique insights into these issues in his examination of economies and cultures in "Trust: Social Virtues and the Creation of Prosperity." Francis Fukuyama contends that social capital is as important as physical capital. Yet, only societies with a high degree of social trust will create the foundations needed for the large-scale business organizations that compete in today's global economy. However, large-scale organizations are only a part of the equation as enduring prosperity for community flows first from the bottom-up entrepreneurially. Opportunity Enablers. Within the Jewish community, there is a nurturing that is the natural order of things. The more successful advise those entering new arenas. The older, more experienced help those who are younger. Mentoring benefits all as the diversity of gifts blend together for the common good and opportunity is enabled. Self-Sufficiency. Within this context, when adhering to these standards, the Jewish people operate in a self-regulated, self-sufficiency within their communities. They nurture the type of stewardship that serves and reflects excellence. Their forefather Abraham began his adventurous sojourn with God by being told that as God blessed him, that through his descendents, then that blessing of God would be extended to all the families of the earth. That requires a unique form of leadership. Leadership. The Jewish brand of leadership has the distinction of operating best through influence and service. As a people, Jews are disciplined and are willing to pay the cost to live for a higher standard, to sacrifice for the future of their people. Moral Standards. Jews as a people of God uphold a high moral standard as a society. Their distinctive identity upholds the standards of community, entrepreneurship, innovation, excellence and industriousness that are central to their heritage. While the Jewish people have had their share of centuries as a conquered people, they have never lost their foundations culturally that have made them unique and strong. The Higher Dimensions All of this dovetails into a framework, individually and community-wise, that has set a standard for living within the reality of God's nature. It is a creative path that carries the expectation of good and of higher dimensions. Yet, the status quo is the enemy of these higher, creative dimensions in God. As Hebrews 11 sums up the exploits of the heroes of faith, it concludes with a most unusual, but insightful statement. It says that apart from us, they who have preceded us would not be made perfect. This truth works both ways, as we progressively build upon the foundations laid by previous generations. When Solomon notes that God has put eternity in our hearts, it gives glimpse to the unspoken, insatiable quest to reach beyond the visible and to discover and apply the pieces that are lacking. Hebrews 12 begins with the dramatic picture of the great cloud of witnesses, beyond time, surrounding us and the strong admonition to press through and not be entrapped by the encumbrances designed to seduce and hold back. Jesus said: "He who loves his life will lose it, but he who hates his life in this world will gain it." There is a place in God that far outweighs the best this world has to offer. It is in the dimensions of God beyond ourselves that the creative and true life resides. Moses mapped out the starting point: "All these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, when you obey the voice of the Lord your God." (Deut 28:1) This speaks to the priority that Jesus punctuated, that you don't seek after the things of this world, you seek after God and His Kingdom dimensions (Matt 6:33). When you seek after God, then those things we refer to as blessings will follow after us, amass and come upon us. The creative path of discovery is one that has a parallel in embracing His glory. It explains how a member of one generation can be influenced by dimensions from their spiritual heritage in deeply penetrating something in the both the natural and spiritual realms. Yet, the higher dimension that taps His power, like that of Joshua when the sun and moon stood still, resides in a foundation of knowing Him. It is a gift drawn from His presence, of abiding in Him, which impacts the way we view things and make decisions. That gift grows from a way of thinking to an anointing that serves in developing and applying our mantle in life. In prevailing, it will transcend the natural and uncover significant matters not normally visible. It evolves as a process as the natural begins tapping the supernatural. It's a process for all times, but especially for what lies before us. We are entering a time unlike any that has preceded us. It will be a time of progressive, higher dimensions unfolding in a single generation. It will be a time of new things with the creative on the forefront. The strategy of prayer and faith and the strategy of community will be bedrock. "The Spirit of the Lord rests upon me, the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord." Isa 11:2 ___________________________________________________ Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the call of God in the marketplace since the mid-90s. As founder of Global Initiatives Foundation and designer of the God's Economy Entrepreneurial Equippers Program, Mr. Ruddick imparts hope and equips economic community builders where God's light is dim in both the Western and non-Western world. He is author of "The Joseph-Daniel Calling;" "Gods Economy, Israel and the Nations;" "The Heart of a King;" "Something More;" "Righteous Power in a Corrupt World;" and "Leadership by Anointing," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders called to impact their communities with God's blessings. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.BarnesandNoble.com and other popular outlets. Global Initiatives Foundation (www.strategic-initiatives.org) is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 non-profit whose efforts are enabled by the generosity of a remnant of faithful friends and contributors whose vision aligns with God's heart to mobilize the persecuted church to be the head and not the tail. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card atsign@strategicintercession.org Likewise, email us to schedule a seminar for your congregation on the wisdom the persecuted church has for the West or on anointing the creative. 2015 Copyright Morris Ruddick -- sign@strategicintercession.org Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor. Since early 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors and leaders committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For previous posts or more information on SIGN, check:http://www.strategicintercession.org

Morris Ruddick Global Initiatives Foundation www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org

How to Break Free From Sexual Bondage by KIMBERLY L. RAY (SpiritLed Woman)

How to Break Free From Sexual Bondage

3/17/2014 KIMBERLY L. RAY

One day the Lord spoke to me and said that one of the greatest problems the people of God are encountering is that the door to the imagination has remained open. God spent a lot of time in His Word warning us about the things we allow ourselves to see. That’s because our eye gates open the windows to our souls. We connect directly with the things we observe with our eyes.

The Bible tells us, “The light of the body is the eye; if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be full of evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee is darkness, how great is that darkness!” (Matt. 6:22-23).

Everyday we decide what we will entertain. There are those who have a made-up mind to live holy and acceptable unto the Lord. They make a concerted effort to consistently keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord. But there are others who live to satisfy their flesh, seeking their own pleasure. They may be Christians, but they are following a soulish path and are fulfilling the desires of the flesh rather than the will of God.

The soul is comprised of the mind, the will, and the emotions. The Bible tells us, “They that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace” (Rom. 8:5-6). Notice that the verse says those who are after the flesh “do mind the things of the flesh.” What we dwell on will lead us either to death or to life and peace.

Our greatest battle is in the mind! The mind is quite unique because it stores information and recalls it like a computer. This is one reason it is so important to screen the things you see and hear. Entertaining the soulish realm with constant lustful images opens the door to demonic activity and fleshly battles.

There are many carnally minded Christians. To be carnal means to be led by the appetites of the unsanctified, materialistic flesh. There are many Christians whose flesh is stronger than their spirits.

These individuals usually walk in compromise as well. Compromise is a silent endorsement of the world’s ways and a consent to walk according to its standards. After giving in to compromise for so long, eventually love for the world will dominate the spirit and outweigh love for the Father.

Second Corinthians 10:4-5 tells is, “(For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds’) casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ.” The Lord wants us to rise up and take authority over the flesh!

We can pull down every stronghold by applying the powerful shed blood of Jesus to our minds and thoughts. We can bind the work of the enemy in our thought life (Matt. 18:18), and we can overcome the works of the flesh by bringing the flesh into subjection to the Spirit.

The apostle Paul wrote, “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be ye not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable, and perfect will of God.” (Rom. 12:1-2).

Dying to self is not easy, and it may require times of fasting and prayer. Fasting humbles the soul and brings the flesh into subjection to the spirit. When we fast, we deny the flesh and feed the spirit. Self-denial strengthens the Spirit of Christ within us, deepens our walk with the Lord, and empowers our prayer life.

Whatever you feed the most will grow. If you feed the spirit with prayer and Bible study, it will flourish. But if you spend more time feeding the flesh and the carnal sin nature, the flesh will dominate.

Many people have found themselves in sexual bondage because they feed their flesh with pornographic images. The spirit of lust uses pornography to create an intense sexual desire or appetite. The spirit of lasciviousness creates an insatiable desire to satisfy those lewd and lustful desires. This is how viewing porn becomes addictive. After seeing a little, people are driven to see more until they feel unable to stop.

Sexual bondage can be broken in the name of Jesus. In my book I have included a prayer for those making intercession on another’s behalf, as well as a prayer for the individual in crisis. We can pray for others and God will answer, but in order to remain free, the individual must abandon the activity that opened the door to the enemy.

Nothing is hopeless. We serve an all-powerful God, and He can do the impossible. We can learn to pray for ourselves and be set free by the power of Christ, and we can also stage an intervention—a spiritual intervention—and bombard heaven for those in trouble.

Adapted from Spiritual Intervention, by Kimberly L. Ray, copyright 2014, published by Charisma House. This book will help you launch successful prayer and intercession for yourself and others. To order your copy click on this link.

One of the four Evangelist daughters of the late Dr. Angie Ray, Founder of Angie Ray Ministries, “Church on the Rock” of Matteson, Illinois,Kimberly L. Ray is a woman after God’s own heart, seeking to lead the people of God by providing strategies and tools to empower the church to be efficient in the ministry of intercession and deliverance.

Prayer Power for the Week of 03/17/14

This week, make up your mind to consistently keep the commandments and statutes of the Lord and not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. Ask the Lord to help you screen the things you see and hear, and direct you into the discipline of fasting so that your flesh can be subject to your spirit which is subject to Christ, your walk in the Lord can be deepened and your prayers more empowered.

Thank Him that nothing is hopeless or impossible with Him. Continue to pray for revival to ignite in our churches, across the nation and around the world. Pray that our leaders would seek and heed God’s direction and wisdom. Pray for those persecuted for His Name’s sake, the peace of Jerusalem, those suffering great losses as a result of recent weather conditions, the families of those missing in the Malaysian aircraft, our military and their families. Ask the Lord to show you how you can pray and be a blessing to those in need (2 Cor. 10:4-5; Matt. 18:18; Ps. 122:6).

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Why Are So Many Pastors Committing Suicide? - Jennifer Leclaire

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Why Are So Many Pastors Committing Suicide?

12/11/2013 JENNIFER LECLAIRE

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More than 2 million adult Americans made a suicide plan in the past year, and about half that many went through with the plan. (Stock.xchng)

In another church tragedy, Pastor Isaac Hunter—the son of the spiritual adviser to President Obama—has reportedly taken his own life. Hunter’s death is making national headlines because of his megachurch father Pastor Joel Hunter’s influence on the White House, his marriage troubles and an undated suicide note found last year, but his death is far from the only pastoral suicide in recent months.

Just days ago, a pastor who was grieving his dead wife reportedly shot himself in front of his mother and son, expressing that he was hearing his dead spouse’s voice and footsteps. Pastor Ed Montgomery and his late wife, prophetess Jackie Montgomery, served at the Full Gospel Assemblies International church in Hazel Crest, Ill.

In November, a Georgia pastor killed himself in between Sunday services. Larrinecia Sims Parker, wife of the Rev. Teddy Parker Jr., found the pastor in the driveway of their home with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Houston County coroner Danny Galpin reports.

Why the sudden rash of pastors committing suicide? Suicide is not a new problem among clergy, but three known suicides in less than two months begs a deeper look at the issue.

There is no lack of statistics about pastors and depression, burnout, health, low pay, spirituality, relationships and longevity—and none of them are good. According to the Schaeffer Institute, 70 percent of pastors constantly fight depression, and 71 percent are burned out. Meanwhile, 72 percent of pastors say they only study the Bible when they are preparing for sermons; 80 percent believe pastoral ministry has negatively affected their families; and 70 percent say they don’t have a close friend.

The Schaeffer Institute also reports that 80 percent of seminary and Bible school graduates will leave the ministry within five years. It’s not clear how many commit suicide, but it is clear that pastors are not immune to it. Psychologists point to several reasons why people commit suicide, from depression to psychosis to stressful life situations. But one thing is certain: Whatever drives someone to take their own life ultimately begins in the mind. Suicidal thoughts precede suicide.

“Suicidal thoughts have numerous causes," according to Mayo Clinic. "Most often, suicidal thoughts are the result of feeling like you can’t cope when you’re faced with what seems to be an overwhelming life situation. If you don’t have hope for the future, you may mistakenly think suicide is a solution. You may experience a sort of tunnel vision, where in the middle of a crisis you believe suicide is the only way out.” 

As it turns out, suicidal thoughts are not uncommon. Nearly 8.3 million adults age 18 and older in the United States—that’s 3.7 percent—had serious thoughts of suicide in the past year, according to a study called "Suicidal Thoughts and Behaviors Among Adults > 18 Years" released by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Although some suicides are impulsive, most are planned out. More than 2 million adult Americans made a suicide plan in the past year, and about half that many went through with the plan.

Again, suicide starts with a thought. Indeed, every action we take starts with a thought. As one who struggled with depression for years, I am not trying to oversimplify the solution, but rather merely point out one contributing factor. Many of the harmful actions we take originate from the seed of a thought Satan whispers to our souls. That seed grows as our minds reason out the benefits of acting on the thought. For those contemplating suicide, I believe the seed grows in their minds as they reason themselves out of living because life’s circumstances are too overwhelming.

When the enemy plants a vain imagination in our minds, we have two choices: cast it down or meditate on it. When we meditate on vain imaginations, we tend to connect demonic dots that create skewed pictures of reality. Believing what we see in our thought life is real, we talk ourselves into taking action based on a wrong perception. Although there are issues of chemical imbalances, I believe this is what happens with many suicides. The enemy plants a seed in the form of a thought that an already distraught soul doesn’t discern as a demonic attack on their life.

If we want to win the battle against suicide in the pulpit and the pew, we need to, among many other things, take ahold of Scriptures that instruct us about the battle in our mind. Paul told us, “The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled” (2 Cor. 10:4-6). No one can take your thoughts captive for you, but you can take your own thoughts captive, and it starts with girding up the loins of your mind (1 Pet. 1:13).

Paul also offered this advice: “Whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:8-9). If we do what the Word says—if we meditate on what the Word tells us to meditate on—the enemy’s seeds won’t take root in our souls.

If you see your pastor or anyone else struggling with depression or hear them speak disturbing thoughts that aren’t in line with the Word of God, pray and ask God what He would have you do. Then do it. Suicide is a leading cause of death in the United States, and the enemy is targeting our spiritual leaders in this hour. Let’s rise up and battle against this disturbing trend in the name of Jesus.

Jennifer LeClaire is news editor at Charisma. She is also the author of several books, including The Spiritual Warrior's Guide to Defeating Jezebel. You can email Jennifer at jennifer.leclaire@charismamedia.com or visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter.

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