Why Should I Be a Watchman for Israel? - James W. Goll - Identity Network

Why Should I Be a Watchman for Israel?

By James W. Goll   Identity Network

As followers of Jesus Christ, we serve as watchmen for the people of God, whoever they may be, even the ones who do not yet identify themselves as the people of God. God asks volunteer watchmen like you and me to shoulder a burden for the Jewish people and for all of the descendants of Abraham.

God's plan is to bring Jews alongside Gentiles (non-Jews) into full saving knowledge of Christ. He wants to win over Jews, Arabs, Chaldeans, and all residents of the Middle East to His Son. The day will come - and we have a key part in hastening it - when "the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea" (Habakkuk 2:14, NASB).

A Call to Intercede

Did you know that Jerusalem is the only city named in the Bible that we are supposed to pray for? It is true.

"Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: 'May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.'  For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, 'Peace be within you.' Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.", Psalm 122:6-9, NKJV

For decades, I have been heavily involved in prayer for Israel and the Jewish people. Millennia of history, biblical prophecies fulfilled and yet to be fulfilled, historical conflicts between people groups in the Middle East that continue to boil over to this day.

Above, I quoted from Psalm 122 because I believe those words capture the heart of God toward the Jewish people (whom He called the apple of His eye in Zechariah 2:8), as well as toward Jerusalem, the beleaguered capital city of the nation of Israel. It may be hard to believe, but God wants peace to prevail in that beautiful and battle-weary city.

Jerusalem and the nation of Israel are like God's ticking clock; we can set our watchmen's timers by what we observe there. What is God doing with His people now? Why has this latest conflict erupted? Is nobody safe? Who can discern the right path? How can we pray as we watch?

Discerning the Times

As watchmen-intercessors, we must dedicate ourselves to seeking Gods heart and mind so that we can pray according to His will. We do not hide our heads in the sand and ignore the troubling issues of the times we live in.

In the Old Testament we read about the sons of Issachar, who were "men who understood the times, with knowledge of what Israel should do" (1 Chronicles 12:32, NASB). The sons of Issachar have come to represent all people who seek to discern the times they live in, and who make their decisions based on the discerning wisdom that God gives them.

When praying for the Jewish people, we must understand what God is saying from three perspectives:

• His promise to save all of Israel and bring it into His fullness. (See Zechariah 12:10-11; Romans 11:12, 15, 26.)

• The fact that the Jewish people have a temporary "spirit of blindness" regarding Jesus as the Messiah. (See Matthew 13:13-15; Romans 11:7-10, 25-28.)

• The promise that this spirit of blindness will be removed when "the fullness of the Gentiles" occurs. (See Luke 21:24; Romans 11:25-26.)

The Jewish people will be won over by the love of the Gentile Church (see Matthew 25:40). Because we "wild olives" have been grafted into the original tree, we have no excuse for arrogance (see Romans 11:17-22).

Now Satan is not ignorant of this plan; it has been announced by prophets and proclaimed in public places for millennia. Thus he stirs up anti-Semitism and causes destruction. The enemy figures that if he can eliminate the people of Israel from the face of the earth, he will win.

As watchmen, we must be careful not to take all of our cues from the daily news or from political sources. The ever-shifting situation mirrors the malicious advances of Satan's unseen forces. In the midst of the confusion, only watchmen with spiritual discernment can see well enough in the dark to sound the right alarm at the correct time.

The Church as Watchmen

The apostle Paul (Jewish from birth) wrote to the Roman church (which was almost entirely Gentile) to explain much of God's plan for the people of Israel. He wanted them (and us) to know that, even though the Jewish people have refused to acknowledge one of their own, Jesus, as the Son of God and Messiah, there is still hope - and it lies with the Gentiles. As he explained, evidently the Jewish Messiah embraced the Gentiles in part to make the Jews "jealous" (see Romans 11:11). The Gentiles, who have been "grafted" into God's family tree, need to know that God wants to graft the natural branches back into His family tree; He wants "all Israel to be saved" (Romans 11:26, and see Romans 11:24).

Consequently, the Gentile Church has a call to fulfill. The worldwide Church must intercede for God's purposes to be accomplished in Israel and wherever else Jewish people are found. The Gentile Church must support the people of Israel with compassion and energy, embracing them as brothers. The Jewish prophet Isaiah wrote: "The Lord God, who gathers the dispersed of Israel, declares, 'Yet others I will gather to them, to those already gathered'" (Isaiah 56:8, NASB).

The Body of Christ on the earth, are watchman on the walls as depicted in Isaiah 62:6-7. Historically, the Church has failed to fulfill this mission. Just think of the relatively recent horrors of the Holocaust of World War II. In retrospect, we deplore the Spanish Inquisition, but the Church still has the bloodstains on her hands. Anti-Semitism still influences critical decisions and derails efforts to introduce the people of God to their Savior. While Jesus is known as the Prince of Peace, the Church has too often demonstrated the opposite spirit, trampling on unbelievers in every generation.

Where is our love? Where is our wisdom? What has happened to the grace and mercy of God? Can we rise to the challenge of turning our own Body around even as we begin to do a better job of looking out for our Jewish brethren?

Overcoming the Spirit of Haman - Mordecais Needed

It is as if the evil spirit of Haman never left the earth when he met his rightful end on the gallows of King Artaxerxes. We may well be destined to relive the story of Esther in our own generation. So I want to urge all of you as Mordecai-watchmen to watch carefully, and then to act wisely.

You will remember the story as it is told in the book of Esther. Esther's strategic victory is celebrated to this day by the Jewish people in the feast of Purim. But she would not have been able to do anything without the sage advice of her guardian Mordecai, who was her spiritual authority. He watched in the gate, discovered a plot against the Jews, and told Esther about it. In other words, without Mordecai, there would be no book of Esther. An entire population of Jews would have been annihilated.

Mordecai intercepted the intelligence about Haman's evil scheme, and he revealed it wisely to the right parties. Esther employed all of her courage and charm. God made sure that the king read the right document in the middle of the night. And all was saved.

The connections with current events are clear: The anti-Semitic Haman spirit still roves around, seeking to annihilate the Jews. The Church (Esther) may or may not be ready. We need the Mordecai-watchmen to step up with the right words at the right time. Only Mordecai could spot the danger, and only Mordecai-watchmen can inform the Church before it is too late for the Jewish people.

Together, Mordecai and Esther are their only hope. Jews today rightly celebrate Purim as a mighty historic victory, but the genocidal anti-Semitic Haman spirit has actually returned - bringing reinforcements. It is time for a corporate Esther to arise for such a time as this.

Watching Together

Most of us are Gentiles - grafted-in as non-Jewish believers. But we can still be watchmen and women on the walls of Jerusalem, praying in conjunction with the "gatekeepers," those who have the authority to act for good or for evil. No intercessor can tackle this assignment solo. You must watch together with like-minded others, and you must be quick to identify for the leaders on the ground what you see from the top of the wall.

We are living in a time of awakening and activation. Some of us will pray and fast. Some of us will find ourselves engaged in direct evangelism. Others will be tested socially or financially when we decide to identify more fully with our Jewish brethren. But we all must pray without ceasing and proclaim that the ancient prophetic promises will find their fulfillment within our lifetimes.

Remember that the power of prayer does not come from the power of the individual who is praying, but rather from the One who hears the prayers and acts. His power is immeasurable - and it is directed entirely toward good ends. "Righteousness and justice are the foundation of [His] throne. Unfailing love and truth walk before [him] as attendants" (Psalm 89:14, NLT). Our part is to pray and obey, because "The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective" (James 5:16, NIV).

God has chosen watchman for different purposes and positions on His Wall. Where are you in God's purposes as a sacrificial watchman?  Will you be found Watching for the Apple of God's Eye?

Join Me as a Watchman on the Walls!

James W. Goll

www.godencounters.com

Go here to read more articles by James W. Goll.

Will You Be a Modern-Day Daniel? - James W. Goll Identity Network

Will You Be a Modern-Day Daniel? by James W. Goll

Identity Network

In these days of division and tension, Daniel is a perfect role model of leadership and excellence as a watchman. When Daniel was exiled and found himself in the court of the king of Babylon, he dedicated himself to bringing the rule of God into that pagan place. He did it through stellar character and incessant prayer. He was a true intercessor, a watchman on the walls.

Daniel did not attend Hebrew University but rather was trained in the School of the Chaldeans. He invested himself entirely in both the success of the king under whom he had been forced to serve and the restoration of his people in Jerusalem, disregarding potential misunderstandings and serious repercussions. When he had come to understand the prophecies about the return of God's people to their homeland, he intensified his efforts, fasting and praying and repenting on behalf of his people.

In all Your Ways

He did not relax his guard or rest on the assumption that God would simply act to fulfill those prophetic promises automatically. There was not one bone of passivity in this man of exquisite character. He prayed all the more, helping to bring the prophetic promises into fulfillment in his generation.

By God's grace, he had the necessary wisdom to navigate tricky political shoals. Over the years, the king and other ruling authorities came and went, and many of them were less than friendly toward him. All of them were pagans whose values did not match Daniel's in the least.

How do you think Daniel would respond to your nation's leaders and political climate if he were living today? What are we called to do in these perilous times? As God-fearing citizens, we would do well to follow his example.

Urged to Pray

Paul urged Timothy to pray — even for evil authorities (see I Timothy 2:1-4). He told him to pray for them, not against them, and to pray with two goals in mind: (1) "so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity" and (2) so that everyone (both leaders and ordinary citizens) can be "saved and come to the knowledge of the truth." How well is your life pointing those around you to these two endgames?

We can find other Scriptures that support this idea, for example:

"Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." 1 Peter 2:17 NKJV.

"Fear the Lord and the king, my son, and do not join with the rebellious, for those two will send sudden destruction upon them, and who knows what calamities they can bring?" Proverbs 24:21–22 NIV.

In addition to obeying laws and living lives that are above reproach, one of the ways we can honor those in authority is by praying for them. Since comparatively, very few citizens do, our prayers are all the more important. Whether we like our leaders, whether we agree with their policies or not, whether we voted for them or against them, we must pray.

Watchmen in a Bleak Time

I write as a citizen of the United States, which establishes my reference point. But I also think of Daniel's Babylon and the situation of God's watchmen in many other cities and nations throughout history. From my perspective in the U.S., the overall mood of the nation is both angry and divided. Hopeful developments surface from time to time, only to crash into obstruction and disappointment. The national and international issues of our day are so complex that they even make my head spin!

Don't Doubt

Negative news seems to abound from every direction. It has become commonplace for us to see accusations, false promises, fake news, and deteriorating ethics from our national leaders all the way down to our local municipalities — and it can really get exasperating. Perhaps most challenging of all, the sinful human condition is on full display 24/7, thanks to instant broadcasts.

But in spite of what it may seem, our prayers make all the difference in how things turn out. As Pastor Jack Hayford has stated,  "You can determine whether God's goodness is released toward specific situations or whether the power of sin and Satan is permitted to prevail. Prayer is the determining factor."

Whatever our nation, we can pray that our leaders will govern honestly, humbly and with mercy. We can pray for them to have knowledge and understanding (which is more than mere information; it includes a grasp of history, roles, cultures and God's will). Today's global tyrants are as real as the Roman, Nero. Pray that God will deal with them swiftly, for the sake of His people. Pray that He will hedge in such dangerous leaders with limits and boundaries.

Prayers that Shape History

I learn from the heroes of faith in the Word of God, but also from the champions of faith in modern church history. In my Christian pilgrimage, the teachings of Derek Prince have impacted my life, worldwide outreach, and prayer ministry more than any other spiritual leader. From him I learned God's heart for Israel, praying for those in authority, the gifts of the Holy Spirit, deliverance from demonic darkness, the power of prayer and fasting, and so much more.  It is my great honor to state that this man was an effective, history-making and history-changing watchman.

Pray Until Something Happens

Over the course of his eventful life, Derek Prince, who died in 2003 at the age of eighty-eight, went from being an atheist philosopher at Cambridge to a prolific Bible teacher who traveled the world. Married and widowed twice, he left behind eleven adopted children. Among his numerous teachings and forty-five books is Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting, one of the greatest books of all time on the subject of government-focused prayer.

Derek was absolutely convinced that prayers could shape history, and that often its influence was best exercised on the governmental level. Here is a quote from Shaping History through Prayer and Fasting that sums up his viewpoint:

In 2 Chronicles God states the conditions which His people must fulfill for the healing of their land:

"If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land." 2 Chronicles 7.14

The prophecies and promises of God's Word are intended to provoke us to pray with increased earnestness and understanding. God reveals to us the purposes, which He is working out, not that we may be passive spectators on the sidelines of history, but that we may personally identify ourselves with His purposes, and thus become actively involved in their fulfillment. Revelation demands involvement.

Derek felt that the Lord's call to Ezekiel to be a watchman (Ezekiel 33:7–9) applied to him personally. He knew that he must warn of danger and pray for God's mercy on leaders who were disobedient to God, in particular where the nation of Israel is concerned. The year before he died, he published an article that, in effect, warned those who would follow him as a watchman to pay attention to the Word of the Lord concerning the times in which they live.

The Scepter has Been Lowered

Our God is not small, and He hears the cry of the needy (see Psalm 69:33). Remember, He sits on the throne and He is not wringing His hands in worry. No, He invites us to come sit on the throne with Him and extend His Kingdom rule on earth as it is in heaven.

Jeremiah wrote, "This is what the Lord of Heaven's Armies, the God of Israel, says, 'Work for the peace and prosperity of the city where I sent you into exile.' Pray to the Lord for it, for its welfare will determine your welfare." (Jeremiah 29:4, 7, NLT).

Your personal welfare depends upon the decisions of those who are in direct authority over you.  But together, in Jesus, we can tip the scales from irreverence to righteousness.

So I have a question for you. Are there any Daniels or Esthers out there today? Will you answer the call to be a modern-day Daniel for this generation?

The scepter of the King of Kings has been lowered. Now is the time. Take your place! You too, can shape history through prayer, release hope solutions to man's dilemmas, and shift the culture for such a time as this. We can see the greatest awakening for Jesus Christ the planet has ever seen!

Believing for Divine Intervention,

James W. Goll

www.godencounters.com

Go here to read more articles by James W. Goll.

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Dreaming with God by James W. Goll - Identity Network

Dreaming with God 

by James W. Goll

Identity Network

July 28, 2017

Did You Know that the Stars Speak?

 

They did in Abraham's day! The creator of the universe gave a direct and amazing word to one of his friends. He told him to go out and count the number of stars that lit up the sky at night. Imagine, counting the stars at night!

 

So, what did Abraham do? He went out and started counting the stars! I suppose it went something like this. After telling his wife, Sarah, good night, Abraham goes on a long walk in the evening air, pondering and peering into the heavens. In obedience, he begins to count the stars while talking to himself and God. "One, two… four… twenty-seven… forty-five… one hundred and fifty-five… two thousand and six-two, uh, uh, uh…"

 

God Creates Light

 

"Wow, count the stars?!  What do you mean, I cannot count the number of stars – they seem so limitless."

 

The Lord replied, "Abraham – count the stars." Perplexed a bit as he attempts to mentally perceive what the man upstairs could mean by this strange command, Abraham continues in his quest of following the unseen voice. "Three thousand, seven hundred and… oh, I forgot – where was I? Oh, where did that one come from? Wow, it sure is shining brightly!"

 

The Promise Revealed

 

The voice comes again, but this time offering some inside explanation. "The number of the stars will be the number of your descendants." "What, huh? Did You know that Sarah and I have been married for a long time and we don't have any fruit – let alone… Well, You know that, uh… Well, you know, right? So I don't mean to underestimate You, but what You are saying is impossible! But I guess You already know that, right? Whatever!"

 

But the voice of the Master persisted, "Count the stars. How many are there?"

 

Yes, the stars spoke to Abraham. Perhaps for a while, the voice of the stars haunted him as he would go out night after night staring into the realm of the impossible. But somewhere along the way, something changed. Did the circumstances change? No, well, not yet at least. What changed then? Abraham, like the rest of us, went from mentally assessing to heart believing. It's the typical path of 18 inches from head evaluation to a heart of faith trusting in the One who promises.

 

He Calls the Stars by Name

 

Somehow God's dream seeped into Abraham's heart. After many trials and tests and errors, Abraham reached a place when he went out at night and rejoiced when he looked up! "Yes, there's a promise. Yes, that one is for me. That star is declaring that God's Word will come true! In fact, that glimmering light right there is saying to me, the promises of God are 'Yes and Amen!'"

 

Yes, the Stars Still Speak

 

You know the rest of the story. It is a piece of history that has affected us all. You see, God is a dreamer and He is looking for people who will dream His dreams with Him.

 

In every generation, dreamers arise. They think outside of man-made boxes and dare to forge ahead. Today a new breed of dreamers is arising. They not only talk of things to come, they call the promises into being in the here and now. They not only believe God has a dream, but they dare to believe God has invited them to partner with Him in the birthing of His dreams on the earth, as it is in heaven.

 

Added on top of that, these Abrahamic faith dreamers also believe God wants to partner with them in the fulfilling of their dreams. Really? Yes, a company of reformers are emerging across the face of the earth. They not only believe in God's big end-time harvest, but they believe they have a part to play in the "Greatest Show on Earth."

 

Yes, these believing believers are watching their dreams come to pass right in front of their very own eyes. They are living their dreams.

 

Behold, here comes another dreamer! Will you join the growing throng?

 

Yes, the stars continue to speak! Are you counting?

 

Dreaming with God!

 

James W. Goll

www.godencounters.com

 

Go here to read more articles by James W. Goll.

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Recently I had a dream in which I heard the following, "We have had Purpose Driven Lives and now we have Presence Motivated People. But what we need for the days that are ahead are Values Anchored Believers." I can always tell when it is truly the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking. The content is way beyond what I could ever conceive or articulate on my own. God's word carries weight, grabs your attention and requires steps of action. I was alerted to the fact that the Holy Spirit was not putting down of any of the previous stages or emphases mentioned in the dream, as they were each birthed from Him.

Waiting or Warring: Contending for Prophetic Promises by James W. Goll

When God has given a prophetic promise, how are we to respond? Are we to wait for Him to bring it about in His divine timing, or are we to war for that which He has promised to see it speedily brought forth? This is not really a trick question. Hopefully you will agree that the answer is - BOTH! Scripture gives clear direction that we are to wait for the Lord AND to war for His promises. But sometimes walking this out can be harder than it at first appears. So while both are important, today I want to emphasize the importance of contending for the promises of God and fighting the good fight of faith - both personally and corporately.

We Need to Grow in Discerning of Spirits by James W. Goll

The gift of discerning of spirits is greatly needed for the times in which we live. Since not all supernatural activity comes from the Holy Spirit, sometimes it can be hard to tell where it originates. But someone who can penetrate deeply with the gift of discerning of spirits can tell the difference between supernatural activity from the Holy Spirit and that from another source. As evil continues to escalate on the earth, so does the need for a higher level of discernment. The gift of discerning of spirits ("distinguishing of spirits" in some translations; see 1 Corinthians 12:10 NASB, NIV) provides perception into the spirit world—which includes the Holy Spirit, both good and evil angelic spirits, and individual human spirits. It gives supernatural insight into the realm of spirits.

James Goll: Why You May Not Recognize the Angels Aiding You CHARISMA NEWS

James Goll: Why You May Not Recognize the Angels Aiding You

 3/18/2017 JAMES W. GOLL   CHARISMA NEWS

I know from personal experience that God's messengers are ready to come to our aid in times of crisis.

You will probably remember the disaster that happened in 1986 at the nuclear power plant in Chernobyl in the former USSR (now Ukraine). The zone of damaging radioactive contamination was still spreading when I traveled to Minsk, Belarus, to serve as a prophetic intercessor for a festival outreach for Jewish people. I had gone there with my two friends David Fitzpatrick and Richard Glickstein, with whom I had prayed a lot in New York City and other places in the United States.

After we had pretty much completed our assignment as intercessors for the event, we all felt we had an additional assignment to complete—to intervene in prayer for the protection of the city, especially the children, against what was being called "Chernobyl Disease." It was expected to contaminate the river that runs through Minsk, and if it did, the ramifications for the people would be devastating.

We had found a particular place in the city where a bridge crossed the river by some old communist monuments. We felt that was where we should gather to pray, so the three of us, who were staying in different rooms on different floors of the hotel, met late one night to go visit the place we had scouted out during the daytime.

We met on the elevator, and another man joined us. When we got out, he got out with us and followed us out to the street.

At first we thought we knew where we were going. We had been there in the daylight. But now, not only was it dark but also the subway system, which was immense and complex, was functioning only in a limited way.

We didn't know how to get to where we thought we were supposed to go, but we walked down the steps to the train tracks and got on a train that felt to us like the right one. The fourth man got on with us. He looked like a typical Russian man. He said nothing to us.

We got off the train when it stopped, but now we were really lost. We couldn't even remember which side of the tracks to stand on next. Then the man came up alongside us and said, in English, "Come, stand over here!" He brought us from one side of the tracks to the other side, where we stood and waited for the next train. When it came, he stopped it and said, "Get on here."

We looked at each other and decided we didn't know anything better to do, so we got on. That train whisked us away, and when it came to a stop, we got off again. Of course, we still didn't know what to do.

Again we crossed over to the other side of the tracks, and again, when the next train showed up, the man said, "You get on here!" What else could we do? We got on again, with this Russian-looking man we didn't know, who happened to be able to speak English.

We got off again, this time in what looked like a major interchange, with a lot of different exits. We were walking, totally lost. The man got off and walked with us. Then he pointed to an exit and said, "Your assignment rests right out here."

We walked up the steps and found ourselves at the exact spot that we were looking for! But now the man wasn't with us. We turned and looked for him but could not find him. He was gone. Surely our "Russian" guide was an angel.

We prayed and performed a prophetic act over the water. Afterward, we found out that the radiation had never gotten into the city via the river. We had completed our assignment, with the very important help of an angel. 

James W. Goll is the president of Encounters Network, director of Prayer Storm and he coordinates Encounters Alliance, a coalition of leaders. He is the author of numerous books and has produced multiple study guides and hundreds of audio and video messages.

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Recognizing the Sweet, Majestic Voice of God - JAMES W. GOLL CHARISMA NEWS

The voice of God is like the sound of rushing waters. (Flickr )

Recognizing the Sweet, Majestic Voice of God

12/25/2016 JAMES W. GOLL  CHARISMA NEWS

"I turned to see the voice that spoke with me. And when I turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks, and in the midst of the seven candlesticks was one like a Son of Man, clothed with a garment down to the feet and with a golden sash wrapped around the chest. The hair on His head was white like wool, as white as snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire. His feet were like fine brass, as if refined in a furnace, and His voice as the sound of many waters" (Rev. 1:12-15).

God not only wants us to know the historical Jesus, who came in human form and walked among men. He yearns for us also to know the living, resurrected Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit. The Father wants to enable us to hear, know and obey the risen Lord.

But often we don't realize He is speaking to us. And no wonder we miss His cues—His voice is like the sound of many rushing waters. Revelation 1:15 says, "His voice [was like] the sound of many waters." Notice the use of the word "many." When it comes to many waters, there is the sound of a gentle, trickling stream; the sound of a thunderstorm, with rain pouring down; the sound of waves crashing in upon the shore and the overwhelming sound of a river at flood stage, clearing away everything in its path. God's voice today is like the sound of these many rushing waters.

A Revealing Phone Call

Once, the voice of God came to me in the middle of the night, but I didn't recognize it at first. The ringing of my telephone woke me up. I got up out of bed, went to our kitchen and picked up the phone, only to find there was no one on the other end—just a dial tone. I stumbled back into bed and fell asleep, only to hear the phone ringing a second time. I rolled out of bed, groped in the dark and picked up the phone, only to find again that there was no voice on the other end.

Wearily, I walked back once more to my bedroom and crawled back into bed, only to be awakened a third time by hearing our telephone ringing. Determined to figure this thing out, I went to the kitchen, picked up the receiver and listened longer. I still didn't hear anything. But this time, a still, small voice in my heart whispered, Jeremiah 33:3.

I hung up the receiver, found a Bible and looked up the verse: "Call to Me and I will answer you, and show you great and mighty things which you do not know." I was stunned by God's invitation, and I spent the next couple of hours just sitting in the quietness of our living room in the presence of the Almighty, communing with Him and listening to His sweet, sweet voice.

The Impact of His Voice

Let's read Psalm 29:3-9 to get a better idea of the variety of ways we might be able to hear the voice of God:

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders; the Lord is over many waters. The voice of the Lord sounds with strength; the voice of the Lord—with majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes them skip like a calf, Lebanon and Sirion like a wild ox. The voice of the Lord flashes like flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the Wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord makes the deer to give birth, and strips the forests bare; and in His temple everyone says, "Glory!"

Yes, when the powerful and glorious voice of the Lord comes into our lives, it rolls around in our spirits and "thunders" for a while (v. 3). It grabs our attention. We can't get away from it, and we can't get away from Him. At times, God will manifest Himself as a glorious intruder, as He did with Saul of Tarsus on the road to Damascus. If and when this occurs, we will never be the same. His voice will rock our world.

Majestic and penetrating, the voice of the Lord "breaks the cedars" (v. 5). Cedars are a very dense, hard wood. (Have you ever felt someone was "too dense" for the Lord to reach?) When cedars are broken open, they release an irresistible fragrance. God's voice is capable of coming into and mowing down any situation that looms in front of us like an intimidating giant. Out of that once-foreboding giant, the aroma of Christ can come forth.

Psalm 29 continues, "The voice of the Lord flashes like flames of fire" (v. 7). Have you ever been scorched by the hot words of God? Sometimes thundering, sometimes quiet and sweet, God's voice can bring intense conviction into our lives. When His authentic fire comes, we may feel like running away from the fire rather than into it. But this fiery word and resulting experience has come to purify us for a useful purpose. Let the fire fall, and let His word purify, cleanse and burn out all of the dross and impurities within your heart.

It is never too late for fresh life to emerge. Dormant dreams become activated in a moment by the voice of God. May His word come upon you and cause you to see yourself as a fruitful vine.

"And [the voice of the Lord] strips the forests bare" (v. 9a). How do you like that one? God's voice comes, and it removes all the false armor we rely on. All of our vanities, self-reliance, false images and pretenses are stripped away, and we are left naked before the Creator of the universe. The voice of God brings humility into our lives. According to John 15, it is the tree that has borne fruit that He prunes. So let's be encouraged, looking at the end result and remembering how good He is. If He strips us or asks us to lay something down, He always has a great reason.

God's Voice Today

God wants us to hear His voice not just yesterday but also today and in a vibrant relationship, with all of its manifestations, so we can bear much fruit—fruit that will remain.

So let His voice thunder. Let the fire fall. Let His word be magnified. Let the waterfall of His refreshing sound replenish each and every thing. Let all creation echo His sound. Let His still, small voice and His tumultuous voice continue to proceed from the throne of God into our lives.

The voice of the Lord is indeed diverse and majestic. Yes, everything in His temple shouts "Glory!" Come on, now. Do it with me. Give Him some praise, and watch what the Lord will do. 

For the original article, visit encountersnetwork.com.

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When You Are Up Against a Wall - JAMES W. GOLL CHARISMA MAGAZINE

A swallow's nest (Flickr )

When You Are Up Against a Wall

12/5/2016 JAMES W. GOLL  CHARISMA MAGAZINE

Have you ever "hit the wall" with no seeming way forward? How do you keep getting back up again when it appears to be setback after setback?

I have been in this place multiple times, and I seem to be there once again. Right now, many people are up against the wall.

So in my own search for light and guidance, the Holy Spirit has highlighted some truths in the writings of my late wife, Michal Ann Goll. In the book A Call to the Secret Place, I found nuggets of truth in the last chapter, titled "The Shelter of the Swallow." So let me take a moment and share some wisdom from her vantage point.

Lessons from the Swallow

Of all the men and women in the Bible who came to know God intimately, David seems to have been the premier one who understood what it meant to enter the secret place of the Holy Spirit. In Ps. 84, David paints a sensitive and inviting word picture for us:

"How lovely is Your dwelling place, O Lord of Hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my body cry out for the living God. Yes, the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even at Your altars, O Lord of Hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; they continually praise You. Selah" (vv. 1-4). 

Often, the Lord has drawn my attention to verse 3: "Yes, the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even at Your altars, O Lord of Hosts, my kin and my God."

I treasure this psalm, as did my mother and grandmother before me, especially this one line. It has become part of my family heritage. I gained further insights from it through a personal experience.

My girls were taking riding lessons at our neighbor's place. As the horses were being brought in, groomed and saddled up, I was enjoying myself by watching everyone and all the animals. I happened to look up and see a barn swallow's nest built against the rafters of the barn. What a delightful find! I thought.

My excitement was genuine, because my mother had been an avid bird-watcher and had taught me to highly value these beautiful creatures for their unique qualities. I think barn swallows are some of the most beautiful birds in God's creation, their iridescent bluish-black bodies contrasting with rich shades of deep orange on their faces, throats and breasts. These little creatures perform like flying acrobats as they swoop and dive after insects in the early evening light.

As I stood there admiring these fascinating birds, the Lord reminded me of the words of Psalm 84. I found myself thinking, What an accurate picture David painted of their nature and their nests.

When a swallow builds its nest, it will first find a barn or other structure with a supply of mud close by. It will carry mud and twigs in its little beak, making trip after trip, carefully constructing a sturdy nest on joist, strut or rafter beam of the barn. The outside of the mud-dauber-type structure dries and hardens, becoming very solid and secure. Yet the inside of the nest is lined with downy feathers and is soft, warm and inviting.

The thought struck me: Swallows build their nests the way they do because, instinctively, they know that the safest place to build is up against the wall. Now, we humans use the expression "up against the wall" to describe feeling trapped or being out of options, when we have no place to run and no way out.

Oh, that we would learn from the graceful swallow the wisdom of God, allowing our divine shepherd's leading and guiding to become such a deep part of us that we can mirror the powerful instincts He has built into His creation. May He weave into the fabric of our lives this truth: the place of abiding is found where difficulty crosses our will and our fear. My husband, James, has often stated, "Going to the cross is going to the point where my will crosses God's will." How desperately we need to abide in God by "nesting" close to the cross.

The Perfectly Designed Cross

Each one of us must go to the cross. There are no exceptions. The cross is the place where our will and God's will cross each other. The cross is always the place where God's will stands before me—and I am afraid of the pain. I want to run from it as fast as I can.

We do not realize that God will meet us right there—where we are spiritually weakest. If we let Him meet us there, He will give us His grace and strength in place of our weakness.

The truth is, God has designed a cross perfectly for each one of us. He knows the details of our lives, and He knows exactly how to direct us into situations where our natural strength will be tested. He knows how to apply pressure so every natural desire—those forces in us that make us want to cling to anything but Him—can be exposed and cleansed.

Spiritual storms, winds and billows will blow into our lives, pulling us this way and that. Sometimes, in the face of winds and danger, we know there is a place of safety in God, but still we don't fly to that safe place in Him. Instead, we fly away, resisting the wisdom that tells us to fly to Him. Why do we all seem to do this? I believe it's because we all know in our spirits what flying toward Him will mean. It will require first going to the cross.

Peace, safety, comfort and rest are found in God, but testing and discomfort are also woven into His design. Therefore, we should turn around and start running toward what is uncomfortable, because that is exactly where we are going to find Him. We will find our rest only after we choose to nest on a crossbeam.

David knew this. In Psalm 84, he tells us to fly to that place in God—the secret place, often the place of our greatest testing, known only to God and us. By abiding in this place, we build a strong history with God. Every trial and storm He brings us through becomes a part of the nest. Day by day, He lines our nest with His faithfulness, His goodness, His mercy and His comfort. We rest secure in His strong tower, built to last.

David said, "The sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young—even at Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God" (Ps. 84:3). We can rest our "young" in the shelter of His wonderful presence also. Our young may be our children, our dreams, our goals, our ministries, our gifts or anything we cherish. The shelter of the secret place is not for us alone; it's also a place for those concerns in our lives that matter most to us.

Do You Have a Nest?

What's so wonderful about David's imagery in Psalm 84 is that a nest is more than an emergency shelter. A nest is where you can live always. Here you can abide in peace whether everything around you is being shaken or everything around you is calm.

Where is your nest? What do you trust in for your security, peace and strength? If you know the Lord as your God and Savior, let me ask you: Has He become for you a nest for your spirit, a secure shelter?

David and so many others found their rest at the altars of the Lord. And now it's your turn. How will you respond when life seems hard and you don't even know which way to go? Will you allow Him to take your hard place and turn it into your next secret place? That is what I have learned to do when I'm "up against the wall." 

Dear Heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus, Your Son. I am longing to enter a deeper place of fellowship with You, but I'm not quite sure I know how to get there. Help me to open up the room in my heart that is meant for only You and me together, forever. Lord, come, and take all the bits and pieces of my life and heart and make them into a beautiful resting place of love of devotion to You. I love and need You so very much! 

For the original article, encountersnetwork.com.

Dr. James Goll is the founder of Encounters Network, Prayer Storm and helps carry on the work of Compassion Acts. For information on his online school visit:geteschool.com. James continues to live in Tennessee and is a joyful father and grandfather today.

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