God's Unusual Method of Promoting You to the Next Spiritual Level - FIA CURLEY CHARISMA NEWS

(Photo by Quintin Keller Published on Unsplash)

God's Unusual Method of Promoting You to the Next Spiritual Level

8/6/2017 FIA CURLEY  CHARISMA NEWS

Our resumes, our online profiles—they all boast our achievements.

And it makes sense. That's what they were designed to do.

Our lives are whittled down to bullet points supported by photos, tweets and descriptive hashtags. So it's not surprising that strangers read a couple of sentences next to our names and feel they know us.

They watch as our lives progress.

The completion of the recent degree?
The birth of the newest child?
The new house or bargain find?

It's all on display so others can see that #lifeisgood and we are #blessed.

Even if we missed out on the promotion, momentarily lost track of our kid at the store, are still living at home with our parents, but managed to save money on our car insurance policy, we want others to know we're #successfullyadulting.

Our social media outlets are designed to convey the same primary message: We are great and greatly to be praised.

Drink the Cup

But in the countercultural kingdom of God, greatness is defined differently.

In Mark 10, Jesus gives an earth-shattering lesson to His disciples who desired positions of prominence in His kingdom. The heir of all things teaches that despite the example of the culture, greatness is found in serving.

Then James and John, the sons of Zebedee, came to Him, saying, "Teacher, we want that whatever we may ask, You would do for us."

He said to them, "What do you want Me to do for you?"

They said to Him, "Grant us to sit, one at Your right hand and the other at Your left hand, in Your glory."

But Jesus said to them, "You do not know what you are asking. Can you drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?"

They said to Him, "We can."

Jesus said to them, "You will indeed drink the cup that I drink and be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized. But to sit at My right hand or at My left hand is not Mine to grant. It is for those for whom it has been prepared."

When the ten heard it, they began to be very displeased with James and John. But Jesus called them together, and said, "You know that those who are appointed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. Whoever would be great among you must be your servant, and whoever among you would be greatest must be servant of all. For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:35-45).

In this exchange with His disciples, Jesus fields the request for a promise for promotion with gentleness and patience, diffusing any potential arguments among the twelve. Instead of scolding James and John for wanting to be great, He teaches them what greatness actually means and how to achieve it.

Beyond wealth, education, possessions or accolades, God sees our greatness in service.

But Jesus called them together, and said, "You know that those who are appointed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them, and their great ones exercise authority over them. But it shall not be so among you. Whoever would be great among you must be your servant" (Mark 10:42-43).

In verses 42 and 43, not only does Jesus point out what is required to be great, but He instructs them as to how to properly go about qualifying for that greatness.

Instead of following the pattern of the leaders and officials that surrounded them, who were willing to push others down as they enjoyed their positions of power, honor and rule, Jesus points them in a different direction. In the kingdom of God, positions are awarded, but the pathways to the positions requested by James and John came through their acceptance of the cup Jesus would fully consume.

Serve With Humility

Jesus also teaches that in serving others, there is a correct way to serve.

We don't become great because we do the right actions. Rather the One who looks beyond the outward appearance and into the heart of every person calls us to a place of humility, worked out and honed through our times of serving.

A desire for greatness is innate. God has made us with a draw to be great and do great things. This is one of the ramifications of being made in the image of God, the only One who is great and greatly to be praised. Like children who observe their Father and want to be like Him, we too have that yearning built within us.

But true greatness and exaltation come with a price and that price is encountered as we travel along the pathway of humble servanthood. Instead of wanting to be great in this age in order to have others marvel at what we've achieved, we can use our greatness to make others great. We can find comfort in our hope of greatness in the age to come and humble ourselves, preferring others before ourselves. He will exalt us in due time (see James 4:10).

Like our Savior, who withheld nothing, pouring Himself out to teach, train, lead and restore those around Him, even when it led to a shameful death on a cross, we too can give of ourselves and invest our lives so that others would also be able to grow and thrive in God's presence, knowing their Maker.

At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, "Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?"

Jesus called a little child to Him and set him in their midst, and said, "Truly I say to you, unless you are converted and become like little children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore whoever humbles himself like this little child is greatest in the kingdom of heaven (Matt. 18:1-4).

Yes, be great. Be like Jesus in a broken and hurting world.

Humbly serve others the Lord has placed around you in your sphere of influence.

In your workplace, at your church, during your Bible study, at the grocery store, in your marriage, among your teammates, in your neighborhood—the Lord has a pathway toward greatness for you. But many times, those opportunities for greatness come in small runny-nosed packages, hard work, ill-timed interruptions and the simple, repetitive actions of household chores.

Let this mind be in you all, which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped. But He emptied Himself, taking upon Himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men. And being found in the form of a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to death, even death on a cross. Therefore God highly exalted Him and gave Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father (Phil. 2:5-11).

Long to Be Great—God's Way

As we accept God's invitation for greatness, we enter the reality of what He's doing and what He's offering us.

Far beyond the life boasting the six-figure salary or a minimum wage, the Ph.D. or a GED, the latest Tesla or a monthly bus pass, Grammys, Pulitzers or even Teacher of the Year, God uses His distinct measuring stick for determining greatness.

In this life, there are opportunities to be and achieve great things, but His opportunities to serve are designed to launch us past our day-to-day and into the fullness of the ultimate reality of greatness in the kingdom. God is a rewarder and His nature is to reward—not flippantly, but lavishly, based on how we love Him in this age. He will review our lives and, in His grace, He will judiciously reward positions to us based on our response to His kingly leadership over our lives.

Let us answer that internal drive for greatness by pursuing God's design and will for our life. Through our specific skill sets and talents, the Lord will lead us to love and serve others for His glory, both for our benefit and for the benefit of the body, knowing that what Jesus said to the crowd is what will be true for us:

"Truly I say to you, among those who are born of women, there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. But he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he" (Matt. 11:11).

For more reading on this topic, see The Seven Longings of the Human Heart, by Mike Bickle with Deborah Hiebert.

Fia Curley serves on the NightWatch at the International House of Prayer Kansas City,participating in prayer, worship, and intercession from midnight to 6am. She enjoys blending her passion for prayer, worship, and journalism as she labors with the Lord to see His goodness revealed to families, government leaders, and immigrants from non-Christian nations.

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Lessons We Can All Learn From Jim Bakker's Fall and Rise - STEVE STRANG CHARISMA NEWS

I appeared on the Jim Bakker Show earlier this year. (Facebook )

Lessons We Can All Learn From Jim Bakker's Fall and Rise

11/15/2016 STEVE STRANG  CHARISMA NEWS

Pain is a part of life. The infilling of the Holy Spirit helps us deal with pain but is no guarantee Christians won't be immune to our share of it. The question is not whether you will experience pain, but how you will respond when the pain comes.

It's been said the heat that melts the butter hardens the clay. Too many Christians, I've observed in my six decades on Earth, melt at the slightest problem. They've been led to believe following Christ means a life of joy and fulfillment. That's absolutely true, but the way that message has been preached, at least in America, has left some with an unhealthy expectation that the Lord only allows smooth sailing in our lives.

On top of this, an overemphasis on the so-called prosperity gospel based on a mistranslation of 1 John 3 that God wants you to prosper has caused many a shipwreck for Christians who bought into it without understanding being a Christian is more than living like you won the lottery.

Jim Bakker should know. He told me he got off base partly because of an overemphasis on the prosperity gospel. And he has experienced far more pain in his life than almost anyone I know. In this month's cover story of Charisma magazine, I tell how Jim Bakker lost everything—his ministry, his reputation and his wife, and even his home burned to the ground. In addition, he lost his freedom and was in prison for almost five years. Despite it all, he has come back—in some ways stronger than ever.

Sometimes I will write an editorial about our cover story in Charisma. You can click here to read the digital version of that issue about Bakker, who I have covered since before the infamous "fall" in 1987. Here I share my own thoughts and conclusions on his life and I ask how you'll respond when the inevitable crises in life cause you to despair.

You may never experience the depth of what Jim Bakker experienced. But all of us will experience loss, whether it's the loss of a dream or a job or one's health. Maybe it will be the loss of a marriage. And even if it's not the loss of any other of these things, each of us will experience the loss of a loved one because no one can escape the inevitability of death.

We can all learn valuable life lessons from how Jim Bakker fell and how the Lord raised him up in this hour:

Humble yourself. If Jim Bakker was haughty before the fall, he is humble today. What happened to him was unjust in my opinion. Maybe he couldn't help being humiliated as he lost everything as the world press covered every twist and turn. Read how low he was when he came out of prison. Yet I've known others who were humiliated by lesser "scandals," and they tried to justify themselves and remained prideful. Whatever your pain is, embrace humility and ask God what He is trying to teach you.

Learn something new. While Jim was in prison cleaning toilets, he took time to get a doctorate degree by correspondence. But more than that, he did an in-depth study of the words of Jesus and also the book of Revelation. It was unplanned and unwanted, but it was like a five-year sabbatical, and he took advantage of every moment to study Scripture. So if you are bedridden due to your health or out of work, what creative way can you spend the time learning something new or growing spiritually?

Realize the Lord may be preparing you for something you can't anticipate. Most of us don't change unless we go through a difficult time. If this is happening to you, realize God has a bigger plan and allow your trial to shape your character. In Jim Bakker's case, it was becoming an expert on end times so he could help ready the body of Christ for whatever difficulties may be ahead. If PTL had continued to go and grow, would he have learned that? No. But look at the people he has been able to help. What is the equivalent of this in your life?

Finally, never give up. As long as there's life, there's hope. Nothing will continue as it is now—either very good or very bad. So you may feel overwhelmed, but that doesn't mean the sun won't rise tomorrow. Meanwhile, remember the words of Winston Churchill: "Never give up."

One of the things I admire about Jim Bakker is that he didn't give up. Instead, he started over, built a great organization and a great legacy, and served as an example for us all.

You can read my article on Jim and the entire November issue of Charisma by clicking here for the digital edition.

A few months ago, I interviewed Jim while I was on a visit to Morningside. I made it into a podcast which had the most downloads up to that time. Plus, I wrote about it in my newsletter which you can read here if you missed it. Take time to listen to the podcast again and to share it with others.

Take time to like my Steve Strang page on Facebook. During this election season, my audience has really grown! And as usual, share this with others you think would enjoy it.

Jim Bakker Has the Heart of a Changed Man

There is only one Jim Bakker. In this show, Jim opens up to discuss his career, Lori's house and his passion for America. Be open to hear how his life is an example of how God is a God of second chances.

Steve Strang is the founder of Charisma and CEO of Charisma Media. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Click here to subscribe to the Strang Report podcast, and hereto sign up for the Strang Report newsletter.

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Morris Ruddick: [SIGN] PERSPECTIVES AND OPPORTUNITY

Morris Ruddick

PERSPECTIVES AND OPPORTUNITY (c) Morris E. Ruddick Back in the early eighties, I served on the Political and Public Affairs Committee of one the most powerful trade associations in the energy business. In addressing one of our agendas, the Chairman of the committee and CEO of the Rowan Companies, posed an illustration. He suggested that had the rogue, totalitarian governments of the world announced plans to begin hanging all the capitalists across the globe; that what we could expect --- probably the next day --- would be a Western rope salesman at their door. There is nothing wrong with opportunity. Yet, we have entered a season in which those who define their identities and destinies as believers, both in ministry and in business, need to reevaluate the assumptions. The issue first relates to what in Jewish tradition might be termed the Issachar context --- of understanding the times and knowing what to do.  Understanding the times presumes a perspective based on a realistic worldview. Otherwise, the presumption of knowing what to do will be flawed and fall short.  The issue also has a specific bearing on our priorities and what we consider as opportunity -- as we seek to live according to God's priorities, in advancing what has long been referred to as the Kingdom of God.  Unfortunately, the priorities of believers in the West, typically, have little semblance to the priorities of believers in the two-thirds of the world with little or no middle class. While the Western Church has never been short on charity and philanthropy in its response to the realities faced by those in the rest of the world; yet strategically, the model for transformation, by and large, has been a short-sighted, Western model, based on a subtle element of Western dependency. It has fallen short in establishing non-Western believers to be the head and not the tail in their own lands. So, the stark realities of oppression, persecution and poverty, that prevail across the majority of the world, remain. Priority and Opportunity The issue concerns priorities and opportunity. It has been written: "While then we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, but especially to those who are of the household of the faith." Within the context of taking advantage of opportunity, our first priority then is to build up the household of faith. That principle has been modeled and stressed throughout both Jewish and Christian scripture. In the mid-90s, I penned my first article about the modern-day destiny shaped like that of Joseph the Patriarch. This modern-day "Joseph-calling" will play a significant role in addressing a time of crisis coming upon the earth.  However, the model for far too many embracing today's Joseph calling, with its anticipated role in administrating resources and power in a time of crisis, has yielded to pop-Christian culture, with a Western-dependent, Western-centric wineskin.  The fact is that in two-thirds of the world, the majority of the people are already in crisis and the realistic opportunities are being blinded by incredibly short-sighted mind-sets. To start recognizing the opportunities in order to make a difference where there is crisis, the current move of God underway in the marketplace is going to have to begin challenging the precepts of both our worldview and the standards by which we are ascribing our priorities.  Modern-day Josephs must be at the epicenter in recognizing these opportunities as the Western Church awakens to the plight of the brethren already living under conditions of crisis, poverty and oppression. In a post I wrote several years ago, I shared that the dynamic being referred to as the wealth transfer is not about money. It will have its focus on resources and power. While it may involve money, the wealth transfer will be part of the prelude to the clash of all ages. The clash of all ages will pivot on Israel and extend worldwide - and spark the release of the restoration of God's order and prophetic destiny for His creation. It is this restoration of God's authority that will unleash unexpected societal change. It will give focus to the central message expounded by Jesus when He walked the face of the earth: the Kingdom of God.  The Kingdom of God The issue relates to change during a time of change. Central to the change that builds God's Kingdom and not a false illusion of it, will be the new-wine skin orientation of how we respond to prioritizing opportunity. During the same time frame that my friend from the Rowan Companies was commenting on misguided opportunism, Apple Computer's founder Steve Jobs challenged Pepsi's vice-president John Skully (the man who orchestrated the Pepsi Challenge ad campaign that snatched significant market share from Coke) with these words:  "Do you want to spend the rest of your life selling sugared water or do you want to change the world?"  That question strips the superficialities from our notions of success and really hits the priority nail on the head. Every modern-day Joseph should be embracing opportunity within this context and operating as a change-artist, to actively change conditions in the world in the sphere of their calling. Realities, Opportunity and Focus Margaret Thatcher once commented that Ronald Reagan "ended the cold war and made the world safer for democracy and capitalism."  While I agree, my prayer is that the path he paved was for something more significant than opportunity for the capitalist rope peddlers. My prayer also, is that those emerging as today's Josephs are genuinely facing the realities that operate outside the sphere of the West. Such a focus will give priority to mobilizing and building up those who are of the household of faith in these lands. Unfortunately, many sincere Western Christians, in their old wineskin zeal, unwittingly prop up and perpetuate the very systems and organizations that persecute and oppress those of the household of faith in lands outside the West. It may not be selling the rope to hang the capitalists, but if it fails to build up the believing community, then it is flawed and falls short.  Jesus spent a lot of time with His followers imparting the principles of faith. Faith is both a relational and an operational thing. Relationally with God, it first closes the gap between the seen world and the unseen spiritual world. That in turn is the gateway into the second relational dimension, as we employ our gifts and callings to serve in making a difference for those around us. With that foundation, operationally faith then restores God's order and purposes where it is broken, where there is crisis.  The Kingdom of God involves the employment of power, God's power. God's power is a challenge to corrupt power. Kingdom principles often contradict accepted ways of the world.  The fact is that spirit controls matter and is a foundational premise of God's power. The words of Jesus, expounding on the words of Moses and the prophets, call for a breaking of the mold. It is an issue of fixing what is broken.  We need to recapture the wineskin-for-change to rebuild the broken walls and restore the losses that got diverted from the vibrant momentum evidenced in the first century Church. The early Church was referred to as those who were turning the world upside down.  Turning the world upside down today is not going to happen by blindly importing and leveraging Western expertise and funds into lands of crisis; or by schmoozing the local temporal and religious power brokers. It is going to begin from within; by mobilizing and equipping local believers who have a grasp to build community and extend the mantle first given to Abraham to those around them: to be blessed to be a blessing. From that point creativity and discovery will result. Joseph the Patriarch was totally integrated into Egyptian society, to the degree that his brothers didn't recognize him until he chose to reveal himself to them. He was faithful in administrating the authority entrusted to him, at each operational level, during his tenure in Egypt. God is not looking for rope peddlers to serve as benevolent, power-brokers.  Like Joseph the Patriarch, the calling today is completely outside-the-box of what may have been previously acceptable operating parameters. This will bear significantly on how we approach opportunity, based on these higher-dimension priorities. The Seduction of Power Today's apostles-of-change are at the helm in a huge power-shift. It is a power shift that challenges the combined status quo of the spiritual, community and economic dimensions that govern entire societies. It challenges the business and technological foundations. Unfortunately, power seduces, blinds and corrupts. If it is not the seduction of responding to opportunity to selling rope to those who intend to hang the capitalists; then it is the outmoded wine-skin adages that keep the Josephs operating passively, limiting the potential of what could be the true impact. In reality we have entered a time of discovery and a time of accelerated change. Today's Josephs are called to be at the forefront of this discovery and change. Today's Josephs are catalysts for change, rebuilding and releasing restoration with community and economic initiatives in arenas of crisis. This is why the Joseph calling will not operate outside the cloak of humility. It is a calling that excludes the power-hungry and the social climbers. It excludes those who actively or passively abuse their authority; or give place to condescension and the subtleties of spiritual snobbery. Humility was foundational for everything that Joseph was called to do. Humility, among those with this high calling, cannot be achieved outside of recognizing our utter inability to accomplish God's purposes, aside from abiding completely in Him. Interlinked with humility is the need for a genuine listening heart, one that is poised and practiced in hearing from God and is intent on hearing the hearts of others. The difference between operating in a mode of "what we can do for God," versus what He is allowing to do through us, is not just subtle, but of such significance that it will impact the results for eternity. True Opportunity's Gateway: Redirected Priorities Joseph stood alone in his calling. His promotion into the fullness of his destiny did not come as a result of his own efforts or ethical standards, however exceptional they may have been. It was certainly not the result of his boss, Potiphar's unwavering support. Nor was it the result of the timeliness of the cupbearer remembering to intervene. Joseph yielded to God's purposes at every step. His promotion to become Pharaoh's right-hand man came directly from the Lord. His promotion into the fullness of his destiny came at a critical juncture in time when there would be no question with the priorities penetrating the opportunity with pinpoint precision. God was the One who put things in order and established the timing with the dreams He gave Pharaoh. Joseph's agendas, when sitting alongside of Pharaoh, became the gateway through which God re-navigated and re-set the stage for his purposes for His people Israel for all eternity, while profoundly blessing the peoples around them in the process. The reality is that both the crisis and the foundation for the long-awaited wealth transfer are upon us. The issue is one of dispersing and dispensing. There is a need to disperse the smokescreens that enshroud the priorities. With realistic priorities, the task is then to mobilize believers prepared in their own lands to become the head and not the tail to address the times of crisis and disruption. With that alignment will come the opportunities and discoveries tied to dispensing the wealth. The challenge for those in church leadership is this:  When the fire passes from the burning of the chaff, what is it that will remain from the efforts expended? Will you be known as using your gifts and resources to build up mobilizers who are aligned with the shift underway and who tangibly rebuild and bring restoration to those parts of the world where corruption, distress and affliction prevail? Then the challenge for the modern-day Josephs is:  What will your legacy be? When the Lord separates the sheep and the goats, will eternity see you as one who provided the rope for those perpetuating the crises and even undermining the higher dimensions of God's purposes; or will you use your resources to mobilize and equip the brethren to help their own people to rebuild in lands of crisis and turmoil. And for each of us, the question is what have we done about God's unfolding destiny for Israel and the Jewish people? May the Lord individually give us the revelation and wisdom to ensure our focus and priorities are on the opportunities and goals that serve the purposes of the One who sees in secret; rather than on the recognition and praise that come from the short-sighted worldviews and perspectives that gain the approval of men. As it has been written: "Then He will answer them and say, inasmuch as you did it to the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me."  ___________________________________________________ Morris Ruddick has been a forerunner and spokesman for the higher dimensions of business leadership 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 to be blessed to be a blessing where God's light is dim in diverse regions around the globe. 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;" "Leadership by Anointing;" and "Mantle of Fire," which address the mobilization of business and governmental leaders with destinies to impact their communities. They are available in print and e-versions from www.Amazon.com, www.apple.com/ibooks and www.BarnesandNoble.com. 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 economic community builders imparting influence and the blessings of God. Checks on US banks should be made out to Global Initiatives and mailed to PO Box 370291, Denver CO 80237 or by credit card at http://strategic-initiatives.org/donate/ Likewise, email us to schedule a seminar for your group's gathering on the Joseph-Daniel Calling or on anointing the creative in business. 2016 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 Global Initiatives is a tax-exempt 501 (c) 3 organization

Global Initiatives Foundation, PO Box 370291, Denver, CO 80237

Prophecy: We're in a Season of Promotions and Demotions - JENNIFER LECLAIRE CHARISMA NEWS

Prophecy: We're in a Season of Promotions and Demotions

3/22/2016 JENNIFER LECLAIRE  charisma news

Don't be jealous of others. Work on your relationship with Jesus instead. (Flickr )

I prophesied earlier this year that 2016 would be marked by shifting seasons and suddenlies. Part of those shifting seasons and suddenlies includes promotions and demotions. God is going to raise up the humble, hardworking saints and humble the prideful ones with wrong motives. Put another way, doors are going to open for some, and opportunities will diminish for others. The Lord spoke these words to me:

"I am promoting My faithful ones in this season to positions in My spirit and in the natural that defy human reasoning. My faithful ones have prayed and sought My face and walked in My will with the little things, and I am making them ruler over more in My kingdom. Those faithless ones will be demoted while my faithful ones are raised up in this hour. Those walking in pride will be brought low. Those walking in arrogance will not stand in My special places in this season. But those who have walked in the low places with Me, I will exalt and raise up and send out with an anointing to stand and withstand in this hour."

I have been in a season of constant promotion for more than a decade. That's not to say that I haven't had setbacks or trials, but the Lord has worked it all together for my good. I've learned sometimes what looks like a demotion or closed door can really be the Lord setting you up to shift you into a new season. With that in mind, let's look at six ways to respond to this prophetic word.

Listen to Jennifer's podcast on this topic for more insight.

1. Don't try to make it happen. Don't chase dreams, chase the God who gave you the dreams and He will make your dreams come true in the right time. No man on earth and no devil in hell can stop what God wants to do in your life—but you can make a big mess trying to make it happen.

In Genesis 16, God promised Abram and Sarah a son, but they got impatient and birthed an Ishmael that brought grief and sorrow into their lives. Manipulating situations may get you somewhere more quickly, but it won't keep you there long. Remember, whatever you do to get somewhere, you'll have to keep doing to stay there. You will never have to force anything that's truly meant to be. Don't promote and exalt yourself. That's God's job.

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2. Don't look to man to make it happen. What man gives you, man can take away. If you look to man to make it happen for you, you'll be tempted to compromise. You'll be expected to do things God may not have called you to do. Some Christians have sold their soul to man for a quick promotion instead of selling out to God and trusting His timing. Consider Jeremiah 17:5-6 with reverential fear and trembling:

"Thus says the Lord: Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his strength, and whose heart departs from the Lord. For he will be like a bush in the desert and will not see when good comes, but will inhabit the parched places in the wilderness, in a salt land and not inhabited." This is not to say that you can never receive help from a person, but don't look to man to open doors only God should open.

3. Don't be jealous of what others have. God won't promote a jealous heart. Jealousy is a work of the flesh (Gal. 5:20). Think about it for a minute. Saul was jealous of David—and tried to kill him. Joseph's brothers were jealous—and tried to kill him. Cain was jealous of Abel—and did kill him. When you allow jealousy into your heart, you are tapping into a murderous spirit that will ultimately kill your dreams. James 3:14-16 says:

"But if you have bitter envying and strife in your hearts, do not boast and do not lie against the truth. This wisdom descends not from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, and devilish. For where there is envying and strife, there is confusion and every evil work." (For further study, read Proverbs 14:30 and Philippians 2:3.)

4. Trust God with the timing. Ecclesiastes 3 declares, "To everything there is a season." Many times, we think we can change our times and seasons, but Daniel 2:21 makes it clear that this is God's role and explains, "He removes kings and sets up kings." David rightly told the Lord, "You are my God. My times are in Your hand" (Ps. 31:14-15). Remember, "For neither from the east nor west, nor from the wilderness comes victory. But God is the judge; He brings one low, and lifts up another" (Ps. 75:6-7).

5. Work on your character. If you were ready to handle the promotion now, God would give it to you now. Many times, we need to develop the character that will keep us to where the anointing takes us. Romans 5:3-5 tells us patience produces character. Ask the Holy Spirit to show you areas of your life that need work—and then ask for the grace to get to the next glory.

6. Practice humility. Humility has no rights. Here are three witnesses to keep in mind: "Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time" (1 Pet. 5:6-7); "Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up" (James 4:10); and "For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted" (Luke 14:11).

Finally, once God exalts you, stay humble. Pride comes before the fall. 

Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening;Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer onFacebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.

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"December: a Time of Surprises and the Release of New Gifts" and "Love, Hope and Joy Being Released" - Doug Addison, THE ELIJAH LIST

"December: a Time of Surprises and the Release of New Gifts" and "Love, Hope and Joy Being Released"

Doug Addison, Los Angeles, CA

The Elijah List

Get ready to cross over into a new time in which things will not go the way they did in the past.

December is going to be a time of surprises and the release of new gifts and revelation. It is going to look strange at times as we are in the midst of a major transition.

Unexpected blessings and deeper insight and revelation are coming. This is a time to pull back and not get too busy. Take time to listen and write down what God is speaking right now. Expect to hear God's voice and to have prophetic dreams between Christmas and the New Year.

The first part of 2016 will start to ramp up and sudden turnarounds will begin to increase.

Expect sudden acceleration and advancement.

Last New Year's Eve

On December 31, 2014 I had a very powerful spiritual encounter. I literally heard audible cries of people who have been wounded by uncaring Christians and leaders. The Lord told me, "Their cries have reached My ears and I must respond."

After this, I began getting more revelation about the new move from God that is going to be for the outcasts and those who have been rejected by Christianity. This is going to start in 2016 with many people who are wounded warriors.

This new order of things is going to look and feel unusual and stretch your understanding of what is possible.

"But with God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26b NIV

The Children of Promise

The spiritual atmosphere is full of expectation right now. Things are pregnant and ready for the birth of something new. But there is a moment of silence just before it happens.

You will need to pause from busyness to capture all that is happening as sometimes it might not be all that dramatic.

God is preparing the ones who have been in a season of obscurity to begin to come forward in 2016. 

For many people this has been a painful time of rejection and feeling that they missed God. These wounded warriors are similar to the "children of God" mentioned in Romans 8.

"I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed." Romans 8:18–19

Many people who are going to be part of this next movement have been rejected and wounded and have been in a seven-year wilderness season since 2008. But God has hidden them for this very time to come forward. As this is happening, the earth itself is experiencing birth pains and turmoil.

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time." Romans 8:22

Look Back 9 Months Ago

Quite often God will speak to us or release something and it takes time to germinate and form. It is similar to the way a baby comes 9 months after conception. In March 2015, nine months ago, spiritual invitations went out and the wounded warriors and hidden ones began to awaken.

Look back to what started to happen last March but may not have fully taken shape yet in your life. A major verdict happened over the spiritual lives of those who have been hidden and are being called to be part of this next move of God.

Next 9 Months

The next nine months, between December 2015 and September 2016, will be a strategic time of birthing the destiny of many who are called to the next level. Like childbirth, it is often painful and messy and you will be stretched in your understanding of what is possible.

The enemy will try to bring accusations and jealousy against those who are coming forward. You will be able to recognize those who are being promoted by their humility, love and honor.

It will be important for us all to keep in mind that as we cross into this new season we will need to, "Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past"(Isaiah 43:18).

A Prophetic Sign

I got these prophetic words last week and God spoke to me that as a sign of this new movement coming, a baby girl was born to Facebook CEO and billionaires Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan. On the week of Thanksgiving, their daughter Max Chan Zuckerberg was born.

The Zuckerbergs created a fund and pledged to give 99% of its $45 billion to charity to help find cures for diseases and to promote human equality. The Facebook CEO included a letter to his daughter in Tuesday's post. He wrote:

"Max, we love you and feel a great responsibility to leave the world a better place for you and all children. We wish you a life filled with the same love, hope and joy you give us. We can't wait to see what you bring to this world." (Read the full story here.)

The meaning of the name Max is the "greatest." We are about to see one of the greatest moves of God that will bring love, hope and joy to the world.

God moved on the Zuckerbergs to give their wealth to charity and it will indeed help starving people and fund the discovery of cures for diseases. God is moving to release finances into the world and into the Kingdom of God.

This is a time to have love, hope and joy!

Blessings,

Doug Addison
InLight Connection
Email: respond@dougaddison.com
Website: DougAddison.com

Doug Addison is a prophetic dream interpreter, speaker, writer, Life Coach, and stand-up comedian. His high energy, prophetic messages have been shared on television, radio and the internet for over a decade. Doug travels the world bringing a message of love, hope and having fun! His unique style helps people discover their destiny and experience God's supernatural love and power. 

Doug releases Daily Prophetic Words online and is the author of several books, including Understand Your Dreams Now: Spiritual Dream Interpretation and Personal Development God's Way. He and his wife Linda live in Los Angeles, California.

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