A Word To the Prophetic Camp - Kent Simpson

Kent Simpson:

A Word To the Prophetic Camp

- The Elijah List

For many years the Church has been asking people, "Do you know who Jesus Christ is?" Today's question, however, is, "Does Jesus Christ know who you are?"

Through two wonderful gifts of the Holy Spirit, prophecy and the word of knowledge, we have discovered that when you receive a prophetic word and it is straight from the throne of God, you are launched into a euphoric experience. 

Having the knowledge that God knows who you are is like having your name called from Heaven, revealing to everyone that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.

The gift of prophecy creates a pathway, imparting purpose into your life. 

Knowing even a small part of your destiny for this life can make a huge difference. With all the struggles that you are going through, receiving a word of knowledge from our Father that tells you He knows what is happening in your life today or reveals something He fixed in your past increases the measure of your faith. Does it not? It builds power within you to hear that He is on your side.

You can rest assured in the fact that you can handle all things when you know God has your back.

I believe this is why Apostle Paul encouraged the Body of Christ to seek spiritual gifts, and why he specifically requested that in our search we ask for the gift of prophecy. For God's prophetic words build, comfort, and exhort the Body of Christ into a unified force of faith that effectively changes the world.

Prophecy is a spiritual gift from the Holy Spirit. This gift is the foretelling of things to come. Many who have the gift of prophecy are also found to have an accompanying spiritual gift: the word of knowledge. The word of knowledge gives the spiritual ability of knowing in part about a person's life, whether the word speaks to their past or present situation.

What Is the Problem With My Prophetic Word?

The two gifts working in unison are very powerful. However, there are a couple of things I would like to point out about these two gifts. The word of knowledge has much more of a shock-and-awe effect than the gift of prophecy. The gift of prophecy reveals things that are to happen somewhere in their future. 

Most people will go through many tests and changes, a pruning process, before their prophecy comes to pass. 

This is what we call the process. Most people wish to avoid this part and go straight to the promise that is declared in the prophecy.

The vast majority of the test takes place within one's soul. The mind, however, poses the big question: Is this prophecy even from God, and if so, when will it come to pass? 

The recipient of the prophecy must wait sometimes years before the prophecy comes to pass. They must have patience in order to know whether or not the word was truly from God. Sometimes it takes so long for the word to come to pass they forget ever receiving their prophecy until years after it has come to pass, and then it hits them like a bolt of lightning.

On the other hand, when a word of knowledge is given, its impact is immediate and the person knows without a doubt the word is from God because it has already happened in their life, which makes the reality of the gift unquestionable.

What Makes a Prophecy Appear To Be Hit and Miss?

Here are some other reasons people become confused after they have received a prophetic word. When the message is delivered, it may start with a word of knowledge, then go into prophecy, foretelling of things to come, and later shift back to a word of knowledge, speaking about something that has already happened in their life. This can become confusing to the person receiving the prophetic word.

There have been times when I mailed out a prophetic word and the person called and told me later that I was right in a few places but the other parts of their word did not fit them. After listening to their prophecy, I discovered that the parts they said were correct were words of knowledge. The ones they said I missed were prophecy. Well, of course the prophecy has not manifested in their life, for they just received the prophecy a few days before calling me. How would the word have time to come to pass?

These two gifts listed in 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, are found to be in operation throughout the Holy Bible. We also find in the Scriptures a guide for those who are delivering a prophetic word. This same Scripture is used in the Body of Christ today; its purpose is to keep those ministering in the gift of prophecy or the word of knowledge from hurting people by delivering cruel and punishing words. 

If this Scripture is not enforced, people can use their own words as weapons rather than using the true spiritual gift to express our heavenly Father's love.

But he who prophesies speaks edification and exhortation and comfort to men. 1 Corinthians 14:3

Can It Be Different When a Prophet Prophesies?

The same verse, however, does NOT apply to all who prophesy. For those who walk in the office of an apostle or prophet, you will discover that this verse does not always fit when a prophet is ministering in the word of knowledge or in the gift of prophecy.

A prophet also has the gift of prophecy and operates in the word of knowledge; however, there are times the prophetic word is for correction and confirms that God knows what you have been doing in secret. Scripture tells us that what is done in darkness shall be brought into the light, and that which is done in secret shall be shouted from the rooftops (Matthew 10:27, Mark 4:22).

It is the prophet's place to speak when God calls upon him or her to minister in a prophetic word of correction. If the prophetic word is received, the rebuke can bring comfort, exhortation, or edification.

In fact, the very writer of the letter to the Church at Corinth was Apostle Paul, who gave this verse I am using as the focus of this teaching, proving there is a difference between those who operate in the gift of prophecy and those who walk in the office of an apostle or prophet.

We see in the Book of Acts that it was common to find apostles and prophets traveling together. The apostle Paul and the prophet Silas were a traveling pair; as was Barnabas, an apostle, and Judas, a prophet, who traveled as a ministry team.

In one of the recorded accounts from the Book of Acts, Paul and possibly Silas came upon a false prophet named Elymas, a sorcerer who had been harassing and hindering them from preaching the Gospel. Paul turned and prophesied blindness to come upon the man. The Scripture proves that there is a difference in the instruction Apostle Paul gave to the Church at Corinth and how he operated in this instance. 

Why? Because there is definite distinction between walking in the ascension gift ministries as an apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher, according to Ephesians 4:11 and those who operate in spiritual gifts listed in 1 Corinthians 12.

Then Saul, who also is called Paul, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked intently at him and said, "O full of all deceit and all fraud, you son of the devil, you enemy of all righteousness, will you not cease perverting the straight ways of the Lord? And now, indeed, the hand of the Lord is upon you, and you shall be blind, not seeing the sun for a time."

And immediately a dark mist fell on him, and he went around seeking someone to lead him by the hand. Then the proconsul believed, when he saw what had been done, being astonished at the teaching of the Lord. Acts 13:9-12

Surprisingly, this is not the only account where the Holy Spirit has revealed, according to the Holy Scriptures, what power is given to the prophets. We also see that in the days of tribulation the Holy Spirit will give power to the prophets to call down plagues and pestilence equal to the days Moses and Aaron as they stood before Pharaoh demanding that he let the people of God go free.

But in the days of the sounding of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound, the mystery of God would be finished, as He declared to His servants the prophets. Revelation 10:7

And he said to me, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings." Revelation 10:11

These have power to shut Heaven, so that no rain falls in the days of their prophecy; and they have power over waters to turn them to blood, and to strike the earth with all plagues, as often as they desire. Revelation 11:6

God Would Never Give a Prophetic Curse, Right?

I know that it is not popular to reveal the complete truth from what is recorded in the Holy Scriptures. However, if you are like me, you only want the truth. 

The truth forces us to listen for God's word. This is why we must know exactly how to pray, hear, and obey. It is paramount we obey Him, for to do otherwise would be far too costly.

My calling came as God spoke to me from Ezekiel 33 on the 14th day of March, 1979, and it is part of my calling to share and teach on the prophetic gifts and functions, even to those who operate in the duties of a prophet, who stand in the office of a prophet. I pray we all be open to hear God's message. In this day and time we need to shed more light upon the truth, lest we find ourselves out of balance within the prophetic camp.

Kent Simpson, Prophetic Pastor
Prophetic Ministries Today

Email: PMT@propheticministries.org
Website: propheticministries.org

Kent Simpson is a prophetic pastor and is the founder and senior pastor of Prophetic Ministries Tabernacle – a gathering place for the prophetic people of God to unite for the sole purpose of being used as vessels for the Holy Spirit to speak through. Prophetic Ministries Today is devoted to the truth that Jesus is not dead but alive and He speaks if you have an ear to hear the Spirit. 

His website is filled with prophetic teachings which will help you understand the process of "hearing" God for yourself as well as others. The Lord wants you to pray, hear, and obey Him because the Holy Spirit is the only One who can truthfully lead you into the abundant life Jesus promised us.

Finding Your Power in God's Lavish Love - Heidi Baker

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Finding Your Power in God's Lavish Love

2/3/2014 HEIDI BAKER CHARISMA magazine

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Lavish is an incredibly rich word. It means, “over the top, more than you could imagine”—like when we read, “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God”
(1 John 3:1, NIV).

No matter how great we are, we do not naturally deserve to be called sons and daughters of God. Even if we achieved academic honors in school, the highest promotions in our jobs and every other qualification this world could possibly offer, we would never merit such a gift. Only His free and lavish love gives us the most beautiful title of all—not doctor, not lawyer, not apostle, but son or daughter.

We are the family God went out and found. He was so determined to call us sons and daughters that He suffered on a cross and died. Jesus and His Father are one. Whatever Jesus does, the Father does. They act together, and the cross expresses the unity of their love for us. Jesus died so we could be brothers and sisters to one another. Before that we could not be one family.

I have been beaten up, shot at and lied about. People have even tried to strangle me. I am not afraid. To this day I can walk boldly into gangs of armed thugs and tell them to stop in the name of Jesus. I expect them to drop their knives. Generally they turn surprisingly nice. Sometimes they look at me and apologize.

Where did this confidence come from? It came from knowing the Father loves me. Because I truly know that I am loved, I am not afraid.

God wants your ministry to flow from the realization that you are a beloved child of God. In that place you don’t worry too much about how people see you. You don’t worry too much about whether they are nice or mean. You don’t even worry about whether they love you or hate you. You don’t worry because you’re simply going to love them and love Him. This comes from knowing who He is and what He thinks of you. This is what it means to grasp you are a child of God.

But what if we make messy mistakes? What if it turns out we are still flawed people who can be difficult to get along with? Will He keep on loving us then?

We have taken in thousands of children to live with us over the years; one of them was a particular rascal. If he could find something wrong to do, he would do it. I asked God what to do about this one. God told me to love him. I sensed the Lord saying He wanted me to give him some time and pray every day for him. So that is what I and the other caretakers did. For a long time we could see no progress. Despite everything this boy was always very charismatic, and after a while he managed to move to the United Kingdom.

Recently, when I was speaking in the U.K., I saw this spiritual son again. At once I was startled to see how powerfully the presence of God was resting on him. When he came up to me he started shaking and weeping in my arms. In broken English he said, “Thank you, Mama. For not stop loving me.”

Our joy in this son was not so much in seeing him graduate from school, though we were very happy when he did. Our joy was seeing him filled with the presence of God. Our joy was seeing him come home to the Father’s house and step into the spirit of adoption.

That boy—now a man—knows who he is. He is a son. He knows better than most that God loves him no matter how many times he might have lied, stolen, beaten up innocents or committed adultery. He is loved because of the incredible grace of God that comes down to call each of us sons and daughters. None of us deserve it. We simply have it.

Your heavenly Father loves you the same way. He wants you, no matter what you do or how you fail. This is the love He spoke over us when He sent His Son. It is what Jesus poured out of the cross. It is the thing the church must demonstrate to the world. Love so lavish can never die.

Because of this love, we have become children of God. Even if we do not yet believe it, this is what we truly are (1 John 3:1).  We have had children who, for the longest time, would not believe they are truly loved. This particular son had been with us for 14 years before he actually got it. That is a lot of waiting and a lot of pain. If the Holy Spirit ever touches people in such a way that they realize they are sons or daughters instantly, we ought to celebrate it as a mighty miracle—because sometimes it takes 14 years.

You are a son or a daughter right now—today. Your real identity is in this truth. It doesn’t matter what people do or do not call you. It doesn’t matter where you do or do not sit. You are a son. You are a daughter. There is no more precious position to which you might ever aspire.

To be a son or daughter of God also means you are royalty. This is the greatest of privileges, but it is also an awesome responsibility. If you are truly thankful to God and want to please Him with all your heart, you must do more than just recognize your own authority. You must use it. He asks you to give love as freely as you have received it—not just to those who deserve it but also to everyone He puts in front of you.

Adapted from Birthing the Miraculous by Heidi Baker, copyright 2014 published by Charisma House. Sometimes God’s promises seem bizarre, implausible, and even crazy, but no matter how impossible they seem we can respond with a yielded “yes” even as Mary did when Gabriel gave her the news that she would birth Jesus. This book weaves true stories from Heidi’s life and ministry to show you how you can become a catalyst for God’s glory on this earth. To order your copy click here.

PRAYER POWER FOR THE WEEK OF 02/03/2014 

This week ask the Lord to give you more revelation of His lavish love. Embrace it and respond in kind as John wrote, “We love Him because He first loved us.” Because of that love surrender your will to His and tell Him that you wholly trust Him and will show your love by your obedience. Ask Him for the grace to carry His love to the unlovely, those who have hurt and betrayed you, and those with whom you disagree.  Continue to pray for our nation and its leaders, Israel, our military, their families and the upcoming generation. Thank God for ordering your steps and ask Him for more opportunities to expand His kingdom. John 1:31; 1 John 4:19 

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The Church in Vietnam is Arising. Morris Ruddick

Morris Ruddick in Vietnam

The Church in Vietnam is Arising.

This is a new day. It is a new year in Vietnam. God likewise is doing a new thing. There is a turning underway, a turning in generations; a turning in the Vietnamese economy; and a turning in Vietnam's political and spiritual climates.

Last year two famous North Vietnamese Generals died. One was 83 and one was 102. There is a new generation arising. Yet, in marking the dichotomy now operating at senior levels in Vietnam, one of these old-generation Generals became a committed believer over a decade ago. This man, who at one time was my enemy, became a truly good friend. It began when he revealed himself to us on our first mission to Vietnam in early 2008.

Having achieved his past reputation through extreme violence, his latter-year faith made him singularly the most transformed Christian I think I've ever known personally. His faith was the real deal. We broke bread and prayed together with him and his wife on many of the trips that followed. The influence of his faith sent out ripples in high places.

It is that same influence that coincides with our efforts in this land of new beginnings with the change not unlike that of the early Church; which was described in Act 17 as turning the world upside down.

The Ripples from Our Thrust

This is our seventeenth mission into Vietnam since March of 2008. We've been working

with a cross section of the church from the far north to the far south. With our focus being to the most persecuted and poor, we have simultaneously strengthened leaders in broad segments within both the church and the business world.

During our last mission and then again on this one we've seen various factions of the church come together. In regions where persecution has been most severe, we've been a part of seeing them unite to seek God and to reach for that higher standard in their community's role as ambassadors of Jesus.

Late last year just such a cross section of leaders from diverse segments of believers from this persecuted locale witnessed a dramatic healing of a deaf ear opened, as Carol and I prayed afterward for those who partook of our economic community development initiative.

So when we arrived in the same city on this trip, we found that word had spread and we were faced with not only our entrepreneurial community development assignment, but with a little boy with a fatal blood disease whose parents brought him to be prayed for. So even before imparting our leadership strategies, we were again praying for the sick.

It's a part of the turning; a part of the new season we've entered.

Key Questions

The question is WHY Vietnam?

Part of the answer involves the vibrancy and potential that has resulted from a persecuted, purified, praying church. Another part of the answer lies with the parallel that Vietnam holds culturally with Israel and the biblical foundations of Judaism.

In short, the spiritual climate of the people in this small nation is turning. It is explosive with revival and the type of opportunity that will mark the "sheep nations" spoken of by Jesus in Matt 25:32. The Lord's big-picture strategy has always mobilized the least likely to release the most unexpected.

So it is with the change of seasons and the shift in the spiritual climate that alliances are being created in support of God's purposes and His covenant people Israel.

The question also arises: WHY Morris & Carol?

That answer begins with a word the Lord spoke to me, to give to the Vietnamese in early 2008: that God had made the Vietnamese church to be the head and not the tail. Before the foundations of the earth, God envisioned a destiny for these people.

That destiny is now playing out. That destiny taps promises the Lord imparted to Carol and I; and has spoken to Vietnamese church leaders years and years ago -- promises involving the times and seasons that have been merging our destinies.

The answer also is hidden in the reality that we don't foster a western program, but rather an enduring biblical one. Because of that, we have become trusted as a father and mother to the Vietnamese we've worked with. On our last trip, this trust was reflected by an invitation to become an adjunct professor at a Vietnamese university.

The Flashpoints and Opportunity

Key points in the life of Daniel give an apt picture of the path traversed by the Vietnamese church over the last two plus decades. During that time, many faced and then embraced the fire -- a fire of persecution most in the West can only grasp a glimmer of.

One of the leaders facilitating this mission's first workshop has been facilitating revival taking place among the sons and daughters -- disillusioned young adults -- of those who are currently leading this nation. We became a part of this revival about three years ago and through this man we expect to become more engaged with it.

One of the leaders in our second workshop left our gathering to minister to a village chieftain he had befriended. That village leader came to faith and with him roughly 30 others. News of these activities got out and our friend was arrested and confined in jail -- but through the prayers of many, including our own, he has been released.

Another development has been my being introduced to Vietnam's Ambassador to Israel. Since I have recently prepared an article for a Vietnamese magazine on economic dynamics that endure -- comparing the similarities of Vietnamese and Israeli cultures; this man has expressed keen interest in my article. It represents the same common ground of an initiative in China that I was involved in over a decade ago: with "success principles" from the West, which are based on the Word of God.

So, from these foundations among the faithful is now being released a mantle and an opportunity for the turning that is underway. Our role up to this point has begun fulfilling the prophecy that makes the Vietnamese Church to be the head and not the tail. Through small business startups and economic community development we've seen dramatic evidence of the fulfillment of this word. With it the spiritual climate has been changing.

Now the Lord is doing a new thing. For when the spiritual climate changes, so does everything else. It's a turning that carries the authority that in its own way parallels the change that came after the handwriting on the wall -- the catalyst to releasing something new -- that took place in the latter years of Daniel's life when God brought His purposes through Daniel full-circle.

Over 20 percent of Vietnam's GDP is from what has become termed the "sidewalk economy." Biblical entrepreneurship has been an essential ingredient in our efforts. Many have come to the cities to find work and opportunity. We encourage those in our program not to despise the small beginnings, but to make God their Senior Partner with entrepreneurial agendas that build community builders.

The majority of businesses we nurture begin small. It minimizes the risks and allows the entrepreneurs to learn the ropes. Yet, on our last trip, we have personally helped one of our most trusted leaders to start a potentially larger initiative. Without detracting from his primary ministry efforts, we believe this entrepreneurial family-effort is going to undergird the expansion and support of his future ministry goals. So I covet your prayers for the steps needed to make his new operation a success.

The cost of those at the forefront of this turning -- this new thing -- bear the brand-marks of the Lord Jesus that Paul referred to in his letter to the Galatians (Gal 6:17). It dovetails with the pathway of fire that has so marked the pioneering mantle with which Carol and I have been entrusted.

Some have prophesied that dreams are coming to people in high places in Vietnam -- dreams like God gave Pharaoh and Nebuchadnezzar. We've witnessed precursors to this in our friend, the General. With the dreams will come the need for modern day Josephs and Daniels to interpret them. But then will come rains of fire over this nation -- manifestations of new dimensions released by the Holy Spirit for Vietnam.

Revival fires have already been smoldering in Vietnam but with the rains of fire and blessing, the smoldering will burst into flames; flames that penetrate every area and sector of this nation in the fulfillment of God's destiny for them as a people.

Indeed God is doing a new thing. There is an arising underway that is connected with the parallel activities of others in this part of the world.

It is a departure from the old that changes everything. Thank you for your support and prayers!! God is moving mightily in Vietnam. The momentum is increasing. We thank the Lord for your role in enabling us to be a spark to the revival and blessing coming to these most amazing people.

In His love and ours,




Global Initiatives Foundation is a 501 (c) 3 tax-deductible ministry.

Morris E. Ruddick equip@strategic-initiatives.org 303.741.9000 www.strategic-initiatives.org www.strategicintercession.org

The Other Side of the Lake Part 1 - Doug Fortune

The Other Side of the Lake Part 1 by Doug Fortune

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"Now it came to pass on a certain day, that He went into a ship with His disciples: and He said unto them, Let us go over unto the other side of the lake. And they launched forth." 

(Luke 8:22)

 

I love the way this verse begins, "Now it came to pass..." It is important to note that the first word is NOW. 

When I read that I know that this is a NOW word for us! It is a proceeding Word, however it comes to PASS, it does not come to stay, it denotes movement. Religion seems bent on taking a now/ proceeding Word and embalming it, memorializing it and propping it up way past its' usefulness. 

Remember, Father is in the NOW. One of His redemptive Names is Jehovah Shamah, meaning "The Lord, The Ever Present." That does not just mean that He is always present (which He is) it also means that He lives in the present.   He lives in an eternal "now" outside of time. 

"On a certain day..." This was not just ANY day, this was a certain day. I believe that this CERTAIN Day we are reading of is a spiritual picture of where the Church is now, and that there is a spiritual principle we can glean from. You see, our ultimate destiny is not determined by our natural circumstances! In fact, many times our natural circumstances are at odds with our ultimate destiny. That is because Father calls us to something much higher than our natural capabilities requiring us to overcome our natural circumstances. 

A Certain Day 

Contrary to everything we hear from so many sources, I prophesy to you that we are NOT in a day of uncertainty! We are in a CERTAIN Day that Father has had planned from the beginning of time. Are these troubled times?  Most certainly they are troubled times, but they are filled with certainty and Father's purpose. 

Our verse goes on to say, "He went into a SHIP with His disciples..." I believe that this is a CERTAIN Day because He is IN the ship with His disciples. 

What kind of a ship is it, you may ask?  This ship is a WorSHIP! "But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel." (Psalms 22:3) Many churches have a similar paradigm of worship, and it is based upon the belief that praise and worship in a congregational setting serves as a plow to break up the ground of the peoples' hearts in preparation for the Seed of the Word that will be delivered in a message. 

However, in our local fellowship, I believe that we are not there to "plow" hearts, although that can happen in a corporate gathering. If that is what people want, there are other churches that are better suited for that, and I don't say that to belittle other churches...it is just that is not our calling. 

The Frequency of Heaven 

I believe that we are there to tap into, to access the frequency of the worship that is already happening in the heavenlies, resonate that worship and bring it into the earthly realm. We are there to bring the Heart and Word of the Lord and declare it into this realm to bring a collision of heaven invading earth. We are to be a conduit of Heaven! 

Our objective, as it were, is to facilitate the establishment of the Kingdom of God by resonating the frequency of heaven in the realm of the earth... to BE the Throne of God (the seat of authority) in the Tabernacle of David; "And in mercy shall the throne be established: and he shall sit upon it in truth in the tabernacle of David, judging, and seeking judgment, and hasting righteousness." (Isaiah 16:5) 

As we do this, the "message," the Word of the Lord, the Seed is going forth. We believe that Father has already been speaking all through worship, communion, prayer, etc. Our gatherings are basically a prophetic expression of His Voice.  In other words, we are there to apprehend and declare the Word, the Voice of Father, to express Him, and that Voice/ Message comes out in many different forms, not just in the preaching. If you wait until the "preaching" for the Word of the Lord, you have already missed half the message! 

As we WorSHIP, we also become a WARship!  However, spiritual warfare is not a matter of us standing on the earth, our praise ascending to the heavens and piercing the spiritual darkness. Rather, it is much more a matter of US descending, bringing the GLORY of the Third Heaven (epouranos in Greek) where we are seated in Him, to invade the earth and therefore displacing principalities and powers by His resonant Word of power. 

Hidden in God 

What kind of a ship is it, you may ask?  This ship is also a FellowSHIP.  "And to make all men see what is the fellowship of the mystery, which from the beginning of the world hath been hid in God, who created all things by Jesus Christ." (Ephesians 3:9) 

The fellowship of the mystery is simply the manifold Wisdom of God (which is Christ Himself) being revealed and displayed BY the Church because the Church becomes totally hidden IN God! "Even the mystery which hath been hid from ages and from generations, but now is made manifest to his saints... which is Christ IN you (the plural corporate fellowship of the Mystery), the hope of glory" (Colossians 1:26-27 my input in parenthesis) 

What kind of a ship is it, you may ask?  This ship is also a StewardSHIP; "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God." (1 Corinthians 4:1) 

The word translated as "steward" is oikonomos in Greek and it means a manager, superintendent to whom the head of the house or proprietor has entrusted the management of his affairs, the care of receipts and expenditures, and the duty of dealing out the proper portion to every servant and even to the children not yet of age. We are entrusted with the affairs of the Kingdom, the expenditures and dispensing of the mysteries of God as Christ through us reveals Himself! 

What kind of a ship is it, you may ask?  This ship is ALL His WorkmanSHIP; "For we are His workmanship, created IN Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them." (Ephesians 2:10) 

Father is the author and builder of this "ship" that we are being made into, therefore this "ship" is built to sail into the deep and withstand any storm of life. 

When Jesus Speaks 

"And He said unto them..." You know, when Jesus speaks, people should listen! I don't know that He was one to just ramble on with inane frivolities. In fact, here is what is recorded concerning what He spoke; "... the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life." (John 6:63) His words are spirit and life... that means His words originate in the Spirit and they produce Life and action that impacts this natural realm. 

Here is what He said, "Let us go over unto the other side of the lake..." Keep in mind that if Jesus said they were going to the other side, that meant they were absolutely going to the other side. Nothing could stop His words from coming to pass because they originate in the Spirit and they produce Life and action that impacts this natural realm!...  

To be continued... 

Doug Fortune

www.dougfortune.org

 

 

 

 

In Earth as in Heaven

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Family. Heritage. Legacy.

Family is good.

Heritage is great.

Legacy lives on.

Steve Martin

Love For His People

The Martins early start...

Dad, Mom, Sue, Steve and Mary

1956

Sue, Steve, Mary, Tom, Colleen, Janet

...as the family grows.

1964

 

The Subra family - Mom's side 

at Minnesota Annual Reunion

2013

Dad's side (Dad is front right with Mom behind him.)

- two older sisters, older brother and spouses

1995

Mary, Steve and Sue

- the oldest of the 8 Martin kids

Aug. 2013 Charlotte, NC

Thanks Mom for sending the black and whites! Love you, Steve

Your Gifts Will Open Doors: A Promise From God - Paulette Reed

Paulette Reed:

Your Gifts Will Open Doors: 

A Promise From God

(The Elijah List)

God-Given Gifts

The Bible assures us that every single person on earth has at least one – and probably several – God-given gifts placed inside of them to be used for God's glory. When we entered this world, God already had a plan for us and gave us the gifts we needed to fulfill our destinies.

When God called Jeremiah, He reassured him by saying, "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, and before you were born I consecrated you; I have appointed you a prophet to the nations" (Jeremiah 1:5). 

God knew what Jeremiah was called to do and gave him the necessary gifts to fulfill that call even before he was born. God formed you in the womb too! 

He knows what you are called to do and has placed the perfect gifts inside of you to fulfill your destiny.

The apostle Paul assures us that each of us within the Body of Christ have different gifts that are a response to God's grace: "Since we have gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, each of us is to exercise them accordingly..." (Romans 12:6).

And Peter reminded his readers that they were on earth to glorify God through the use of their gifts: "As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen" (1 Peter 4:10-11).

Keys To Open Doors

It's a great idea to ask yourself at the beginning of each year, "What is my vision? What is my destiny, and how am I to reach it?" 

Asking these questions will help us focus on God's plan and purpose for our lives. In response to each of these questions, it is important for us to set reachable goals that we can achieve with the Lord's help. Remember, if we don't have a target, we're not aiming at anything. And if we're not aiming at anything, we won't even know if we hit the mark because we don't know what we're aiming at.

As we step into 2014, which is the Year of the Open Door, let's return to the basics of the Gospel. Each of us should ponder these questions: 

What are our gifts from Heaven? Do we know what God has placed in us to fulfill His plan? Do we know what our part in that plan is? It's important for us to identify our gifts because they are the keys that open doors and bring us into our divine destiny. 

Proverbs 18:16 promises us, "A man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men."

We can be sure that our gifts will play an integral part to fulfilling our God-given dreams. It's sad to watch people when they don't understand this connection. They begin to look for things in the world to fulfill their desires rather than looking to God. 

Unfortunately, most end up frustrated at best, and discouraged at worst. However, when we learn to walk in our God-given gifts, we are not only content with our vocations, but we become passionate about them as well.

The Rhythm of Heaven

It's true that education is good and beneficial for the fulfillment of many of our dreams. But the Word of God does not tell us that education will make room for us. Don't get me wrong here: Education is important and sometimes we can only walk through certain open doors because of our education. But the Bible is very clear that it is our gifts that make room for us. After all, we could earn multiple Master's degrees, but they may not help a bit if we don't know our true Master.

I like how 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 (NLT) helps keep us humble:

"Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world's eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you. Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. 

And He chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful. God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important. As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God."

Beloved, our gifts from God bring us joy, peace, and success. It's when we learn to operate in them like a well-oiled machine, and are led by the Holy Spirit, that we can flow with the rhythm of Heaven.

Kingdom Finances

Here's another exciting aspect about our gifts. Not only will they open doors for us, but they can also bring us the finances we need to fulfill our destinies. When we use our gifts wisely for the Lord, He will give us favor so finances will be freely given to us, so that we can keep advancing the Kingdom of God. 

In other words, once the gift of God within us is activated, it can become a usable commodity that ushers in promotion. Daniel is the perfect example of this godly concept when he used his gifts to interpret King Nebuchadnezzar's dream:

"Then King Nebuchadnezzar fell on his face and did homage to Daniel, and gave orders to present to him an offering and fragrant incense. The king answered Daniel and said, 'Surely your God is a God of gods and a Lord of kings and a revealer of mysteries, since you have been able to reveal this mystery.' Then the king promoted Daniel and gave him many great gifts, and he made him ruler over the whole province of Babylon and chief prefect over all the wise men of Babylon" (Daniel 2:46-48).

Practicing Our Gifts

After discovering our God-given gifts, it then becomes our responsibility to continually practice using them. 

God has called each of us to exercise our gifts so they become strong. 

Just like we will never reach our health goals without exercising regularly, so we may never reach our life goals if we don't exercise our gifts regularly. When we practice our gifts, we'll become more confident in our identity in Christ, thus fulfilling His plan and purpose for us.

And might I suggest here that we stay focused on "our" gifts and let the Lord bring other gifts around us. For example, I remember years ago when I was serving a brilliant author. I was helping take his writings and organize them into sequenced trainings. 

One day I looked at the leader and said, "We need to pray that the Lord gives you the gift of administration!" He looked directly at me, smiled, and said, "He did...she's sitting right there." It was a prophetic moment in my life that I didn't forget. 

God will bring other people (they are gifts themselves, and they also have various gifts) around us to connect the dots on the road to destiny.

Often times people get stalled in the pursuit of dreams because they're waiting for some man or woman to open doors for them. But listen! God has a better plan for you. He has given you the keys to open doors to your future – those keys are your gifts. And the gifts inside of you are perfect because they are what God determined for you to have even before you were born.

When we wisely use our God-given gifts, they bring God glory and bring us before kings. Let's take the time to do a spiritual inventory, asking God to strengthen and use our gifts for His glory. After all, it's not just about the gifts; it's about worshiping and honoring the Gift-Giver – His name is Jesus. He gave us the greatest gift ever...the gift of eternal life to all who will receive it.

Paulette Reed
Prophetic Arrow Ministries

Email: info@propheticarrow.org
Website: propheticarrow.org

Paulette Reed is a powerful preacher, prophetic minister, encourager, and author. She is a full-time revivalist/evangelist. Her passion is to share the love of Christ and unite people to the inexplicable love of our Heavenly Father, exhorting them to arise and shine! 

She is an extremely accurate prophetess who has been raised up to bring hope and healing to the Body of Christ. Without a vision the people perish, so the Lord is using this handmaiden as His mouthpiece to speak forth individual and corporate vision, catapulting people into their destinies. Paulette loves to see God's people awakened and proclaim the active extension of the Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. She ministers in the revival anointing accompanied by revelatory ministry, healing, miracles, signs and wonders.