[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8x_l3KOKEk]John Wimber – Gifts of the Holy Spirit (1/3)
This is from a Vineyard conference of 1985
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WAjfAq-G3g]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s8x_l3KOKEk]
Many students at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School were greatly
influenced by Jack Deere’s gifts-of-the-Spirit discovery
during the Vineyard Movement days
just over two decades ago.
Jack Deere
From: jackdeere.com/about.html
Jack was raised in Ft. Worth, Texas in a broken home that did not know the Lord. When he was 17 years old, a friend led Jack to Christ. Jack began reading the Bible for the first time and fell in love with the Scriptures. He attended Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, TX, where in majored in Philosophy and started working with the ministry of Young Life leading high school students to the Lord. After graduation in 1971, he attended Dallas Theological Seminary concentrating in Greek and Hebrew study of the Bible. He and Leesa were married in 1974. In 1976, he was invited to join the faculty of Dallas Seminary teaching Hebrew and books of the Bible in Hebrew. He received both a Master and Doctor of Theology degrees from Dallas Seminary. During his tenure at Dallas Seminary, he started and pastored two churches.
In 1986 after months of concentrated scriptural study, Jack reversed his position on the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. He became convinced that all of the gifts of the Spirit were meant to be used today, including healing and prophecy. God had never withdrawn these gifts, rather many in the church had withdrawn from the gifts. Even though he had no supernatural experience of his own, Jack and Leesa along with others began praying for the sick and listening for the voice of God. Almost immediately, they saw some wonderful healings.
He left the seminary faculty at in the end of 1987 and joined the staff of the Vineyard Christian Fellowship Church in Anaheim, CA. He served with John Wimber at the church and traveled around the world with him doing conferences on intimacy with God and the Holy Spirit.
Jack left the Anaheim Vineyard in 1992 to begin his own conference and writing ministry. He has written best selling books, which have been translated into a number of languages He travels national and internationally doing conferences on many themes. He serves on the boards of a number of Christian ministries.
Jack is currently the senior pastor of Wellspring Church in North Richland Hills, Texas, a church he started in the spring of 2004. The mission of the church is threefold: to help people cultivate an intimate friendship with Jesus; to help people discover and effectively use their spiritual gifts in significant ways in the church; and having learned how to use these gifts effectively in the church, then to use their gifts in the market place where they spend the majority of their time.
Jack and Leesa live in Colleyville, TX. They have two grown children, Stephen and Alese.
From: jackdeere.com/books.html
Using biblical and contemporary examples this book shows that it has always been normal for God to speak to His children both from the Scripture and in their daily experience. If you want to hear God’s voice better you will find this book inspiring and helpful many practical ways.
Autographed Version
This best selling book has become a classic receiving praise from scholars and leaders all over the world. Using the Bible and contemporary examples it makes a convincing case for the reality of supernatural power in the church and answers those skeptical of the Spirit’s power.
Autographed Version
C. Peter Wagner said this book “is the new operator’s manual for those who want to be participants, not just spectators, in today’s prophetic movement. This book will help you put it all together, get it up and running, and troubleshoot whatever problems arise.”
Autographed Version
Purchase at Jack’s Site
——
Related:
Francis Frangipane: Holiness Precedes Power | More of my experiences at Trinity and in the Vineyard Movement | Why did John and Chris Whimber die?
UPDATE: For some reason, it looks like this video was removed.
If anyone knows where it still is online please let me know.
jeff
– –
This is excellent!
…but just scratches the surface.
I hope there are parts 2, 3, 4, 5 … !
Daniel is the real deal!
I’ve spent significant time with Daniel and Esther.
.
Daniel Rodes
Some topics discussed:
.
Daniel’s testimony
.
Completely breaking addictions:
“Grace doesn’t give you permission to sin.
It will help you over it.”
.
Having a great marriage every single day
(he and Esther TOTALLY do):
“I’d rather not be married than to get the wrong one.”
“You [husbands] have to submit to God first.”
.
Being filled with the Holy Spirit
.
A clean heart
.
Finances
.
.
Apostle Daniel Rodes Interview Part 1 from Timothy Johnson on Vimeo.
An interview with Apostle Daniel Rodes that took place in Harrisonburg, VA in January of 2010.
The backstory of how Brother Rodes, who grew up in a conservative church setting, became a teacher, evangelist, pastor, prophet and apostle. Brother Rodes has travelled extensively throughout the world preaching and teaching the Word of God.
Daniel’s Website:
Truth, Light and Life Ministries International
.
Related:
.
[Photo] Daniel Rodes and Me in Alaska
.
Mom with Esther and Daniel Rodes
.
Daniel Rodes Prophecy 2/28/09: What Will Happen to Our Little Ones?
Transcribed by Jeff Fenske
Orr knew Evan Roberts personally, but not until years after the revival.
“At the end of the prayer meeting, when they were getting up to go home, he said, ‘our young brother, Evan Roberts feels he has a word for you, if you care to wait.’ Many went on home, but 17 people waited. And Evan Roberts began like delivering a telegram:
‘I have a message for you from the Lord.
You must confess any known sin, and put any wrong done to man right again.
Second, you must put away any doubtful habit.
Third, you must obey the Spirit promptly.
Finally, you must confess your faith publicly.’
Those became the four points of the Welsh Revival.”
All 17 responded.
A newspaper reporter wrote of a meeting he attended a week or two later:
“When the meeting closed at 4:25 in the morning, they didn’t want to go home.”
“Didn’t you hear Robert Coleman say ‘that’s what it was like at Asbury College?’ But could you imagine a whole country like that? It was phenomenal. The reports were in every newspaper in the western world.
Not only were 100,000 people converted, but the social impact was astounding.”
Five years later:
“The number who remained in fellowship was 82.5%, which was astounding. But as I say, the social impact was even more amazing. … In some places the police were unemployed.”
– J. Edwin Orr
(occasional sound glitches at the start mostly soon disappear)
Garland, Texas – The Welsh Revival of 1904-05 by J. Edwin Orr
The work and ministry of sermonindex can be encapsulated in this one word: REVIVAL. sermonindex is not a organisation, business, or any attempt by man to build something for God. It is rather a expression of a heart burden to see the Church revived and brought back to holiness, purity, and power with God. “The mission of SermonIndex is the preservation and propogation of classical vintage preaching and the promotion of genuine biblical revival to this generation.” To download more sermons visit SermonIndex at: http://www.sermonindex.net
Related:
Rick Joyner: “REPENTANCE includes RESTITUTION for the wrongs that have caused injury to others”
My Dream of ‘ONE’ Happening at Abbott Loop CC!
“No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible”
Leaders Who Have Hurt People But Refuse to Repent (prophecy)
[WordPower!] In Psalm 50 God Warns: “You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. … Now consider this…lest I tear you into pieces and there be none to deliver” (Hell?)
Rhydian Roberts: The Prayer — “Let this be our prayer WHEN WE LOSE OUR WAY. Lead us…guide us with your grace to A PLACE WHERE WE’LL BE SAFE” (Rhydian Roberts is Welsh, by the way)
Rhydian Roberts: The Impossible Dream (Precarious Climb and Static Photo Versions)
Benny Hester: “When God Ran” — God will RUN when we come back to Him!
according to the flesh, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.”
Abbott Loop CC Cross:
We MUST Die In Order To Live!!!
NOTE: The dream I’m sharing here is the second dream I had in which ‘ONE’ was happening. The first one I saw in the late ’80s, where a former elder was leading and everyone was happy!
Also, I have no doubt that this is a word from the Lord. Does that mean it will happen, or that it has to happen?
I believe that God shows us things that He wants to happen. “Those who are led by the Spirit are the children of God” (Romans 8). He wants to lead us. But He also gives us free will. Many things that God shows people only can happen if we do what He’s leading us to do. And in this case, many people are involved.
God wants this to happen, and I personally believe this will happen, based upon what I know of the people involved; though, I think most of what God directs people to do never happens, because most don’t hear and obey. But we don’t have to be like most people. And we can change the climate so the percentage of people hearing and obeying greatly rises.
So there is no doubt that God will help us do our parts so His will will happen. But we must do our parts. And a big part of that for me is being patient, doing my part under authority without bothering anyone, like in the dream.
– Jeff
– –
I had a dream a number of years ago in which I was closing up an LD3 container (an airline freight container that we use at work) in the middle-back of Abbott Loop Community Church (ALCC).
It was a very complicated container (way more than they really are in the natural), and I was making a lot of noise trying to close it — “button it up — but it didn’t bother anybody in the auditorium, who were listening to a man whom I didn’t recognize speak from the pulpit.
When I finished putting together the container, I walked forward and the leader had me lead worship [Years ago, I had led worship many times, but never in the main auditorium]. I led from within the midst of the people, on the main floor, in the center, maybe 10 rows back, singing “Holy and Anointed One.”
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bkW_PhFw0zM]Holy and Anointed One (with lyrics)
As soon as I started singing the first word, “Jesus,” everyone’s hands went straight up! No one was worshiping part way!
I interpret this to mean (if someone has more insight I’m open to suggestions):
I was doing my part, by myself, loading this extremely complex container. This is probably my research, shown here on this site. And there has been a lot of specific prayer, which I explain here.
Working on the container made a lot of noise, but it didn’t bother the people. I’ve been very careful to give people space, having learned from my previous mistakes.
The people were getting taught by the leader, while I was doing my thing, apart from them. But we were in the same building and they could here the noise of my work. The people at ALCC have been learning some significant things, like the importance of forgiving — that demons can directly affect Christians — etc..
And when I was done with my project, the leader let me lead worship this one time and everyone worshiped, their arms straight up toward God. When the leader(s) and I got on the same page, doctrinally (especially!), then ONE (Jesus’ prayer for us in John 17) happened. Everyone was right with God and each other so they could totally worship in Spirit and in truth, absolutely holy hands raised high, no holding back — pure!
That must mean that there was complete reconciliation in God’s eyes. And I couldn’t see the power and comfort of God that everyone felt, but having been in many mini-revivals I can only imagine…!
So my best guess is that the scriptures in the header at the top of this site were all fulfilled, and we were ready for anything that might come our way.
Unity happened at Abbott Loop!
Abbott Loop CC’s Sign —
“Our Vision: A Pursuing Love of God
and One Another”
Jeff : )
(((stereo)))[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=olBnC2nxCNw]Brian Doerksen: Holy and anointed one
Related:
The Coming Revival (from my personal blog, 1/10/11)
My 1990 Key-to-Revival Prophecy: “There is might and there is power and there is glory, but it is being withheld until these relationships are made right, until we love our brother enough to…”
(video) Asbury Revival, 1970: RECONCILIATION the KEY! — “‘Dr. Kinlaw, I am a liar. Now what do I do?’ … Three days later, she came to me radiant, and she said, ‘I just hit my 34th person and I’m free!’”
The Welsh Revival of 1904-05 by J. Edwin Orr: A Countrywide Asbury-like REVIVAL! The 4 Points: #1 Confess any known sin, and put any wrong done to man right again. #2 Put away any doubtful habit. #3 Obey the Spirit promptly. #4 Confess your faith publicly.
Effects of the WELSH REVIVAL 1904-05: Whole communities were radically changed FROM DEPRAVITY TO GLORIOUS GOODNESS. The CRIME RATE dropped, often to nothing. THE POLICE had little more to do than supervise the coming and going of the people to the chapel prayer meetings. THE UNDERGROUND MINES echoed with the sounds of PRAYER and HYMNS, instead of nasty jokes and gossip. People who had fallen out BECAME FRIENDS AGAIN!!!!!!!
The Achan Factor — Because of one man’s disobedience the entire nation of Israel had to deal with the “Achan factor” among them before they could come under the umbrella of Almighty God’s blessings once again!
The Didache (70-100 AD): Reconciliation was required to attend early church meetings! “How upside-down the ‘church’ is today.”
The R-Word: ‘Reconciliation’ is Required to Worship in Spirit and in Truth — Why is this key to revival a taboo subject?
Can ‘Christians’ use Paul’s “Forgetting the things which are behind…I press on” statement as an excuse to not get right with those they’ve hurt? Paul also said: “I also practice ALWAYS having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.” What if you don’t repent? And what will happen when you do? The Third Great Awakening can start with us!!! We can all be happy — ‘ONE’!
Wes Hall to church leaders: “There’s a cry in your heart saying ‘I am not prepared to walk forward another step in dead works and dead religion”
Paul’s Elders’ qualifications revisited: What does ‘BLAMELESS’ mean? — Most pastors are biblically disqualified
(video) The Azusa Street Revival (1906-15): The biggest move of miracles in the history of America — The fire of God’s glory on the roof! “Even the fingernails grew back!” In 1909, Seymour prophesied the next, even greater revival will come in about 100 years! We’re due!!!
Wes Hall [IHOP] on William Seymour’s *1909 prophecy* of the SHEKINAH GLORY RETURNING to the church *in 100 years*: “Let me tell you about the church in the book of Acts. ..the fear of God was on the community, and…they were highly esteemed” | My theory …
“No snowflake in an avalanche ever feels responsible”
Leaders Who Have Hurt People But Refuse to Repent
My comment on Francis Frangipane’s post: “Francis, do you remember how you prophesied in Wasilla, Alaska about the REVIVAL happening up here to such a great degree that…” | Paul made sure he was right with everyone, but how many pastors can say that today? | “There is might and there is power and there is GLORY, but it is being withheld until these relationships are made right…
(video) A taste of JESUS’ AGONY because His people have HURT SO MANY… – Gary Clark Jr: When My Train Pulls In (Live at Farm Aid 2014)
Awakening Meetings End at IHOP. Why?
Benny Hester: “When God Ran” — God will RUN when we come back to Him!
Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? — “There is therefore now *no condemnation* to those who are IN CHRIST Jesus, who don’t WALK according to the flesh, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.”
‘Let Us Be ONE’ Prophecy Continues 10/8/08: “It’s TOO LATE to REVERSE what’s been done for MY MEN have been REJECTED … Now is the Time to OVERCOME and GET RIGHT With ALL … FREEeeeeeeeeeeeee———DOM at last … Your HEART will SWELL with LOVE and it will be EASY to REMAIN In Me when others are On The BOAT With You”
If we build it He will come:
“Let Us Be ONE” (A Revival Prophecy)
[photo] Abbott Loop Christian Center (Abbott Loop Community Church) — 1985
All of my Revival posts (latest appear first, 10 posts per page)
Related:
* * *
So the assemblies throughout all
Judea and Galilee and Samaria
had peace,
and were built up.
They were multiplied,
walking in the fear of the Lord
and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
* * *
What is the key ingredient that we’re missing so ONE was happening in “the assemblies throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria?”
They were “walking in the fear of the Lord” — the missing ingredient in today’s ‘church.’
Therefore, because they were walking in the fear of the Lord they had peace, were built up, were multiplied, walking in the comfort of the Holy Spirit (John 14-16, 2 Cor. 1).
“The fear of the Lord” is the beginning of wisdom.
We don’t even have the beginning of wisdom, so ONE can’t happen, Jesus’ prayer for all believers in John 17.
So please, let us embrace the Word of God, what it really says: Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God?
And let’s be ONE, having peace, being built up and multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit.
Jeff : )
I don’t know if the movie is worthwhile and wholesome,
but I appreciate what Julia said in the trailer for:
I want to go some place where I can marvel at something.
– Julia Roberts (in character)
Focus on what is marvelous!
Set your sights high!
Be at peace.
Philippians 4:4-8
Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things. The things which you learned, received, heard, and saw in me: do these things, and the God of peace will be with you.
source (emphasis mine)
The Joy of the Lord
Important Warning to Christians
Newsletter From: Truth, Light & Life Ministries International
PO Box 70
Mt. Crawford VA 22841 …
Dear Partners and Friends,
Over the years, I have had the privilege of preaching in numerous churches, conventions, minister’s meetings, camp meetings and revival meetings. I have noted that many people were sad and their countenance was fallen. I wondered why they were so downcast. On numerous occasions, I asked them, “Why are you so discouraged? Do you have food and sufficient clothing? Do you have a home to live in? Do you have a bed to sleep in? Then why are you so sad?” Some have responded, ” I really don’t know, I’m just sad.” This has been a puzzle to me for years why people do not rejoice when they are so blessed. Those of you which have heard me preach know that I have often spoken on the importance of joy and rejoicing.
Many have lost their Joy
On Sunday evening, February 2, 2003, the Lord gave me a prophetic message for the church of America. He said that love, joy and peace are the fruit of the Spirit and one cannot operate fluently without the other. He explained that joy is what brings love and peace to their fullness. He said, “Many of My people have lost their joy; therefore, they have lost their love and peace. They try to worship Me, but instead of serving the Lord with gladness, they are trying to serve Me with tears of self pity, fear and anxiety. I have pled with My children for years,” He said, “to rejoice in the Lord. They rejoice for a little while, but are soon back in the valley of despair.” Then He said something that made my heart tremble: “I want you to warn My children that Deuteronomy chapter 28 verses 47 and 48 are about to be fulfilled. If someone does not arise on the scene and appeal to the people that their joy may be restored that they will rejoice over the good things that I have given them, I will have no choice but to turn them over to the enemy as I have promised.”
Deut 28:47-48
“Because thou servedst not the LORD thy God with joyfulness, and with gladness of heart, for the abundance of all things; Therefore shalt thou serve thine enemies which the LORD shall send against thee, in hunger, and in thirst, and in nakedness, and in want of all things and he shall put a yoke of iron upon thy neck, until he have destroyed thee.”
Notice, He said, “because you didn’t rejoice in the Lord for the abundance.” If we cannot rejoice in the Lord for the abundance now when we have abundance, we will lose it.
Saddest Christians in the world!
I heard the Lord say, “There is no nation in the history of the world that has had such an abundance of food (all kinds of vegetables, fruits, meats, etc.) as the American people have available in their grocery stores and can enjoy the year round. Yet, here is where some of the saddest Christians in the world live.” The Lord said, “My wrath is about to be poured out upon My children and I want you to warn them if they can’t rejoice now, I have no choice but to turn them over into the hands of the enemy.”
I thank God for His mercy that He sent this warning. He said, “This will happen very soon unless My children turn back to Me with rejoicing. (When the Lord says soon, it is not always as quickly as we think.) They are sad all week long and then try to come to church and praise Me, but they are not praising Me from the heart. They are trying to work up some kind of an emotional experience which I cannot accept.”
The Lord reminded me that those who do not express their gratitude and praise to Him now will experience hunger and thirst. They will try to quote Bible verses and claim promises that God will meet all their needs, but they do not qualify for those promises to operate in their life because they did not rejoice over the abundance they had received. The Lord doesn’t expect us to just say, “Thank you,” or, “Lord, I praise you.” He expects us to have a lifestyle of praise and thanksgiving flowing from our hearts and not our head or emotions. Paul said he rejoiced even in difficult circumstances, “I am exceeding joyful in all our tribulation” (2Corinthians 7:4). The disciples also rejoiced in the midst of persecution, “And they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name” (Acts 5:41). That’s the kind of lifestyle God is looking for. We need to repent of our lack of gratitude and turn to the lord with a heart full of joy and gladness.
Pastor Daniel D. Rodes
Related:
Daniel Rodes Prophecy 2/28/09: What Will Happen to Our Little Ones?
Compiled and processed by Jeff Fenske from: super-hot, IHOP Prayer Room worship, 3/6/09, described here
This is how I want to always live!
.
.
Ryan Kondo/Band fade
.
Ryan at maximum!
.
Drummer kickin’ it hard!!
.
This is awesome — YOU are so awesome, Victory, Freedom Fists!!!
.
Related:
Transcribed by Jeff Fenske from the IHOPU Student Awakening, 3/5/10
During the IHOPU Awakening, tonight, Robert, an IHOPU student testified how he had wrestled with suicidal thoughts every night even as a born-again Christian, IHOP student. Wes Hall responds:
“He used to want to kill himself all night, every night, and he hasn’t wanted to kill himself once since November [since he got set free at the revival].
Beloved, there are some of you, here, who wrestle under a spirit of torment, depression and suicidal thoughts. And the Lord wants to set you free tonight.
He has done it with Robert. Robert is just one example of many.
Young people, some of you have been involved in sin, and the shame of that sin has led you into depression and thoughts of suicide, and that you’re never going to make it to God’s standard, and so why don’t you kill yourself.
And you’re into cutting, and you just get deeper and deeper and deeper into sin. Or you just live under this spirit of torment and suicide because of how you see yourself in the mirror.
Whatever the reason is, you live under this heavy cloud and this heavy weight, and this spirit of torment day after day after day — some of you it’s been years.
I don’t know if Stephanie is still here. Stephanie was here this week, and she came over from California. And she had been living under a similar thing for 44 years, since she was 6 years old. And in a moment, the Lord set her free. And I tell you, I just observed her, these past few nights, in this cloud of the joy of the Lord.
It really is possible for the Lord to set you free.”
“Some of you, the depression is because of certain TV shows you watch late at night. You watch certain movies and certain TV shows and you wonder why you want to kill yourself and why you feel depressed when you wake up in the morning, and it’s because you’ve been feeding yourself from demonic ideas from those TV shows.
I’m not talking about ‘X’ rated. I’m not talking about ‘R’ rated shows. I’m talking about the run of the mill.”
– Wes Hall, IHOPU provost
_____
I would like to add that for some reason, the IHOP leaders don’t seem to be discussing the importance and the freedom of reconciliation — at least up until this point. Getting right with those that they hurt was the main theme of the Asbury revival Asbury Revival, 1970: “Dr. Kinlaw, I am a liar. Now what do I do?”
It’s important to be clean so freedom can last forever and ever — and so we can have confidence before God, now, and when we see Him face to face. Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way
Related:
Rachael’s Testimony: “I didn’t know it was depression. I tried to always put on this happy face, try to make everyone happy. I was very good at wearing masks. I was very good at being a chameleon. … When that spirit left, I didn’t even know that it was there. …I feel so bright, and I feel like clean before the Lord. I feel like I can love others so purely…”
Many teach that grace is simply God’s unmerited favor. They say: “salvation = grace + nothing.” But, according to Paul “the grace teacher,” grace has a much fuller meaning.
Grace isn’t just what Jesus did for us on the cross. Grace is God giving us the Holy Spirit, Who enables us and gives us the POWER TO OVERCOME sin. And overcome, we must (Rev. 21:7-8 & many other scriptures).
Steve Hill says: “Jesus didn’t set us free to sin; He set us free from sin.”
Paul teaches in Titus 2:
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; 13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ; 14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
From: http://www.bible-researcher.com/grace.html
“Against a still common view it must be stated that in Paul χαρις [the Greek word for grace – ed.] does not mean primarily a divine attribute (Wobbe, Charis-Gedanke, 32). It does not mean, in good Greek fashion, God’s graciousness, nor concetely his free love (Taylor). It almost always means the power of salvation which finds expression in specific gifts, acts, and spheres and which is even individualized in the charismata.” —Ernst Käsemann, Commentary on Romans, trans. G. Bromiley (Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1980), p. 14.
“In Paul … χαρις is never merely an attitude or disposition of God (God’s character as gracious); consistently it denotes something much more dynamic—the wholly generous act of God. Like ‘Spirit,’ with which it overlaps in meaning (cf., e.g., [Rom] 6:14 and Gal 5:18), it denotes effective divine power in the experience of men.” —James D.G. Dunn, Romans 1-8 (Dallas: Word Books, 1988), p. 17.
[…]
Naturally, the various meanings of the word were simply taken over from ordinary language by the New Testament writers. And so it is quite illegitimate to try to construct on the basis of all the occurrences of the word a single doctrine that will account for all the various usages. That one word could express both “charm of speech” and “thankfulness for blessings” was doubtless felt to be a mere accident, if it was thought of at all. But none the less, the very elasticity of the word enabled it to receive still another—new and technically Christian—meaning. This seems to have originated in part by fusing together two of the ordinary significances.
In the first place, as in (e) above, charis may mean “a gift.” In 1 Corinthians 16:3; 2 Corinthians 8:19 it is the money given by the Corinthians to the Jerusalemites. In 2 Corinthians 9:8 it is the increase of worldly goods that God grants for charitable purposes. In 2 Corinthians 1:15 it is the benefit received by the Corinthians from a visit by Paul. In a more spiritual sense charis is the endowment for an office in the church (Ephesians 4:7), more particularly for the apostolate (Romans 1:5; 12:3; 15:15; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 3:2,7). So in 1 Corinthians 1:4-7 charis is expanded into “word and all knowledge,” endowments with which the Corinthians were especially favored. In 1 Peter 1:13 charis is the future heavenly blessedness that Christians are to receive; in 3:7 it is the present gift of “life.”
In the second place, charis is the word for God’s favor, a sense of the term that is especially refined by St. Paul (see below). But God’s favor differs from man’s in that it cannot be conceived of as inactive. A favorable “thought” of God’s about a man involves of necessity the reception of some blessing by that man, and “to look with favor” is one of the commonest Biblical paraphrases for “bestow a blessing.” Between “God’s favor” and “God’s favors” there exists a relation of active power, and as charis denoted both the favor and the favors, it was the natural word for the power that connected them. This use is very clear in 1 Corinthians 15:10, where Paul says, “not I, but the grace of God which was with me” labored more abundantly than they all: grace is something that labors. So in 2 Corinthians 12:9, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness”; compare 2 Timothy 2:1, “strengthened in the grace,” and 1 Peter 4:10, “stewards of the manifold grace.” Evidently in this sense “grace” is almost a synonym for the Spirit, and there is little real difference between “full of the Holy Spirit” and “full of grace and power” in Acts 6:5,8, while there is a very striking parallel between Ephesians 4:7-13 and 1 Corinthians 12:4-11, with “gifts of grace” in the one passage, and “gifts of the Spirit” in the other. And this connection between grace and the Spirit is found definitely in the formula “Spirit of grace” in Hebrews 10:29 (compare Zechariah 12:10).
Related:
David Wilkerson: True Grace — “According to Paul, we are not walking in grace until we have broken from worldly corruptions. Unless we are endeavoring through the power of the Holy Spirit to lead godly and righteous lives, looking for the Lord’s coming in our every waking moment, we do not know God’s grace.”
Britt Williams: Biblical Grace, What Is It?
(video) Dan Corner: True Grace Vs False Grace — Charles Stanley’s security in sin: “You cannot out-sin the grace of God” Vs Jesus: “He who endures to the end will be saved”
“Grace”: To Give You Life to Overcome—Not a License to Sin
(video) Dan Corner: True Grace Vs False Grace — Charles Stanley’s security in sin: “You cannot out-sin the grace of God” Vs Jesus: “He who endures to the end will be saved”
Who-Goes-To-Heaven Scriptures — Narrow is the Way | Who are the Children of God? — “There is therefore now *no condemnation* to those who are IN CHRIST Jesus, who don’t WALK according to the flesh, but ACCORDING TO THE SPIRIT.”
How Many Will Be in Heaven? How Many Find the WAY? Only 1 in 40 — 2.5%!?!!
What is liberal Christian theology? — “Love” of our fellow man becomes the defining issue. The Greatest Commandment, ‘Life in the Son’ is ignored — where our yoke is easy and our burden is light, and we’ll find rest for our souls
Kevin Conner on the Believer’s CONDITIONAL Security: “OBEDIENCE IS the very law of SECURITY for all created beings. There can be NO SUCH THING as UNCONDITIONAL security.”
The CHIEF PILLAR of Eternal Security (OSAS) Toppled – John 10:27-29! — “Only those who are hearing and following Christ right now are his sheep”
Leonard Ravenhill: Romans 7 vs 8 — Life before the Son vs Life in the Son — “Romans 7 is a funeral march, Romans 8 is a wedding march … it’s a Spirit dominated life in chapter 8.”
[WordPOWER!] In Psalm 50 God Warns: “You have done these things, and I kept silent. You thought that I was just like you. … Now consider this…lest I tear you into pieces and there be none to deliver” (Hell?)
D. A. Carson: The Problem of the Canon Within the Canon — A subset of scriptures taught in exclusion of those that would result in true doctrine. “We badly need to listen to one another, especially when we least like what we hear.”
Dan Corner: “If you’re lusting in your heart, you are an adulterer, and you won’t inherit the kingdom.”
[Lust “the poison that kills the soul” FREEDOM] My experience: How DEMONS DRIVE heterosexual and homosexual lust in ‘Christians’ — The bad news is that demons drive lust. The good news is that demons drive lust, because…
Gandhi: Widespread Belief Doesn’t Make an Error True
HeartQuotes: Truth — “A thing does not therefore cease to be true because it is not accepted by many” – Spinoza
WordPower: BEWARE, in the LAST DAYS People Will Be WILLINGLY IGNORANT
Baruch: “Not only is DECEPTION of the church possible, it WAS PROPHESIED TO HAPPEN!” — Jesus said “IN THE LAST DAYS THE MAJORITY WILL BE DECEIVED, take heed that it doesn’t happen to you” — “FALSE TEACHERS are actually SPEAKING SPELLS with the words of their FALSE DOCTRINES!”
Asbury Revival, 1970: “‘Dr. Kinlaw, I am a liar. Now what do I do?’ … Three days later, she came to me radiant, and she said, ‘Dr. Kinlaw, I’m free!’” Many need to get right with people they’ve hurt to be free! Then God can move!
The Welsh Revival of 1904-05 by J. Edwin Orr: A Countrywide Asbury-like REVIVAL! The 4 Points: #1 Confess any known sin, and put any wrong done to man right again. #2 Put away any doubtful habit. #3 Obey the Spirit promptly. #4 Confess your faith publicly.
Can ‘Christians’ use Paul’s “Forgetting the things which are behind…I press on” statement as an excuse to not get right with those they’ve hurt? Paul also said: “I also practice ALWAYS having a conscience void of offense toward God and men.” What if you don’t repent? And what will happen when you do? The Third Great Awakening can start with us!!! We can all be happy — ‘ONE’!
My 1990 Key-to-Revival Prophecy: “There is might and there is power and there is glory, but it is being withheld until these relationships are made right, until we love our brother enough to…”
[ video – The MOST BEAUTIFUL SONG! ] Benny Hester: “When God Ran”
Transcribed by Jeff Fenske from the IHOPU Awakening, 2/5/10
“Some of you are leaders. Now is not the time to be ashamed before your youth group, or your church that you’ve come here with, and saying that ‘I’m a leader. I should know the love of God.’
There’s a cry in your heart saying ‘I am not prepared to walk forward another step in dead works and dead religion. God, I need an encounter with your love.’
Zach is one of our primary leaders here….”
[Zach shares his experience]
— Wes Hall, IHOPU provost (IHOP revivalist)
My notes continue from the live feed of R. T. Kendall’s Tuesday, PM message
Info on conference is in previous posts.
—
How you may know you are tomorrow’s man or tomorrow’s woman.
Prayer: “May we see more from Your word on this very teaching.”
R. T.’s book on this subject: The Anointing: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Yesterday’s Man: King Saul
Today’s Man: [used words to describe rather than mention a person]
Tomorrow’s Man: David
David got anointed, and then Saul got so jealous…. David had to run from Saul for 20 years.
Quoted someone who said: “The worst thing that can happen to a man is to succeed before you’re ready.”
Big mistake to assume that just because you have the anointing you’re ready.
God has done you a great favor by withholding … because you’re not ready yet.
R. T.’s story: It took 22 years for him to realize what God called him to do.
That’s the pain about being tomorrow’s man: waiting, waiting, waiting.
I want to end well.
King Saul went up with a rocket and everyone was in awe of him….
“He was underestimated by the established leadership” — “rejected by….”
God wants the anointing from you without trying to be anyone else.
Joseph had to forgive his brothers totally!
“Mercy” is when He gives you what you don’t deserve. Hb. 4:16. You never outgrow the need for mercy.
David also learned the importance of gratitude — being thankful.
Before you can be used and before your time has come it may be that God wants to teach you gratitude, being thankful.
God loves gratitude, and hates ingratitude. And gratitude needs to be taught.
“I decided I would be grateful and thank God for everything.”
I keep a journal. I go through my journal every day and thank God for everything in every day before.
I thank God for these snow capped mountains [the Chugach!].
Tell Him. He wants to be told.
You need to develop a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit.
Let God’s time be the arm of providence. David clipped a piece off the hem of Saul’s garment and felt guilty.
I think this is the most neglected teaching of the Holy Spirit.
The dove is a very shy, sensitive bird. The pigeon is a symbol of the counterfeit spirit.
To have the authentic, true, Holy Spirit show up is so wonderful.
You can be in a car and someone is driving so slow in front of us and the Dove just flies away….
The easiest thing is to grieve the Holy Spirit.
R. T. talked about the difference between pigeons and doves. Though, they’re in the same family, one is shy and one isn’t. Pigeons will eat food right from people’s bodies.
One family had a dove living in the eave (or something) of their house. But even if they just slammed the door the dove would fly away. They liked that dove, so they tried to not slam doors so he/she would stay.
His book on this subject: The Sensitivity of the Spirit
He won’t adjust to you. You better adjust to Him, and He won’t bend the rules for anybody.
You develop a sensitivity to the Holy Spirit so when you grieve Him you know….
He wants you to know His ways, and that comes by spending time with Him.
A survey of how much Christian leaders pray: 4 minutes. And you wonder why the church is powerless.
Spirituality: closing the time gap between sin and repentance.
If you can narrow the time gap to few seconds…. The Dove will just come down and stay.
Jesus never grieved the Holy Spirit.
The chief way is by bitterness. Point the finger; hold a grudge.
“I’m just telling the truth.” But the Dove flies away.
You can be perfectly right and perfectly wrong.
Either the Dove adjusts to us or we adjust to the Dove.
Let’s learn to get the Dove to come down and maybe the fire will fall.
“The Lord works for those who wait for Him.”
Waiting for you time to come; learning what grieves the Holy Spirit.
An illustration with his wife where he apologized after an argument, and in 45 minutes with the Lord afterward, he had everything for his sermon, the next day; though, he couldn’t get a thing before repenting.
“The Dove was at home with Jesus. I want him to be at home with me.”
Prayer:
I resolve to be a thankful person. Holy Spirit, come and remain. May your Holy Spirit dwell non-stop.
I haven’t spent the time with You. I’m sorry. That’s going to change.
Thank You for Your patience with me.
In Jesus’ name.
Go in peace.
—–
Related:
My Notes: R. T. Kendall’s 3rd message at Muldoon Community Assembly: My notes — “The Anointing: Today’s Man”
Watching R. T. Kendall via live webstream: My notes — “The Anointing: Yesterday’s Man”
Awesome R. T. Kendall forgiving message and response at ALCC today!
R. T. Kendall’s second message at Muldoon Community Assembly
R. T. is talking about mainly doing the things that are easy for us to do — what we are designed and anointed, called by God to do.
____
R. T. is using Saul’s life as an example.
“The Anointing: Yesterday’s Man”
R. T.’s book on this subject: The Anointing: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow
Most people have jobs they shouldn’t have. Many were fine in what they were doing, but then they took the upgrade. They took the upgrade to supervisor or manager because of the prestige, but they aren’t gifted in that….
Many like the prestige of being head pastor, etc.. “The Peter Principle.”
Accept the limits of your anointing. Walk in your grace. Be honest at what you’re good at and not jealous at someone else who has a different gift.
“What God calls you to do you will be able to do — and you won’t struggle.”
R. T. says it’s easy for him to publicly speak.
R. T. isn’t excited about not being good at algebra, but he’s found some things he’s good at.
Be content in the way God made you.
We need to hear His voice. As long as we can hear God’s voice we are not yesterday’s man or woman.
How people become yesterday’s man or woman:
• By putting ourselves above the Word.
If you want to become a fool, imagine God showed you something that contradicts the scripture.
We must all submit to scripture.
• When we take ourselves too seriously
They don’t want correction; can’t laugh at themselves, can’t bear criticism.
The greatest freedom is having nothing to prove.
When you live in your anointing…
Yesterdays’ man is consumed with jealousy
• When you can no longer keep your word
Many today are consumed with jealousy. [which is in the Galatians-5 list of those who won’t inherit the kingdom of God (who are not Christ’s), by the way]
Talking about The Lakeland Revival. R. T. could see early on, and spoke out; though, many leaders jumped right in. Some of the leaders still won’t admit they got it wrong.
• Won’t be accountable to anybody
“I’m accountable to God, thank you.”
He talked about a formerly greatly gifted prophet [whom I am quite familiar with] who recently fell badly, and is now yesterday’s man. [That’s sad to hear. I was hoping he was doing better.]
Transcribed by Jeff Fenske
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBXACTfrYQE]IHOP Awakening Wes Hall Testimony
“The Lord showed up at our classes at IHOPU, and began releasing His joy, began releasing a fresh window of His presence and setting many of our students free from chains of self-hatred and shame, and encountering those who never encountered the love of the Father in a real meaningful way. The love of the Father was a concept, but now it has become a reality.
And we had some skeptics who came in. In fact, I was one of them. I was leading that first class, and things started getting a little bit crazy in the class — and I’m the provost of the university. And I was holding onto this podium and I couldn’t stand up. I was pinned to the floor.
And the class was going crazy. There were some of the most sensible students rolling on the floor, laughing for about an hour and a half.
And I thought, you know what, this has got to be mostly the flesh and a little bit the Holy Spirit.
And so I tried to get a hold of the worship leader to come and lead us in a worship song, because, you know, when we worship Jesus the flesh kind of dies down. But what happened: we began worshiping Jesus and His activity intensified.
I was like, ‘okay, You’re doing something unique here.’ And so the Lord began touching some of us who pride ourselves on being sedate and in our right mind for the gospel.”
“Ezekiel 47 speaks of the River that flows from the throne of God. And it says it’s a River of Life, and it’s a river that brings life and it brings healing wherever it goes. The Lord says I’m releasing My Holy Spirit. I’m releasing that River that flows from the throne of God. It starts at the throne of God.
And the Holy Spirit is not a thing. He’s a person. He is God. And He’s pictured as a river, but it doesn’t mean you can scoop Him or do backstroke in Him — because He is God.
But He comes like a river to bring life to the barren areas of our hearts. And He’s come because He wants to flow like a river, not just in us, but through us. But until we encounter the life of the Spirit in our inner man, that River is like damned up. It comes into us but it never flows through us.
And if you study Ezekiel 47, you will see that that river flows from the throne, and it ends up in the sea. And it brings life to the sea. And in the sea is suddenly a multitude of fish.
The Lord says that I want that River of Life to flow in you, to break down every barrier to My love, to break down every barrier to you being who I created you to be.
We have testimony after testimony after testimony of how the Lord has released His life in new ways. In an instant, deliverance from demonic affliction; in an instant, deliverance from years of addiction, same-sex attraction; deliverance in an instant from eating disorders, self-hatred, shame — things that have taken years years of counseling. In an instant, the Holy Spirit has come with His power and set people free and set hearts free.
And sometimes when the Holy Spirit touches us, He reacts in a funny way with our bodies….”
— Wes Hall, Provost of IHOPU
Related:
What is Real Revival? (“The more I forgave the more I shook and laughed”)
Wes Hall: Why do people laugh and shake under the power of God? “The Lord has released a revelation of the Father’s love I’ll never forget”
There is A RIVER, the streams of which make the city of God glad! “Drink from THE WELL that will never run dry! Drink from THE WELL that will never run dry! Drink from THE WELL that will never run dry!!!”
IHOP revival leader on God’s provision during martyrdom: “When we’re in the presence of the Lord, martyrdom doesn’t seem like such a bad deal”
My Poem: The Ghost and THE RIVER!
Transcribed by Jeff Fenske from IHOP Student Awakening, 12/18/09
Wes Hall explains some of what has been going on for six weeks now at IHOP (International House of Prayer). It was in Wes’ classroom that the revival broke out:
“When the Holy Spirit hits your body, sometimes your body does unusual things, because we’re not talking about 50,000 volts [he had just explained what it felt like to be personally hit with a taser during a recent security demonstration], we’re talking about very God interacting with your human body to set you free from bondages and sicknesses and depression and all manner of things. And sometimes your body can’t handle the power that is needed to set you free, and you start shaking and laughing and doing funny things.”
______________
“The Lord has released a revelation of the Father’s love I’ll never forget.
The first day that this awakening began, a young man comes shaking up to the platform. … I said, ‘do you normally do this?’ He said, ‘no, I made fun of everybody who used to do this. I thought it was flaky and weird.’ And he goes, ‘I can’t stop.’
And I said, ‘what has the Lord done for you?’ He said, ‘I have three dads’ — he is one of our students here — ‘I’ve had three fathers during my life. ‘I have never understood the love of the Father experientially in my life. I’ve never understood it. It’s never been a reality to me.’
He goes, ‘I’ve been to every person’s Father-heart seminar and paid tons of money to get the revelation of the Father, and it never took.
And he said in a moment, God broke in and revealed Himself as a father to him. And he says, ‘and I just can’t stop shaking under the power of God.’
What weeks and decades of inner healing couldn’t do the Lord has done in a moment.
The Lord has set free pastors who have been in ministry for years — those who have preached on the love of God — those who have ministered to people from shame and self-hatred, but themselves never felt the love of God. And the Lord in an instant has set them free.”
______________
“Who wants to be so caught up in His love that you don’t even care about yourself anymore?
You don’t even care about yourself anymore. All you care about is Jesus. You’re clothed with His love and His power.
And as Shelly is gonna share, we’re going to be riding in the front seat, not in the back seat on a stretcher.”
I’m encouraged!
A song with The River theme was HOT at the IHOP revival last night! And then they sang “YOU are Good” — my favorite song from John Tesh’s Worship at Red Rocks. (Red Rocks Platinum is still available for $12 — 2 CDs & 1 DVD!)
Lord You are good
And Your mercy endureth forever
You are good, all the time
All the time, You are good
Red Rocks was good, but this last 45 minutes of today’s 6-hour revival was INCREDIBLY, POWERFULLY WONDERFUL!!!!!!! I probably watched it 5 times already (possible for subscribers).
Worship leader was Matt Gilman. Awesome job! All the glory to God!!! Everyone was having so much fun — clean fun! And the lead guitarist— WOW!! I hope The Edge gets to see this. This is how U2 concerts should be — clean, with hearts magnifying God! And…
And Jesus was clearly smiling too; and smiling on — empowering — making this night sooooooo special!!!!!!!
And then the clapping sounded like Riverdance!!!
It would be great if IHOP would put together a best-of DVD set, or post some of this online. If anyone finds key footage somewhere, please let me know.
May God’s people arise!
Drink from THE WELL that will never run dry!
Drink from THE WELL that will never run dry!
Drink from THE WELL that will never run dry!!!
1 God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we won’t be afraid, though the earth changes, though the mountains are shaken into the heart of the seas;
3 though its waters roar and are troubled, though the mountains tremble with their swelling. Selah.
4 There is a river, the streams of which make the city of God glad, the holy place of the tents of the Most High.
5 God is in her midst. She shall not be moved. God will help her at dawn.
6 The nations raged. The kingdoms were moved. He lifted his voice, and the earth melted.
7 Yahweh of Armies is with us. The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
Related:
Matt Gilman: You are Good medley (onething’08)
John Tesh: You are Good! (Worship at Red Rocks)
Transcribed by Jeff Fenske from the live broadcast of the IHOPU Student Awakening, 12/12/09
“I turned to Allen the other day and I said, ‘you know what? When we’re in the presence of the Lord, martyrdom doesn’t seem like such a bad deal.’
When you’re living in the glory of God, you can understand how Steven, he’d been stoned. He looks up and goes ‘forget about the stoning. I see the Son of Man standing at the right hand of the Most High!‘”
2 Cor. 1:3-5
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ.
1 Cor. 10:13
No temptation has taken you except what is common to man. God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
And she named the child Ichabod, saying, “The glory has departed from Israel.” 1 sam 4:21
“Putting on an outward façade that all was going well despite having long lost the anointing.”
This is what I call elsewhere in this blog, partysville, a put-on joy of the Lord, complete with fake smiles, “hah, hah, hah,” but inwardly there can be even hate and control, for which James 4 is the remedy: The Remedy for James-3 Cursing & Partysville in Today’s Church is James 4.
When people are right with God and their neighbors, when we’ve truly entered into His rest, the presence of God can be tangibly felt. Love comes from within, from the Holy Spirit. The joy of the Lord is natural, not manufactured by man. There’s no hype, just people resting in God, right with each other.
Then pastors [most pastors today are con-men (confidence-men) — con-artists] won’t have to say: “that was great worship.” It will be obvious to everyone that it really was. And the presence of God won’t stop when the music stops — all resting in God, right with each other.
“Then the world will know,” Jesus said in John 17 — instead of “THE SHOW must go on.”
Jeff
From: acidri’s blog
“The show must go on” is a well-known phrase in show business, meaning that regardless of what happens (such as the lead performer breaking a leg), the show must still be put on for the waiting patrons. The other day a church invited teenagers to come to church and play a game Halo3 with the hope that they would in so doing meet Christ. This is the modern day evangelism, connection with the youth as it is. Another church was offering Wii game consoles to any body who accepted Jesus into their hearts.
Is it possible that in the last days there will come times of difficulty? People will be lovers of self… lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power? [Whatever] happened to the power of the gospel? Does Christ have to be disguised to a point where we use sleight of hand? Is this the level to which friendship evangelism has fallen?
When love begins to sicken and decay it uses an enforced ceremony. [Julius Caesar]-William Shakespeare
Many great men of God in the Bible kept the show going. Putting on an [outward] façade that all was going well despite having long lost the anointing. So take heed. Samson lost his hair, the symbol of his anointing while he slept and woke up saying, “I will go out as at other times and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him. Too many programmes and activities do not mean growth. Counterfeits and hypocrites cast the same shadow of deception. Sometimes a deception can bring in many converts because it is appealing. Well, the show just keeps going on. But the Spirit of God is not in it.
From: Charisma Magazine
The Cross: The Arthur Blessitt Story
For almost 40 years Arthur Blessitt has walked around the world carrying a cross and sharing the love of Christ. Matt Crouch, CEO of Gener8Xion Entertainment, has known Blessitt for many years and realized last year that it was time to tell his story. The result is the documentary The Cross: The Arthur Blessitt Story, which opens March 27 in theaters nationwide.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mibdNHawDA]
With footage from years of traveling, including images of him and Billy Graham together in Ireland, the film chronicles Blessitt’s journey around the world. The Mississippi-born evangelist has traveled to 315 countries and walked more than 38,000 miles. He began his ministry on Sunset Strip in Los Angeles and became known as the “Sunset Strip Minister.” Because he loved the people he met on the Strip, he was reluctant to leave when he sensed God calling him to walk around the world carrying a wooden cross. But God reminded him that Sunset Strip stretches around the world.
Blessitt was ready to obey. Two weeks before he was to leave Los Angeles, however, doctors discovered he had a brain aneurysm. He explains in the film that circumstances don’t change the call of God. Facing possible death, Blessitt decided he would rather die while in God’s will than to live out of it. He left on schedule—Christmas Day 1969.
Moviegoers will be inspired by Blessitt’s passion and commitment to not only answer God’s call but also to persevere even in the midst of incredible danger. Blessitt says he learned along the way to see hardships and difficulties not as stumbling blocks but as stepping stones. “The safest place to be is in the will of God,” he says onscreen.
Blessitt has traveled through 52 war zones, been beaten and also arrested 24 times. His first arrest was in Jackson, Miss., for holding a black man’s hand while witnessing to him. Blessitt remained undeterred and has seen many miracles as God protected him, kept him alive and brought him through. Throughout his lengthy mission, he’s had the opportunity to minister to countless people. That now includes millions more who, in watching The Cross, will undoubtedly be inspired by the lessons he’s learned and the relationship he developed with the Lord-both conveyed powerfully onscreen in this 90-minute documentary. Ultimately, Blessitt says, it’s all about loving God and people.
It was Crouch, as the movie’s director and narrator, who best summed up this film: “It’s not about the cross carrier; it’s about what the cross did to the cross carrier.”
To read more about The Cross: The Arthur Blessit Story, click here.
Arthur Blessitt’s autobiography released earlier this year. Click here to purchase The Cross (Authentic Publishing).
[Comment #5 suggests that Corrie didn’t write this letter. We do know for sure that Corrie did write portions of this elsewhere (including the quote I start this post with), and it does seem to be consistent with her thought. If anyone has further insight, please let me know.]
– –
When I was a little girl…, I went to my father and said, “Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be strong enough to be a martyr for Jesus Christ.” “Tell me,” said Father, “When you take a train trip to Amsterdam, when do I give you the money for the ticket? Three weeks before?”
“No, Daddy, you give me the money for the ticket just before we get on the train.” “That is right,” my father said, “and so it is with God’s strength. Our Father in Heaven knows when you will need the strength to be a martyr for Jesus Christ. He will supply all you need – just in time.“
………………………….
From: Revival School (Andrew Strom)
ESCAPE TRIBULATION? -WRONG! -Corrie Ten Boom.
Miss Corrie Ten Boom was a Dutch survivor of the Nazi Concentration Camps, and a lifelong missionary. Corrie was a believer in facing tribulation. She was one of the many people who were persecuted in concentration camps during the World War II. Her family was murdered before her eyes, but though her life was threatened, God led her through that terrible time. She lived to testify all over the world of how God brought her out of that time of trouble. In the worst days in the concentration camp she and her sister Betsy discovered that “there is no pit so deep that the Presence of God is not there with us”. In an interview titled “Prepared for the Coming Tribulation”, Miss Corrie Ten Boom held very definite view concerning the rapture. In the following message she shared a plea for the saints to prepare themselves for the possibility that at some point their faith may be tested. It serves today as a timely warning to us in the comfortable and complacent western church as we approach the threshold of the end-time drama.
Here is her exhortation to us from a letter she wrote in 1974:
______________
“The world is deathly ill. It is dying. The Great Physician has already signed the death certificate. Yet there is still a great work for Christians to do. They are to be streams of living water, channels of mercy to those who are still in the world. It is possible for them to do this because they are overcomers.
Christians are ambassadors for Christ. They are representatives from Heaven to this dying world. And because of our presence here, things will change.
My sister, Betsy, and I were in the Nazi concentration camp at Ravensbruck because we committed the crime of loving Jews. Seven hundred of us from Holland, France, Russia, Poland and Belgium were herded into a room built for two hundred. As far as I knew, Betsy and I were the only two representatives of Heaven in that room.
We may have been the Lord’s only representatives in that place of hatred, yet because of our presence there, things changed. Jesus said, “In the world you shall have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” We too, are to be overcomers – bringing the light of Jesus into a world filled with darkness and hate.
Sometimes I get frightened as I read the Bible, and as I look in this world and see all of the tribulation and persecution promised by the Bible coming true. Now I can tell you, though, if you too are afraid, that I have just read the last pages. I can now come to shouting “Hallelujah! Hallelujah!” for I have found where it is written that Jesus said, “He that overcometh shall inherit all things: and I will be His God, and he shall be My son.” This is the future and hope of this world. Not that the world will survive – but that we shall be overcomers in the midst of a dying world.
Released in 1953, The Robe actually won Oscars in a then more ‘beautiful’ America. And of the many movies I’ve seen in my lifetime, The Robe is one that gives me great comfort—especially when considering what could happen to us if we lose this country and we have to take a pretty heavy stand for Christ! I love the Christian community which I give the start time for in the video of the film, below. The sweet spirit of its leader with the white hair often stands out in my mind as a standard for Christian leadership. And the ending is phenomenal!! No matter what happens, the joy of the Lord can remain in our hearts forever!
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? … Nay, in all these things we are MORE THAN CONQUERORS through him that loved us.
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Rom. 8:35-39)
“To live is Christ; to die is gain!”
There is nothing to worry about when we’re truly in Christ (“who don’t walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit” – Rom. 8:1b)!
God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted above what you are able, but will with the temptation also make the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it. (1Cor. 10:13)
When the sufferings of Christ flow, His comfort flows!!!!!!!
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort; who comforts us in all our affliction, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, through the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound to us, even so our comfort also abounds through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation. If we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer. Our hope for you is steadfast, knowing that, since you are partakers of the sufferings, so also are you of the comfort. (2 Cor. 1:2-7)
Jeff : )
The peaceful Christian community is showcased at minute-58:30 [looks like YouTube pulled this again. Copyright must last 60+ years][youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wbHZaWDmyM]The Robe 1953
Uploaded on Feb 7, 2011
The Robe, was nominated for five Academy Awards in 1953, including best picture and best actor. Burton stars as Marcellus Gallio, the Roman centurion charged with overseeing the crucifixion. But when he wins Christ’s robe in a gambling game at the foot of the cross, his life is forever changed. The movie is based on a novel (fiction) yet it is inspiring, in its depiction of Christ’s crucifixion and the power of His life and death, and the novel (written by Lloyd C. Douglas) has been read by tens of millions of readers..
Related:
Richard Wurmbrand (1909 – 2001): TORTURED FOR CHRIST in Atheist Romania — Shows his scars; but THE GLORY!: “We were beaten; we were tortured, but JUST AS SAINT STEPHEN, while they threw stones at him DID NOT SEE his murderers, did not see the stones, but saw heaven open…, so WE DIDN’T SEE anymore the communist torturers. We didn’t see that we are in prison. We were SURROUNDED BY ANGELS. We were with God.”
[6-minute video] Richard Wurmbrand (1909 – 2001): Solitary Confinement & Tortured for Christ for 14 Years — “You wonder why I smile. … I remember it as a glorious time. The bride was in the embraces of the Heavenly Bridegroom. We received His Holy Kiss. We knew His caresses. It has been one of the most beautiful times of my life!”
CORRIE TEN BOOM: PREPARED For The COMING TRIBULATION — “Daddy, I am afraid that I will never be STRONG ENOUGH TO BE A MARTYR for Jesus Christ.” My father said, “OUR FATHER IN HEAVEN KNOWS when you will need the strength…. HE WILL SUPPLY ALL YOU NEED – JUST IN TIME.“
[9-minute AMAZING video] Arrested in Iran, horrified missionary, Dan Baumann has VISION OF JESUS in jail, Whose love SETS HIM FREE TO LOVE his torturer, who leads others to Christ. Set free in his heart, God gives Dan TOTALLY HONEST words to speak at the trial for 20 minutes. And Dan was released from Iran too! — “God gave me the grace to stand up and speak the truth. And in doing so it brought freedom in my heart. I AM FREE!!!!!!!”
Let Us Be ONE, Part 9 of 33
Leadership…How it is Supposed to Be
I will give you life; I will lead; you follow. We are together. That’s how it is supposed to be—not leadership from top down, from the pulpit, giving commands. This is sin. They are there to instruct you to follow Me, to live without sin so you can hear My voice.
I will not be long. I am not far away. It doesn’t take long to get to know Me if you search for Me with your whole heart. I am in you, My people, and I love to be a friend to the fatherless, those without a shepherd.
I am life. Come to Me, My people and find rest. I am good. There will be no disappointments in Me.
The other way is death, made by man for man’s desires, for man’s approval. It doesn’t work. Anything made by man’s hands will wither.
Instead, get your life from Me, then it will last—whatever you do.
Eternal rewards await those who follow hard after righteousness.
© 2008 Jeff Fenske
Let Us Be ONE: Table of Contents
Benny’s version back on YouTube here:
• • •
It’s too bad that Benny’s now-secular-owned record company chooses to ban this song on YouTube, which will certainly NOT help record sales. But I’m not sure that’s their main goal. It was a sad day when the Christian record companies sold out to the corporatocracy.
I first heard this wonderful song played at the Evanston [Ill.] Vineyard in about 1990, during the pastor’s message, entitled ~”The Father-Heart of God.” It’s one of my all-time favorite songs, and the other renditions I see online aren’t anywhere nearly as powerful as Benny’s original version.
Since we can’t hear the song, I now include here some of the lyrics.
Oh, here’s a version at Vimeo!
Almighty God,
The Great I Am
Immoveable Rock,
Omnipotent powerful
Awesome Lord,
Victorious Warrior
Commanding King of Kings
Mighty Conquerer,
And the only time,
the only time I ever saw Him run
Was when
He ran to me,
Took me in His arms, held my head to His chest
And said “My son’s come home again”.
Looked in my face, wiped the tears from my eyes
With forgiveness in His voice
He said “Son, do you know I still love you?”
It caught me by surprise when God ran
The day I left Home,
I knew I’d broken His heart …
Related:
Christian the Lion—How Our Heart Should Be
Video: Lion Hugs Rescuer – So Cool!!!
Powered by WordPress & Theme by Anders Norén