"Our body is earth bound, but our spirit is in close proximity to our Father in Heaven."
This month's devotion has been prepared by one of our team members, Michael Tyrell. Michael is one of our itinerant prophetic ministers, and he is not only a prophetic preacher, but a worship leader and song writer as well. Many of you are going to specifically relate to Michael's word below, and all of you will love it...as things are much "closer than they appear!"
PROPHETIC ENCOURAGEMENT
Some time ago, I received this "open vision." I feel it applies to several of you reading today. In the vision, I was looking out the kitchen window of an old farmhouse. I noticed a large rose garden; some of the roses had "bloomed" while others were "tightly budded." Above the rose garden was an enormous storm cloud. I remember thinking "it's going to..." and before the word "pour" was formed in my consciousness, the Heavens opened.
As the deluge continued, I witnessed a curious thing. The roses that had "bloomed", were filling up like cups. The weight of the water caused the rose to bend over, spilling its contents on thirsty ground, and then springing upright to be filled again.
The "tightly budded" roses, though exposed to the same rain, only had a few droplets on their exterior. The Lord said, "The bloom receives the rain; the bud only gets the dew."
How Did the Dead Sea Die?
There are many factors which keep a bud from blooming: lack of sun, lack of nutrients in the soil, or lack of water. But in this vision, the conditions were favorable and all of the roses experienced the same rainfall. The difference? Some were open and some stayed closed.
We see this same condition in "God's garden." Some of us dance in the rain, some open an umbrella, some drink the rain, and others ask for a water analysis as some fear drowning while others fear drought. Here's the bottom line--you'll never get anything from a "tightwad." They're loaded, but they hold on tightly to what they have, never sharing with those in need. This is how the Dead Sea died.
Outflow is Important
All the goodness of the Jordan River flows in, but nothing ever flows out, so the water stagnates and dies. Likewise in the body of Christ, spiritual edema is extremely unattractive. We come "sloshing" into meetings full of "living water" to receive more, without sharing with the thirsty what we already have. This brings me to the most tragic condition of all--a bud closed so tightly, that it receives no rain at all. This is a self-induced famine.
Words Make an Impact
"What we say to each other is either fertilizer or poison."
There are several conditions that keep a child of God from blooming: fear, neglect, rejection, betrayal, sabotage, abuse, and judgment. Judgment kills creativity. It only takes one bogus word to stifle a gift. What we say to each other is either fertilizer or poison. If we give these negative "death words" power, we'll stay closed up and eventually dry up.
God created flowers to open. When a flower opens, it makes itself vulnerable. It allows all of its goodness to be utilized and nothing is hidden. It becomes food for the hungry, drink for the thirsty, shelter for the homeless, beautiful to the eyes, and a breath of fresh air (plants actually take carbon dioxide and convert it to oxygen). This is our heritage. This is what we should be to the world.
One thing I've learned about plants is that if you talk to them, they grow better. That's what this devotional is for! Keep reading. God is talking to you and you WILL grow. The latter rain is beginning to fall, so be an open blossom, not a "bud" head.
DEVOTIONAL TEACHING
The side view mirror of my car has a warning on it: "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear." Hence, proximity may be more accurate than perception. The "American Heritage Dictionary" definition of the word proximity is--the state, quality, sense, or fact of being near or next; closeness.
With that in mind, let's go to the Word. Ephesians 2:4-7, "But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the Heavenly realms in Christ Jesus. In order that in the coming ages He might show the incomparable riches of His grace, expressed in His kindness to us in Christ Jesus."
I want to point out a few highlights! Why does God do what He does, and whom does He do it for? Verse 4 is our answer: "because of His great love for us." And He is well able because He is rich (full) of mercy. In verse 5, the word "made" is not "create", it is interpreted "to make out of previously existing materials." In verse 6, the word "raised" is past tense. In verse 7, how can we visualize the "riches of His grace?" Through the blood of Jesus.
Encourage Yourself
Let me share a personal experience. One day as I was tending to our butterfly garden, my thoughts drifted to a discouraging scenario that I was dealing with in the area of our finances. I asked the Lord to encourage me and He said, "Encourage yourself." So I tried telling myself everything was going to be ok, yada, yada, yada. But I didn't feel any better.
Suddenly, the Lord gently spoke, "Part of you knows the truth and sees what I see, because he's sitting with me, let him speak." Then I saw it! In our triune nature, 1/3 of us is perfect because our spirit is seated in Heavenly places, and our spirit sees and knows. Our body is earth bound, but our spirit is in close proximity to our Father in Heaven. Thus, we can say, "On earth as it is in Heaven."
It's tragic that this is a stretch for us to understand, but we're certainly not the first to experience it. Turn to 2 Corinthians 12:1-5, "It is not expedient for me doubtless to glory. I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. I knew a man in Christ above 14 years ago (whether in the body I cannot tell, or whether out of the body I cannot tell, God knoweth). Such a one caught up to the third heaven.
And I know such a man (whether in the body or out of the body, I cannot tell, God knoweth). How that he was "caught up" into paradise (3rd heaven) and heard unspeakable words, which it is not lawful for a man to utter."
There is no doubt Paul was in Heaven, the problem is he couldn't tell if he was all there or partially there. We know he was there in the Spirit, for our mortal bodies cannot glory in His presence. This is huge!
Living in Close Proximity to the Father
"When we realize our proximity to the Father, He shows us our life from HIS perspective."
Since your spirit has an intimate relationship with the Father, if your soul (thoughts, will, and emotions) is out of sorts, and your body (flesh) responds, listen to the voice of your spirit, who is seated in Heavenly places. Your spirit sees the truth from a better perspective, and THAT truth will set you free. It gets better! When we realize our proximity to the Father, He shows us our life from HIS perspective. Let me tell you, it's radically different from ours.
The blood of Jesus is our covering, and from God's Heavenly perspective, that's what He sees when He looks at us. That's right. When it comes to His children, the Father is not sin conscious, He is Son conscious. Because the blood is over us, it covers a multitude of sin. Since we are under the blood and our bodies are earth bound, occasionally we get preoccupied with what's beneath instead of what's above. In this way sin, guilt, and shame can cause us to suffer emotionally for something Jesus already paid for with His blood.
Understanding What God has Freely Given Us
I Corinthians 2:9-16, "No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared FOR THOSE WHO LOVE HIM--but God has revealed it to US by His Spirit. The Spirit searches ALL things, even the deep things of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man, except the man's spirit within him? In the same way, no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.
We have not received the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we may UNDERSTAND what God has freely given us. THIS IS WHAT WE SPEAK, not in words taught us by human wisdom, but in words taught by the Spirit expressing Spiritual truths in Spiritual words.
The man without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them because they are Spiritually discerned. The Spiritual man makes judgments about all things, but he himself IS NOT SUBJECT to any man's judgment. For who has the mind of the Lord that he may instruct him? BUT WE HAVE THE MIND OF CHRIST."
Freedom wasn't free for Jesus; He paid our admission price to see the Father. He whom the Son sets free is free indeed. So next time you read "Objects in mirror are closer than they appear," you'll remember Heaven is much closer than you think...in fact--your Spirit is already there!
James 4:8, "Come near to God, and He will come near to you."
Be blessed as you draw closer to the Lord and His word this month.
Scripture Meditation
Week One: Ephesians 2
Week Two: 2 Corinthians 12:1-4; James 4:1-11
Week Three: 1 Corinthians 2
Week Four: Psalm 73
Patricia King with Michael Tyrell
"These powerful sons are some of the cream of His crop and they are VERY precious to Him."
The Line of Demarcation
Throughout the years, I have had many repeating visions of seeing a long line of people all numbered one-by-one, stretching out in single file over hills and valleys, for miles...too far to see. The Lord has been going out to these people and bringing them in one-by-one. He has gone to great lengths to reach these lost ones who have strayed, are alone, and are isolated.
In 2004, the intercession to reach especially the prodigals and those in the long lines of people, began to climax in great earnestness, as the door was closing and the "line of demarcation" (a line of separation drawn by distinct boundaries) was beginning to be drawn, for those who refused to cross over the river Jordan. I have written about this line of demarcation and the Laodicean Church, as He has given me these words, and I have greatly agonized over this in intercession.
In the late 90's the Lord started talking to me about crossing over the Jordan and into our promises. And if you remember in Scripture (Joshua 3), the priests went in first. They were the intercessors who stood in the gap, and the "flood waters" of the Jordan rolled all the way back to Adam, which is a significant revelation in itself.
I believe that the people have been crossing over safely all this time. Many have been going through circumcision and death to self on many levels, as they are waiting to come into the fullness of their promises.
I also believe that many people (priests) will be coming out of the water this year, perhaps near Pentecost or some time mid-year. This means that after the priests cross over and come up out of the waters, the "flood waters" will return. And those left on the other side will have to cross over in rising (and demonic) flood waters in order to make it with those who will be moving forward into their promises. This river, coming back to flood stage is what I feel is the line of demarcation.
A Vision of People Crossing Over
On January 1st of this year, I had a vision where I saw people crossing over a body of water. I could see that it was flooded and it was not crystal clear water, so I knew it did not represent God's Ezekiel river. People were pulling themselves through water that was up to their ribs.
I believe the river is the river Jordan, AFTER the priests have left the waters and crossed over. These were people who came over after the line was drawn and the demonic flood waters returned.
A Video of Rescue
I have attached a video below for viewers to watch an amazing rescue of over 100 wild horses caught on an island in the Northern Netherlands, surrounded in flood waters after a great storm. This video portrays the line of demarcation being drawn and God's plan of redemption and rescue. I cried like a baby when I watched these wild horses being rescued due to the flood waters stranding them. (The photos in this post are also from that video.)
Attempts were made to liberate these stranded horses, but to no avail. Then finally, four brave women went through the flood waters on their own horses to get to the island. Their plan was to show the horses that they could get off that island and lead them HOME to safety, food, and freedom!
I think that I cried the hardest when I saw that instead of one large batch of horses moving through the water, they formed a huge long line, one after the other, just like my vision of a long line of people all numbered one-by-one, stretching out in single file.
The Prophetic Picture of Prodigals
The next time I watched the video, I laughed all the way through with total JOY, as I saw it portrayed our God giving us a word over our loved ones who are not in a safe place in Him. In the mercy of our God, these horses crossed through the flood waters to safety. They crossed over into their promises, that land rich and green, filled with milk and honey.
As the tears just would not stop, I saw something in this video that was very clear to me. There are MANY in this group of isolated, stranded, and hungry people, who have very high callings in God. They are like Peter who once walked with the Lord very closely. They are like the prodigal son who already knew of his inheritance in God, and yet chose the world instead.
These powerful sons are some of the cream of His crop and they are VERY precious to Him. He is going to great lengths to reach them. It is not because they deserve this, it is because of the prayers of the righteous who suffered like Job, and prayed for those who are not innocent. Most of these prayers have been prayed by believing mothers and fathers who have stood in the gap for their families.
HOLY IS OUR GOD. And AWESOME IS HE. MERCIFUL AND GRACIOUS.
Luke 15:20-22, "And he arose and came to his father. But when he was still a great way off, his father saw him and had compassion, and ran and fell on his neck and kissed him. And the son said to him, 'Father, I have sinned against Heaven and in your sight, and am no longer worthy to be called your son.'
But the father said to his servants, 'Bring out the best robe and put it on him, and put a ring on his hand and sandals on his feet.'"
Luke 15:4-7, "What man of you, having a hundred sheep, if he loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness, and go after the one which is lost until he finds it? And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing.
And when he comes home, he calls together his friends and neighbors, saying to them, 'Rejoice with me, for I have found my sheep which was lost!' I say to you that likewise there will be more joy in Heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."
Jeremiah 32:37-41, "Behold, I will gather them out of all countries where I have driven them in My anger, in My fury, and in great wrath; I will bring them back to this place, and I will cause them to dwell safely. They shall be My people, and I will be their God; then I will give them one heart and one way, that they may fear Me forever, for the good of them and their children after them.
And I will make an everlasting covenant with them, that I will not turn away from doing them good; but I will put My fear in their hearts so that they will not depart from Me. Yes, I will rejoice over them to do them good, and I will assuredly plant them in this land, with all My heart and with all My soul."
Micah 7:18-19, "Who is a God like You, pardoning iniquity and passing over the transgression of the remnant of His heritage? He does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in mercy. He will again have compassion on us, and will subdue our iniquities. You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea."
To watch the amazing rescue video of these stranded, wild horses, http://video.google.nl/videoplay?docid=-4584913278289860160click here (and warning, have your tissue ready).
Blessings to you!
Sandy Warner
http://www.thequickenedword.com The Quickened Word
"And the forms and the structures--they're coming down from the old wineskin, and a new wineskin is being built."
January 2, 2007 - Maricopa, Arizona
Below is a transcribed prophecy which was given by Stacey Campbell on January 2nd, 2007 in Maricopa, Arizona, at a gathering hosted by Patricia King from Extreme Prophetic. Patricia invited a group of prophetic people/ministers to gather and to celebrate, and to seek the Lord for the new year.
Changing Times. Changing Seasons
And when John the Baptist said, "Behold the Lamb of God," all the structures--they broke down. They came down...falling down...it literally fell down. First in his body, then in the natural in 70 AD.
Living Stones
Everything they knew came down. Because we're living stones. Living stones! Living stones! The life is not in the form. The life is in the stone. The DNA is in the brick.
A City Made of Stones
God is building His Church and the final revelation of the Church in Heaven is not even the bride, it's a city--a city made of stones. And a light comes out of the stones to all the nations.
And all the stones come around the temple, and God is the temple in the middle of the stones. The Lamb is the temple, and the Lamb is the light. There's no light, but the temple in the middle of the stones. The living stones!
Great Transformation
There's a great transformation going on in the Body of Christ in the globe. And the forms and the structures--they're coming down from the old wineskin, and a new wineskin is being built, but it's very hard to discern.
The people are looking for it and they say, "Is this it? Is that it? Is this the Christ? Is this the One? Is this the form? Is this the structure?" And all over the earth they're looking for the form that can contain the presence of God.
A Harvest that is So Big...
But what is coming? The harvest that is coming is so big, it cannot be contained in one structure. Even as the first structure was completely destroyed so that one stone was not left upon the other. The Church as you now know--it will never be the same! And this is the key--the life is in the bricks.
The Stones Are Alive!
Living stones. They're alive! They're alive! They're alive! They're ALIVE they contain His Spirit! So the key is not to discern the form, but the key is to discern the brick.
Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you in God? It comes from God and to God it shall return and it shall surround His presence forever and ever and ever and ever and ever in Heaven!
Who Are You?
Whenever you discern the "form" without discerning the "stone", you will have a temporary structure that will not last. But whenever you discern the stone, uh huh, uh huh, I see that stone! I know that stone--that's an Apostolic stone. That's a Prophet stone. That's a healing stone! And you begin to let the old stones go with the young stones. The male stones go side-by-side with the female stones.
Joel 2 and Acts 2. It's coming again, it's coming again! And when you discern the stone correctly, you can build a multiplicity of containers that contain less. That are less. That hold life. That hold the living, flowing presence of God.
It's too Small if it is Only a Structure
There will be a multiplicity of containers, but the stones, they're eternal! Eternal stones coming down from Heaven like a bride adorned. A city that is a bride. Revelation 21, the New Jerusalem, the holy city is like the bride.
When you discern the stones, you will put those living stones that contain life together with other living stones that contain life, and they will build a container for the times to house the presence of God. But if you only have a form, it's too small, it's too small, it's TOO SMALL if it's merely a structure.
It's too small! It will NEVER be able to contain what God is about to do on the earth in terms of harvest!
A Harvest of Billions
There is a harvest coming that is so big, millions and millions and millions. Yea, a billion souls harvest that will need stone joined with stone, joined with stone united, and not divided!
Discerning the life in the brick! The jagged bricks; the old, old, smooth bricks; the grainy bricks all fitting together to form a container for HIM. For HIM! For HIM! For HIM! And for Him, let it be on earth like it will be eternally in Heaven!"
Build a Church that the Gates of Hell will Never Prevail Against
Build your Church Lord Jesus. Build a Church that the gates of hell will never, ever, ever prevail against. Build it, build it, build it out of the little ones! Build it out of the teens. Build it out of the old bricks. Build it out of all the bricks.
The apostles, YES, the apostles. The prophet, the teachers, the evangelist, and the pastors all coming together as living stones to form a container for His holy presence.
Let it be on the earth just like it is in Heaven!
Stacey Campbell
