Monthly Archives: November 2006

-The Jesus Prayer

Posted on by
Reply

Pastor Ed Piorek gave an incredible message this morning at VCC. He talked about and demonstrated ‘the Jesus prayer’: “Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me“. Words can’t really describe what happen today at church, but the Holy Spirit fell on the place and about 80% of the folks ended up front.

He quoted both Henri Nouwen and J.P. Moreland (Biola), and then later Heidi Baker, (what an interesting and varied combination) about the importance of this basic prayer:

“In the expression, ‘Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me’ we find a powerful summary of all prayer” -Henry Nouwen

” Here are three activities that have proven helpful to us in our engagement of prayer as a spiritual discipline, helping us develop the habit of ongoing prayer… First, we recommend that you begin by saying the ‘Jesus Prayer’ about three hundred times a day… Derived from Luke 18:38clip_image002, the Jesus Prayer has had a powerful impact on people at various times in Church history.” -J.P. Moreland

” ‘Lord Jesus Christ beautiful Son of God have mercy on me your beloved.’ I pray it for hours a day.” -Heidi Baker

Pastor Ed gave a number of testimonies of how this prayer was effective in bringing quite a few people to Christ, quite a large number of healings, and quite a few miracles. He told about a conference in Toronto last year where he gave a message about the Jesus Prayer and the holy Spirit fell on the place. Afterward, Heidi Baker handed him a note containing the quote above. But most important to me, he talked about how this prayer helped him to ‘pray unceasing’ (like Paul suggests in IThess. 5:17clip_image002[1]) and keep in touch, and to relate and receive from God all day long.

This actually gave me hope. I try to start of every morning with prayer but sometimes I get distracted and I’m half way to work before I remember. Then it’s difficult to pray while your driving and fighting bumper to bumper traffic. When I do remember, it’s like I’m in a hurry to get it done while the coffee is brewing. Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.

Then I get to work, and some of my orders are not ready yet and it’s going to make me late to every appointment, then customers start calling wondering where I am. My thoughts need to be redeemed by then–Lord Jesus, have mercy on me.

Yes this prayer is going to be a blessing for me and for everyone I have contact with all day long. Thank you Lord. Come Holy Spirit.

-“The Anatomy of a Prophetic Word” by James W. Goll

Posted on by
Reply

I just received the following from Encounters Network and James Goll. James and Michal Ann Goll have recently teamed with Rolland and Heidi Baker on a number of occasions, and both are gifted in prophetic ministry. Since there seems to be a continuing discussion about the prophetic on this website (and I certainly welcome it), this short outline message about prophecy- evaluation and application -would seem to be on target and helpful. For some of you, this will probably be quite elementary but still a useful review:

“The Anatomy of a Prophetic Word”

by James W. Goll (Vision Cast November 2006)

There are a number of factors that must be taken into consideration considering revelatory gifts. Failure to understand these factors can lead to dismissing a genuine word as being “off” or missing the impact that God intended for it to give. Therefore it behooves us to learn the many facets concerning the anatomy of a prophetic word.

I. REVELATION

A. Its Source

1. God – I Jn. 4:1clip_image002, “…test the spirits to see whether they are from God…”

2. Self – Jer. 23:21clip_image002[1] “…I did not speak to them, but they prophesied.” See also Ezek. 13:1-2clip_image002[2].

3. Satanic

a. I Jn. 4:3clip_image002[3] “…this is the spirit of the antichrist…”
b. Mt. 16:23clip_image002[4] – “…Get behind me, Satan!…”

B. Modes of Revelation
Numbers 12:6clip_image002[5], “…Hear now my words: If there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, shall make myself known to Him…” through:

1. A vision.

2. A dream.

3. Mouth to mouth.

4. Dark sayings.

5. Parables – Hos. 12:10clip_image002[6].

6. Natural things – Jer. 18:1clip_image002[7].

II. INTERPRETATION

A. Bring the Two Together
The following scriptural references show how revelation must be wedded with proper interpretation. Numerous genuine words have been judged as false because of a wrong interpretation.

1. Acts 10:9-17clip_image002[8] – …Peter was greatly perplexed in mind as to what the vision which he had seen (revelation) might be (interpretation)… (v. 17).

2. I Pet. 1:10-11clip_image002[9] – …seeking to know what person or time (interpretation) the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating (revelation) as He predicted the sufferings of Christ… (v. 11).

3. Zech. 1:8-9clip_image002[10] – I saw at night (revelation)…then I said, “…what are these?”… (interpretation).

4. Dan. 8:15clip_image002[11] – …I, Daniel had seen the vision (revelation)…that I sought to understand it… (interpretation).

5. Acts 16:10clip_image002[12] – And when he had seen (revelation) the vision…concluding (interpretation) that God had called us…

6. Gen. 40:5-13clip_image002[13] – Then Joseph said to him, “This is the interpretation of it”… (v. 12).

7. Gen. 41:25clip_image002[14] – Now Joseph said…”God has told to Pharaoh what He is about to do.”

III. APPLICATION

A. Comparison of Acts 21:10clip_image002[15] and Acts 20:23clip_image002[16]

1. We…began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem.. (Acts 21:12clip_image002[17]).

2. Notice that those who heard Agabus were convinced that God was warning Paul not to go to Jerusalem. Paul, however, interpreted the word differently. This obviously made his application the exact opposite of what others had hoped it would be. Paul received the word not as a warning not to go, but as a confirmation of his sensing that he was to count the cost of what lay ahead.

IV. APPROPRIATION

Various keys unlock God’s prophetic word to be appropriated or fulfilled
in our lives. The following are some simple keys:

A. Faith
Heb. 4:2clip_image002[18] – …the word…did not profit…because it was not united by (with) faith…

B. Right Soil
Lk. 8:4clip_image002[19] – The parable of the sower of the seed portrays the importance of having the proper condition of the soil of your heart. The same seed was sowed to all, but had various results, due to the condition of the soil.

C. Diligence in Seeking
Dan. 9:2-3clip_image002[20],16clip_image002[21] – Here Daniel finds that the desolation of Jerusalem is to be for 70 years. His response was to give himself to seeking the face of the Lord through prayer and fasting.

V. Conditions

What are the conditions that must be met so that the promise can be fulfilled? Sometimes, these conditions are present in the heart of God, but are not spoken to the mind of man. Therefore questions must be asked.

A. Jeremiah 18:8clip_image002[22]
…if that nation…turns…

B. II Chronicles 7:14clip_image002[23]
If My people who are called by My name… (NKJ)

C. Jonah 3:4-10clip_image002[24]
Yet forty days and Ninevah will be overthrown…God relented.

D. II Kings 20:1-6clip_image002[25]
…Set your house in order, for you shall die and not live.

VI. THE TIMING OF A MATTER

There is a ‘Karios’ appointed and strategic timing for a matter to come into being. This takes patience and wisdom to discern.

A. Genesis 37:5-8clip_image002[26]
…Joseph had a dream….”Are you really going to rule over us?”

B. Habakkuk 2:3clip_image002[27]
For the vision is yet for the appointed time…though it tarries, wait…

C. Galatians 4:4clip_image002[28]
…when the fullness of…time had come, God sent forth His Son… (NKJ)

D. Mark 4:28clip_image002[29]
The soil produces…first the blade, then the head, then the mature grain…

E. Isaiah 9:6clip_image002[30]
For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given… (NKJ)

VII. MOTIVATION

God looks deeply into the heart of man. What is our true inner motivation? Do we want glory for the Lord or promotion before man?

A. Ezekiel 14:4-5clip_image002[31]
…Any man…who sets up his idols in his heart, puts right before his face the stumbling block of his iniquity, and then comes to the prophet…give…an answer (according to)…his idols…

B. Psalm 106:13-15clip_image002[32]
They quickly forgot His works; they did not wait for His counsel, but craved…and tempted God…so He gave them their request…(NASB) but sent leanness into their soul (NKJ).

VIII. CONTRADICTION

In some occasions, the Holy Spirit has spoken very clearly. However, the birth of the promise can appear differently than expected, especially in infant stages. Again we must cry out to the Lord that we miss not the day of visitation due to the manner of which that promise has first appeared.

A. Isaiah 9:6clip_image002[33]
For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given… (NKJ)

B. Matthew 1:18-25clip_image002[34]
…Joseph her husband, being a righteous man, and not wanting to disgrace her, desired to put her away secretly…(Joseph was changed from being a man of principle into a man of faith).

C. I Kings 18:41clip_image002[35]
…There is the sound of the roar of a heavy shower.

IX. DISCERNING PROPERLY

We must be careful how we listen. One of the potential problems for the prophetic person is that he is assumed to be in the ‘prophetic mode’ all the time and every time he speaks. This not only shows lack of wisdom on the part of the listener, it also dishonors the prophetic person. Let us prayerfully, and with godly trusted counsel, seek proper discernment.

A. II Samuel 7:1-15clip_image002[36]
…Nathan the prophet…said…”Go, do all that is in your mind…the Lord is with you”…Go…say to…David, “Are you the one who should build me a house…?”

B. I Samuel 16:6-7clip_image002[37] (Samuel)
…He looked…and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is…BUT THE LORD SAID…

X. FINAL STATEMENT

When all of these wisdom perimeters are put in place, let’s create an atmosphere of faith and ask the Holy Spirit to move freely. Let us not err on the side of ‘license’, nor on the side by ‘stifling”the Holy Spirit’s presence and power. But with these understandings in place, let us walk on into fruitful prophetic maturation.

-“When Heaven Invades Earth: A Practical Guide to a Life of Miracles”

Posted on by
Reply

By Bill Johnson (Shippensburg,PA: Destiny Image Pub. Inc., 2003,190 pgs.)

Bill Johnson is the senior pastor of Bethel Church (AG) of Redding, California, but more than that, he is one of those leading the charge towards true revival. ‘When Heaven Invades Earth’ is more than a clever title, this book identifies how life can really change for the better when ‘The Kingdom’ really does come into one’s life, after all our prayers asking for it.

I found myself reading the chapters slowly in order to receive the entire message. There is a lot here to consider. It is a clarion call to leave behind the ordinary and enter into a new way of thinking and a new way of life where healing and miracles are looked for and expected. It is a call for a change of world view. It is a challenge to leave the regular religious stuff behind and to really seek first the Kingdom and to really seek a closer relationship with God. To really expect the Kingdom to be manifest in power, and not merely in words.

Bill Johnson really does live and aspire to what he is talking about in his book. Several years ago I had the opportunity to pray for the sick along with Bill and several others on our ministry team. It had been a long night and midnight was closing in. A young man hobbled up to us with one leg obviously shorter than the other by three inches or so. I must admit that I had some doubt at first. Bill had him lay down and we began to pray for him. With full confidence, Bill Johnson held the young mans foot and commanded the leg to grow and it did. We kept on praying until the leg was fully extended to the same length as the other one. It was a night that I will never forget.

This book goes far beyond what one can explain in a short review, this is one of those rare life changing books that only comes along every once in a while. At least it was for me.