Army Of God

Love in Jesus,
Lanna Perry
Sydney Australia

My precious children, do you not know what I have spoken to you? Have I not told each of you how much I love you and how many blessings you have in Me?

I am calling you to rise up and stand up in who I the Lord your God have called you to be. I am not against you, I am for you. I am calling you deeper in Me and I am calling each of you to rise up in who I say you are.

I see many of My children are putting their identity and trust in things of this world. Why do you do this? When I the Lord your God have given you all that you need.

I have given you My authority. I have given you My victory, I have given you My Spirit. My children, what blessings you are missing out on as you continue to place your self worth and identity in things of this world.

Do not do this. For I have called you My children. I have called you My princes and princesses. I have called you My handmaidens and I have called you My priests.

Now is the time for My body, My church to rise up and shine. Shine in the revelation of who you are in Me. This revelation will shine brighter than the noonday sun through you. For this world is quickly passing away and many are broken-hearted and need comforting. Many of this world need hope and a future and you My children can give this to them.

I am calling each of you to stand in who you are in Me. No more doubt, no more insecurities, no more worthlessness. Stand in Me. The enemy has taken too much from My children in this area.

So many of you are not living in the abundance to which I have called you, so many of you are living in lies, the lies from the enemy of who you are. Many of you are not living in faith, the faith that I have given you in My Word. The Word that tells you who you are in Me.

Many of you have allowed your self worth to be put in the things that pass away, and have focused on these things to bring you life. Have they brought you life and hope? Surely Not. It is only I the Lord your God who can bring you this life and this hope.

There are many of you holding onto things that are not of Me to fulfill the pain and emptiness inside. Even though you know Me, you are feeling empty. You are feeling worthless and are trying to fill the ache, the hole inside.

Only, I can fill this hole. Only I can fill you with My Spirit in a way that you have never known and you will rise up in the knowledge of who you are in Me.

For My Spirit cannot work through you freely as you believe the lies and doubts of the enemy. The enemy is running around placing lies in My children’s minds, and as you My children grab hold of these and believe them, you are allowing the evil one to have a foothold in your life, and this shuts me out of that area.

I the Lord your God, am now raising up My army. I am bringing many of My children forth. I am bringing many of my children into the frontline to prepare for what is to come.

My precious children, you must have confidence in Me, confidence in My Spirit. You will not stand and remain standing in the days of trial if you believe the lies of the enemy.

You are conquerors in Me. Those of you who are under attack, rise up. Those of you who are weary, know that I am your strength.

Use your sword My children. Use it. For I did not give you the sword to stay on the shelf. I have given you this Sword to use to bring down the lies of the enemy.

My Word never returns void. My Word is powerful and effective. My children rise up and use your sword.

Rise up and stand tall in all that the Lord your God says that you are. For who can argue with the Lord? Who can argue with what the Lord your God says about you?

There are hearts that are hurting, and My Words, only My Words alone can bring peace to your heart and fill the parts of you that need healing.

Oh My children, how I love each of you. As you continue to rise up and stand in Me, you will see the jewels of heaven fall down on you more and more revelations coming upon you, and more and more of My presence upon you.

The power in My presence is greater than anything. My children, take My Word and eat deeply. Eat deeply of My Word. Let My Words fill you to overflowing in revelation of who you are in Me.

I am bringing freedom to many of My children. I am bringing life and hope again to many of My children. I love you all so very much. Take the jewels of who you are in Me and stand on these.

Do not stand on the shaky ground of what people or the world says of you, stand in Me, in My Word and My revelations of who you are in Me. Stand on My Word.

My light will burst forth through each of you in ways you’ve never dreamed as you continue to stand in me, and stand in the revelation of who you are in Me.

No more doubts, no more lies. Rise up My children. Do not wait for someone to encourage you and tell you who you are in Me. Do not wait for the prophets to bring you a word, but stand on My Word.

For what do the prophets have that you do not have? They have learnt to listen and they have learnt to obey and they deliver My Words, My heart. My Words and My heart for you is contained in My Word My children.

Oh precious children of Mine, listen to My Words, stand in the truth of who you are and you will sparkle greater than the stars in the dark sky.

Freedom will come to you, healing will come to you, refreshment will come to you and the enemy will no longer be able to torment you, and have a hold over you in the area of your identity.

I am a loving Father and I love to caress My children. Remember My children, while you were yet sinners I died for you. Even then I thought you were beautiful, special enough to die for you. I look at you My children and I see beauty, I see hope and I see potential.

I see children who love to cuddle up in their Father’s arms. I see children who love to hear their Father speak. I delight so much in you. You are the apples of My eyes.

You are My treasured possessions. You are above and not beneath, you are the head and not the tail.

You are saints in Me, you are heirs of heaven, you will reign with Me. These glorious truths My children will set you free, and take you deeper in Me.

Come, feast at My table and listen to the Words that I have for you. Let me speak to you personally about who you are in Me. Let Me pour My love over each of you and show you how much I love you.

Let go of the things you have squeezed and squeezed to get the life and fulfillment out of to make yourselves feel better about yourselves. Let go of those and take up the true Word, the one Word that can set you free.

Those who abuse you, those who curse you, those who criticise you, bless them. Bless them and bless them some more. Pray for them, and give them to Me, and I the Lord your God, the Great Judge will judge accordingly. Continue to show love to your abuser. Love them with healthy boundaries, love them as I have called you to love them. Show affection to those who trample on you, and show My forgiveness to all who speak badly of you and bring you down.

For every negative word spoken over each of you I speak a million positive words. For every one negative thought someone has against you, I have numerous good thoughts towards you, more than the grains of sand on the seashore. Do not listen anymore to your abusers. Listen to Me. Listen to what I the Lord your God have to say. Train your mind to be like Mine. Train your mind to only take on what it is that I say. Pray for My strength as you do this, and I the Lord your God will help you by the empowerment of My Spirit to transform your mind and heal your wounds.

I love you My children. Now is the time to be set free from the bondage you have been in and rise up and be prepared. Be trained in My army, be counted now, for the Lord your God is about to do a new thing


When we face UP to the Glory of God, we find ourselves face down in worship - Matt Redman


Check out my website, and sign the guestbook *smile*
www.ourchurch.com/member/h/hisprincess/

Support An Inner City Missionary

Hello, Everyone. I will not be posting as much on this blog for the coming weeks and months, due to the fact I have been accepted into a radical on fire school for city transformation. It will be an intense school for me, but it's focus in on city transformation. I am asking for your donations. If you feel like God has placed it into your heart or you know someone who God has maybe placed this in their heart, to sponsor and inner city missionary then please forward this to them.

The school is 2,200 dollars and I will need other living expenses as well. I have donors giving on a monthly basis covering the cost of the school. You can donate through pay pal or send checks or money orders to: Kevin Frasure
Post Office Box 2075
Murfreesboro Tenn
USA 37130
Thanks you so much for your prayer and financial support. God Bless, Kevin

Below is a sample school schedule:

We have posted this so you will have an idea of what a day in the Siege School will look like. This is an example of a daily schedule. Our greatest goal of course is to be lead by the Spirit in all that we do, but we will also have some real structure as well! Mark this... we believe that there will not be a dull moment! We believe that our days will be filled with intimacy and action!

6:30am Cooperate exercise three days week.

7:30 Personal Hygiene

8:15 Breakfast

9:00 Prayer/Devotion/Worship/Developing Intimacy

10:00 Class Room Instruction. Areas of study will include: Servant Leadership, Worship, Intimacy, Art of Intercession, Authority & Submission, Gates & Government, Prophetic Ministry, Kingdom Relationship, Church History, Communication, Life in the Spirit, Purity. The Lord is sending some the best teachers!

Noon Lunch

1pm Practical Application and Spiritual maneuvers will include: Prayer walks, outreaches to the poor,

Research of target areas, (Target Areas include spheres of influence, such as ; education system, Government, Entertainment Industry (music & sports), Nashville churches, market place, community needs & social services.), practically serving the Nashville churches, outreaches to local colleges. You will also be participating two times a week in practical manual labor on the Provision campus.

5pm Random Selection-meeting any variety of needs.

6pm Dinner

7pm Evening gathering which may include Worship/Prayer/Special Teaching /and outings

Church is Sunday morning @ 10am. You are scheduled off Sunday afternoon through Monday evening. You will also be given the opportunity to earn a potential three-four day pass presented as a reward for due diligence.

This Is What The School Is About:

Siege School Vision
Scott MacLeod

The ConVergence presents...
THE SIEGE SCHOOL


"...THE VIOLENT TAKE IT BY FORCE." -- Jesus

''Lay siege to it: Erect siege works against it, build a ramp up to it, set up camps against it and put battering rams around it...
It will be under siege, and you shall besiege it.''
(Ezekiel 2:2,3)


Mission statement: Learning to take Cities... by doing it!

What is Siege School? It is a specialized school that equips students (of all ages) to literally lay siege to cities in the name of Jesus! It exists for the purpose of producing a new breed of Christians who truly know their God and who are, therefore, willing and able to take the offensive and to do great exploits. Their concentrated and (many times) covert operations will serve as an explosive catalyst to destroy the works of the devil, to awaken the Church (the armies of the Lord), and to ultimately overthrow the dark forces that hold our cities and culture hostage and prevent them from entering into their God-given destinies.

This first intensive course (February 1st - June 12th 2005) will combine intense teaching with rigorous "on-the-job" training. Through prayer, fasting, and extravagant worship, these "shock-troops" will learn to discern the will of God for strategic targets, then align themselves with Him and take aggressive action. Our goal is to establish the rule of Christ in every area of life--be it social, political, educational, religious, entertainment, artistic, etc. Students will get much hands-on experience serving the poor, liberating the lost, organizing city outreaches and events, initiating and activating justice, occupying high places, and, ultimately, standing in the gap to see an entire metropolis ignited with passion for Jesus!

Why a Siege School? Because our nation, like much of the western world, is presently under siege by the exceedingly dark forces of humanism, terrorism and immorality. When the Israelites possessed the Promised Land all the tribes rallied wherever God was fighting and they took the land one city (one stronghold) at a time. It is high time we do the same! For more than a decade we've heard much talk about "taking our cities for Jesus." We have now stepped into a new era and the days of mere talk are over. This great dream and noble ambition of seeing our cities (even in America) turned to Jesus will now begin to materialize before our eyes! We will now begin to see cities become strongholds of righteousness.

The goal of the Siege School is to train up a strategic strike force that has learned, through on-the-job training, to transform cities and change atmospheres over entire regions. We understand that no one can effectively lay siege to a stronghold without a well-equipped army... we believe that Siege School will produce just this: good soldiers of Christ Jesus who know how to demolish spiritual strongholds and set captives free. Why Nashville, TN? Because Nashville is presently a besieged city! Nashville is an extremely strategic and key city in America. God has invested much in Nashville and He wants to make His withdrawal. We see the Lord Himself presently marching upon Nashville to set it free from worldly entanglements and into it¹s divine destiny as a city of Worship and a city of Refuge. Now is Nashville's time. The Epic battle for Nashville has begun!

Who is the Siege School? Out of the synergy and energy of The Convergence (www.theconvergence.net), a camaraderie of like-minded Christian leaders and pastors have banded together to see one purpose realized--the kingdom of God established in our cities. The primary leaders who have been walking and working together in the Convergence will help oversee, support and herald the vision of Nashville's Siege School. Who are the students? Those who desire to be part of a company of believers that liberates cities for Jesus and whoever hears the battle cry and the trumpet call resounding over Nashville and rallies to the sound of war. There will be a strict application process to find those best suited to embark on this great and noble adventure.

Accommodations: The Fortress of Hope (See www.provisioninternational.com). All students will stay in this newly renovated warehouse in downtown Nashville. We have prepared new dorms for both males and females.Cost: $100 a week per student: this covers accommodations and food.

Cost: the entire semester $2200

Dates: February 1st - June 12th, 2005

Anyway, God Bless, and thanks, Kevin

http://warriorsabode.blogspot.com
Braveheart07@fastmail.fm

Jesus Rap

The following is a rap by Scotti Coles:

I'm dropping bombs, so be alarmed hear the trumpet sound, pound the the drums.Make ready for war, be sure to let it out with a full force.
Don't need to rehearse, be moving sing and dance flying like a dove, soaring like an eagle or a star in heaven above.i am that I know I AM, i am that I know i am, I feeli like I know I feel, I sing the supernatural for real.

Victory, can't you see, it's mine O mine, yours if you want it, gotta get, gotta get some, gotta have it, gotta get some Grace.Receiveing your love, fire above ,electricity, running through my vains pumping through my heart, set apart, anointed for a new breed of people
"peculiar people yall, peculiar people."


The word of the Lord cannot be ignored, the word of the Lord can never be ignored, the word of the Lord should never be ignored, it's a fear ful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.It ain't cool don't be a fool, it's raw power, mercy and love falling, it's heaven calling, teraring you down and then building up in love.Stop running around, shaking our fists.
Be still!! and know that I AM GOD.

If you are excited, you know your invited, joy on the way imagine, imagine imagine His face.The face of God, the face of the Son of God, the eternal flame, burning inside He's alive in your heart, soul and your mind.Decide!!!
He's all we have for time, He's all we have for time, he burns me up and I'm alive, he burns me up and I'm alive.
I am glad I survived, overcame and am no more feeling shame, nor betrayed, my knees are bent and i am on the floor and worshipping God, I'm worshippinjg God.

Yo, yo I hear a lion roar,Judah, o Judah, the King hath come.O israel my son!!My Son!!
"Zion is calling raise up your arms and shout Hallalujah."
For He is come, the Lord reigneth, every knee has bowed.
Alleluia, alleluia, glory to the Lamb,
Alleluia, glory to the Lamb.Jesus, Jesus, God of Abraham,
mercy, power, honor,& glory belong to the Lamb.

My Lord is an awesome Lord, glory to the Lamb.My God is a healing God power to the Lamb.My name is a new name glory to I AM.
"Everything is your Elohim."

worshipgod7@shaw.ca

Arise And Go To The Streets

Patricia King: "Arise Now and Go To The Streets" (October 2003)
2003-10-25

In Song of Solomon chapter 3 we find the Shunamite looking for her beloved night after night within the environment of her own household, the place where she was used to his presence. In verse 2, we find her desperate in his absence as she proclaims, "I will arise now... and go about the city, in the streets and in the squares. I will seek the one I love." When she found him, she said, "I held him and would not let him go".

The Body of Christ has been in an extended time of renewal and refreshment where we have known the Lord's presence in the church -- in conferences, seminars and gatherings. The Lord will always be amongst His people wherever they gather, but we will come to know a shift in His tangible manifest presence in the coming days. A strong evidence of His presence will be found on the streets. Harvest has already begun.

The Body is being called to "GO". Like the Shunamite woman, we will cry with a deep desire for Him saying, "I must arise NOW and 'GO'....to the streets and to the squares." The next six months to a year will include an enormous stirring in the hearts of believers as well as the mobilization of believers into the harvest fields. We will know what it is to be "sent ones" (apostolic) as we go in His power and authority of His great love to reach the lost. There will be an acceleration of the Lord's manifest power, prophetic, and presence as we "GO" in His unfailing compassion and mercy. Remember: there is always a BLESSING in GOING!

PATRICIA KING (Pat Coking)
www.extremeprophetic.com
Patricia@extremeprophetic.com

Healing Explosion In Tennessee

Healing Explosion In Tennessee!

We truly had an Open Heaven in Knoxville, Tennessee this last Sunday night! This was a city wide healing service sponsored by the Healing Rooms of Knoxville. We had no idea what kind of crowd to expect, so we were pleasantly surprised when the place became so packed out that people literally couldn’t get in the door!

The people came from all over the surrounding East Tennessee region, including Nashville, Chattanooga, Kentucky, and Virginia. After the main sanctuary filled up, the ushers quickly began to fill up the foyer area with chairs. When the chairs in the foyer were filled they began to place chairs in the hallways off to the right of the platform and down some steps so at least people could listen to the meeting even though they might not have been able to see what was happening. Then they completely took over my ministry altar area and filled it with people sitting on the floor. Ryan actually had to preach from the midst of the worship band’s instruments!

The people were hungry for God and He answered their prayers in a big way. Ryan released a healing wave and there were over 40 instantaneous miracles and healings that occurred within 3-5 minutes! The healings ranged from blindness, deafness, tumors dissolving, bones popping back in place, brain leakage and swelling going down, deliverance, scoliosis, bone spurs, vertebrae popping back in place, ulcers, depression and oppression lifting, and many others…

Here are a few short healing testimonies:


TUMOR DISSOLVES

This was one of the testimonies that touched us the most. A woman came up front to testify and told me that she was scheduled to see a special cancer doctor the next day because she had colon cancer and a tumor that protruded from her abdomen area just under her rib cage. The doctors had told her that the tumor was not removable and the situation did not look good at all. She had chronic pain in the area of this tumor. She testified that during the healing wave she had her hand on the tumor and literally felt it disappear right under her hand! Immediately she noticed that all the pain was now gone! We are eagerly awaiting the doctor’s report.


FUSED VERTEBRAE RELEASED
There were a couple people that had previously had back surgeries where the doctors literally “fused” vertebrae together and God completely healed them.

One woman had the 4th and 5th vertebrae fused together and has had chronic pain in her back for 15 years. She has also not been able to bend down and touch her toes for all that time. After the healing wave she is now able to touch her toes and has absolutely no back pain! She’s also dealt with chronic pain in her right hip for many months and all the pain is now gone.


BRAIN LEAKAGE / CHEMICAL BURNING FROM CAR ACCIDENT

This testimony really amazed me. There was a man at the meeting that testified up front of being in a car accident 4 years ago. This accident literally ruined his life. After the accident he had 3 discs in his back fused together, loss of memory, severe and chronic pain in back and hips, and brain leakage. He has had to go to the doctor every week for the last 4 years and receive shots. He said that his brain leaks and there is always a pocket or bulge at the base of his skull that he can feel. During the healing wave the bulge disappeared! The medications the doctors were originally giving him caused chemical burning in his skin to the point where he literally scratches wounds on himself all the time. In fact, early in the service and during worship he had already scratched a nearly bloody sore on his arm. He said that everyday he deals with a severe itching from his head to his toes. During the healing wave the fire of God came on him and for the first time in years he felt no itching any where on his body. That’s not all. The sore that he scratched open during worship was nearly completely healed over with new skin within a matter of minutes! He is now able to bend down and touch his toes for the first time since the accident, even with 3 fused discs, or are they???


SCOLIOSIS HEALED / VERTEBRAE POPPING BACK IN PLACE

One woman said that the C 4th and 5th vertebrae were out of place and it could be felt with her hand. During the healing wave she felt heat on her neck and the vertebrae were back in the proper place and all the pain was now completely gone!

Another woman testified of having severe scoliosis since she was born along with chronic back pain. During the healing wave she said she felt chills over her head and then realized that all the pain in her back was completely gone for the first time since birth!


BLINDNESS / DOUBLE VISION HEALED

Another woman testified of being blind in her right eye since birth. During the healing wave her vision was restored and she testified up front that she believed it was now about 80% vision. 0% to 80% is pretty good!

Another woman testified of having very blurry vision as well as double vision for 7 years. During the healing wave her vision immediately became clear.

One man came forward to testify that the chronic pain in his abdomen area was now gone. While waiting in line to testify, his bad vision improved more and more the closer he got to the front!


We had many other healings such as bone spurs dissolving, broken toe, ulcers gone, fibromyalgia, circulation problems, chronic fatigue, chronic joint pain, arthritis, and deliverance.

I want to say that we truly give God all the glory for these awesome miracles. He is worthy to be praised! Please continue to pray for God’s power to be poured out as we preach the gospel around the world.


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ONLINE GIVING

As you read of these awesome miracles taking place and how many lives are being transformed, would you please consider helping Abiding Glory Ministries financially. We have it on our hearts to begin doing International Miracle Crusades and begin reaping the harvest outside the four walls of the church. We also want to get involved in building and supporting orphanages in third world countries. We cannot do this without increased financial support from Partners and Friends like you all over the world. If you are touched by how God is using Abiding Glory Ministries then please pray about joining with us financially so we can make the impact of this ministry even greater.

You can give online or by check.

http://abidingglory.com/contributions.asp

Or you can give by check, made payable to “Abiding Glory Ministries” and mailed to this address:

Abiding Glory Ministries
P.O. Box 437
Seymour, TN 37865



We sincerely thank you for your continued prayer and financial support of this ministry!

Richest Blessings,
Ryan and Kelly Wyatt
Abiding Glory Ministries



__________________________________________________________________

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO INVITE RYAN IN TO YOUR CHURCH OR AREA FOR PROPHETIC-HEALING MEETINGS OR FOR A REGIONAL CONFERENCE OR EQUIPPING SCHOOL PLEASE GO TO:

http://abidingglory.com/itinerary/booking.asp

Battered Reeds And Smoldering Wicks

Battered Reeds and Smoldering Wicks
by Thom Gardner

"BEHOLD, MY SERVANT WHOM I HAVE CHOSEN ;
MY BELOVED IN WHOM MY SOUL is WELL-PLEASED ;
I WILL PUT MY SPIRIT UPON HIM ,
AND HE SHALL PROCLAIM JUSTICE TO THE GENTILES .
HE WILL NOT QUARREL, NOR CRY OUT;
NOR WILL ANYONE HEAR HIS VOICE IN THE STREETS.
A BATTERED REED HE WILL NOT BREAK OFF ,
AND A SMOLDERING WICK HE WILL NOT PUT OUT ,
UNTIL HE LEADS JUSTICE TO VICTORY.
AND IN HIS NAME THE GENTILES WILL HOPE ." Matt 12:15-21

A man and woman sit exhausted on opposite sides of the lawyer's table. A look of empty resignation overshadows their faces as they divide up the ruins of irreconcilable differences. There seems to be no other alternative—no other apparatus to maintain the integrity of their covenant. Both sink into leather covered chairs loaded down with guilt and the weight of failed expectations. There seems to be nowhere else to go. The differences will never be reconciled—never perfected. They are like the man who lay helplessly by the pool of mercy waiting for someone to take them to the water. There was no help for them—no place of comfort. They are bruised and bent nearly flat under the burden of justice or injustice as the case may be. The light has been snuffed out.

Battered Reeds

We are surrounded by battered reeds and smoldering wicks. The battered reeds are those who have been crushed—flattened and bent nearly double. They have grown numb under the weight offenses and unresolved conflicts—brittle with wounds—scored along a line and ready to be broken in two as a piece of glass. It may be that they are bent double by their own sin or the compulsive justice they would meet out to those who have sinned against them. Regardless of who bears the blame, they themselves bear the weight of it.

Smoldering Wicks

Smoldering wicks are those whose lamps are out of oil. Life and virtue have been poured out with no way to refill the lamp. Smoldering wicks are those whose lives are depleted—whose wick is out of oil with the last the hint of smoke wafting into the air. The oil is the light and hope that keeps them moving. It and their lives have been used up and their lights nearly extinguished—their virtue nearly exhausted.

Together these present the picture of the need. They are the wounded and the weary—they are all around us— they are us .

A New Realm of Life

There is a realm of power and sweetness pouring from the throne of God that overwhelms those living here at His footstool. (Isaiah 66:1) There is a fragrance that draws us to the table of God's mercy. The opening Bible quotation describes the rising of the “Servant” of God—the Messiah—Jesus Christ. God has placed His spirit, His character upon this Servant. Now we see the arising of His character through His body; the Church.

We are entering a new realm and season in the life of those who follow Christ. This is a season more of character than charisma where we are becoming the fragrance of Christ to the perishing. (2 Corinthians 2:15) If we are to take part in this season of renewal it will be by coming to maturity and growing up to the Head of the body and becoming what He is.

Battered reeds surround us in our personal lives and connections as well. “They are the unforgiven and even the unrepentant. They are the ones we have written off and placed beyond the hope of even God's boundless grace. Jesus never wrote anyone off—they always had good credit at the mercy bank. In fact He went out of His way to find them, to touch them, to bring them to the table.

Jesus, the Anointed Servant of God, was Himself both battered reed and the smoldering wick. He hung from His cross battered by the unjust and cruel blows of the very ones He loved so. He was perfect and sinless deserving mercy more than any other ever born, though He never “cried out” (vs 19) for it. Healing life and anointing was crushed out of Jesus at Gethsemane as He denied Himself, like the olives that released their oil under the weight of that press. This was where the very heart of God was released to the battered and depleted. He recognizes and agonizes with those who have been crushed as He was.

As He was, so are we…

The profile of the Servant is also the profile of the merciful—the ones through who the world will see the heart of God, “ because as He is, so also are we in this world. (1 John 4:15-17) We who have been partakers of his divine salvation are also “ partakers of the divine nature , having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust.” (2 Peter 1:4) Everything we need has been given to us in Christ. Therefore with no need for vengeance or fairness so we can extend mercy.

As the Servant, we are children and servants of God who present no will of our own and who rely upon the One served. The word translated servant is pais , which means servant and child. Jesus was both child and servant of the Father. We can also give away something sweet because Daddy owns the candy store. We give to whoever is there.

As the Servant we are loved and chosen of God. (vs. 18) What could we need that even approaches that? This is the place of total safety and purpose. We are the delight of our Father—the ones in whom He takes particular pleasure just like we do with out own kids. If the Father loves us who can hurt us or threaten us?

Just as Jesus did, we are to proclaim justice, the Father's heart, even to the Gentiles, those who in our lofty estimation don't deserve it. If they deserved it, it would not be mercy, would it? We are the ones filled with His Spirit that demonstrates His approval to us and through us.

What must the battered and depleted seen in the eyes of Jesus as He carried the heart of the Father to them? What do they see in our eyes? What did hookers and dishonest revenuers feel at his approach? Did they feel shame or hope? What do those who have hurt you—those whose markers you hold feel at your approach?

Perhaps the most telling question what do we feel at the approach of the Lord? What does the thought of His presence make us want to do? Are we frozen in fear, hiding in shame? What is it that makes it so? We know about the work of the cross but have we accepted it? Do we believe it? Do we know the embrace of the Father? Can we smell his after shave as it were?

In His name, His character or heart, will the gentiles hope. The “name” is the distillation of the character and heart of God. It is the supreme source of hope for the battered and depleted. In the end, nothing else will bring peace to us but the name of God. It is the name of God that draws us to a table of grace rather than one of negotiation.

We will spend this book looking at the heart of God as it is unfolded and displayed through His mercy. I do not pretend to know the heart of God, but I can see what it is like. I know that it is mercy that is at the core of His heart—that compels God to pour out His love and empty Himself to we the battered reeds and smoldering wicks.

O Israel, hope in the LORD; For with the LORD there is mercy. Ps 130:7 NKJV GETHSEM'ANE (geth-sem'a-ni; Gk. from Aram . "oil press")

(From The New Unger's Bible Dictionary. Originally published by Moody Press of Chicago, Illinois. Copyright (c) 1988.

Whatever Your Will

Whatever Your Will

Verse 1
The day you set me free
Was the day I could be me
The chains of fear that bound me
Were broken by your love
When I am afraid
Of what you have in store
You're holy spirit guides me
In your ways

Chorus
Lord whatever your will
I will follow you all of my days
I will praise and lift you high
For you are my desire
I crave for you

Verse 2
Whenever I am lonely
You embrace me with your love
You take away all sadness I have inside
With your love
You surround me
You tell me of the plans for my life

Chorus
Lord Whatever your will
I will follow you all of my days
I will praise and lift you high
For you are my desire
I crave for you

posted by Melissa

Seed Of Manifestation

The seed that was birthed in you is about to manifest says The Spirit Of The Lord. For many of you, something was planted or revealed to you in the 1990's, and for others between 2000 and 2003. You felt excited and energized by this revelation. You had faith to move mountains, but it has been a difficult journey for you. You have lost hope in God many, many times. It seemed like the heavens were made of brass, and you have had one discouragement after another. You have wondered when, God, when?

2004 was one of the worst years of your life. You didn't think you would even make it through the year. So much darkness surrounded you. But then in 2005 something began to change. Something seemed to spark in you. You began to remember the promises given to you. And your heart was lit up with fire and passion again. The warrior within you began to rise up to the occasion. Your faith and hunger became stirred up once again.

I see babies. I see babies being born. Babies in the Spirit. Many have lost hope and it seemed like everything in the world has come against those babies being born. But nothing will stop them. They have made it through the wilderness and the manifestation has come. The babies are being born and are beginning to manifest in a very powerful way this year.

Prayer: I release the promises of God within you. You are an over comer and you have overcome! I open up the book of remembrance and I release forgotten dreams and promises. I speak words of life and water to the seed within you... And I say grow and produce fruit. For many of you this will be a year you'll never forget. It will be a year of not only revelation, but manifestation.

Prophecy Given by Kevin Forest Frasure Braveheart07@fastmail.fm
http://warriorsabode.blogspot.com
Prophecy Given Jan. 28, 2005

Rainbows

Love in Jesus,
Lanna Perry
Sydney Australia

My precious children, all My rainbows are surrounding you. Everywhere around you
there are rainbows. I have placed a rainbow at your every turn, above you, below
you, beside you. I have placed rainbows all around you. The rainbows are even in
your hearts. I have placed rainbows within you. Shining on the forefront of your
hearts.

These rainbows are My promises to you. I have placed each of these promises in
each of you, and I am calling you to hold onto them. Many of you have been
holding onto the promises of My Word, the rainbows that I have given you and I
am well pleased. I am well pleased to see the faith that you have displayed and
the way you have actively been holding onto the rainbow that I have given you.

Many of you are now going to see this rainbow shine brighter than ever before.
My promises are coming to fruition more and more in your lives. These rainbows I
have placed before on your hearts and before your very eyes, and you have held
tightly to these promises. Do not be weary of holding to these promises, waiting
on Me for breakthrough, waiting on Me for the move of My Mighty hand.

My children, I say unto you this day, I have heard, and I have seen your
determination and continued trust in Me, to hold tight the rainbows that I have
given unto you, both in your personal times with Me, and in your corporate
times. I will bring these rainbows I have given you to pass. I will bring forth
the colours of these rainbows in ways you have never dreamed. They will sparkle
in the world, like the sun glitters on the leaves after the rain. These colours
will shoot forth; My promises will be fulfilled unto you, and My Glory shown to
all through the move of My hand.

Do not weary My children. Continue to stay passionate. Continue to stay focused
on Me. For I have not forgotten. I have made an everlasting convenant with you
and I will not break this.

As I said to Noah in My Word, when you see this rainbow it is MY promise to you
that I will never again flood the world. Well My children, I give you the
rainbow to remind you of MY promises to you. All to prosper you, not to harm
you, and give you a hope and a future. All the things that I have planned for
each of you are good, and what is best for you.

Many of you are in dire situations, many of you are so tired of waiting on Me,
and tired of believing, and tired of being in the same rut, not being able to
find the breakthrough that you so desire in your life.

My children, I have heard! I have heard! The Lord your God, the faithful One,
the Creator, the Sustainer, the Restorer, that is I, I have heard you. I will
come like a charging horse through a gate and bring great moves of My Spirit
into your life, as you continue to hold onto the rainbows that I have given you.

Do not forget My Word unto you. My Word does not return void. For when I speak
all I desire is accomplished, and as you line your hearts with My Word, so will
I bring to pass what I have spoken.

My timing is perfect. Many of you wonder why I take so long. My precious
children, I see the big picture, I see the big rainbow of eternity, and I know
when to move, continue to hold onto Me, knowing that I have brought about great
things in your life, and will not let you down.

I see some of you, do not know the amount of rainbows that I have given unto
you. I have given you so many rainbows, so many promises, yet so many of you do
not take them up. Many of you do not believe that they can be ‘for’ you,
many of you believe that you are not worthy, but the truth is My children, is
that none are worthy. None are worthy to receive My love or gifts or promises
from Me. I give these to you out of My eternal and everlasting love for you,
because I delight in seeing you happy, and delight in seeing you grow closer to
Me, and knowing Me, and seeing My Word come to pass in your lives.

Trust My judgement. Trust My knowledge. Trust that I will give you what is best
for you, and that which is not, I will replace with what is better. My precious
children, oh how I adore you. How I love you and long to move more and more in
your lives.

My rainbows are all around you, take hold of them, and hold onto them, for I am
bringing to pass the words, which I have spoken. I will not delay. I will not
forget, I have heard and am moving.

Look around you, when you see a rainbow, remember My promises and My words to
you. Stand upon the words that flow from My throne room, from the Kingdom of
Heaven.

Store up the rainbows from My Word, store them up, hold them close to your
heart, allow these rainbows to saturate your heart, so that all that may be seen
in your hearts are My rainbows. So brightly shining. Attracting to others, My
rainbows will draw many to question what it is that brings such joy, such life,
such peace and assurance, and these rainbows are to be shared with others.

Rise Up My children. Take hold and hold firmly the rainbows that I have given
you, know that I have heard, and I am coming. I am coming to show you My
faithfulness, My love, and My adoration for you. As you see these precious and
beautiful rainbows I have given you come to pass in your lives.

chosenwarriorprincess@yahoo.com.au

Kingdom Invasion Part One

KINGDOM INVASION - PART 1
REVIVALIST TODD BENTLEY



The following article is a two-part series entitled Kingdom Invasion. In Part 1 we will discuss the Lord’s desire that Christians become carriers of His presence so that the earth will be filled with His presence. Then we will examine how the kingdom of God advances in the earth through a demonstration of signs and wonders, intimacy with God, binding and loosing and welcoming the kingdom of God. As well, I have defined six signs that reveal that the kingdom of God is in our midst. This week we will examine two signs and then next week in Part 2, we will discuss the four remaining signs.


The message of the hour is the King and His kingdom! There is an unfolding revelation concerning Jesus Christ as the King of Kings and the King of Glory and His kingdom coming to invade our world. We need a deeper understanding concerning this revelation and so in this week’s teaching I want to talk about the gospel of the kingdom and the demonstration of the kingdom of God.


CHRISTIANS, CARRIERS OF GOD'S PRESENCE

Recently I was thinking about a man who came to one of our Open Heaven conferences a few years ago. He told me that when he went home after the conference the Lord told him to buy a small tent and to set it up in the middle of his living room! He prepared his family by explaining that he was going to go into his tent and exercise his spiritual senses and wait on the Lord in solitude, meditating on His word. And he did just that! He soaked up and drank in the atmosphere of the presence of God in that tent.

As the presence of the Holy Spirit continued to intensify day after day, he began to receive a revelation from God. Here’s what he told me. “You know Todd, I’m graduating from the tent ministry to the room ministry.” He went on to say that he had enough faith to believe that as he continued to develop an intimate relationship with the Holy Spirit, the presence of God would increase and grow, even geographically. He then declared that God’s presence would broaden to the point that his whole house would be filled. He explained that as more and more believers carried God’s presence, cities and whole nations would be filled with the glory of God because of Christ Jesus in them, the hope of glory (Col. 1:27). I believe this will happen!

Listen! This man was faithful in little. He began with a small tent! The Bible tells us that when we’re faithful in the little things that God gives us to do then He will bring increased blessings and responsibility into our lives. We see this principle concerning “increase” described in the story of the slave who was faithful with the money his master gave him to invest. The servant made his master a ten-fold profit and his master gave him a ten-fold reward (Lk. 19:16-17).

It’s time for Christians to be faithful carriers of His presence not only in their homes, but in their churches, their cities and their nations. Listen! That man’s tent filled up with the presence of God. His faith became so strong that he had a revelation about God’s presence being carried not only by him, but also by other believers to the extent that cities and nations would be filled with God’s presence. You know, when Christians are carriers of God’s presence (Christ in us, the hope of glory), they become a living reflection of Jesus Christ in the earth!

And as I was thinking about the implications of God’s presence impacting the whole earth, the Holy Spirit began to reveal to me that the kingdom of God is like yeast; it will expand and rise. Then I discovered a passage of scripture that related to this in the Book of Daniel:

“And in the days of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed; and the kingdom shall not be left to other people; it shall break in pieces and consume all these kingdoms, and it shall stand forever. Inasmuch as you saw that the stone was cut out of the mountain without hands, and that it broke in pieces the iron, the bronze, the clay, the silver, and the gold--the great God has made known to the king what will come to pass after this. The dream is certain, and its interpretation is sure." (Dan. 2:44-45).

What was the stone that was cut out of the mountain without hands (v. 45)? It’s Jesus Christ. The picture is a small stone, but look at the power of the stone. In Daniel 2:35 it says “and the stone which struck the image became a great mountain and filled the whole earth.” The stone that struck the image and consumed all the kingdoms started as one small stone cut out of the mountain without hands. It’s a picture of Jesus Christ, the King of the kingdom. And that one stone struck the image of all the other kingdoms and grew to the size of the mountain until the kingdom kept growing to fill the entire earth.

And we’ll know when God’s kingdom is filling the entire earth because we’ll see a demonstration of what Jesus Christ was like 2000 years ago manifested through the body of Christ. The lost won’t just see miracles happen, they’ll actually experience miracles. Many of their hearts will be softened and they will come to realize that God loves them and He sent His Son Jesus Christ to earth to rescue them. Remember, Jesus never brought the message of the kingdom without the demonstration of the kingdom: preaching, and healing all kinds of sicknesses and diseases (Mt. 4:23 & 9:35).

Also Jesus said, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mk. 1:15). Wherever we go, the kingdom of God is at hand. It’s that close! And when we have a revelation that the kingdom of God is near, that it’s at hand, we’ll realize that His kingdom is at work, to bring salvation, healing and deliverance everywhere we go. It’s at hand in the work place and in the supermarket. So wherever we go carrying God’s presence, we bring the kingdom of God into the earth.


WELCOMING THE KINGDOM OF GOD

I want to bring a deeper revelation concerning the kingdom of God because so often we have a limited understanding about this. Some believers think that the kingdom of God is all about their mansion in heaven. Others think that one day there’s going to be a new heaven and a new earth and that’s the kingdom of God! The kingdom of God is much more than this. It’s not just a future destination. It’s a living demonstration of what Jesus was like 2000 years ago, full of kingdom activity, like healing the sick and delivering the demonized.

As Jesus accomplished the will of the Father and only did what he saw his Father doing (Jn. 5:19), He modeled the vision of what He saw in heaven and He brought the kingdom of God to earth. Also when Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, He gave them an important key to release the kingdom of God in the earth. He said “In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed is Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” (Mt. 6:9-10). He didn’t say, “Father, let your kingdom come.” Rather, Jesus honored the Father and out of worship and intimacy He said, “Your kingdom come.” That’s the key. He welcomed God’s kingdom to come because He knew that in order for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven, that His kingdom needed to be welcomed and invited to come.

Now we know that the kingdom of God is not on the earth right now as it is in heaven. But, we want it to be! So it’s important for the body of Christ to honor the Father just like Jesus did and then invite and welcome His kingdom to come. “God, we welcome Your kingdom to come. Please come into our world so that the earth begins to take on the image and the atmosphere as it is in heaven.” Having said that, it’s one thing to invite and welcome the rule of God to come as it is in heaven, but we need to always remember that the kingdom of God comes when we walk in the center of God’s will.

As well, the kingdom of God can’t come in power or in its fullness until we can truly say, “Your will be done, I surrender.” Until there is surrender and death to self, we’ll never experience another measure of “Your kingdom come” in our lives. Worship and praise creates an atmosphere for relationship and intimacy. And when we surrender ourselves to the Lord and die to ourselves then the kingdom of God comes. It begins to manifest on the earth as it is in heaven. Miracles happen! Poverty turns into riches, sin turns into holiness, defeat turns into victory and sickness turns into healing. So let’s welcome the kingdom of God to come in our lives, in our churches, in our cities and nations so that God’s will can be done here on earth as it is in heaven.

The Lord is on the throne in heaven and the earth is His footstool (Acts 7:49). We, the body of Christ, connect the throne and the footstool. The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and Christ (Rev. 11:15). We are the ones that establish the rule of God and we are the ones that establish the kingdom, the dominion and the authority of God so that what is already in heaven begins to line up with earth again.


BINDING AND LOOSING

In this week’s teaching I’ve spoken briefly on the phrase “as it is in heaven.” This phrase describes what it looks like in heaven right now. Everything that is within the atmosphere of the kingdom of heaven needs to take on the image and the nature of what it looks like in heaven right now—as it is in heaven—concerning our churches, our cities and our nations. So let’s examine another significant key that Jesus gave to help us bring the kingdom of heaven to earth; establishing on earth what it looks like in heaven right now. He said: "Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt. 18:18). This key concerns our authority in binding and loosing.

Did you know that we have authority to loose (open and bring in) and to bind (close and shut out)? We can only loose what has already been loosed in heaven and we can only bind what has already been bound in heaven. So we need to see and discern what the Father is doing because then we’ll have a revelation concerning what needs to be bound and loosed in order for the kingdom of God on earth to synchronize with the kingdom of God in heaven.

In every city and nation that we enter the Father will give us the keys concerning what needs to be bound and what needs to be loosed. And until we loose what has been loosed in heaven, we won’t have it on earth even though it’s already loosed in the eternal destiny of God. And until we bind what has already been bound in heaven (concerning our church, our city and our nation because we see that it’s already bound in the eternal destiny of God), we won’t experience the manifestation of it bound on earth. When we discern the Father’s will concerning binding and loosing we will actually be calling forth those things that be not as though they were (Rm. 4:17). Then we’ll bring the realm of as it is in heaven into the earth and we’ll see the kingdom of God in our midst (Lk. 17:21).


SIGNS OF THE KINGDOM IN OUR MIDST

We’ll examine six signs of the kingdom of God in our midst. This week I will begin by outlining two signs and then next week in Part 2, we’ll examine the four remaining signs.


1. The Kingdom of God is Jesus Christ

Most of the Pharisees never realized that the kingdom of God was in their midst; Jesus Christ Himself was the embodiment of the kingdom of God. He had invaded their world and they didn’t even know it! Ignorantly they asked Jesus when the kingdom of God was coming! He didn’t ridicule them with his answer. "The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is in your midst" (Lk. 17:20-21). He was telling them that the kingdom of God wasn’t something to gawk at, rather it was in their midst, among them.

A few Bible translations finish off v. 21 by saying that “the kingdom of God is within you.” And so I want to make it clear that the kingdom of God wouldn’t be within the Pharisees in a personal way until they were born again. Remember Jesus’ conversation with the Pharisee, Nicodemus. Jesus told him that unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God and unless one is born of the water and the Spirit he cannot enter into the kingdom of God (Jn. 3:3, 5). Jesus’ world is within us only when we’re born again! Then we are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 3:16) and Jesus Himself lives in us (Col. 1:27).


2. The Kingdom of God Demonstrates His Power

It’s too bad that the church in North America, by and large, stops after preaching, without giving a demonstration of God’s power concerning healing and deliverance. Everybody’s preaching! How many sermons do we preach in North America on a Sunday? Yes, we preach, and that is good, but we rarely see any demonstration of the power of God. The apostle Paul said that his speech and preaching wasn’t with persuasive words of human wisdom, “but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, that your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God” (1 Cor. 2:4-5). Bottom line: we’re really not living in the realm of the kingdom of God if there isn’t any demonstration of God’s power in our lives.

People tell me all the time: “Todd, we’re preaching the gospel of the kingdom.” But when there isn’t any demonstration of the power of God I’ll answer them by saying, “I don’t know just what you’re preaching because I don’t see any power and I don’t see any demonstration.” One of the reasons we don’t see any demonstration of the power of God is because we’re too concerned about human wisdom; being politically correct. We’re too focused on giving persuasive words and wanting to look and sound good. We’ve got our five-point sermon ready to give in 40 minutes! We’ve laid out enough sermons for the next six months already!

So many of the preachers teach the kingdom and they bring people to a place where they have faith to receive, but they don’t go on to the stage where they demonstrate the power of God. Instead they say, “Let’s wait until the evangelist gets here. Todd Bentley has the gift of healing, so let’s have him pray for the sick. I am just a pastor (or a teacher, or a prophet). I don’t do signs and wonders.” But they preach and teach! The gospel is preaching, teaching and healing. The gospel was never presented by Jesus without signs and wonders and so I think every person that preaches or teaches needs to heal every sickness and every disease just like Jesus did! Jesus said that whoever believes in Him would not only do the same works that He did, they would do even greater works than He accomplished (Jn. 14:12).

Also I’ve noticed that many times when there is a demonstration of God’s power it often causes controversy. People get skeptical and try to figure it out. When someone says, “I saw an angel” the response is often, “Aw, come on!” We go into unbelief. But from the beginning of the Bible until the end of the Bible many people had a visitation of an angel and they weren’t even apostles. Jesus is the same today, yesterday and forever (Heb. 13:8), and yet so many believers struggle when someone says, “I saw an angel!”

Listen! You will know that we’re getting close to the kingdom when someone can stand in the pulpit and testify, “Hey guys, I was in the third heaven. I saw the four living creatures. One of the four living creatures walked up to me and I felt his breath breathing on my neck.” That happened to me. (The four living creatures are in the Bible: Ezekiel 1, Ezekiel 10, and Revelations 4.) If supernatural encounters could happen to Paul and Peter then they can happen to us. But we don’t tend to have a faith grid or an expectation for supernatural encounters unless they’re solely initiated by God and He sovereignly takes us into a supernatural encounter. We never consider ourselves worthy enough to even say to God, “I’m ready and waiting for a supernatural encounter to happen.”

But I believe it’s time to rise to the occasion! So in our ministry I teach my disciples like this. “Guys, power first and then word.” Now that’s not the way we usually do it in church. It’s word first and then power. But because so many people say they’ve heard the same message before (been there, done that, got the T-shirt) without seeing any demonstration of God’s power, it’s like they’re already closed before the preacher opens their mouth! I’ve had so many experiences where the minute I get into a church (I’ve never been to before) and I begin to speak about what God is doing in Africa, it’s like I can just hear the thoughts of the people: “Yep, it’s always in Africa. How come it doesn’t happen here?” And then when I speak about miracles, they’re thinking, “Oh here we go again. Somebody else talking about everything that’s going on everywhere else, but we won’t see anything here.”

Before we went into South Africa five years ago, we let our contacts know that I was coming with a demonstration of signs and wonders. “Todd, if no miracles happen they will kill you,” our contacts warned. They told us that too many white guys from Canada, America and Europe were coming over there to make themselves look good in the eyes of those that give to their ministry because they can get big crowds in South Africa. They told us that many people could be manipulated to attend a crusade because of the words on their promotional posters declaring prophecy and healing. “Too many guys are coming in and they aren’t demonstrating the power of God. We as Africans are perfectly able to get it done ourselves.” So there was actually a little bit of offense. They emphasized, “If you pray for a Muslim child and that child doesn’t get healed, the Muslims may stone you and kill you. They’ll call you a false prophet because you said signs and wonders would be demonstrated at the crusade.” So I said, “Hallelujah! Let’s go tomorrow!”

Listen! We had such an exciting time in South Africa. Next week in Part 2 of Kingdom Invasion we’ll discuss what happened there when eight people with tumors came forward for healing just after we opened the crusade. Then before we close the series with a powerful prayer time, we’ll examine four more signs of the kingdom of God in our midst.


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The Next Move Of God Will Be Birthed Out Of Intimacy

THE NEXT MOVE OF GOD WILL BE BIRTHED OUT OF INTIMACY

What an incredible night we had. It was the last night of our Signs and Wonders Conference in Iowa at Heartland Assembly of God, March 13, 2004. There was a serious impartation granted by the hand of God Himself. As we went deeper into worship the glory of God came into the room. The air was heavy with His presence. As I lay on the floor soaking in His Glory the power of God so overwhelmed me, my body began to shake under the intensity of the visitation. I heard the inner audible voice of God speak to me about the next move of His Spirit. He told me "This move will not be brought by any one man. It will come from My Spirit." I then saw the Lord dancing with a baby in His hands. I knew the infant was the next move to be birthed by the hand of God. I was aware that the presence I was experiencing was the very breath of God and a foretaste of the next wave of His Spirit.

A WHITE GLORY MIST FORMED IN THE RAFTERS OF THE CHURCH

As I stood to the pulpit all I could do was bury my head in my bible. As I held onto the podium the worship team continued to play. The Lord spoke that He would strengthen me to be able to share the word He had written on my heart. As I lifted my head I could visibly see a white mist glory cloud hovering near the ceiling of the church. Several others could see it too. It was the manifest glory of God. All around the sanctuary people were weeping and shaking some on their knees and some standing. The Lord was impregnating us with the seed of revival. He began to speak to me that revival would be birthed out of intimacy.

He brought me to Gen. 1:2 "The earth was without form and void; and darkness was on the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters."

Then to Gen. 2:7 "And the Lord God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being."

THE BREATH OF GOD WAS RELEASED

During our time in worship the Holy Spirit hovered over us the way He overshadowed Mary when she became pregnant with the Christ child (Luke. 1:35). There was a genuine seed of revival deposited in our spirits. At one point during worship the manifest breath of God, the "ruach" of God, was breathed into us and we were filled with new life. The worship leader could no longer stand behind his keyboard but could only lie across the altar groaning under the weight of His presence. It was like when the cloud of glory filled Solomon's temple and the priests could no longer stand to minister because of the cloud (2 Chron. 5:14).

The Lord spoke to me about this next move being birthed out of intimacy. He brought me to Song of Solomon 3:1-4.

"By night on my bed I sought the one I love; I sought him, but I did not find him. "I will rise now," I said, "And go about the city; in the streets and in the squares I will seek the one I love." I sought him but I did not find him. The watchmen who go about the city found me; I said "Have you seen the one I love?" Scarcely had I passed by them, when I found the one I love. I held him and would not let him go, until I had brought him to the house of my mother, and into the chamber of her who conceived me."

There were several important principles the Lord revealed to me out of this account of the Shulamite woman searching for her beloved.

1.She was so longing for the one she loved that she was willing to be inconvenienced in the middle of the night to get out of bed to go search for him. She couldn't wait till morning. The Lord is causing His church to arise out of the bed of our comfort and complacency to search for Him.

2.She didn't find him right away. She had to look and search for him. The Lord is not always easily found. Sometimes there has to be a persistent search for God until we find Him.

3.The watchmen couldn't tell her where he was. There are those times where we need to find God for ourselves. We can't live off of someone else's experience or anointing. We have to dig our own well and find the presence, power and anointing of God in our own lives. Other people's testimonies can encourage us. But we must always press in to find God for ourselves.

4.When she finally found him she wouldn't let him go. When we find the Lord we must not be easily satisfied. Many times when we are spiritually seeking and pressing in to God we get a taste of His presence and then stop seeking or holding onto Him. This is where we miss it. We must be like Jacob who wrestled with the Angel of the Lord all night until He blessed him. He would not let Him go. This is how we must be with the Lord. We must not let Him go until we have the fullness of what He wants to bless us with. When Jacob wrestled with God there was a name change from Jacob to Israel. He went from "Deceiver" to "Prince with God." There was a deep transformation that took place in Jacob. As we wrestle with God and refuse to let Him go until we have His full blessing and favor there will also be a deep transformation in us as we become more like Him being transformed into His image.

5.They entered the chamber of intimacy. This is where new birth is conceived, in the secret place with God. It is in this chamber of deep intimate love with God that His seed of revival is imparted into us.

THE OVERSHADOWING OF GOD'S SPIRIT

The next move of the Spirit will be birthed out of this place of intimacy with God with the overshadowing of God's Spirit in our lives. Psalm 91 declares "He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." The shadow of God is the place where His glory covers our lives. It's a place of refuge and protection from all the plots of the evil one. It's also the place where God infuses His strength and life into us.

In Gen 1:2-3 there is a creative force and life released under the hovering of the Holy Spirit in Creation. Under the shadow of the Spirit there is creative power and authority released to bring order out of chaos and light out of darkness. It was under the shadow of the Holy Spirit that God spoke creation into existence. When we are under His shadow there is a creative power released in us and through us to declare into existence those things that God desires to manifest in the earth.

In Luke 1:31, 35-38 it was under the overshadowing of the Spirit that Mary became pregnant with the Christ child. What was impossible became possible. The supernatural became natural. The key to Mary receiving the impartation she received from God to carry the seed of the greatest move of the Spirit in history, the birth of the Son of God, was her simple act of agreement. Her response to the Lord was "Let it be done unto me according to your word." In verse 45 it says "Blessed is she who believed, for there will be a fulfillment of those things which were told her from the Lord." God just needs our agreement and simple faith to receive the fullness of all He wants to give us.

As the presence of the Holy Spirit overshadows His church in this hour there is coming an impartation to carry the seed of the next move of God. The secret place of intimacy with the Lord is vitally important to receiving the fullness of all He wants to birth in the earth. It will be out of this place of abiding under His shadow that the creative force and power of His Spirit will be released in our lives, including the move of extraordinary signs, wonders and miracles. This demonstration of God's power through His people will be a direct result of the time spent in the secret place, under the shadow of His glory. We must guard our time with God and guard the seed He places in us. Out of the secret place of intimacy will come the release of life and power to see the glory of God cover the face of the earth.





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BIRTHING REVIVAL THROUGH INTIMACY TAPE

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People Of Passion

Love in Jesus,
Lanna Perry
Sydney Australia
I am calling My precious children to be passionate people, people that are passionate about Me. Not passionate about this world, not passionate about money, not passionate about their lover above Me. I am calling My people to be passionate about Me above all.
I am passionate about each of you. So passionate about each of you that I know how many hairs are on each of your heads, I know each of your thoughts, and I am so passionately in love with you, that I came to earth and died for you. Passion! My heart is passionate toward you all. My heart beats with passion to see you draw closer to Me.
My heart beats with passion to see you proclaim My truth. My heart beats with passion to see My children walk in holiness. My heart beats with passion to see My children listen to My voice. My heart beats with passion to see My children set the captives free, and heal the broken-hearted. My heart beats with passion to see My children walk by faith and not by sight. My heart beats with passion to see My children spread My Word to those who are not yet in My kingdom.
Yes, My children My heart beats with a passion you have never seen. A passion that is so pure and so holy, a passion that has never ever been seen in it’s entirety and I want to fill each of you with this passion. Yes, I want to fill each of you with this passion.
Sadly I see many of you are passionate with your problems and worries lately. Yes, My children you heard right, many of you are passionate about your problems and worries. Many of you are so focused on your problems that you have become passionate in worrying about them.
Why be so passionate about things that are causing you harm? Why be so focused on things that are causing your hearts to be heavy? Be passionate about Me. Be passionate about who you are in Me. Be passionate about what I did for you on the cross.
My children, this world lacks passion. This world is longing for the passion that is going to fill their hearts. They are looking for something to be passionate about that does not pass away. The passion that exists in the world today, for various things, is not passion that lasts, it is not passion that brings about eternal change. It is passion that yes, may change circumstances and lives in this life, but what about the life to come? What can you surely be so passionate about on this earth, that will impact in the next life, besides Me? Nothing!
It is my passion, the passion that flows from My throne, that enables passionate love, passionate compassion, passionate serving, passionate evangelism, passionate healing, passionate deliverance, passionate prayers, passionate preaching, passionate LOVE FOR ME!
My children I am calling you to be passionate for Me. Not by your own strength, but from the river of life – from Me! Receiving this passion as you sit before Me. As you listen to Me. As you obey Me.
My children, passion is what this world is wanting, passion for something bigger than themselves, passion for something that will fill the void and last forever.

You have this inside of you. You have this passion inside of you. It’s time My children that you release this passion. Many of My children have not come to the place in Me to receive this passion, or they have had it and not guarded it and lost it.
2005 My children is going to be a year where the world will see many of My children be raised up and brought out from the hidden place. Many will look in amazement wondering where My children received such passion. Passion and faith that changes things, and moves mountains into the river.
My children, come and drink deeply of the living water that flows from the throne. Come! Come and receive more passion for Me. Receive it.
No longer be passionate for the problems, worries and circumstances before you, but be passionate for your Lord and Saviour. Allow Me to rise up that passion. Allow Me to take you to the next level in your heart and passion for Me and My kingdom.
This world needs to see My children rise up as passionate believers in Me. Passionate believers!
That’s right….Passionate People….!!!! People listen to passionate people. Allow Me to show you passion that entwined with My Spirit brings immense change, and refreshment, hope and life to many.
2005 – the year of My Holy Spirit showing the world the true passion in the hearts of My children, but most of all, My passion for My children and the world. You will reflect MY heart of passion My children as you take this challenge on. MY PASSION!!!!
Come, be willing to reflect My passionate heart. Be willing.


When we face UP to the Glory of God, we find ourselves face down in worship - Matt Redman


chosenwarriorprincess@yahoo.com.au

Street Explosion In Nashville And Surrounding Cities

Nashville Tenn and surrounding cities are ripe for harvest! The following is just a few things that have happened this month. Some emails that I sent out to some of my friends. I can sense harvest in the air!

Thanks for your prayers. When I woke up God let me know that tonight isn't
going to be crazy like New Year's Eve, but one on one intimate encounters
and that is what it was. A few days before when I was praying I named the
strip clubs and two were anointed. I ended up at one of those clubs.

I knew who God wanted me to talk to the moment I entered the club. It was
one of the dancers and she talked and then she would leave to make money and
then talk and leave again etc....
I then prayed with her and for her grandmother. I prayed for her
grandmother to be healed. Please pray for this. They are taking her off of
life support tomorrow. This could be something that could not only touch
the dancers life but the whole family when she gives a testimony of the
encounter she had with me. I prayed with her about how much God loves her
and how Precious she is to Him.

She could barley look at me when she got up to dance and then said she would
be back. Her make up was smeared and I knew she had been crying in the
bathroom. She would tear up some, but would hold it in. She held me so
tight while I prayed with her. She was like a little wounded princess.

She then got herself together and tried to make some more money. But I knew
God wasn't done. Something weird then happened. The Bouncer made everyone
in the bar leave except for me! Talk about a divine appointment!

So she came over and sat beside me. We talked some more and I asked her if
she knew the Lord and I already knew she had a relationship with God. I was
asking her to be sure. She said she did. And her eyes was once again
filled with tears. I gave her some of the cards for Exotic Dancers and
ministries for dancers and she took the cards. I told her to give the cards
to her friends and she said she would. It was a beautiful moment. We
hugged and I left.

I then had some more divine appointments in the streets with a few homeless
men and two drug addicts. And I got to pray for healing with one of the
homeless men. So thanks for your prayers. God Bless, Kevin

Also pray for my finances. I can go out to the streets without money, but
some places I can't go like dance clubs, bars, and show bars. It is rude not
to tip and you have to pay to get in etc... Those are some of the places
where I have had the best encounters so pray for this.

Tomorrow or the next day I will be going out again. No money. Just the
streets Because I'm a hardcore gangsta. LOL. Just Kidding. God Bless,
Kevin

I walked all over Murfreesboro! I was approached by three drug dealers last night. They said
"You want something?"

I said "Yeah, I want to tell people about Jesus!"
They each took off and got away from me.

I then ended up at a dance club. Well, I started dancing on the dance
floor and I go so drunk in the Spirit. I almost fell out in the middle
of the dance floor. The joy of the Lord fell off of me and got onto
other people around me. Like this one girl started laughing
and couldn't stop and another girl got mad, because she thought she was
laughing at her. She wasn't laughing at her. The joy of the Lord fell upon her. Then this black guy beside me started yelling saying
"I feel like preaching! "I feel like preaching!"

These girls beside me started talking about me. They were like he must
be gay! Look at the way he dances! I was worshiping God and not paying
attention to the girls wanting to booty dance. And this one girl kept
on and on and on and then finally I said" Hey, you want to know who I am
dancing with!" She looked kind of shocked. I said "I am dancing with
Jesus! Do you want me to pray with you?" She said "That's okay" And
then I said "Well, you are God's treasure and He loves You!" I then
looked at her friend beside her and said "God Loves You Too!" Her
friend said "Let's leave. He's smoking pot!" They stayed but I could
tell they were convicted all night. The first girl was very convicted.

I later staggered off the dance floor and People where saying "What the
hell is he on?" I mean my eyes looked so screwed up. I looked like I
was on crack. I was so drunk. I just didn't care what I did. I
started yelling and these drunk guys started yelling with me. I raised
my hands and the entire bar on that part of the dance floor raised their
hands as well. God's Spirit was floating in that place.

They then did the count down and I yelled "Happy New Year! God Bless
America!" I then sat down and after awhile the drunkenness began to go
down a little. Even though it was still on me some. Because a black
guy sat beside me and started laughing like the girl on the dance floor did. I don't think he
knew why. I think he thought it was his beer. But it wasn't. It was
the joy of the Lord that hit him.

The only thing is that I missed like 3 divine appointments on my out of
the bar. I wasn't as drunk, and so I wasn't as bold. So pray for me to
be more bold next time. Even though I am not drunk anymore. I am just
now getting sleepy and it is like 5:34 AM. God Bless, Kevin

Hope you enjoyed my emails! I think we are going to see more of this type of stuff in Nashville and surrounding cities like Murfreesboro. God has sent warriors to those cities during this hour. Please keep me in prayer as I go out to the streets and if you feel like donating, please donate using the paypal button or send me a check or money order to the address under the donations blog.

God is really moving here. Also I heard of a cool thing going on in Nashville in Feb if you want to be a part of it, I included the information below. Be Blessed, Kevin

The Convergence Mandate
Speakers: Lou Engle, Bob Jones, Ray Hughes, Scott MacLeod, Ryan Wyatt, Jeff Jansen and more!


Dates: 02/04/2005 -- 02/08/2005
Nashville, Tennessee, USA

Summary:
We are in a day where the divine mandate of converging to see our cities taken for Jesus is moving from conceptual to actual...from prophecy to reality. The roar of the righteous will be heard again in our land, and entire cities (even in America) will be transformed into strongholds of righteousness!

When the Israelites took the promised land, they did it one city at a time, and all the tribes had to rally and fight wherever the Lord was sounding the trumpet. We are convinced that Nashville, TN, is presently a city besieged by the Lord. Nashville is a key city in America. When Nashville turns to Jesus, a key will turn that will unlock something for the entire nation! So we are sounding the trumpet hard and heavy! It is a call to war! We are calling in all the Allied Forces who are willing to converge as an overwhelming force on this city to be part of seeing it come into the fullness of its destiny.

Can you hear the Lord's trumpet over Nashville? A new day has dawned and we are now going to see a Church rise up that is going to be "on the attack." Right now we have a window of opportunity to step out together into our offensive positions. Things are shifting and, in the days to come, we will be the ones setting the ambushes rather than the ones being ambushed...we will be the ones laying siege rather than being the ones under siege! It is time to unite and fight like never before!

As we unite for this noble objective of seeing the darkness of our cities overthrown in the name of Jesus, we believe that God Himself will ignite a "siege fire" in each of us who have said, "Yes, Lord! Here I am -- send me!"

This siege fire is an unquenchable fire that is an impartation to do nothing less than demolish strongholds, tear down fortresses, and set captives -- and even cities -- free! If you have passion in you to get in on this kind of action, we encourage you to come to the Convergence Mandate. -- Scott MacLeod





Schedule:
(all meetings held @ The Fortress of Hope except for Sunday evening meeting)

Friday:

Night 7PM -- Opening session -- Ignite the Light

Saturday:

1PM and 3PM -- Breakout sessions
7PM -- Evening Session -- Unite and Fight

Sunday:

10AM meeting at the Fortress of Hope
7PM "The Convergence on the Ryman" *

Monday:

7PM Roundtable Overflow meeting **

Tuesday:

7PM Roundtable Overflow meeting **

* "The Convergence on the Ryman"
Sunday night the 6th
7pm @ the Ryman Auditorium
with Ray Hughes, Selah and friends!
For more info see http://www.selahministries.com



Braveheart07@fastmail.fm

Superman

Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, both Jewish, invented Superman in the late 1930's as a typically Jewish mythical hero. Jews were being oppressed by Adolph Hitler at that time and Superman or Super-Jew was their answer to Hitler. The "S" on Superman's shirt also stands for the last names of his creators. Superman comes from the planet Krypton -which sounds like "Tikkum olam" a Hebrew concept of restoring the world's wrongs. Joanne, the wife of the late Jerry Siegel, says she had often heard about the Jewish connection to Superman. Jerry Siegel is listed in the book Jewish 100 as one of the 100 most influential Jews of all time. He is listed along with Moses, Henry Kissinger and Steven Spielberg.

The Jerusalem Post quotes Daniel Schifrin of the US National Federation for Jewish Culture as saying, "The older I got the more I saw there was something profoundly Jewish about Superman, that he was one of us." He further states, "Like Clark Kent we've been Diaspora Jews for so long, being viewed as timid and bookish when underneath there are fierce Hebrew warriors doing God's work."

The 1978 movie was an 80 million dollar blockbuster - a phenomenon in its day. It was written by Mario Puzo (The God Father) and David Newman (Shena) and, of course, based on the comic book series by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster.

The movie Superman essentially retells the life of Jesus Christ -the ultimate Super Jew. Richard Donner, the director of Superman, had just completed filming The Omen (1976) which was a film about the Antichrist.

When Superman was released in Communist China in 1985 the Worker's Daily called Superman "a brave hero of incomparable strength who clearly distinguishes what to love and hate and culls strength from weakness." Sounds very Christ-like to me.

The story begins on the planet Krypton, which is now destined for destruction. There are also three criminals who are tried and found guilty by the ruling elders and are cast out from the planet.
There is similarity here with the unholy trinity of Revelation: the dragon, the beast, and the false prophet (Rev. 16:13). Also note the similarity in "the casting out of Satan from heaven" (Luke 10:18).

Before the tragic end of the planet, baby Kal-El, is sent to earth to escape the approaching doom. Kal-El is part of a family of three (trinity): Jor-El (played by Marlon Brando, the God Father himself), the mother (Virgin Mary/Holy Spirit), and baby Kal-El (Jesus). It is interesting to note that the Hebrew word for God is EL and both Superman and his father have EL in their names. In the comic books "Kal-El" is Kryptonian for "Star Child" -which ties into the Child of the Christmas Star.

In the above scene Jor-El blesses his son with words that sound very Biblical: "We will never leave you...All that I have, I bequeath you, my son...You'll carry me inside you all the days of your life...the son becomes the father, and the father the...the son."

The birth of Christ was announced by a special star (Matthew 2:2) and so it was with Superman. Christ was Virgin born (Matthew 1:23). Superman has no earthly father. Superman is "virgin-born" out of a womb-like cave (stable) created by the "birth-star" space ship. (The womb-cave is a concept of writer David Newman. He used this image in Shena when she emerged as the savior of Africa from a womb-like cave.)

Superman, like Christ, is both human and divine. He is "God with us" (Matthew 1:23). He has both a human family and a heavenly origin. He is Clark Kent/Superman
There is no mention of the death of Jesus' stepfather in the Bible. However, scholars agree that Joseph probably died when Jesus was a youth because we have no mention of him in the later years. Jesus is referred to as Mary's Son, rather than Joseph's son, probably because Mary was a widow. (Mark 6:3)

Before Jesus entered his ministry he went into the wilderness for solitude (Mark 1:12-13). It was the beginning of his journey. (Special note: the Cheerios cereal box on the table as Superman begins his journey is considered one of the best done commercial tie-ins in a film.)

1. Following the solitude experience, Superman, as did Jesus, begins performing super-human miracles. Many connections to Christ.

2. Superman works with writers at the Daily Planet newspaper. Jesus, also, associated with Matthew and John the Good News (Gospel) writers.

3. The flight in sky with Lois Lane is a take off on Peter's walk on water (Matthew 14:28-29). Both Peter and Lois slip downward.

Superman has an enemy, Lex Luthor, (sounds like: Lucifer) who lives underground -the mistaken traditional location of Satan. Lex Luthor presents to Superman a worldly kingdom. This is similar to Satan's temptation of Christ with a worldly kingdom (Matthew 4:8-10).

Jesus died on a cross. Today believers wear crosses around their necks. And so it was in Superman, except the cross around Superman's neck was Kryptonite.

Following his crucifixion on the cross, Jesus was placed in a tomb. Water baptism is a symbol of Christ's burial (Romans 6:4). Superman was placed in a watery grave. Superman experiences a resurrection that is witnessed by Eve Teschmacher. Eve is a woman with a fallen nature much like Mary Magdalene who witnessed Jesus' resurrection. Eve is also the Bible name of the first woman. Jesus is called the second Adam in the Bible.

The Apostle's Creed states Jesus descended into Hades following the cross. Superman also descends into the underground hell-fires. The Gospel of Matthew mentions the earthquakes that happened with the death of Christ (Matthew 27:54). Matthew's account also mentions people who were raised to life out of tombs (Matthew 27:51-53). In Superman Lois Lane dies in her tomb-car and is resurrected by Superman.


In order to raise Lois Lane from her tomb, Superman has to alter time, which he accomplishes by spinning around the earth reversing the rotation of the earth. He succeeds in reversing time. Time is measured BC and AD. Christ altered time too.

Superman delivers Lex Luthor and his cohorts to prison. The Bible says that, "God disarmed the evil rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross of Christ" (Colossians 2:15).

Like Jesus, like Superman
Luke 24:50-53
"Then Jesus led them to Bethany, and lifting his hands to heaven, he blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up to heaven. They worshiped him and then returned to Jerusalem filled with great joy. And they spent all of their time in the Temple, praising God."

www.hollywoodjesus.com

The Matrix

"The Matrix: Thomas Anderson to Neo…
A Simple Illustration of Salvation and The Walk Thereafter"

By Laura Healy

"Jesus replied, 'I tell you for certain that you must be born from above ["in a new way"] before you can see God's kingdom!' Nicodemus asked, 'How can a grown man ever be born a second time?' Jesus answered: 'I tell you for certain that before you can get into God's kingdom, you must be born not only by water, but by the Spirit. Humans give life to their children. Yet only God's Spirit can change you into a child of God. Don't be surprised when I say that you must be born from above. Only God's Spirit gives new life.'" (The Bible: The Book of John. Chapter 3, verses 3-8. Contemporary English Version.)

In "The Matrix" we see the development of the main character, played by Keanu Reeves, from Thomas Anderson into Neo. "Neo" is Greek for "new". As the character goes from being Thomas Anderson to being Neo, he goes through a "new birth". As the title states, this is a simple "picture" that the movie portrays once you define the interpretations of the contexts of the movie, each character, and the concept of "The Matrix". I watched the movie several times before I understood the whole thing. Each time I watched, some thing new lept out for me to be put together as a whole.

To understand this "picture" you must understand what each part symbolizes. We'll start with Morpheus, who symbolizes God, the Father. Thomas Anderson is searching for Morpheus in order to make sense of all the confusion in his life. You can see this when Neo asks the man coming to buy an illegal disc for his computer, "Ever have that feeling where you're not sure if you're awake or still dreaming?"

This leads him to an encounter with Trinity. At this point Trinity represents Jesus in people or the Holy Spirit moving upon these people to tell about Jesus. She knows about Neo, where he is and, more importantly, that he is seeking the answer to the question, "What is the Matirx?" She tells him, "The answer is out there, Neo, and it's looking for you, and it will find you, if you want it too." She calls him "Neo", a foreshadowing of what he will become.

Like Neo, we go through life asking questions about life and sensing, deep in our hearts, that there is more to life than we know. The truth is, God seeks us out and longs for us to come to Him even before we ever think about finding Him, or knowing Him, or loving Him. In fact, "God loved the people of this world so much that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who has faith in Him will have eternal life and never really die! God did not send His Son into the world to condemn its people. He sent Him to save them!" (John 3:16-17, Contemporary English Version).

Trinity, who also represents God; (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit; i.e. the "Trinity"); at this particular point, tells Neo that she knows all about him, that she has been watching him. "Long ago, even before He made the world, God loved us and chose us in Christ to be holy and without fault in His eyes. His unchanging plan has always been to adopt us into his own family by bringing us to Himself through Jesus Christ. And this gave Him great pleasure" (Ephesians 1:4-5; New Living Translation).

In the movie, Thomas Anderson finally meets Morpheus: (remember he represents God the Father). Morpheus and Neo engage in a real conversation about the Matrix; in essence they talk about what reality is. Thomas Anderson was born into bondage and he is a slave. Morpheus offers him two pills, each representative of a way he can go. It is a choice about his destiny. If Neo takes the "blue" pill there will be no change in his life. But if Neo takes the red pill, he will learn what the Matrix is, who he is, and where his life belongs. Neo will learn the truth about everything. Ultimately, "Truth" is a person-- His name is Jesus Christ! "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through Me" (John 14:6, New King James Version).

Neo chooses the red pill. The pill's red color is significant because it symbolizes the Blood of Jesus. The Book of Hebrews tells us there is no remission of sin without the shedding of blood (chapter 9, verse 7,NKJV). Hebrews also tells us only with His own blood did Jesus enter "the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption" (verse 12, NKJV). "In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7, NKJV); and "the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin" (1 John 5:7, NKJV). Please understand this; "Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name [other than the name of Jesus] under heaven given among men by which we must be saved" (Acts 4:12, NKJV). There is no other way!

As the red pill begins to take effect, things begin changing for Neo. First, Neo touches a mirror that ripples like Mercury. It attaches to his fingers and spreads to his whole hand. At this point Morpheus asks him if that's real. Quickly it spreads all over his body. Just as Neo goes into cardiac arrest, he finds that reality has changed. Neo exists in a slimy container. As Neo breaks out of the slime, he finds that his container is just one of billions. He looks around and is stunned by the horror of what he sees.

An insect-like machine suddenly appears. It seizes Neo by his neck, and detaches a large cable attached to the base of Neo's brain. Several other tubes connected to Neo violently disconnect and the container of slime begins to drain. Neo is flushed down a long tube into the place where the machines dispose of waste. It is mostly water and is running through what used to be a sewer system.

After Neo is completely immersed under water, the hoist of Morpheus' ship, the Nebuchanezzar, snatches him and lifts him out of the water and into the ship. This symbolizes water baptism, the complete immersion of Neo in water, and the raising up of him again. "When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus" (Acts 19:5, NKJV). The Apostle Paul says some interesting things about baptism. In Romans 6:4-6 he states, "For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives. Since we have been united with him in his death, we will also be raised as he was. Our old sinful selves were crucified with Christ so that sin might lose its power in our lives. We are no longer slaves to sin" (New Living Translation).

As the Nebuchanezzar lifts Neo out of the water you see a red discolorization shaped like a heart in the center of Neo's chest. This signifies something awesome God does when He saves us. "Then I will give them one heart, and I will put a new spirit within them, and take the stony heart out of their flesh, and give them a heart of flesh, that they may walk in My statutes and keep My judgments and do them; and they shall be My people, and I will be their God". (Ezekiel 19, 20). Neo was given that new spirit and new heart.

Morpheus welcomes Neo to the Nebuchadnezzar by saying, "Welcome to the real world." Over the next several scenes of the movie Neo discovers what that true "reality" is. Morpheus fully reveals to him what "The Matrix" is, as well as the horrible place that he was in before being "flushed". The Matrix is a computer-generated world where people go about "living" their lives. In reality they are slaves. Just like people in our world today without Jesus. Whether people are chasing the "American Dream", living in the "American Dream", or just getting by, without Jesus they do not know the Truth. He is the Truth! Just like some of the people in the Matrix are hostile to those who have been set free, so there are people in our world today who are hostile towards those who have been "freed" through Jesus.

The world of containers where Neo first found himself is in reality where these people are. If Neo had taken the blue pill, he would have continued living his life until his death. Only when it was too late, would Neo realize he had ended up in the same place as these people.

"Hell from beneath is excited about you, to meet you at your coming; it stirs up the dead for you, all the chief ones of the earth; it has raised up from their thrones all the kings of the nations. They shall all speak and say to you: Have you also become as weak as we? Your pomp is brought down to Sheol [the place of the dead; ultimately hell], and the sound of your stringed instruments; the maggot is spread over you, and worms cover you." (Isaiah 14:9-11, NKJV).

The Machine, specifically identified as the "artificial intelligence" that went to war with humanity, is the enemy. It symbolizes the devil; first called Lucifer, then Satan. The Sentinels, the machines who run the growth pods, the Agents inside the Matrix, and all other machines, symbolize demonic spirits who fell with Lucifer when he was kicked out of heaven; (see Isaiah 14:12-15 for a greater explanation).

That when humans die the machines take their bodies and turn them into a liquid to feed the "living" tells us something interesting. "You who hate good and love evil; who strip the skin from My people, and the flesh from their bones; who also eat the flesh of My people, flay their skin from them, break their bones, chop them in pieces, like meat for a pot, like flesh in the caldron" (Micah 3:2-3, NKJV). It also says something interesting about the people who will not "wake up", as has Neo, Trinity, Mouse, Switch, and Apoch. They do not accept Jesus, or they have never discovered the Truth. There are people who purposefully turn away from God, no matter how many times He tries to reach them. "Then they will cry to the Lord, but He will not hear them; He will even hide His face from them at that time, because they have been evil in their deeds" (verse 4).

Finally one day all those who have not "woken up", who have failed to accept Jesus, will come before the Judgement Seat of God. "And the dead were judged according to their works…then the sea gave up the dead who were in it, and Death and Hades delivered up the dead who were in them. And they were judged, each one according to his works…[they were] cast into the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:12-15, NKJV).

This is the reality. This is the truth.

Fortunately God has freely offered Jesus Christ as a ransom for us all.

Neo finally accepts it, but initially the reality of what the Matrix is horrifies him. Neo sees the truth, and accept it, no matter how horrifying that might be. Morpheus advises Neo to get a good night's sleep. Neo asks why. Morpheus tells him, "for your training". The next day Tank is fully introduced. Tank, Neo's instructor, symbolizes the Holy Spirit. Neo has been "saved" and "baptized in water". Now this scene symbolizes his baptism in the Holy Spirit. "In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation-having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise, who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view toward God's own possession, to the praise of His glory" (Ephesians 1:13-14, New American Standard).

The Holy Spirit is essential to our walk after salvation. "Nevertheless, I tell you the truth," Jesus told his disciples," it is to your advantage that I go away. For if I do not go away, the Helper [Holy Spirit] will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you" (John 16:7, NKJV). After His resurrection, Jesus commanded them, "Not to depart from Jerusalem, but to wait for the Promise of the Father, 'which', He said, 'you have heard from Me." (Acts 1:4, NKJV). So they went and those who waited received the initial outpouring of the Holy Spirit. Contrary to what others may say or believe the reality is that the Holy Spirit has not changed. He is just as loving, just as powerful, and just as available today as He always was.

Just as Tank was essential for Neo's walk after salvation in the movie, the Holy Spirit is essential for our walk after salvation in real life. Neo would not accomplish anything with out Tank training him. The crew also needed Tank to enter and exit the Matrix. It was Tank who stopped Cypher before he could kill Neo. Tank ran the program so Trinity could learn how to fly a B-212 helicopter in less than 10 seconds. This is an example of walking in the revelation of God, and it does not happen without the active involvement of the Holy Spirit.

Several scriptures reveal how the early church leaders saw salvation in Jesus, followed by baptism in water, followed by the baptism in the Holy Spirit. One is Acts 8:14-17 (NKJV), "Now when the apostles who were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent Peter and John to them, who, when they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit. For as yet He had fallen upon none of them. They had only been baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit." Here Peter and John went to a group of people who had already been saved and baptized, but had not yet received the Holy Spirit.

This actually happened with me. There was about a month in between when I was saved and when I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Acts 19:4-6 (NKJV) shows it happening in a different way, "Then Paul said, 'John indeed baptized with a baptism of repentance, saying to the people that they should believe on Him who would come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus.' When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied."

The thing to remember is how important Tank; symbolizing the Holy Spirit, is along with Morpheus, symbolizing the Father, and Trinity, symbolizing the Son-Jesus. I want to take a moment and remind you about interpretation. Obviously certain things have certain symbolic meanings. However, they don't necessarily have to possess the exact representation of that particular meaning in every situation to still be valid symbolically. For example, Morpheus symbolizes the Father. But when he is captured by the Agents, drugged, and needs the help of Trinity and Neo, at that point in the movie Morpheus does not represent the Father. But that does not make our interpretation of Morpheus as the Father invalid. On the contrary, most of the time Morpheus does symbolize God the Father.

Trinity at the end tells Neo she loves him. This is symbolic of the love that Jesus Christ has for us. In this case it is totally correct to show the love that Trinity is confessing for Neo because the love Jesus has is an all-consuming passion for each of us. He is our Bridegroom. We are His Bride. However, right before she says this, Trinity says, "I'm not afraid anymore." Well, Jesus is never afraid. But, overall, that does not cancel out that Trinity is symbolic of Jesus.

Let me mention another important thing. Tank, like the Holy Spirit, shows real, genuine excitement in what lies ahead. The Holy Spirit is like that with us. He is genuinely excited to be taking us on the journey, though it will always include difficulties ahead. He really is called the "Helper", and the "Comforter". We must also recognize that the Holy Spirit is the Power of God. That was demonstrated clearly when he killed Cypher. He would not allow Neo's death, as that would have meant the end of everything God the Father designed.

He tells Neo about "Zion", the only human city that has not been destroyed. Tank says, "If the war were over tomorrow Zion is where the party would be." Scripture tells us about Zion. "But you have come to Mount Zion, and to the city of the Living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly and church of the firstborn who are registered in heaven, to God the judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to Jesus the Mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of Abel" (Hebrews 12:22, NJKV).

In other words, Neo is not alone. He is surrounded by those who are alive; who share in the same cause, (the destruction of the Matrix), and by those who have gone on before and now cheer him on. This is important because as Neo begins to "walk out his salvation with fear and trembling" (Philippians 2:12, NKJV), bad things occur. Switch, Mouse, and Apoch are killed, while Morpheus ends up in the hands of the Agents. This forces Neo to make a choice. This is where we will all go if we truly are following the leading of the Holy Spirit.

Neo must decide whether to let Morpheus die or try to rescue him. A rescue places Neo in great danger and may cost him his life. That's what Jesus meant when He said, "He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it" (Matthew 10:39, NKJV). It is the same choice that we ultimately must make, whether to walk away from God or go after Him with all our heart.

Neo chooses, and succeeds in rescuing Morpheus. Morpheus and Trinity escape the Matrix, but Neo finds himself trapped and running from the Agents. Finally, Neo dies. He has laid down his life for Morpheus. "By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for our brethern" (1 John 4: 16, NKJV). In laying down his life, Neo actually experiences a transformation. As Jesus explained, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it produces much grain. He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it for eternal life." (John 12:24-25, NKJV).

Trinity, who definitely symbolizes Jesus here and now; (see the earlier explanation); says that Neo cannot be dead because she loves him, and the one that she loves would be the one. This profession of love that Jesus makes to his Bride carries with it everything that God is; "For God so loved the world…" (John 3:16, NKJV); and everything that He gives to us.

A transformed, resurrected Neo stands up. Now he sees everything as it truly is. The Agents, who used to overpower Neo, can no longer harm him. Neo becomes faster than the Agents. In fact, it is nothing for Neo to block every punch that Agent Smith throws at him. It has become easy. Finally, Neo destroys Agent Smith. As Agent Smith's body explodes, Neo glows brightly. An intense light emanates from him. The other Agents run in fear. That light, which the Holy Spirit leads us to, is the glory of God. It is not our glory, but His glory emanating from us. "But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us" (2 Corinthians 4:7, NKJV).

That is where the Holy Spirit wants to take "whosoever will" (Revelation 22:17, King James Version). The first step is salvation, believing in Jesus. That will get you into heaven. Romans 10:9-10 (NKJV), "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation."

Then you should be water baptized. As Peter explained to the crowd who was gathered in Jerusalem for the Feast of Pentecost, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit" (Acts 2:38, NKJV).

In speaking of that gift-- the Holy Spirit-- Jesus, after His resurrection, told his disciples that they should not depart from Jerusalem, "Don't leave Jerusalem yet. Wait here for the Father to give you the Holy Spirit, just as I told you He has promised to do" (Acts 4:4, Contemporary English Version). Jesus had told them earlier, "Then I will ask the Father to send you the Holy Spirit who will help you and always be with you. The Spirit will show you what is true. The people of this world cannot accept the Spirit, because they don't see or know him. But you know the Spirit, who is with you and will keep on living in you. I won't leave you like orphans. I will come back to you." (John 14:16-18; Contemporary English Version).

It is important to say here that God the Father is God; Jesus the Son of God is God; and the Holy Spirit, He is God. That "the Lord our God, the Lord is One" (Deuteronomy 6:4) and the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit-- the idea of the Trinity; do not contradict each other at all. That is a mystery, yet it's still the Truth. Jesus said in continuing to talk about the Holy Spirit coming, "But the Holy Spirit will come and help you, because the Father will send the Spirit to take my place. The Spirit will teach you everything and will remind you of what I said while I was with you." (John 14:26; Contemporary English Version). We should never refuse such an awesome gift that God would give us. So awesome, in fact, that He was known as "the Promise", God Himself, in the form of the Holy Spirit, coming down to dwell inside each of us. He will be there to guide us, to lead us, and to comfort us when the road gets tough.

It is extremely important that you accept and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. Just as Trinity and Neo needed Tank in the movie, so also do we need Him in our everyday walk. Imagine what kind of a world Neo and Trinity would have been in - stuck inside the Matrix with no way to get out, if it hadn't been for Tank. In fact, every time they went in they relied on Tank to navigate for them. Any time there was trouble, they would place a call to Tank and he would guide them through, watching their positions on his computer and having access to whatever they needed. It is the same for us. If we refuse the Holy Spirit there are times in our lives when we will behave exactly like Jesus did not want us to - like orphans.

Now, here's a key. Water Baptism and Holy Spirit Baptism should happen at the same time as salvation or as close together as is reasonably possible. When you are saved you want to do like Jesus did. The prophet John baptized Jesus with water. "So Jesus was baptized. And as soon as he came out of the water, the sky opened, and he saw the Spirit of God coming down on him like a dove. Then a voice from heaven said, 'This is my own dear Son, and I am pleased with Him'" (Matthew 3:16-17; Contemporary English Version).

However, for many people in the contemporary experience these as separate events. Though that is not the pattern of the early church and it would be better if we did experience them all at the same time; it's perfectly okay if you don't. In fact, sometimes you will see people praying to receive salvation and God will supernaturally zap them with the Holy Spirit. Far be it from us to call that into question if this happens-- He's God and we're not! In fact, you will find that there are so many different ways that God uses that it is impossible to categorize them. What's most important is that you experience all three; becoming saved, being water baptized, and receiving the Holy Spirit.

In my own life I was saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit a month later, (at a different place). But then by the circumstances of my life, I didn't receive water baptism until a couple of years later. I didn't even know I needed to be water baptized. Other people are saved and baptized in the Holy Spirit simultaneously and then later on water baptized. Still others are saved, then water baptized, then much later on, as often as several years, they receive the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

We are on a journey. In truth, we have been on a journey long before we ever receive salvation. God calls us and woos us long before we ever come to know Him. For some of us the journey is shorter. For others the journey is longer. God doesn't make everyone alike. Unlike the Machines, He creates humans like a flower garden.* Some are roses, some are daisies, some blossom fairly continually, others in the desert go long spells before they blossom. There are many, many more kinds of flowers. All different shapes, sizes, colors, and fragrances. There are so many that you would have to have a PhD. in botany to know them all, even then you probably wouldn't. In this journey there is still the issue of human will. For example, Cypher turned away and betrayed all of his comrades. He turned out to be thorns. We must commit ourselves to "die daily" (1 Corinthians 15:31, NKJV). There will be times that we're more successful than at others. But remember, "The LORD is gracious and full of compassion, Slow to anger and great in mercy. The LORD is good to all, and His tender mercies are over all His works" (Psalm 145:8-9, NKJV).

The first sequel to "The Matrix", titled "The Matrix Reloaded", comes out next May (2003). I'll bet the interpretation of the theme of that movie is "Power against Power". There is an enemy and he does have power. Do you think that the Machine will just roll over and take it lightly? Or just give up? No, that is not the way it works, in the movie or in reality. That is why it is essential that we allow the Holy Spirit to take us on this journey. Everyone who was set free from the Matrix, with the exception of Cypher, went on to free others, and make sure that they gave their everything for the destruction of the Matrix.

They did not get saved and just sit at the back row of a church all their lives. No, they went after it. They did have power in the Spirit. "Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. For we do not wrestle against the flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:10,12, NKJV).

At the end of the first "Matrix", Neo calls up the Machine to tell him, "I don't know the future. I didn't come here to tell you how this is going to end. I came here to tell you how it's going to begin. I'm going to hang up this phone, and then I'm going to show these people what you don't want them to see. I'm going to show them a world without you. A world without rules and controls, without borders and boundaries, a world where anything is possible."

"But you, beloved, building yourselves upon your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And on some have compassion, making a distinction; but others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment defiled by the flesh" (Jude 20-23).

We must become "martyrs of His love".** That means whether we live or die it doesn't matter. The only thing important is our love for Him, and His love for us, and His heart of love for all the people who haven't heard of Jesus. The gospel must be preached and His kingdom needs to be established. By being saved, baptized, filled with the Spirit, and becoming a viable part of a local congregation, you can be part of this.

* This came from the writings of St. Therese of Lisieux, 1873-1897, a Catholic Nun who understood something about the movings of God in humanity.
** This idea also came from St. Therese of Lisieux, from her written prayer, "Act of Oblation to Merciful Love".