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DEPRESSION: CAN BE DEPRESSING! enCOURAGEment: CAN BE ENCOURAGING John Roy Bohlen & John 5:30 First of all, we freely acknowledge that we do not have all of the answers, but we do have some answers, that will take care of some of the problems of depression, and, maybe, by the grace of God, all of the problems of depression for some people, maybe you. Or, have you taken it by faith that there is no hope or help for you? I have some good news and I have bad news. The bad news is that getting out of depression may take some effort on your part, or, were you hoping that you would not have to make any effort. The good news is, that if you make some effort, most, if not all, of your problems will go away.
EASY THINGS THAT YOU CAN DO Some people are depressed because they feel like victims. There can be many kinds of victimization, with which we are familiar. But one kind of victimization that few understand, but that most experience, and, at least on a sub-conscious level, are reacting to, is what we call, "Abuse by God".
Most people, at least on a sub-conscious level, are mad at God, or, at least they feel like they have been victimized by God, in the sense that He has failed to meet their expectations. God has failed to be God to them on their terms. For many, the bright promises of God have been a torment, for the reason that they expected or hoped that God would act in a certain way, but God failed to meet those expectations. When this happens, it is easy for a person to run away and try to hide.
MAD AT GOD?!. (By the way, anyone who reads this, please withhold judgment, until the end of this section.)
Are you angry at God?
Are you?
Are you disappointed with Him?
Has God let you down in some regard?
Has the Lord answered your prayers the way you wanted Him to?
Has the Lord kept His promises to you?
Have the promises in the Bible seemed to be true when you prayed?
Has God failed to meet certain expectations?
Am I upset with You, Lord?
Am I disappointed with You, Lord?
Have You let me down in some regard?
Have You, Lord, answered my prayers the way I wanted You to?
Have You, Lord, kept Your promises to me?
Have the promises in the Bible seemed to be true when I prayed?
Have You, God, failed to meet certain expectations of mine?
Disgruntled?
Upset?
Disappointed?
Dissatisfied?
Angry?
Bitter?
Dismay?
Sorrow? Or, sadness.
Petulance?
Ill-tempered?
Passive? Inactive? Withdrawn? Lazy? Lukewarm? On "strike"?
We encourage you to journal times in your past and present that have caused you to be angry or disappointed with God. Take some time. Ask the Lord to help you. Count off the years. Write them down.
It seems as though You, Lord, made certain promises to me, that You have not fulfilled.
For years, prophecies have come that have not been fulfilled.
Almost all of my life, I have lived in a state of keen expectancy and high anticipation.
Yet, to speak for God, it may be as though God would say to me:
"WHERE DO you GET justified for BEING UPSET WITH ME?"
"WHO ARE you, ANYWAY?"
"WHO GAVE you THE RIGHT TO BE ANGRY WITH ME?"
"BETTER BE CAREFUL, boy, 'CAUSE I HAVE THE POWER TO DESTROY you."
"you ARE you, AND I AM GOD."
"DON'T you TRUST ME?"
"HOW DARE you SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY?"
"REMEMBER, you DESERVE ONLY AN ETERNITY IN HELL!"
"I HAVE HALF A MIND TO STRIKE YOU DEAD ON THE SPOT!"
Sometimes some of my life seems like a Cosmic Joke, or that God has a sick sense of humour.
Can it be that God doesn't care?
Is it possible that God has a sadistic side?
Are there some cruel aspects of God's nature?
What about that time (or all those times) when you or I asked God to do so and so, or such and such, but it didn't happen?
If God were so loving and so great, why would He allow bad stuff to happen?
Why would God allow good people to suffer? Why pain and suffering?
Why poverty, war, cruelty, disease, starvation, rape, child molestation, murder, torture, sadness and discouragement?
BY A COLD BLOODED CHOICE OF MY WILL!
GOD IS NOT WRONG!
YAHWEH DOES ALL THINGS WELL.
GOD IS EVER RIGHT, WISE, LOVING, TRUSTABLE, GOOD, TRUE, DEPENDABLE, HONEST.
I trust in You, Dear Lord, to meet my needs.
I trust You Lord, to do what You have said.
I am trusting You, Dear Lord, to fulfill what You have promised.
I am trusting You, Father God, to be my Friend.
I trust You Lord, to be God to me on Your Own loving terms.
I trust You Father, to do what is best for me.
I trust You, Papa Yahweh, to do to me and mine, what is best for us.
I am trusting You, Father, to be all to me that You need to be, in order for me to be all that I need to be for You.
In God I trust.
I trust You, Lord.
I humbly apologize and ask for Your forgiveness for being upset with You about stuff....
Kevin's Illustration: (Ask him about it.)
Lady at the International Conference on the Holy Spirit
Some years ago, I had been asked to be a deliverance ministry counselor at the International Conference on the Holy Spirit, held at the Civic Center in Minneapolis. There came a lady whose problem was that she would break out into uncontrollable crying spells all unexpectedly. She might be in a church service, a wedding, or in a restaurant, or entertaining guests in her home, when, without warning, she would begin crying and sobbing uncontrollably. There are various kinds of deliverance ministries. Some ministries might then and there have gone after a "boo-hoo spirit". I asked the lady about her circumstances, as to an obvious cause of her crying. All was going well - her finances, her marriage and family, her health, her walk with God, etc. When nothing became obvious, I asked the lady to gently look to the Lord with me, to see if He would reveal the cause of the problem. So, together, we looked to the Lord right there on the spot. As I was waiting on the Lord, I received an interesting vision. In this vision, I could see this woman as she might have looked when she was 5 years old. The Lord gave me to know that it was this woman I was seeing, and that the problem originated at that time. So, I gently asked this lady what had happened to her when she was 5 years old. She was very surprised, but answered, "Why, that's how old I was when my father died!" I asked her, "Then what happened?" She replied, that her mother, during the war years, when there was a shortage of men, settled for a man who would accept her as his wife, but not the children as his own. She explained that her mother married the man, thinking that he would come to accept the children as his own, which he never did. This resulted in this girl and her brothers and sisters being placed in orphanages, in foster homes, and so on, until she grew up, became 18 years of age, accepted Christ as her Savior within. Then, she lived happily ever after.
It seemed that the Lord was leading me. I asked the lady if she would be willing to repeat a prayer after me. She said that she would. So, I said, "Dear Heavenly Father - " And she said, "Dear Heavenly Father - " I said, "I forgive You for killing my dad."
The woman looked at me in shock, and said, "Why, I can't pray that prayer!" So I explained that she would probably agree that if God did not actually kill her father, that He could have at least kept him from dying, in which case would she be willing to pray, and say, "Lord, I forgive You for allowing my father to die."
When she prayed that prayer, the woman was delivered and freed. Then I followed up by asking the woman, that even though her mother was absent, would she be willing to pray and forgive her mother for allowing her and her siblings to be rejected. When she prayed that prayer of forgiveness, both to God, and for her mother, the woman was completely delivered.
Here is what was happening. On a conscious level, this woman had been taught all of her life, that God is great, and that God is good, and loving and kind and protective and that He does not go around killing little girls' daddies. So, on a conscious level she would be relating to God on that level. But, on a sub-conscious level, the little 5 year old girl within her was crying out in woeful despair, "Lord, why did You kill my daddy???!!!" "Why did You cause us to be rejected?"
My favorite Scripture is 2 Corinthians 3:18 which says, "But we all, with unveiled face beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit." (NAS) One of the main reasons most people do not behold the glory of the Lord is because their veils between them and God are not taken away. These veils might concern unbelief, ignorance, rebellion, or some other sin. One of the most common veils that most people have that stands as a barrier between them and God, is the veil of resentments, unforgivnesses, anger, bitterness toward God. Sometimes this anger reaches the level of rage and hatred. But, most Christians learn to stifle and stuff and cover that rage or resentment because they are religious, and do not want to be disrespectful toward God. In some cases, they do not express their feelings of resentment, because they are afraid that God will punish them if they make their true feelings known.
But, before any progress can be made in God, this all must be dredged up and confessed, and the person must actually forgive God and give up their resentment and bitterness and unforgiveness, in order to go free.
Can you see the effect bitterness has on one's relationship to God and to His representatives? It is difficult to enthusiastically serve, or worship or be really intimate and affectionate with One you are bitter towards. Most Christians carry a conscious or sub-conscious bitterness or resentment toward God, because God let them down or disappointed them or failed to meet their expectations, or failed to answer their prayers, fulfill their prophecies, meet their needs, or even fulfill Bible Scriptures. Many Christians develop a "Victim's Mentality", and begin acting the same as a child would who has been abused.
I repeat: It is difficult for a person to enthusiastically serve, or worship or give to, or give thanks to a God Who has repeatedly disappointed them, failed to meet their expectations, answer their prayers, or appear to fail to fulfill His promises. But this is exactly the position most Christians find themselves in.
They can react in any number of the following ways: rebellion, sin or backsliding, go on strike, develop a victim's mentality, including such things as self-pity, withdrawal, become zombie-like, and lethargic, etc. Some continue to go through the motions, even in ministry, yet, beneath the surface, sometimes well disguised, is a state of rage and resentment toward God. This resentment can come out in unexpected times and ways. It can affect one's marriage, the family, worship, giving, service, relationships with others, even one's driving, one's impatience. It can negatively affect one's whole personality, and can bleed through in a person's every form of communication. The Bible says, in Heb 12:15: "See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;" (NAS) This bitterness can telegraph itself in such a way as to negatively affect one's spouse and children, and every relationship one has. Quite often, one's children can turn against God, because this negative attitude toward God has been telegraphed to them.
Another negative aspect of resentment toward God, is the reaction one can have toward all of those who represent God. The negative aspects and associations get attributed to those who stand to represent God.
For example, let's say that a man named Smith owned a company. The product failed to meet the public's expectations. The anger or frustration with the company would be directed toward the representatives of the company. In the same way, if I am angry with God, it would be easy to be angry with those who represent Him. A most horrible rape, of a father against his daughter, took place when the elders of the church she attended told him that the salvation being offered was not for the likes of a third class citizen like him. As she was being raped and bitten, the father was saying, "This is what I think of your God." And, "This is what I think of your church." And "This is what I think of God's people."
Whereas you may not carry your resentment toward God to this extreme, nevertheless, God's people can sometimes be victimized by degrees because of resentment toward the God these people claim to represent.
There are some people who will refuse to give up their resentment toward God, and they will take it with them into hell. Rev 16:11 "And they blasphemed (cursed) the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores; and they did not repent of their deeds." (NAS) [See also verses 9 & 21].
There is one good thing I can think of to say about bitterness and resentment. We can exercise, by a choice of our will, the ability to give it up. One of the problems, however, is that resentment and bitterness, like an illicit drug, can feeeeeeeeeeeeeeeel goooooooood. Some people feel justified in their anger toward God. They will continue to be angry with God until God apologizes to them and when God starts being the Santa Clause God of their image. The problem with this is that God will not play that game. God will insist, if He really loves you, on relating to you on His terms, and not your own. We can chose to like it or not. Fortunately or unfortunately, as the case may be, God gets to win and will win every argument. God is entitled. God is a privileged Character. God gets the last word. Therefore, we encourage you to agree with Him, forgive Him, get on His side, sweetly allow Him to have His way.
About two-thirds of the Psalms are negative, with David being really honest about how he felt toward God. Yet, in spite of his sins, God called David "a man after His Own heart." I believe that it was because David was honest with the Lord about how he felt toward God. For this reason we recommend two Bible versions as it relates to the Psalms: The Living Bible, and The Message, by Peterson, as contrasted with, say, the King James Bible. For example, in Psalm 10, "Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD (Yahweh)? Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?" (KJV) But the Living Bible says, "Lord, why do You always run and hide when trouble comes;" In Psalm 13, the King James says, "How long wilt Thou forget me, O LORD (Yahweh)? For ever? How long wilt Thou hide thy face from me?" In Ps 39:10 King James Bible says, "Remove Thy stroke away from me: I am consumed by the blow of Thine hand." The Living Bible says, "Lord, please don't hit me any more."
CATHARSIS
Sometimes, when a person becomes sick, the body will attempt to do a catharsis to rid the body of the problem, or to free the body to do it's healing work. This catharsis may take the form of diarrhea, vomiting, perspiration, or even excessive saliva or mucus. Many times, for spiritual or emotional healing, the answer may be for each person to do a catharsis, to actually note and recall the issues between them and God. Then one must forgive God, and to give up one's own bitterness, or resentment, or unforgiveness, or petulance, or rage toward God. We recommend that you take some time on this one, to carefully make a list of every time you can recall, of those times when God seemed to let you down, disappoint you, or seemingly fail to keep His promise to you.
MAKE A LIST!
We lovingly encourage you to actually make as complete a list as possible. When someone became sick, was injured or died. Times when negative or hurtful or disappointing things happened to you, that God COULD have kept from happening, and that, perhaps you blamed God. Be as thoughtful and as thorough as possible.
Then, we recommend, by a cold blooded choice of your will, to carefully and as thoroughly as possible, to forgive God, for each and every item mentioned. Come on, do a catharsis, and take all of the veils of unforgiveness and resentment toward God away.
When you accept and claim Jesus as your Lord, you thereby give Him permission to be God to you on His terms, not your own terms. Since He is all loving and all wise, Christ will give you what HE knows is best for you, when you may not know what is best for you. A child may believe that candy and play is best for him or her, while the Lord knows that spinach or work is best.
BE enCOURAGEd!!
"Fear not! Falter nor! Faint not! Lift up your heads and rejoice, for your redemption draws nigh!!! This is the time to keep your spirits high! Right now there is a test to see if you will continue to qualify for the end-time people of God. It is a test of enthusiasm. Enthusiasm comes from two Greek words: "EN" + "THEOS", which means "in God"! God is telling us to keep our selves in a continual state of high expectation, great anticipation, glorious faith, and steadfast hope. Before you allow the devil to bring out all of your reasons why you have a right to be discouraged, simply take it by faith that you and I have no right to grumble, mumble, murmur nor complain. The best thing to say about discouragement and depression is that you and I can choose with our will, we can simply decide to be encouraged AND enthusiastic. 40 years ago I used to sell cookware called Rena Ware. When we would get together at a sales rally, someone would yell, "What's Rena Ware got?" and we would all yell, "ENTHUSIASM!" Well, as good as Rena Ware was and is, those of us in Christ really, really have a lot to shout about!!! And shout we shall! What is there in Christ to yell about? Enthusiasm! For when we are in Christ, and when Christ is in us, the Creator King of Everything, then by God, we reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeally have something to shout about!!! The Word of the Hour is that we must keep the fire of our faith burning brightly, must keep our expectation razor sharp and our anticipation white hot.
Most people are consciously or subconsciously bitter toward God, and hence, are either angry toward Him, or, by degrees, have left their first love, and have taken upon themselves a "victim's mentality". Most people feel that they have been abused by God, let down and neglected because the Lord failed to meet their expectations. But, we need to get over all of this, rise from the dust of our doldrums and polish up our faith, sharpen the sword of our excitement in God, fire up our keen anticipation, get on tip-toe with great expectation!!! I used to love to quote that verse, Prov 13:12 "Hope deferred maketh the heart sick - -." It gave me justification to go around with a sick heart because God had delayed. But the next verse says, "Whoso despiseth the Word shall be destroyed: but he that feareth the commandment shall be rewarded." This verse speaks of the life and death importance of believing all of the bright promises and commandments of God relating to faith, believing, hoping, anticipating, expecting, rejoicing, shouting, praising.
Jonah 4:9 "But God said to Jonah, ‘Do you have a right to be angry about the vine?' ‘I do,' he said. ‘I am angry enough to die.' " (NIV) Contrast this with 1:14d " ‘For You, O Yahweh, have done as You pleased.' "(NIV) How sadly the Book of Jonah closes on his bitterness. The same thing is true of the Prodigal Son's Older Brother.
Job: "Though He slay me, still I will trust Him." God is calling us to the place where we will trust Him no matter what happens. We will keep expecting, keep believing, keep hoping, keep trusting, keep shouting, keep rejoicing, keep dancing, keep clapping, keep worshipping, keep giving thanks. Only this kind of person will qualify as one of His Overcomers, because they overcame their resentment toward God.
Q:? What would it take for you to no longer be friends with God?
Serving Christ for love's dear sake alone!!!
Read the poem and write another.
Make a vow to God.
Vow Of Total Commitment To God
I hereby solemnly vow to trust You God, no matter what happens.
I promise to praise You God, no matter what happens.
I promise to serve You God, no matter what happens..
I will not quit, go on strike, backslide, be bitter, angry, or resentful, no matter how You, God, treat me.
You, God, have my permission to treat me however You like, have my permission to disappoint me, to fail to meet my expectations, to take as long You like to answer prayers. I will give thanks in & for everything.
If my prayers, hopes, aspirations, dreams, personal prophecies, desires, expectations, wishes, wants, are never met, I will trust, obey, serve and praise You aggressively, O my God.
If even the promises found in the Bible seem to fail to be fulfilled in my lifetime, I will still trust, obey, serve and praise You, my God.
I will remember that You are Almighty God, and that I am human.
I will rejoice evermore, no matter what happens.
Though He slay me, yet will I trust and obey You My Lord and My God.
Date:_____________________________________
Witness:__________________________________
Signature: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ CINDERELLA
CINDERELLA II
Remember the story of Cinderella II? After the wedding and the honeymoon, the Prince calls Cinderella up from his office and says, "Yo Cindy! Let's have a picnic! Pack a lunch and pick me up at the corner of 5th and Vine, and we'll go to yonder lake under yonder tree on the red and white checkered table cloth, and let's have a happy time!"
But, at the picnic, we see that Cindy ain't having much fun. She is concerned about her hair, concerned about her make-up, concerned about her performance, her words, her gestures, her looks, her selection of cheese, bread, meat and drink - so much so that she is not enjoying the Prince, the sky, the food, the time, the tree, the lake, the drink, her clothes, her health, her marriage, her life, her shoes, the grass, the fresh air, the clouds, her last heart beat, her pain free moments, her ability to breathe, her healthy kidneys, lungs. liver, pancreas, heart or bones.
And, because she is morbidly preoccupied about all of these other things, the Prince isn't having so much fun either. He is dismayed and perhaps angry at her mentality.
But, ask the question: "Is Cindy concerned about all these things because she does NOT love the Prince?" The answer is no. She is concerned about these things BECAUSE she loves the Prince.
Now, please take a moment to think about how all of this relates to your relationship with the Lord. Your Lord, the Prince, wants you to enjoy Him, and to enjoy what He has given you, has done for you. God wants you to have a good time with and in Him. The Lord does not appreciate when you are grumpy, un-happy, complaining, critical of yourself or others or Him. Note this difference between being religious and spiritual.
What about repentance? Well, repent already! Do 1 John 1:9, and then get on with the relationship! Receive God's forgiveness and get on with the business of enjoying the Life God wants you to live, the relationship with Him that He wants us to have. Rejoice evermore - start now! Amen.
Criticism of others: We can be too critical of others, judging each other, or others, by a standard, or in such a way that is not good, or constructive or healthy. There are many of whom we would be critical who are really trying hard. Many who are so very sincere, are humble, are really trying to work out their salvation with fear and trembling, really trying to find their way. God sees this, and, for the most part, is not critical. God really loves you. And He really loves the person of whom we could be critical.
Self criticism, is often not helpful, either. Yes, repentance from shortcomings, but, there is a self criticism that is not healthy or helpful.
Look at yourself objectively, from God's perspective: You are really trying hard to please Him. You really want to succeed in God. You are sincere. The Lord knows this. There is something to be said for just forgetting about morbid self criticism or the sick criticism of others. Instead, we might be encouraged to focus on how much God loves us. How much we love God. How much the one of whom we could be critical loves the Lord. How much more healthy it can be for us to just focus on enjoying the Lord, on encouraging each other to just relax and enjoy the Lord, on enjoying what God has given us to richly enjoy.
My Dad used to say, when I would ask him what, or how he was doing, he'd say, "I'm enjoying my EN-joys!" At other times, when he was discouraged, he would say, "I can't win for losing." Sometimes I say, "I can't lose, for winning!"
But see, remember that verse, "God has given us all things richly to enjoy!" But most people are not richly enjoying what God has given us to enjoy. Most folks are too busy either being grumpy at themselves, at others or even at God - to enjoy their EN-joys.
God commands us to rejoice. God commands us to be thankful. God commands us to be happy. God commands us to not worry. God commands us to give Him thanks. God became unhappy with His children for not being happy. He cursed them for being grumpy, even when, by our standards, they had a right. Here they were, led by God Himself, into a situation where they had no water. They, their children and their livestock were without water.
God does not want us to be grumpy. Grumpy may look cute on a Walt Disney screen, as in Snow White, but he is not cute in the eyes of God. There are these three kinds of grumpiness that we are encouraged to consider right now: 1) Grumpiness at others because they are not doing as well as we think they should, 2) grumpiness at ourselves, because we think that we ourselves are not doing what we think we should, and 3) grumpiness at God, because we may think that He is not doing what we think He should.
God commands us to "Be content in whatever state we are in."
God commands us to "Rejoice evermore, and again, to rejoice."
It is difficult to rejoice, and to grumble, at the same time. It is difficult to be content, and to morbidly introspect, at the same time. Now, I will admit, the word "morbid introspection" is not in the King James Bible. But "murmuring" is. And, so, is the command to rejoice, to rejoice ALWAYS! To be content in WHATEVER state we are in.
Criticism of others, of God, or, even of self, can seriously cripple or interfere with worship, with rejoicing, with being thankful, with enjoying what God has given us.
So much in our theological background interferes with our ability to enjoy much of anything at all. For, most of our lives, we have been conditioned, even subconsciously to be pre-occupied with performance, results, productivity, out-put, fruitfulness, - instead of focusing on the enjoyment of the game, of life, of relationship. God knows that the very best performance is the result of relationship. Relationship with Him, Sweet relationship with Him. A loving sweet relaxed wondering relationship with Him always results in the very best performance. The evaluation Jesus gave on the Mary/Martha deal was not performance, but, relationship. We often miss the point. When Jesus said, "Mary has chosen the better part, I do not believe that He was even referring to the work out-put, to performance - but, I believe that He was referring to relationship, to attitude, to mentality, to perspective, to criticism verses enjoyment. While Martha was concerned "about many things", Mary was enjoying Jesus. Mary was not concerned about anything. And God wants us to lay aside our many concerns, criticisms and worries, and instead, to enjoy Him, to love Him, to bask in Him.
You may wonder what will happen to the things about which we can worry, instead. The wonder is, the miracle is, the work will get done, faster, better as the outflow, the result, inevitably when our spirits are healthy, when our focus is right, when our worship is flowing, when our spirit is sweet, when our criticism is gone, when our grumpiness and complaining is no more.
LEGALISM
Here is a list of things that some people consider to be wrong: jumping, shouting, clapping, joy, laughing, dancing,
GENERAL RELIGION: to be other than Amish, Baptist, Catholic, JW., Mormon, Jesus Only, etc.; speaking in tongues, healing in the atonement, slain in the spirit, Benny Hinn, Oral Roberts, Jim Baker, Pat Robertson, work on Sunday, work on Saturday, play on Sunday, play on Saturday, any kind of sports on Sunday, automobiles, tractors, etc., electricity, running water, caution signs on wagons, wearing shoes, wearing other than white, colored automobiles, Christmas, Easter, birthdays, baptism in the Name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit; infant baptism necessary, baptism must be in Utah, carrying anything on the head, baptism without the phrase "for the remission of your sins", baptism in other than the Name of Yahweh, baptism in other than the Name of Yahshua, baptism in other than the name Yehoshua, baptism in other than the name Yahua,
not keeping the feasts, keeping the feasts in any place other than Abilene, Texas; reading anything other than the Bible, reading any thing not religious, swearing to tell the truth, pledge of allegiance, any kind of pledge or vow, etc.
WOMEN!: women speaking in the church, women holding any kind of office, pants for women, make-up for women, permanents for ladies' hair, cutting ladies' hair, jewelry, etc.
CLOTHING, ETC.: neck-ties for men, buttons on clothes, zippers, brightly colored clothing, mixed swimming, mustaches for men, beards for men, beards necessary for married men, but without mustaches, jewelry, etc.
ENTERTAINMENT!: television, videos, movies, rock n roll, dancing, rap music, laughing, humour, jokes, giggling or guffaw-ing, etc.
FOOD!: pork, shrimp, cat-fish, meat, eggs, dairy products, meat on Friday, sugar, caffeine, white flour, etc.
SEX!: Sex: We will not go into detail here, but if you are married, we recommend that you compare your attitudes towards sex to what the Bible has to say about it. The Bible only has things to say about sex:
1) Absolutely do NOT have sex with anyone to whom you are not married, either physically, or mentally;
2) They should always be available sexually to each other;
3) It also says that married couples should have sex frequently, and, 4) Have lots of fun!!!
With all of our activities in life, it is a good practice in life to let the Scriptures be the guiding gauge, the PLUMBLINE, the standard by which we live. In our books we illustrate this by picturing a circle representing the will of God and the Word of God. Religious and legalistic people draw the circle tighter than God does. Of all of the things listed under legalism, not one of them is a restriction indicated in the Bible. On the other hand, those who are licentious and backslidden tend to make the circle larger than God does. The key to proper balance is to do the things specifically indicated in the New Testament, and to be led by the Holy Spirit, and then, to rejoice in Jesus. The whole Bible is important, because the Old Testament gives us an indication of the heart of the Father, and as to how He thinks and feels.
The cure for all of this, and everything else for that matter, is to know three things in order to successfully live the Christian Life, after being born again. These are:
1) Know "The King's Greatest Secret!" inside and out.
2) Know "The Throne-Room Mentality".
3) Know "Kingdom Glory".
If you would like to know any more about these topics, please let us know, and we will be glad to share with you.
CHOICE OF THE WILL
DO!!! OBEY!!! DECIDE!!! CHOOSE!!!
Dear Heavenly Father, Precious Papa Yahweh, Daddy God of All:Lovely Holy Spirit, Ruach HaKodesh: Glorious Yahshua Jesus, Creator King of Everything:
Please, speak Your Word, at this time, in this writing. Amen.
A fleshly person is a person who does what their body wants them to do.
A soulish person does what their emotions and feeling want them to do. This kind of person becomes a slave to one's own feelings and emotions.
A spiritual person does what God tells them to do!!!
A fleshly, carnal person, a person who walks in the flesh, allows one's self to become a slave to what his or her body tells them to do. If the body does not feel like getting out of bed, the person meekly submits to the Body's demand. If their body does not feel like exercising, the person does not exercise. If their body wants to eat certain foods, like sugar, candy, chocolate, ice cream, pop, alcohol, drugs, carbohydrates, cakes, starches, etc., and that person KNOWS that what their body is telling them to do or be is unhealthy, and unwise, and is poor body stewardship, then a fleshly or carnal person does what their body wants them to do. This kind of person easily becomes an addict. This situation exists with food addiction, sexual addiction, drug addiction, alcohol addiction, crime addiction, gambling addiction, spending addiction, laziness addiction, sloppiness addiction, television addiction, etc.
Let's understand the Bible use of the word "flesh". Of the 149 times the word flesh is used in the King James New Testament, 95 of the mentions, have to do with the human body, and are not used in a negative context. In fact, there are only a few times with the rest of the selections that are used to depict negativity.
A soulish person does what emotions and feelings tell him or her to do. If one's emotions or feelings tells them to be discouraged, depressed, resentful, bitter, angry, unforgiving, sad, morose, negative, complaining, victim-like, unbelieving, etc., then, that's what they allow themselves to do and to be and to become!
Every command of God, every leading of the Holy Spirit, speaks to the choice of our will. A spiritual person will do the will of God, no matter what the circumstances, conditions, feelings, or emotions say to the contrary. A spiritual person will forgive, even when he or she does not feel like forgiving. The same is true of anger, discouragement, laziness, temptations, or resentment, etc. A spiritual person will rejoice and give thanks, at any time, or under any circumstance, simply because, that is what God commands and expects. Phil 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, 'Rejoice!'." A spiritual person will obey this command, in spite of feelings and emotions and conditions to the contrary, simply because it is the right and proper thing to do, simply because it is the will of God, simply because the New Testament commands it. The same thing is true for the Scriptural commands to "love each other fervently from a pure heart", to "Give thanks, at all times, in (and for) everything!!!" 1 Peter 1:22, 1 Thes. 5:16-18, and Eph.5:20
THE DEAD MOUSE AND THE PRANSOME HINCE
We have a friend that was horribly abused as a child. Normally such a person grows up feeling like a victim. In the process of giving advice, an astounding revelation came to me when I made this statement:
"EVERY PROMISE AND COMMANDMENT FROM GOD, PUTS YOU IN CONTROL!"
Suddenly, the light dawned upon some areas of my thinking that I really needed. I realized that, to a large extent, I had been acting like a VICTIM in my relationship with God.
Let me give some examples:
I had pictured God as this great big God, Who could treat me any way He wants, because, even at my best, I was at His mercy. He could give me money if and as He wants, reprintings, open doors, healings, miracles. Though I blessed Him, I also saw God as the person Who has kept me from success, kept my dreams from being realized, kept my prayers from being answered, kept me from financial abundance. Every time I thought of the promises of God, I would feel helpless. Every time I was called upon to heal the sick, I would feel like I am God's Victim. Like Job. It was my main concept of God. A Big capricious whimsical game-playing, dice throwing, crap shooting God, Who could jerk us around, play dirty tricks on us, deny us, lie to us, or at least play some pretty serious cosmic jokes on us.
I realize that I have been thinking of myself as a poor abused and mistreated but right-spirited wife or child, huddled in a corner, waiting for God to play another trick on me. All this time, I saw myself as God's punching bag for His pleasure, and for my good. I saw myself as being more fair than God Himself, more righteous than God Himself, in the sense that He could break His promises to me, but I could not break mine to Him. He could make me a promise and not fulfill it, but not me. He could fill my heart with keen and earnest expectations, and not fulfill them. He could promise to take me to Disney Land, and then, delay or change His Mind. He could promise me healing, and not heal. God could promise to supply and not supply. God could promise to answer prayer, and not answer. God could fill my mind with dreams and visions, goals and aspirations - and not fulfill them. And, all the while, I am to "be content in whatsoever state I am, even if -", "keep a right spirit, even though I am God's victim", "keep on serving Jesus, even when the healings don't come", "in everything give thanks, even though prayers aren't answered", "keep on being faithful, even though the money is minimal", "keep on working hard, even though the results are limited", "keep on trying to believe God, even when He disappoints me".
"RELIGIOUS MASOCHISM"
One of the worst sexual perversions in the world today, is sadism/masochism. Sadism is when one gets a kick out of hurting others. Masochism is the enjoyment of being hurt. As sick as this gets in the sexual realm, it is even more sick in the religious realm where people get a kick out of mistreating others. But there are many, many people who get a sick thrill from being mistreated, perhaps, because they believe that they deserve it. Many sexual masochists have a background of sexual abuse, and their pain helps them to feel less guilty. In the religious area, many people have been made to feel that they are miserable, bad, naughty sinners who deserve to be punished, so they are drawn to ministers who scold and berate them. Some people don't feel good until they feel bad.
I don't think that was my problem, but, it may have given me a sense of religious pride to see myself as being more fair than God, more righteous than God, more faithful than God.
DEAD MOUSE - We picked up a mouse hand puppet at a garage sale, that looked like it was dead when not activated by the hand. We will speak more about this later, but some people have what we call a "dead mouse" victim's mentality.
CO-CREATORS WITH GOD!
The Bible says that we are called to be co-labourers with God. Virtually every positive cause and effect relationship we have with God causes us to be co-creators with Him. Every miracle where Yahweh used a person as the channel of the miracle, caused that person to be involved in a co-labouring, co-creating with God.
There is even a sense in which, when God created us, and then commanded and invited us to be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth and subdue and exercise dominion over it, causes us to be involved with Him in the development of His creation.
The ultimate co-creating that we can be involved with is when we discover and live "The King's Greatest Secret".
Think about it: God comes to live inside of us. Shouldn't that make a difference?! I was thinking about demon possession. In Africa, we hear stories about soul travel, body travel, flying on brooms, healings, curses, etc. Instead of demon possession or devil possession, what about "God possession"??? Instead of having an evil spirit, how about having the Holy Spirit?! In literature, fiction or otherwise, and in movies, we have stories of what happens when people turn into vampires, wolves, strong people, heroes, evil people, etc. What would happen if we had people change into God possessed, Holy Spirit possessed, Christ possessed people?!!
Remember what happened when the Holy Spirit came upon people in the past?!
Exod 31:3 "And I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all manner of workmanship, 4 To devise cunning works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in brass, 5 And in cutting of stones, to set them, and in carving of timber, to work in all manner of workmanship." (KJV)
Num 11:25 "And Yahweh came down in a cloud, and spake unto him, and took of the Spirit that was upon him, and gave it unto the seventy elders: and it came to pass, that, when the Spirit rested upon them, they prophesied, and did not cease." (KJV)
Deut 34:9 "And Joshua the son of Nun was full of the Spirit of wisdom; for Moses had laid his hands upon him: and the children of Israel hearkened unto him, and did as Yahweh commanded Moses. 10 And there arose not a prophet since in Israel like unto Moses, whom Yahweh knew face to face, 11 In all the signs and the wonders, which Yahweh sent him to do in the land of Egypt to Pharaoh, and to all his servants, and to all his land, 12 And in all that mighty hand, and in all the great terror which Moses shewed in the sight of all Israel." (KJV)
Judg 6:34 "But the Spirit of Yahweh came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet; and Abi-ezer was gathered after him." (KJV)
Judg 14:5 " - behold, a young lion roared against him. 6 And the Spirit of Yahweh came mightily upon him, and he rent him as he would have rent a kid, and he had nothing in his hand: but he told not his father or his mother what he had done." (KJV)
Spiritual warfare is the exercise of our spiritual weapons and gifts and abilities in God in a co-creating way.
SCRIPTURAL EXAMPLES OF CO-CREATION WITH GOD
Not demon-possessed, but God possessed!
In Star wars, this super guy had another slimy but brilliant person inside him, they got shot, but they were heroes while it lasted. How much more, if Christ lives in us!
The story of "The Incredible Hulk", is a story about a person who, when stressed, changes in to a kind of terrible, but good monster, with superhuman strength, etc. The beast roars and contorts, with torn clothes, and gigantic muscles.
But look at the truth about God coming to live on the inside of us! It is Yahshua Jesus Yahweh, Creator King of Everything, Who comes to live within!!
Can you see how the enemy comes to distort this process, by bringing destructive pride, man (or woman) worship, sexual side tracking. By sexual side-tracking, I am talking about how the Presence of God in a person's life, begins to make that person so beautiful, so graceful, so lovely, so wonderful, so talented, so fruit of the Spirit - kind and loving, that someone else will "fall in love" or be attracted to that person. Often the person in whom Christ dwells, has had a dysfunctional background, or may not realize what is happening, and become victimized by the other person, by the enemy's design.
BODY STEWARDSHIP
Another area of side-tracking is in the area of the physical body. If the enemy can keep us ignorant of how the Presence of God in our lives is to impact and affect our body, or if we remain ignorant, then a great waste has taken place.
Tell me, shouldn't the Presence of God in our bodies make us more healthy? If the Creator King of Everything is living in our bodies, shouldn't His Presence make us more healthy, and strong, and vibrant, and effervescent, and energetic and happy and whole? Shouldn't the Presence of a perfect God, a Perfect Christ, an all powerful Holy Spirit in our bodies, make us more healthy???
We've got to get the idea of the Presence of God being, not only in a cathedral, temple, a mountain-top, a closet, a dream, a mystical place, etc., but INTO OUR BODIES!!!
Yes, Christ is coming some Day, but in the meanwhile, HE wants to come and live on the inside of our bodies, our feet, our hands, our scalp, our skin, our eyes, our feet, our legs, our loins, our belly, our chest, our liver, our kidneys, our pancreas, our arms, our hands, our face, our nose, our cells, our brain, etc. HE wants to change those organs and bones and brain and body parts!!! Amen. That's one reason HE took all of these things with Him to the Cross and allowed such abuse of HIS physical body: SO WE COULD BE HEALTHY!!! By HIS stripes we are healed!!! HE HIMSELF bore our sicknesses in HIS BODY, so that we would not have to be sick or unhealthy.
It is amazing to me, increasingly, that what we do or don't eat or drink, can really assist us to have good and great bodies, souls, heart, minds, sub-conscious, or not, as the case may be.
OUR SOUL: OUR WILL, OUR EMOTIONS, OUR MIND, OUR SUB-CONSCIOUS MIND, OUR MEMORIES
There is what is known in Christendom a phenomenon called "inner healing" or "healing of the emotions". The problem with many who are practitioners in these areas is that they often lack a revelation of "THE KING'S GREATEST SECRET!"!! There is much good that they do, but here, I believe that their ministry and approach can be improved. Consequently, there is often no lasting healing, or, it can be wrongly based.
Let's look at some Scriptural examples of co-creation with Yahweh.
SPEAKING THINGS INTO EXISTENCE
There are many examples from the Bible where men of God "spoke things into existence".
God told Moses to speak to the Rock. God told Ezekiel to speak to the dry bones.
Jesus Yahshua said that it was the Father in Him that did the following works:
Jesus Yahshua instructed the maid to arise. Jesus Yahshua declared the sins were forgiven. Jesus Yahshua spoke to the storm to still. Jesus Yahshua told Lazurus to come forth. Jesus Yahshua commanded the demons to go out. Jesus Yahshua demanded the fig tree to be cursed. Jesus Yahshua commended His Spirit to the Father. Jesus Yahshua laid hands on, multiplying the loaves and fishes. Jesus Yahshua promised Peter that the gold would be in the fish's mouth. Jesus Yahshua directed the disciples to put nets on the other side of the boat. Jesus Yahshua announced to the disciples that He would make them fishers of men.
Jesus Yahshua said that "The Father in Me, does the works!"
Is "Thy Kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven." a request, or a declaration of faith? We may miss the point if we always see it as a plaintive plea.
WAYS TO PRAY
Father, Yahweh, In the Mighty Name of Yahshua, Son of Yahweh, by the Holy Spirit, I declare and prophesy "open doors of utterance that the Gospel of the Kingdom may spread unhindered."
I declare in the Name of Yahshua that the needed finances come in, and more besides so that we may give abundantly to others.
In the Mighty Name of Yahshua, Son of Yahweh, by the Holy Spirit, I bind, cast out and away from us and this place, and curse to Hell, every hindrance to our lives and ministry in the mighty Name of Yahshua. I bind every spirit, principality and power, every ruler of darkness of the air, spiritual wickedness in high places,
We speak that the needed finances come in from every point on the compass - that God raise up the needed help. That the books be printed, that the funds needed for their printing would come forth, that there would be a market for them, and a desire, that the doors of utterance be opened to other lands, other countries.
Prophesy that recordings be made of singing and that people will want to see them.
In short, use your mouth as an instrument with which to declare and prophesy what ever you believe to be the perfect will of God.
You see, if you really have a revelation of "the King's Greatest Secret!", then you will believe for, and allow God to create still, in and through you!!!"
New songs. We prophesy and agree and declare that this place will be all that God wants it to be.
The importance of tongues: The Spirit of God is given a voice through whom to pray, to create, to worship, to judge.
Active ministry from now on
Dance, march, sing, worship,
This is a time of inventions, creativity, art, dance, plays, new songs, poems, music, prophesies, breakthroughs.
Should we start a new church, the church on the hill, with a huge parking lot devoted to the church. Should we have it out in this field between here and tower road? A ministry of teaching and miracles that will reach round the world.
From now on, we must pray as though the promises are true, as though prayer accomplishes something good, as though prayer changes things.
Do you remember when the man of God raises his hands and extends them toward the people, as though he is actually blessing them? Sometimes he or she will say, "The Lord bless thee! The Lord keep thee. May the Lord lift up the light of His countenance upon thee. The Lord make His face to shine upon thee, and give thee peace. Amen!" God wants an actual impartation of blessing to take place during this time. He wants something lovely and blessed and positive and creative to take place.
By that same token, God leads us to bind and lose, to agree together.
God created the world by this means, by faith, yes, but the means by which this faith was expressed was the spoken word of faith declaration, "Let there be ---!!!" and there was.
BY FAITH, DOING THINGS, TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN
In Luke, chapter 15, Jesus tells of the Prodigal Son, who wasted his inheritance, then came back and received another, but the Older Son was disgruntled. The story has an unhappy ending. "Son, all that I have is yours. You could have had the fatted calf, any time you would have wanted it!" The story is told of a person who was being shown around Heaven by St. Peter. When they came to warehouses full of gifts, stacked to the roof, the question was asked, "What are all these presents?" Peter answered, "Why, these are all the gifts and blessings that God wanted you to enjoy when you were on the Earth, so here they are for you now."
"Pretend" and "Pretend"
I use the word 'pretend' in two different ways: 1)In the standard sense of acting like something is true when it is not true. But I also use the word 'pretend' 2) when we are to act like something is true, because it IS True!!! Every time the Bible, or God, asks us to act like something is true because it is true, is, for example when God wants us to exercise faith for something. "We have the Mind of Christ" "For we are dead, and our life is hidden with Christ in God." Romans 6:11 "Reckon yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive inn Christ!" Here, 'reckon' means, 'act like this is true, because it IS true!'
Christ invites you to be the kind of person who memorizes, pays attention to, and does the promises of God, such as, "Matt 18:19 "If two of you shall agree on Earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father Which is in Heaven." KJV and, Matt 21:22 "And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer, believing, ye shall receive." KJV and, Matt 18:18 "Whatsoever ye shall bind on Earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on Earth shall be loosed in Heaven." KJV and, Ps. 149:3-9 "Let them praise His Name in the dance: let them sing praises unto Him with the timbrel and harp. 4 For the LORD Yahweh taketh pleasure in His people: He will beautify the meek with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; 7 To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people; 8 To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all His saints! Praise ye the LORD Yahweh."
"For me to live, = Christ!"
I declare that I am well, in Yahshua's Name! Amen! By Christ's stripes, I AM healed!!!
Dear Heavenly Father: I come to Thee with an earnest and sincere heart.
I come in the mighty Name of Yahshua, and by the Holy Spirit, to You, Dear Darling Daddy Yahweh, Papa God.
I do not come in my own merit or name or worthiness, but, by Your, blood and mercy and love and kindness, the mercy of Yahshua.
I bring with me today, that which I believe to be the most sincere kind of heart. My heart is to please You. I long for You. I yearn to please You, to do Your sweet will, to say Your words, to sing Your praise, to think Your thoughts, to do Your will, to be what You want, do what You want, to go where You want, to see what You want, to be all that You want - in every, Every, EVERY regard!!!!!!!
O, please help me be pleasing to Thee, in everything, always, all the time, everywhere - to the supernatural maximum.
Thank You for every pain-free moment, for each coherent thought, for every breath of air, every heart-beat, every moment of life and peace and joy and sweet tranquility
Yesterday, when looking at my circumstances, finances and limitations, it seemed that I could see myself all doubled up in a corner, in a fetus position, sucking my thumb, cowering and shivering, shutting my eyes tight against the bright light of reality, wishing the day would pass, and hoping that it wouldn't. The core issue for me was, again, the unfulfilled prophecies, the unactualized potential, the promises in Scripture, that remain dormant, theoretical, potential, undeveloped, unrealized, unfulfilled.
Should I rise to my feet, take my thumb out of my mouth, lay down my security blanket, throw away my pacifier, discard my baby bottle, straighten my shoulders, open my mouth, and shout against the wind, the circumstances, the limitations, the status quo, the poverty, weakness, the lassitude. the insipidity, the stupor, the languidity, the passivity, the inactivity, the unfruitfulness. the fruitlessness, the hopelessness, the helplessness, the poverty, the weakness, the limitations, the closed doors, and prophesy the greater works???????
By the power of prayer, and the authority of the spoken word, should we bind the former, and loose the latter? We pray and boldly prophesy the victory, the strength, the provision, the vision, the money, the open doors, the break-throughs, the miracles, the signs and wonders, the power, the purity, the acceptance, the fruitfulness, the adventures of our God! In the Mighty All Powerful Matchless Name of Yahshua Jesus, we pray. Amen.
DEAD MOUSE MENTALITY
At a garage sale in Portland area, a couple of years ago, I purchased a hand puppet that was a grey mouse. God used this limp and lifeless puppet to illustrate to me and to us, that we are not to be a dead mouse victim, in our walk and relationship with Him, the Lord Yahweh. In contrast, I remember putting a live mouse that I had caught, into the bath tub where he couldn't get out, and then putting our mouse killer cat, into the tub with the mouse.. I vividly remember that mouse, literally standing up on its hind feet and facing the big cat bravely, ready to fight to the death, something a hundred times bigger than itself.
There is so very much about our lives and our Christianity, that considers itself good and proper and decent and successful, if we are only dead mice. A dead mouse does not sin, but it does not do any good, either. God has not called you or me to be dead mouse. Nor has He called us to be dead to our limitations, our status quo, our lack of finances or our lack or productivity, or our helplessness or circumstances or our worship.
God wants us to repent for being passive and for having a helpless victim mentality. God does not want us to be helpless victims, cowering or sleeping in a corner. Sometimes sleep can be a blessing. But sometimes, sleep can be used as an escape. Weakness can sometimes be an excuse. Even sickness can be an excuse. We can allow our old age to be an excuse. The parable of the talent is an example. The one talent person was passive and defensive, while the others, were aggressive risk-takers.
The Church is like a fully equipped army, fully armed - whose soldiers go to sleep, curled up in the corner, sucking its thumb, with its eyes tightly shut, hoping the enemy will die of old age, or slink away on its own. Many are using the concept of an escapist rapture to solve all of their problems, instead of standing on their hind feet, and defeating the enemy in the Name of Jesus!. Too often, we are like dead, limp and lifeless puppets, who are waiting for God's hand to activate us, when we are God's hand, who must decide to obey what it has already been told to do.
A dead, lifeless hand puppet, does not lie, steal, cheat or kill. A dead mouse does not cuss, swear, smoke or chew. But neither does it worship and praise, and neither does it do any good. Too often we have had a passive mentality, that waits for God to do through us what we are to do through Him. Too often, we have been waiting for God to do what He has been waiting for us to do.
Take speaking in tongues: The reason that most people do not speak in tongues, is because the person is waiting for God to do all of the work. The same is true with all of the gifts of the Spirit. It is especially true of worship and praise, dance and shouting and clapping and the raising of our hands.
God does not want you to be this kind of husband or wife, a dead mouse. He does not want you to be this kind of employee, child or student.
Look at your lifeless hand, lying limp and languid. Mentally or verbally, tell it what to do, while allowing it to lie limp. While we don't want our hand to spastically do what we don't want it to, neither do we want it to fail to exercise its will when it is told to do something positive. In our Christian lives, we have sometimes thought it better to be disobediently but religiously passive, than to be disobediently or fanatically spastic. Both are wrong. Both are disobedient. God wants us to move in Him, AS His representatives, as His hands, by His leading. We must come to see that it is as disobediently spastic for us to be religiously passive, as it is for us to be fanatically spastic.
Let's study on the extent to which this passive kind of mentality has negatively influenced us:
We have thought that as long as we are dead mice that we are safe.
A dead mouse doesn't cuss, drink, commit immorality, doesn't steal, murder, or even think bad thoughts. But, neither does it praise, shout, bind, loose, sing, witness, or exercise faith.
GOD'S VICTIM
It is really sad to see people who see themselves as victims, who have a "victim mentality". Perhaps they have been victims, or still are being victimized, and have never been delivered or set free or healed. But there are many more who see themselves as God's victim. They asked Him to do something for them, that God, in many cases had placed within their grasp. For example, let's say that I am sitting at your table, having potatoes that need salt. So, I ask you for the salt. But it is sitting in front of my nose. This happened to me at the table last night. Only it was pepper. They wouldn't pass it to me because it was within my reach.
The Bible says that "The time came when the saints took the Kingdom by force!"
We will continue without salt on our food, no matter how long we beg God for it. He already purchased it with His Own Son's Blood, and has put it within our grasp. But something about God makes Him reluctant to put into our mouth, our stomachs, or even on our plate, what is easily within our grasp. Jesus said that The Kingdom of God is AT HAND!!!
How can this be true of the Kingdom, of that which IS His will? In this 5:10 A.M. dream, I was just ready to go on stage of a large church as the evening speaker, to teach about the questions that would be asked before graduation would be allowed in our School of Ministries.
One of the questions was: "Would we be allowed to prophesy things to our own advantage - name it - claim it, blab it - grab it, etc.?" The answer, of course, is, only by the leading of the Holy Spirit, since we must always be under God's Lordship.
Joshua asked me yesterday, a real classic question: "What is right: to exercise bold initiative, or to passively wait for God to do it through us?" I laughed with glee at the brilliance of the question, as both elements, though seemingly contradictory, are necessary. I pointed out that I have both chapters in our book, How To Rule the World, "Kingdom Initiative", and "Waiting On God", and that a balance by God's leading, are necessary, and that even zeal and initiative must come by the leading of God, His inspiration, and His grace.
As to the dream, I believe that it was from God, and that it was to be an encouragement to me that the school(s) will exist as a practical and soon reality, and that such questions should be compiled. All of the questions in the books should, for example, be included, as well as the questions that we ask in our seminars.
ACTIVITIES AND PROOFS THAT I AM NOT A DEAD MOUSE
Awake thou that sleepest, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."
SHOUTING: Ps 47:1-2 "O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. 2 For the LORD Yahweh most high is terrible (awesome); He is a great King over all the Earth." KJV Here, it does NOT say, "Clap your hands, all you sanguines", or, "all you black people", or, "all you Pentecostals", or, "all you acid rock people", or, "all you bi-polar people", or, "all you people with an effervescent personality". It does not say, "Shout unto God with a voice of triumph", "if you feel like it", or, "if your day is going right", or, "if you are rich", or "healthy". It says "all you people", and "all you people" includes "YOU!!!!!!!" "All you people" includes: the sad, the troubled, the anxious, the poor, the sick, the Germans, the Scandinavians, the Methodists, the Episcopalians, the Lutherans, the English, etc.
CLAPPING: See above.
PROPHESYING: 1 Cor 14:39 "Therefore, brethren, desire earnestly to prophesy, and do not forbid to speak with tongues." You can exercise your will to prophesy! 1 Cor 14:31 "For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn and all may be encouraged." NKJV
WARRING DECLARATIONS: 2 Cor 10:4 "For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds; 5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ." KJV
FAITH CLAIMS: TONGUES: PRAISE: DANCING: QUOTING SCRIPTURE: MARCHING: BINDING AND LOOSING: USE THE POWER OF AGREEMENT!
DECISIONS!
GOD'S COMMANDS ARE GOD'S ENABLEMENTS!
EVERY COMMAND GOD MAKES IS A PROMISE.
EVERY CHOICE OF OUR WILL, WE ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR.
GOD HAS PUT US IN CONTROL OF OUR DECISIONS.
TRUE SINCERETY IS NOT REFLECTED IN OUR FEELINGS, BUT IN THE CHOICES WE MAKE, FROM DEEP INSIDE, WHERE WE REALLY LIVE.
LOOK AT ALL OF THE PHILOSOPHIES, AND PSYCHOLOGIES AND THEORIES, THAT PROVIDE FOR US EXCUSES FOR OUR BEING IRRESPONSIBLE: ASTROLOGY
TEMPERAMENTS
NATIONALITY
TIME OF THE MONTH - FULL MOON
TIME OF LIFE -
JUST A BABY.
TERRIBLE TWO's TEEN-AGE rebellion
MID-LIFE CRISES
OLD AGE
RELIGIOUS GIFTS
INNER HEALING/ABUSE, NEGLECT, BACKGROUND, PAST HURTS, DAMAGE, INJURIES, DISFUNCTIONAL BACKGROUND
FEELINGS. I DON'T FEEEEEEEL LIKE -
IN LOVE
ETC.
EVERY COMMAND IN THE BIBLE, EACH LEADING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT, EVERY PROMISE GOD MAKES, EVERY TRUE PROPHESY GIVEN, PUTS US IN CONTROL, along with God! If we fail to exercise our rights, responsibilities, callings, privileges, and callings, can we blame God for not being in control?
GOD WOULD BE UNFAIR AND UNRIGHTEOUS TO THE EXTENT THAT HE HOLD US RESPONSIBLE, JUDGES US, OR PUNISHES US FOR THINGS WE CANNOT HELP, OR FOR WHICH WE ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE.
THE VICTIM (DEAD MOUSE) MENTALITY
SOME OF US HAVE EVEN COME TO THINK OF OURSELVES AS GOD'S VICTIM.
GIVEN OUR RIGHTS, PRIVILEGES, AND INHERITANCE IN GOD, WE ARE NO LONGER A VICTIM, NOT EVEN GOD'S VICTIM, NOT EVEN GOD'S VICTIM.
WE CAN DECIDE TO BE HAPPY, TO NO LONGER FEAR OR WORRY. WE CAN DECIDE TO KEEP A RIGHT HEART ATTITUDE. WE CAN DECIDE TO HAVE FAITH. WE DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT TO FORGIVE OR HOLD A GRUDGE. WE DECIDE WHETHER OR NOT WE WILL BE HAPPY, JOYFUL OR DEPRESSED.
VICTIMS OF OUR CIRCUMSTANCES? OUR CIRCUMSTANCES ARE THE INEVITABLE RESULT OF OUR DECISIONS - VIZ.:
DELIGHT THYSELF IN YAHWEH, AND HE WILL GIVE THE DESIRES OF THY HEART
SEEK FIRST GOD'S KINGDOM AND ALL THESE THINGS (FAVORABLE CIRCUMSTANCES) WILL BE ADDED UNTO YOU.
TRUST IN YAHWEH, AND DO GOOD, AND TRUELY, YOU SHALL DWELL (SECURELY) IN THE LAND.
SQUATTER
THE SPIRIT OF THE PROPHETS IS SUBJECT TO THE PROPHETS
DETERMINE WHAT IS THE WILL OF GOD
IF WE ASK ANY THING ACCORDING TO HIS
DEAD MOUSE FELLOWSHIP
PRAYER
When Jesus was confronted with the need to feed the 5000, plus women and children, He said, "YOU GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO EAT."
GIANTS IN THE LAND
SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THAT THEY GO FORWARD
SPEAK WIND AND WAVES
WALK ON THE WATER LORD IF THIS IS YOU
CASTING OUT DEMONS
CENTURIAN: "Speak the Word only, "
ANTI "HYPER FAITH-ERS" AND THE PRODIGAL SON
Use the weapons of our warfare The one-talent man was crippled by fear.
PRAYER - come boldly before the throne of God.
You and I are to think about those THINGS THAT ARE THE WILL OF GOD 100%
FATHER, I BOLDLY COME, NOT IN MY OWN WORTHINESS, BUT, BECAUSE, YOU HAVE DECLARED THAT I AM YOUR SON, YOUR FRIEND, YOUR BROTHER, YOUR TEMPLE, AND YOUR INHERITANCE. YOU HAVE DECLARED THAT I AM A PARTAKER OF Your DIVINE NATURE, THAT ALL THINGS ARE MINE AND THAT YOU HAVE GIVEN ME ALL THINGS RICHLY TO ENJOY. YOU HAVE SAID THAT YOU HAVE BLESSED ME WITH ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS, AND THAT I AM TO HAVE THE ABUNDANT LIFE. YOU HAVE PROMISED TO SUPPLY MY EVERY NEED, AND I NEED TO LET MY LIGHT SO SHINE BEFORE MEN THAT THEY MAY SEE MY GOOD WORKS AND GLORIFY YOU. YOU HAVE PROMISED ME THAT I WOULD DO THE GREATER WORKS.
THUS, AS THE PRODIGAL SON, I COME TO CLAIM MY INHERITANCE OF MONEY, THE 100-FOLD RETURN, AND THE POWER AND FAVOUR OF GOD.
IN THE MIGHTY NAME OF HIM WHO IS MY LIFE, YAHSHUA JESUS, I CLAIM ALL OF MY INHERITANCE RIGHTS AS A MANIFESTED AND GLORIFIED SON, IN ORDER TO BRING RADICAL GLORY TO YOUR NAME.
BUT NOT AS THE SON, WHO CONSUMED IT ALL ON HIMSELF, I CLAIM THESE RIGHTS OF INHERITANCE SO THAT I MAY ACCOMPLISH ALL THE WILL OF GOD FOR ME.
FROM NOW ON, I REFUSE TO BE AS THE OLDER SON, IN THAT HE FAILED TO 'ENJOY HIS ENJOYS', AS MY EARTHLY DAD USED TO SAY. I WILL BE FAITHFUL AS HE WAS, BUT I WILL APPROPRIATE, AS THE PRODIGAL SON DID, YET FOR THE PURPOSE OF DOING DADDY YAHWEH'S WILL!
WILL YOU GIVE ME A STONE WHEN I ASK YOU FOR THE CHILDREN'S BREAD OF HEALING? No.
WILL YOU FAIL TO ANSWER ME WHEN I DEMAND MONEY BY MY GOD-GIVEN RIGHT OF INHERITANCE?
I HAVE BOLDLY ASKED, AND NOW I BOLDLY RECEIVE!
IF I ASK ANYTHING ACCORDING TO YOUR WILL, I KNOW THAT I H-A-V-E WHAT I HAVE ASKED FOR."
SO, BY AGGRESIVE AND ACTIVE AND BOLD FAITH, I ASK FOR, DEMAND, RECEIVE AND THANK YOU FOR THE FOLLOWING THINGS:
THANK YOU FOR IT, IN JESUS' NAME. AMEN
PRAYER
DEAR HEAVENLY DADDY,
YOU do not REQUIRE A SOLDIER TO GO TO WAR AT HIS OWN EXPENSE.
GOOD MORNING FATHER, DADDY YAHWEH, PRECIOUS HOLY SPIRIT, LOVELY YAHSHUA (JESUS): GOOD MORNING!
IN KEEPING WITH THIS NEW REVELATION ABOUT AGGRESSIVE APPROPRIATION FOR YOUR GLORY, I AM CLAIMING FOR MYSELF, MY LIFE, MY FAMILY, MY MINISTRY, FOR YOUR GLORY, YOUR SAKE, YOUR KINGDOM, AND FOR YOU, EVERYTHING THAT IS IN LINE OF YOUR WILL FOR ME AS TO WHAT I AM ENTITLED TO AND RESPONSIBLE FOR, RIGHT NOW, IN JESUS' YAHSHUA'S NAME! AMEN.
I BELIEVE THAT I AM ENTITLED TO, HAVE BEEN PROMISED AS MINE, IN THE HERE AND NOW, AND HENCE, AM RESPONSIBLE TO WALK IN, NOW, THE FOLLOWING THINGS, AND THUS DO NOW, RESPECTFULLY DEMAND AND CLAIM THE PRIVILEGE OF WALKING IN, THESE FOLLOWING THINGS:
IMMEDIATE DIVINE HEALTH AND LIFE - COMPLETE HEALTH IN BODY, HEART, MIND, SOUL, MEMORY BANKS, SPIRIT, SUBCONSCIOUS MIND, ETC.
TO NEVER SIN AGAIN, NEVER BE OUT OF YOUR WILL AGAIN, NEVER GET A WRONG REACTION, OR A WRONG ATTITUDE, OR A WRONG SPIRIT AGAIN, AT ANY TIME OR CIRCUMSTANCE.
IMMEDIATE AND CONTINUAL GLORIFICATION AND IMMORTALITY, NOW AND HERE, WHILE IN THE BODY, AND THE RENEWING OF MY YOUTH, LIKE THE EAGLE. THAT MY FACE SHINE LIKE THAT OF JESUS, IN REV., CH. 1.
A CONSTANT FLOW TO ME OF THE WEALTH AND RICHES OF GOD, A BANK ACCOUNT THAT WILL NEVER RUN DRY, AN UNENDING SUPPLY OF THE MATERIAL BOUNTY OF GOD. (2 COR.9:8, ETC.)
TO ALWAYS EXPERIENCE YOUR PERFECT WILL, TO NEVER BE OUT OF YOUR PERFECT WILL IN PURPOSE, THOUGHT, ACTION, DEED, AWARENESS, WORD, APPROPRIATION, OR ACCOMPLISHMENT.
*THAT ALL OF MY FAMILY AND FRIENDS ENJOY ALL OF THESE SAME THINGS, AND THAT I SYNERGYSTICALLY BE USED TO MULTIPLY THE APPROPRIATION OF ALL THESE THINGS, IN AS MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE, IN AS MANY PLACES AS IS POSSIBLE, AS QUICKLY AS IS SUPERNATURAL LY POSSIBLE, BY AS MANY MEANS AS IS SUPERNATURALLY POSSIBLE. I WANT TO LITTERALLY FULFILL THE GREAT COMMISSION, IN THE SENSE OF GOING INTO ALL THE WORLD - THAT IS, TO LITERALLY MINISTER, WITH SUPERNATURAL EFFECTIVENESS, IN EVERY COUNTRY OF THE WORLD.
*( I CLAIM, FOR MYSELF, AND FOR OURSELVES, THE ABILITY AND THE DOING OF THE CREATIVE SUPERNATURAL MIRACLES OF GOD, THE HEALING OF THE SICK, RAISING THE DEAD, WALKING ON WATER, TRAVELING THROUGH THE AIR, BEING INVISIBLE, PASSING THROUGH DOORS WITHOUT THEM BEING OPEN, TURNING WASTEPAPER INTO MONEY, PUTTING NEW ARMS BACK ON MISSING LIMBS, EYES IN EMPTY SOCKETS, TEETH IN PEOPLE'S HEADS, RESTORE YOUTH, HEALTH, VITALITY, SEE MIRACLE JUDGEMENTS, MIRACLE PROTECTION AND VINDICATION.
HERE ARE SOME SCRIPTURES THAT I AM CLAIMING FOR ALL OF THIS.
ACTIVITIES AND PROOFS THAT I AM NOT A DEAD MOUSE
Awake thou that sleepest, arise from the dead, and Christ shall give you light."
SHOUTING PROPHESYING WARRING DECLARATIONS FAITH CLAIMS TONGUES PRAISE CLAPPING DANCING QUOTING SCRIPTURE MARCHING
BODY STEWARDSHIP & NUTRITION
MID-LIFE CRISES - AGING
CIRCUMSTANCES
A CHOICE OF THE WILL
DECIDE!
Here are some commands from the Bible and God:
"Rejoice always, and, again, I say rejoice!"
"Oh, clap your hand all ye people. Shout unto God with the voice of triumph." Ps.47:1
"In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
"For everything give thanks."
"Trust in Yahweh with ALL thine heart, and lean not unto thine own understanding."
"Fret not."
"Don't be anxious."
"Sing!"
"Do not forsake the assembling of your selves together. . ."
"To do good and to communicate, forget not!"
All of these Commands speak to a choice of our will, and God expects us to choose with a gut level, and, if necessary, a cold blooded choice, to do and keep and obey these things.
THE KING'S GREATEST SECRET!
Read it, believe it, and do it! Christ came that we might live the abundant Life! He came that His joy might be in us, and that our joy might be full. Please see and read and master and do the King's Greatest Secret!
THE THRONE-ROOM MENTALITY!
Read it, believe it, and do it! In Ephesians 1, God tells us how the Father raised Jesus Yahshua from the dead and sat Him at His right hand, far over and above everything that can be named, in heaven or on earth. In Ephesians, chapter 2, the Bible tells us that we are quickened together with Christ, that we are raised together with Christ, and that we are seated together with Christ. Psalm 91 tells us that we can live and dwell and abide in the Secret Place of The Most High, under His feathers, under His wings, and that "In His Presence is fullness of joy and that at His Right Hand, there are pleasures forever more." This is where God wants us to live, and move and have our being. If we will do so, we will experience fullness of joy and pleasures forever more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
THE THRONE-ROOM MENTALITY
When I stand before Christ, the Judge of all the Universe, the Creator King of Everything, I have been wanting and planning and intending that God criticize me and scold me for something. I want God to scold me before the innumerable crowd of people, before the Throne, out of every tongue, kindred, tribe and nation, for believing God for too much, too soon.
The Bible promises in 2 Cor 9:8, that "God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." (NIV) The Amplified Bible says, " - - infinitely, and abundantly above and beyond our highest thoughts, hopes, prayers, or dreams!" We worship and serve a God that created the Universe, and everything it contains, from the largest families of galaxies, to the smallest protons, electrons, neutrons, quarks and neutrinos. I want to be the kind of person who asks large, believes big, hopes, and dreams greatly from God. I want to live on tiptoe, with keen anticipation, and with great expectation. There is such a thing as a "visionary". A visionary is one who sees clearly, that which is not visible to very many other people. This kind of person is not content to live with unfulfilled promise, unactualized potential, the unrealized dream, but has a loving relationship with the God of the Impossible, lovingly but consistently and respectfully insisting that God fulfill His promises, and beyond.
For example, when our 4 children were teen-agers, and smaller, I asked God, if He would take our family, Mary Poppins' style, on a two week vacation tour of the Universe!!! One problem with this kind of vacation, is, that it would be difficult to try to tell others, when they asked, "How was your trip?"! And, I sincerely congratulate you, yourself, if you are wondering if the Lord ever took us on that trip!
The fact is, I would like to tell you about a trip that God took us on that took us even higher and farther than the one I just mentioned.
After one has learned the truths about "The King's Greatest Secret!", the next greatest truth one needs to learn and have, as part of his or her walk with God, is what we refer to as "The Throne-Room Mentality". Here's what we mean:
The Bible, in 2 Cor.4:18, points out that the things that are not seen are more real and eternal than the things that are seen, which are temporary, or passing. Elisha, in 2 Kings 6:17 prayed that Yahweh would open the servant's eyes, when the servant could see the problems surrounding them, but could not see the warring angels of God which comprised a greater army than the bad army. So, God opened the young man's eyes to that which was more important, to that "unseen realm" of the real - the Spirit realm, and the realm of the eternal. Just so, our own eyes need to be open to another world that is real, the realm of the Spirit, the realm of the eternal. The Bible says in 1 Kings 17:1, and in 18:15 that Elijah stood (and stayed) before God!
When the Bible tells us that something is real and true, then we need to believe and receive and act as though it is really real. "Faith is the --- evidence of things not seen!" Heb.11:1
In Ephesians chapter 1:20ff, we are clearly told, and believe, that Jesus:
1. Was quickened
2. Was raised
3. Was seated at the right hand of the Father God, far above all things, on the Throne with the Father.
Eph 1:20 "Which He (God the Father) brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead, and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. 22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the Church, 23 which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all." (NAS)
Sometimes when I preach here and in other countries, I obtain the local pastor's permission to borrow his biggest, most impressive religious chair that the most important dignitary sits in on the platform. I bring it forward to stage center, and place it side-ways to the audience. Then, I ask for a volunteer of a Father-God-looking gentleman from the audience, with a white beard, (or whatever), to play the part of the Heavenly Father. Then I ask for someone, perhaps his wife, to play the part of Jesus. I have her sit in a prominent part of the room, and pretend that she is dead in the tomb. Then I have the person who is playing the part of Father God, act out the raising of Jesus from the dead, from the grave, to the skies, and invite Jesus to come and sit in another large seat, at the right hand of the Father, in the Throne Room. I place this chair next to the Father's chair, but facing the opposite direction, at the right hand of the Father. I will tell you why the opposite direction in a moment.
Then I tell the people that something is missing. I direct their attention to chapter 2 of Ephesians to the part where it plainly tells us that we were also:
1. Quickened together with Christ
2. Raised together with Christ, and that we were:
3. Seated together with Christ, at the Father's right hand, in the Throne-Room of the Father, far over and above every thing that is named, in heaven or on earth.
Eph 2:5 "Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) 6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:" (KJV)
Colossians 3 also speaks of this: Col 3:1 "If then you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth. 3 For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ, Who IS our Life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory." (NAS)
Other places in the Bible also speak of this.
Job 36:7 "He does not take His eyes off the righteous; He enthrones them with kings and exalts them forever." (NIV)
One of the most beloved Psalms is Psalm 91 that tells us: He (or she) that dwells (lives) in the Secret Place of the Most High, shall abide (continually live) under the Shadow of the Almighty."
Ps 91:1 "He (or she) who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say to (YAHWEH) the LORD, ‘My Refuge and my Fortress, My God, in Whom I trust!'
This Psalm goes on to talk about the fact that we are to continually live under our Heavenly Daddy Yahweh's chest feathers, under His wings!!!!!!! Verse 4: "He will cover you with His pinions (feathers), and under His wings you may seek refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and bulwark."
Verse 9: "For you have made (Yahweh), the LORD, my Refuge, even the Most High, your Dwelling Place."
So, to continue with our stage presentation, I have "Ms. Jesus", who is sitting beside the Father, to go back down into the audience and find a child who will co-operate, a small child, perhaps her own. Together they act as though they are dead, in the front row, or someplace where people can see them. Then, I have the Father get up from His Throne, go to where they are, and raise them from the dead. Jesus and we, are being quickened, or, raised from the dead, together, raised from the grave together, ascending to the Father, together, and, finally seated at the right hand of the Father, together, on the Throne.
The Bible repeatedly speaks of our Union with Jesus, with the Father, with the Holy Spirit, He in us, and us in Him. "Seated with Christ INNNNNN God!!!" Col.3.
We saw, in The King's Greatest Secret!, how we went with Jesus into His crucifixion, death, burial, and resurrection. Now, we see how we continued, in our identification with Him, in His quickening, being raised, ascended and in His being seated at the Right Hand of the Father, in Jesus!!!!!!!
Back to stage center, I then explain the reason that I have the chairs placed side by side, but facing the opposite direction, comes from those Scriptures that talk about our being seated at Heavenly Papa's right hand, and from those Scriptures that talk about Him being seated at our right hand. Psalm 16:8 "I have set Yahweh always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." But see also verse 11: "Thou wilt show me the paths of life. In Thy Presence is fullness of joy, at Thy right hand, there are pleasures forevermore."
Psalm 63:8 (NIV) says, "My soul clings to You, Your right hand upholds me."
My FATHER'S Lap
Seated on my Heavenly Father's lap. What could be better than this?! Whether working very hard, or taking a nap. This glorious thought fills me with bliss.
Far above each principality and power, Every moment, and every hour, Blessing comes most greatly from this heavenly rest, Resting my ear against God's chest.
There is no greater way I could be more blest - Nesting in God's arms, by His love caressed. All harm and alarm far below this Eagle's nest. My other ear against His lips is pressed.
Listening to His words of endearment fine, God's most loving words and thoughts are surely mine. He tells me that He loves me, line upon line. My most productive work is when on Him I recline.
In this Throne Room of God is where I belong. Under the shadow of His wings, I will sing my song. My total helplessness in God, makes me the most strong. When I'm loving Him so much I can do no wrong.
I want to always worship Thee, Lord, in Spirit and in truth, For all eternity to old age, from youth. I love You, Papa Yahweh, with all of my heart, To love and trust and obey to the finish from the start.
To rest and be caressed on Papa's chest is best, is most blest! No jest!
9 February 1999, by John Roy Bohlen
Dear one, look at the intimacy, if you are seated IN Christ, at the right hand of the Father, and, if the Father is at your right hand. On the platform, is seated a man, representing the Father, his wife, representing Jesus, seated facing him at his right hand, with him at her right hand, and with a child representing us, seated on her lap, between them, with his right arm and ear, pressed against the chest of the Father. At this point, I have them tenderly embrace each other, with the child in between, embracing and being embraced.
I stand back and point to them, and explain to the audience: "This is how you are to see yourself in relation to the Heavenly Father, all of the time!!!!!!! - in times of need, times of temptation, times of weariness, of financial need, when you are sick, when you are lonely, when you go to sleep, and as you go through the day - We are to have this 'Throne Room Mentality', all of the time, all the time, all the time, all the time.!!!!!!!"
OH HEAVENLY FATHER
John Roy Bohlen - September 1, 1999
Oooh, Dear Heavenly Father, I am crying out to You. At times life gets so confusing that I don't know what to do.
When the finances are short - When there comes a bad report - When the enemy makes sport - When the best of plans abort - When the problems I can't sort - When I need a strong support - Oh, Dear Heavenly Father - - - -.
I will praise You at such a time. When there seems no reason nor rhyme. On my Heavenly Daddy's lap I will climb. Rest my ear on Your chest sublime,
There is nothing that I know to do But to trustingly look up to You. Chose to trust that Your promise is true. Try to see from Your point of view Cleave close to You all the day through Rejoice that each moment is new.
There's an agony deep in my soul, Showing Your glory, this is my goal, Tell Your story from pole to pole, Helping Thee, help Your Bride be made whole.
Daddy, , Oh Daddy, Daddy. Papa, . Oh Papa Dear. Abba, , Oh Abba Yahweh, Pleeeeeeeeeease, let Your Glory appear.
I would not flee away into sleep. My yearning's so strong, I could weep. The need in my heart is so deep, Sometimes the road seems soooo steep. I'm trusting Your promise You'll keep. Now, into Your Throne-Room I'll creep. Into Your long strong arms I will leap,
I am trusting You, trusting You, trusting You, trrrr- I am praising You, praising You, praising You, prrrr- I am cleaving, clinging, clapping, cuddlinnng, I am singing, shouting, trusting, snugglinnnng -
One time, Karen and I were traveling on a ministry trip together in our van. As we traveled through the night, we both became too tired to continue on our journey, so we decided to sleep in the back of the van. The only problem was that it was about 17 degrees below zero. In other words, it was very very cold outside! But we had with us a huge down king size comforter, filled with feathers. We snuggled together under this large feather comforter, and slept comfortably. The only problem was that Karen kept waking up to check to see if she was cold! But she was warm and comfortable. And God wants us to be comfortable under His wings, under His feathers, all the time, all the time, all the time. Here's a poem I wrote:
THE DARLING DOWN COMFORTER
My wife gave a gift that was meant to uplift, To herself and each of the offspring, A large fluffy blanket for weather Fully filled with many a fine feather,
Gently gathered from under bird's wing, I'm so cozy, I laugh and I sing! I don't worry about anything.
Can you imagine the feeling, peeking up at the ceiling, Cold outside, but in bed, covered nose to toes? Snuggled down ‘neath the down of a goose that God chose.
Ps 91:4 "He shall cover thee with His feathers, and under His wings shalt thou trust: His truth shall be thy shield and buckler."
Some times I will take with me, to the teaching, one of these king-size comforters, "The Comforter has come", as the song says about the Holy Spirit, our heavenly Comforter". But, sometimes, in our demonstration, we will find one child after another who is afraid, or who is otherwise unwilling to co-operate with us in our little play demonstration. We continue until we find one who is willing. So, Jesus said, "How often I would have gathered your children, as a mother hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing." Mt.23:37 & Lk.13:34
I have the audience point at stage center and proclaim, "This is where I live." (Repeat, after me.) "This is my address." "This is my new home." "This is where I stay" - "never to leave, never to roam."
YOUR HEART - OUR HOME!
by John Roy Bohlen - February. 1998
I love You Papa Yahweh, with all my heart. With all my soul, with every part. My heart pours out strong love for Thee My thanks pours out, eternally.
Your flow of grace enables me, To follow strongly after Thee. To yearn for Thee quite earnestly. I'm basking in Your Presence now, This sweet tranquility makes me bow.
We live far over everything, We reign serene here with our King. This is our home, we need not leave, But ever close, to Thee we cleave.
Not, "Help us live", but, "Be our Life!" Oh, live through us, there is no strife. Speak through our lips, bless through our hands. Walk through our feet, through many lands.
We're listening to Your heart beat, Upon Your lap we take our seat. Never to leave here, never to roam Snuggling close, Your arms are our home.
Beneath Your wings I take my place, Beneath Your feathers, I find grace. Within Your Shadow, You Most High, We never need to say "Good bye."
A poem to the Father by John. Title: Your Heart - Our Home!
"He (or she) that dwells (lives) in the Secret Place" "of the Most High", "shall abide" (continually live) "under the Shadow" "of the Almighty". - - He will cover you with His feathers," "Undah ‘Ees feadahs" and "under His wings" you will find refuge - -" "Underneath are the everlasting arms." I encourage the people to always see themselves here on their Heavenly Papa's lap, with their ear against the heart of God, listening to His heart-beat, with their other ear against His lips to receive His kiss, or words of encouragement, guidance, endearment." The people repeat, a combination of these things, over and over, until, gradually, or suddenly, the light begins to dawn, and they begin to see themselves as living within the circle of our Heavenly Father's Arms.
The border crossings in Nigeria can be very tumultuous, very harrying. Early in 1999, Joshua and I were coming home from a very busy ministry trip to Nigeria. We went to the Lagos airport to check through immigration and hoped to board the plane for home. As we approached the ticket counter, we noticed that every single item, in every single bag, of every single passenger was being checked. The uniformed lady in charge of searching the bags demanded of Joshua, "What do you have in the bags?" Joshua smiled very sweetly and said a quiet and gentle, "Hello." The immigration officer then looked over at me with recognition. She then told us the story of how, a number of years previously, in a far distant town, she had been present in a church on a Sunday morning when I presented this "Throne-Room Mentality". She exclaimed how she had wept with tears of joy at this revelation, and that she had lived in the strength and light of this revelation those 5 years since. She came out from behind the counter to embrace us, and through our tears of joy, had a time of intimate and sweet fellowship, while the customs officials and ticket takers and passengers looked on with wonder. Needless to say, none of our bags was searched!
Beloved, THIS is where God wants us to live, this is where God wants us to stay. We are ever, always to live and move and have our being IN Him. This is what we mean by our constant need to have a "Throne Room Mentality". We are to live with this picture ever in our hearts and minds and our spirits. This is to be our perspective, our "modus operandi", our way of life. We are to live here always, never ever to depart, with Christ AS our life. Amen.
SMILE OF PLEASURE
There's a yearning in my heart for the Father, There is nothing I can think of that I'd rather I'm so hungry for You, Lord, this feeling must not be ignored 'Neath Your wings, 'Neath Your feathers, me, You gather.
Just to sit upon Your lap, To be awake, or take a nap, For Your heart-beat I will listen, With Your glory I will glisten.
Your whispers of endearment, fine, Your nod of approval, mine. A gentle hug from you, and then, To get another hug from You again!
Wouldn't that be great, to think as You think? To do Your will, quick as a wink? To know Your heart, to please You well, To speak Your Word, Your message tell.
To go through the land, Keep Your every command, To say what You've planned, Do Love's every demand.
Oh Father, Your approval, is what I desire, To think of pleasing you, fills me with fire. To measure up to Your stern measure, Your smile of pleasure, this I treasure. Oh gracious Daddy, Let me please Thee, ever and eternally. Amen.
John Roy Bohlen - January 21, 1997
Psalm fifteen asks, and answers the question: "O LORD Yahweh, who may abide in Thy tent? Who may dwell on Thy holy hill?" (NAS)
Jesus talks to us about the life and death importance and necessity of our abiding IN HIM! John 15:4 "Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me, and I in him, he bears much fruit; for apart from Me you can do nothing. 6 If anyone does not abide in Me, he is thrown away as a branch, and dries up; and they gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned. 7 If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. 8 By this is My Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples. 9 Just as the Father has lov |