The Ezra Project

December's featured ministry is the Ezra Project

The Ezra Project offers messages and products to churches and ministries to inspire God’s people to come back to God’s Word. Allen J. Huth, founder, speaker, and author, successfully challenges Christians to personally rekindle their passion for reading, doing, and sharing God’s Word. http://www.ezraproject.net/

Join God's movement to ignite a Bible Revival in the Body of Christ! The Ezra Project inspires Christians to come back to a Biblical view of public and personal issues. Discover how unchanging Biblical principles still relate to 21st century life.

(Allen J. Huth, Executive Director)


Only 29% of men and 43% of women say they read the Bible either weekly or daily
75% of Christians overlook the Bible when shaping their worldview
Only 14% of born-again adults rely on the Bible as their moral compass
41% of Americans rarely or never read the Bible anymore

Ezra Project messages and products challenge you to reconnect with your Biblical heritage of faith!

Christian Podcast Resource

Welcome to the largest directory of Christian audio and video podcasts! @http://www.godcast1000.com/

The Jesus Connection

The Jesus Connection gives us the Power to Turn the World Upside Down. When we examine the New Testament we find a world very much like our own. There was a mixture of cultures, values, religions and beliefs. The demonic spirits which had lied to each culture were at war to gain dominance as the peoples of the world mixed with each other. Demonic principalities and powers did all they could to stop the spread of the Good News. The demonic powers used fear, magic, politics and racial hatred to stop the Gospel and all who were apart of the Way.

(John 14:6) Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."

When we study the NT we also find the wisdom of God and the Holy Spirit’s power allowed the believers in the Early Church to transform their world despite all of these elements which were aligned against them and the Good News they carried. It is obvious that the Gospel or Good News which Jesus brought engaged every level of society, culture and spirituality. Many see the message of Jesus as a weak and useless outdated philosophy; others see it as a threat to their chosen path, beliefs or culture. It is however God’s Good News to all people groups and has the power to transform lives, families, and nations!

Word Study Note: When you look up the word power in a concordance you will find that it occurs 250 times in NT

The Jesus Connection, Power and Life in the Kingdom of God (Transfer, adoption, death to self and training in the exercise of divine authority)

Col 1:13-14 Transfer

For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

Gal 3:26-29 Adoption
26 You are all sons of God through faith in Christ Jesus, 27 for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 If you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise. NIV

ADOPTION
Among oriental nations it was extended to slaves (as Moses) who thereby gained their freedom, but in Greece and Rome it was, with rare exceptions, limited to citizens.
(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

SONS OF GOD
1. New Testament Terms: John, who lays special emphasis on sonship by birth, uses teknon, while Paul, in emphasizing sonship from the legal side, as referring to adoption, which was current among the Romans but scarcely if at all known to, or if known, practiced by, the Jews, uses the word huios (John 1:12; Rom 8:14,16,19; Gal 4:6-7; 1 John 3:1-2).

2. New Testament Doctrine: Men are not by nature the sons of God, at least not in the sense in which believers in Christ are so called. By nature those outside of Jesus Christ are "children of wrath" (Eph 2:3), "of disobedience" (2:2), controlled not by the Spirit of God (Rom 8:14), but by the spirit of disobedience (Eph 2:2-4). Men become sons of God in the regenerative and adoptive sense by the acceptance of Jesus Christ as Lord and Saviour (John 1:12 f; Gal 3:26).

The universal brotherhood which the New Testament teaches is that brotherhood which is based on faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the divine and only Saviour of the world. And the same is true of the universal Fatherhood of God. It is true that all men are "his offspring" (Acts 17:28 f) in the sense that they are God's created children; but that the New Testament makes a very clear and striking distinction between sonship by virtue of creation and sonship by faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, there can be no reasonable doubt.

Sonship is the present possession of the believer in Christ (1 John 3:2). It will be completed at the second coming of our Lord (Rom 8:23), at which time the believer will throw off his incognito, by reason of which the world may not have recognized his sonship (1 John 3:1-2), and be fully and gloriously revealed as the son of God (2 Cor 5:10). It doth not yet appear, it hath not yet appeared, what we shall be; the revelation of the sons of God is reserved for a coming day of manifestation.

The blessings of sonship are too numerous to mention, save in the briefest way. His sons are objects of God's peculiar love (John 17:23), and His Fatherly care (Luke 12:27-33). They have the family name (Eph 3:14 f; 1 John 3:1); the family likeness (Rom 8:29); family love (John 13:35; 1 John 3:14); a filial spirit (Rom 8:15; Gal 4:6); a family service (John 14:23 f; 15:8). They receive fatherly chastisement (Heb 12:5-11); fatherly comfort (2 Cor 1:4), and an inheritance (Rom 8:17; 1 Peter 1:3-5).

Among the evidences of sonship are: being led by the Spirit (Rom 8:14; Gal 5:18); having a childlike confidence in God (Gal 4:5); having liberty of access (Eph 3:12); having love for the brethren (1 John 2:9-11; 5:1), and obedience (1 John 5:1-3).

(from International Standard Bible Encyclopaedia, Electronic Database Copyright © 1996, 2003 by Biblesoft, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Col 1:13-22
13[The Father] has delivered and drawn us to Himself out of the control and the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, 14 In Whom we have our redemption through His blood, [which means] the forgiveness of our sins. 15[Now] He is the exact likeness of the unseen God [the visible representation of the invisible]; He is the Firstborn of all creation. 16 For it was in Him that all things were created, in heaven and on earth, things seen and things unseen, whether thrones, dominions, rulers, or authorities; all things were created and exist through Him [by His service, intervention] and in and for Him.
17 And He Himself existed before all things, and in Him all things consist (cohere, are held together). [Prov 8:22-31.] 18 He also is the Head of [His] body, the church; seeing He is the Beginning, the Firstborn from among the dead, so that He alone in everything and in every respect might occupy the chief place [stand first and be preeminent]. 19 For it has pleased [the Father] that all the divine fullness (the sum total of the divine perfection, powers, and attributes) should dwell in Him permanently. 20 And God purposed that through ( by the service, the intervention of) Him [the Son] all things should be completely reconciled back to Himself, whether on earth or in heaven, as through Him, [the Father] made peace by means of the blood of His cross. 21 And although you at one time were estranged and alienated from Him and were of hostile attitude of mind in your wicked activities, 22 Yet now has [Christ, the Messiah] reconciled [you to God] in the body of His flesh through death, in order to present you holy and faultless and irreproachable in His [the Father's] presence. AMP

UNDERSTANDING THE SETTING

We can see the priority Jesus gave the receiving of the Holy Spirits power which would be necessary if the believers were to continue ‘to do and teach all that Jesus began to do and teach, Acts 1:1-8.’

To gain a good comprehension of the world into which the Gospel (Good News) came after the death and resurrection of Jesus we can read Romans 1:1-32.

We also see that for the Jew who rejected Jesus as the Messiah, Christians or the people of the Way, were seen as turning their world upside down, Acts 17:1-10.

The Gospel was Good news for all who would believe, but for those who made their living from the demonically inspired religions of the day it caused a great disturbance, Acts 19:1-20:1!

You Shall Receive Power Acts 1:1-8 There are two related and key truths in this passage.7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." NIV

Mankind takes a rebellious path from which the Gospel alone has the power to deliver.

The Path of Rebellion
Rom 1:1-32
16 I am not ashamed of the Gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. 17 For in the gospel righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: "The righteous will live by faith." NIV

Power to Turn the Way People Think Upside Down

Acts 17:1-10 6: These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; KJV

The Gospel (the Way of Christ) causes a great disturbance to the world’s way of thinking and doing things!

Power to Cause a Great Disturbance
Acts 19:1-20:1 23 About that time there arose a great disturbance about the Way. NIV

People who have connected with Jesus by recieving and believing in Him as God's only Son and Way to the father are people of the Way. In the New Testament as today these people of the Way or followers of Jesus are also called Christians and have the power to turn the world upside down and they did!

Let's humble ourselves before God and ask Him once again to turn the world upside down!

Artwork by Danny Hahlbohm

http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071

Christian Art

" For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit,... ." Hebrews 4:12

A Great site for Christian art is http://www.majesticartworks.com/

The Fullness of God

Eph 3:14-21
14 For this reason [seeing the greatness of this plan by which you are built together in Christ], I bow my knees before the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,
15 For Whom every family in heaven and on earth is named [that Father from Whom all fatherhood takes its title and derives its name].
16 May He grant you out of the rich treasury of His glory to be strengthened and reinforced with mighty power in the inner man by the [Holy] Spirit [Himself indwelling your innermost being and personality].
17 May Christ through your faith [actually] dwell (settle down, abide, make His permanent home) in your hearts! May you be rooted deep in love and founded securely on love,
18 That you may have the power and be strong to apprehend and grasp with all the saints [God's devoted people, the experience of that love] what is the breadth and length and height and depth [of it];
19[That you may really come] to know [practically, through experience for yourselves] the love of Christ, which far surpasses mere knowledge [without experience]; that you may be filled [through all your being] unto all the fullness of God [may have the richest measure of the divine Presence, and become a body wholly filled and flooded with God Himself]!
20 Now to Him Who, by (in consequence of) the [action of His] power that is at work within us, is able to [carry out His purpose and] do superabundantly, far over and above all that we [dare] ask or think [infinitely beyond our highest prayers, desires, thoughts, hopes, or dreams] —
21 To Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations forever and ever. Amen (so be it). amp Bible

Head of God Art by Michelangelo Buonarroti
http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?CID=6C50AE27DB0C4B4982F11A6CC6661D6F&startat=http%3A//www.allposters.com/gallery

Making Disciples:The Forgotten Secret

Making Disciples:

The Forgotten Secret for accomplishing 'what Jesus began to do and teach.'
Ac 1:1-2: In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. NIV

What were those instructions that Jesus gave through the Holy Spirit?
Mt 28:18-2018: Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." NIV

The Apostle Paul expands on this command and the responsibility of leadership in Ephesians. Eph 4:10-13 11: And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, 12 for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ; 13 until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ. NASU

In these verses we see greater insight into 'the making Disciples and the teaching of all that Jesus commanded', and what it means to continue what Jesus began to do and teach. There are three leadership responsibilities spelled out in these verses that tell us what the church should be doing once people have believed in and recieved Jesus as the Messiah or Christ.

Equipping the saints (people who have believed in and received Jesus as savior);
1. To do the work of the ministry or work of service (serving God by doing what He commands in His Word).
2. To the building up (mending, encouraging, instructing and giving hope according to the Word of God) of the body of Christ(those who have received and believed in Jesus).
3. To help believers in Jesus the Christ to come into maturity as measured by Jesus Himself.

Where do we start?
We must be saints, people made clean or holy by the Messiah.
Many churches have stopped procaliming Jesus as the only way to God as we see in John 14:6, calling themselves Christians without believing in and receiving Jesus as the promised Messiah and only way to God the father.
Jn 14:6-7: 6 Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. 7 If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him." NIV

Without believing in and receiving of Jesus as the Messiah there is no Christianity! Until this happens we can not continue to do all that Jesus began to do and teach, nor can we call ourselves Christians.

Where do we go from here? Check back soon or sign up to get automatic updates on the right above my profile.

Check @ http://equipperstoolbox.blogspot.com for a list of suggested reading.

The Blog Make Over is Complete

Over the last week and one half I have been adapting my Blogs to the New Blogger-beta Software. I thought it was also a great opportunity to remake several elements in my blog. So here is a list of what has been reworked. Please take some time and check out the new features.

1. New fonts available throughout the Blog.
2. Expanded hot-linked Table of Contents.
(Click any part of the Table of Contents and it will take you to that part of the Blog.)
TABLE OF CONTENTS The hot linking may not work from this article but will work on the site.
Equipper Links( Equippers Edge, Tool Box and Resume)
Favored Links (Sites to people who are doing inique things in the Kingdom.)
The Market Place (Christians in the Business world.)
Study Tools (Places where you can research the Bible to see if the things in my articles agree with scripture.)
Voices in the Public Square (Observations and commentary on the world today.)
Find Out For Yourself ( Look at what our government and political parties are saying.)
News and Analysis (Center Right News and Analysis.)
Previous Articles (Things I have posted previously.)
Language Translator ( Allows you to trand late the site into different languages.)
Equippers Network Store (A New way to buy books etc through Amazone .)
Focused reading (Books on a specific area of Christian study.) Click on a book to learn more.
Inspiring Music and Video ( New materials to Inspire and encourage.)
Donate to The Network ( An opportunity for you to help this ministry which is read an many countries continue.)
Art and Daily Devotional ( a changing photo from a Christian Artist and a daily devotional from faith writers.com.)
Christian Bloggers Blogroll ( A variety of other Christian Blogs.)
Google Adds & Search ( Google adds and search engine)
Blogosphere Connections ( Links and Buttons to various Blog Tool and Blog centers)
Christian Blog Connections ( Christian Blog connections)
3. Additional Subheadings and rearraged categories.
Equipper Links
Favored Links
The Market Place
Study Tools
Voices in The Public Square
Find Out for Yourself
News and Analysis
Previous Articles
Click on a Flag to Translate
Equippers Network Store
FOCUSED READING
Inspiring Music & Video
DONATE ONLINE TO SUPPORT THE EQUIPPERS NETWORK.
Art and Devotionals
Faith Writers Daily Devotional
Christian Bloggers Blogroll
GOOGLE Adds and search engine
BLOGOSPHERE
Christian Blog Connections
Only Christian Sites ( a Blog connection to Christian only sites.) In the footer

GOOD JOB BLOGGER! THE TOOLS AND FEATURES MAKE WORKING MY BLOG SIMPLER AND MAKE IT LOOK BETTER!

The Kingdom of Heaven Today

Today people are turning away from many local churches and seeking new gatherings of believers where the presence, power and work of the Kingdom of Heaven is evident from the fresh presence and work of the Holy Spirit among them. People always prefer the new wine, the fresh oil and manna from God because there is life in it that begins life in everything it touches. They are also hungering for the restoration of relationships with God and other believers.

The people of this generation want more than nice people with a form of religion just as those in the New Testament did. 2 Tim 3:4-5 ...Rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! NKJV
In the book of Acts there are repeated reference of the believers being filled with the Holy Spirit. These references are in two basic categories:
1. The baptism of the Holy Spirit or initial experience
2. Fresh fillings of the Spirit as the believers gathered and God worked in and through them by His Spirit. These fresh fillings were the proof that the Spirit and life of God were present and at work.

The "Kingdom of Heaven" or "Kingdom of God" is at the very heart of all Jesus did and said. In fact, you could say that His teaching was the proclamation and His actions or works were the doing or demonstration of the Kingdom of God. Jesus did His signs and wonders by the Spirits Power and the fathers authority. Phil 2:5-11 speak about him humbling himself. His water baptism with the Spirit coming on Him shows us that He did these mighty signs by the Spirit's power. In John 17 He proclaims that He has done all that the father commanded.

When we read the Gospels and the New Testament, we repeatedly see the terms "Kingdom of Heaven" used 32 times in Matthew and "Kingdom of God" used 70 times from Matthew to II Thessalonians. This concept, more than any other, depicts the impact and purpose of Jesus coming. The Jewish people longed for Messiah to come and to restore Israel as an independent state with God ruling over His people.

Throughout the period between the Old and New Testaments leaders rose up who had as their primary purpose to see Israel a free nation again. God, however, had another plan. This plan was revealed in the Old Testament, but its true meaning was hidden from most. In Matthew 5:17, Jesus said that he did not come to abolish the law and the prophets, but to fulfill them. In Acts 28:23-30 Paul teaches about the Kingdom of God and Jesus from the five books of Moses and the prophets. We know that the Old Testament law, sacrifices, and prophecies are but a shadow of what Jesus the Messiah (or the Christ) came to do and teach.

This Kingdom of Heaven that Jesus came to proclaim was not what many expected, an earthly Kingdom; it was instead the completion or fulfillment of what they expected, and because of this, it was even greater than their expectations. Let’s look at few key verses in order to understand more about this Kingdom of God.
1. In Mk 1:15 we see Jesus telling us the time is fulfilled (there is no more waiting needed); the kingdom of God is near; turn from your sins and believe the good news (Gospel).
2. In I Cor. 15:50 Paul tells those to whom he is writing that flesh and blood cannot inherit this kingdom because the flesh does not last forever.
3. In Acts 28:23-30 it says that if the people hear and obey the good news, they would be cured or mended by God. He would cause them to be well again. This would be healing for the whole person; this would include the body, the soul, and the spirit. "The Gospel is more than asbestos underwear for the soul." It is about the restoration and freedom of people under the rule or reign of God as their savior and king or lord. The Kingdom of God as made evident in the New Testament is a Kingdom of people being moved by Holy Spirit of God. If we are to have truly New Testament Church that can once again turn the world upside down and reach this generation with Gospel message of life, it must be one in the power of the Spirit.

Let me repeat what I said earlier. The people of this generation want more than nice people with a form of religion just as those in the New Testament did. 2 Tim 3:4-5 ...Rather than lovers of God, 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. And from such people turn away! NKJV They hunger for the life giving Spirit of the one true God to be present and at work in and around their lives, just like God planned when He created them! They desire relationship with God that is alive and vibrant not stale.

Will you join me in asking God to give us Spirit filled Churches and leaders who will never be the same because of their own encounters with God so that this generation can taste and see that Lord is good and they can discover Him in all His splendor, majesty and be in awe that He chooses to work through and with those who submit to Him today?

Read this article by George Barna about new forms of Believers gatherings.
http://www.barna.org/FlexPage.aspx?Page=BarnaUpdateNarrow&BarnaUpdateID=202

Artwork: Keys to the Kingdom by William Hallmark
http://www.majesticartworks.com/ID17keystokingdom.htm

Great Material for You

Are you missing the great material at the Equippers Network other sites?

Leadership: The Power of a Creative Life by Rick Joyner.
A good look at this new book is given at Equippers Tool Box @

http://equipperstoolbox.blogspot.com




Rising to The Call by Os Guinness
What does it mean to be called of God? How does it happen? Does every believer have a calling? Can You discover your calling?How can you Fulfill God's calling?

More valuable insight can be found at the Equippers Edge

http://equippersedge.blogspot.com

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God P3

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God by His Spirit Today
Part Three

Let’s look at another Biblical example of God’s supernatural interaction with people.

Isaiah in the Temple
(Fresh fire, Fresh revelation, Fresh humility and holiness, Fresh call, Fresh Vision and Calling)

Isa 6:1-8
6:1 IN THE year that King Uzziah died, [in a vision] I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the skirts of His train filled the [most holy part of the] temple. [John 12:41.]
2 Above Him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two [each] covered his [own] face, and with two [each] covered his feet, and with two [each] flew.
3 And one cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!
4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
5 Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone and ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!
6 Then flew one of the seraphim [heavenly beings] to me, having a live coal in his hand which he had taken with tongs from off the altar;
7 And with it he touched my mouth and said, Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity and guilt are taken away, and your sin is completely atoned for and forgiven.
8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. AMP

Other Places where the Glory of God is revealed in some way.

Ex 33:21-34:1;
Job 38-41;
Rev 1-4.

Isaiah’s Encounter
Please note the following points.

The Circumstances

The Setting

The Reaction of man

The Response of God

The Call or Opportunity of God

The Opportunity and Response of man

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God P2

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God
Part 2

The Pillar of Fire
God's Provision, Protection and Leading
(preparation and readiness) ready to wait and ready to go.
Ex 13:19-22; Neh 9:11-12; Neh 9:19-21; Ex 16:10

When we look into this example of God's Supernatural intervention into the events of human history we are tempted to only see these obvious or stated truths.
1. The people were to make themselves clean before they left Egypt.
2. They had to be ready to go at all times.
3. The people were protected and comforted by the power of God made real by the Pillar’s majesty and by the visible demonstration of God presence of with them.
4. The people were organized by tribes but it was the priest-levities who watched for any changes in the status of the pillar and blew the Shofar to announce that God was on the move or that He was stopping.

There are facts that might escape us.
1. Moving approximately 3.5 million people took time and patience. Once the first tribe arrived at the new destination it would be a while before the last of the last tribe arrived. This is true of any new work that God does among His people. There are those who are aware and move quickly and those who get there at a latter time.
The Leaders of God's people must lead as good shepherds, realizing that God may be leading but that we as leaders must allow the people to go through the same processes that have given us awareness that God is on the move. We must also be aware that people no matter how dedicated and committed move at different speeds in following the Lord. There are also some who will refuse to move at all and while we may be concerned for them and make every effort to encourage them to participate in what God is doing we cannot disobey God and refuse to follow Him if they will not.

2. Waiting at the appointed place may take more effort and strength than moving ahead to the next big or little thing God is doing for many people. It is the responsibility of leadership to minister to and train God's people when they have reached that next stopping place or plateau and help them to grow in God and be ready to go or stay as called on by God.

3. Miracles, Signs and Wonders are given as God directs and not as we might desire in the flesh. They are also not to be denied as a part of God's provision and direction either. Since he is a supernatural being we should expect Him to be and act supernaturally.

4. There is a purpose to the Supernatural manifestations of God and while they are not for entertainment or fleshly fulfillment of His people we must seek God who is supernatural and expect Him to work supernaturally. If we fail to seek the whole counsel of God for His people we will never attain the full level of maturity He desires. Eph 4:12-14.

5. Teaching that He is and works supernaturally must be ongoing. We must not shrink back from teaching the wondrous and glorious ways in which God has and does work when we are waiting for a long season for the pillar of Glory to move again, or for a fresh outpouring to be given. As we shall see in the book of Acts, there were many fresh outpourings or moves of God's Spirit among His people then and throughout Church History. We may not hear about them because their impact may have been limited geographically. We also may not have heard about them because those who wrote the history may have not understood or have been threatened by them.
There are many times when God has poured out His Spirit on people only to have that outpouring of fresh fire hindered by the church, the ineffectiveness or corruption of the people involved or the lack of favor a particular movement had during a certain historic period. History after all is written by the victors.

6. There is a danger in wanting to camp out or constantly be in the glory or experiencing a fresh outpouring of God's presence. There is work to be done. These times of God's manifest presence are meant to change and motivate us as we shall see when we examine Isaiah 6:1 and the verses that follow and the mount of transfigured experience recorded in (Matt 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36)

Questions we need to answer.
1. Are you seeking the majesty and wonder of God?
2. Is your walk with God blessed with fresh manna or stale bread?
3. Have you tried to store up manna or hoard it so that you do not have to seek it daily only to find it rotten?
4. Do you proclaim or say you believe in a supernatural God without having a fresh and supernatural relationship with Him?
5. Are you seeking the signs and wonders or the giver of the wonder?
6. Has the pillar been stationary at you church or in your life for a while?
7. When the Pillar is in one location for a longer period of time are you getting mended (made whole) and helping others to get mended as well? Are you growing in your relationship and knowledge of Him so that when the pillar moves, His work among you will be accomplished?
8. Are you seeking the fresh and living water that flows from His presence?

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God Today P1

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God Today
Part One

What do we need to understand to have Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God by His Spirit today?'

When we examine the history of revival movements and the outpourings of the Holy Spirit in Church History we see that God has poured out His Spirit and moved among His people continually in every generation since He began to pour out His Spirit on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts. We can also see in scripture that God has supernaturally interacted with His people throughout history and that we have many examples in the scriptures both in the Old and New Testaments. The interactions of God with His people throughout scripture serve as both examples and wisdom for us as we seek to be apart of what God is doing in the earth today.

Recommended Research:
History of Charismatic Movements and History of Revival Movements:
How has God interacted with His people in history since the New Testament times and what were the results?
1. 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity by Eddie L Hyatt Strang Communications Company
2. Dynamics of Spiritual Life, An Evangelical Theology of Revival by Richard Lovelace, published by IVP
3. Revival by Winkie Pratney published by Whitaker House
4. Rivers of Revival by Neil T. Anderson and Elmer L. Towns published by Regal

Personal Experience:
I have had the privilege of experiencing the supernatural work of God among His people several times in my 36 years as a believer and know that every new supernatural outpouring of God's Spirit carries with it great blessings and challenges for those who are blessed to be a part of it.
Some of these moves of God had local, while others had national and international impact.
This study is designed to provide Biblical truths that will allow us to chart a course during these times when the river of life runs both deep and often fast. A course that will take us into greater growth and helps us to allow the deeper encounters with God to produce good fruit for His kingdom among the people we live around and minister His life to.

Church History:
There are has many examples of those who allowed the fresh outpouring of God's Spirit to grow His kingdom and them and those who were shipwrecked when an outpouring of His Spirit was mishandled and produced error and destruction. Since history tends to be written by the victors, those who were shipwrecked were often seen as heretics and the work God began in them is seen as error.

Biblical Examples of God’s supernatural interaction with people.

Pillar of Fire (preparation and readiness) ready to wait and ready to go. Ex 13:19-22; Neh 9:11-12; Neh 9:19-21; Ex 16:10
Isaiah in the Temple (Fresh fire, fresh revelation, fresh humility and holiness, Fresh call)
Note Isaiah’s state of mind. Isa 6:1-9
The Mount of transfiguration (Let’s build three tents and camp out here) Does the experience lead to deeper call and greater commitment as well as new power for ministry? Matt 17:1-9
The Baptism, Fillings and Outpourings of the Spirit; Starting in the Upper Room (pickling something or dyeing a garment takes more than a single dip)

The baptism in the Holy Spirit brings us to a new level. Fresh (fillings) make us more continually useful as vessels of His Spirit and Glory. Luke notes that people were “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4; 9:17), that “they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:17), that “the Holy Spirit fell upon (them)” (Acts 10:44), that “the Holy Spirit had been poured out on (them)” (Acts 10:45), and that “the Holy Spirit came upon them” (Acts 19:6). These quotes are from the Spirit Filled life Bible.

Finally, (every supernatural encounter of God with people has certain elements). Do you know what those elements are? I have listed some below. What else do you see in the book of Acts? Is there a formula and pattern to follow or are they not always in a set sequence?
Is there Pattern to Follow or Common Elements to note?

Preparation for Gods Spirit to Work or the results of His working can include: Cleansing, Repentance, Holiness, Revelation of Man’s imperfect state in light of God’s majestic nature and holiness, a Willingness to die to self and serve God, or making ourselves available for His call.
Please read the scriptural accounts listed and ask your self these questions during the coming week. What lessons or truths can you discern or observe from each passage?

How do these truths apply to outpourings of God that you have heard about or been a part of?

ARTWORK: Power of Prayer Art Print by Danny Hahlbohm
http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God Today

Wisdom for a Fresh Move of God by His Spirit Today
Prelude

What is it that happens during an encounter with the Most High God that causes such an impact in our lives? This is but one of the questions I was asking after attending three days of meetings held at Bridgeway Church. These meetings were led by Leslie Ann ___. During these meetings there was a significant work of God accomplished and a very intense anointing present throughout the meetings.

When I began to reflect on these meetings and the magnificent and powerful presence of God which worked in and among the people attending, I began to look in scripture and back both at church history and my own experiences. Lots of questions arise after such encounters with God. How can I experience more of the majestic and wonderful presence of God? Why don’t we experience more of these outpourings? What is of God and what is of man during these encounters? When God does work so powerfully what are or should be the results?

In the Bible the last four chapters of Job and the first four chapters of Revelation came to mind, as well as, Genesis chapter one and John chapter one. In these scriptures we see the majesty, splendor and wonder of God revealed to people.

When we look at Church history both in and out of scripture it is this breaking forth of God’s majesty and power that has continued to capture the minds and hearts of people and kept each new generation crying out to Him and standing in awe of Him!

We also see in scripture that both individual and collective moves of God start with a realization of the greatness of God and a humility that comes from that realization. This awareness of God's majesty and holiness is an opportunity to choose His ways instead of our own. The choice to submit to Him leads us to consecrate ourselves so that He has a clean vessel to live in and work through. Below are three keys to personal and collective preparation for a fresh work of God.

Keys to Experiencing a Fresh Move of God Every Day

1. Remember: We have been transferred out of the Kingdom of darkness
Col 1:13-14
A. When is the last time you remembered the joy of your salvation?
B. What are you doing with and about it?

2. Choose you this day whom you will serve
Josh 24:13-16
A. Death to self and our ways, plans, goals etc.
B. Lay down His gifts, calling and assignment and submit to the masters direction each day.
They are His gifts, calling and assignment. We must allow Him to manifest, direct and assign afresh each day.

3. Consecrate yourselves
Josh 3:1-6
A. Every day and in every situation.
B. A clean soul and spirit is His greatest goal, because it provides good soil for Him to work in.

Each day is 'the day that the Lord has made.' If we are to rejoice in each day that He has made (In Him and what He is doing) we must submit all to him anew.
___________________________________
Parting the Waters, Art by Chiu @http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071
The study that follows is the result of this contemplation and research.

For addition articles you may go to my web sites.
http://equippersnetwork.blogspot.com/ Equippers Network
http://equippersedge.blogspot.com/ Equippers Edge
http://equipperstoolbox.blogspot.com/ Equippers Tool Box

For more about me and my ministry and background go to http://equippersresume.blogspot.com/ Equippers Resume

The Fire of God's Presence (Revisited)

The natural inclination of people when we believe we have heard from God about a Vision or plan for ministry is to run out and find the best possible way to build it. There are lots of great sermons and books on developing your dream or vision for ministry.
It has been said,"God has Called, You have Answered, You Have been Preparing, Now Begin to Build it."

This sound like the beginning for a good teaching, but there is a missing element without which this will be us attempting to fulfill the Supernatural Vision God has given us with the plans and ideas of people. It might even be a good plan, but without the "Fire of God's Presence", it is a plan that will not produce the fruit God has desired!

Throughout the Bible Fire is seen as bringing Purity, representing the Glory of God, or the results of God's Presence. Today we are often so busy 'doing the work of the ministry', that we fail to spend time in God's presence where the Fire of His presence can accomplish its work in making us like Him.

What do I mean by this? The following points will help us in our understanding.
1. When Moses came down from the mountain after spending 40 days in God's presence or Glory his face was aglow 'literally' with the Glow or Glory of God's presence.
2. In the New Testament, the word that is added when speaking about the baptism in the Holy Spirit, has within it the the imagery of the dying of a garment or the pickling of a cucumber.
3. There are certain text that speak clearly to the baptism in the Holy Spirit and Fire, but there are additional text which speak about additional or fresh fillings with the Holy Spirit.
More Holy Spirit More Fire.
From these verses we can say that the more you are filled with His Spirit the More like Him you will become. The more we are in His presence the more we not only become like Him but the more we know His heart and His Mind and ways. This knowing the Heart of the father, the Mind of Christ and The Power of the Spirit. Comes as we learn of Him and obey what we see and know Him to do and be.
His Word plays a key role in this but we must be wise in using His Word as it can be a weapon of both life and death.
Prayer plays a important role as well. When we communicate both in communication with him and meditation of His Word and His Ways as evidenced there we build a relationship from which we can know His heart.
Worship, praise and adoration in word, in song and with instruments lift Him up and help us come into proper alignment with Him. We could on on to speak of all of the Spiritual disciplines, but the point is we must have a relationship of our who being, Spirit, Soul (mind, will + emotion) and Body with Him. This relation must be on His terms as declared in His Word (the Bible).

Our relationship with Him must be one in which we begin to realize these two truth:
1. We are in the world but not of it.
2. In Him we live and move and have our being.

It seems that we want a relationship with God that is based on our preferences, but a review of the interactions of God with people in the Bible are varied in many ways.

What is never varied is that He is a Supernatural being interacting with His creation.
So, let us seek Him, 'the author and finisher of our faith.'
So, let us make Him and not our labor for Him our number priority.
So, let us spend time in His presence as outlined above.
So, let it be known far and wide that we continue this relationship through out the day and not just in a devotional time or place.

In closing we can have an exciting relationship with Him every day all day without being so 'Heavenly Minded that we are no Earthly Good." The more we are in His presence the easier it is to hear His voice, know His ways and see His power displayed in the lives of people.

Then His plans and Visions for ministry that He gives us will have the Owners authority and Imprint!

Artwork at: Given for You by Graham Braddock
http://www.christian-artprints.com/Christian%20art%20-%20Given%20for%20you%20-%20Braddock.htm

Encourage, Be Silent or Complain?

When we examine the letter to the Ephesian Christians we notice Paul's continued attention to the nature and results of the power of God in the life of the believer compared to the life of those who are under the control or influence of the powers of darkness.

Throughout Ephesians we also notice all the references to our relationship with God. We see these in the in Him, In Christ, with Him, by Him statements. We also see that Paul lays out the purpose of the gifts (Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor-Teacher) Jesus has given to these to the Church for three specific purposes. Can you find them in the passage that follows?

Eph 4:11-1311 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ. NIV Let me point out the answers.

1. To prepare God's people for works of service or the work of the ministry.
2. Building up the body of Christ.
3. So that we all become mature, attaining the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.

When we read the letter to the Ephesian believers we are Encouraged in Christ, in what God has done for us in, by, with and through Him. After having read through Ephesians several times I saw that Paul was not only teaching but Encouraging these believers.

In our daily life there are many times a when Encouragement would be welcome in our day. We also should seek to Encourage others. Maybe it is through a smile, an Encouraging card or note or word. Perhaps a kind act or gift. These are many ways we can Encourage others. Perhaps, my favorite form of Encouragement is to have people praying for me and for them to communicate that to me. It is easy to be critical of others, to see there faults and forget that we all have our share of faults. Sometimes we see others who may be in need of Encouragement and we simply do nothing and we are silent.

WWJD was a popular phrase a few years ago and I see Jesus Encouraging people to fulfill God's plan, purpose and missiion in their lives. When the shepard spent individual time with his sheep they were encouraged, felt cared for and loved. Jesus desires to do that for us daily.

There are also times when we like King David in the midst of life's events must encourage ourselves in the Lord.
1 Sa 30:6
6 And David was greatly distressed; for the people spake of stoning him, because the soul of all the people was grieved, every man for his sons and for his daughters: but David encouraged himself in the Lord his God. KJV

We can accomplish this through remembering the awesome things God has done for us in the past, by reminding our selves of who we are and what we have in, with, by and through Christ. We can also do this by worshiping, praising and singing unto the Lord as well as through fellowship with other believers. Reading God's Word and meditation on His promises are also Encouraging as well. Perhaps my favorite form of Encouragement is to have people praying for me and for them to communicate that to me.

Today, I would like to Encourage you to make a list of people you might Encourage and pray about how you will accomplish this. Then ask God for a mindset of Encouragement as you go about your week.

You may brighten alot of peoples lives as you let the His light and Encouragement shine through you!

The Artwork is from the ministry of James Goll website, The Encounters Network .http://www.ministrytothenations.org/

The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress and my Deliverer

A timely Word is and encouragement to the soul.

2 Samuel 22

22:1 DAVID SPOKE to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.
2 He said: The Lord is my Rock [of escape from Saul] and my Fortress [in the wilderness] and my Deliverer; [1 Sa 23:14,25,28.]
3 My God, my Rock, in Him will I take refuge; my Shield and the Horn of my salvation; my Stronghold and my Refuge, my Savior — You save me from violence. [Ge 15:1.]
4 I call on the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
5 For the waves of death enveloped me; the torrents of destruction made me afraid.
6 The cords of Sheol were entangling me; I encountered the snares of death.
7 In my distress I called upon the Lord; I cried to my God, and He heard my voice from His temple; my cry came into His ears.
8 Then the earth reeled and quaked, the foundations of the heavens trembled and shook because He was angry.
9 Smoke went up from His nostrils, and devouring fire from His mouth; coals were kindled by it. 10 He bowed the heavens and came down; thick darkness was under His feet.
11 He rode on a cherub and flew; He was seen upon the wings of the wind.
12 He made darkness His canopy around Him, gathering of waters, thick clouds of the skies.
13 Out of the brightness before Him coals of fire flamed forth.
14 The Lord thundered from heaven, and the Most High uttered His voice.
15 He sent out arrows and scattered them; lightning confused and troubled them.
16 The channels of the sea were visible, the foundations of the world were uncovered at the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.
17 He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of great waters.
18 He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too mighty for me.
19 They came upon me in the day of my calamity, but the Lord was my stay.
20 He brought me forth into a large place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.
21 The Lord rewarded me according to my uprightness with Him; He compensated and benefited me according to the cleanness of my hands.
22 For I have kept the ways of the Lord, and have not wickedly departed from my God.
23 For all His ordinances were before me; and from His statutes I did not turn aside.
24 I was also blameless before Him and kept myself from guilt and iniquity.
25 Therefore the Lord has recompensed me according to my righteousness, according to my cleanness in His [holy] sight.
26 Toward the loving and loyal You will show Yourself loving and loyal, and with the upright and blameless You will show Yourself upright and blameless.
27 To the pure You will show Yourself pure, and to the willful You will show Yourself willful.
28 And the afflicted people You will deliver, but Your eyes are upon the haughty, whom You will bring down.
29 For You, O Lord, are my Lamp; the Lord lightens my darkness.
30 For by You I run through a troop; by my God I leap over a wall.
31 As for God, His way is perfect; the word of the Lord is tried. He is a Shield to all those who trust and take refuge in Him.
32 For who is God but the Lord? And who is a Rock except our God?
33 God is my strong Fortress; He guides the blameless in His way and sets him free.
34 He makes my feet like the hinds' [firm and able]; He sets me secure and confident upon the heights.
35 He trains my hands for war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
36 You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; and Your condescension and gentleness have made me great.
37 You have enlarged my steps under me, so that my feet have not slipped.
38 I have pursued my enemies and destroyed them; and I did not turn back until they were consumed.
39 I consumed them and thrust them through, so that they did not arise; they fell at my feet.
40 For You girded me with strength for the battle; those who rose up against me You subdued under me.
41 You have made my enemies turn their backs to me, that I might cut off those who hate me.
42 They looked, but there was none to save — even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
43 Then I beat them small as the dust of the earth; I crushed them as the mire of the street and scattered them abroad.
44 You also have delivered me from strife with my people; You kept me as the head of the nations. People whom I had not known served me.
45 Foreigners yielded feigned obedience to me; as soon as they heard of me, they became obedient to me.
46 Foreigners faded away; they came limping and trembling from their strongholds.
47 The Lord lives; blessed be my Rock, and exalted be God, the Rock of my salvation.
48 It is God Who executes vengeance for me and Who brought down [and disciplined] the peoples under me,
49 Who brought me out from my enemies. You also lifted me up above those who rose up against me; You delivered me from the violent man.
50 For this I will give thanks and extol You, O Lord, among the nations; I will sing praises to Your name.
51 He is a Tower of salvation and great deliverance to His king, and shows loving-kindness to His anointed, to David and his offspring forever.
AMP

Artwork 'Guide My Spirit' by William Hallmark http://www.majesticartworks.com/

PIERCING THE VEIL by Morris Ruddick

Each Month I try to feature another ministry and to share what God is speaking through them in an effort to build up others in the Kingdom of God. I am excited to bring a sample version of this article to you. Please click on the links provided to read the entire article and to see what this ministry is doing.
The material below is from The founder of Strategic Intercession Network, Morris Ruddick. I deeply appreciate Morris and the labor he invest in making real the vision God has placed in His heart.
1. Is the Global Initiatives Foundation
www.strategic-initiatives.org
2. Strategic Intercession Global Network http://www.strategicintercession.org/posts/PiercingtheVeil.htm where you will find the complete text of this article.
I would like to highlight a few key items from the article, starting with the introduction.

Introduction
But the Samaritans did not receive Him, as His face was set toward Jerusalem. So, James and John asked, ‘Lord, do you not want us to command fire from heaven to consume them?' But Jesus rebuked them and said, ‘you do not know of what sort of spirit you are, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men's lives, but to save them.'” Luke 9: 53-55

With all the talk about “the shift,” we need to face some realities to navigate the transition.

The nature and significance of this shift will involve penetrating a dimension, best described as a veil. There is a veil between soul and spirit; one between light and darkness, as well as a veil between the natural and supernatural.

The shift underway reflects a new-old thing that will merge the spiritual, community and economic dimensions outlined in God's Word. It is a move of God that will penetrate the fabric of society much as in the days of Joseph. It's the birthing of a new-old paradigm that will involve a transition with a cost, a release, and a veil piercing.

The dictionary describes “veil” as a covering that conceals or disguises . A spiritual veil represents a dimension or barrier that cannot be penetrated with human effort. This spiritual barrier may be due to a blindness, a hindrance, a threshold to be surmounted, or simply a timing factor that requires the recognition of an alignment needed to release or receive the expectation of change from the Lord.

DISCERNING THE VEIL
When facing a spiritual threshold, discerning the veil is the first step in the process of it being pierced. Veils can be of God's design or implanted by the enemy.

Alignment and Maturity
God's veils characteristically allow for spiritual alignment and the prevention of premature actions. They enable the full impact for the God-initiated release or shift. After interpreting the dream for the cupbearer, Joseph confronted a veil that involved an extended transition that remained in place until the set-time for his promotion.

Embedded Evil
Yet, in an increasing number of modern-day cases, a veil can represent a part of the smokescreens the evil one implants to divert us from advances in God's Kingdom. Embedded evil has become one of the most diabolical strategies coming against ministries facing major transitions.

Discerning the Evil
Pastor David Davis in his book “ Road to Carmel ,” (http://www.carmel-assembly.org.il/music.html) tells of a time when volunteers he describes as modern-day Jezebels and Ahabs, began infiltrating his ministry.

Agreement with Lies and Myths
Another undermining application of enemy-employed veils is a perversion of the principle of prayer agreement. An embarrassingly large proportion of the enemy's power today is the result of a usurping of the anointing from misguided believers. The deception involves being blinded by soul issues and participating in active “agreement” (according to Matthew 18:19) in both word and prayer with reckless judgments against members or groups from within the household of faith.

FACING SPIRITUAL REALITY
Facing spiritual reality involves recognizing and confronting the lies. It will entail discerning the difference between the enmeshed precepts of misguided religious and overt occult conventions; with the need to genuinely hear the voice of the Lord . Intellectual religion that shuns the Spirit and power of God is vulnerable to the seducing tactics of the enemy's propositions. Wherever a significant move of God is underway, there will be counterfeits and diversions.

Quieting the Soul
Facing spiritual reality means getting beyond our soul issues, as well as our sacred spiritual crutches and precepts to allow the pure input of the Holy Spirit. Only then will we be released to operate with the unwavering faith needed to embrace and execute the will of God.

Walking into the Fire
Facing spiritual realities may require us to walk into the fire. The peace or “shalom” outlined in the Bible is not the absence of conflict. It is the result of that alignment or completeness that comes from doing God's will.

Combined Anointings
The days upon us are evil. Few ministries confronting the realities of this hour are able to pave a lone pathway. We need new strategies and we desperately need one another. The turbulence and intensity of the battle is calling for a release of the power of God that results from the Body functioning in unity.

EMERGING BEYOND HUMAN EFFORT
Today's challenges and conflicts are requiring decisions, plans and strategies that go beyond the human effort of even the most talented from our ranks. The societal transformation set in motion by Jesus' followers was led by everyday people simply willing to believe and obey ; whose actions and strategies were based not on the precepts and traditions of men, but on the basic truths of His Word and on hearing the voice of the Lord.

Dominion
Jesus' mission was to destroy the works of the devil and to restore man to the purpose for which God created him. His earthly ministry gave focus to the truths to accomplish this purpose.

Kingdom Truths
The Son of God summed up the wisdom of the Scriptures in the Sermon on the Mount and with a series of Kingdom truths. These truths are paradoxes to the natural mind; yet their application represents gateways into results surpassing the limitations of human effort.

Identity Issue
The church's job is to perfect the saints for the work of ministry; to equip and mobilize the saints as they grasp and move into the fullness of their calling. That involves settling the identity issue: of who we are in Him and what we are here to do.

PIERCING THE VEIL
Not withstanding the God-ordained veils that need to ripen into maturity; piercing demon-set veils begins with hearing the voice of the Lord and facing the spiritual realities in the power and presence of God.

Progressive Revelation
From the days of Adam, Noah, Abraham, David and the prophets; to the days of Jesus and the early Church, the key differentiating factor between the religions of the world and the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, the God of our Lord Jesus has been that God speaks and interacts with His people.
“Hearing the voice of the Lord” involves learning to recognize and correctly discerning God's guidance as it is unveiled through His Word, through wisdom and through revelation.

Consecration and Spiritual Saturation
Consecration releases authority and the supernatural. Genuine consecration combines prayer, humility and judging yourself before the Lord. Jesus said, judge yourselves that you be not judged . It is an examination of the human effort, so that we might yield ourselves more fully to the divine effort. Consecration is a conscious process of spiritually purifying ourselves for the purpose of operating to a greater degree in oneness with the Lord.

The shift underway will gain momentum as we prepare ourselves, as a Body. As we learn to accurately discern the veil and boldly face spiritual realties in faith, we will sharpen our alignment with the Spirit of the Lord, so that we emerge beyond our good intentions and zealous human effort with the power of God to traverse the transitions and pierce the veils.

“ You've not passed this way before, so consecrate yourselves, for the Lord is going to do wonders among you .” Joshua 3:4, 5

“Morris Ruddick is the author of “The Joseph-Daniel Calling” and “God's Economy, Israel and the Nations,” each of which address God's mobilization of the economic and community dimensions of His Word. They are available from Amazon.com, BarnesandNoble.com and other popular outlets. 2006 Copyright Morris Ruddick — mer@strategic-initiatives.org

Reproduction is prohibited unless permission is given by a SIGN advisor. Since 1996, the Strategic Intercession Global Network (SIGN) has mobilized prophetic intercessors committed to targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis. For more information on SIGN, check: http://www.strategicintercession.org/

He is the Way at Turning Points

We often encounter turning points in life. When we come to these turning points we are tempted to waver or we have our faith and hope challenged.

In the Old Testament when the people of God encountered overwhelming enemies or situations where their faith and hope were challenged there is a consistent pattern of victory in these times and a pattern that leads to defeat. The pattern for victory includes calling out to God while humbling oneself and even calling the nation to times of fasting and humbling themselves before God. Those who did so out of an honest and contrite or repentant heart received the victory.

They were given God’s solution or plan. Within this victory or plan there are two key elements; God timing and God’s strategy. When we come to such turning points or crises in our lives these principles work for us today. We must humble ourselves and call out to God. When we do, we can expect him to bring us the answer we need by His strategy and in His time. Queen Ester’s story is one example of following this pattern to victory. King Saul on the other hand did not follow this pattern, but took things into his own hands and lost not only the battle but his kingdom.

Today, if you are at a turning point, humble yourself (fasting is one of many ways to do that), call out to God and He will hear your voice and give you the victory with His strategy and His timing!

ARTWORK: http://www.majesticartworks.com/

Market Place Resources

Resources for life in the Agora or market place of life.

Walking out a life in the world while being a part of the kingdom of God requires that we exercise dominion while being true examples of Jesus Life, Power and Message. For this to take place we must have fresh resources as well as live a consistent life of faithfulness to Him and humility before people. Below are resources that can help you do just that!

Spiritual Formation
There are three great resources I want to share with you. The first site and ministry focuses on the "Spiritual Formation" of the believer. http://www.renovare.org/

Market Place Leaders
The second two sites and ministries focus on equipping the believer who works in the market place of the world. http://www.faithandworkresources.com/

Faith and Work Resources
This site helps believers 'Get Equipped to Transform their Workplace' For more information go to the Equippers Edge http://equippersedge.blogspot.com/ or to The equippers Tool Box at http://equipperstoolbox.blogspot.com/ and the ministry links above. I believe these resources can help us to walk in confidence, courage, power and humility.

Wait Upon the Lord

Eagle art - "In His Glory" By William Hallmark.

What an image! The majestic Bald Eagle soaring downward with the mountains and great pointed pines in the background. This artwork not only represents our national symbol but also talks of the freedom and strength we have in the Lord.

Scripture: " But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

Wait! He does all things in the fulness of time! His ways are not your ways!

http://www.majesticartworks.com/ID7glory.htm

Having Done All, Stand

Having done all, Stand Firm! Eph 6:12-13 13: Therefore, take up the full armor of God that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. NASB

I have always been captivated by the telling of the accounts of God’s faithfulness and provision for His people. The delivery from certain death, the provision of food when there was none left, the healing of a person when the doctors said all hope was gone. I wondered what it must have been like to see the supernatural hand of God at work for the people in these events that were retold to bring faith and encouragement to those who heard them.

Some obvious elements of these events escaped me when hearing these recollections of God’s goodness. The obvious would be the urgency and crises which brought about the need for a miracle.

Some of you have been discovering first hand the urgency that comes when a crisis is upon you and there is no one to hope in but God alone. I say this, because this is how you discover the valley that seems to come before the mountain top and to say that because you have experienced this you can more fully understand the place in which others are or have been when they have called out for prayer and encouragement and God alone seems to hear the cry.

It seems strange that we all seem to easily forget the truth learned when we are a part of a great answer to prayer, or a miracle and then move on in life only to need to be reminded that He alone is worthy and that He alone is the author and finisher of our faith. He is not a respecter of persons and He is faithful to all His children.

I want to remind you today to look unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith! Ps 121:1-2I lift up my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from? 2 My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

In Him we live and move and have our being!

Stand Firm in Him!

The Kingdom of God Confronts the Kingdom of Darkness

Ephesians, The Church Confronts the Powers of Darkness

Believers today are hungering for a vibrant faith that has the passion, joy, authority and power they see in scripture. Ephesians is rich with teachings that lay out this overcoming life, which every believer is entitled to.

There is a great deal more to Ephesians than the Armor of God. This series will be a combination of an examination of the letter to the Ephesian believers and a study of the Spiritual Warfare elements which are part of the context and fabric of life of these believers.

Several translations of the Bible will be used as well as multiple Bible software tools and books. A variety of web sites, written articles and other sources will also be referred to.

Why not get started today by quickly reading the letter to the believers in Ephesus in your favorite translation.

Artwork above : Michael Overwhelming the Demon, by Raphael

Although academic in nature the following book is excellent.

Ephesians Power and Magic by Clinton Arnold"Power and Magic is one of those few books which literally cannot be ignored by any serious bible student. In fact, it makes the classical commentaries on Ephesians that I am familiar with virtually obsolete.
Clinton Arnold has done us all a great favor by throwing vital new light on our understanding of what really motivated the Apostle Paul to write one of his most important epistles." Peter Wagner, Fuller Theological Seminary

For more info please go to http://equipperstoolbox.blogspot.com/

Hayford's Bible Handbook,by Jack Hayford is a more comprehensive Bible Study tool and another great resource for this study.

This first-of-its-kind Bible handbook offers charismatic and Pentecostal Christians a major reference tool that provides easy access to a wealth of biblical and practical information. With an informative Survey (with Kingdom Life Insights(tm)) for each book of the Bible, the unique Spirit-Filled Life(tm) Encyclopedic Dictionary, the Visual Survey of the Bible, and Kingdom Keys for applying the principles of the Spirit-filled life, Hayford's Bible Handbook will enrich Bible study and help readers discover practical insight into living their faith.
http://www.nelsonministryservices.com/nms/product_detail.asp?sku=1418502154

Global Initiatives Foundation

This Weeks's Featured Ministry is
The Global Initiatives Foundation.

I am excited to spotlight this awesome ministry:

Global Initiatives Foundation is a pioneering organization - paving new ground for God's Kingdom agendas - catalysts for change in a time of growing discontinuities.

Global Initiatives Foundation was established by Morris and Carol Ruddick to serve, encourage, build up and develop strategy for believers globally at the forefront of God's marketplace agendas and faith-based initiatives programs, as well as serving as ambassadors of God's light and truth in arenas where God's light is dim.We invite you to explore our site to discover more about our ministry.

GOD'S ECONOMY, ISRAEL AND THE NATIONSBY MORRIS E. RUDDICK

God's economy operates against all odds - not an option in lands of persecution and distress or in today's post-9/11 environment. The biblical roots linking business and ministry are releasing Kingdom-building initiatives.

Book Summary
Genesis 26 describes the dynamic of God's economy. It says: "there was famine in the land and the Lord appeared to Isaac and said, 'Dwell in this land and I will be with you and will bless you and I will perform the oath which I swore to Abraham your father.'" God's economy operates against all odds, which is not an option for those living in lands of persecution and distress and it is emerging as a chief strategy for operating a business or ministry in this post-9/11 environment.God's economy is based on God's Kingdom rule and embraces not only the realities of God's spiritual riches, but the community (social) and economic riches outlined throughout the Word of God. It is the reemergence of the ancient biblical principles of entrepreneurship, business and Kingdom wealth.

THE JOSEPH-DANIEL CALLINGBY MORRIS E. RUDDICK

Modern-day Josephs and Daniels will serve strategically as instruments of God's purpose in secular positions of influence within seats of power of this world. This book addresses the dynamics of this calling, God's economy, and the preparation, character, and challenges of these uniquely called Josephs and Daniels.

Book Summary
In the face of political instabilities, economic reversals, fear, and uncertainty, Kingdom opportunities not obvious to the world are quietly on the rise. These Kingdom agendas reflect an interlinking of secular enterprises with overriding ministry objectives.What is emerging is a move of God in the marketplace that will parallel the rise of the parachurch ministry movement of the early fifties. At the forefront of this movement is a group of men and women of God called in the same way as Joseph and Daniel of the Bible. Modern-day Josephs and Daniels will serve strategically as instruments of God’s purpose in secular positions of influence within seats of power of this world. This book addresses the dynamics of this calling, God’s economy, and the preparation, character, and challenges of these uniquely called Josephs and Daniels. Among other agendas, they will be facilitators of the release of the wealth of the wicked into Kingdom initiatives.

Author Profile
MORRIS E. RUDDICK is a business executive, consultant, entrepreneur, missionary, intercessor, conference speaker, board member, and writer. He is at the forefront of mobilizing a unique group of anointed marketplace leaders, referred to as modern-day Josephs and Daniels. As head of a market planning consulting firm serving an array of clients from Fortune 500 firms to respected ministries, his expertise includes business planning, forecasting emerging markets, developing business strategies, funding initiatives, modeling entrepreneurial bypass strategies, and applying principles of biblically based businesses. He was chief architect in two successful corporate turnarounds. His ministry activities target strengthening the brethren in locales ranging from Afghanistan to Israel. But the foundation of both his business and ministry activities is his role in leading a global intercession ministry known as SIGN (Strategic Intercession Global Network), which has as its purpose targeting strategic-level issues impacting the Body on a global basis.Please click the link below for more information.http://strategic-initiatives.org/