Incalculable Wealth – part 1A

by Laura Tyree // October 26, 2013 // No Comments

Two weekends ago we were blessed to be part of an inspiring and challenging 4-day seminar with Peter Daniels. Hearing the life story and message of this Christian billionaire (or multi-billionaire, according to some sources) was a divinely orchestrated encounter for many of us. Jesse and I received multiple confirmations of things the Lord had been speaking to us in previous months to bring necessary course corrections and help provoke us further out of our comfort zones into greater commitment zones (and out of failure zones into faith zones), so we can keep pressing toward reaching our full potential in Christ and accomplishing our life assignments.

Part of Mr. Daniels’ focus (regarding fulfilling our God-given dreams and visions) was on encouraging us to envision what it would be like to have limitless resources at our disposal. It was interesting to think about what all could be accomplished if we had no financial obstacles. I had never imagined what it might be like to be in the shoes of a multi-billionaire.

By the end of that week, I noticed the Lord was capitalizing on this line of thinking that had been awakened in order to continue reinforcing in our hearts and minds the truths of all He has made available to us through Jesus. He began speaking about the fact that we are already more than billionaires in Christ, with the limitless resources of the God of the universe at our disposal.

He reminded us of some words He’d given us a few months ago along these same lines ~ stating that in Christ we are spiritual plutocrats.

Paul says that in Christ we have been enriched in every way (I Cor 1:5). This word “enriched” is the Greek word ploutizō, which means “to make rich, enrich (which can refer to spiritual riches); to be richly furnished.” Rick Renner tells how the root of this word is where we get our word plutocrat, which describes someone who is so prosperous that it’s impossible for him to calculate and quantify the full extent of his wealth. This is our reality in Christ because we have been made joint heirs with Him in His inheritance.

(The mystery of Christ is this:) that the Gentiles are now to be fellow heirs [with the Jews], members of the same body and joint partakers [sharing] in the same divine promise in Christ through [their acceptance of] the glad tidings (the Gospel). Of this [Gospel] I was made a minister according to the gift of God’s free grace (undeserved favor) which was bestowed on me by the exercise (the working in all its effectiveness) of His power. To me, though I am the very least of all the saints (God’s consecrated people), this grace (favor, privilege) was granted and graciously entrusted: to proclaim to the Gentiles the unending (boundless, fathomless, incalculable, and exhaustless) riches of Christ [wealth which no human being could have searched out]…. Ephesians 3:6-8

And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory. [But what of that?] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time (this present life) are not worth being compared with the glory that is about to be revealed to us and in us and for us and conferred on us! Romans 8:17-18

Through Christ, we now have access to ALL of the promises and provision of God that enable us to operate in His divine power and participate in His divine nature. He does not want us to live at the mercy of the enemy and the fallen natural world. He has given us everything we need through His promises, power, and nature to live supernatural lives that overcome this world through Him.

For His divine power has bestowed upon us all things that [are requisite and suited] to {everything we need for} life and godliness, through the [full, personal] knowledge of Him Who called us by and to His own glory and excellence (virtue). By means of these He has bestowed on us His precious and exceedingly great promises, so that through them you may escape [by flight] from the moral decay (rottenness and corruption) that is in the world because of covetousness (lust and greed), and become sharers (partakers) of the divine nature. II Peter 1:3-4

For as many as are the promises of God, they all find their Yes in Him [Christ]. For this reason we also utter the Amen (so be it) to God through Him [in His Person and by His agency] to the glory of God. II Corinthians 1:20

Additionally, Paul prayed for us to have the revelation that the glorious riches of this inheritance is already IN US.

For I always pray to] the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, that He may grant you a spirit of wisdom and revelation [of insight into mysteries and secrets] in the [deep and intimate] knowledge of Him, By having the eyes of your heart flooded with light, so that you can know and understand the hope to which He has called you, and how rich is His glorious inheritance IN the saints (His set-apart ones), And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength, Which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His [own] right hand in the heavenly [places], Far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and every name that is named [above every title that can be conferred], not only in this age and in this world, but also in the age and the world which are to come. And He has put all things under His feet and has appointed Him the universal and supreme Head of the church [a headship exercised throughout the church], Which is His body, the fullness of Him Who fills all in all [for in that body lives the full measure of Him Who makes everything complete, and Who fills everything everywhere with Himself]. Ephesians 1:17-23

This is so because of the miraculous reality of Christ Himself living in us:

To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:27

Through these riches, He is able to meet all our needs:

And my God will liberally supply (fill to the full) your every need according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. To our God and Father be glory forever and ever (through the endless eternities of the eternities). Amen (so be it). Philippians 4:19-20

to be continued… (Incalculable Wealth 1B here)

A Time for… Treason?

by Laura Tyree // September 6, 2013 // No Comments

Several months ago I asked the Lord how to get in our place and pay the price to fulfill our assignments. He responded by taking me to an account in Scripture where those who remained loyal to Him and to His Word were forced to commit treason against those in authority who had turned away from Him.

During the first week of July, He continued this theme, surrounding us with the same message through various different examples, both from history and legend, including the example of our own founding fathers whose courageous acts to establish this nation on the foundation of His Word were considered acts of treason against their home land.

He has continued to surround us with this theme even through the past week. But earlier in July He added a surprising twist. He seems to be saying that if our nation continues on its current course, the choice for each one may not be whether or not we will commit treason, but rather only who we will commit treason against ~ man or Him.

Most would never intentionally commit treason against God, yet many have failed to realize that He considers our compromise with and bowing to the opinions of the world which are contrary to His Word as treason against Him. In addition to impressing this stark reality upon us, He has continued to speak to us about the cost of being His true follower and of fulfilling the calling He has given us.

Persecutions Are Coming“Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves. Therefore be wise as serpents and harmless (innocent) as doves. But beware of men, for they will deliver you up to councils and scourge you in their synagogues. You will be brought before governors and kings for My sake, as a testimony to them and to the Gentiles. But when they deliver you up, do not worry about how or what you should speak. For it will be given to you in that hour what you should speak; for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.

“Now brother will deliver up brother to death, and a father his child; and children will rise up against parents and cause them to be put to death. And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved. When they persecute you in this city, flee to another. For assuredly, I say to you, you will not have gone through the cities of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

“A disciple is not above his teacher, nor a servant above his master. It is enough for a disciple that he be like his teacher, and a servant like his master. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more will they call those of his household! Therefore do not fear them. For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.

“Whatever I tell you in the dark, speak in the light; and what you hear in the ear, preach on the housetops. And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. But rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin? And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father’s will. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.

“Therefore whoever confesses Me before men, him I will also confess before My Father who is in heaven. But whoever denies Me before men, him I will also deny before My Father who is in heaven.

“Do not think that I came to bring peace on earth. I did not come to bring peace but a sword. For I have come to ‘set a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law’; and ‘a man’s enemies will be those of his own household.’ He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it. Matthew 10:16-39

When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, “Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.” Mark 8:34-38

He wants us to understand that if we’re ashamed to stand for the Truth of His Word, including issues that the world has become increasingly hostile about, in His eyes, this is the same as being ashamed of Him. As discussed in previous posts in the last 2 1/2 years, we cannot separate Him from His Word. We can’t profess that we believe in Jesus, but only take the parts of Him that make our lives comfortable and allow us to blend in with the world and avoid persecution. Even since the Lord began speaking to us about this, we have already heard several stories about people in different parts of the nation who are being persecuted, threatened, put out of business, and even facing possible time in prison for their Biblical beliefs about marriage. And with new laws that have been passed in certain states, the likelihood that many more will face the same for standing for Truth has increased. For this reason we understand why the Lord was emphasizing in previous notes the lines that have been drawn in the sands of time and the sifting and separating that is occurring now, even among those who claim to believe in Him (parts 1-8 of prophetic word). When persecution comes, we find out who is truly committed to Jesus and His Word. The lukewarm will not stand. For this reason we all need to be continually drawing as close to the Lord as possible, being filled daily with His Word and Spirit, making sure we are maintaining intimacy with Him as our first love, keeping Him on the throne of our hearts/lives, and truly following Him as Lord.

As Jesus spoke about in the Matthew 10 passage, the Lord has also been emphasizing that, unfortunately, we do have to be on guard against people. He has been warning about false brethren who present themselves as brothers/sisters, but are actually allied with the enemy and are ready to betray those who stand for Truth. It’s a time for increased discernment in the Spirit. He had already given us this message in the past months, but confirmed it again through a dream He gave Jesse recently, as well as through this passage in Matthew. This kind of possibility makes some of Jesus’ words which were previously unimaginable in our nation, suddenly very relevant. Yet, His message in the dream, as well as in this text is that OUR VOICE MUST NOT FAIL! He is calling us to stand up for what we know to be right and to stand against what we know to be wrong, based on His Word (always in love), regardless of the consequences. Apart from relentless spiritual warfare in prayer and continuing to advance His Kingdom through evangelism, discipleship, and ministry (through the Word and Spirit), this is an essential aspect of the kind of “warfare” He’s calling us to engage in to bring our nation to repentance.

At the beginning of the year, He surrounded us with messages about Hitler. He revealed that it was the spirit of antichrist that was working through him. Though the enemy was premature, and the time had not fully come for him to establish his temporary tyrannical reign over all nations, the Lord seemed to be showing us that Hitler’s actions were a foreshadowing of things that will happen again in the end on a much larger scale. Unfortunately, this opened the door to the possibility that a dream I had many years ago that I had always hoped was not from God, may have truly been. If we knew we were being given a chance to push back that time frame and see a third Great Awakening and final harvest of the lost before those events begin to unfold, shouldn’t we lay aside everything that distracts and give ourselves wholly to that cause? Though the Lord has continued to give us warning messages about the nation, such as Daniel 5 again ~ that our nation has been weighed in the balance and found wanting ~ we continue to pray that the nation will repent and He will not hand us over to our adversaries as He did in that account. Based on the things He spoke to us that I referred to in the Elastigirl notes and earlier notes, we have to have hope, believe this is still possible, and do our part to see it occur.

The following was taken from some devotional thoughts from John Hagee Ministries.
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When Will We Take Action?

James 4:4—Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God.

“If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.” ~ Daniel Webster, 1821

Our founding fathers objected to a tea tax of one-half of one percent, and gave their lives in return.

Will we object if our children are routinely indoctrinated in homosexual ideology in our public schools? … Will we take a stand if imperfect babies are being killed in hospitals after they are born? Will we protest if the state tells our pastor what he can and cannot say from the pulpit? What if the state assumes “ownership” of our children and tells parents how they must raise them—under penalty of losing custody? Will you take action then?

Will we argue if Christian businesses are required to satisfy a quota of gay and lesbian employees? Will the Church cry out if universities refuse to grant degrees to outspoken Christian students? Will we let our voices be heard in defense of our beliefs when every tenet of our faith is legislated against in Congress?

Listen to the echo coming from Valley Forge. Look at the American patriot—stained with blood, hungry, barefoot, standing in the snow with his musket firmly grasped. He fought in those conditions and now we are armed with the right to vote, yet we sit at home on Election Day because the weather is bad. That patriot left his family alone and destitute to allow us freedom of speech, yet we remain silent to avoid political incorrectness or repercussion. He orphaned his crying children in order for us to have a representative government, but through neglect we have allowed that government to become the master of our children and the murderer of the unborn.

All of the aforementioned are now in process in America. At what point will we have had enough? To make any compromise with the world is to be guilty of treason against God. James states, “A friend of the world is an enemy of God.” When will we take action?

Church, we are soldiers in the army of the living God. We are at war with the powers and principalities of darkness. Compromise with the world, the flesh and the devil is high treason in the courts of heaven. You might as well make up your mind that you can’t please everyone all of the time. If you please God, you will offend the world. If you please the world, you will offend God. As for me and my house, we have chosen to serve God and it matters not if we offend the world in every way possible. (Copyright, John Hagee Ministries)
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If faced with the choice of treason, we pray each one will be strengthened to bravely choose to commit treason against the authority of man and to remain true to God. May we not try to save our lives or reputations, but take up our cross and lay down our lives for His cause. May we never be ashamed of the Lord and His Word.

…We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

ASTOUNDING CONFIRMATION for STIR YOUR SENSE OF ANTICIPATION

by Laura Tyree // July 24, 2013 // No Comments

(Posted to FB July 24, 13)

(see original post – Stir Your Sense of Anticipation here)

I feel like I could absolutely launch through the roof with this confirmation God is giving! I have not watched KCM broadcast for several years. Today I “just happened” (yeah, right!) to see a message from them in my junk mail and “just happened” to open it (which I normally would not). I saw the titles of teaching this week and thought it sounded perfectly in line with what God’s been emphasizing to us in these weeks. So, I thought perhaps I had NOT “just happened” to see it and open it, but that the Lord was leading me there to listen.

I just finished Monday’s show and was already praising God for the confirmations that went along with parts of the Elastigirl notes from a few weeks ago and many other Scriptures He’s been giving us that I was on the verge of posting even today. But when I started yesterday’s show (TUESDAY’s) just now I was in jaw-dropping awe!!! About 10 min 20 sec into the show he quotes Romans 8:25 not only from the KJV (or NKJV), but then also from the NLT and AMP!!!!! Jesus! You’re AMAZING!!!!!

I haven’t even finished Tuesday’s broadcast yet, but I’m sure these shows will be a blessing to all who are in the process of allowing patient endurance to bring you through to completion/perfection and to the inheritance of all God has promised!

DON’T GIVE UP SAINTS!! We’re coming forth as GOLD in the Power of the Spirit!!!!! Praying for us all!!

KCM broadcasts – July 22-26, 13 – Patience Makes Perfect

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follow up – July 26 – response shared in comment of FB post link at top of page

It was such awesome confirmation b/c it was that same verse the Lord put on my heart to post Tuesday ~ not just the same verse, but from the exact same translations!!! NKJV, AMP, and NLT! …THEN yesterday morning (Thursday the 25th) we listened to Wednesday’s broadcast and he read it again from the MSG version too!!!!! Jesse & I were in awe!! (He read Heb 6:11-12 too – mentioned in same post, part of Psalm 27 which God has given us repeatedly, and several others He’s given us)! Once again, He’s confirming unmistakeably, undeniably, overwhelmingly beyond the shadow of a doubt!! So believe it, believe it, believe it and receive it…, and continue to wait for all He has promised with eager, joyful expectancy and anticipation, “with patience and composure,” “patiently and confidently,” not being diminished or discouraged by the wait, but being continually enlarged in faith, hope, love, joy, peace, endurance, power, anointing, praise, thanksgiving, certainty, conviction, courage, filled to the fullness of the Lord Himself and all that is of Him, as you walk out the process of Him bringing you to completion, lacking nothing, and to the fulfillment of all He has spoken!!! (was that sentence long enough? lol!) Praying for us all to this end!

STIR YOUR SENSE OF ANTICIPATION

by Laura Tyree // July 23, 2013 // No Comments

(Posted to FB July 23, 13)

For weeks I’ve been hearing, “Stir your sense of anticipation.”

Real Bible hope is not “wishing.” It is earnest, intense expectation that what God has said will come to pass. ~ Kenneth Copeland

But if we hope for what we do not see, we eagerly wait for it with perseverance. Romans 8:25 NKJV

…we wait “with patience and composure.” ~ AMP
…we wait “patiently and confidently.” ~ NLT

That is why waiting does not diminish us, any more than waiting diminishes a pregnant mother. We are enlarged in the waiting. We, of course, don’t see what is enlarging us. But the longer we wait, the larger we become, and the more joyful our expectancy. ~ MSG

And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. Hebrews 6:11-12

A Message from the Lord for the church (via Elastigirl) – part 4 :)

by Laura Tyree // July 8, 2013 // No Comments

(Part 4 – continued from same day)

Another weapon He wants us to use in this time is our praise. As we remember His Greatness and all He has done, stir up our faith for all He will be faithful to do, and see ourselves standing in His promised victory, He wants us to praise Him in advance for that victory that is ours! As we say in another song He had us learn for choir in this season, “Every battle has been won, so I’ve already overcome. I will lift my voice and sing. Praise precedes the victory!” Like David, when we play “our harp” of praise and worship to the Lord, it drives away “distressing spirits.” Our praise has been ordained to silence the enemy and is a weapon that goes before us to route him and bring about his defeat (II Chronicles 20, Psalm 8:2, Matthew 21:16).

I felt as though I could jump out of my skin when the Lord showed me the wording of the Amplified in the well known account of II Chronicles 20. After Israel sent forth their worshipers on the front lines to praise the Lord as they marched toward the enemy, it says, “And when Judah came to the WATCHTOWER OF THE WILDERNESS, they looked at the multitude, and behold, they were dead bodies fallen to the earth, and none had escaped!” (II Chronicles 20:24) The phrase “watchtower of the wilderness” should be absolutely exploding with revelation for those who have been in this season described in this note! This is the place in this wilderness of testing where we seek the Lord; we “come up here,” ascending into the the realm of the Spirit to get the Lord’s perspective, to peer off into the distance to see what’s on the horizon, and wait for the Lord’s next direction. When “Judah“ came into this “watchtower of the wilderness,” they were then able to look out on the horizon and see their enemies already defeated. Judah means PRAISE!

In a previous note I mentioned how the Lord was telling me not to use praise and worship as a refuge to escape from what He was asking me to do. His intention was not to say that praise and worship is ever wrong, or that it’s not an important part of every battle, but rather that I could not expect to console myself with praise and worship instead of obeying the difficult thing He was asking me to do. On that occasion, He was calling me to a different form of battle. This is why personal relationship with the Lord is essential. We do not apply whatever formula we want in our situation; we seek the Lord to hear what counsel He is giving. He will put different weapons in our hands at different times in the battle. Just as there will be times when His instruction is to “fight,” there will be other times when He instructs us not to “fight,” but to worship. As we follow His instruction and bring (Judah) Praise into the watchtower in the wilderness, we can then look out on the horizon in the realm of the Spirit and see our enemies already slain!

The Lord is my Light and my Salvation— whom shall I fear? The Lord is the Stronghold of my life— of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked advance against me to devour me, it is my enemies and my foes who will stumble and fall. Though an army besiege me, my heart will not fear; though war break out against me, even then I will be confident. … For in the day of trouble he will keep me safe in his dwelling; he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent and set me high upon a rock. Then my head will be exalted above the enemies who surround me; at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy; I will sing and make music to the Lord. … I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord. parts of Psalm 27

I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart; before the “gods” I will sing your praise. I will bow down toward your holy temple and will praise your name for your love and your faithfulness, for YOU HAVE EXALTED ABOVE ALL THINGS Your NAME and Your WORD. When I called, you answered me; you made me BOLD and STOUTHEARTED. May all the kings of the earth praise you, O LORD, when they hear the words of your mouth. May they sing of the ways of the LORD, for the glory of the LORD is great. Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar. Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. The LORD will fulfill [his purpose] for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever– do not abandon the works of your hands. Psalm 138

“I’m counting on you. Be strong.”

As we complete the testing of the wilderness, fire, and grave, and seek the Lord for His divine strategies for taking down Jericho, He is calling us to be strong and courageous as He prepares to lead us forward to fulfill His call. There is a price to be paid (a theme He has continued to confirm from the Word, and also made this the unexpected theme Courage Nelson Mandela quote from films this past weekend – perhaps more on this later..?). We must allow Him to continue to cause His iron to enter our souls until we are ready to get in our assigned place and pay that price. He is calling us to be ready to stand against the established authority of men, and do what is “wrong” according to man in order to do what is truly right according to Him and His Word. Because of this, He wants us to cry out to Him in any areas where our hearts may be weak, faint, overwhelmed, or failing, and allow Him to make them fixed, established, secure, steadfast, bold, and STOUT ~ courageous, resolute, valiant, and undaunted.

And shall say to them, Hear, O Israel, you draw near this day to battle against your enemies. Let not your [minds and] hearts faint; fear not, and do not tremble or be terrified [and in dread] because of them. For the Lord your God is He Who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to save you. Deuteronomy 20:3-4

Be strong, courageous, and firm; fear not nor be in terror before them, for it is the Lord your God Who goes with you; He will not fail you or forsake you. Deuteronomy 31:6

He said to them, “Is not the Lord your God with you? And has he not granted you rest on every side? For he has given the inhabitants of the land into my hands, and the land is subject to the Lord and to his people. II Chronicles 22:18

I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. Luke 10:19

(As always remembering that our battle is not against flesh and blood ~ Ephesians 6. Our desire is to enforce God’s judgment on the enemies in the spiritual realm who are deceiving and destroying people, so that the people can truly know the Lord and be saved, healed, delivered, and set free!)

“If we can stop him, we shall prevent the collapse of Western civilization… No pressure.” ~ Sherlock Holmes

“‘If you can’?” said Jesus. “Everything is possible for one who believes.”

A Message from the Lord for the church (via Elastigirl) – part 3 :)

by Laura Tyree // July 8, 2013 // No Comments

(Part 3 – continued from same day)

“I know what I said! Listen to what I’m saying now!”

This phrase goes along with the theme from previous posts about the new thing God is doing. This does not refer to Him recanting or altering the eternal truths of His Word, but rather to Him giving us new personal direction and instruction as we walk out His call. We can’t presume that the method He wants us to use moving forward will be the same as what He told us to do in the past. The passage mentioned from Isaiah 50 above goes on to talk about those who, instead of trusting and waiting on God for direction, decide to light their own fires ~ attempting to illumine their own way. This is connected to the 2-fold test He revealed at the beginning of the year, part of which involved ~

1. Not failing to complete what He has already truly called/assigned us to do

2. Not launching out beyond what He called/assigned us to do yet in the arm of the flesh

As we seek the Lord for the divine strategies we need to take down the walls of Jericho and enter our promised land, He does not want us to illumine our own path and go forward in the strength of the flesh. He cautions us not to act in haste and miss the way. We need to seek Him wholeheartedly and get His plan. For some, this will not only involve hearing from the Lord for ourselves; He may also tell us to find the godly counselors who can help us receive His wisdom, knowledge, and understanding for doing the things we’ve never done, and to make sure we have His plan which cannot be thwarted.

By wisdom a house is built, and through understanding it is established; through knowledge its rooms are filled with rare and beautiful treasures. Proverbs 24:3-4

No matter how the new thing may bring alterations to previous methods and instructions, one thing that will always remain constant in our calling for the Kingdom is that it will involve laying down our lives in order to be the servant of all. We pray that each one will seek the Lord for how He is calling them to be the servant of all within their own unique calling.

“You have more power than you realize.”

In addition, this intense time of testing the remnant has been walking through is to cause us to become even more rooted and established in the reality of CHRIST IN US, the Hope of Glory, the literal LIFE-GIVING and SUSTAINING power of His Word, and the reality of His mighty resurrection power at work within us.

When the initial time of testing began at the start of the year, the Lord showed us a few general tests from the Word that we would face (which we saw before us immediately). Later, when we entered the even more intense time represented by Jesus’ 40 days, He showed us two very specific areas in our own personal lives we would be tested, and those things happened within the next weeks just as He said. But we did not feel entirely forewarned for the next test. We only knew that He was giving us Scriptures emphasizing and assuring us that HIS WORD and PROMISES PRESERVE OUR LIVES (though in hindsight we now see other words He was giving us to prepare us in advance). Once again we have seen the reality that we do not live by physical sustenance alone; we literally live and are sustained by the supernatural power of His Word and Spirit in us! Though the Lord repeatedly reminded us of the enemy’s desire to take out those whom He has called (and I don’t mean on a date ~ though for some of you it may be that too 🙂 ), God wants us to know that he cannot as long as we put on our full armor and hold to His words He’s given us ~ HIS PROMISE PRESERVES OUR LIVES! He wants us to be so established in His promises and prophecies over our lives that when all of hell threatens to stop us, we will be more determined than hell itself. We will know that Greater is He who is in us, that no weapon formed against us can prosper, and that not even the gates of hell can prevail against us!

He surrounded us on every side with His assurance that He already foresaw every one of our days before He ever spoke His promises to us. Nothing has taken Him by surprise. In His foreknowledge He has already seen us standing on the other side of every assault and attack of the enemy, entering our promised land in victory, and He has declared that expected end! His Word is going to endure; it is going to overcome; it is EXALTED ABOVE and TRUMPS all that could come against it; it will not return to Him empty handed; it will accomplish what He desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it. As long as we hold tightly to His Word and do not let go, it will carry us straight through to its determined destination. When we hold to the Lord and His Word we are more than conquerors; we have already won before the fight even begins. We must see ourselves through the eyes of faith, already standing in that place of victory God has promised on the other side of the battles.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken; they will be remembered forever. They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast (fixed), trusting in the Lord. Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear; in the end they will look in triumph on their foes. Psalm 112:6-8

to be continued…

A Message from the Lord for the church (via Elastigirl) – part 2 :)

by Laura Tyree // July 8, 2013 // No Comments

(Part 2 – continued from same day)

“Show Him you remember that He is Mr. lncredible” (~E)

Part of our weaponry for not giving way to fear in present battles is to REMEMBER all that God has brought us through thus far. He told us repeatedly in this time to never forget how good He has been to us; He wants us to remember all the times that He has rescued us, healed us, delivered us, saved us, guided us, provided for us, protected us, etc. and to KNOW that He will be faithful to do so again.

Not only does He want us to remember, but He will also remind us. We have seen how He emphasizes different aspects of His nature to us in different seasons, wanting to reveal Himself to us in those areas in greater ways. One of those themes from the summer of 2011 that He began strongly emphasizing was that He is the Lord God Mighty in Battle, the Lord God of Angel Armies, who fights for us. This year, since April when the most intense season of testing began, He’s been surrounding us with, and establishing us even more securely in, the truths that He is our Shepherd and Keeper, our Impenetrable Shield of protection, our Refuge, Defense, Secure Fortress, Strong Tower ~ whose Name we run to and are saved (healed, delivered, protected, preserved) ~ our Help, our ROCK who is HIGHER than all else ~ He lifts us up from the enemies who have surrounded us, sets our feet securely upon Him, and establishes our way. He has also continued the theme of fighting for us (giving II Samuel 22, Psalm 18, Psalm 144 repeatedly, to name a few ~ though in the verses where David references his own merits, we state our only plea is JESUS!)

From the end of the earth will I cry to You, when my heart is overwhelmed and fainting; lead me to the Rock that is higher than I. For You have been a Shelter and a Refuge for me, a Strong Tower against the adversary. I will dwell in Your tabernacle forever; let me find refuge and trust in the shelter of Your wings. Psalm 61:2-4

I will lift up my eyes to the hills [around Jerusalem, to sacred Mount Zion and Mount Moriah]—From whence shall my help come? My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth. He will not allow your foot to slip or to be moved; He Who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade on your right hand [the side not carrying a shield]. The sun shall not smite you by day, nor the moon by night. The Lord will keep you from all evil; He will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. Psalm 121

Blessed be the Lord, because He has heard the voice of my supplications. The Lord is my Strength and my [impenetrable] Shield; my heart trusts in, relies on, and confidently leans on Him, and I am helped; therefore my heart greatly rejoices, and with my song will I praise Him. The Lord is their [unyielding] Strength, and He is the Stronghold of salvation to [me] His anointed. Save Your people and bless Your heritage; nourish and shepherd them and carry them forever. Psalm 28:6-9

Psalm 23

Several nights in a row He sang songs in my heart that I hadn’t heard or thought about in MANY years, including one that begins ~

“The Lord My Shepherd is; I shall be well supplied. Since He is mine, and I am His, what can I want beside?”

It was all the more exciting to hear that this song contained the message that “I am my Beloved’s, and my Beloved is mine” (from Song of Solomon), since this has also been a beautiful recurring theme in this season. After passing one of the tests of this time, the Lord had given me the breathtaking passage ~ “Drink, yes, drink abundantly of love, O precious one [for now I know you are mine, irrevocably mine! With his confident words still thrilling her heart, through the lattice she saw her shepherd turn away and disappear into the night].” Song of Solomon 5:1 AMP (similar to telling Abraham after he passed the test, “Now I know…” Gen 22:12)

When this Shepherd and Keeper theme first began in April, the Lord even had us learn a new song for choir (“Awesome“) which speaks about Him KEEPING US while we go through the valley. He promises to KEEP US as we go through the wilderness of testing, the refining fire, and the grave that He leads us into ~ that when we have passed the tests, He may bring us forth as GOLD in the power of His Spirit!!! This is our prayer for the whole body of Christ!

Despite the fire, wilderness, or grave, He wants us to know we are still empowered to make progress in these times as He works all together for our good.

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant? Let the one who walks in the dark, who has no light, trust in the name of the Lord and rely on their God. Isaiah 50:10

He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places. Psalm 18:33

The Lord God is my Strength, my personal bravery, and my invincible army; He makes my feet like hinds’ feet and will make me to walk [not to stand still in terror, but to walk] and make [spiritual] progress upon my high places [of trouble, suffering, or responsibility]! Habakkuk 3:19

to be continued…

A Message from the Lord for the church (via Elastigirl) – part 1 :)

by Laura Tyree // July 8, 2013 // No Comments

SO many confirmations of this word while we’ve been praying over it!! Continually in AWE of the Lord!

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I believe the Lord said, “Feed them what you’ve been eating.” It’s hard to know what to include since it’s been so much over these months, but this is at least a sample platter of what He’s been feeding us. Though not all of it may apply to your specific situation, I hope those who are feeling depleted can at least find enough morsels to have a power-snack. If even one person is encouraged not to give up, but to keep moving forward in God’s call, then it’s worth it!

After so many months of intense seeking we finally began to have a little down time again several weeks ago at the Lord’s direction. As usual, He speaks to us even through the movies He leads us to watch in these times. Each of the past three weekends we have noticed a definite theme in what we watched (a different theme each weekend), completely unintended by us, which precisely confirmed other things He’s been speaking. A few weeks ago we watched “The Incredibles,” so please indulge me in a few quotes from Elastigirl. 🙂 (plus one from “E” and Sherlock)

“Things are different now. Doubt is a luxury we can’t afford anymore.”

Through “The Incredibles” He emphasized ~ The public may insist that they no longer want the church to “save the world” and demand that we take the Truth and God’s power and go into hiding. But doing this only results in the loss of the purpose for which we were born (and born-again) and the destruction of many lives/souls while evil flourishes. The church must come out of hiding and conformity to the world to take up our true identity in Christ and “save the world” (thwarting the plans of the enemy to destroy the people and leading them to true relationship with Jesus as their Lord and Savior). Just like the Incredibles, it’s going to take all of us working together with all the various gifts of the Spirit God has given in order to accomplish our mission.

Eradicating doubts that threaten the life of our calling (and even our literal lives) has been a theme. He continues to speak of the necessity of being fully persuaded with confidence and conviction of our God-given callings and assignments despite the targeted attacks of the enemy to strip us of what God has told us. If we do not yet have confidence in His vision for our lives, we need to keep seeking the Lord until He makes this crystal clear beyond the shadow of all doubt so that we can have the conviction we need to be willing to go wherever He tells us to go, do whatever He tells us to do, and pay whatever price must be paid in order to faithfully carry out His will. As mentioned previously, it’s essential that each one finds their place/post and fulfills their assignments (Ninevah’s Shore – pts 1 and 2).

“Everybody calm down. Now, I’ll tell you what we’re not gonna do. We’re not gonna panic…”

The Word talks about those whose hearts would literally fail from fear of the things they see coming on the earth in the end, but I never realized there could be a similar threat just from Him showing us some of these things in advance and from us trying to receive the direction we need for what to do and how to proceed. During this season of intense testing before entering the promised land, since mid-April, He’s been pouring out much to comfort us, build us up, and establish us in His peace in spite of all that’s going on around us. So just a brief summary of that…

In the midst of what He was showing us and our seeking for direction, He told us that we were entering an even more intense time of testing (represented by Jesus’ 40 days in the wilderness). Because what we’d been through had already been so intense, we could not imagine it going to another level. We began earnestly praying that our minds would not break and our faith would not fail. In mid-April, He unveiled a new revelation we had never heard of about where we were in prophetic process. He showed us that after we endure the “crucifixion,” there is a time (represented by Jesus’ “3 days”) that we are “dead and in the grave.” It’s a time of “darkness” (not in the sense of sin, but in the sense of needing His light of guidance and direction to illumine our next step). It’s a time of “silence” ~ certainly of much time spent seeking Him in silence, but also of an apparent silence from Him. Though we have heard much from the Lord during this time, there has been a season of waiting on His answers to be made clear surrounding the issue of receiving clear direction for our next step. Intense warfare often also surrounds receiving the next clear direction as we seek (which can lead us to battle severe double-mindedness and confusion). Due to these things, it’s a time where it appears we have been abandoned by the Lord (though we know this is never true).

He showed us that this seeming time of abandonment actually began at the end of “the cross” before the time in “the grave,” again corresponding with what Jesus went through. We know that Jesus literally experienced this abandonment, when the Father turned His face away from Him because He was carrying all our sins. We praise God that since Jesus experienced this separation from the Father in our place, we now have His promise that He will never abandon us! However, as we walk out the process of crucifixion and death on the way to resurrection into our destinies, we will go through a time when it appears we too have been abandoned and the Father has turned His face away. During Jesus’ time in the grave, He literally descended into the bowels of hell. In the same way, when we go from “the cross” to “the grave,” we will likely feel as though we have descended into the very bowels of hell itself to battle the enemy. But just like Jesus, while we are “in the grave/Sheol,” God wants us to hold to His prophetic promise that He will not abandon us there; He will not leave us to rot. Through the power of Christ in us, we too will defeat the enemy, get the keys of God’s kingdom to fulfill our destiny, and be resurrected as He promised in the power of His Spirit!!

I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. Psalm 16:8-10

This time in the “grave” exposes areas where we’re still vulnerable to anxiety and fear while we wait in seeming darkness, abandonment, and hell, where to solely natural eyes all hope appears lost. It’s a time of the Lord testing our hearts and minds under extreme conditions (Psalm 26:2). Just as one of the theme words God has surrounded us with for the last several years has been hypomonē (and hypomenō) ~ the Greek words for enduring and persevering despite intense trial and suffering ~ in the past season one of the recurring Greek words He’s given us has been thlipsis. This word refers to a tribulation and pressure so great that it has been used to describe an enemy stretching someone out flat and laying a massive boulder on him/her until he/she is crushed. Though not the kind of training exercise we would ever wish on anyone, part of what the Lord teaches us through this is that in order to survive and not be crushed by the weight of the enemy’s attack we must learn to cast our cares and maintain His peace even in this kind of tribulation and adversity.

Blessed (happy, fortunate, to be envied) is the man whom You discipline and instruct, O Lord, and teach out of Your law, That You may give him power to keep himself calm in the days of adversity, until the [inevitable] pit of corruption is dug for the wicked. For the Lord will not cast off nor spurn His people, neither will He abandon His heritage. … the Lord has become my High Tower and Defense, and my God the Rock of my refuge. Psalm 94:12-14, 22

As we’re seeking the Lord and waiting on Him in this time in “the grave,” He wants us to FULLY cast our cares on Him and be anxious for nothing. Staying up all night fretting does not make the sun rise any faster; when it’s “dark” and we’re waiting for God’s light to illumine our path, it’s time to focus on rest (trust).

Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. I Peter 5:7

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

Though it would be nice to think that passing this test would be the end of all battles, the reality is that this testing is preparation for future battles. It’s necessary training in order for us to be ready to take the promised land where we will face even bigger giants. (New level, new devil) It’s necessary to prepare us to survive whatever may lie in days ahead. We must make sure we’re suited in the whole armor God has supplied and that we’re allowing Him to train us as skillful warriors through these spiritual battles. As intense as this season of training has been, the treasures we receive “in darkness” will help enable us to live peacefully and fearlessly in the last of the last days no matter what happens in the earth or in our circumstances. As we fervently pray, but also cast our cares, His peace that transcends our understanding (or lack thereof) literally guards our hearts and minds (so that our minds do not break and our hearts and faith do not fail). He wants us kept in His perfect peace by keeping our minds steadfast, trusting in Him, and not allowing our hearts to be troubled or afraid. We hold to His promise that the darkness CANNOT overcome the Light (John 1:5 AMP).

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal. Isaiah 26:3-4

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. [Stop allowing yourselves to be agitated and disturbed; and do not permit yourselves to be fearful and intimidated and cowardly and unsettled.] John 14:27

Psalm 46

Though following His instructions may have led us straight to the cross and the grave, when we understand prop keep calm god has a plan hetic process and see His plan, as Psalm 16 says above, we can come to the place of being glad, rejoicing, and resting secure. Though it may appear to the natural eyes that all hope is lost, by seeing with the eyes of the Spirit we continue to believe, strengthened in fully persuaded faith that God is faithful and able to do all He has promised (Romans 4:18-22).

to be continued…

The Anatomy of Deception ~ Exposing the Root – part 4

by Laura Tyree // June 14, 2013 // No Comments

(Part 4 – continued from same day; part 3 here) (Navigation forward and backward to other posts also at bottom of screen)

We continue to be in such a critical time in the church and nation with the Lord calling His people to repentance to avert destruction and bring in the final harvest of the lost. Though much hidden has been exposed in answer to many prayers, this is only the exposure of the tip of the iceberg that threatens to sink this nation. We pray the nation is taking warning and beginning to change course, and that as much will be exposed as necessary to bring about the full change of course needed for us to return to our Christian foundations. Yet we know through the Word, that eventually the lawless, tyrannical kingdom of the enemy will be fully unleashed for its short season. As more and more sins have been embraced as acceptable by the world, and even within some churches, and the Truth and authority of God’s Word has been increasingly challenged and cast off by many, we pray that all will remember Jesus’ warnings that deception would be so great in the last days as lawlessness increases that even the elect could be deceived if possible (Matthew 24). Even more concerning is the idea that He would give people over to the deception of lawlessness who do not love and hold to His Truth (Romans 1, II Thessalonians 2). As mentioned in previous notes, through this we will see the final separation of the wheat and tares, the sheep and goats.

Tragically, the combination of allowing the enemy to put a politically correct muzzle over Christians’ mouths and lulling the church into the comfort and complacency of lukewarmness, has resulted in many becoming more conformed to the world than the Word. Even if we feel our roots are deep enough and foundation strong enough to prayerfully, with the help of God, withstand the deception Jesus and Paul spoke of in the last days, what about many others in the church? What about the next generation? What about those who are still lost? The Lord has reminded us that part of being salt and light to our society involves bringing His Word to bear on every situation and issue of our day ~ whether or not it is politically correct or popular.

I charge [you] in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, Who is to judge the living and the dead, and by (in the light of) His coming and His kingdom: Herald and preach the Word! Keep your sense of urgency [stand by, be at hand and ready], whether the opportunity seems to be favorable or unfavorable. [Whether it is convenient or inconvenient, whether it is welcome or unwelcome, you as preacher of the Word are to show people in what way their lives are wrong.] And convince them, rebuking and correcting, warning and urging and encouraging them, being unflagging and inexhaustible in patience and teaching. For the time is coming when [people] will not tolerate (endure) sound and wholesome instruction, but, having ears itching [for something pleasing and gratifying], they will gather to themselves one teacher after another to a considerable number, chosen to satisfy their own liking and to foster the errors they hold, And will turn aside from hearing the truth and wander off into myths and man-made fictions. As for you, be calm and cool and steady, accept and suffer unflinchingly every hardship, do the work of an evangelist, fully perform all the duties of your ministry. II Timothy 4:1-5

If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Deliver those who are drawn away to death, and those who totter to the slaughter, hold them back [from their doom]. If you [profess ignorance and] say, Behold, we did not know this, does not He Who weighs and ponders the heart perceive and consider it? And He Who guards your life, does not He know it? And shall not He render to [you and] every man according to his works? Proverbs 24:10-12

In order to fulfill God’s call, it’s not only vital that we have an unbiased love for the Truth and continue to hold to Him and His Word, but that we also lay down our lives to contend for the faith so that others can have a fighting chance to not be (or not remain) deceived, always remembering this must be done in humility, with compassion, and love, knowing the people are not the enemy – they are God’s object of desire that He longs to set free from the deception and bondage of satan (II Timothy 2:24-26).

Since this note refers to the important role that God desires His supernatural gifts of the Spirit to play in evangelism and ministry, it is important to mention again what He began emphasizing to us at the start of 2011 ~ that true miracles, signs, and wonders will confirm both His grace and His Truth. We are not to be led by miracles, signs, and wonders, but by God’s Holy Spirit of Truth. If the message being confirmed is lawlessness and not Lordship, it doesn’t matter what kind of power may be displayed, the source is not from God. As God “cleans house,” other spirits that have crept into the church, masquerading as the Holy Spirit, are now beginning to be exposed in greater measure. The Lord warns of these things and exposes them to the Light because of His great love for us and His desire that we overcome the intense deception of the last days. We pray for all of us to increasingly understand the anatomy of deception, to have razor-sharp discernment through God’s Word and Spirit (thoroughly knowing the Truth ~ the Person and His Word), and to engage in the spiritual warfare necessary to overcome and overthrow the enemy in every area of our lives.

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Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it. Proverbs 4:23

Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. James 4:7

Put on God’s whole armor [the armor of a heavy-armed soldier which God supplies], that you may be able successfully to stand up against [all] the strategies and the deceits of the devil. For we are not wrestling with flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the despotisms, against the powers, against [the master spirits who are] the world rulers of this present darkness, against the spirit forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) sphere. Therefore put on God’s complete armor, that you may be able to resist and stand your ground on the evil day [of danger], and, having done all [the crisis demands], to stand [firmly in your place]. Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God, And having shod your feet in preparation [to face the enemy with the firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness produced by the good news] of the Gospel of peace. Lift up over all the [covering] shield of saving faith, upon which you can quench all the flaming missiles of the wicked [one]. And take the helmet of salvation and the sword that the Spirit wields, which is the Word of God. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding in behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people). Ephesians 6:11-18
I appeal to you therefore, brethren, and beg of you in view of [all] the mercies of God, to make a decisive dedication of your bodies [presenting all your members and faculties] as a living sacrifice, holy (devoted, consecrated) and well pleasing to God, which is your reasonable (rational, intelligent) service and spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you]. Romans 12:1-2

So, since Christ suffered in the flesh for us, for you, arm yourselves with the same thought and purpose [patiently to suffer rather than fail to please God]. For whoever has suffered in the flesh [having the mind of Christ] is done with [intentional] sin [has stopped pleasing himself and the world, and pleases God], So that he can no longer spend the rest of his natural life living by [his] human appetites and desires, but [he lives] for what God wills. I Peter 4:1-2

Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you, Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully. Be well balanced (temperate, sober of mind), be vigilant and cautious at all times; for that enemy of yours, the devil, roams around like a lion roaring [in fierce hunger], seeking someone to seize upon and devour. Withstand him; be firm in faith [against his onset—rooted, established, strong, immovable, and determined], knowing that the same (identical) sufferings are appointed to your brotherhood (the whole body of Christians) throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the dominion (power, authority, rule) forever and ever. Amen (so be it). I Peter 5:6-11

The Anatomy of Deception ~ Exposing the Root – part 3

by Laura Tyree // June 14, 2013 // No Comments

(Part 3 – continued from same day; part 2 here) (Navigation forward and backward to other posts also at bottom of screen)

If we are truly walking in relationship with the Lord in the Light (I John), we will be in a continual process of being transformed from glory to glory as we allow Him to shine His Light of truth in every area of our lives and expose, uproot, prune, purge, and refine all that’s not of Him (John 3:20, I Corinthians 5:7-8, II Corinthians 6:14-7:1, Ephesians 5, Colossians 3). When He exposes something in us, His grace (undeserved favor and power to do His will) is there to help us overcome that issue and get free. As He reveals things in us that are not like Him, He desires us to run to Him rather than away from Him. He calls us to turn from those things and He empowers us to do so as we draw close in intimate relationship to Him. When we receive Him as Lord and Savior we become His temple. Every “room” of our lives belongs to Him; He will not continue to provide hospitality to “idols” we may have.

For what partnership have right living and right standing with God with iniquity and lawlessness? Or how can light have fellowship with darkness? What harmony can there be between Christ and Belial [the devil]? Or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? What agreement [can there be between] a temple of God and idols? For we are the temple of the living God; even as God said, I will dwell in and with and among them and will walk in and with and among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be My people. So, come out from among [unbelievers], and separate (sever) yourselves from them, says the Lord, and touch not [any] unclean thing; then I will receive you kindly and treat you with favor, And I will be a Father to you, and you shall be My sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. Therefore, since these [great] promises are ours, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from everything that contaminates and defiles body and spirit, and bring [our] consecration to completeness in the [reverential] fear of God. II Corinthians 6:14-7:1

There are no areas we can label with restricted or denied access. We must surrender all and allow Him in every closet, corner, basement, and attic. He wants to go to any areas still hidden away in darkness in our souls to shine His Light on the lies that have caused us to remain vulnerable and susceptible to the enemy and have kept us in captivity to him in any way. He comes to heal us in every area where we’ve been wounded and broken, seek and save us in every way that we’re lost, deliver and free us in every way that we’re captive, and rebuild and restore our lives (Isaiah 61, Luke 4:14-21; 15; 19:10). As we live transparently before the Lord and walk through this process with Him, He can help us identify the root of every deception and will supply the exact sword of the Spirit from His Word needed to sever and uproot all the enemy has planted in our hearts and minds. He will speak the truth that can help us dismantle and demolish every prison stronghold constructed from the lies of the enemy and set us free from all bondage to him. When we hold to Jesus and His Word and truly follow Him, we will know the Truth and be set free (John 8). He desires to always lead us in triumphal procession, but we have to be willing to follow (James 1:21-27). He is faithful to always provide a way of escape and the divine power we need to take that path when we run to His throne of grace to receive His help (I Corinthians 10:13, Hebrews 4:14-16, II Peter 1:3-11). If we will follow, He will lead us to healing, deliverance, restoration, victory, and freedom as He destroys the works of the enemy against us and makes us trophies of His grace (II Corinthians 2:14-17, I John 3).

Is not My word like fire [that consumes all that cannot endure the test]? says the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks in pieces the rock [of most stubborn resistance]? Jeremiah 23:29

So Jesus said to those Jews who had believed in Him, If you abide in My word [hold fast to My teachings and live in accordance with them], you are truly My disciples. And you will know the Truth, and the Truth will set you free.

… Jesus answered them, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, Whoever commits and practices sin is the slave of sin. Now a slave does not remain in a household permanently (forever); the son [of the house] does remain forever. So if the Son liberates you [makes you free men], then you are really and unquestionably free. John 8:31-32, 34-36

So get rid of all uncleanness and the rampant outgrowth of wickedness, and in a humble (gentle, modest) spirit receive and welcome the Word which implanted and rooted [in your hearts] contains the power to save your souls. But be doers of the Word [obey the message], and not merely listeners to it, betraying yourselves [into deception by reasoning contrary to the Truth]. For if anyone only listens to the Word without obeying it and being a doer of it, he is like a man who looks carefully at his [own] natural face in a mirror; For he thoughtfully observes himself, and then goes off and promptly forgets what he was like. But he who looks carefully into the faultless law, the [law] of liberty, and is faithful to it and perseveres in looking into it, being not a heedless listener who forgets but an active doer [who obeys], he shall be blessed in his doing (his life of obedience). James 1:21-25

(see parts 1-3 of Overthrow the Enemy with the Breath of Your Mouth… for more encouragement to persevere in battle with the Word for any area of standing on God’s promises)

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to be continued… (see part 4 here)

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