Absolute Humility = Obsolete Pride

[for “Humble Gift of God”]

Humility is a virtue that really can’t hurt you
If you just let God search you, His Spirit will urge you
To walk the path of the meek ones – in His eyes, they’re not the weak ones
Your anointing will surely speak once you flow along with the Seeked One
Submit to all His dealings, eschew all of those feelings
Receive what He’s revealing, you are way past concealing
His fire that burns within you, His love is on the menu
Your heart is now the venue for meekness, strength and then you
Will take the oil of gladness to drive away the sadness
Eradicate the madness of pride -- the devil can't stand this
As you walk clothed in nobility He will give you the ability
To make pride a thing of history -- that's the power of humility
It's the kind that draws the attention of God and not to mention
Humility is a warrior's weapon -- go forth to war, God beckons!
Go, gift of God, go boldly! Go walk road of the lowly
Embrace the Father's love wholly -- you can be victor through Him only

Man of Promise

[for “One Who Flows on the Promises of God”]

Yes and Amen! – all His pledges are true;
each of His promises made unto you
Not one single word will be rendered void;
every single promise you will enjoy

When He says He'll be there, He’ll never leave
that promise is true; you can always believe
His pledge of provision, His oath to take care
He will bring to pass; He will make you aware

So move in His promises, He'll make you see,
each word that He utters will set people free
Walk on your journey believing His word,
bring change to the people you meet in this world

The promise that is in your name prophesied
is a promise that His name will be glorified
Sail on the bright oaths of God – yes, you will;
‘til each one you see in His time be fulfilled

Go forth, multiply your faith, man of promise;
God has raised you up for such a time as this
Flow on in the promises He gave to you
and impact the nations as He said you’d do

Intimacy Checks

The Lord reminded me of my intimacy level with Him today. With the flurry of things that I feel God has called me to do, it is easy to put aside the most important thing that I should do for and with Him -- that is to spend time with Him in prayer, in the Word and in worship.

Two of the most recent prophetic words on the Elijah List website were reminders of that. One was about God's jealousy for us, when other things start to remove Him from the number one spot in our hearts. The other is about the important of intimacy with the Lord as the key to a successful harvest.

The Lord God desires to be in an intimate relationship with Him -- Father to child. He desires for us to lay our head on His chest and just be in a loving embrace with Him. Sometimes I get to miss that out because of my "Martha" tendency, but I really love those time when I can just sit in the presence of the Lord and love on Him as He loves on my, like Mary did -- she found the better part.


Father, help me to maintain my intimate relationship with You no matter how busy I get, no matter what circumstances come into my life. You are all I need and my soul longs for You!

Lift Me Ups

I was really blessed to receive words of encouragement and blessing from two people from my congregation today.

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i salute you bro! you are always a blessing to the choir. I am amazed by your talents pwede ka soloist pwede tenor pwede bass. pwede serious actor, pwede pud comedian, very resourceful, articulate, humble, you never complain... that's why you are well loved by everybody! God bless you bro!

- - - - -

I know you are fully committed to MCF particularly to the worship ministry and we hope you will continue to be a blessing to many others. We thank you for being a good servant to the house of the Lord. God bless you in all your endeavors.

- - - - -


I give God the glory for this because He is the One who enables me to do all things through Christ!

Let the River Flow 2008: Positioning

Feb. 20, 2008 Wednesday 7:00 pm
Lindy Oliver

POSITIONING is being at that right place at the right time with the people we are to meet on that specific moment.

We are called to be history makers.

BIBLICAL EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE WHO POSITIONED THEMSELVES:

ZACCHAEUS, wealthy tax collector
LUKE 19:1-4
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 SO HE RAN AHEAD AND CLIMBED A SYCAMORE-FIG TREE TO SEE HIM, SINCE JESUS WAS COMING THAT WAY.

He was HUNGRY AND DESPERATE TO MEET THE MAN who healed the sick. He wanted an encounter with Jesus.

How hungry and desperate are you to encounter the King of kings? YOU’LL NEVER SEE JESUS IF YOU STAY WITH THE CROWD. WE HAVE TO POSITION OURSELVES ON HIGHER GROUND TO ENCOUNTER HIM.

Jesus is looking for those who are going out on a limb, seeking Him in desperation.

RUTH, a Moabite who married a backslidden Jew.
RUTH 1:15-17
15 "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is going back to her people and her gods. Go back with her." 16 But Ruth replied, "Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. WHERE YOU GO I WILL GO, AND WHERE YOU STAY I WILL STAY. YOUR PEOPLE WILL BE MY PEOPLE AND YOUR GOD MY GOD. 17 Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me."

RUTH SAW IN NAOMI THE PROMISE OF GOD. Even in a backslidden state, the glory of God can be manifested to touch peoples’ lives.

To become world shapers, we have to MAKE A COMMITMENT TO A GOD WE CANNOT SEE.
When you make a commitment to the Lord, He will put you in the right place at the right time for a harvest. God put Ruth in the field of Boaz, who was able to love her, provide for her and even buy back their land, giving her back her inheritance.

ESTHER, a Jew in Iraq
ESTHER 2:7
Mordecai had a cousin named Hadassah, whom he had brought up because she had neither father nor mother. This girl, who was also known as Esther, was lovely in form and features, and MORDECAI HAD TAKEN HER AS HIS OWN DAUGHTER when her father and mother died.

SHE SUBMITTED to Mordecai and that PLACED HER IN THE COURT OF THE KING

ESTHER 2:8-9
8 When the king's order and edict had been proclaimed, many girls were brought to the citadel of Susa and put under the care of Hegai. Esther also was taken to the king's palace and entrusted to Hegai, who had charge of the harem. 9 THE GIRL PLEASED HIM AND WON HIS FAVOR.

SHE SUBMITTED to Hegai and SHE WON HIS FAVOR.

SUBMISSION IS THE DOORWAY TO THE FAVOR OF GOD. YOU WANT TO BE RAISED UP AND PROMOTED, SUBMIT.

ESTHER 2:12
Before a girl's turn came to go in to King Xerxes, she had to complete twelve months of beauty treatments prescribed for the women, SIX MONTHS WITH OIL OF MYRRH AND SIX WITH PERFUMES AND COSMETICS.

POSITIONING REQUIRES DYING TO SELF (myrrh -has something to do with death) TO HAVE THE FRAGRANCE OF GOD

Esther was always asking, “Tell me…” “How can I…” She submitted herself all the way so that she became queen of Persia.

SUBMISSION PUT HER IN A PLACE OF AUTHORITY AND INFLUENCE.
Like Esther, God wants to position you for royalty, to deliver a nation.

To be positioned right with God, ask yourself these questions:

Are you hungry and desperate enough like Zacchaeus who is willing to take a risk?

Are you willing to commit and leave the familiar stuff like Ruth?

Are you submitted to those in authority over you and are you submitted to the process like Esther?

Let the River Flow 2008: Faith Bombs

Feb. 20, 2008 Wednesday 10:00 am
Pastor Rich Oliver

As a believer, we need to launch faith bombs, look for the fingerprints of God and ask, “What is God Doing?”

FAITH BOMBS WE CAN FOCUS OUR EYES ON:

GOD’S LOVE
The Father’s heart of love brings miracles.

Jesus is moved with compassion for the great multitude.

MATTHEW 14:14 When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, HE HAD COMPASSION ON THEM AND HEALED THEIR SICK.

THE POWER OF HIS LOVE IN US BRINGS FAVOR AND BLESSINGS that overtakes us.

Pursue His love every day. Decide it – desire it. It unlocks healing, provision, miracles, supernatural experiences, wisdom, the hidden mysteries of the Lord, grace upon grace.

His love will clothe you, deliver you, bless you, strengthen you, bring back the prodigals.

Make it your aim to know the love of the Lord.

COVENANT-KEEPING GOD
EPHESIANS 3:6 This mystery is that THROUGH THE GOSPEL THE GENTILES ARE HEIRS TOGETHER WITH ISRAEL, MEMBERS TOGETHER OF ONE BODY, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.

EPHESIANS 3:10-11 His intent was that now, through the church, the manifold wisdom of God should be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly realms, 11 ACCORDING TO HIS ETERNAL PURPOSE WHICH HE ACCOMPLISHED IN CHRIST JESUS OUR LORD.

EPHESIANS 3:16-19 I pray that out of His glorious riches He may strengthen you with power through His Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith . And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge — that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

He is always looking out for what’s best for you.

When you have a heart of compassion, when you cry tears in behalf of your family, your nation, your city, your declaration shifts things in the spiritual.

WE HAVE TO BE IN THE CORE OF WHO WE ARE, FILLED WITH THE LOVE OF GOD.

His promises are sure. It’s His very nature to do what He promises to do.

His promise of healing is already done, finished.

1 PETER 2:24 He himself bore our sins in His body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; BY HIS WOUNDS YOU HAVE BEEN HEALED.

We as spirit-filled Christians should STAND ON THE PROMISES OF GOD. If His promises are not real, then everything we have in life, which He spoke into existence, is not real.

THE WILL OF GOD
God uses us to bring Jesus into our world. Are we in His will concerning this?

FULFILLMENT OF PROPHETIC WORDS
ISAIAH 53:5 But He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him, AND BY HIS WOUNDS WE ARE HEALED.

Jesus is the realization of this prophecy.

Healing is for everyone.

MATTHEW 8:16-17 When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to Him, and He drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick. This was to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet Isaiah: "HE TOOK UP OUR INFIRMITIES AND CARRIED OUR DISEASES."

HE IS THE SAME YESTERDAY, TODAY, TOMORROW
HEBREWS 13:8 JESUS CHRIST IS THE SAME YESTERDAY AND TODAY AND FOREVER.

JAMES 1:17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who DOES NOT CHANGE LIKE SHIFTING SHADOWS.

REVELATION 1:18 I am the Living One; I was dead, and BEHOLD I AM ALIVE FOREVER AND EVER! And I hold the keys of death and Hades.

HEALING COMMISSION
He has commissioned us to work miracles in His name.
JOHN 14:12 I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in Me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father.

MARK 16:15, 18 He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation…..they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

Be a people who cry out to God for our calling.

GOD’S GOODNESS

We serve a good God.
MATTHEW 7:11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!

Even nature testifies of God’s goodness.
JAMES 1:17-18 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.

These gifts are to empower us, so that we do not speak on our own strength but on the authority of Jesus.
EPHESIANS 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us,…

GOD IS SOVEREIGN
ECCLESIASTES 8:3 Do not be in a hurry to leave the King's presence. Do not stand up for a bad cause, for He will do whatever He pleases.

Sovereign – Monarch, Supreme Ruler, Autonomous or Self-directed

He is Sovereign and He does what He pleases.

DESPERATION
MARK 5:24-28 The desperation of the woman with the issue of blood.
24 A large crowd followed and pressed around him. 25 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years. 26 She had suffered a great deal under the care of many doctors and had spent all she had, yet instead of getting better she grew worse. 27 When she heard about Jesus, she came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, 28 because she thought, "If I just touch his clothes, I will be healed."

MATTHEW 15:22-28 The desperation of the woman with a demon-possessed daughter
22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession." 23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us." 24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel." 25 The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said. 26 He replied, "It is not right to take the children's bread and toss it to their dogs." 27 "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table."

KINGDOM ADVANCEMENT
He does miracles to destroy the works of the enemy.
ACTS 10:38 …how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how HE WENT AROUND DOING GOOD AND HEALING ALL WHO WERE UNDER THE POWER OF THE DEVIL, because God was with Him.

1 JOHN 3:8 He who does what is sinful is of the devil, because the devil has been sinning from the beginning. THE REASON THE SON OF GOD APPEARED WAS TO DESTROY THE DEVIL'S WORK.

You and I are called to lay hands on the sick, preach and proclaim the good news and to set free those in bondage.

HOW TO MAINTAIN HEALING:

PRAISE, PRAYER AND WORSHIP helps you maintain healing.

MEDITATE ON AND LIVE BY GOD’S WORD. Meditation brings revelations, revelation brings healing manifestation, healing brings encouragement to the heart from which the mouth speaks.

PROVERBS 4:23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.

MATTHEW 12:34 For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks .

LUKE 6:45 For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks .

CONSTANTLY PURSUE HIS PRESENCE AND POWER inside and outside the church walls. We owe the world an encounter with God.

What I believe after I pray is as important as what I believe while I am praying.

Every problem is an opportunity for a miracle and to show the world HOW BIG OUR GOD IS. We’ve got to be a people of DISCIPLINED PRAYER, PRAISE AND WORSHIP.

Discipline will bring you to a place where God’s glory dwells. Regularly invite His presence in your life.

Let the River Flow 2008: Called to Be Miracle Workers

Feb. 19, 2008 Tuesday 7:00 pm
Pastor Rich Oliver

Spread revival and restoration now.

Have an INTENSE PASSION FOR JESUS and an incredible hate for the devil to IMPACT THE WORLD.

YOU CAN’T BE AN OVERCOMER IF YOU HAVE NOTHING TO OVERCOME. RISK IN THE LORD. STEP OUT and pray for someone for healing, for deliverance, for restoration, for a miracle in Jesus.

Miracle is from a Latin word that means “A WONDER, A DIVINE INTERVENTION IN HUMAN AFFAIRS.”

THE CALLINGS OF A BELIEVER:

SIGNS ACCOMPANY BELIEVERS.
MARK 16:17-18 NIV AND THESE SIGNS WILL ACCOMPANY THOSE WHO BELIEVE: In my name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well."

BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO DO MIRACULOUS ACTS.
1 CORINTHIANS 12:8-10 To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, TO ANOTHER MIRACULOUS POWERS,..

BELIEVERS ARE CALLED TO BE WITNESSES.
ACTS 1:8 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."

BELIEVERS ARE MIRACLE WORKERS AND CAN EVEN DO MORE.
JOHN 14:12-13 12 I tell you the truth, ANYONE WHO HAS FAITH IN ME WILL DO WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING. HE WILL DO EVEN GREATER THINGS THAN THESE, BECAUSE I AM GOING TO THE FATHER.

THINGS TO DO TO BE A MIRACLE WORKER:

Believe that JESUS DESIRES TO MANIFEST MIRACLES TODAY
PRAY FOR THE LORD TO WORK MIRACLES THROUGH YOU for the glory of His Name
MARK 11:24-25 24 Therefore I tell you, WHATEVER YOU ASK FOR IN PRAYER, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.

If you are going to risk, FIND A NEED AND DECLARE WITH FAITH THE PROMISES OF GOD INTO THAT NEED. WE’RE TO HEAL THE SICK.

MATTHEW 10:8 HEAL THE SICK, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

MARK 16:18 … THEY WILL PLACE THEIR HANDS ON SICK PEOPLE, AND THEY WILL GET WELL."

ACTION IS IMPORTANT. BELIEVING IS NOT ENOUGH BECAUSE FAITH WITHOUT WORKS IS DEAD.

JAMES 2:20 You foolish man, do you want evidence that FAITH WITHOUT DEEDS IS USELESS?

We are called to say that as the river of life flows, I will be involved in the move of God because faith without action is dead.

PERSEVERE IN YOUR FAITH and in the operations of healing miracles.

Keep sharing even when you don’t seem to see any results. The result and the time is not up to us, it’s up to God.

Minister to as many people as you can.

Out of us will flow rivers of living waters. BECOME BELIEVING BELIEVERS, a follower of Jesus Christ. Do not be moved by lack of results. Keep pressing in. Continue to do the work of miracles.

WORSHIP THE LORD AS A MIRACLE WORKING GOD.

Ask Him to let you see Him as a miracle working God.

LAUNCH FAITH BOMBS IN THE MIDDLE OF CHALLENGES.

Let His wisdom and grace carry you throughout any of your circumstances.

You have the faith of Christ within your born again spirit and in Him, you can do all things.

He strengthens you and enables you to be an overcomer.
Say to yourself “I WILL BREAKTHROUGH AS I FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH.” (1 TIMOTHY 6:12 FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF THE FAITH. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.)

Let the River Flow 2008: Kingdom Vision

Feb. 19, 2008 Tuesday 10:00 am
Pastor Rich Oliver

Kingdom - His rule, His power, His reign

God wants to see our government, our community, our schools changed.

God has transformed us and called us to be world transformers.

God is looking for people who will go where He goes and will say, "Lord, what are we going to do now?"

A revelation in our spirit about God's Kingdom will teach us about all we need to know.

CHARACTERISTICS OF KINGDOM PEOPLE:

Kingdom people have a GENUINE RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LORD THROUGH PRAYER.

It’s not just about God knowing our heart, it is also about KNOWING WHAT IS IN GOD'S HEART.

EVERY MOVE OF GOD BEGINS WITH PRAYER.

Breakthroughs come when you have the HABIT OF PRAYER.

Kingdom people have prayer as a CORE IN THEIR LIFE.

Kingdom people RECEIVE REVELATION FROM GOD... it is supernatural.

Expect dreams and visions from God. He has something for us; EXPECT GOD TO TELL YOU WHAT YOU DON'T KNOW.

The young do not have any preconceived ideas of how things are going to be done. We need to have that kind of spirit in us that says, "LORD OPEN THE EYES OF MY HEART. I WANT TO KNOW YOUR POWER."

Kingdom people are WILLING TO BREAK TRADITIONS.

We need to ALLOW GOD TO CHANGE OUR WHOLE THINKING just like He did to Peter. He broke the traditions of religion and society FROM A RIGHT HEART.

We need to SUBMIT OUR HEART TO GOD TO SEE HIS KINGDOM ADVANCE.

Pray for a teachable and accountable spirit.

Kingdom people LISTEN FOR GOD TO SPEAK.

God gives vision for a purpose. We have to wait on the Lord and ASK GOD TO UNDERSTAND THE DREAM.

Ask God and WAIT FOR THE REVELATION TO COME.

Kingdom people have EARS TO HEAR. We don’t have to keep moving when God is not moving.
YOU NEED WISDOM TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE VISION.

Pray for understanding with the vision.

Kingdom people OBEY THE LORD.

God is doing a new thing in our midst. We need to KNOW THE VOICE OF THE LORD and must BE WILLING TO OBEY THE VOICE OF THE HOLY SPIRIT.

RADICAL BREAKTHROUGH REQUIRES RADICAL OBEDIENCE. He is looking for a people of faith who TRUSTS AND OBEYS BEFORE THEY KNOW.

OBEDIENCE TELLS THE FATHER THAT YOU LOVE HIM AND TRUST IN HIM.

Our relationship with Him is BASED ON FAITH RATHER THAN KNOWLEDGE.

Kingdom people are WILLING TO BE CHANGED.

More and more people will WANT TO BELONG BEFORE THEY BELIEVE.

We have to be willing to CHANGE OUR VIEW OF THE KIND OF PEOPLE GOD WILL SAVE. We have to ACCEPT EVERYONE because God's Kingdom is bigger than what we picture in our mind. We should purposely embrace these changes.

Pray for a willingness to be changed.

Kingdom people LIVE IN THE SPIRIT.

We need to LISTEN, WALK AND LIVE IN THE HOLY SPIRIT. He will take you right to the edge.

His interest is FOR US TO GO TO PLACES WE WILL NEVER GO ON OUR OWN.

Kingdom people RELY ON THE HOLY SPIRIT FOR DIRECTION AND FOR EMPOWERMENT.

Kingdom people RECEIVE SPIRITUAL UNDERSTANDING.

Ask God for SPIRITUAL SIGHT.

DONT STOP AND BE CONTENTED WITH THE REVELATION.

Kingdom people ARE ACCOUNTABLE.

There is SAFETY IN ACCOUNTABILITY.

Pray that you are an accountable Christian so that greater revival is released.

Kingdom people PRAISE GOD TOGETHER FOR BREAKTHROUGHS.

REJOICE WITH ONE ANOTHERS' VICTORY, HEALING AND PROPHETIC INSIGHTS because we are called to be A FAMILY OF GOD that SPEAKS REVIVAL AND BREAKTHROUGH INTO OUR NATION TOGETHER.

Today's Word is...

...CONSUMING FIRE!

Salvador del Mundo

I try to save the world.


That's my problem.


But I'm not the Savior...


...Jesus is!