The Downward Spiral

Choir Bible Study Notes
October 10, 2009
from UBS's sharing...

Passages lifted from the letter to the HEBREWS

The discussion outlined the steps that take place that leads a person to fall away from God...

...first, a person DRIFTS FROM THE WORD

...then he DOUBTS THE WORD

...after a while his spirit becomes DULL TO THE WORD

...which subsequently leads the person to DESPISE THE WORD

...finally, the person DEFIES THE WORD

Revival Service Notes: October 6, 2009

from HWL's preaching...


- God is putting a stop to things that are unproductive in our lives

- 2010 is a year of being launched into something long term

- there will be deliverance from demonic things

- God has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in CHRIST

- GOD is a Planner, Preparer, God of freedom, Predestinator, Positioner and Workout-er

- HE chose you and me in His SOVEREIGNTY

- it's really, REALLY, REALLY all about HIM

- DO NOT SETTLE FOR LESS because God wants to give you THE BEST

- do not allow the FLESH to DISTRACT you from GOD'S PURPOSES

- Romans 8:26... God helps u in our weakness

- lift your vision higher to the spiritual

- stop focusing on your weakness

Revival Service Notes: September 22, 2009

from JBD's sermon...

- the WORD of God has the POWER to ADJUST your LIFE

- God release the Holy Spirit to enable you to live SUPERNATURALLY

- everything is in the SPIRIT

- the entire BIBLE reveals JESUS CHRIST

- the forces of darkness will assail but they will never prevail

- the wisdom of the world is foolishness to GOD

- HIS purposes will prevail but we have to partner with HIM

- the BATTLE is in the MIND; once the MIND is set, get your sails ready

- the WORD cuts both ways -- it slices the speaker and the hearer

- do not worry about money because JESUS is your SHEPHERD

ADTT Lesson on the Dominion Mandate

ADTT Lesson on the Dominion Mandate As taught by Pastor Joseph B. DiSarno To Batch A3 of the Apostolic Discipleship Training Track November 5, 2008


- Jesus is the second Adam but He was able to tend the “garden” without failure

- JBD mentioned the difference between “foreknowledge” and “pre-destination”
-----> Jesus “knew” Judas but He still loved him

- Jesus received ALL authority and He commanded us to GO

- Jesus used that authority and He took dominion…
-----> over His flesh [Mark 1:12-13]
-----> over temptation and the devil [Mark 1:12-13]
~~~~~~~~~> Jesus did not believe the lies of the devil
~~~~~~~~~> the devil tempts us with things that God already gave us
-----> over unclean spirits [Mark 1:23-27]
-----> over sickness and diseases [Mark 1:29-33]
-----> over leprosy [Mark 1:41]
-----> over sin by releasing forgiveness [Mark 2:1-5]
-----> over legalism [Mark 2:28]
-----> over the elements (wind, waves) [Mark 4:39]
-----> over death [Mark 5:41]
-----> in producing after His own kind [Mark 6:7-13]
-----> over poverty and lack [Mark 6:37]
+ cooperate with whatever you have left. He will multiply it
-----> over the laws of science [Mark 6:48]
-----> over deafness and blindness [Mark 7]



ADTT Lesson on the Dominion Mandate, part 2 As taught by Pastor Gertrudes C. Hinampas To Batch A3 of the Apostolic Discipleship Training Track November 12, 2008


- Matthew 28:16-20, the Great Commission
-----> Jesus gave instructions
-----> He reminded and assured His disciples of His presence
-----> He commissioned them to GO to ALL the NATIONS to…
~~~~~~~~~> Make disciples – teach, train, equip and disciple
~~~~~~~~~> Baptize them
~~~~~~~~~> Teach obedience to His commands

- A parallel account of the Great Commission is in Mark 16:14-18, where Jesus says…
-----> Signs will accompany His disciples. They will
~~~~~~~~~> Drive out demons
~~~~~~~~~> Speak in new tongues
~~~~~~~~~> Pick up snakes and drink poison without being harmed
~~~~~~~~~> Lay hands on the sick and they will be healed

- We are to step out in faith and take dominion over the things around us

- Jesus promised the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 and fulfilled in Acts 2:1-6

God is Raising Up the Men

Kim Clement:"There is About to Be a Huge Revival with Men in the Kingdom—Fathers, Husbands, Entrepreneurs and Leaders All Included"

[from the Elijah List website]

"God says there's an unusual movement that's going to take place with men. Wholeness will be restored so that once again industry can be laid aside for the hands of those who are righteous and diligent; to bring purity once again to the pulpits across the Earth. It's going to take a man, just like you. Show me that man."—Spoken in Chicago, Illinois, August 28, 2009 (for the full versions of the prophecies, see the bottom of this article)

Dear Friends,

After a short absence from my ministry duties, I have returned and hit the ground running. My son Caleb entered the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in August, and after settling him in to his dormitory with mixed feelings, I went to San Jose on Sunday morning and ministered at Pastor Dick Bernal's church, Jubilee Christian Center. What took place that morning was nothing more than an outpouring of divine knowledge, and what resonated out of my spirit and my mouth was probably more of a surprise to me than anyone else.

I have discovered over the years that if God wants to address difficult subjects or controversial issues, He will not share it in advance but simply wait for the perfect moment, then breathe on His servant and release the word that has been dormant within. Sunday morning, August 16th, I woke up with unusual anticipation and expectation. I had prepared a great message in the hope that God would bypass the usual "surprise" revelation that so often accompanies the prophet's ministry and allow me to expound my "vast" theological knowledge with structured exegesis. But no, it was not to be. He had something to say and He was not going to tell me in advance. So during the music, and under a tremendous anointing, I began prophesying about an incredible move of God that would take place amongst the men in the Kingdom—fathers, husbands, entrepreneurs, leaders, etc.

Soon, an excitement arose as I declared from the Holy Spirit how God was going to restore the priestly anointing to the men of this nation again. I felt a deep compassion in my heart as I felt the pain that men were feeling because of their feelings of inadequacy and the awareness of their flaws and failures. Then came a moment I will never forget. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, I began singing a song that God the Father was singing to the thousands of men who had now gathered around this vast altar. The song was about how God felt when He had to turn His back on His only Son. It was such a moving moment for any father and for us as the benefactors of that incredible moment in history. (You can view this song on my website on KCTV Videos on Demand from San Jose, CA — August 16, 2009.)

The Lord is Going to Move Upon the Men and Restore Them Back to Their High Priestly Positions

Christ predicted that "men would be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God," and I believe that this would be a sign for us to look up for the redemption to come. Presently, it seems that there is a preoccupation with the need to fulfill emptiness with various kinds of material pleasures. There is no problem with enjoying our life and the various toys available for our enjoyment, but when it removes our love for God and the desire to be with Him, then it is a problem.

When he was a lad, long before he was anointed as the King of Israel, David would use his harp to worship God. And when he became King, he always found time to play his songs and write the inspirational psalms to God as he did when he was in the fields and caves. Sure he enjoyed hunting, sport and whatever recreational activities there were at that time, but his legacy were his songs and psalms that he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and his ability to protect Israel from their enemies as he did when he was a young boy—protecting his father's sheep from wolves, lions and bears.

David sinned, but when he was confronted with the sin, he took full responsibility for it and rose to the occasion by sorrowful repentance. God used David to bring Christ into the Earth as a result of his heart and faithfulness towards God. Samson, on the other hand, found more pleasure in the Philistine women than he did in God's destiny and plan for his life. His eyes were torn from their sockets, which represents spiritual blindness to us in this day. He spent most of his days working a mule's job at a grinding mill, basically going around in circles. Eventually he did fulfill God's purpose and will, but only after he had lost everything, and with great shame and embarrassment.

Today, very seldom will you hear someone refer to Samson as the great deliverer of Israel, but rather as the Samson of "Samson and Delilah", sadly. It appears to me that there are many men that are in this position today and I believe that God wants them fully restored and anointed. Marriages are falling apart, churches are shutting their doors, attorneys are getting richer from unnecessary bankruptcies, and women are having to step up to the plate and salvage the mess (no disrespect to women).

When I heard the Lord say He was going to move upon the men and restore them back to their High Priestly positions, I knew that it was going to be a huge undertaking. Over the years there have been wonderful movements involving only men; Edwin Cole and Bill McCartney were instrumental in reaching into the hearts of men and bringing an awareness of their role as High Priests of their homes. It seems that since these movements have ended their season, now the lack of "watchmen on the wall" has caused many of the problems we are facing in the Body of Christ today. Please don't think that I'm judging in any way; I am simply obeying what I heard in San Jose on that Sunday morning. Men need a breakthrough! I didn't plan what was spoken on that Sunday morning; it was the cry of God's heart.

God is Crying Out and Looking for a Man After His Own Heart

Thank God for the great movements with the youth so graciously and powerfully led by men like Lou Engle and Che Ahn, just to mention a few. These moves of the Spirit are vital and we must continue to bear them up in prayer so that this never dwindles. My burden, however, is if the men do not fulfill their role as fathers, husbands and spiritual leaders so that God can strengthen the Church and the values that we represent in this Nation, the youth will be morally stifled and spiritually dysfunctional.

Mothers have had to become fathers and fathers have had to become mothers to accommodate the infidelity and incompatibility that now seems to be rampant in so many marriages. Young men look up to the spiritual leaders to follow in their footsteps, and in many cases these spiritual leaders have abandoned the simple responsibilities of being fathers, husbands, Priests and Kings because of, in most cases, the love of pleasure. Those who have failed in this area are not condemned but are able to be spiritually restored, not only by the power of God's grace but with a spirit of meekness from their spiritual peers. I am fully aware of the fact that any one of us could fall, and so with fear and trembling I approach this very sensitive subject.

Galatians 6:1 says, "Brothers, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."

Please notice what Paul says here: "Considering yourself lest you also be tempted." In other words, if you would dare to judge or condemn someone who has fallen, instead of approaching them with humility and gentleness, it is possible that you will be tempted and more than likely fall. We have seen this happen time and time again with leading ministries in America.

I am honored and privileged that God chose to speak this powerful prophetic word through me and I claim it for myself, my sons and the men of God surrounding me. I have attached below the words to another prophetic song that the Spirit of God sang through me in Chicago—"Give Me a Man." In this song, God is crying out and looking for a man after His own heart.

I encourage you, and even challenge you, to grasp a hold of this for yourself, your husband, your father, your son, and let the chosen men of God rise up and claim their position and promise from God. I pray that God would continue to ignite the hearts of men across this Nation and the nations of the world and that this movement would continue and spread throughout the Earth.

Give me a man who will show his son My hand
Give me a man who will pray for his nation
Give me a man who will love his wife
I'll show you a man after My heart

Give me a man who will reach into his daughter's heart
And show what life will be
When she finds a man and she changes to a woman

Give me a man who will find the place on his knees
And I'll show you a man after My heart
Give me that man

I'll find a man who will cry out for the priest
Give me a man who will shed a tear as he worships Me
I'll show you a man, just like Me

In This Nation There Will Be an Extreme, Unusual Movement Amongst the Men

Prophesied on August 28, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois:

The Spirit of God says there is a mighty army coming forth. God says, "There is about to be a huge revival with men. Men should be greatly touched. Men will begin to shout out, men will begin to dance like David danced, and pray like Daniel prayed."

When Edwin Cole died, many men began to pull away from the great truth that he taught. Ed Cole nurtured men, and then there was a great men's movement again. Suddenly it went. But the Lord says, "This time I shall raise up men, gather them together, and Priests of the Most High God shall be raised up," says the Lord.

Prophesied on September 1, 2009 in Tampa, Florida:

The Spirit of the Lord says, "Hear the word of the Lord tonight. For I am not here to bring shame to anybody, I'm not here to bring anybody down. There has been a theft and the priestly garments that once stood to sanctify the pure have been defiled; ashes have come upon them.

"This nation is about to have an eruption of the priestly anointing. Men shall rise to the occasion. I'm not talking about the men in the pulpits; I'm talking about men in industry, men in artistry, men in ministry, but most of all men in family. I'm about to bring together men from all over the nation. I will cast upon them an anointing. They will pray again, they will seek My face, and the authority shall arise back into this nation. Men shall take their stand, they shall say, 'We will pray,' and they will fight."

God says, "Because they have chosen to do that, I will bring a fresh new anointing into the house. This is My promise," says the Lord. "You shall see fallen ones raised up. You will see young men who have gone away come back. I cast upon you a mantle as I walked into the field of rejoicing, where Elisha stood and I cast My mantle upon him, so," God says, "tonight I will cast my mantle upon the men that stand for their families and will pray. In this nation there will be an extreme, unusual movement amongst the men. Ed Cole brought it before, T.D. Jakes brought it to the women, many came to speak to women and men, but this thing that I am about to do will shake the very core of this nation. Shake it."

With love and prayer,

Kim Clement
Prophetic Image Expressions
Email: hope@kimclement.com

Breaking Through Into A New Thing

from the Elijah List


John Belt: "Breaking Through Into A New Thing"

Isaiah 43:18-19, Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

The Number Three

Three is a very significant number in Scripture. Three times is fullness. Three times represents completion. The Godhead—Father, Son and Spirit, is the fullness of God. We are composed of spirit, soul and body. There is completeness as all of these function together in unison in worship to God.

It was three days when Jesus came forth from the grave. The third day represents resurrection, a divine release of the Spirit and power, for it was the Spirit that raised Jesus after three days. Jesus was tempted three times by the devil, then He was released into His power ministry on the earth. Because Jesus walked out a life of faithfulness to His Father He was launched into the new place of power ministry. As we have been faithful to the Lord, He is taking us and causing us to break through into a new season. God has new things in store. His timing is perfect. He is ready to release a fresh wind and glory of His Spirit.

1 Samuel 2:35, And I will raise Me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in Mine heart and in My mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before Mine anointed for ever.

New Shoes to Run

Hebrews 12:1-2, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith...

God is giving us new shoes to run for His purposes. There is work to be done for the Kingdom of God. For the next round of obedience new shoes are being given. There is something about a nice new pair of tennis shoes. I love the fresh smell of them. There is a nice bounce from a pair that has not been worn. God is ready to put a bounce in our step as we obey Him, forerunning for His purposes without compromise. As we do, His glory will be released, His Kingdom will be expanded, and His Church will be built.

Warriors, Defenders, Purity and Revelation

God takes us on a journey to come to a place of purity, revelation and glory. He is now releasing those who have been prepared as warriors and defenders of the faith. We are to be continually taking ground for the Kingdom of God as we position ourselves in the place that He has called us to. It is a time to be sober, diligent, given to excellence, walking in Godly character, shunning manipulations and corrupt motives of the heart, being filled with grace and walking in the light of His love and goodness.

The pure in heart shall see God. Those who love the pure Word of God, His promises and His Presence, will be those He can trust with the riches of His glory and power.

Psalm 24:3-6, Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek Him, that seek Thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

As our hearts are washed in His pure waters the revelation of His goodness, blessing and grace will rest upon us as we continually experience His person, opening our eyes to see from His heavenly perspective.

Revelation 1:10-11, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last..."

Glory

The glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. We are the vessels of His glory. As His glory, the manifested presence of God fills us, and we act as conduits of the substance of Heaven wherever we go.

2 Peter 1:17-18, For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." And this voice which came from Heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.

With the weapons of worship and wielding the Word of His authority, we will war in the spirit to accomplish the purposes of God. He gives us all the backing we need as we place Him first in our heart without common ground with the enemy. It is in this place that we will obtain the victory in our hearts, and then into the earth where He will draw men to Himself. It is all for His plan, Kingdom and glory—that Jesus Christ would be magnified in the eyes of all.

For His Glory!


John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries
Email: admin@liveinhispresence.com

NASA and the Bible

From a forwarded email.


I thought this was pretty amazing and interesting.

For all the scientists out there, and for all the students who have a hard time convincing these people regarding the truth of the Bible, here's something that shows God's awesome creation, and that He is still in control.

Did you know that the space program is busy proving that what has been called A 'myth ' in the Bible is true?

Mr. Harold Hill, President of the Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore, Maryland, and a consultant in the space program, relates the following development

I think one of the most amazing things that God has done for us t today happened recently to our astronauts and space scientists at Green Belt, Maryland .

They were checking out where the positions of the sun, moon, and planets would be 100 years and 1,000 years from now. We have to know this so we won't send up a satellite and have it bump into something later on in its orbits.

We have to lay out the orbits in terms of the life of the satellite and where the planets will be so the whole thing will not bog down.

They ran the computer measurement back and forth over the centuries and it came to a halt. The computer stopped and put up a red signal, which meant that there was something wrong with either the information fed into it or with the results as compared to the standards.

They called in the service department to check it out and they said, "What's wrong?" Well, they found there is a day missing in space in elapsed time.

They scratched their heads and tore their hair out. There was no answer.

Finally, a Christian man on the team said, "You know, one time I was in Sunday School and they talked about the sun standing still." While they didn't believe him, they didn't have an answer either, so they said, "Show us." He got a Bible and went to the book of Joshua where they found a pretty ridiculous statement for any one with 'common sense.' There they found the Lord saying to "Joshua, Fear them not, I have delivered them into thy hand; there shall not a man of them stand before Thee."

Joshua was concerned because he was surrounded by the enemy! And if darkness fell, they would overpower them. So, Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still! That's right.. 'The sun stood still and the moon stayed and lasted not to go down about a whole day!' (Joshua 10:12-13)

The astronauts and scientists said, "There is the missing day!" They checked the computers going back into the time it was written and found it was close but not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing back in Joshua's day was 23 hours and 20 minutes, not a whole day.

They read the Bible, and there it was about (approximately) a day. These little words in the Bible are important, but they were still in trouble because if you cannot account for 40 minutes, you'll still be in trouble 1000 years from now.

Forty minutes had to be found because it can be multiplied many times over in orbits. As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered somewhere in the Bible where it said the sun went BACKWARDS.

The scientists told him he was out of his mind, but they got out the Book and read these! Words in 2 Kings that told of the following story: Hezekiah, on his deathbed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for a sign as proof. Isaiah said, "Do you want the sun to go ahead 10 degrees?"

Hezekiah said, "It is nothing for the sun to go ahead 10 degrees but let the shadow return backward 10 degrees."

Isaiah spoke to the Lord, and the Lord brought the shadow ten degrees BACKWARD!

Ten degrees is exactly 40 minutes!

Twenty-three hours and 20 minutes in Joshua, plus 40 minutes in Second Kings make the missing day in the universe! Isn't it amazing?

References: Joshua 10:8, 12, 13 and 2 Kings 20:9-11.

Forward this to as many people who you believe would think this is equally as cool.

If God could do this then, how much more can he do for us today if we only believe in his word?

Kathi Pelton: The Blessings of an Obedient Life

from the Elijah List website [www.elijahlist.com]


Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God...—Deuteronomy 28:1-2

It is the Lord's desire to bless His people! His blessings upon our lives are not just "wishful thinking" in the minds of Believers, but they are God's promises to His children who will live according to all the words that He has spoken to us. If you have been in a season of testing and refining (and I'm sure that most of you have), then do not lose heart, because your season of testing is unto a release of a lifetime of blessings.

Though I cannot speak to each of you individually, I can speak to the larger Body of Christ and say that we have sometimes been a bit "hard of hearing" in the past season. Though I know that we have walked in the level of discernment that we have known, there is a maturing coming upon us which is releasing a greater ability to hear.

In the past season, there has been grace to walk in a mixture of natural logic and understanding as well as God's knowledge and wisdom. But as we are going through this season of refinement, I have found that many I talk to these days are not satisfied with any mixture, but in each decision they only want God's wisdom. It is as if there has been a "crossing over" from the wilderness into the Promised Land; but before possessing the land there had to be a circumcision in our lives in order to prepare us to walk only by His instructions.

God's Ways Are Not Our Ways

Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in. The LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors. You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.

"Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

"It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead."—Joshua 6:1-5

Let's face it—there is no mixture of man's logic or wisdom in these instructions! But, God's ways are not our ways. God had a plan to reveal His power as His children obeyed His voice—not the voice of logic but the voice of God.

God's instructions to Joshua were ridiculous in the eyes of men. What kind of strategy is there in marching around a city for days, and then letting out a shout? If your goal is to be mocked by those on the walls of that city, it is a great strategy! But, God wasn't concerned about showing the strength of men, but rather showing His glory and power in the midst of the weakness of men who were simply willing to obey.

My husband and I feel a bit like those who marched around the walls of Jericho right now, because what the Lord has asked us to do looks like absolute foolishness, even to us. But, like Joshua, we know that we have heard the voice of our God, and so we obey. The amazing thing is that, just as the walls of Jericho fell, all that God has spoken to us will happen too. Obedience releases miracles!

The Blessings

Deuteronomy 27:9-13 recounts how God separated the tribes on two mountains to release both the curses of disobedience and the blessings of obedience:

Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, "Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the LORD your God. You shall therefore obey the LORD your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today."

Moses also charged the people on that day, saying, "When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. For the curse, these shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali."

This did not happen prior to the crossing of the Jordan River; but as soon as the crossing over had taken place, God "raised the bar" of obedience. The consequences of disobedience were greater, but the blessings of an obedient life were (and still are) amazing. Let's look at the blessings that God releases upon those who keep His commandments:

Deuteronomy 28

If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God.

Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field.

Blessed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock.

Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading trough.

Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out.

The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

The Lord shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouse and in all that you undertake. And He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

The Lord will establish you as a people holy to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.

And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name (and in the presence of) the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.

And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity, through the fruit of your body, of your livestock, and of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.

The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them.

And you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

I believe that over the past couple of years the Body of Christ has experienced a time of "crossing over," a time of circumcision, and a time of consecration that requires a higher level of hearing and obeying the voice of His instructions. Hearing and obeying is the key to great blessings. This is a time that we need to flee from any place of presumption in our lives. We cannot just go about our days in the ways that we used to. We must stop, listen and obey, even when we do not understand His instructions.

The Purification

Now that I have your attention with all of these wonderful blessings in store for us, let me address the process of purification that we have been going through leading up to this point in time. Let's go back to when the Israelites crossed the Jordan in Deuteronomy 27:2-7:

So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime and write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over, so that you may enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.

So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up on Mount Ebal, these stones, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime.

Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool on them.

You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God; and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God.

Prior to the release of the blessings of obedience in Deuteronomy 28, God first gives instructions of how to build an altar of stones to Him on which His law will be written. I believe that these verses are a picture of the "living stones" that God is preparing at this time.

In verse 2 they are instructed with these words, "...shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime..." These were large stones because they were not to be cut by the tools of man, but they were to remain uncut. Even today, God is restoring us back to the form that He originally intended for us. He is healing us from the areas in our lives that have been distorted by the hands of man's "tools" or religious ways.

Then the stones were "coated with lime" (which makes a plaster to hold them together). Here is the Hebrew definition of lime:

The Hebrew word so rendered means "boiling" or "effervescing." From Isaiah 33:12 it appears that lime was made in a kiln lighted by thorn-bushes. In Amos 2:1 it is recorded that the king of Moab "burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime." The same Hebrew word is used in Deuteronomy 27:2-4, and is there rendered "plaster." Limestone is the chief constituent of the mountains of Syria. (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

Once again, we as living stones are being coated with lime as the plaster that will usher in the unity that Jesus prays for in John 17:20-21: I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

The lime is made in a kiln lit by thorn-bushes, and this represents the fiery kiln that we have been in to prepare us during this past season. The "thorn-bushes" in our lives are being burned away and creating the fire for this preparation. I know that personally I have been quite surprised by the "thorns" that I became aware of in this past year that I had no idea were present in my life. I also have experienced a "burning away" of these thorns in my life that could have posed a threat to God's plans for me in the days ahead. Plus, how can you be "one" or in unity with someone whose life is like a thorn bush? Have you ever hugged a rose bush? They are beautiful to look at, but not to embrace.

I remember when my youngest son was four or five years old, he was learning to ride his bicycle without training wheels. On his first loop around our cul-de-sac he did great, but the second time around he crashed straight into a rose bush. We could barely see his little body that now was "one" with this thorn bush. If it wasn't bad enough seeing him crash into it, it was even worse getting him out of it. His entire body was scratched and bleeding from the thorns tearing into his flesh. Sometimes interacting with others has been like crashing into a thorn-bush; it rips and tears going in and coming out. This has been a huge obstacle in seeing the desire of Jesus to have us "be one as (He) and the Father are one."

In God's mercy and love He has allowed the thorn-bushes in our lives to become the fuel to refine us into what the Master Potter desires us to be. We will not be vessels formed by the hands of man but by the hands of God. I hope that I am painting a picture through the Word of God regarding what His people have been facing in this past season. It is not unto despair but unto great blessings and promises fulfilled.

Move into the Blessings

Beloved, now is the time to allow the completion of this refining process and preparation. Surrender to the Potter's skilled hands, allow yourself to be restored to being an "uncut" living stone, allow the thorn-bushes to be burned away and the lime to be poured over you for the sake of unity. Then let the "blessings" that the Lord desires to overtake you be released upon you as you live by every word that He speaks to you. Remember—all of His promises are "Yes and Amen!"

I would like to encourage you to read and declare the blessings in Deuteronomy 28 over your lives, your families, your relationships, your work and ministries each day. This is a time to offer a sacrifice of rejoicing to Him and to agree with every promise and blessing that He has offered His children.

I call Heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.—Deuteronomy 30:19 (Amplified Bible)

Today...choose blessings and choose life!

Kathi Pelton
Light Streams Ministries
Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net

Love in the Form of a Rebuke

One of the more difficult aspects of being a cell group leader based on my experience is in the area of correcting and rebuking the young men under me. The frequent questions that come to my mind whenever I sense that one of the guys need 'a talk' are: "Lord, is this you wanting to correct them?", "how do I rebuke in love?", and "how far does the spiritual spanking go?"

I'm still somewhat getting used to the truth that discipline is a part of loving someone, and being a single guy with no biological children pretty much lends itself to the challenge of learning how to dispense rebuke with a father's heart. But as a leader and a maturing Christian who continues to learn daily, I want to immerse myself in all the ways that I can grow. This area of rebuking the ones I love is definitely one I need to learn more of.

Being submitted to a cell group leader myself has taught me that receiving rebuke is part of the discipleship process. As I have several times been corrected by my leaders, I have not only become better in the areas where wrongs were set straight but I have also become wiser and more equipped to administer admonitions.

I have had the privilege of talking to some of the guys in the cell group to point out certain behaviors and attitudes that are not in alignment with God's word. Most of the time I approach this situation with fear and trembling. But whenever I ask the Holy Spirit to check the motives of my heart before taking time to rebuke someone, I get reminded that the Bible tells us to teach a child what is right so that he will not deviate from it later on (Proverbs 22:6), and that even God the Father disciplines us when we go wrong because He loves us (Proverbs 3:11-12).

When these words come alive in my heart, I begin to get the assurance that, like my Father in heaven, I am correcting one of my guys out of love, out of the desire to see them become better than they are now and become the men God made them to be. I believe that when I admonish them in accordance to God's word, I am doing what I see my Father do - showing love in every possible way, even if it means meting out reproof.

There is still a lot for me to learn about the whole "discipline-the-ones-you-love" aspect of leadership, but I find encouragement in Proverbs 27:5, which says, "Open rebuke is better than secret love." I hope you do too.

Notes on ADTT Kingdom Series

- from the Kingdom Series lessons taught by Pastor Joseph DiSarno during the Apostolic Discipleship Training Track classes of batch A3


Introduction to Kingdom Concepts
June 18, 2008

- Jesus starts His ministry by declaring, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

- later on He says, “the Kingdom of God is among you.”

- the Kingdom of God is NOW but NOT YET

- the Kingdom has to be PROCLAIMED and DEMONSTRATED

- the word “kingdom” in Greek is VASÍLEION, which means “a political domain with boundaries and borders”; the rule of the King”

- Jesus demonstrated the Kingdom by exerting His authority over the elements, sin, demons, sickness, the harvest and different aspects of life on earth

- the purpose of bringing God’s Kingdom to the earth is to restore His ORIGINAL INTENT for Creation

- KINGDOM, COVENANT and the HOLY SPIRIT are important concepts in getting a complete understanding of the Kingdom of God


Kingdom Concepts
July 8, 2008

- LOYALTY
o Genesis 39 – the life of Joseph
o Be LOYAL to those above you
o Loyalty is required in the Kingdom
o Loyalty picks up the one who is down

- LEADERSHIP
o Servant leadership is doing what is good for many
o Serving the people, but not servants of the people
o Matthew 20:29
o We must lead to make those under us great

- SUBMISSION
o Stay under authority to be in authority
o The centurion, who was a man under submission, understood the concept of authority
o Matthew 25:14, Luke 19:11-27
o People under submission are covered

- FAITHFULNESS
o Trustworthiness
o You must increase what God gives you
o Use the little that you have and God will give you more
o Faithfulness leads to promotion


The Parable of the Sower
July 16, 2008

- Matthew 13

- Jesus used parables to CONCEAL and REVEAL the secrets of the Kingdom

- John the Baptist announced the coming of the Kingdom

- People were expecting the Kingdom of God to be a political one

- Parables reveal the state of one’s heart and show what Heaven is like

- Jesus left the earth promising the seed of the Kingdom, the HOLY SPIRIT