Sex is Currency

Timothy asked me some questions about sex today. SEX! The all-too-taboo issue...

...or is it?

He told me that some teacher said sex is a psychological need; and that another person said that next to food, sex is one of the things man cannot live without. And based on recent studies, having sex might lessen the incidence of prostate cancer.

I answered the young man's questions with a very long text message and told him that God created sex as expression of enjoyment between two people in a covenant relationship [marriage], telling them to be fruitful and multiply.

There have been a lot of misconceptions and lies about sex -- the former from the minds of men, the latter from the schemes of the devil. Sex is not bad. God created it and therefore it is a holy concept and act. The devil came in and screwed things up [pun intended] and perverted the whole concept of sex. And since man was born with a sinful nature in a world of sin, his natural inclination towards evil has spilled over to the arena of sex and sexual expression.

So, what was supposed to be a private, intimate and holy act shared by husband and wife has been ravaged, mass produced and placed in a glossy, eye-catching package to appeal to the lusts of humanity. Society has used and abused sex in so many ways for the sake of capitalism, commercialism and humanism.

We can see this in the obvious (in the industry of pornography, tv, film and media); in the blatant (it is ever-present in the world of adversting -- I never saw the relevance of a woman in a bikini crawling on her knees in an ad that sold shoes); in the subtle (in the dialogue and imagery of some tv shows, including cartoons -- I saw one episode of the PowerPuff Girls where the Mayor was being seduced by Ms. Bellum [who was actually Sedusa in disguise]. This was a kids' show for crying out loud!!!).

The world -- or most of it -- has lost its grasp on God's original intent for sex and what sex is supposed to be. Jonathan Foreman and the rest of Switchfoot hit the nail on the head when they wrote the song Easier Than Love to voice out their observation of how sex has been raped and perverted and objectified. The lyrics goes...


Sex is currency, she sells cars, she sells magazines
Addictive bittersweet, clap your hands with the hopeless nicotines
Everyone's a lost romantic, since our love became a kissing show
Everyone's a Casanova, come and pass me the mistletoe
Everyone's been scared to death of dying here alone

She is easier than love, is easier than life
It's easier to fake and smile and bribe
It's easier to leave, it's easier to lie
It's harder to face ourselves at night
Feeling alone, what have we done?
What is the monster we've become?
Where is my soul?

Sex is industry, the CEO, of corporate policy
Skin-deep ministry, suburban youth, hail your so-called liberty
Every advertising antic, our banner waves with a neon glow
War and love become pedantic, we wage love with a mistletoe
Everyone's been scared to death of dying here alone

She is easier than love, is easier than life
It's easier to fake and smile and bribe
It's easier to leave, it's easier to lie
It's harder to face ourselves at night
Feeling alone, what have we done?
What is the monster we've become?
Where is my soul?


...and the tune to this song is not bad either.

This is nothing new, by the way. God has a looooooong list of unlawful sexual relations given to Moses in Leviticus 18. These are guidelines for the safety and sanctity of God's people.

The misuse of sex leads to a path of confusion and guilt and separation from God; leaves a trail of broken hearts, wounded souls and diseased bodies; reduces men and women to mere objects; and demeans a sacred creation by using it to promote and sell cars and magazines. What is the monster we've become?

Sex is not a substitute for love. It is an add on to love. It is an expression of love. God wants us to enjoy it in the boundaries of a marriage relationship. Engage in sex outside of those boundaries, then you're on your own.

But because many have turned their own separate way and completely disregarded God's plans and intentions for His creation, the purity and sanctity of sex has been buried in a sea of humanistic ideas and misguided practices. The after effects of these always leave man asking, "Where is my soul?"



Do not defile yourselves in any of these ways, because this is how the nations that I am going to drive out before you became defiled. Leviticus 18:24

Maximum Extreme

[for Great Messenger of God]

Make the most of every opportunity in life
Avoid all forms of division and strife
Xylophonic sounds from your singing spirit
Impart that to all so they can hear it
Master your Master's intimate heart
And everything else won't fall apart
Never forget the main thing is love
God is the main thing, the Man up above
Eternity waits, your life's not just now
Live for forever and then take a bow
Oh, Great Messenger, be not distracted
Call on the Lord, your fears will be subtracted
Everything in order, if order is required
But first, acquaintance to God be acquired
Rest easy, young warrior, faint not and walk on
Entrust life to Maker at each breaking dawn
Cry out for more when you feeling dismayed
Until you feel His strength begin to cascade
Surrender your life and He will make it better
-- and lastly, in your youth, your Creator remember

Focus, Man!

Do not let the enemy succeed in distracting you from your purpose.

Keep your eye on the main thing -- your relationship with God!

All else is secondary.

A Response to 'Accountability'

"The talents really present the things God gave us in life and in the second part we are responsible for others because Jesus loves them.

God wants us to use our blessings and talents, God gave them to us. He enjoys when we use them even if it's not used for holy things, just like anybody else, if they see you use the shirt they gave you or the bike they gave you, they are happy.

When we acknowledge God for the things that He gave us or the achievements or success that we attain, He would want to give us more. But what if we use our talents or blessings to help or do the 'purpose', God will also reward us.

It said in the verses that God will separate us later.

Our life is realy short compared to what is in store for us in the eternal."

- - - - -

a response to the lesson on Accountability from a nameless, faceless student.

The Key of David

Barbie Breathitt: "The Revelation of Christ, Greater Works, and the Keys of Faith"
[from the Elijah List website]


Many of us are finding ourselves at crossroads in our lives - seeking God for the new. By seeking God for direction, we are given keys to enter new doors of opportunity for new beginnings. I was awakened at 2:57 AM, at which time the Lord led me to Psalm 25:7, "Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions; according to Your lovingkindness remember me, for Your goodness' sake, O LORD."

The Revelation of Christ

He is taking all of us through the cleansing and purification process to perfect our character to hold a "greater works" anointing. His desire is to set us free from the grave clothes of the past that try to bind, hold, or hinder us from having the courage to move forward in faith to obtain the increase He has planned for us (Jeremiah 29:11). Jesus resurrected Lazarus from the dead after the stench of death had held him for four days. He is releasing power to free us from the sting of death.

He told Martha in John 11:25-27, "'I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me will live, even though he dies; and whoever lives and believes in Me will never die. Do you believe this?' 'Yes, Lord,' she told Him, 'I believe that You are the Christ, the Son of God, who was to come into the world.'" She was given the same revelation as Peter - that Jesus was the anointed Christ.

The same resurrection power that raised Christ from the dead resides in us. It is restoring hope, casting new vision and causing our dry bones to come together to live again. He is forming an army of soul harvesters who will move in Kingdom power. The apostles and prophets of old laid the foundation of the Church. We are called to walk upon that firm foundation and demonstrate the fullness of the Gospel message with signs, wonders, and miracles following.

Peter was the first to receive the revelation of Christ. In Matthew 16:13-20, Jesus asked several questions. First He asked His disciples, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?" Secondly, He brought it home with a specific question addressed to each individual disciple, "...who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by My Father in Heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock (of revelation) I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in Heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in Heaven."

Keys to Open Doors

These keys are given to us to open doors in the realm of the Spirit, to tap into the overcomers anointing and to set captives free. These keys also enable us to lock doors so disease, poverty, lack, shame, doubt and unbelief can no longer access us or those we are sent to deliver.

The process of obtaining God's grace and favor is outlined to us in Matthew 7:7-8, which tells us to, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened." We need to ask largely of the Lord and expect a great return of His provision. Jesus holds the keys of death and Hades.

Revelation 3:7-8 tells us Jesus also "holds the key of David." "What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open. He knows your deeds. See, He has placed before you an open door that no one can shut. He knows that you have little strength, yet you have kept His word and have not denied His name" (paraphrased).

Because we have little strength but desire to walk in the character and nature of His name and keep His word, God is releasing angels to assist us in this time of transition. The angels know where the doors and gates are in the realm of the Spirit. Psalm 103:20-21 says, "Bless the LORD, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word. Bless the LORD, all you His hosts, you ministers of His, who do His pleasure." As we learn to partner with the angelic realm we will become ministers of Heavenly fire.

Time for "Greater Works"

The 1950's healing revival demonstrated the awesome power of the Kingdom. We desire to see the healing anointing released in a greater dimension than was displayed in the 1950's healing revival. Psalm 90:16-17 says, "Let Your work appear to Your servants, and Your glory to their children. And let the beauty (favor) of the LORD our God be upon us, and establish (confirm) the work of our hands for us; yes, establish the work of our hands."

I asked the Lord when He was going to let His mighty works appear again. He responded with, "Whenever you begin to do them!"

God's Word states that there will be a generation that does the "greater works" because He has gone to His Father. We are that generation. Jesus is seated in position in Heavenly places and we are called to be seated in that same Heavenly place (Ephesians 2:5-7) to bring forth His Heavenly Kingdom on earth (Ephesians 1:17-23). Jesus only did the things He saw His Father doing in Heaven.

I believe that God wants us to learn how to connect with the realm of vision to see the things going on in Heaven and manifest them on earth. Jesus told us that He could do nothing of Himself but only what He saw His Father doing.

John 5:20-22, "For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel. For as the Father raises the dead and gives life to them, even so the Son gives life to whom He will."

Faith is the Key!

The key for us is to believe what the Word of God says is true. It will happen for us when we move in faith.

John 14:12-14 "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. And whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it."

What desire has God placed in your heart to do? What great work do you need to ask Him for? Remember to ask in the name or character of Jesus, and He will do it for you!

God's breath to you,


Barbie Breathitt, President
Breath of the Spirit Ministries
Email: Barbie@BreathOfTheSpiritMinistries.com

- - - - -

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
http://www.elijahlist.com/
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

DGen Lesson: Accountability

Ø Text: Matthew 25:14-30


Ø Also called “responsibility”


Ø Liable to be required to give account, as of one's actions or of the discharge of a duty or trust; involving personal accountability or ability to act without guidance or superior authority; able to make moral or rational decisions on one's own and therefore answerable for one's behavior; able to be trusted or depended upon


Ø God gave you “talents” – these include spiritual and physical gifts, abilities, prophetic words, revelations, skills, anointing, resources, time and many other spiritual tools. He bestowed these to you to use for His glory and for His Kingdom

---> God entrusts us with talents according on our abilities. In the parable, the servants were given different amounts. Each person's talent is different. There should be no comparison of what each of us is entrusted with because each one has something unique


Ø The Lord is the one who adds the increase and He is the one who allows you produce good fruit. However, He expects you to responsibly and faithfully use, manage and cultivate what you have been entrusted with

---> We are called to be stewards of the things God lends us, and to be accountable for whatever little that the Lord has entrusted us [in relationships, blessings, abilities, talents]


Ø The Lord will hold you responsible and will require an accounting for how you have used the “talents” He has placed in your hands. He expects a multiplication of what He gave

---> We should be concerned about what we are doing with what has been entrusted to us, and not compare ourselves and our talents with others’

---> ”After a long time the master of those servants returned and settled accounts with them.” [v. 19 of Parable of the Talents, Matthew 25:14-30]


Ø Two things that kept the 'one talent' servant from being a productive steward:

---> Fear: "I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground." [v. 25]
------> Fear is the enemy of faith. Fear always hinders us from being productive.

---> Passivity: "So you knew that I harvest where I have not sown and gather where I have not scattered seed? Well then, you should have put my money on deposit with the bankers, so that when I returned I would have received it back with interest." [vv. 26-27]
------> The servant "knew" but he didn't do anything about his knowledge. He became passive and passivity never leads to fruitfulness.


Ø He will also hold you accountable for every word that comes out of your mouth, every action that you do, and your responses to life situations. But most importantly, He will ask you what you did with Jesus in your life

Youthful Lover of God

[for "Youthful One Who Loves a Gracious God"]


Though young you are, your strength will be
The love of God that sets you free
Not human strength or human will
But love of God will keep you still

From now till then, till you become
The man who’ll usher Kingdom come
The grace of God will see you through
Sustaining you in all you do

Your youth today will bless your peers
Your youth renewed in later years
For eagle’s strength the Lord bestows
To stand your ground and face your foes

For now, young one, in days of youth
Remember God; remember truth
For in His heart there is no lie
His oaths to you He won't deny

DGen Lesson: Intimacy part. 2 [Love is the Protest]

After the topic of intimacy with the Lord was discussed in the cell group, the Lord impressed upon my heart the following week that the love of many have grown cold (Matthew 24:10-12), and that many have also lost focus on the main thing -- their relationship with Jesus.

He kept pointing me back to Matthew 22:37-38 where Jesus says, "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment."

Josiah (one of the guys in the group) pointed out that one cannot pursue intimacy without love. He was right. If the love of many has grown cold, then the fire of intimacy cannot burn ablaze. How can any relationship mature and deepen if the foundation of unconditional love is absent?

Love is so essential to everything we do for God. Everything we do for God should be an overflow of our love for Him. Our love for Him should propel us toward a more intimate relationship with our Creator.

This was the focal point of last Saturday’s cell group meeting – our love for God has to be kept the main thing. The fires of intimacy has to be constantly fueled with our affections and decision to love God. After all, our relationship with God should be the main course, not a side dish.

Henry Blackaby in the book Experiencing God put it this way: if our love relationship with God isn’t right, nothing else in our life will be right.

So, if we are in a status quo of coldness or of being lukewarm before God, we can always break out of that and fan the flames of our love relationship with the Almighty. Let us oppose complacency and nonchalance. That’s not the nature of God’s love. His love is progressive and active. We should be, too.

Let our love for God be our protest.

The Cost. The Reward.

JoAnn McFatter: "Positioning For His Presence is Costly...But the Rewards are Beyond Our Comprehension"
[from the Elijah List website]


One With God, Having the Mind of Christ

It is beyond my comprehension to think that God has made available for us to have the mind of Christ. Whenever I hear that I always think, "Oh, the beautiful mind of Christ," as I think of the expression of truth, humility, righteousness, holiness, meekness, wisdom, understanding, and, of course, the endless list of words describing how He thinks. Yet still, this is truly what is being extended to us - the invitation to be one with Him who is one with the Father, by His Holy Spirit, even to the extent of living life out of the mind of Christ.

"For who has known or understood the mind (the counsels and purposes) of the Lord so as to guide and instruct Him and give Him knowledge? But we have the mind of Christ (the Messiah) and do hold the thoughts (feelings and purposes) of His heart." 1 Corinthians 2:16

Unimaginable, and even a bit scary to think about, nevertheless, accomplished by His grace and Holy Spirit. However, there is one catch...one that most of us conveniently forget. That would be the process of dying daily until it is not I who lives but Christ who lives in me.

"[I assure you] by the pride which I have in you in [your fellowship and union with] Christ Jesus our Lord, that I die daily [I face death every day and die to self]." 1 Corinthians 15:31

It is ONLY by this process that we are able to obtain the mind of Christ, thank God. Otherwise, we would have a lot of dangerous people running around with the thoughts of God, using them for their own agendas...hmm...sound familiar? God help us all! There but by the grace of God go I!

The set pattern is for us to become foolish in the eyes of the world, not with the intent to be goofy, but rather to live life according to Kingdom mentality. That would be a Kingdom in which up is down; in which the way to the top is by getting up underneath others to serve them in whatever capacity is needed. Jesus clearly presented this to the disciples as the pattern to live out this life. Why do we always forget this?

Blessed Are the Meek, For They Shall Inherit the Earth

It's interesting in Matthew, just as the crowds are getting huge and "His fame went throughout Syria," Jesus climbs to the top of the mountain, sits, waits for the disciples to come to Him and begins to speak. It's as if He realizes that fame has now hit and it's time to talk to the guys about how to posture themselves through all of this. They are probably thinking about their ministries they are about to launch and all the perks that come with that (just putting it in today's scenario).

Jesus just wants to bring a reality check in the guise of some Kingdom perspective as to how this thing should play out...how they should posture themselves. And in fact, how we should ALL posture ourselves in these coming days as He releases power and authority never seen before in the earth.

"Blessed (happy, to be envied, and spiritually prosperous - with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the poor in spirit (the humble, who rate themselves insignificant), for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!

"Blessed and enviably happy [with a happiness produced by the experience of God's favor and especially conditioned by the revelation of His matchless grace] are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted!

"Blessed (happy, blithesome, joyous, spiritually prosperous - with life-joy and satisfaction in God's favor and salvation, regardless of their outward conditions) are the meek (the mild, patient, long-suffering), for they shall inherit the earth!" Matthew 5:3-5

The word meek here means "humble by affliction." Ouch! I know very few people who aren't experiencing some kind of affliction these days, or have just been there. It certainly does develop character, though, when walked through rightly. There's a saying, "What doesn't kill us will strengthen us," but I guess we should be saying, "What DOES kill us will strengthen us," since the point is to die daily! Again, God help us all - to die gracefully, that is!

But the good news is that, as a result, THEY SHALL INHERIT THE EARTH!!! We will get back to the original mandate that Adam was given to take dominion of the earth.

There is coming a day and an hour when all manner of this physical realm will be subject to our authority. Some will come to a place in oneness with God that when they say, "Mountain, be moved," it will literally be moved. Others will not be subject to the laws or limitations of the physical realm and will step out onto the water and walk across it. Not for some sensational display, but for the work of the Kingdom.

Many will be translated from place to place. The list is endless and unimaginable that we will participate in as we die to self, serve others and become one with Him as we submit ourselves to this death process. Count it all joy! This is the destiny of this last generation! This is YOUR destiny in and through God!

Consider it Wholly Joyful and Be Thankful!

"Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience." James 1:2-3

We can't go around it, can't go under it, and can't go over it; we must pass through it and overcome the adversity. Likewise, we must overcome the tendency to want to be recognized and celebrated for what we have done, though it really is only what the Lord enables us to participate in as He moves through us. Even above that, we are told to not only embrace and move through it in love and dying to self, but also to be thankful in it!

"See that none of you repays another with evil for evil, but always aim to show kindness and seek to do good to one another and to everybody. Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]." 1 Thessalonians 5:15-18

I know we all have heard this and we know this in our minds, but walking it out is a whole other thing. We must encourage each other in this - that as many as possible will overcome and become the friends of God in the earth! Most precious in all of this is to become the friend of God.

God Entrusts His Secrets to His Friends

This is the pathway that leads us to becoming His friend. He tells His friends His secrets - those who will pick up His Cross and follow Him even into the sufferings of Christ Jesus. We must become ones who He can trust with these secrets, who will not put it out over the internet every time He tells us something or gives us an experience in Him. If you tell a friend a secret and they share it with others, you learn that you can't trust them so you stop telling them intimate things.

"He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets, but he who is trustworthy and faithful in spirit keeps the matter hidden." Proverbs 11:13

"He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets; therefore associate not with him who talks too freely." Proverbs 20:19

The point is that God is looking for people He can entrust some astounding things to in the days ahead, over and above any other time in history. We get excited about this, but tend to not talk about the fact that there is a price. We must be ones who have truly died to self, are seeking Him in prayer and relationship, and can be counted on to not tell everything we know.

Jesus said He did only what He saw the Father do. He only said what the Father told Him to say. That does not mean that is all that He knew or all that He could have done, only that He was obedient and could be trusted to engage only when told to by His Father. Can we get by with anything less than the very Son of God, Himself?

Oh, to be the friend of God! That is the cry of cries in this hour! Everything else will flow out of that place with Him. Posturing ourselves for His presence is costly but the rewards are beyond our comprehension. Oh, for the day when it will be cried out in the streets, "The tabernacle of God is with men! These are the ones called the friends of God!"


JoAnn McFatter
WhiteDove Ministries
Email: contact@joannmcfatter.com

- - - - -

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

Commissioning a Vigilant Warrior

Ephesians 6:10-18 [Amplified Bible]
[for Vigilant Warrior]


In conclusion, be strong in the Lord [be empowered through your union with Him]; draw your strength from Him [that strength which His boundless might provides].

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 [a]firm-footed stability, the promptness, and the readiness [b]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 [d]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).