God Speaks: from reading Nehemiah 4

I have challenged my cell group members to get a revelation from God while reading passages of scripture. Here's what the Lord has spoken to me after reading the 4th chapter of Nehemiah...


There is a rebuilding going on in individual lives and in our nation as well. We must be aware of the areas in our lives where walls have been breached and start the work of rebuilding these.

Friday night (June 4) God spoke to me about to me about restoration; Sunday night (June 6) Kim John talked about reformation. This is the time to be militant and be aware of the threats to our spiritual security. The devil has not relaxed from his work of sowing seeds of rebellion, disobedience, complacency, hatred, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness and offense. Yet we act like all is well and many of us WILLINGLY ALLOW THE DEVIL TO PLANT SEEDS IN THE GARDEN OF OUR HEARTS. We don't even PUT UP A FIGHT!

We need to wake up and realize that the walls of our lives have been breached. We need to realize that God wants to rebuild these walls, but that He won't do it without our cooperation. We have to be willing to be restored and our walls rebuilt if we are to ever live lives of victory against the devil; otherwise the destroyer will keep coming back to steal and kill using his all-access pass through the walls of our garden.

Our God is an awesome, powerful Protector, but if we neglect to take dominion over the open doors and the broken walls of our lives, HE won't be able to help us because HE has already given us authority to tend the garden of our hearts. HE RESPECTS WHAT WE DO WITH FREE WILL.

However, the choice between LIFE and DEATH, BLESSINGS and CURSES has already been given to us. So we will either repair and rebuild the broken walls with God or leave the fortress breached and allow the enemy of our souls to waltz in and out of our lives freely.

YOUR CHOICE!

Read Your Bible [and Pray Everyday] and You'll Grow, Grow, Grow

"I believe in our day we need to practice the Word of God or to practice God’s principles outlined in the Word. We need to practice what we have been taught from the pulpit, from ministry programs, from teaching tapes and videos. We need to prove the Word of God in our lives in times of little stress so we can be better prepared when the times of pressure, the times of need are at hand.

As with all things that we practice, initially, we might not be very good at what we are practicing, i.e. piano, painting, etc. We miss the correct keys, we paint outside the lines, we falter, we fade, we fail. But it is only through our practice that we can become proficient at anything.

So it is with the Word of God; we initially might not be successful at the Word which we practice, but as we keep trying, as we grow in understanding of Bible principles, we become stronger and our practice more sure. Then our success in the Word becomes greater and greater, and our faith becomes stronger and stronger."


-- Roberta Palmer Grummond, author of the self-published book Practicing the Word of God

Let the River Flow 2007: Day Three

November 25, 2007 / Sunday

Morning Session
The worship time was really powerful and God's presence was unmistakable. Pastor Joe DiSarno came up to the pulpit and sensed the Spirit asking, "Where are the watchmen? Where are they?"

Because the glory of God was so great in the hall, one of the giants in the land came crashing down -- Jezebel! Stacey Campbell called on the men to rise up and take our place of leadership, as watchmen of the Philippines, and as gatekeepers of our families. It was really amazing. I believe the men coming forward to the altar and declaring victory over the Jezebel (controlling) spirit in the nation was really symbolic of what was happening in the spiritual. Whoa! Jesus has given us the authority to trample on snakes and scorpions, and to overcome "ALL" the power of the enemy! Hooooooooooooooooooooo! Hallelujah! Freedom!!!

I'm telling you it was a great way to "anoint the warriors" of Cebu! Haha! Daddy!!!

The Lord's reassurance to the body was that He loves us no matter what. Therefore, we don't have to strive as children of the Father. We don't have to fall under the performance trap. We don't have to prove anything to anyone. WE ARE LOVED BY THE KING! WE ARE SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF THE ALMIGHT GOD! PERIOD. Haha! The God who holds the universe in His hands has His eyes locked on us. Whoa!

Rise up, men of God! Rise up, WARRIORS! "Beat your plowshares into swords and your pruning hooks into spears. Let the weakling say, 'I am strong!'" Rise up, sons of God! PREPARE FOR WAR!!! Haha!


Afternoon Session
The afternoon meeting was more of a time of instruction as to where our "war efforts" were to be concentrated. Stacey said she felt Cebu is going to be a place of training and instruction for the Kingdom, and that she sees the city as a spiritual refreshing station for the nation. Wow! I live in Cebu. I am so blessed! Haha!

Later on, Stacey shared part of what she and her husband, Wesley, were doing in their ministry. She shared about the need to reach out the women and children of the world, emphasizing that children at the most at risk today. She also pointed out the spirit of poverty as one of the major enemies of the Church. Looks like we've got our work cut out for us. Hehehe. Thank You, Lord.

Stacey used the parable of the good Samaritan to drive home her point. In the passage, an expert of the law asks Jesus, "Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Then Jesus tells him the story of the traveler who fell into the hands of robbers, and how a priest and a Levite who were passing by didn't do anything to help the poor guy on the ditch. Instead, it was the most unlikely -- the Samaritan -- who extended a helping hand to the beaten man. Stacey challenged us, as Christ did in this scripture, that if we want to go to Heaven, we should "Go and do likewise" -- or as I summed it up in my notes: "Love God. Love people."


Evening Session
The last session of the conference was really something else. It was as different and as unique as the other sessions the came before it. Stacey shared to us part of what she does during her personal devotional time. We were reading passages of scripture, and singing the Word as a way of praying the Bible. It was intense. Everyone was on their feet and singing the Bible to God, singing prophetic words to the nation. It was really great. I got a lot of tips from this evening's session.


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Let the River Flow 2007 was incredible, to say the least. With the changing of season in the Philippines, it was timely to hear what the Spirit of God had to say. I believed we got what we needed in preparation for the new season. I believe the men in this city, in this nation are hearing the call of God to take their place of leadership, and are rising up. I really believe things are starting to change in the spiritual atmosphere in my nation.

I am excited about what God will do next.

"Maranatha!"


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To Pastor Benjun and Ate Malou: I hope these notes gave you an idea of what took place during the conference. God bless you guys. ;o)