Archive for April, 2009

A Word from Heaven

Friday, April 10th, 2009

<meta name="GENERATOR" content="OpenOffice.org 2.4 (Win32)" /><style type="text/css"> <!-- @page { size: 8.5in 11in; margin: 0.79in } P { margin-bottom: 0.08in } --> </style>“<font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt" /><font face="Times New Roman">There was a man sent from God. His name was John” (John 1:6).  I recently read that scripture and was struck by its directness.  The Word declares that God himself sent John the Baptist to earth.  As I read through the story of John’s birth, the Lord asked me a question, “ How long did I know John?” I thought for a moment.  I knew Psalm 139 said that God knew us even before we were born. When I looked at the life of John, it was clear that God knew exactly when he would be born, what he would do, and who he would become. He knew from eternity’s past that John would be birthed near the time of his Son’s arrival and he would be a forerunner, preparing the earth for the revealing of the Messiah. He timed it perfectly. I considered those things and said “Always, you always knew John.”  Then I felt the Lord asking me, “Is it any different with any other child that is born?” No, I thought, it couldn’t be. If you always knew John, then you always knew me, and you always knew who I would be, when I would be born, and what I would do. The same is true for every one of us.<br /> </font></p> <p><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt" /><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt" /><font face="Times New Roman">Put your name in John’s place. Imagine the word saying that about you. There was a man; a woman sent from God, her name was…You! That is the reality of it. We are all a word sent down from heaven. A word sent from God for this time, for this generation. There’s a song by Jason Upton that I love. The lyrics read, “Do you know, you’re a word from heaven? Do you know you’re a child of God? Every word that comes down from heaven will not return void until it’s succeeded in what I sent it to do.” The Lord always knew John would fulfill his destiny as a forerunner for his Son.  In Psalm 139, David says “All the days of our lives are written in His book.” Imagine the wonderful things this book must say for your life. Who you are, all you will become, the exciting adventures He has planned for you. It’s a beautiful love story written by the Creator, starring guess who? YOU! You play the lead role!<br /> </font></p> <p><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt" /><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt" /><font face="Times New Roman" /><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">After witnessing the miraculous events around John’s birth, the people proclaimed, “What type of child will this be?” My question to you is this. What type of person are you? You’re not an accident; you’re no mere collection of cells and DNA. You’re more than that, you are a word sent from God. There will never be a word just like you. Imagine the Father in the drawing room of heaven with Jesus and the Holy Spirit together, dreaming of you. This one, her name will be Sarah; she will love to laugh like I do. She will be a dancer, she’ll love the poor, and she will have a tender heart. My son, Michael, he will be an artist. He’ll love to use his imagination and create with his hands; He’ll be a son after my own heart. Perhaps Jesus chimes in and says, ‘Father, let’s give this one a desire to reach the broken, just like I do. Then the Holy Spirit says, “Let’s give this one a longing to teach, just like I have. Oh, and this one, she will live in a dark time, where there will be many difficulties, but she will shine like a light in the midst of it”. The scene is imaginary but the message is true. We are sons and daughters of God and he has made us in his image. When we are free to be who he made us to be, we will truly reflect his heart.<br /> </font></p> <p><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt" /><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt" /><font face="Times New Roman" /><font face="Times New Roman" /><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">When you look at a baby, what is the first thing you usually say? Oh, she looks like her dad, he looks just like his mom, she has his nose, and he has her eyes. Children look like their parents, and our father is God himself. I look at my friends and I can see in each one of them various facets of the Lord’s personality. In one, I will see a fighting spirit, like Jesus the warrior King. In another, I see kindness like Jesus the Gentle Shepherd. As for me, I have a heart for Justice. I long to see freedom for the captives and deliverance for the afflicted. Sometimes I can feel discouraged, wondering if my desires are too “intense.” Then I remember that I have a heart for justice because God has given me His heart. He is the one who loves Justice; He says it in his word. He wants it more than I do. It’s not just a good idea on my part, it’s his desire. When I long for it, I am manifesting the nature of my Heavenly Father. I am his word from Heaven sent to the earth to reflect Him and give Him glory. </font></p> <p><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt" /><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt" /><font face="Times New Roman" /><font face="Times New Roman" /><font face="Times New Roman" /><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt">Let’s began to see ourselves as we really are. Let’s believe that we are words sent from God. Like John, we have been chosen to live in this hour as forerunners for the Lord’s second coming. We have always been known by God and always been loved. We are sons and daughters of God. Let’s let the world see what our Daddy looks like.</font></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0in"><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt" /><font size="2" style="font-size: 11pt" /><font face="Times New Roman" /><font face="Times New Roman" /><font face="Times New Roman" /><font face="Times New Roman"><br /> </font></p> </div> <p class="postmetadata">Posted in <a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?cat=2" title="View all posts in Front Page" rel="category tag">Front Page</a>, <a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?cat=4" title="View all posts in Articles" rel="category tag">Articles</a> | Comments Off</p> </div> <div class="post"> <h3 id="post-52"><a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?p=52" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Crucifixion Before Consecration">Crucifixion Before Consecration</a></h3> <small>Friday, April 10th, 2009</small> <div class="entry"> <p><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3">If you are like me, you have answered dozens, perhaps even hundreds, of altar calls. Each time hoping something will break and leave a lasting impression on your walk with the Lord. The hunger that drives us to recommit, re-surrender, and re-consecrate ourselves is excellent, for God responds to the hungry! However, I have found that the hunger is a stepping stone, and not the only means to the end I desperately yearn for: to be wholly set apart for His pleasure, offering my body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God (Rom 12:1) </font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3">My journey through the past 4 years at the International House of Prayer Atlanta has been filled with necessary teachings to prepare me for the coming storm - the end of this age. Each time I would be stirred and find my spirit ready to surrender to God’s will, my soul lagging a bit behind, and my flesh in direct defiance. This can make altar calls absolutely painful! With very little revelation of where I stood in regards to my new life, I found myself frustrated that my heart was set on the surrender, but my actions didn’t match such convictions. This is the struggle Paul speaks of in Romans 7: </font></span></p> <p></font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3">“For I know that nothing good lives in me, that is, in my flesh. For the desire to do good is with me, but there is no ability to do it. For I do not do the good that I want to do, but I practice the evil that I do not want to do. Now if I do what I do not want, I am no longer the one doing it, but it is the sin that lives in me. So I discover this principle: when I want to do good, evil is with me. For in my inner self I joyfully agree with God’s law. But I see a different law in the parts of my body, waging war against the law of my mind and taking me prisoner to the law of sin in the parts of my body. What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body of death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with my mind I myself am a slave to the law of God, but with my flesh, to the law of sin.” (HCSB v.18-25) </font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3">This struggle will plague us if we do not consider his words in the prior chapter: </font></span></p> <p></font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3">“Are you unaware that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too may walk in a new way of life… For we know that our old self was crucified with Him in order that sin’s dominion over the body may be abolished… Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with Him… So you too consider yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus.” (HCSB v.3,4,6,8,11) </font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3">Paul says his mind agrees with God’s ways, but his flesh does not. It then makes perfect sense of the language he uses in Romans 6 on how to crucify the flesh: believe, know, consider, reckon. Until we appropriate (receive as our own by faith) the truths of our joining in Christ’s death, consecration is impossible. God will not consecrate the old! I continue to reach for the place in my spiritual growth where it is no longer just the cross of Christ Jesus for me, but me joined with Christ on the cross. When we identify ourselves as joined with Him in His death, consecration is inevitable! </font></span></p> <p></font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3">H. Duncan once wrote, “God asks us to present our bodies as living sacrifices to Him. Until we have done this, there is nothing else we can do. Notice this exhortation comes after Romans 6. There is a reason for this order - crucifixion comes before consecration. Un-crucified self refuses to be consecrated. This is why so many people with all sincerity walk down the aisles again and again, consecrating un-crucified self to God.” </font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3"><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3">Let us also then, consider Paul’s epistle to the church in Ephesus. He spends three chapters declaring who they are in Christ - three gold mines of identity to appropriate! Only after those chapters, and two powerful apostolic prayers, does he then begin to charge them with the ways in which they should walk. </font></span></p> <p></font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3">It has been indispensable for me to sit before the cross and join myself to it in thanksgiving and hope. My hope for the Church is this: to take the time to receive in meditation, thanksgiving, and prayer the truths concerning the new and living way of the Spirit. This has brought me great peace: it is the Spirit who sanctifies and consecrates the believers. </font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3"> </font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3">Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely. And may your spirit, soul, and body be kept sound and blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:23, 24) </font></span><span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman','serif'"><font size="3"></p> <p /></font></span> </p> </div> <p class="postmetadata">Posted in <a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?cat=2" title="View all posts in Front Page" rel="category tag">Front Page</a>, <a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?cat=4" title="View all posts in Articles" rel="category tag">Articles</a> | Comments Off</p> </div> <div class="post"> <h3 id="post-51"><a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?p=51" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Holy Obsession">Holy Obsession</a></h3> <small>Friday, April 10th, 2009</small> <div class="entry"> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">As humans, God created us for pleasure.  So what does pleasure actually mean? In our society we have defined pleasure in all sorts of way and many in the church actually associate pleasure with something negative or something that is reserved for the world and not for Christians. I looked up the word pleasure in the dictionary and here is what I found.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Pleasure- enjoyment or satisfaction derived from what is to ones liking; recreation, or amusement, diversion, enjoyment.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Now here is an interesting concept. As Americans we have recreation and amusements available to us at any moment. Going out to eat, going to the movie theatre, socializing, and shopping are among the few. I myself find all of these things pleasurable, but I have had to ask my own heart; do I find these things that are so readily available to me more pleasurable than God? Of course most us right off hand would answer- no!  God you are number one. And I do believe that is the sincere cry of our hearts, which God sees. But, as the Bride of Christ it is of utmost importance that we begin to move out of the mentality of good intentions/ noble words and into mature partnership with a life-style to back up our noble words.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">I sense that we are in a season where the line is being drawn and the bar is being raised. I have been asking God to reevaluate several things in my life. I want to be a young adult that considers the pleasures of heaven to have more appeal than the secondary pleasures of this world. So how do our weak hearts enter into heavenly pleasures, when we are so easily distracted and prone to wander? For me, it is this – I fell in love with a man named Jesus and now I am obsessed with Him. Yes, that is the only word I can come up with to define my relationship with this Man Christ Jesus.  I am unashamed to admit this reality. He is my driving force, my reason for living and breathing, my reason for being a Christian. I know for some these words that I have chosen might sound a little taboo, a little intense, maybe even scandalous. But I have learned that there is no other way to live.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"></font><font face="Times New Roman" size="3">Prayer: God, help us. Let us taste the pleasures of heaven and the pleasures of knowing you. Let it drown out all the distractions vying for our attention and devotion. Give us grace to be authentic, for we can do nothing without you and your strength. May you become our Holy Obsession.</font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman" size="3"><font face="Times New Roman" size="3" /> </font> </p> </div> <p class="postmetadata">Posted in <a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?cat=2" title="View all posts in Front Page" rel="category tag">Front Page</a>, <a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?cat=4" title="View all posts in Articles" rel="category tag">Articles</a> | Comments Off</p> </div> <div class="post"> <h3 id="post-49"><a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?p=49" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to A Pathway to Encounter">A Pathway to Encounter</a></h3> <small>Friday, April 3rd, 2009</small> <div class="entry"> <p><font face="Times New Roman">In my last blog, I suggested that to be filled with the knowledge of God’s love and His heart for us as a Father we must re-position our lives and continually meditate on and consider the word of God regarding this topic.  Now, I want to help us practically develop a lifestyle of meditation, which is a pathway to encounter.<br /> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman">I am defining meditation as focusing on one verse or a small portion of scripture for blocks of time over prolonged periods of time (several days out of a week) in posturing the heart to receive revelation of Jesus. Here, I offer several reasons why you would do this, and then give instruction on how to practically do it.<br /> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman">Meditation is one of the doorways into the heart of God.  Continual meditation on the word of God fills us with the thoughts of God and delivers us from the wrong thoughts that we hold about God (i.e. the orphan mentality).<br /> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman">I want to propose that the Bible is deeper in each verse than it is long.  Let us stop trying to read the bible through in a year just to appease our consciences, and let us begin to slow down our souls and seek to encounter the living word of God through His written word!!<br /> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman">If you meditate on scripture, then you will prosper for there is a blessing imparted to those who will meditate on God’s word (Psalm 1:1-3; Jeremiah 17:5-10).<br /> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman">As we meditate on scripture we are transformed from glory to glory, being strengthened with the nature of God.  We become what we behold (2 Corinthians 3:18).<br /> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman">As we set aside time to meditate we allow the Holy Spirit to search our thoughts and attitudes (ways) (Hebrews 4:12; Jeremiah 17:10).  As we submit, our paradigms change, and we begin to correctly perceive God and His ways (I Corinthians 2:6-16; Isaiah 29:16).<br /> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman">Now, that you are beginning to see the intrinsic value of meditation, I will construct the foundation for practically meditating on scripture.  This is not the only way to meditate, but I have found that this method is very helpful in staying focused on a small portion of scripture for a prolonged period of time.<br /> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p> <ul type="disc"> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">Set aside a two-hour block of time to meditate on one verse or very small portion of Scripture.<br /> </font></li> </ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman" /></p> <ul type="disc"><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">Take time to just wait and be with the Lord to listen to Him speak about the verse (I generally spend the first 30 minutes of a two-hour block waiting).<br /> </font></li> <p></font></ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></p> <ul type="disc"><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">Focus on a small phrase at a time.<br /> </font></li> <p></font></ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></p> <ul type="disc"><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">Read it, Write it, Say it, Sing it, Pray it, and Receive it (RWSSPR).  Break down the time block into 15 or 30 minutes increments.  Pray in tongues 15 minutes, sit silent for 30, jot down thoughts for 30, etc. while reading it, writing it, etc.<br /> </font></li> <p></font></ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></p> <ul type="disc"><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">Do not spend the whole time writing.  Allow your soul to wrestle so you can be crucified to your own human effort.<br /> </font></li> <p></font></ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></p> <ul type="disc"><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">Do not spend extended periods of time within your meditation time on other verses.  Simply reference them.<br /> </font></li> <p></font></ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></p> <ul type="disc"><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">Ask questions!  Ask the Lord questions, even if you think they are unanswerable.<br /> </font></li> <p></font></ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></p> <ul type="disc"><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">Talk to the Lord about the verse.  Turn it into conversation with God.  Also, pray in tongues intermittently.<br /> </font></li> <p></font></ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></p> <ul type="disc"><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">Emphasize different words as you say it.<br /> </font></li> <p></font></ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman">Take a sheet of paper and fill it out like this:<br /> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p> <ul type="disc"><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">The left hand column can be for tasks.  Tasks are things that come into your head that need to be done while you are meditating. Write down your distractions and do them when your meditation time is over (II Corinthians 10:4-5).<br /> </font></li> <p></font></ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></p> <ul type="disc"><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">The last two or three lines of the paper are for pursuits.  Pursuits are topics you want to study later. For example if you were meditating of Romans 8:15 you may want to go study the Father heart of God throughout scripture.<br /> </font></li> <p></font></ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></p> <ul type="disc"><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <li class="MsoNormal"><font face="Times New Roman">Use the main space in the middle of the page to journal your thoughts on the verse you plan to meditate on.<br /> </font></li> <p></font></ul> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"><font face="Times New Roman" /></font></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"> This is very simple, but if you give yourself to it you will find your heart awakened to the love of God and you will set yourself to encounter the living God who wants to meet with you more than you want to meet with Him.<br /> </font><font face="Times New Roman"> </font></p> <p><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId" /><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator" /><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator" /></p> <p><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></font><font face="Times New Roman"></p> <link rel="File-List" /> <link rel="themeData" 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href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?cat=2" title="View all posts in Front Page" rel="category tag">Front Page</a>, <a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?cat=4" title="View all posts in Articles" rel="category tag">Articles</a> | Comments Off</p> </div> <div class="post"> <h3 id="post-50"><a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?p=50" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent Link to Homosexuality and the Spirit of Might">Homosexuality and the Spirit of Might</a></h3> <small>Thursday, April 2nd, 2009</small> <div class="entry"> <p><meta content="text/html; charset=utf-8" http-equiv="Content-Type" /><meta content="Word.Document" name="ProgId" /><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Generator" /><meta content="Microsoft Word 12" name="Originator" /></p> <link rel="File-List" /> <link rel="themeData" /> <link rel="colorSchemeMapping" /><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w :WordDocument> </w><w :View>Normal</w> <w :Zoom>0</w> <w :TrackMoves/> <w :TrackFormatting/> <w :PunctuationKerning/> <w 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mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;} </style> < ![endif]--> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt">This coming June marks the 40th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots - the catalytic event that launched the American gay rights movement. When I was a young and ignorant man in the homosexual lifestyle, I learned about the oppressive events that “victimized” the homosexual community. Years ago, when I was informed of these riots that took place in 1969, I joined in the indignant emotions that continue to plague the community I was once a part of. These emotions give the victim mentality a greenhouse to thrive in. In that moment, I bit the bait. </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt">After some time, however, I began to question what exactly we were proud of. At the gay pride events I attended, I saw things that even made <em>me</em> blush and look away - which was quite a feat considering the dangerous and carefree lifestyle I was living. We claimed to be like everyone else, yet we took the time every June to celebrate our obvious differences. This was a complete contradiction that confused my heart. </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt" /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt">The problem in 1969 was the way in which intolerance for homosexuality was addressed. America in the late 60’s saw homosexuality as something abnormal, assuming it was a mental problem. It was dealt with by imprisonment in a mental ward or jail, and by striking fear in the hearts of homosexual men and women dealing with this struggle of attraction. After going through the intense battle of coming out of the closet, and then coming out of homosexuality, I can sympathize with the poor souls in those decades. Our nation was offering imprisonment without the option of true deliverance and transformation. The result: confusion, offense, anger, resentment, and a victim mentality spread throughout the entire homosexual community. So what is the solution?  We need to cry out for a spirit of might to come on this generation!  Let me explain… </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><strong><span style="font-size: 10.5pt">The two warriors - Jehu and David</span></strong><span style="font-size: 10.5pt" /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt">This hour is in need of those like Jehu. Effective ministry to men and women coming out of homosexuality is going to stem from solid leaders secure in their gender and pure sexuality. The joy and peace they have from their identity and enjoyment of holiness and purity will stir wounded hearts to desire the same. I believe many, if not most, of these will be heterosexual men and women.</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt" /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt">When Jezebel was killed, it was not Jehu who overcame her, but the men under her control who cast her down. Jehu rode in the confidence that he was anointed by God; as a strong masculine leader, he called out to the eunuchs under her authority. When he arrived, she tried to seduce him as well, but he did not even acknowledge her. His call to the men under her order was “Who is with me? Who?” (2 Kings 9:32) They saw God was with him, and upon showing their faces to him, he commanded them, ”Cast her down!” (v.33). Though they were emasculated by her, there was still some fight left in them! However, it was only after they showed their faces to Jehu that he asked them to cast her down.</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt" /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt">This is a prophetic picture of what is needed with the homosexual community today. We need spiritually strong men, anointed by God, confident in their identity to provoke and to lead. The men who are bound by homosexuality will want a leader to follow out of their bondage. When they show their faces, they are in the willing, open heart - past hiding and past external shame. The Holy Spirit will then instruct them and empower them to forsake their old master.</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt" /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt">When I was first saved, I was living with the mindset that I was going to be gay and saved. Only after the Lord romanced me was I ready to cast that old way down. It was necessary that I first saw my need for a Savior. Then I saw He was someone I wanted to follow. Then upon His invitation, I was able to cast homosexuality down. It was scary, but this order made it possible.</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt" /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt">I think the Church has it backwards. We tell those with a same-sex attraction that their lifestyle is wrong and then try to convince them to accept the Savior. No. The order is to show them the Savior, He reveals Himself as someone trustworthy and awesome to follow, then He asks them to leave that mindset and lifestyle.</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt" /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt">It is amazing to think that in July of 2004 I was in a room at a college ministry praying when the Spirit impressed upon me this invitation. He is such a gentleman; He never forces Himself on anyone. So I prayed, in my weak words an agreement with His desire for me to be with a woman, thus by faith casting down my old ways. The very room where I prayed that prayer is where I sit right now as I write this: the prayer room in Atlanta, GA. Before IHOP-Atlanta bought this building it was owned by a local church.  Every Thursday night the college ministry would meet in the same room where the prayer room now exists in continual worship. It was in this very room I surrendered my homosexuality to the God who gives beauty for ashes! It is only fitting that my true deliverance would come from sitting before Him in this privileged place.</span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt" /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 5pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt">I am now married to an amazing woman of God, who fights alongside me. I had to endure much, and still wage war with this. The fight that men and women in homosexuality must go through to come to deliverance is like Goliath taunting the Israelites, challenging them (1 Samuel 17). The spirit of homosexuality continually torments men and women, saying “aren’t you tired of fighting yet? Who will fight me?” And, as it says in Scripture, “When [they] heard these words, they lost their courage and were terrified.” (v.11) But it is in these days that God will raise up Davids, who come for the sake of the men in battle (v.26), and for the name of the Lord to be exalted (v.45, 46). The Davids will be the ones who come out of the lifestyle and confront this spirit head on, knowing the glory of the name of Jesus Christ and that His arm is not too short to save (v.47). </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt" /></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 10.5pt"> </span></p> <p style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; line-height: normal" class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: 11.5pt">As we approach this coming June, please consider fasting and praying for the homosexual community to be touched by men and women who move in might like Jehu and David. </span><span style="font-size: 10.5pt" /></p> <p class="MsoNormal"> </div> <p class="postmetadata">Posted in <a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?cat=2" title="View all posts in Front Page" rel="category tag">Front Page</a>, <a href="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/?cat=4" title="View all posts in Articles" rel="category tag">Articles</a> | Comments Off</p> </div> <div class="navigation"> <div class="alignleft"></div> <div class="alignright"></div> </div> </div> <div id="sidebar"> <ul> <li> <form method="get" id="searchform" action="http://ihop-atlanta.org/wordpress/"> <div><input type="text" value="" name="s" id="s" /> <input type="submit" id="searchsubmit" value="Search" /> </div> </form> </li> <!-- Author information is disabled per default. 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