The source of all evil? Why, it’s Pokémon, of course.

For nearly forty years, Chick Publications under the leadership of Jack T. Chick has published over three quarters of a billion religious tracts that have been distributed in over 100 languages around the world.

In the process, Jack Chick’s name has become revered in the world of fundamentalist teachings, reviled among dozens of major religions and banned as hate literature in several countries. Outside the world of religion, the tracts have become highly valued pop culture collectibles with presentations in galleries from NY to LA and a permanent collection in the Smithsonian.

Notoriously reclusive, Chick Publications for the first time let camera crews in to meet the creators of the infamous works as well as noted authors, artists and collectors who have covered the history of all things Chick including the art, artists, writers, controversies, death threats, witch spells, Illuminati, Catholic assassins and more!

It’s fundamental Christianity in all its lunacy.

We’ve got an exciting seminar coming up at SALT International for intercessors and prophetic people in January, 2010.  Apostolic teacher Steve Driessen is my pastor.  He and his wife have taught me much of what I know about intercession and prophecy.  I guarantee that this seminar will unlock doors of understanding in the prophetic realm for you.  Here’s the info: 

Flowing in the Prophetic
Level 1: The Prophetic Anointing 

One Day, Six Hours, Propelling Your
Prophetic/Intercessory Gifts to New Heights 

Have you ever longed to:   

• Hear God more clearly and more often?
• Be more certain it was really Him you were hearing?
• Better understand your dreams and visions?
• Or didn’t even know where to start?

This seminar is for you, no matter what level you are currently operating in prophetically.  Apostolic teacher Steve Driessen will impart prophetic understanding that is practical, easy to relate to, and life-changing. 

Topics include:

1.)  The Ministry of Jesus in the Church
2.)  The Prophetic Intercessor: Having a Hearing Ear & Seeing Eye
3.)  Anointed to Serve
4.)  An Open Heaven
5.)  Visions and Dreams: The Language of the Holy Spirit
6.)  How to Interpret Dreams 

Two additional levels in the Flowing in the Prophetic series will be available in months to come.

Flowing in the Prophetic — Level 1: The Prophetic Anointing

 Details: 

Saturday, January 16, 2010
9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

The Siekman Center for Junior Achievement
2^nd Floor – The River Ministries Center
300 N. Appleton St.
Appleton, WI  54911 

Cost: $60.00 per person or $100.00 per married couple
(includes training materials and lunch) 

Pre-registration with payment required by January 7, 2010. 

 Payment may be made at the SALT website,
http://www.salt-international.com/conferences.shtml 

Or by sending a check or money order to: 

The River Ministries / SALT
P.O. Box 1271
Appleton, WI  54912

Questions?

E-mail: intercessors@salt-international.com 
Phone: (920) 213-2062. 

The River Ministries

Jesus said to him, “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”  – Luke 9:62 

We all experience seasons when we’d like to quit.  For many of us, the temptation is not so much giving up entirely as it is returning to some place in our past life with Christ that was more comfortable than where we are now. 

The Israelites went through the same struggle: “… The children of Israel also wept again and said, ‘Who will give us flesh to eat? We remember the fish, which we ate freely in Egypt – the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.  But now our souls are dried up; there is nothing at all, besides this manna, before our eyes’” (Numbers 11:4-6). 

Look at what they were saying: “We’re tired of how hard it is.  We’re tired of pressing on.  We want it the way it was in the old days.  Life was pretty good then.” 

But while looking backwards to the natural provision of the past, they forgot that with it had been extreme bondage.  They missed seeing the present miraculous manna from heaven that was theirs daily.  And with their blindness to that supernatural provision, they also were unable to see through their difficulties to the fulfillment of their promises. 

Jesus prophesied that in the last days, “Because wickedness will abound, the love of many will grow cold.  But he who endures to the end, he will be saved” (Matthew 24:12, 13).  He was speaking of a time directly before the end, when the gospel of the kingdom would be preached worldwide (v.14).  We are living in those days. 

Many of us who have tasted of the supernatural acts of God are at a crossroads where we must decide what we are going to do.  Will we go back to the powerless Christianity of our past, with its in-the-flesh provision coming only out of our own abilities and understanding?  If we do, we risk having our love for the Lord grow cold through the wickedness of unbelief, as Jesus prophesied. 

Or, will we press forward with faith, depending on God’s miraculous provision to get us there?  God still provides “manna” for those who believe Him and patiently endure.  There is a sure reward awaiting us – if we don’t look back.

The River Ministries

Almost everyone is familiar with the account of Creation in the book of Genesis, but only a few people take the time to analyze the chronology that’s presented and realize the absurdity of the account.

For example, on the first day God created light. But it wasn’t until the fourth day that he created the sun, moon, and stars. So where did the light come from?

Luckily, we have a handy little pamphlet from Creation Ministries (creation.com) that explains this conundrum:

Why did God wait till Day 4 before He made the sun, moon and stars?

Answer: Perhaps because God knew that some people would worship the sun, moon and stars, and He wanted to show us that they are not so important after all. The sun did not form the earth, and the stars do not control what happens on Earth. God wants us to worship Him, not anything that He has created. Some people use the stars to make horoscopes. These are charts that supposedly say what is going to happen to people from day to day. God forbids this. He wants us to read His Word, the Bible, and to ask Him for wisdom; not to consult horoscopes, which people make up out of their own imagination.

So there you have it. It was to prevent those darn sun worshipers from thinking that the giant ball of light was a god, and to discourage people from using the stars to predict the future.

But this answer still doesn’t explain where the light came from for the first three days.

Take a look at this creepy Christian video, and try not to have nightmares.

The River Ministries

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child.  But when I became a man, I put away childish things. – 1 Corinthians 13:11 

Have you ever noticed what small children do when they want attention and don’t get it immediately?  If positive actions do not fasten everyone’s focus on them in a hurry, whining, bawling, and tantrums certainly will. 

A lot of us, although physically grown, try the same tactics on God.  The Israelites of Moses’ day repeatedly complained to get what they wanted from Him. They succeeded, but their bad attitudes brought negative consequences along with the answers every time!  We haven’t changed much.  An awful lot of us still murmur, hoping to twist God’s arm into some action. 

The Bible gives better ideas for how to arrest God’s attention: 

Faith: But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he who comes to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of those who diligently seek him. – Hebrews 11:6 

Trust:  The LORD … knows those who trust in him. – Nahum 1:7 

Cheerful, generous giving: As every man purposes in his heart, so let him give – not grudgingly or because he has to – for God loves a cheerful giver. – 2 Corinthians 9:7 

Intimate relationship with Him: Because he has set his love upon me, therefore I will deliver him…. He will call upon me, and I will answer him…. – Psalm 91:14, 15

Righteous devotion to Him: For the eyes of the LORD run here and there throughout the whole earth, to show himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are perfect [blameless, committed, loyal] toward him…. – 2 Chronicles 16:9 

Faith, trust, cheerful giving, intimacy, righteous devotion – all these flow from a deep belief in God’s character, His goodness, and His unlimited love for us.  

Smith Wigglesworth commented, “There is something about believing in God, that makes God willing to pass over a million people just to anoint you. … God will always turn out to meet you on a special line if you dare to believe Him.” 

I’m diligently seeking His heart – to know Him, to be known by Him, to arrest His attention.  How about you?

The River Ministries

 All people have a belief system, whether they realize it or not…

“That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return. Hold on to the pattern of wholesome teaching you learned from me—a pattern shaped by the faith and love that you have in Christ Jesus. Through the power of the Holy Spirit who lives within us, carefully guard the precious truth that has been entrusted to you.  …2 Timothy 1:12-14

Basic Doctrines and Beliefs of Christianity-

1. There is only one God – Isaiah 43:10; 44:6,8; John 17:3; 1 Cor. 8:5-6; Gal. 4:8-9
2. God is a Trinity – 2 Cor. 13:14; 1 Pet. 1:2
3. There are no Gods before or after God – Isaiah 43:10
4. God knows all things – 1 John 3:20
5. God is all powerful – Psalm 115:3
6. God is everywhere – Jer. 23:23,24
7. God is sovereign – Zech. 9:14; 1 Tim. 6:15-16
8. God is spirit – John 4:24
9. God created all that exists – Gen. 1:1; Isaiah 44:24
10. Spirit does not have a body of flesh and bones – Luke 24:39
11. God has always been God – Psalm 90:2
12. Jesus is God – John 1:1,14; 10:30-33; 20:28; Col. 2:9; Phil. 2:5-8; Heb. 1:8
13. Jesus became a man – Phil. 2:5-8
14. Jesus has two natures: divine and human – Col. 2:9; 1 Tim. 2:5
15. Jesus was sinless – 1 Pet. 2:22
16. Jesus is the only way to God the Father – John 14:6; Matt. 11:27; Luke 10:22
17. The Holy Spirit is God – Acts 5:3-4
18. The Holy Spirit is not a force. He is alive – Acts 13:2
19. The Bible is inspired by God – 2 Tim. 3:16
20. All people have sinned – Rom. 3:23, 5:12
21. Man did not evolve, he was created – Gen. 1:26
22. Adam and Eve were real people – Gen. 3:20; 5:1; 1 Tim. 2:13
23. Death entered the world because of Adam’s sin – Rom. 5:12-15
24. Sin separates us from God – Isaiah 59:2
25. Jesus died for all our sins – 1 John 2:2; 2 Cor. 5:14; 1 Pet. 2:24
26. Jesus’ sacrifice was a substitution, for us – 1 Pet. 2:24
27. Jesus rose from the dead in His physical body – John 2:19-21
28. Those who reject Jesus will go to Hell – Rev. 20:11-15
29. Hell is a place of fiery punishment – Matt. 25:41; Rev. 19:20
30. Hell is eternal – Matt. 25:46
31. The unsaved go to hell forever – Rev. 21:8
32. Salvation is a free gift of God – Rom. 4:5; 6:23; Eph. 2:8-9
33. The Bible is the Word of God – 2 Tim. 3:16
34. Jesus will return visibly to earth – Acts 1:11
35. Christians will be raised from the dead when Jesus returns – 1 Thess. 4:14-17
36. There will be a rapture (being caught up into the clouds with Jesus) – 1 Thess. 4:14-17
37. There will be a final judgment – 2 Pet. 3:7
38. The damned will be thrown into a lake of fire – Rev. 20:15
39. Satan will be cast into the lake of fire – Rev. 20:10
40. There will be a new heavens and a new earth – 2 Pet. 3:13; Rev. 21:1

http://www.carm.org/basic-christian-doctrine

10 Misconceptions of New Christians-

New Christians quite often have misconceptions about God, the Christian life and other believers. This look at the common misconceptions of Christianity is designed to dispel some of the myths that typically hinder new Christians from growing and maturing in the faith.

1 – Once you become a Christian, God will solve all of your problems-

Many new Christians are shocked when the first trial or serious crisis hits. Here’s a reality check — get prepared — the Christian life is not always easy! You will still face ups and downs, challenges and joys. You will have problems and troubles to overcome. This verse offers encouragement for Christians facing difficult situations:

Peter 4:12-13 …Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed.

2 – Becoming a Christian means giving up all fun and following a life of rules-

A joyless existence of mere rule-following is not true Christianity and the abundant life God intends for you. Rather, this describes a man-made experience of legalism. God has amazing adventures planned for you. These verses give a description of what it means to experience God’s life:

Romans 14:16-18   …Then you will not be condemned for doing something you know is all right. For the Kingdom of God is not a matter of what we eat or drink, but of living a life of goodness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. If you serve Christ with this attitude, you will please God. And other people will approve of you, too.

1 Corinthians 2:9   …However, as it is written: “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him”

3 – All Christians are loving, perfect people-

Well, it doesn’t take very long to discover that this is not true. But being prepared to meet the imperfections and failures of your new family in Christ can spare you future pain and disillusionment. Although Christians strive to be like Christ, we will never obtain complete sanctification until we stand before the Lord. In fact, God uses our imperfections to “grow us” in the faith. If not, there would be no need to forgive one another.

As we learn to live in harmony with our new family, we rub each other like sandpaper. It’s painful at times, but the result brings about a smoothing and softening to our rough edges.

Colossians 3:13  …Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you.

Philippians 3:12-13  …Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead…  

4 – Bad things don’t happen to truly godly Christians-

This point goes along with point number one, however, the focus is slightly different. Often Christians begin to wrongly believe that if they live a godly Christian life, God will protect them from pain and suffering. Paul, a hero of the faith, suffered much:

2 Corinthians 11:24-26  …Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move. I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.

Some faith groups believe the Bible promises health, wealth and prosperity for all who live a godly life. But this teaching is false. Jesus never taught this to his followers. You may experience these blessings in your life, but they are not a reward for godly living. At times we experience tragedy, pain and loss in life. This is not always a result of sin, as some would claim, but rather, for a greater purpose that we may not understand immediately. We may never understand, but we can trust God in these difficult times, and know he has a purpose.

“Jesus did not die on the cross just so we could live comfortable, well-adjusted lives. His purpose is far deeper: He wants to make us like himself before he takes us to heaven.”     -Rick Warren

1 Peter 1:6-7   …So be truly glad! There is wonderful joy ahead, even though it is necessary for you to endure many trials for a while. These trials are only to test your faith, to show that it is strong and pure. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold–and your faith is far more precious to God than mere gold. So if your faith remains strong after being tried by fiery trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.

5 – Christian ministers and missionaries are more spiritual than other believers-

This is a subtle but persistent misconception that we carry in our minds as believers. Because of this false notion, we end up putting ministers and missionaries on “spiritual pedestals” accompanied by unrealistic expectations. When one of these heroes falls from our self-constructed perch, it tends to make us fall too — away from God. Don’t let this happen in your life. You may have to continually guard yourself against this subtle deception.

Paul, Timothy’s spiritual father, taught him this truth – we are all sinners on an equal playing field with God and each other:

1 Timothy 1:15-16   …This is a true saying, and everyone should believe it: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners–and I was the worst of them all. But that is why God had mercy on me, so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of his great patience with even the worst sinners. Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in him and receive eternal life.

6 – Christian churches are always safe places, where you can trust everyone-

Although this should be true, it is not. Unfortunately we live in a fallen world where evil resides. Not everyone who enters the church has honorable intentions, and even some who do come with good intentions can fall back into old patterns of sin. One of the most dangerous places in Christian churches, if not properly guarded, is the children’s ministry. Churches that don’t implement background checks, team led classrooms, and other security measures, leave themselves open to many dangerous threats.

1 Peter 5:8   …Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.  

Matthew 10:16   …Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.

7 – Christians should never say anything that might offend someone or hurt someone else’s feelings-

Many new believers have a wrong understanding of meekness and humility. The idea of godly meekness involves having strength and courage, but the kind of strength that is submitted to God’s control. True humility recognizes complete dependence upon God and knows we have no goodness except that which is found in Christ. Sometimes our love for God and our fellow Christians, and obedience to God’s Word compels us to speak words that may hurt someone’s feelings or offend them. Some people call this “tough love.”

Ephesians 4:14-15  … Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.

8 – As a Christian you should not associate with unbelievers-

I am always saddened when I hear so called “seasoned” believers teaching this false notion to new Christians. Yes, it is true that you may have to break off some of the unhealthy relationships you have had with people from your past life of sin. At least for awhile you may need to do this until you are strong enough to resist the temptations of your old lifestyle. However, Jesus, our example, made it his mission (and ours) to associate with sinners. How will we attract those who need a Savior, if we don’t build relationships with them?

1 Corinthians 9:22-23  … When I am with those who are oppressed, I share their oppression so that I might bring them to Christ. Yes, I try to find common ground with everyone so that I might bring them to Christ. I do all this to spread the Good News, and in doing so I enjoy its blessings.  

9 – Christians should not enjoy any earthly pleasures-

I believe God created all of the good, wholesome, enjoyable, and fun things we have on this earth as a blessing for us to enjoy. The key is not holding on to these earthly things too tightly. We should grasp and enjoy our blessings with our palms held open and tilted up.

Job 1:21  … And (Job) said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.”

10 – Christians always feel close to God-

As a new Christian you may feel very close to God. Your eyes have just been opened to a brand new, exciting life with God. However, you should be prepared for dry seasons in your walk with God. They are bound to come. A life-long walk of faith requires trust and commitment even when you don’t feel close to God. In these verses, David expresses sacrifices of praise to God in the midst of spiritual times of drought:

Psalm 63:1  … [A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.]  O God, you are my God, earnestly I seek you; my soul thirsts for you, my body longs for you, in a dry and weary land where there is no water.  

Psalm 42:1-3  … As the deer pants for streams of water, so my soul pants for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When can I go and meet with God? My tears have been my food day and night, while men say to me all day long, “Where is your God?”

http://christianity.about.com/od/newchristians/a/misconceptions.htm

Everyone tells lies. Everyone. Even those who profess to be outstanding, moral Christians. Most lies are harmless. They’re the “little white lies” we tell every day like, “Oh, I can’t make it to your party this weekend because I’ll be out of town.” We use them when calling in sick to work when we really just want to take a day off, or to our kids when we tell them about Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy.

But leave it to those stick-up-the-ass, holier-than-thou god groupies at Answers in Genesis to try laying the guilt trip on people for telling any sort of lie. They make the claim, as many fundies do, that lying is a sin, and sin is punishable by death, therefore any lie will endanger your soul of being cast into hell no matter how innocuous. OK, this is no surprise coming from wacko Christians, right?

One could easily overlook this article if it weren’t for the example it cites, and that is: Imagine you are living in the time of World War II and Nazis come knocking on your door demanding to know where some Jews are. You can either lie and say you don’t know, thereby possibly saving them, or tell the Nazis and not break God’s commandment. You guessed it: They are advocating telling the truth to the Nazis!

“Consider this carefully. In the situation of a Nazi beating on the door, we have assumed a lie would save a life, but really we don’t know. So, one would be opting to lie and disobey God without the certainty of saving a life—keeping in mind that all are ultimately condemned to die physically. Besides, whether one lied or not may not have stopped the Nazi solders from searching the house anyway.”

So their reasoning is this: Don’t lie because you’ll disobey God. And the Jews would die anyway.

Unbelievable.

This is the true face of Christianity, folks. God above all else and to hell with your fellow man.

The River Ministries

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.  Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me.  Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit. – Psalm 51:10-12

The Lord has been speaking to me that this is a prayer for the modern Church, a prayer that paves the way for Awakening. 

Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. – If we are to see a massive move of God, a keen awareness of personal sin and a sincere determination to turn from it are required.  Psalm 34:18 says, “The LORD is near those who are broken in heart, and saves those who have a contrite spirit.”  “Contrite” means “thoroughly sorrowful over sin.”  God eagerly answers repentant prayer and restores a clean heart within us.  It is not possible to have a right spirit inside without such repentance. 

Do not cast me away from your presence, and do not take your Holy Spirit from me. – A full casting away from His Presence, for the once-believer, is final judgment for rejecting Jesus.  But God does lift His Presence from His own, so that He no longer hovers closely over them, through their refusal to listen and obey.  It is about having, or not having, His anointing. 

Samson, the man of God, toyed with sin on a regular basis.  His compromise probably started out small.  Compromise usually does.  He came to a point of thinking, “I will go out as before and shake myself” (speaking of using his supernatural strength) “and he did not perceive that the LORD had departed from him” (Judges 16:20).  May God help those of us who are in compromise to turn from it before we come to the place of losing the anointing and not even realizing it! 

Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with your free Spirit. – The joy of salvation should not be confined to personal enjoyment of eternal life and relationship with Jesus.  Genuine joy over salvation will produce an uncontainable urge to tell others the good news so that they can know Jesus too.  God wants His Church so re-filled and re-empowered by His Spirit that we cannot help but pour out the gospel to those around us. 

Lord, light the fire again!

The River Ministries

“Moving forward with confidence and courage…”

“For we have become partakers of Christ if we hold the beginning of our confidence steadfast to the end.” …Hebrews 3:14

My people, heed My words; yes, do not walk carelessly, nor lay out your own paths on which to travel.  You cannot know what lies in the distance, nor what adversity you may encounter tomorrow.  So walk closely with Me, that you may be able to draw quickly upon My aid.  You need Me; and no matter how well developed your faith is or how mature your growth in grace is, never think for a moment that you need My support any less.  The truth is that you need it even more.  For I shelter the newborn (in spirit) from many of the trials and tests I permit to confront those who are growing up in spiritual stature.  You cannot grow unless I bring into your lives these proving and testing experiences.

So hold more firmly to my hand as you journey on in your Christian walk.  Trust not in your own increasing strength, for truly, it is not your strength but rather My strength within you that you feel.  You are as vulnerable to the treachery of the enemy and as frail as ever; but your knowledge of Me has deepened, and because of this your trust in Me should come easier.

Move forward with courage and confidence; but always allow Me to walk ahead and choose the right path.

Dedicated with love, to my mom, Patricia (in photo above).

]]> http://irreligious.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/fingerprinting-is-the-devils-work/ Fri, 06 Nov 2009 21:13:17 +0000 irreligious http://irreligious.wordpress.com/2009/11/06/fingerprinting-is-the-devils-work/

Fundamentalist Christians, and others who believe that the Book of Revelations foretells mankind’s future, have differing interpretations on the symbols and events described in that book. Among these symbols is the Mark of the Beast, that eternal fodder of conspiracy nuts and paranoid schizophrenics.

Among the more popular interpretations is that it will be some sort of implanted microchip containing all of your personal information. Others think that it’s actually a mark or a barcode, perhaps tattooed on your hand or forehead. Still others believe that it’s an invisible mark seen only by believers.

For one ultra-paranoid Christian teacher in Texas (where else?) it’s fingerprinting. She’s facing suspension by her school district for refusing to allow the state to collect and store her fingerprints, as demanded by law. Texas lawmakers approved the fingerprinting measure in 2007 in order to better protect students from child predators. But this teacher thinks that by allowing her fingerprints to be taken she’s accepting the Mark and will therefore perish in hell.

The Bible teaches that God is one God and that there are no other gods. The Bible also clearly distinguishes between three parts or Persons of God; the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, known as the Trinity.

Matthew 28:18-19 says, “…And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.”

THE INDWELLING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-

The Holy Spirit lives permanently in every Christian-

• Romans 8:9 says,  “But you are not controlled by your sinful nature. You are controlled by the Spirit if you have the Spirit of God living in you.”
• Galations 3:2 says, “You received the Spirit because you believed the message you heard about Christ.”
• Galations 4:6 says, “And because we are his children, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, prompting us to call out, ‘Abba, Father.’”

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is called the “unction” in 1 John 2:20, and “anointing”. These are synonyms for “indwelling”-

• 1 John 2:27 says, “But you have received the annointing of the Holy Spirit,  and he lives within you, so you don’t need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you everything you need to know, and what he teaches is true—it is not a lie. So just as he has taught you, remain in fellowship with Christ.

The prophecy of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is found in-

• John 7:37-39 says, “On the last day, the climax of the festival, Jesus stood and shouted to the crowds, “Anyone who is thirsty may come to me! Anyone who believes in me may come and drink! For the Scriptures declare, ‘Rivers of living water will flow from his heart.’”(When he said “living water,” he was speaking of the Spirit, who would be given to everyone believing in him. But the Spirit had not yet been given, because Jesus had not yet entered into his glory.)”
• John 14:16,17 says, “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, who will never leave you. He is the Holy Spirit, who leads into all truth. The world cannot receive him, because it isn’t looking for him and doesn’t recognize him. But you know him, because he lives with you now and later will be in you.”

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit must be distinguished from the indwelling of the Lord Jesus Christ-

Christ indwells the believer for the purpose of fellowship-

• Romans 8:10 says, “And Christ lives within you, so even though your body will die because of sin, the Spirit gives you life because you have been made right with God.”
  
• 2 Corinthians 13:5 says, “Examine yourselves to see if your faith is genuine. Test yourselves. Surely you know that Jesus Christ is among you; if not, you have failed the test of genuine faith.”

The Holy Spirit indwells the believer for the purpose of function-

• Galations 5:22 says, “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,  gentleness, and self-control.”

Maximum fellowship with Christ comes through the function of the Holy Spirit in edification and grace.

The “Indwelling” of the Holy Spirit must be distinguished from the “Filling” of the Holy Spirit-

• The indwelling is automatic at salvation-
• The filling is a function of the believer’s volition and may be lost through carnality-

Ephesians 4:30 says, “And do not bring sorrow to God’s Holy Spirit by the way you live. Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption.”

• The Filling is commanded-

Ephesians 5:18 says, “Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

• The Filling is regained through confession of Sin-

1 John 1:9 says, “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.”

The Holy Spirits functions in the intake and application of Bible truth-

• John 14:26 says, “But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you.”

• John 16:12-13 says, “There is so much more I want to tell you, but you can’t bear it now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own but will tell you what he has heard. He will tell you about the future.” (see also: 1 Cor. 2:9-16 and 1 John 2:27.)

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is necessary because of the spiritual conflict in “high places” (spiritual warfare)-

• Ephesians 6:12 says, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”

GENERAL WORK OF THE HOLY SPIRIT-

• Zechariah 4:6 says, “… not by might, nor by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts.”

The following is a list of activities carried out by the Holy Spirit: (Please take a few minutes to look up these verses.)

• Casting out demons: Matthew 12:28
• Comforting of believers: John 15:26
• Reproving the world of sin: John 16:8
• Making believers spiritually alive: Romans 8:11
• Making intercession for believers: Romans 8:26
• Making able ministers of the new covenant: 2 Corinthians 3:6
• Raising Christ from the dead: 1 Peter 3:18
• Was executor of Bible inspiration: 2 Peter 1:21
• Invites unbelievers to accept Christ: Revelation 22:17

LeeAnnRubsam.com

In previous posts, I spoke about the corporate worship setting at great length.  But what about our personal worship, just Him and us? 

And there was also Anna, a prophetess …. She was very old … who did not depart from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. – Luke 2:36, 37 

And the LORD spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he turned again into the camp: but his servant Joshua, the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle. –  Exodus 33:11

Here we see an old woman and a young man with something in common that set them apart from everyone else: they loved the sanctuary of God’s Presence.  They loved ministering to the Lord’s heart by lavishing themselves on Him.  They did not go in and out of His Presence: they stayed there – because they wanted to be wherever He was.

In Anna and Joshua’s day, the Lord’s Presence rested in the structure where corporate worship was conducted.  (By the way, there are still physical places in our time as well, where God has been so sought after by true worshippers that His Glory-Presence continually rests tangibly in the building.)   But we have something that Anna and Joshua did not have.  Jesus promised that when He ascended into heaven, He would send the Holy Spirit to dwell in the hearts of believers (John 14:16, 17), and that we ourselves would be the temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19). 

The Lord is still looking for people who desire not to depart from His Presence.  Worship and awareness of Him can be a lifestyle.  We do not have to step out of dwelling in His glory.  We all do step out of it and into natural-man ways from time to time, but we don’t have to.  The goal is to stay there.  It is what Jesus referred to in John 15 as “abiding in Him.” 

Some of us think we have to go from one great conference to the next to experience wonderful worship, miracles, and glory manifestations.  But Jesus wants us to learn how to tap into dwelling in a state of worship, having communion with Him throughout every day, not needing the hype that is part of some corporate worship gatherings in order to be satisfied.  We are to find our complete satisfaction in Him, not in the tools that are used to facilitate worship.  

Corporate worship is wonderful, and I dearly love being in that setting, but we must somehow learn to go beyond only experiencing God’s touch in that way.  Pure worship flows out of relationship with Him.  And since we are the temple of His Presence through the Holy Spirit indwelling us, we can stay in the sanctuary of worship all the time, beyond what Anna and Joshua had.

Previous: True Worship (Part 6) 
Next: Favorite Worship Music

LeeAnnRubsam.com

The River Ministries

I still remember my first encounter with God’s tangible Presence resting upon someone.  A smiling elderly couple took the empty seats in front of us at a Bible camp meeting.  Heaven entered the room with them.  I whispered to my husband, “Did you feel that?”  Eyes wide, he nodded solemnly.  My prayer became, “God, I want to hold Your Presence like that.” 

What does it take to carry His Presence so that we impact those around us?  In Old Testament times, the priests exclusively carried the Ark of the Covenant, the symbol of God’s Presence. The Lord set higher standards of holiness for them to live by than He did for the general congregation.  In our day, all believers are called to be holy priests unto the Lord: “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation …” (1 Peter 2:9). 

The priests understood that extreme reverence was necessary in handling the Ark and God’s Presence.  When they bore the Ark upon their shoulders, they did not carry other baggage.  If we are to carry God’s Presence tangibly with us, we cannot carry baggage either.  Envy, unforgiveness, bitterness, criticalness, compromise, and worldly lusts are all baggage that many Christians are so used to carrying that they are not even aware of their burdens.  We cannot bear His Presence if we carry these things.  God does not tolerate a mixture of the holy and the unholy. 

Carrying the Presence requires great humility.  Numbers 12:3 tells us that “Moses was very meek, above all men on the face of the earth.”  Meekness is an old-time word meaning “humility with strength.”  

Moses spent much face-to-face prayer time with God.  Consequently, He carried the Glory-Presence: “When he came down from the mount … Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone, … and when Aaron and all the children of Israel saw Moses, … the skin of his face shone” (Exodus 34:29, 30). 

Moses was unaware of the glory emanating from his person and how it affected others.  Similarly, when we continuously bear the Glory-Presence, we probably will not be aware of it either, unless someone tells us or responds to its effects.  But carrying the tangible Presence of God will always have far-reaching impact on those around us.

Holiness, extreme reverence, humility, much time spent with the Lord, and leaving our baggage behind – these are the keys to carrying His Presence.

The River Ministries

LeeAnnRubsam.com

John 4:23 tells us “… True worshippers shall worship the Father in spirit and in truth: for the Father seeks such to worship Him.”  God is still looking for people who will give Him the true worship He longs for. 

True worship is not fervor over how uplifting or how exciting the music is.  We can be in performance-based praise settings that appeal to our senses, make us feel good, or get us dancing to the driving beat, and think that is worship.  Really, it is not much more than music executed so well and with such energy that it pleases our flesh.  This is the only “worship” experience many have ever known. 

I once had a vision that illustrated this type of attempt at worship.  Jesus was standing outside two huge oaken doors leading into a ballroom.  He was waiting in happy anticipation for the doors to be opened so that He could come in.  Everyone on the other side of the doors was rejoicing and dancing because of Jesus, but they forgot to throw wide the doors and announce that He had come.  Perhaps it was not so much that they forgot; maybe they didn’t know they were supposed to.  So Jesus continued to stand and wait, and all the while people were rejoicing about Him without having Him present among them.  It was like celebrating at a wedding and forgetting that if the bridal couple is not in the room, the whole celebration is without meaning.

Essentially, the problem in this kind of scenario is that the “worship” is about us — are we enjoying the music, are we feeling good, do we get a “high” from the worship experience.  When we shift from it being about our satisfaction to what satisfies the Lord, that’s when we come into true worship.  We have then “opened the doors” to Him and He can make glorious entrance among us, reveal Himself to us, and truly fellowship with His people. 

This is what the Lord longs for.  It is what we are really longing for as well.  True worship provides genuine satisfaction for both the Lord and His beloved people, and it lasts beyond the momentary experience.  Anything less may give us a temporary thrill, but we end up feeling empty when the excitement is over.  We need to entreat the Lord to bring us into true worship and to keep us there.

Over the last few posts, I have put a lot of emphasis on worship in the corporate setting.  Next time, I’d like to delve into personal worship.

Previous: Worship and the Holy War (Part 5) 
Next: Savoring the Sanctuary of His Presence (Part 7) 

LeeAnnRubsam.com

LeeAnnRubsam.com

Undistracted worship is a challenge.  In the corporate setting, we’ve all experienced the sudden mysterious technical difficulties sound equipment can develop, the unexpected and badly timed remarks others sometimes make just as we are entering the sanctuary door, and myriads of other minor disasters.  From that point on, focusing our complete attention on the Lord becomes a colossal struggle, and there may be times we do not succeed in overcoming during the entire worship phase of our service.  None of this is coincidence.  It is Satan’s deliberate assault.  

Why does he make such a concerted effort to derail our worship?  We have already seen in the previous posts that worship is a warfare weapon that puts the enemy’s camp in disarray and that worship decrees the kingdom of heaven into the earth.  Hell is not going to let those things happen without a fight. 

But there is another reason as well. Ezekiel 28:11-17 gives us a description of “the king of Tyrus” which many Bible scholars believe is really referring to Lucifer and what he was like before his rebellion against God.  Verse 13 says, “… the workmanship of your tabrets and of your pipes was prepared in you in the day that you were created.”  A tabret (sometimes translated “timbrel” or even “tambourine”) was a percussion instrument, probably a drum. “Workmanship” has the extra meaning of ministry or occupation.  This reference possibly indicates that Lucifer was once the lead worship minister in heaven. When we understand that the ultimate purpose of the entire universe is to worship the Lord God Almighty, we see what an important position Lucifer held.  But Isaiah 14:12-14 informs us that this one who was adorned with great beauty and had the prestigious honor of leading worship, became prideful (“I will ascend … I will exalt my throne … I will be like the Most High.”) and decided he would rather be worshipped than be the worshipper. 

He desired to usurp worship for himself then, and he still does today.  This is his primary goal – to divert worship from the Most High God to himself.  We see his maneuvers all through history – deceiving mankind into idol worship, distracting man’s attention from adoration of the King of Kings, even tempting Jesus to worship him: “All these things will I give you if you will fall down and worship me” (Matthew 4:9).  

The holy war of the ages, in a nutshell, is about who will be worshipped.  We who believe the Scriptures already know what the final outcome will be: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10.11). Until that final day, we are honored with an invitation to participate in the universal conflict by worshipping King Jesus and by interceding on behalf of His worship being accomplished.

Previous: The Marriage of Worship and Intercession (Part 4) 
Next: True Worship (Part 6)

LeeAnnRubsam.com

Christians that believe Halloween is evil have reached a new level of insanity, which is on display in this article by Kimberly Daniels. Here are some of the highlights:

The key word in discussing Halloween is “dedicated.” It is dedicated to darkness and is an accursed season. During Halloween, time-released curses are always loosed. A time-released curse is a period that has been set aside to release demonic activity and to ensnare souls in great measure.

Time-released curses? Wait, it gets better…

During this period demons are assigned against those who participate in the rituals and festivities. These demons are automatically drawn to the fetishes that open doors for them to come into the lives of human beings. For example, most of the candy sold during this season has been dedicated and prayed over by witches.

I do not buy candy during the Halloween season. Curses are sent through the tricks and treats of the innocent whether they get it by going door to door or by purchasing it from the local grocery store. The demons cannot tell the difference.

The stupidity…it hurts. My god, how can anyone with the least bit of intelligence believe this shit? The candy has been dedicated and prayed over by witches? Wow. But just when you think it can’t get any more looney…

Even the colors of Halloween (orange, brown and dark red) are dedicated. These colors are connected to the fall equinox, which is around the 20th or 21st of September each year and is sometimes called “Mabon.” During this season witches are celebrating the changing of the seasons from summer to fall. They give praise to the gods for the demonic harvest. They pray to the gods of the elements (air, fire, water and earth).

So now the colors of Halloween are evil?

Halloween is much more than a holiday filled with fun and tricks or treats. It is a time for the gathering of evil that masquerades behind the fictitious characters of Dracula, werewolves, mummies and witches on brooms. The truth is that these demons that have been presented as scary cartoons actually exist. I have prayed for witches who are addicted to drinking blood and howling at the moon.

Witches who are addicted to drinking blood and howling at the moon? Apparently, the candy, colors, and blood-drinking witches are not the real danger of Halloween. Here, the author lays it all out:

The word “occult” means “secret.” The danger of Halloween is not in the scary things we see but in the secret, wicked, cruel activities that go on behind the scenes. These activities include:

• Sex with demons
• Orgies between animals and humans
• Animal and human sacrifices
• Sacrificing babies to shed innocent blood
• Rape and molestation of adults, children and babies
• Revel nights
• Conjuring of demons and casting of spells

Sounds like the next Rob Zombie movie. Seriously, orgies between humans and animals, sacrificing and raping babies? This woman has a very active imagination, or one hell of a mental illness. I’m betting it’s the latter.

LeeAnnRubsam.com

Worship and intercession go hand in hand.  The person with a true heart of intercession will quite naturally find himself slipping into worship, because both of these aspects of prayer are fueled by the Holy Spirit and flow out from our spirit-man.  Worship is the propellant which sends our prayer-rockets heavenward and gives them the “boost” to make it all the way to the throne. 

Those of us who are intercessors have a very important role in the corporate worship setting, especially within church fellowships where entreating God for His Presence to settle in is understood. 

Let me explain about His Presence, first of all, for those who may not have experience with what I am speaking of.  God is omnipresent, meaning that He is capable of being everywhere at the same time.  So, in that sense, He is always present among His people.  When I refer to His Presence being among us, however, I mean a tangible sense that He has drawn very near (termed by some His “Manifest Presence”).  For the spiritually attentive person, God’s Presence will be suddenly felt, whereas it was not felt moments before, and we know He has “entered the room” or “come down” among us.  When we worship with clean hands and a pure heart, experiencing communion with the Lord in this way should be the norm, once we know that we can expect it. 

Within my church family, it is a rare gathering where we do NOT have His Presence manifest among us.  In fact, we normally do not shift out of our corporate worship into the sermon portion of the service until we know He is among us tangibly and that He has been pleased with our adoration.  Sometimes our worship goes on long past an hour, and sometimes we never do get to a sermon, because lavishing our love on the Lord and reveling in His response is what He wants for our entire gathering time. 

Obviously, a worship team that can flow with the Spirit is key in both bringing the congregation to a place of pure focused adoration and attracting the Lord’s Presence.  But the intercessors are also important in accomplishing this goal.  When I am in the corporate worship setting, I know that I have work to do.  Both worship and warfare for breakthrough into His Presence may be necessary.  (And remember, worship is a form of warfare in itself.)  I stay sensitive to what is happening around me, listening for the Spirit, paying attention to the current atmosphere in the room, intensifying my intercession for breakthrough if I sense that it is not easily happening. 

Without intercessors who are paying keen attention to what is going on around them spiritually during the corporate worship setting and taking the intercessory steps needed, the manifest Presence of God may never come down upon the congregation during its gathering.  Intercessors are needed to discern and follow up with prayer (and possibly prophetic responses) concerning what we are discerning.  Our intercessions, warfare, and prophetic responses can be done discreetly, so as not to draw attention to ourselves and thereby distract others. 

Why would warfare be necessary during worship?  There are several reasons.  People can hinder heightened worship by bringing spiritual baggage with them into the corporate setting – sin issues, demonic problems, bitterness, unforgiveness, worries, lack of peacefulness, lack of being prepared for worship through prayerlessness, and just general distractions.  These things affect the atmosphere and hinder worship for the entire body, and require overcoming intercession / warfare.  Even when our hearts are right, and we have prepared ourselves for corporate worship, distractions can be presented deliberately by Satan to hinder us from connecting with the Lord. 

Next time we will talk about why Satan makes such an effort to hinder worship.

Previous: Worship Establishes God’s Kingdom in the Earth (Part 3)  
Next: Worship and the Holy War (Part 5)

LeeAnnRubsam.com

LeeAnnRubsam.com

And the seventh angel sounded; and there were great voices in heaven saying, “The kingdoms of this world are become the kingdoms of our Lord, and of his Christ; and he shall reign forever and ever.  — Revelation 11:15

You shall also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto you: and the light shall shine upon your ways. – Job 22:28 

It is fun to be in a corporate praise setting.  We enjoy glorifying the Lord with beautiful melodies, vibrant instrumentation, and wonderful lyrics expressing our love for Jesus.  And when His Presence gathers thickly all around us, it seems like heaven on earth. 

But what the Church is only beginning to understand is that our worship goes beyond our congregational (or home) setting and breaks down the enemy’s walls in cities and regions.  It puts demonic forces to flight, so that they are no longer able to oppress whole people groups.  Worship opens the floodgates of heaven over a wider geographical swath than just the little band of believers who are actively participating.  It brings blessing and freedom to those around them as well. 

How does this work?  We have already quoted James 4:8: “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”  When we worship, we are drawing close to the Lord.  He is attracted to us through worship, and fastens His attention upon us.  Worship goes on constantly in heaven, so when we participate in it, there is a holy union that takes place between our earthly domain and the heavenly domain. 

Heaven is a place of light and goodness.  When we worship, we draw down that same atmosphere around us.  And when light comes, darkness and the dark spiritual beings cannot remain and function as they would like to. Light cannot be easily contained; its nature is to emanate outward.  Thus, when we worship, we draw down the light of the Lord around ourselves – but it spreads outward to our neighborhood, our city, our region. 

When we worship, we are doing the will of God in the earth.  The Lord’s Prayer says, “Your kingdom come; Your will be done on earth, as it is in heaven”(Matthew 6:10). God’s kingdom is established in the heavenlies.  He has given us the honor of partnering with Him in reestablishing it on earth.  (I say “reestablish” because the kingdom was established prior to mankind’s fall, and there has been a process of restoration to that original state going on in the earth ever since Jesus secured entire victory through the cross and resurrection.)

Every time we speak or sing of the majesty, greatness, power, and glory of God, we are decreeing it and affirming it in the earth and over the powers of darkness.  We establish God’s authority and His glory in the earth by verbalizing it.  Extolling God’s love and mercy in our worship is a holy declaration that opens the way for the establishment of His love and mercy around us.  Adoring Him for His faithfulness releases His faithfulness in the atmosphere around us to a greater degree.  When we sing of His greatness, His goodness, His power, those things are loosed among us.  This is not to say that God’s mercy, faithfulness, greatness, and all the wonderful qualities that make up His character are limited in some way, and that we make them bigger by our worship. But there is a cooperating between us and heaven that takes place through worship that causes the goodness of God to be manifested more fully in the earth by honoring Him aloud for those things. 

Am I saying that worship is only accomplished correctly by verbalizing it?  Absolutely not.  Worship is not only an outward act; it is a continual attitude of the heart.  There are times of deep intimacy with the Lord where words could never express our love for Him.  Heartfelt adoration of the Lord is of great value, while mere lip service is of no value whatsoever. But the speaking forth of audible worship has been neglected by some, due to a lack of revelation of its importance.  It’s time we come into a better understanding of the impact of the sound of worship. 

As in previous posts, I again want to stress that we don’t use worship to get revival and awakening in a region.  We worship purely to honor the Lord for Himself alone.  But the by-product of that worship is annihilation of hell’s grip on our region and full-blown establishment of the kingdom of heaven on earth.

Previous: Worship — Weapon of Warfare (Part 2) 
Next: The Marriage of Worship and Intercession (Part 4)

LeeAnnRubsam.com

It’s almost Halloween and all around the country people are getting ready for the fun. But some people have a problem with the holiday. Like this guy. And these people. And generally a few religious nuts.

You’ll find that the most common opposition is that these people really think Halloween celebrates the devil and his demons. Yes, there are people who still believe in Satan, and they are terrified that their kids will start worshipping him if they participate in Halloween.

So it’s no surprise that Answers in Genesis, the granddaddy of all nutjob Christian organizations, is attempting to enlighten us all about the prince of darkness and his evil minions. Apparently, many of us are wrong. Demons do exist:

According to the Bible, demons are real spiritual and personal beings, not just forces or phenomena in the physical and psychological realm. Various Bible passages reveal that they have intellect, emotions, and will. They think, hate, and choose plans of action against God, Christ, and mankind. They especially hate believers in Christ because believers belong to Christ and are foes of Satan.

The Scriptures provide many details about demons. They are spirit beings created by God and responsible to God. They are creatures limited in space, time, and powers. They have become morally perverted and are called “unclean spirits” or “evil spirits.” They promote immoral and sensuous lifestyles. They cause false teachers of depraved minds to oppose the truth and appeal to carnal and selfish impulses. They sow false followers of Christ in the world. They blind the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing God’s salvation through faith in His Son.

Morally perverted? False teachers of depraved minds? Carnal impulses? Wait, are they talking about demons or the Catholic Church?

I just love this one sentence in the article: “They abhor the grace of God and attack the character of God by causing people to think of Him as dominating, restricting, and vengeful.” You don’t need demons to do that. Just read the fucking Bible. It speaks for itself.

So there you have it, kiddies. Demons are real and they’re out to get you. Stay home on Saturday night. Don’t go out and have fun with your friends because Satan will be on the prowl for new worshipers.

LeeAnnRubsam.com

For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. – 2 Corinthians 10:4

God has given us many weapons with which to overcome the enemy of our souls – the Word of God, the blood and the name of Jesus, our faith, and the word of our testimony, for starters. (For a fuller discussion of the spiritual warfare weapons, please see my post, Spiritual Warfare: Our Weapons.) Worship is primarily to honor the King of Kings, but it has a by-product effect of being a weapon of warfare. 

2 Chronicles 20:1-30 tells the story of Judah being attacked by an army too great for them to overcome.  The people gathered themselves together at Jerusalem to seek the Lord in prayer and fasting. 

Look at how King Jehoshaphat opened their prayer gathering:  

And Jehoshaphat stood in the congregation of Judah and Jerusalem, in the house of the LORD, … and said, “O LORD God of our fathers, are you not God in heaven? And do you not rule over all the kingdoms of the heathen? And in your hand is there not power and might, so that no one is able to withstand you? Are you not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before your people Israel, and gave it to the seed of Abraham your friend forever?” (vs. 5-7) 

What was Jehoshaphat doing?  He was worshipping. Jehoshaphat and his people were in dire distress and fear, yet they worshipped. 

By verse 14, we see one of the Levites of the house of Asaph prophesying the Lord’s protection and direction to the congregation.  Worship paved the way for revelation – which is another of the spiritual warfare weapons.  I also find it very interesting that the prophecy came forth from the worship team.  Asaph’s family line were directly responsible for leading the worship in the temple.  There is a correlation between worship and revelation.   

What did the people do, upon hearing this prophetic word?  “And Jehoshaphat bowed his head with his face to the ground: and all Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem fell before the LORD, worshipping the LORD.  And the Levites … stood up to praise the LORD God of Israel with a loud voice on high” (vs. 18, 19).  Their immediate response was worship. 

But King Jehoshaphat’s next move is entirely surprising.  He sent out an army to meet the foe (v. 21), with worshippers going before, whose only job was to praise the Lord! As they worshipped, God caused such confusion among the enemy that they killed each other (vs. 22, 23).  

There is a dynamic of worship that we do not fully understand in the natural.  Worship is the continuous sound in heaven’s throne room, and when we unite with that worship, we create a holy connection between heaven and earth.  God delights in our demonstration of love for Him, and draws near to us (James 4:8). 

How does this worship become a warfare tactic, then?  Worship of God Almighty afflicts the demonic world with confusion.  This is what happened in Jehoshaphat’s story.  Demons abhor the sound of worship.  It puts them in disarray.  This is why verbal worship, rather than just inward adoration, is needed.  As we worship, the heavens are opened over us and authority flows down from the throne to overthrow the strongholds of the devil.

Next up: How worship establishes God’s Kingdom in the earth

Previous: Worship and the Intercessor (Part 1) 
Next: Worship Establishes God’s Kingdom in the Earth (Part 3)

LeeAnnRubsam.com

LeeAnnRubsam.com

Worship.  What is it?  Why is it important in the life of the intercessor?  What happens in the spiritual realm when we engage in worship?  What does it do? 

Our marred human nature tends to make us very self-oriented people who think in terms of what we can accomplish or how we will be benefited by everything we do.  There are some wonderful results that come into our lives when we worship, but if worship did not do anything at all for us, we should still not neglect to engage in it.  Worship is for God, not us.  We were created to worship. 

Worship is focused adoration of the living Triune God.  It is both an attitude and an act.  It is a response to both Who He is, and what He has done for us.  Repentance is an essential part of worship. 

I am privileged to belong to a church family which has made worshipping the Lord its primary goal.  We attempt to be a people who live in a state of worship.  When we come together corporately, we do have the preaching of the Word and ministering to people for their needs, but both of these are secondary to honoring and satisfying the Lord by lavishing our love and attention on Him.

When God’s people worship for the sake of Him alone, some things happen.  James 4:8 says, “Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you.”  The Glory-Presence of the Lord fills the room – sometimes with such a strength that it is difficult or impossible to function on an ordinary level.  In the days of Solomon, the priests experienced the Lord’s glory  at the time of the temple dedication (1 Kings 8:10, 11) with such intensity that they could not stand in His Presence.  Worship causes demons to flee, opens the heavens over us and even over a city or region, and paves the way for deliverances, healings, and answers to prayer.  But these are only by-products of our worship, not the reason we engage in it.

In the coming posts, I will discuss worship as a weapon of our warfare, how it flows out from a corporate body of believers to affect a city, how it opens revelation to us, etc.  But we must keep in mind at all times that we never worship to get something out of God.  Buttering Him up in order to accomplish our goals insults the Most High.  Worship is about adoring Him, and if nothing EVER happened because of it, He is still worthy.  It is because He is giving and merciful  that He has provided benefits to us through our worship.

Next: Worship – Weapon of Warfare (Part 2) 

LeeAnnRubsam.com

The River Ministries

Recently I was thanking the Lord for His cross and suffering, and my eyes fell upon a plaque of three crosses hanging on my wall. I asked myself which one of these crosses best represents my life. 

In the crucifixion story, two of the crosses held thieves, symbolizing two types of people.  The thief who railed on Jesus represents those who have no time for Him. Even though their lives are a total mess they still refuse to get right with God through faith in Jesus. The other thief represents people who realize they need help from beyond themselves. Like the second thief, they understand that Jesus is their only answer. 

Neither of these crosses symbolizes the Christian.  Those who are true believers have already requested, like the second thief, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom,” and have passed from spiritual death into life. 

The Christian’s cross is the middle one, where Jesus hung.  The Apostle Paul said, “I die daily” [to natural desires] (1 Corinthians 15:31).  Paul also said, “I  have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). 

Jesus realized that the middle cross was essential to bring life to the world. In John 12:24, 25 He stated, “… Unless a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it remains alone.  But if it dies, it brings forth a large crop.  He who loves his life will lose it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to eternal life.” Jesus fully lived out these verses. He gave up His place in heaven, surrendered His will to His Father, and finally went to the cross. He became that grain of wheat that fell to the ground and died. But look at the result of that dying: millions of souls have entered the kingdom of heaven.

If you have not yet made a decision to yield your entire life to Jesus, I encourage you to follow the example of the second thief – embrace Jesus as your Lord and ask Him to give you eternal life.  If you have already trusted Jesus for your salvation, go to the middle cross and die to your own desires, so that the new life of Jesus welling up within you can bring transformation to others in your sphere of influence.

The River Ministries