Equippers Network

I had the honor and delight of attending some meetings with a few hundred other believers in which a humble and wildly in love with Jesus women of God who has been used mightily by God in some of the most interesting places in the world led us into greater intimacy with God.

The points that follow are areas that need to be considered as a result of this fresh outpouring of God's presence and should lead us to a greater understanding and ability to yield to God's Spirit, whenever God is doing a fresh work or is manifesting Himself and His presence to His people.

1. There was a process over the course of three days.

2. The process led us to a point of a fresh commitment and celebration the likes of which I have experienced only a hand full of times in more than 39 years of being a believer. In fact it was my early days as a believer during the Jesus movement when I first enjoyed such a high time of freedom, joy, commitment and celebration.

3. Many of us have experienced those times of soaring to great heights in God which we cherish and which are intended to lead us deeper and encourage us to go further in God.

4. There are issues that arise out of such experiences and that follow such experiences.

Biblically speaking we can gain the wisdom needed to deal with such high times in God by examining three such experiences in scripture:
A. Israel following the 'Pillar of cloud by day and fire by night.'
B. Isaiah in the Temple, 'In the year that King Uziah died.'
C. Jesus and the Disciples on, 'The mount of transfiguration.'

A study of the principles in these three Biblical examples of God's manifest presence among His people will follow in the next part of this article. For now let's continue our current line of thinking.

5. Throughout history we have been faced with the challenge of what to do when God moves upon His people in power and majesty.
There are dangers that lie in:
A. Trying to repeat in the flesh what God did in the Spirit
B. Not remembering that it took several days and steps to get to the high point or climax of the experience.
C. Establishing a formula based on what occurred or how we felt.
D. Not realizing that the timing, circumstances and events preceding the current work of God can not be duplicated and therefore the resulting work or move of God will be unique and not a clone or repetition of any other previous one.

There are elements of each move or fresh outpouring of God's presence which pertain to the character and nature of God.

6. We should ask ourselves these questions as we reflect on a specific fresh move or outpouring of God's presence:
A. What should our attitude be about what God is doing?
B. What should we have gained from what God was doing?
C. What should we expect now and as we move ahead after the experience?
D. How do we go forward, honoring what the Lord has done while not attempting to build a shrine on the experience or its location?

God is releasing a New Generation of Kingdom Revolutionaries who are leading a major Shift in the battle between the Kingdom of Light and the kingdom of darkness.

Over the last several years many have said there is a Shift of major proportions coming in the church. A brief look at the several recent books that have been published, such as, The Revolution by George Barna, They Like Jesus but not the Church by Dan Kimball, and talk of having Permission to do Church Differently in the 21st Century by Graham Cook and Gary Goodell all speak to us clearly that The SHIFT is not just coming but already happening.

The continous Shifting (Revival and Renewal) within the Kingdom has facinated me off and on for a long time. The SHIFT (the coming of the Kingdom of God into the kingdom of Satan and man) can be seen in many examples throughout church history.

I believe that an examination of Church history shows that God has been shifting and sifting the Church for over 100 years in significant ways. In fact He has been shifting it for several hundred years and Power shifting it for more than the last 100. With each new wave coming more quickly than the previous one.

When the age of enlightenment began knowledge began to increase among men. Scripture says in the last days knowledge will increase. With each new increase the pace has quickened and with it the enemy has enlarged his efforts to shift people's hearts away from God. God in turn has been shifting His people to respond by releasing His Spirit (life or Kingdom) and with it the Gifts and the Fire of God to cleanse people who follow Him so that they can walk in the knowledge of God and respond to the increasing waves of knowledge with the wisdom and power (the life) of God.

We often see THE SHIFT as a season of change and renewal, a period where Christians have an increased passion and desire to please God and know Him better and where the Holy Spirit operates more noticeably. It is however, more than just and increase in our desire to please God. It is a change in how we do things and why we do things related to the work of God both on a personal and church wide basis.

It is from the Life flow from God (Holy Spirit) that man is made able to respond as God desires to captivate the hearts of people while the world the flesh and the devil seek to captivate them through ever increasing knowledge and self satisfaction. This truth, that knowledge brings carnal satisfaction and fulfills the desire of a person's inner soul needs and wants (while masking the innermost spiritual needs of a person, which are only met as we align our spirit man with God and His purposes) is seen as it springs forth in the attack so cleverly implemented by the Morning Star turned deceiver in the Garden. "You shall not surely die, but you will become as God knowing (knowledge defined by the Greek mind set: one who is aware of both options of a concept) good from evil.

”The truth is that by disobeying God they became partakers of both evil and knew it even as they had been partakers of good and knew it.; one who has awareness gained by participation in evil, but had been partakers of good)

This Greek idea of knowledge, while very much like Lucifer/Satan was also very much un-God like because He (GOD) has never partaken of evil for it is contrary to His nature.

All of this to say YES, The Shift (away from the old wineskins and kingdoms built by man in the name of God) is gaining momentum at this very hour.

May we humble ourselves before God so that we can Shift with God as He releases His Spirit and Fire to bring His message of deliverance salvation, and cleaning accompanied by the working of His mighty power through His signs, wonders and the lives that have been radically changed by Him!

ARTWORK: http://www.majesticartworks.com/ID11herald.htm by William Hallmark http://www.majesticartworks.com/

1 Tim 2:1-72:1

Eph 1:15-18
15 Ever since I first heard of your strong faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for Christians everywhere, 16 I have never stopped thanking God for you.
I pray for you constantly, 17 asking God, the glorious Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, to give you spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you might grow in your knowledge of God.
18 I pray that your hearts will be flooded with light so that you can understand the wonderful future he has promised to those he called.

I want you to realize what a rich and glorious inheritance he has given to his people. NLT

When God's Spirit River moves among us it is not in a vacuum. He understands who we are and how we will respond to His work in and through us. Once we are transferred our of the darkness and into the Kingdom of His Son (Jesus) the Messiah Col 1:13-14 we should eagerly seek to grow in our relationship with God and discover what it is to be in Christ and in His Kingdom.

It is because we do not do this nor do we who are mature and in leadership provide a solid path of discipleship for believers that many believers do not benefit from the fresh outpouring of God's Glory, Power and Mercy. They end up constantly partaking of the river of life, but never growing into mature, passionate disciples of Jesus.

We must focus on three areas that get us to the next level in His kingdom design for us.

1. Understanding the depth and width of the salvation Jesus our Messiah has purchased for us. Jesus the Christ is the key to the success of any fresh move of God.
2. Comprehending who we are becoming in Christ is also necessary if we are to fulfill Ephesians 4:13. Becoming mature unto the measure and stature of Christ.
3. Perceiving the King's leading is necessary if we are to get all we should be getting during a fresh move of the Kings River of life. There is a need to descern what is of God and what are the results of a man's or woman's will.

How do the following three pieces from Ephesians 4:11-13 work together to bring Christians into Maturity?
1. Preparing God's people for the works of service
2. Building up the people who are in the Body of Christ
3. Equipping to maturity believers through discipleship training, impartation and ministry opportunities.

Note:
1. Our first objective is to know what has done for us and who we are in Christ.
2. The final goal is to become who we are to be in Christ as mature believers and leaders.
If we are to accomplish these goals and objectives there are certain principle teachings we must grasp and put into action in our daily lives.

I. Motivational gifts. Romans 12:6-8
These steer us or move us in a certain direction as a rudder does a boat. The Human Body can signify the differing motivational or ministry giftings: These can be broken down into two parts: above the heart and below the heart
1. Administration Shoulders
2. Mouth Teacher
3. Eyes Perceiver/prophet
4. Exhorter Mouth
5. Heart Compassion
6. Hands Giver
7. Hand and Feet Server

II. Life Context the soil of our lives - we are molded by these exterior factors: Our personality is molded and shaped by these factors. This is then defined as our filtering system. It is made up of our Family Uniqueness, our Culture our Physical characteristics, our Education and our Socio-Economic context. We must also add to this the experiences of life as we move through it as a unique receptor and responder.

III. Manifestational Gifts I Corinthians 12-14 (after we are saved)
1. Made manifest through us by the Spirit and as the Spirit desires. These gifts are the result of the work of the Holy Spirit in the believer after they baptized in the Holy Spirit. This was a regular and expected experience for all New Testament believers after Pentecost. I Corinthians 12:1-28
1 Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I do not want you to be unaware. 2 You know that when you were pagans, you were led astray to the mute idols, however you were led. 3 Therefore I make known to you that no one speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus
is accursed”; and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except 1aby the Holy
Spirit. 4 Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. 5 And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. 6 There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. 7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for
the common good. 8 For to one is given the word of wisdom through the
Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing 1by the one Spirit, 10 and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another
various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. 11 But one andthe same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills. 12 For even as the body is one and yet has many members, and all the members of the body, though they are many, are one body, so also is Christ. 13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free, and we were all made to drink of one Spirit. 14 For the body is not one member, but many. 15 If the foot says, “Because I am not a hand, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body.
16 And if the ear says, “Because I am not an eye, I am not a part of the body,” it is not for this reason any the less a part of the body. 17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But now God has placed the members, each one of them, in the body, just as He desired. 19 If they were all one member, where would the body be?
20 But now there are many members, but one body. 21 And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you”; or again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” 22 On the contrary, it is much truer that the members of the body which seem to be weaker are necessary; 23 and those members of the body which we deem less honorable, on these we bestow more abundant honor, and our less presentable members become much more presentable, 24 whereas our more presentable members have no need of it. But God has so composed the body, giving more abundant honor to that member which lacked, 25 so that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. 26 And if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. 27 Now you are Christ’s body, and individually members of it. 28 And God has appointed in the church, first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then miracles, then gifts of healings,helps, administrations,various kinds of tongues.
New American Standard Bible : 1995 Update.
LaHabra, CA : The Lockman Foundation, 1995, S.

IV. The Key Elements needed for the Believer's growth.
A. Teaching or Doctrine: continually growing in our knowledge of Him and His Word.
B. Spiritual Disciplines: prayer, Bible reading and study, worship, fasting, memorizing scripture, journaling, giving, service to others and living as a witness of the Kings Mercy and power.
C. Nurture: Pastoring nurturing and care of flock or people of God.
D. Fellowship with or Connectedness with a local group of believers.
E. Experience: allowing believers to exercise giftings and live the Spirit filled life.

The Church needs all of the 5 Fold Ministries to grow successfully and fulfill its mission. Although the titles may be different the functions are needed for us to fulfill Ephesians 4:11-13. A brief description of each follows:
Apostles A Sent One; they started churches, raised-up leaders and passed on core beliefs. Prophets/Perceiver Spoke to the people of God about things to come and unfolded the heart of God for the people they spoke to.
Evangelist Proclaimed Christ publically to people. Peter was evangelist on the Day of Pentecost Teachers taught, discipled and raises up the saints
Pastor leads the flock with nurture and teaching

Note:
There are two types of leaders.
a. Identified leaders lead by position
b. Unidentified leaders lead from midst of the people.

Note: We need to apply, the following process of gaining Spiritual Wisdom to any event, teaching, observation, revelation, vision or dream.
1. Revelation or Observation: The same process that works for revelation and observation is also used for dreams and visions. Seek God About the actuating event:
a. Pray for wisdom: Both to understand and apply the truth revealed.
b. Study the Word and research: Did this happen in or occur in another scripture
c. Meditate on: Process God's answer, think about it pray about it
d. Confirm: Speak to another mature Christian for conformation

2. Interpretation: Discover the meaning through the process of 1 through 4 above.
Wait on the Lord for His Wisdom and instructions for the delivery.

3. Application: The Impact that God desires.
In Due season=right timing, right weight. Our delivery must be Gods way! We must be wise when we sense the Holy Spirit at work that we are waiting on God's manifestation for specific details from God so that we don't filter everything through our own experiences. We must be careful how we execute what He reveals to us.

The Process for Maturing Saints, a summary.
(Growing from Salvation to Maturity)
1. Once we are born again we must discover the depth of Christ work in and for us.
2. Identification with Jesus or Understanding oneself in Christ.
3. Healing/Cleansing/Deliverance Process
4. Spiritual Disciplines of Christianity
5. Understanding our Life context.
6. Discover our Motivational Gifts.
7. Learn to operate in the Manifestational gifts.

The object is to build Christians into the Master's Image. We can understand, who we were created to be apart from sin and who we are to become in Christ included in three areas.
a. Spirit: Our New Nature in Christ is the resource of life to the Spirit, Soul and Body.
b. Soul: Mind, Emotions and Will,
c. Body: Flesh / physical. It is the working together of the Motivational gifts, our Life Context and the Maifestational Gifts along with the Working out of our New Nature as seen in the
first 3 chapters of Ephesians that make us who we are.

Artwork: Walking in the Light: http://www.majesticartworks.com/detail.aspx?ID=3961

This article is also posted at www.fathwriters.com

When God Mixes His Kingdom Glory with Our Lives, Culture and Times.

When God's presence or the River of Life flows among people it does not do so in a vacuum, but flows into their time in history, culture and theological understandings. It also embraces their gifts, talents and personalities in the process of forming the new wineskin or organic unit in and from which the glory of God flows out to the people of their day. These wineskins seem to have varying life spans, but all seem to follow similar patterns in their life cycle.

This pattern is seen throughout Church history. It is similar to the pattern in the book of Judges. It all starts when believers begin to call out to God for more of Him. They repent and humble themselves, God moves on them and they rediscover God’s power and supernatural work, and they see a biblical truth or truths that have been neglected or ignored, these new discoveries become a part of their core values or doctrines. They begin to spread this new life or renewal of God’s power and truths and grow in numbers. The move of God among them needs defining and conceptualizing; there is also a need to organize as they continue forward with this fresh work of God. The people, who have been leading, organize things and form a recognized unit, terms are defined and doctrine established.

It is at this point where the trouble usually shows up. There is an attempt to camp out or build tents at the point of renewal or revival. This is similar to Peter wanting to build three tents on the Mount of transfiguration. The people begin to get fixated on the unique things that happened or truths discovered and the hardening of the wine skin begins. All future fresh working or teaching from God must fit the new grid or it becomes unacceptable. God is grieved and begins to wait for His people to start the process again. It might be a different group in a different place at the same point in History or among the same group. The other thing that occurs among those experiencing a fresh move of God is a tendency to retreat back to previously known ways and beliefs when the new move of God begins to fade and /or its teachings get to be a challenge to live with or walk out in daily life. Evaluating what is or is not of God along with teaching others the proper way to express and operate in these gifts or according to these teachings has been a major challenge to those who experience a renewed work of God among them. This is particularly true if there is supernatural manifestations of God’s Spirit among them as was true in the book of Acts and as have been recorded throughout church history. We have a tendency to either abuse or deny anything new. We either become fixated on it or flee it and those associated with it. This seems to be just as true for justification by faith as it is for divine healing. If you are familiar with molding clay, mixing concrete or even plaster you are aware that the mixture only has so long before it will set into some permanent form.

This is somewhat true of the mixing of God’s living water into the lives, times and culture of people. Once you set the form it seems hard for us to change. Wineskins are also limited in their durability. Although, it is true that with proper care they can last a long time it is also true that they have to be replaced from time to time. This knowledge requires of us that we care for the wineskin we are a part of so that it will accomplish all that God intends and last as long as He desires it to be useful.

Isa. 55:8-11 presents us with a truth that must be considered in our examination of God’s work among people. 8 "My thoughts are completely different from yours," says the LORD. "And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine. 9 For just as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts. 10 "The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth. They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry. 11 It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

God knows what he sends His Spirit or River of life to accomplish and into the context which he sends it. He knows the strengths and weaknesses and the life span of His work among each time and people. This brings us to awareness that God is constantly pouring out His presence or river of life to accomplish His work among the different peoples and in the different cultures and times. Although culture and times change peoples need for the life of God does not.

The question then arises;

Can we change with the seasons and changes in culture to allow the River of Life to flow through us so that God’s purpose in the earth is accomplished on a continual basis? If we say yes, how will we do it?

With our different Wineskins we are faced with accomplishing the same task in order to fulfill the commands of Christ and to equip His people in accord with His truth to us in Ephesians 4:10-13. Ephesians 4:10-14 10 The One who descended is the same as the One who ascended far above all the heavens, (A) that He might fill [a] all things. (B) 11 And He personally gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, some pastors and teachers, 12 for the training of the saints in the work of ministry, to build up the body of Christ, (C) 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of God's Son, (D) [growing] into a mature man with a stature (E) measured by Christ's fullness. 14 Then we will no longer be little children, tossed by the waves and blown around by every wind of teaching, (F) by human cunning with cleverness in the techniques of deceit.

Footnotes:
Ephesians 4:10 Or fulfill; see [Eph 1:23]
(Holman Christian Standard Bible)Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB) Copyright © 1999, 2000, 2002, 2003 by Holman Bible Publishers, Nashville Tennessee. All rights reserved.


Are you willing to let the River of the King flow and accomplish His plans?

The river of God our King working in us is awesome to be apart of and is not reserved for a select few, but is open to all who call on His name!

It must start in us and then flow out to others.

Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with the King and Kingdom Today.
Part Three

In this study we will look at another Biblical example of God’s supernatural interaction with people. This God encounter is a reminder for us that an encounter with God or an experience of the move of God among His people are not restricted to one time encounters at the beginning of our journey of faith. The prophet Isaiah was already called of God and had been faithfully serving Him.

What we see these elements during this encounter.
1. Isaiah’s heart was burdened for the people of God and he was in the Temple seeking God because the King who was God’s appointed leader of the people had died.

2. Isaiah was seeking God’s wisdom and direction for the nation or people of God.

3. During his visit to the Temple Isaiah had an encounter with God in which the throne room of heaven and the activity there was revealed to him.

4. Immediately Isaiah realizes that he has enter the throne room of God and his heart cries out, ‘woe is me’. This is not because he is not living a life that pleases God, but because he realizes that that he and the people of God are unclean when compared to God.

5. It is in response to his arrival and reaction that an angel brings a hot coal and places it on his lips symbolizing the cleansing of his heart and life in the presence of God. This sanctification is seen elsewhere in scripture as a requirement that preceded a significant encounter with God. Isaiah is told that his iniquity, guilt and sin are atoned for.

6. Once the cleansing has taken place Isaiah hears a conversation among the Father, Son and Holy Spirit asking whom they shall send with a strong message of rebuke and correction to God’s people.

7. It is in this place of awe that Isaiah’s willingness to do the tuff stuff for God is revealed, as he says, “Here am I send me.”

Isaiah in the Temple
(Fresh fire, Fresh revelation, Fresh humility and holiness, Fresh call, Fresh vision)
Isa 6:1-8
6:1 IN THE year that King Uzziah died, [in a vision] I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and the skirts of His train filled the [most holy part of the] temple. [John 12:41.] 6:2 Above Him stood the seraphim; each had six wings: with two [each] covered his [own] face, and with two [each] covered his feet, and with two [each] flew.
6:3 And one cried to another and said, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; the whole earth is full of His glory!
6:4 And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who cried, and the house was filled with smoke.
6:5 Then said I, Woe is me! For I am undone and ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts! 6 Then flew one of the seraphim [heavenly beings] to me, having a live coal in his hand which he had taken with tongs from off the altar;
6:7 And with it he touched my mouth and said, Behold, this has touched your lips; your iniquity and guilt are taken away, and your sin is completely atoned for and forgiven.
6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for Us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. AMP

Other Places where the Glory of the King is revealed in some way.
Ex 33:21-34:1;
Job 38-41;
Rev 1-4.

Isaiah’s Encounter
Please note the following points.
1. The Circumstances
2. The Setting
3. The Reaction of man
4. The Response of God
5. The Call or Opportunity of God
6. The Opportunity and Response of man

Questions to consider
1. Are you responding to your circustances by seeking God for His answers?
2. When you encounter Him will you respond with Isaiah's attitude?
3. If He calls you to a new asignment will you say yes?

Artwork: http://www.templemount.org/solomon.html

Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with the King and His Kingdom
Part Two

The Pillar of Fire

God's Provision, Protection and Leading (preparation and readiness) ready to wait and ready to go. Ex 13:19-22; Neh 9:11-12; Neh 9:19-21; Ex 16:10

A First Look
When we look into this example of God's Supernatural intervention into the events of human history we are tempted to only see these obvious or stated truths.

1. The people were to make themselves clean before they left Egypt.

2. They had to be ready to go at all times.

3. The people were protected and comforted by the power of God made real by the Pillar’s majesty and by the visible demonstration of God presence of with them.

4. The people were organized by tribes but it was the priest-levities who watched for any changes in the status of the pillar and blew the Shofar to announce that God was on the move or that He was stopping.

There are facts that might escape us.

1. Moving approximately 3.5 million people took time and patience. Once the first tribe arrived at the new destination it would be a while before the last of the last tribe arrived. This is true of any new work that God does among His people. There are those who are aware and move quickly and those who get there at a latter time. The Leaders of God's people must lead as good shepherds, realizing that God may be leading but that we as leaders must allow the people to go through the same processes that have given us awareness that God is on the move. We must also be aware that people no matter how dedicated and committed move at different speeds in following the Lord. There are also some who will refuse to move at all and while we may be concerned for them and make every effort to encourage them to participate in what God is doing we cannot disobey God and refuse to follow Him if they will not.

2. Waiting at the appointed place may take more effort and strength than moving ahead to the next big or little thing God is doing for many people. It is the responsibility of leadership to minister to and train God's people when they have reached that next stopping place or plateau and help them to grow in God and be ready to go or stay as called on by God.

3. Miracles, Signs and Wonders are given as God directs and not as we might desire in the flesh. They are also not to be denied as a part of God's provision and direction either. Since he is a supernatural being we should expect Him to be and act supernaturally.

4. There is a purpose to the Supernatural manifestations of God and while they are not for entertainment or fleshly fulfillment of His people we must seek God who is supernatural and expect Him to work supernaturally. If we fail to seek the whole counsel of God for His people we will never attain the full level of maturity He desires. Eph 4:12-14.

5. Teaching that He is and works supernaturally must be ongoing. We must not shrink back from teaching the wondrous and glorious ways in which God has and does work when we are waiting for a long season for the pillar of Glory to move again, or for a fresh outpouring to be given. As we shall see in the book of Acts, there were many fresh outpourings or moves of God's Spirit among His people then and throughout Church History. We may not hear about them because their impact may have been limited geographically. We also may not have heard about them because those who wrote the history may have not understood or have been threatened by them. There are many times when God has poured out His Spirit on people only to have that outpouring of fresh fire hindered by the church, the ineffectiveness or corruption of the people involved or the lack of favor a particular movement had during a certain historic period. History after all is written by the victors.

6. There is a danger in wanting to camp out or constantly be in the glory or experiencing a fresh outpouring of God's presence. There is work to be done. These times of God's manifest presence are meant to change and motivate us as we shall see when we examine Isaiah 6:1 and the verses that follow and the mount of transfigured experience recorded in (Matt 17:1-8; Mark 9:2-8; Luke 9:28-36)

Questions we need to answer.

1. Are you seeking the majesty and wonder of God?

2. Is your walk with God blessed with fresh manna or stale bread?

3. Have you tried to store up manna or hoard it so that you do not have to seek it daily only to find it rotten?

4. Do you proclaim or say you believe in a supernatural God without having a fresh and supernatural relationship with Him?

5. Are you seeking the signs and wonders or the giver of the wonder?

6. Has the pillar been stationary at you church or in your life for a while?

7. When the Pillar is in one location for a longer period of time are you getting mended (made whole) and helping others to get mended as well? Are you growing in your relationship and knowledge of Him so that when the pillar moves, His work among you will be accomplished?

8. Are you seeking the fresh and living water that flows from His presence?
Artwork: http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071

Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with the King and His Kingdom Today
Part One

What do we need to understand to have ‘Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with The King and His Kingdom Today?' When we examine the history of revival movements and the outpourings of the Holy Spirit in Church History we see that God has poured out His Spirit and moved among His people continually in every generation since He began to pour out His Spirit on the day of Pentecost in the book of Acts.

We can also see in scripture that God has supernaturally interacted with His people throughout history and that we have many examples in the scriptures both in the Old and New Testaments. The interactions of God with His people throughout scripture serve as both examples and wisdom for us as we seek to be apart of what God is doing in the earth today.

Recommended Reading :
Encounters with God have been well documented in Church history both within Charismatic Movements and within what many would call Revival Movements. How has God encountered His people in the Old Testament, the New Testament and Church history and what were the results?

The list of books below will give you a good start at understanding these encounters:
1. Miracle Workers, Reformers and The New Mystics by John Crowder, Destiny Image
2. 2000 Years of Charismatic Christianity by Eddie L Hyatt, Strang Communications Company 3. Dynamics of Spiritual Life, an Evangelical Theology of Revival by Richard Lovelace, IVP
4. Revival by Winkie Pratney, Whitaker House
5. Rivers of Revival by Neil T. Anderson and Elmer L. Towns, Regal

Personal Experience:
I have had the privilege of experiencing the supernatural work of God among His people several times in my 39 years as a believer and know that every new supernatural outpouring of God's Spirit carries with it great blessings and challenges for those who are blessed to be a part of it. Some of these moves of God had local, while others had national and international impact.

This study is designed to provide Biblical truths that will allow us to chart a course during these times when the river of life runs both deep and often fast. A course that will take us into greater growth and helps us to allow the deeper encounters with God to produce good fruit for His kingdom among the people we live around and minister His life to.

Church History:
There are has many examples of those who allowed the fresh outpouring of God's Spirit to grow His kingdom and them and those who were shipwrecked when an outpouring of His Spirit was mishandled and produced error and destruction. Since history tends to be written by the victors, those who were shipwrecked were often seen as heretics and the work God began in them is seen as error and not attributed to God and His goodness.

Key Biblical Examples of God’s supernatural encounters with people.
1. Pillar of Fire (preparation and readiness) ready to wait and ready to go. Ex 13:19-22; Neh 9:11-12; Neh 9:19-21; Ex 16:10
2. Isaiah in the Temple (Fresh fire, fresh revelation, fresh humility and holiness, Fresh call) Note Isaiah’s state of mind. Isa 6:1-9
3. The Mount of transfiguration (Let’s build three tents and camp out here)

Does the experience lead to deeper call and greater commitment as well as new power for ministry? Matt 17:1-9

4. The Baptism, Fillings and Outpourings of the Spirit; Starting in the Upper Room (baptidzo: pickling something or dyeing a garment takes more than a single dip)

The baptism in the Holy Spirit brings us to a new level. Fresh (fillings) make us more continually useful as vessels of His Spirit and Glory. Luke notes that people were “filled with the Holy Spirit” (Acts 2:4; 9:17), that “they received the Holy Spirit” (Acts 8:17), that “the Holy Spirit fell upon (them)” (Acts 10:44), that “the Holy Spirit had been poured out on (them)” (Acts 10:45), and that “the Holy Spirit came upon them” (Acts 19:6). These quotes are from the Spirit Filled life Bible.

Finally, (every supernatural encounter of God with people has certain elements).
1. Do you know what those elements are? I have listed some below.
2. What else do you see in the book of Acts?
3. Is there a formula and pattern to follow or are they not always in a set sequence?
4. Is there a pattern to follow or common elements to note?

Preparation for Gods Spirit to Work or the results of His working can include: Cleansing, Repentance, Holiness, Revelation of man’s imperfect state in light of God’s majestic nature and holiness, a willingness to die to self and serve God, or making ourselves available for His call.

Please read the scriptural accounts listed and ask your self these questions during the coming week.
1. What lessons or truths can you discern or observe from each passage?
2. How do these truths apply to outpourings of God that you have heard about or been a part of?

ARTWORK: Power of Prayer Art Print by Danny Hahlbohm http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071

Wisdom for a Fresh Encounter with the King and His Kingdom Today
Prelude

What is it that happens during an encounter with the Most High God that causes such an impact in our lives? This is but one of the questions I was asking after attending three days of meetings held at Bridgeway Church in Denver some time ago. These meetings were led by a lady named Leslie Ann. During these meetings there was a significant work of God accomplished and a very intense anointing present throughout the meetings.

When I began to reflect on these meetings and the magnificent and powerful presence of God which worked in and among the people attending, I began to look in scripture and back both at church history and my own experiences. Lots of questions arise after such encounters with God. How can I experience more of the majestic and wonderful presence of God? Why don’t we experience more of these outpourings? What is of God and what is of man during these encounters? When God does work so powerfully what are or should be the results?

In the Bible the last four chapters of Job and the first four chapters of Revelation came to mind, as well as, Genesis chapter one and John chapter one. In these scriptures we see the majesty, splendor and wonder of God revealed to people.

When we look at Church history both in and out of scripture it is this breaking forth of God’s majesty and power that has continued to capture the minds and hearts of people and kept each new generation crying out to Him and standing in awe of Him!

We also see in scripture that both individual and collective moves of God start with a realization of the greatness of God and a humility that comes from that realization. This awareness of God's majesty and holiness is an opportunity to choose His ways instead of our own. The choice to submit to Him leads us to consecrate ourselves so that He has a clean vessel to live in and work through. Below are three keys to personal and collective preparation for a fresh work of God.

Keys to Experiencing a Fresh Encounter with the King Every Day.
1. Remember: We have been transferred out of the Kingdom of darkness Col 1:13-14
A. When is the last time you remembered the joy of your salvation?
B. What are you doing with and about it?

2. Choose you this day whom you will serve Josh 24:13-16
A. Death to self and our ways, plans, goals etc.
B. Lay down His gifts, calling and assignment and submit to the masters direction each day. They are His gifts, calling and assignment. We must allow Him to manifest, direct and assign afresh each day.

3. Consecrate yourselves Josh 3:1-6
A. Every day and in every situation.
B. A clean soul and spirit is His greatest goal, because it provides good soil for Him to work in.

Each day is 'the day that the Lord has made.' If we are to rejoice in each day that He has made (In Him and what He is doing) we must submit all to him anew.

Parting the Waters, Art by Chiu @http://www.allposters.com/gallery.asp?aid=1592821654&c=c&search=14071