Friday, January 17, 2014
Prophetic Word for 2014
"No one pours new wine into old wine skins, if he does the new wine will be spilled and the skins destroyed." Luke 5:37
It is a New Year filled with prophetic hope and promise. God's Kingdom is always advancing, His revelation increasing, "of the increase of His government and of peace there will be no end." Isaiah 9:7
It is time for His church to fully embrace the reality of His nature. He is a God of victory, momentum, increase and hope. The Father has given Jesus "all authority in heaven and on earth"; that means that the devil and the world have none.
Matthew 28:19
Late in 2013 the Holy Spirit began to speak to me about new wine and new wine skins. Jesus' teaching on new wine is found in 3 of the gospels and I was as familiar with these passages as most Christians are, but I knew that the Holy Spirit was challenging me to receive fresh insight. The Holy Spirit asked me a question, "How new does the wine skin need to be in order for it to hold the new wine of My Spirit?" The answer was obvious, "Every bit of it Lord."
I believe that 2014 will be a year when much new wine is being poured forth across our planet and it is imperative that His church change its skin. God is patient and He is always wooing us to greater openness to His Spirit but I have a very strong sense that a season is coming, and is now, when God will pour forth a new wine of His Spirit with such intensity that some skins will burst.
Over the past several years the church has experienced an amazing invitation from God to recognize and embrace the dynamic supernatural power of His Spirit. The form and nature of this invitation has often been handled in messy ways by some of the Father's children, but it is incumbent upon the church to recognize when a genuine move of God is at work despite how some people respond to it. There has never been an authentic move of God in church history that has not come along with a bit of mishandling in the flesh.
Sometimes we read the words of Jesus as suggestions and implications rather than statements of fact. I think Jesus was speaking with authority and truth when He said: "No one after drinking old wine wants the new, for he says, 'The old is good enough.' " (Luke 5:39) Surely it will seem to some that the way that the church has done business since the last great move of God is 'good enough'. Some will point to the wonderful things that God has done through the church over the past 50 years and claim their rightful reward to rest on that laurel, the Lord has indeed done incredible things through the many churches that were established in past revivals.
However, Jesus emphatically said, "New wine must be poured into new wine skins."
Luke 5:38
The preparation of new wine skins begins with every individual. It's important for every leader in the church to lead the way, but the Holy Spirit is pressing upon my heart a very intense awareness that no matter how prepared a leader or his church is the new wine is being poured forth and it is up to each individual Christian to change his/her skin.
I am grateful for God's grace and unconditional love. His mercy and love is beyond all comprehension, but He loves all of mankind with such an amazing intensity that He gave His only begotten Son, "that whosoever believes on Him will not perish but have everlasting life!"
The Father loves each of us unconditionally but His eye is upon all the nations of the earth. As a father I love all my children with an equal and unconditional love but sometimes I have had to make a decision that caused one or more of my kids to resist the change. When they were little they resisted with a bit of kicking and screaming.
Just Sayin'
In His radical grace,
Ray
Radical Gospel Monday Night Continues!
January 20th, 2014 @ 7pm in the upper-room of the Open Door Church in Petaluma.
Radical Gospel ministries has a class on the supernatural gifts and ministry of the Holy Spirit.* The class will be focused on instruction and impartation in the prophetic and healing gifts of the Spirit. Our emphasis is always on equipping and training individuals to be supernatural ministers of the amazing authority that God delegated to His people.
As always, Radical Gospel's assignment is mandated to equip every saint from any church in our region in the supernatural. Thus this class is open to any believer who desires to increase in their gifts and be used of the Lord in the astonishing revival that is taking place on the planet.
The time is NOW, don't miss this opportunity to be built up and strengthened in the complete access that YOU have to the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit. Classes will contain very practical stretching and use of gifts in a safe environment. We expect to learn by making mistakes as well as success. This is a chance to develop your own new wine skin and be ready to receive the new wine that is being poured forth by the Spirit of the Lord.
Ray LeBlond is the primary instructor of this class; we intend to bring in guest speakers who are walking in signs and wonders. Exposure to the ordinary people who God uses in the supernatural is as important to building faith as is our own hunger to move in the gifts.
Radical Gospel Ministries exist as an independent ministry. This class is not underwritten by any individual church**. We are making this class available at no cost because we believe that our reward is in seeing Christians come alive in their gifts, callings and destiny! The time is now for the destiny on Sonoma County to come to its fulness! The saints of God must be equipped!
An offering will be taken each night to give an opportunity for anyone to support the ministry as they can afford it.
*(The class is scheduled for 6-10 weeks but will remain open-ended as the Spirit leads). The class is open, you do not need to attend each class nor have started at the beginning.
**(Radical Gospel Ministries is grateful to the Open Door Church in Petaluma for hosting this class).
Sunday, September 30, 2012
You have more power than you think
Saints,
When the world around us appears to be in upheaval we are mandated by His Word to turn to Him in faith and in prayer. We remove our focus from the things of the world and fix our eyes upon Jesus. We shift our gaze off the problem and look to the One who has the answers and IS the answer.
When things get really bleak it is more challenging to do this but the Word of God does not seem to offer alternative methods. Our temptation has always been to take matters into our own hands and use the world's methods to solve the world's problems. It seems like we know how to fix things in the flesh and when troubles come we want to fix them any way we can.
Christians tend to feel powerless when answers don't come as fast as we would like. This always increases the tension we feel, we can become frustrated and even angry when things are not going the direction that we believe they should be going. We can even feel justified to take matters into our own hands. But anger and offense do not contain the power of God's Spirit, outrage is a fleshly emotion which can actually limit our ability to see things from heaven's perspective.
Bill Johnson says "if we use the world's methods to fight the world's battles we will lose because the devil is better at them than we are." This might actually explain a lot.
One of the reasons that I spend a lot of time teaching the supernatural is because the supernatural is God's realm. We have greater power and authority than we believe. The church, God's people, holds the answers to the world's problems but these answers are contained within His 'ways', in the Spirit and not in the flesh.
We have not yet begun to realize how much authority we have in the Spirit. Paul wrote to Timothy, "First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men, for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life, godly and respectable in every way. This is good, and it is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come into the knowledge of the truth."
I would like to suggest that we haven't pushed this authority to its full power. Paul is more than implying that our prayers and intercessions work, he is urging God's people to pray with thanksgiving for kings and all in high position, Paul is saying that this is God's way for us to end up living quiet and peaceable lives and His 'ways' are what are good and acceptable in the sight of God. Is it possible that the church is angry and frustrated because they keep trying the world's methods to transform culture and our culture doesn't seem to be responding. I could go on to suggest that we have not fully understood or tried God's 'ways'. Perhaps we have not fully taken hold of the power that is by faith? Perhaps the church has not apprehended the full extent of the spiritual authority that Jesus has released to His people.
Jesus said "all authority in heaven and on earth has been given unto Me", that means: ALL authority, which implies that the devil has none, the world has none and the 'kings' of this world have none. Jesus then went on to commission us with His spiritual authority, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations." I would like to suggest that He has released His authority to His Body, His people, and our power rests in the spiritual realm and not in the methods of man. (see*below)
You have more power than you think!
BELIEVE!
In His radical grace,
Ray
p.s. An important note:
Radical Gospel Ministries suspended our meetings in Petaluma for a season and that season is coming to an end. However, during this transitional time we have been listening intently to the Holy Spirit and He has been speaking clearly. God has further revealed and confirmed Radical Gospel's assignment in this region. Our focus and our reason for existence is to be a blessing and encouragement to the church, the Body of Christ in this 'city'. We were mandated to equip the Body of Christ in supernatural ministry and to become the powerful people of God that we were intended to become. We were mandated to shift the atmosphere of our region with the Presence and the power of the Spirit through worship, prayer and the preaching of His Word!
The Holy Spirit has revealed that the center of our Metron is Santa Rosa and we are actively praying for and seeking a venue in Santa Rosa to 'house' Radical Gospel's meetings.
It is our vision and our mission to hold more than one meeting. We envision a place where classes can be held for instruction and impartation of all aspects of supernatural ministry. We have joined forces with the vision of the Encounter Movement (college & youth emphasis) and they have come under the mantle of Radical Gospel Ministries. We require a venue where their meetings can be held too. This would include ongoing small discipleship meetings and classes.
We envision a place that is not just about Radical Gospel but a 'Revival Center' where the representation of the Body of Christ, the church (churches) of this 'city' are working together to equip God's people to transform our culture, our city and our world by the supernatural power of the Spirit.
We need your help...this is not a mild request for money, prayers or support...this is an urging to catch a vision for this city and region. Your response, your feedback, your ideas are more than welcome, we earnestly desire and covet your input.
Let's do this thing!
*P.S.S. By no means am I advocating that God's people should not be politically active, vote according to Christian values and be fully engaged in the privilege we have as American citizens to express our opinions. It is our right and our responsibility! My concern is that God's people have lost sight of where their real power lies and have become frightened and angry. It is the responsibility of leadership in the church to point people to the source of their authority. If we stir up fear or anger to motivate God's people it actually renders them powerless. Whenever you feel angry or fearful it is a good sign that you've lost sight of the Kingdom.
'Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.'Isaiah 26:3
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Prophetic word
To the Church in Santa Rosa,
I am devoting my weekly email to a prophetic word for our region which has been forming for many years. The accuracy of its 'unfolding' can be confirmed by the people I mention in this letter, the people of God and the leaders in this city.
I moved to Sonoma County exactly 40 years ago and became a Christian shortly after. My spiritual journey has been intertwined with the history of the church in this city beginning with my salvation and baptism in the largest church north of the Golden Gate Bridge at the time, in a building which is now known as the Wells Fargo Center.
After the sad demise of that incredible center of faith, that great equipping and a sending ministry, my journey took me throughout the the churches in the region. It has been a long road which has been traveled by many other people in this city.
I am not alone in having been a part of the unique and rather intricate intertwining of relationships that have formed over the years in this city. It is an odd dynamic of the church in the city itself: we all know each other, we all see each other in churches all over the area. The incredible complexity of family and relationships within this city's churches must be taken into account by any leader who desires to accomplish anything for God in Sonoma County. There is a Body of Christ, a hungry people, a unity in the Spirit, a collective memory and a desire for the restoration and recovery of a dream. I would call us 'the remnant' and we believe that "God's gifts and callings are irrevocable" (Rom.11:29)
We possess the anointing & inheritance of this city within our very DNA.
Approximately five years ago a prophetic vision for this city began to form as I engaged with the leaders and other friends who were able to see the 'big picture' of what God is doing in our city. These men and women had grown to understand a culture of honor and to conceive of an unprecedented unity which would require
any leader or any church to think out-of-the-box of traditional ecumenical unity. There would be a unity of the Spirit and a bond of peace which tapped deep into the ancient wells of God's calling on the city of Santa Rosa.
As I met with leaders and friends I heard the same 'word', I saw the same picture forming, the same vision being articulated through us in various forms. We saw a forerunner city, a church without walls, a people of God who shared a common purpose to restore the greatness of the call of God on the city of Santa Rosa.
Almost all of us saw our city as a center for revival where God's people were united under the banner of love. Each of them agreed that no single church, no one leader would again be lifted up to a such a place of prominence that his or her possible failure could disappoint or destroy the vision again. Rather there would be a great cooperation between leaders and God's people wherein Santa Rosa would become a 'testimony city' that says "do it again Lord."
A forerunner example of the Kingdom of God.
We would have a church where the passion for His Kingdom would center on knowing His ways. Where the children of God were united in the conviction that His Kingdom was not a political power nor a moral majority but a people of God walking in love towards each other while viewing the pre-Christian people in our city as ones created in His image, not as the enemy but as ones who need an encounter with Jesus in all His mercy and grace.
It would require His children to rise above their doctrinal distinctions and lay aside their personal agendas while walking in the Spirit in order to bring heaven to earth. A people along with their leadership who would be empowered by the Spirit to cooperate with the fulfillment of each others destinies, to call out the gold in each other, to use the ways of God's supernatural mystery to prophetically declare and release His promise over our city. To walk in honor towards the pre-Christian people in our region, not in an 'honor' that condones their sin, rather the honor
that recognizes each person as created in the image of God and that remembers that His blood is all that cleanses us from our own unrighteousness before a Holy God.
READ ON,
THE 'REDWOOD' PROPHETIC WORD:
As Jan and I sat with 70 leaders on August 30th in the 'Church of the One Tree' we became aware of the incredible prophetic picture being formed. God was indeed speaking through this event. As these leaders listened carefully to Mario Murrilo's inspirational speech and during the brief time of prayer, we looked around at the inside of the church of the One Tree. Stained glass windows depicting redwoods were on each wall and above the altar, a prophetic image began to form. We live in the Redwood Empire and right here in the middle of this region is built a church made from the wood of a single felled redwood tree.
This alone held a great sense of prophetic symbolism.
I began to wonder which part was more important, would we consider the roof or ceiling as more important? The foundation of the floors? The walls or the beams and buttresses which hold everything in place? Each part made from the same tree....was this not a perfect picture of His Body?
Isn't this the perfect picture of God's word and promise over the church in Santa Rosa?
"In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord." Eph 2:21
"From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Eph 4:16
Many of my friends agreed that when God looks down upon a city He does not see many churches, rather He sees His Body, His Church. Just as John was told to prophesy to the city churches in Revelation we saw a picture of how God views regions and cities. We began to see how God has strategically placed leaders
in this city who are anointed with what we call the 'five fold' or ascendant gifts. We could clearly see that God has laid a foundation for true unity....for a Book of Acts city church, it became even clearer that it would require unprecedented cooperation and unity. It wouldn't matter that we had different church 'houses'
where unique expressions of worship and teaching made us feel more at home, we could still live next to each other and build a city together where friendship and a common culture and language knit us in the ways of His Kingdom. An atmosphere of the Spirit, a people with One Father, a church with One head, Jesus.
THE 'REDWOOD' PROPHETIC WORD began to intensify in my spirit...the Holy Spirit making it as clear as any word I've ever received.
From many of the things that Mario Murrilo has said in his meetings here in Santa Rosa I believe that he is aware that he has stepped into a powerful apostolic Metron. I am not quite sure yet if he fully realizes all that God has said and is doing in this region but I am convinced that he is hearing the Holy Spirit in some measure. I have taught on the supernatural prophetic gift for many years and I know that we all see through our own paradigms and thus it requires each of us to test every word (Mario's & this word I am submitting to the Body of Christ in this city)...to filter and to 'hear' with spiritual ears what God is saying. As I listen to Mario Murillo I can discern that he is hearing some of the things that I first heard five years ago from the men and women who have labored to build a foundation in this city.
That foundation is not unlike a grove of REDWOOD TREES.
The redwood forest is the greatest prophetic picture for our region and for this city.
Jan pulled out the notes she took when she walked through Armstrong Woods as she read each information sign carefully placed along the trail:
"The root system of the redwood tree is surprisingly shallow, especially given the great height the mature tree attains. There is no tap root and the other roots may reach no deeper than 6-12 feet. The major roots are about 1 inch in diameter,
and they typically spread 50 to 80 feet. One way in which the trees are able to remain upright for millennia is by growing close together with other redwood trees, intermingling root systems." 1
The prophetic picture of our leaders the people in our churches as a 'redwood forest' formed in my spirit even as I reviewed the frequent use of the redwood, and the church built from one redwood, as a central prophetic illustration used in the 'fire' meetings. It is a well known fact how amazing the events and prophetic indicators were that led up to the gathering in the church built from one redwood tree. I fully agree that the meeting held on August 30th held intense prophetic implications.
I realize that Mario Murillo is an evangelist with a evangelistic crusade style of ministry. There is a place in the God's strategy for these types of ministry, they are usually temporary. I have not been to all of Mario's meetings so I am not clear if his personal intention is to stay in Santa Rosa, I do trust that he is listening carefully as he moves ahead, I know that the leading of the Spirit can change as we get a greater sense of what God is saying.
I am not sure if Mario intends to stay in our city for any length of time, he sometimes appears to indicate that each week may be his last. Even if he is here temporarily he should to be aware of the unique dynamic of the church that exists in the city of Santa Rosa.
But if Mario Murillo would be led to stay for any length of time he would be a young redwood in this city,he would need to spread out his roots and link with the deep and established roots of the trees which have united already in an existing unity and in the prophetic grove of churches in this city. He would especially need to wrap his roots around the giant redwoods that exist in this region.
I call these the 'Apostle trees'.
Yes, Sonoma County is an apostolic Metron. It is not a city of pastors who consider ecumenical unity as simply doing a Easter sunrise service once a year, it is a Metron as I wrote of in the first section of this letter...an incredibly complex and intertwined network of people who have known each other for many years and who see each other at events and churches, who share family connections, who share history and hold a deep and profound hope for our city. And it is a 'city' with several Apostles who exist in the spiritual realm and may not be seen if we measure by worldly standards or church size. But believe me, they do exist.
Any evangelist would especially need to link his roots with the apostle to be effective in his gifts in this city.
This city has great leaders who may be businessmen or women, church pastors or ministry leaders, this city has prophets and worship leaders, teachers and evangelists who may be hidden in a sense. The people of God, the Christians in this region, are an amazing & eclectic group of people. They have a startling maturity which may be due precisely to a collective experience in faith. They are so hungry for God's Kingdom that they readily open their hearts to receive but they have long ago moved beyond naivety. They are hungry for authentic Christianity.
Greatness lies within the destiny of this city and it is imperative for God's people in this region to see in the Spirit and recognize its incredible destiny....a destiny which God has been laying the foundation of for many, many years. Mario Murillo has not stepped into a 'dead church' city, rather this city is alive with an incredible legacy of revival which has touched down in many places. Some of the atmospheres of revival that I have personally experienced in this region are too extraordinary to report in a few words but I will say this: we have been a city in revival for many years and Mario Murillo has also stepped into this dynamic authority, like any of us he has an anointing of his own but as he has also stepped into the anointing which is on our region.
(I might liken it to the authority for revival which I stepped into when I was in Brazil with Randy Clark
and Pastor Carter Wood of Vertical Call).
[See my blog dated: Oct. 12, 2009 'Carter Wood's Promotion'.http://radicalgospel.net/thoughts.htm]
It is an authority and anointing which already exists in our DNA and heritage.
I could never express in words my excitement and anticipation in this season we are now in....I sense a great breakthrough into things that many have longed for but may not 'look' exactly like they have imagined. It requires all of His people to pay attention, to not check their brains at the door...to be open to transition. And to recognize the very thing that Mario Murillo seems to sense in his heart and say so often: that this 'fire' cannot be contained by one church but will spread to many churches. Mario seems to clearly understand this as he frequently declares that this is not about Mario Murillo. I honor him for this spiritual insight more than any I have heard from his lips. In an expression of his humility he consistently insists that he is only one man.
I will speak now in 'my opinion' only; my sense of this prophetic picture is that Mario Murillo is a catalyst from God to stir and light a fire. The things that are happening in and around the meetings are far beyond what the evangelist could possibly understand. I mean no disrespect...he is an amazingly gifted man and I honor his mantle...but it would be impossible for one man to enter this city and clearly see what God has already done and is doing behind the scenes. I am truly grateful to him and to the Holy Spirit for his dedication and zeal...but as I listen to him, and as I am intimately involved with and surrounded by the collateral issues
that these meetings have produced, I am keenly aware that Mario Murillo has stepped into a Metron that requires him to pay close attention and seek the counsel and wisdom of many people in this city as he goes forward.
He has entered The Redwood Empire.
In His radical grace,
Ray
For more prophetic insights of your own I would encourage you to read this short description of the incredible REDWOOD, especially the section devoted to how 'fire' can be a benefit to redwoods.1.
http://www.shannontech.com/ParkVision/Redwood/Redwood2.html
Radical Gospel is in transition...there are many things stirring in my spirit as the Holy Spirit uses the events in Santa Rosa to bring clarity and focus to this ministry. Our purpose, our vision, our core values and our destiny have been truly provoked by the Lord in every good way. It would take a long letter to express what the Lord has revealed to me in the Spirit since we first suspended the Monday night in Petaluma in order to support what the Lord was doing through the meetings there. One thing is clear to me....I have sensed for a long time that Santa Rosa is the center of this Metron and my center as well.
I ask for your prayers and continued financial support during this amazing season of vision and mission definition.
All tax deductible support can be sent to:
RADICAL GOSPEL MINISTRIES
2804 BRISTOL RD.
KENWOOD, CA 95452
I am devoting my weekly email to a prophetic word for our region which has been forming for many years. The accuracy of its 'unfolding' can be confirmed by the people I mention in this letter, the people of God and the leaders in this city.
I moved to Sonoma County exactly 40 years ago and became a Christian shortly after. My spiritual journey has been intertwined with the history of the church in this city beginning with my salvation and baptism in the largest church north of the Golden Gate Bridge at the time, in a building which is now known as the Wells Fargo Center.
After the sad demise of that incredible center of faith, that great equipping and a sending ministry, my journey took me throughout the the churches in the region. It has been a long road which has been traveled by many other people in this city.
I am not alone in having been a part of the unique and rather intricate intertwining of relationships that have formed over the years in this city. It is an odd dynamic of the church in the city itself: we all know each other, we all see each other in churches all over the area. The incredible complexity of family and relationships within this city's churches must be taken into account by any leader who desires to accomplish anything for God in Sonoma County. There is a Body of Christ, a hungry people, a unity in the Spirit, a collective memory and a desire for the restoration and recovery of a dream. I would call us 'the remnant' and we believe that "God's gifts and callings are irrevocable" (Rom.11:29)
We possess the anointing & inheritance of this city within our very DNA.
Approximately five years ago a prophetic vision for this city began to form as I engaged with the leaders and other friends who were able to see the 'big picture' of what God is doing in our city. These men and women had grown to understand a culture of honor and to conceive of an unprecedented unity which would require
any leader or any church to think out-of-the-box of traditional ecumenical unity. There would be a unity of the Spirit and a bond of peace which tapped deep into the ancient wells of God's calling on the city of Santa Rosa.
As I met with leaders and friends I heard the same 'word', I saw the same picture forming, the same vision being articulated through us in various forms. We saw a forerunner city, a church without walls, a people of God who shared a common purpose to restore the greatness of the call of God on the city of Santa Rosa.
Almost all of us saw our city as a center for revival where God's people were united under the banner of love. Each of them agreed that no single church, no one leader would again be lifted up to a such a place of prominence that his or her possible failure could disappoint or destroy the vision again. Rather there would be a great cooperation between leaders and God's people wherein Santa Rosa would become a 'testimony city' that says "do it again Lord."
A forerunner example of the Kingdom of God.
We would have a church where the passion for His Kingdom would center on knowing His ways. Where the children of God were united in the conviction that His Kingdom was not a political power nor a moral majority but a people of God walking in love towards each other while viewing the pre-Christian people in our city as ones created in His image, not as the enemy but as ones who need an encounter with Jesus in all His mercy and grace.
It would require His children to rise above their doctrinal distinctions and lay aside their personal agendas while walking in the Spirit in order to bring heaven to earth. A people along with their leadership who would be empowered by the Spirit to cooperate with the fulfillment of each others destinies, to call out the gold in each other, to use the ways of God's supernatural mystery to prophetically declare and release His promise over our city. To walk in honor towards the pre-Christian people in our region, not in an 'honor' that condones their sin, rather the honor
that recognizes each person as created in the image of God and that remembers that His blood is all that cleanses us from our own unrighteousness before a Holy God.
READ ON,
THE 'REDWOOD' PROPHETIC WORD:
As Jan and I sat with 70 leaders on August 30th in the 'Church of the One Tree' we became aware of the incredible prophetic picture being formed. God was indeed speaking through this event. As these leaders listened carefully to Mario Murrilo's inspirational speech and during the brief time of prayer, we looked around at the inside of the church of the One Tree. Stained glass windows depicting redwoods were on each wall and above the altar, a prophetic image began to form. We live in the Redwood Empire and right here in the middle of this region is built a church made from the wood of a single felled redwood tree.
This alone held a great sense of prophetic symbolism.
I began to wonder which part was more important, would we consider the roof or ceiling as more important? The foundation of the floors? The walls or the beams and buttresses which hold everything in place? Each part made from the same tree....was this not a perfect picture of His Body?
Isn't this the perfect picture of God's word and promise over the church in Santa Rosa?
"In Him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord." Eph 2:21
"From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament,
grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work." Eph 4:16
Many of my friends agreed that when God looks down upon a city He does not see many churches, rather He sees His Body, His Church. Just as John was told to prophesy to the city churches in Revelation we saw a picture of how God views regions and cities. We began to see how God has strategically placed leaders
in this city who are anointed with what we call the 'five fold' or ascendant gifts. We could clearly see that God has laid a foundation for true unity....for a Book of Acts city church, it became even clearer that it would require unprecedented cooperation and unity. It wouldn't matter that we had different church 'houses'
where unique expressions of worship and teaching made us feel more at home, we could still live next to each other and build a city together where friendship and a common culture and language knit us in the ways of His Kingdom. An atmosphere of the Spirit, a people with One Father, a church with One head, Jesus.
THE 'REDWOOD' PROPHETIC WORD began to intensify in my spirit...the Holy Spirit making it as clear as any word I've ever received.
From many of the things that Mario Murrilo has said in his meetings here in Santa Rosa I believe that he is aware that he has stepped into a powerful apostolic Metron. I am not quite sure yet if he fully realizes all that God has said and is doing in this region but I am convinced that he is hearing the Holy Spirit in some measure. I have taught on the supernatural prophetic gift for many years and I know that we all see through our own paradigms and thus it requires each of us to test every word (Mario's & this word I am submitting to the Body of Christ in this city)...to filter and to 'hear' with spiritual ears what God is saying. As I listen to Mario Murillo I can discern that he is hearing some of the things that I first heard five years ago from the men and women who have labored to build a foundation in this city.
That foundation is not unlike a grove of REDWOOD TREES.
The redwood forest is the greatest prophetic picture for our region and for this city.
Jan pulled out the notes she took when she walked through Armstrong Woods as she read each information sign carefully placed along the trail:
"The root system of the redwood tree is surprisingly shallow, especially given the great height the mature tree attains. There is no tap root and the other roots may reach no deeper than 6-12 feet. The major roots are about 1 inch in diameter,
and they typically spread 50 to 80 feet. One way in which the trees are able to remain upright for millennia is by growing close together with other redwood trees, intermingling root systems." 1
The prophetic picture of our leaders the people in our churches as a 'redwood forest' formed in my spirit even as I reviewed the frequent use of the redwood, and the church built from one redwood, as a central prophetic illustration used in the 'fire' meetings. It is a well known fact how amazing the events and prophetic indicators were that led up to the gathering in the church built from one redwood tree. I fully agree that the meeting held on August 30th held intense prophetic implications.
I realize that Mario Murillo is an evangelist with a evangelistic crusade style of ministry. There is a place in the God's strategy for these types of ministry, they are usually temporary. I have not been to all of Mario's meetings so I am not clear if his personal intention is to stay in Santa Rosa, I do trust that he is listening carefully as he moves ahead, I know that the leading of the Spirit can change as we get a greater sense of what God is saying.
I am not sure if Mario intends to stay in our city for any length of time, he sometimes appears to indicate that each week may be his last. Even if he is here temporarily he should to be aware of the unique dynamic of the church that exists in the city of Santa Rosa.
But if Mario Murillo would be led to stay for any length of time he would be a young redwood in this city,he would need to spread out his roots and link with the deep and established roots of the trees which have united already in an existing unity and in the prophetic grove of churches in this city. He would especially need to wrap his roots around the giant redwoods that exist in this region.
I call these the 'Apostle trees'.
Yes, Sonoma County is an apostolic Metron. It is not a city of pastors who consider ecumenical unity as simply doing a Easter sunrise service once a year, it is a Metron as I wrote of in the first section of this letter...an incredibly complex and intertwined network of people who have known each other for many years and who see each other at events and churches, who share family connections, who share history and hold a deep and profound hope for our city. And it is a 'city' with several Apostles who exist in the spiritual realm and may not be seen if we measure by worldly standards or church size. But believe me, they do exist.
Any evangelist would especially need to link his roots with the apostle to be effective in his gifts in this city.
This city has great leaders who may be businessmen or women, church pastors or ministry leaders, this city has prophets and worship leaders, teachers and evangelists who may be hidden in a sense. The people of God, the Christians in this region, are an amazing & eclectic group of people. They have a startling maturity which may be due precisely to a collective experience in faith. They are so hungry for God's Kingdom that they readily open their hearts to receive but they have long ago moved beyond naivety. They are hungry for authentic Christianity.
Greatness lies within the destiny of this city and it is imperative for God's people in this region to see in the Spirit and recognize its incredible destiny....a destiny which God has been laying the foundation of for many, many years. Mario Murillo has not stepped into a 'dead church' city, rather this city is alive with an incredible legacy of revival which has touched down in many places. Some of the atmospheres of revival that I have personally experienced in this region are too extraordinary to report in a few words but I will say this: we have been a city in revival for many years and Mario Murillo has also stepped into this dynamic authority, like any of us he has an anointing of his own but as he has also stepped into the anointing which is on our region.
(I might liken it to the authority for revival which I stepped into when I was in Brazil with Randy Clark
and Pastor Carter Wood of Vertical Call).
[See my blog dated: Oct. 12, 2009 'Carter Wood's Promotion'.http://radicalgospel.net/thoughts.htm]
It is an authority and anointing which already exists in our DNA and heritage.
I could never express in words my excitement and anticipation in this season we are now in....I sense a great breakthrough into things that many have longed for but may not 'look' exactly like they have imagined. It requires all of His people to pay attention, to not check their brains at the door...to be open to transition. And to recognize the very thing that Mario Murillo seems to sense in his heart and say so often: that this 'fire' cannot be contained by one church but will spread to many churches. Mario seems to clearly understand this as he frequently declares that this is not about Mario Murillo. I honor him for this spiritual insight more than any I have heard from his lips. In an expression of his humility he consistently insists that he is only one man.
I will speak now in 'my opinion' only; my sense of this prophetic picture is that Mario Murillo is a catalyst from God to stir and light a fire. The things that are happening in and around the meetings are far beyond what the evangelist could possibly understand. I mean no disrespect...he is an amazingly gifted man and I honor his mantle...but it would be impossible for one man to enter this city and clearly see what God has already done and is doing behind the scenes. I am truly grateful to him and to the Holy Spirit for his dedication and zeal...but as I listen to him, and as I am intimately involved with and surrounded by the collateral issues
that these meetings have produced, I am keenly aware that Mario Murillo has stepped into a Metron that requires him to pay close attention and seek the counsel and wisdom of many people in this city as he goes forward.
He has entered The Redwood Empire.
In His radical grace,
Ray
For more prophetic insights of your own I would encourage you to read this short description of the incredible REDWOOD, especially the section devoted to how 'fire' can be a benefit to redwoods.1.
http://www.shannontech.com/ParkVision/Redwood/Redwood2.html
Radical Gospel is in transition...there are many things stirring in my spirit as the Holy Spirit uses the events in Santa Rosa to bring clarity and focus to this ministry. Our purpose, our vision, our core values and our destiny have been truly provoked by the Lord in every good way. It would take a long letter to express what the Lord has revealed to me in the Spirit since we first suspended the Monday night in Petaluma in order to support what the Lord was doing through the meetings there. One thing is clear to me....I have sensed for a long time that Santa Rosa is the center of this Metron and my center as well.
I ask for your prayers and continued financial support during this amazing season of vision and mission definition.
All tax deductible support can be sent to:
RADICAL GOSPEL MINISTRIES
2804 BRISTOL RD.
KENWOOD, CA 95452
Saturday, September 1, 2012
Saints,
In John 18 Pilate asked Jesus a question, "Are you the King of the Jews?", Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting...But my kingdom is not of this world.”
Until Jesus was resurrected His own disciples still thought that Jesus would usher in an earthly kingdom. They fully expected that the Messiah meant a 'deliverer' from Roman rule who, with His followers, would establish a new and ascendant authority to the nation of Israel. When the mother of John and James came to Jesus and asked if they could sit on His right and left when He came into His kingdom she wasn't thinking about heaven, she was picturing a castle in Jerusalem with three thrones. I'll bet she was also thinking of herself having a little influence considering how her sons seemed to be attached to her apron strings.
After the resurrection and their baptism of fire the disciples turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
They did this by preaching a gospel in a way that was entirely contrary to the methods of man, the ways of this world.
Bill Johnson has often said that if we use the world's methods to fight this world's battles we will lose because the devil is better at it than we are.
Very often in the scriptures it is noted that Jesus and His disciples went about preaching the 'gospel of the Kingdom'. It wasn't until after He ascended that His disciples fully understood the things He taught them about His Kingdom while He was with them here in this realm of this world.
In John chapter 7 Jesus said a few words that would not have made sense to those closest to Him at that moment:
It often appears like Jesus never gave a straight answer but we now know that He always gave the right answer to the real question. Here in these verses Jesus is answering the problem with the way His own brothers were thinking. John points out that His own brothers didn't see Him for who he was, but the greater problem was in the way they thought Jesus should go about the business of getting His message across.
"Draw attention to yourself, use this world's methods, use this world's ways!"
Jesus answered them that the world won't hate them if they use those methods, and He wasn't talking about the pagan world they lived in, Jesus was talking about the religious system of the day which used the same methods of man, the things that make sense to the natural mind. In my paraphrase He told them, "You can always do it that way, these methods are always available to you and the Jews won't hate you for using them because they make perfect sense."
But Jesus knew that His ways would even offend God's own people because His ways testified to them that they were doing things in the same way and with the same methods that men use, the ways and methods which are never the ways of His Kingdom.
I've been reading Kris Vallotton's book "Heavy Rain', it's a book on cultural transformation. I would recommend it highly right now. We're in an election year, if the things posted on Facebook by a few Christian friends are any indication of how some parts of the church might go about transforming our nation I am concerned.
When Jesus said "My time has not yet come" I wonder what time He was referring too? Was He saying that a time was soon coming when God's 'ways' would be demonstrated in the ultimate expression of His Kingdom? A way which confused His own disciples, confounded God's chosen people and forever dis-empowered the king of this world by coming against his world's ways with the most radical expression of an opposite spirit?
Was He speaking of that moment when God's own people would manipulate an earthly kingdom to utilize their most insidious methods to destroy Him? At the very moment when God's chosen nation came into agreement with the wicked world's ways, He raised no battle cry, no rallying of His troops...not even a crying out at the injustice of it all.
Instead He took up His cross, laid down His life and died for all their sins so that from that time & forever, "Whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have eternal life."
In His radical grace,
Ray
Radical Gospel Ministries is still in full function as we pray for God's leading during this season of transition. Intercession is a focus but we continue to minister in the other multiple ways which leadership requires. Of course you realize that the time we spend on Monday night is only a fraction of hours in a week of full steam ministry.
We covet your prayers for us and for Radical Gospel. As I have noted in prior blogs and emails the meetings in Santa Rosa are stirring up a lot of things in the Spiritual realm, this always comes along with any move of the Holy Spirit. As for myself and my own sphere of influence I am experiencing more of the inevitable challenges and questions that arise. When I say that I covet your prayers I am not kidding, it is intense & I am busier than I have ever been.
When the Lord first spoke to me about paying attention to the meetings in Santa Rosa I received a picture of a 'bomb' being dropped on our city. I knew it was the right bomb at the right moment because it would shake up a few things which were stuck as well as bring things into alignment which needed to be aligned. I knew that we would see a bit of chaos before we saw the alignment, I knew we would experience a bit of pain along with it too. Just like when I've prayed for a spinal injury to be healed I often asked the Lord why there is pain when the Holy Spirit cracks it back into alignment. He showed me that this is a picture of what's done in the Spirit during any re-alignment.
I am aware of the blessings that are coming forth through the wonderful manifestations of healing, words of knowledge and the people who are receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, but I'm sure that the evangelist himself is experienced enough in the Spirit to know that there is more going on in the room than these. It is not hyperbole or exaggeration to say that the 'room' is more than the building where the meetings are being held, the greater 'room' is our city and our region.
The impact of these meetings is creating a big stir.
Along with the 'stir' there are things happening which even the evangelist could not possibly be aware of nor would he intend. These are the collateral issues that no one could predict but should expect. How could I ever report what is happening or how seriously involved I am in the mix?
With the relationships that I have in this city after 38 years of my journey of faith I can only hint to you of the impact. This is a call for serious intercession from any prayer warrior in this region.
There will be a time when I'll be able to write more specifically as the Holy Spirit brings greater clarity and releases me....but for now I will only call for intercession. Pray for every leader and church in the region. Pray especially for the Apostles in our city. Pray for the evangelist, pray for the host church, pray for the people who are attending, pray for the Christian community, pray for the people who live in this area to whom we owe an encounter with Jesus.
Radical Gospel needs your financial help now more than ever too. I fully expect the Lord to release me to make an announcement soon which will make sense to anyone who has tracked with Radical Gospel and myself for any length of time.
All tax deductible support can be sent to:
RADICAL GOSPEL MINISTRIES
2804 BRISTOL RD.
KENWOOD, CA 95452
In John 18 Pilate asked Jesus a question, "Are you the King of the Jews?", Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting...But my kingdom is not of this world.”
Until Jesus was resurrected His own disciples still thought that Jesus would usher in an earthly kingdom. They fully expected that the Messiah meant a 'deliverer' from Roman rule who, with His followers, would establish a new and ascendant authority to the nation of Israel. When the mother of John and James came to Jesus and asked if they could sit on His right and left when He came into His kingdom she wasn't thinking about heaven, she was picturing a castle in Jerusalem with three thrones. I'll bet she was also thinking of herself having a little influence considering how her sons seemed to be attached to her apron strings.
After the resurrection and their baptism of fire the disciples turned the world upside down (Acts 17:6).
They did this by preaching a gospel in a way that was entirely contrary to the methods of man, the ways of this world.
Bill Johnson has often said that if we use the world's methods to fight this world's battles we will lose because the devil is better at it than we are.
Very often in the scriptures it is noted that Jesus and His disciples went about preaching the 'gospel of the Kingdom'. It wasn't until after He ascended that His disciples fully understood the things He taught them about His Kingdom while He was with them here in this realm of this world.
In John chapter 7 Jesus said a few words that would not have made sense to those closest to Him at that moment:
"When the Jewish Feast of Tabernacles was near, Jesus’ brothers said to Him, 'You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world.' For even His own brothers did not believe in Him. Therefore Jesus told them, 'My time has not yet come but your time is always here. The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me because My life bears witness that its ways are evil."
It often appears like Jesus never gave a straight answer but we now know that He always gave the right answer to the real question. Here in these verses Jesus is answering the problem with the way His own brothers were thinking. John points out that His own brothers didn't see Him for who he was, but the greater problem was in the way they thought Jesus should go about the business of getting His message across.
"Draw attention to yourself, use this world's methods, use this world's ways!"
Jesus answered them that the world won't hate them if they use those methods, and He wasn't talking about the pagan world they lived in, Jesus was talking about the religious system of the day which used the same methods of man, the things that make sense to the natural mind. In my paraphrase He told them, "You can always do it that way, these methods are always available to you and the Jews won't hate you for using them because they make perfect sense."
But Jesus knew that His ways would even offend God's own people because His ways testified to them that they were doing things in the same way and with the same methods that men use, the ways and methods which are never the ways of His Kingdom.
I've been reading Kris Vallotton's book "Heavy Rain', it's a book on cultural transformation. I would recommend it highly right now. We're in an election year, if the things posted on Facebook by a few Christian friends are any indication of how some parts of the church might go about transforming our nation I am concerned.
When Jesus said "My time has not yet come" I wonder what time He was referring too? Was He saying that a time was soon coming when God's 'ways' would be demonstrated in the ultimate expression of His Kingdom? A way which confused His own disciples, confounded God's chosen people and forever dis-empowered the king of this world by coming against his world's ways with the most radical expression of an opposite spirit?
Was He speaking of that moment when God's own people would manipulate an earthly kingdom to utilize their most insidious methods to destroy Him? At the very moment when God's chosen nation came into agreement with the wicked world's ways, He raised no battle cry, no rallying of His troops...not even a crying out at the injustice of it all.
Instead He took up His cross, laid down His life and died for all their sins so that from that time & forever, "Whosoever would believe in Him would not perish but have eternal life."
In His radical grace,
Ray
Radical Gospel Ministries is still in full function as we pray for God's leading during this season of transition. Intercession is a focus but we continue to minister in the other multiple ways which leadership requires. Of course you realize that the time we spend on Monday night is only a fraction of hours in a week of full steam ministry.
We covet your prayers for us and for Radical Gospel. As I have noted in prior blogs and emails the meetings in Santa Rosa are stirring up a lot of things in the Spiritual realm, this always comes along with any move of the Holy Spirit. As for myself and my own sphere of influence I am experiencing more of the inevitable challenges and questions that arise. When I say that I covet your prayers I am not kidding, it is intense & I am busier than I have ever been.
When the Lord first spoke to me about paying attention to the meetings in Santa Rosa I received a picture of a 'bomb' being dropped on our city. I knew it was the right bomb at the right moment because it would shake up a few things which were stuck as well as bring things into alignment which needed to be aligned. I knew that we would see a bit of chaos before we saw the alignment, I knew we would experience a bit of pain along with it too. Just like when I've prayed for a spinal injury to be healed I often asked the Lord why there is pain when the Holy Spirit cracks it back into alignment. He showed me that this is a picture of what's done in the Spirit during any re-alignment.
I am aware of the blessings that are coming forth through the wonderful manifestations of healing, words of knowledge and the people who are receiving Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, but I'm sure that the evangelist himself is experienced enough in the Spirit to know that there is more going on in the room than these. It is not hyperbole or exaggeration to say that the 'room' is more than the building where the meetings are being held, the greater 'room' is our city and our region.
The impact of these meetings is creating a big stir.
Along with the 'stir' there are things happening which even the evangelist could not possibly be aware of nor would he intend. These are the collateral issues that no one could predict but should expect. How could I ever report what is happening or how seriously involved I am in the mix?
With the relationships that I have in this city after 38 years of my journey of faith I can only hint to you of the impact. This is a call for serious intercession from any prayer warrior in this region.
There will be a time when I'll be able to write more specifically as the Holy Spirit brings greater clarity and releases me....but for now I will only call for intercession. Pray for every leader and church in the region. Pray especially for the Apostles in our city. Pray for the evangelist, pray for the host church, pray for the people who are attending, pray for the Christian community, pray for the people who live in this area to whom we owe an encounter with Jesus.
Radical Gospel needs your financial help now more than ever too. I fully expect the Lord to release me to make an announcement soon which will make sense to anyone who has tracked with Radical Gospel and myself for any length of time.
All tax deductible support can be sent to:
RADICAL GOSPEL MINISTRIES
2804 BRISTOL RD.
KENWOOD, CA 95452
Sunday, August 19, 2012
To the church in Santa Rosa, Revival Report.
Saints,
One of the unique privileges that the Lord has honored me with is the many intertwined and significant relationships with leaders, churches and people in our region. I spend a great deal of time corresponding or meeting with Christians & leaders in this city. My personal history with the church in Santa Rosa is an interesting journey, the number of relationships that God has given me allow a 'big picture' prophetic view of what God is doing and saying.
It also has curiously placed me in a position where I receive a lot of feedback and many questions.
Many of the questions that I am receiving recently are about the revival meetings in Santa Rosa.Some of these questions are about the prophetic words that are coming forth regarding the DNA and destiny that is on the city of Santa Rosa and many are about the message and methods of the evangelist who is leading these meetings.
I will write a Blog soon about the history & destiny on Santa Rosa but right now I will simply say that I am excited because I am hearing and sensing things in the Spirit that ring true, there is an incredible destiny on Santa Rosa and I know that God's gifts and callings are irrevocable.
This city has a 'splendidus fatum', magnificent destiny.
In this email I want to address the second most frequent questions regarding some parts of the message and methods of the evangelist who God is using to stir revival in our region: We are a mature church in this city, most of us have been exposed to many significant men and women of God who have come to our churches here. We have all seen incredible workers of miracles and have sat under the teachings of some of God's most anointed leaders. We have heard varied messages through these leaders who have come, their core values and doctrines are frequently so different that they require discernment on our part.
We have also observed that miracle workers each have a unique style and method.
We also have seen revival in our own churches, we have experienced astonishing atmospheres of revival at many of the churches & ministries in our region.
And it is very important to remember to honor the leaders in our city who are themselves gifted in extraordinary ways.
At our classes at Radical Gospel we often discussed how the Lord uses individuals in all their uniqueness in order for the church to realize that we are a Body with differing gifts which actually force us to do two things:
# 1; to live without judgement because God has poured forth His Spirit without measure, His grace has made the realm of the Spirit accessible to all who believe, "signs will follow all who believe", & # 2; differing gifts force the Body to depend upon one another.
The most important thing to remember is that we do not need to 'check our brains at the door'.
Paul wrote his final instructions to a church in 1st Thessalonians 5:12-22:
"Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.
Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other....
Hold on to the good. Avoid the bad."
At Bethel's School of Supernatural Ministry the students are told during the introduction week that they will be exposed to many various leaders and miracle workers during their two years of classes. They are encouraged to use their heads, ask questions and learn. But everything is done in a culture of honor and openness, in a culture of the Kingdom which embraces learning in an atmosphere where the goodness of God and grace without self-righteousness is paramount. They have a simple phrase which might be a paraphrase of Paul's words to the
Thessalonians, "eat the meat, spit out the bones".
Dear Saints in Santa Rosa, we are living in incredible times. The stirring of the Spirit in our region is going to have a significant impact on all of us. God's church here is in a season of transition. There is an old adage that every military leader has known since the first battle, "an army is the most vulnerable at the
crossing of a river".
Wisdom, discernment along with a lot of intercession is needed right now.
I bless you all in Jesus' Name,
In His radical grace,
Ray
All tax deductible giving can be sent to Radical Gospel Ministries
2804 Bristol Rd.
Kenwood, CA 95452
One of the unique privileges that the Lord has honored me with is the many intertwined and significant relationships with leaders, churches and people in our region. I spend a great deal of time corresponding or meeting with Christians & leaders in this city. My personal history with the church in Santa Rosa is an interesting journey, the number of relationships that God has given me allow a 'big picture' prophetic view of what God is doing and saying.
It also has curiously placed me in a position where I receive a lot of feedback and many questions.
Many of the questions that I am receiving recently are about the revival meetings in Santa Rosa.Some of these questions are about the prophetic words that are coming forth regarding the DNA and destiny that is on the city of Santa Rosa and many are about the message and methods of the evangelist who is leading these meetings.
I will write a Blog soon about the history & destiny on Santa Rosa but right now I will simply say that I am excited because I am hearing and sensing things in the Spirit that ring true, there is an incredible destiny on Santa Rosa and I know that God's gifts and callings are irrevocable.
This city has a 'splendidus fatum', magnificent destiny.
In this email I want to address the second most frequent questions regarding some parts of the message and methods of the evangelist who God is using to stir revival in our region: We are a mature church in this city, most of us have been exposed to many significant men and women of God who have come to our churches here. We have all seen incredible workers of miracles and have sat under the teachings of some of God's most anointed leaders. We have heard varied messages through these leaders who have come, their core values and doctrines are frequently so different that they require discernment on our part.
We have also observed that miracle workers each have a unique style and method.
We also have seen revival in our own churches, we have experienced astonishing atmospheres of revival at many of the churches & ministries in our region.
And it is very important to remember to honor the leaders in our city who are themselves gifted in extraordinary ways.
At our classes at Radical Gospel we often discussed how the Lord uses individuals in all their uniqueness in order for the church to realize that we are a Body with differing gifts which actually force us to do two things:
# 1; to live without judgement because God has poured forth His Spirit without measure, His grace has made the realm of the Spirit accessible to all who believe, "signs will follow all who believe", & # 2; differing gifts force the Body to depend upon one another.
The most important thing to remember is that we do not need to 'check our brains at the door'.
Paul wrote his final instructions to a church in 1st Thessalonians 5:12-22:
"Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.
Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other....
Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt, but test everything. Hold on to the good. Avoid the bad."
At Bethel's School of Supernatural Ministry the students are told during the introduction week that they will be exposed to many various leaders and miracle workers during their two years of classes. They are encouraged to use their heads, ask questions and learn. But everything is done in a culture of honor and openness, in a culture of the Kingdom which embraces learning in an atmosphere where the goodness of God and grace without self-righteousness is paramount. They have a simple phrase which might be a paraphrase of Paul's words to the
Thessalonians, "eat the meat, spit out the bones".
Dear Saints in Santa Rosa, we are living in incredible times. The stirring of the Spirit in our region is going to have a significant impact on all of us. God's church here is in a season of transition. There is an old adage that every military leader has known since the first battle, "an army is the most vulnerable at the
crossing of a river".
Wisdom, discernment along with a lot of intercession is needed right now.
I bless you all in Jesus' Name,
In His radical grace,
Ray
All tax deductible giving can be sent to Radical Gospel Ministries
2804 Bristol Rd.
Kenwood, CA 95452
Friday, June 24, 2011
Confident Faith
We all experience more than a few trials in this life.
Each of our trials may be different but they all require the same thing.
Faith.
Reading the letter to the Hebrews always brings me a fresh revelation of New Testament faith.
I always get encouraged. Faith is the theme of the letter to the Hebrews,
it is full of hope and expectation. It is one of the greatest theological letters in the New Testament. Verse after verse, thought after thought,
the author builds an absolute case for our secure position in Christ,
our total forgiveness of sin and our place as heir to the all the promises of God.
As the author writes all this, he intertwines an exhortation to
believe this incredible reality.
In short, the letter to the Hebrews is written to encourage
faith in and for the promises of God.
Hebrews describes a faith that is not a 'might-be' faith nor a 'maybe' hope
..NO!...the entire letter is intended to boost the saints' expectation for
the reality of God's promises to be true!
Too many Christian live with the idea that God's plan is to build us up
in a strength that can live with the disappointments in life and
still believe that God exists.
This is a type of 'hang-in-there' faith with little hope for God to intervene in
our circumstances. God is reduced to a 'comfort' in the trial.
The building of character is His goal for the Christian.
This would be a great concept if we define Biblical character as
having radical confidence in the power of God on our behalf.
Unfortunately most Christians define character in terms of personal
discipline and self confidence. Though these are good traits to have
in life they can be found in a lost person as easily (and sometimes
more frequently) than in a Christian.
I believe that the Bible reveals that a faith in God that includes an
expectation of miracles is a truer definition of faith.
This should not be a difficult leap for Christians since we all believe
the greatest personal miracle we will ever experience in life,
the salvation of our souls.
That miracle requires Biblical faith because it cannot be seen in the natural,
how much more should we believe that the our Savior who loved us so
much would also provide supernatural intervention for us in this life?
"What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us,
who can be against us? He who did not spare His own Son,
but gave Him up for us all—how will He not also, along with Him,
graciously give us all things?" (Rom. 8:31-32)
Because we do not always see the miraculous intervention of His power
in our circumstances we can tend towards developing personal doctrines
based on disappointment rather than on His Word.
When a body of Christians does this collectively it can create an
atmosphere of unbelief rather than of expectation, faith and hope.
We often get in trouble and fall into doubt when we too easily
give up on true faith.
Faith is not singularly trust or belief,
faith requires a commitment to His truth,
it is a choice, it is a confident expectation of good.
Faith is more than a belief that God exists,
even the demons believe that.
Faith is the anchor of our heart in another Kingdom,
a belief in a superior reality that expects the goodness and power
of God to manifest in us, for us and through us.
Sometimes it is an effort, sometimes it is patience,
but faith is never stagnant, it is never in a doctrine.
It is not a 'way' to believe, it is belief itself.
The author of Hebrews addresses this in chapter six:
"..we desire each one of you to show the same earnestness
to have the full assurance of hope until the end,
so that you may not be sluggish, but imitators of those who
through faith and patience inherit the promises.
For when God made a promise to Abraham...
He swore by Himself, saying:'Surely I will bless you and multiply you.'
And thus Abraham, having patiently waited, obtained the promise.
So when God desired to show more convincingly to the heirs of the promise
unchangeable character of His purpose, He guaranteed it with an oath...
in which it is impossible for God to lie...so that we, who have fled for refuge,
might have strong encouragement to hold fast to the hope set before us.
We have this as a sure and steadfast anchor of the soul,
a hope that enters into the inner place behind the curtain,
where Jesus has gone as a forerunner on our behalf...."
God cannot lie, He swore an oath by His own Name
that His promises are true.
He swore this oath so that we could put a stake in the ground
and hold fast to His promise.
Faith is an anchor when we are faced with the trials of this life.
At the heart of faith is a rest and assurance,
but we can never truly rest when we doubt His promise,
nor be 'assured' if we think that God is the source of our trials.
"Faith is the substance of things hoped for,
the conviction of things not seen." (Heb. 11:1)
This Blog is not a 'hang-in-there' encouragement,
it is an exhortation to BELIEVE!
Thursday, June 16, 2011
Faith in His Name!
At the Radical Gospel Monday Night Meeting,
when we lay hands on the sick or prophecy in the Spirit,
we are incredibly mindful of who's power is at work through us.
When a person is healed as we pray, sometimes in astonishing ways,
we become humbled by the awesome privilege to be used of God
as a transmitter of His virtue.
When the evidence of a healing manifests before our eyes there is
no way any reasonable person could take the credit for it.
Yet, it is the tendency of man to look at the individual through
who's hands (or prophetic word) the miracle came about. (and it always
gets a little disconcerting when the individual who prayed thinks it is 'about them').
The first officially recorded healing in in the post-Pentecost church is found in
the third chapter of the book of Acts. Peter and John declared healing over the
lame man at the Temple, "...in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk!"
An astounded crowd gathered around them and when Peter saw this
he had to teach, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare
at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made this man walk....
...His Name, by faith in His Name, has made this man strong whom you see
and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this
perfect health in the presence of all of you."
At Radical Gospel we believe that faith in the Name of Jesus is at work in our
midst. We believe that this same faith, 'which is through Jesus' is not a special
blessing upon any man or woman or ministry,
it is a faith that is with-in the spirit of every believer.
It is a faith that grows and develops in an atmosphere of His Presence.
It is a faith that is encouraged by the agreement of many. It is a faith that only
requires a turning from doubt to 'belief'. It is a 'faith which is through JESUS' so
that all men may know that it isn't about them, not their lack, nor their own power.
We believe that the miraculous is normal Christianity. The more people who
see the miraculous through their own hands, the more we will get the over the
idea that it is 'about' one individual or one ministry.
We are committed to equipping His People in the supernatural for this reason:
We believe that God poured out His Spirit to empower a People who are called
by His Name in order to be a blessing upon the earth!
At Radical Gospel we hold the absolute conviction that we are not special,
but we are His People!
You are His People!
In His radical NAME!,
Ray
Meeting every Monday Night at 7pm at the facilities of the Open Door Church in Petaluma.
(click on the 'itinerary' page for directions)
when we lay hands on the sick or prophecy in the Spirit,
we are incredibly mindful of who's power is at work through us.
When a person is healed as we pray, sometimes in astonishing ways,
we become humbled by the awesome privilege to be used of God
as a transmitter of His virtue.
When the evidence of a healing manifests before our eyes there is
no way any reasonable person could take the credit for it.
Yet, it is the tendency of man to look at the individual through
who's hands (or prophetic word) the miracle came about. (and it always
gets a little disconcerting when the individual who prayed thinks it is 'about them').
The first officially recorded healing in in the post-Pentecost church is found in
the third chapter of the book of Acts. Peter and John declared healing over the
lame man at the Temple, "...in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth, walk!"
An astounded crowd gathered around them and when Peter saw this
he had to teach, "Men of Israel, why do you wonder at this, or why do you stare
at us, as though by our own power or piety we had made this man walk....
...His Name, by faith in His Name, has made this man strong whom you see
and know; and the faith which is through Jesus has given the man this
perfect health in the presence of all of you."
At Radical Gospel we believe that faith in the Name of Jesus is at work in our
midst. We believe that this same faith, 'which is through Jesus' is not a special
blessing upon any man or woman or ministry,
it is a faith that is with-in the spirit of every believer.
It is a faith that grows and develops in an atmosphere of His Presence.
It is a faith that is encouraged by the agreement of many. It is a faith that only
requires a turning from doubt to 'belief'. It is a 'faith which is through JESUS' so
that all men may know that it isn't about them, not their lack, nor their own power.
We believe that the miraculous is normal Christianity. The more people who
see the miraculous through their own hands, the more we will get the over the
idea that it is 'about' one individual or one ministry.
We are committed to equipping His People in the supernatural for this reason:
We believe that God poured out His Spirit to empower a People who are called
by His Name in order to be a blessing upon the earth!
At Radical Gospel we hold the absolute conviction that we are not special,
but we are His People!
You are His People!
In His radical NAME!,
Ray
Meeting every Monday Night at 7pm at the facilities of the Open Door Church in Petaluma.
(click on the 'itinerary' page for directions)
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Faith in intimacy
"This God - His way is perfect; the promise of the Lord proves true, He is
a shield for all those who take refuge in Him." (King David in: 2Samuel 22:31)
David had a quite a few troubles in his time on earth. He created some of his challenges all by himself and some were thrust upon him by the madness of kings and men.
But David had an absolute conviction; God was good, God was faithful to His promise
and God backed him up.
David believed this even though he lived under an inferior Covenant.
God hasn't changed, He is still the God of David...David simply saw beyond the Law of
Moses and looked into the heart of the Father.
God did change His Covenant though, that is why it is called NEW.
In this New Covenant in His blood we do not need to strive to look beyond the Law
to see the Father. God took the Law away so that we might be able to realize a relationship of intimacy with Him that is based on faith.
"If God is for us, who or what can stand against us?, He who did not even spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all, will He not also give us all things with Him?" (Romans 8:31-32)
"For all the promises of God find there YES in Him. That is why we can shout AMEN through
Him, to the glory of God" (2 Corinthians 1:20)
Our faith through Christ shouts AMEN to His promise; and that kind of faith brings Him glory.
"This God - His way is perfect!"
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Believe it!
God's astonishing power and Presence continues to amaze me as He privileges us to see the manifestations of His signs and wonders in our Monday Night meeting.
Judy is cancer free today. She was diagnosed with stage 4 Ovarian cancer. She was given two months to live. In July our healing team prayed for her.
Recent tests confirm that she remains cancer free.
John came in this past Monday Night and reported that his latest PSA numbers (tests indicating Prostate cancer) were now below normal, his tumor had shrunk 50% after prayer two weeks ago, now these tests show further healing. Thank you Jesus!
Though the healing of cancer seems to us as a greater miracle, I am consistently blessed by the pains and sicknesses that flee in Jesus' name every week. He cares for all our needs. He heals all our diseases and carried all grief and sorrow.
He heals the sick and the brokenhearted.
For me, the revelation of the finished work of the cross that brings healing
to hearts and minds is a very great miracle.
It cannot be separated from the miracles of healing, nor all the signs and wonders.
It seems to me that it should be the easiest thing.
It is, after all, the central message of the gospel. We should know this.
But for some it is difficult to believe.
We might even be able to believe for healing of our bodies before we can grasp the wonderful reality that is the basic message of the gospel: we are totally new creatures in Jesus Christ.
And as such we have access to an open heaven and all the promises of God.
"His grace gift inspires me to say to you that your thinking
must be consistent with everything that is within you
according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned to every individual.
Let the revelation of redemption shape your thoughts."
Romans 12:3 (the Mirror Translation).
"Let the revelation of redemption shape your thoughts."
This is another way of revealing how our minds can be renewed,
transformed, by the message of His finished work.
The word for 'transformed' in Rom.12:2. is 'metamorphic',
like the change from a caterpillar to a butterfly.
Utter and total transformation.
Paul is writing with an understanding that this is not an instant revelation for the Christian who is born of the Spirit.
It is implied in this chapter of Romans that we need to have our minds renewed to realize who we are!
We need to remind ourselves, and each other, of our new identity in Christ.
One way to do this is to minister to one another with the understanding
that we are already new creatures in Christ.
Done deal, past tense and finished.
So I preach to this reality, I minister with this assumption. My words and my prayers are directed to what has been done, not what needs to be done.
The mystery of the gospel should be no longer a mystery...it has been revealed.
"He has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose,
which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth." Eph.1:9-10
He has united, in Jesus, all things in heaven with the things of earth.
Wow!
Now read Ephesians 1:1-10 and you will note that Paul says these words after he
thoroughly makes the point that we are 'holy and blameless', he writes: ' we are destined in love', 'purposed in His will', 'freely bestowed with grace', 'lavished with grace', 'redeemed by His blood' and 'forgiven from all our sins according to His riches in grace'.
That was His mystery revealed in Christ, and it is a 'uniting of heaven and earth' because we must think from heaven when we look in the mirror and when we look at each other.
"From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;
even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard Him thus no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.." 2 Cor.5:16-17
I posted a thought on FaceBook that was re-posted several times and commented upon in several countries. It struck a cord.
We are continuing to meet on Monday Night with the expressed purpose of learning to think and 'believe' from heaven instead of earth.
This in demonstrated by how we prophesy , preach and pray.
We do not ask God to heal the sick, we command sickness to go in Jesus name,
knowing that it is His power but our authority as new creatures in Christ.
We preach to the transformed man and consider the 'old man' dead, crucified with Christ.
We believe that a revelation of your true identity in Christ will 'transform' you, complete you, heal you, and restore you, bless you and refresh you and renew your mind!
And Believe!
Judy is cancer free today. She was diagnosed with stage 4 Ovarian cancer. She was given two months to live. In July our healing team prayed for her.
Recent tests confirm that she remains cancer free.
John came in this past Monday Night and reported that his latest PSA numbers (tests indicating Prostate cancer) were now below normal, his tumor had shrunk 50% after prayer two weeks ago, now these tests show further healing. Thank you Jesus!
Though the healing of cancer seems to us as a greater miracle, I am consistently blessed by the pains and sicknesses that flee in Jesus' name every week. He cares for all our needs. He heals all our diseases and carried all grief and sorrow.
He heals the sick and the brokenhearted.
For me, the revelation of the finished work of the cross that brings healing
to hearts and minds is a very great miracle.
It cannot be separated from the miracles of healing, nor all the signs and wonders.
It seems to me that it should be the easiest thing.
It is, after all, the central message of the gospel. We should know this.
But for some it is difficult to believe.
We might even be able to believe for healing of our bodies before we can grasp the wonderful reality that is the basic message of the gospel: we are totally new creatures in Jesus Christ.
And as such we have access to an open heaven and all the promises of God.
"His grace gift inspires me to say to you that your thinking
must be consistent with everything that is within you
according to the measure of faith that God has apportioned to every individual.
Let the revelation of redemption shape your thoughts."
Romans 12:3 (the Mirror Translation).
"Let the revelation of redemption shape your thoughts."
This is another way of revealing how our minds can be renewed,
transformed, by the message of His finished work.
The word for 'transformed' in Rom.12:2. is 'metamorphic',
like the change from a caterpillar to a butterfly.
Utter and total transformation.
Paul is writing with an understanding that this is not an instant revelation for the Christian who is born of the Spirit.
It is implied in this chapter of Romans that we need to have our minds renewed to realize who we are!
We need to remind ourselves, and each other, of our new identity in Christ.
One way to do this is to minister to one another with the understanding
that we are already new creatures in Christ.
Done deal, past tense and finished.
So I preach to this reality, I minister with this assumption. My words and my prayers are directed to what has been done, not what needs to be done.
The mystery of the gospel should be no longer a mystery...it has been revealed.
"He has made known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose,
which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him,
things in heaven and things on earth." Eph.1:9-10
He has united, in Jesus, all things in heaven with the things of earth.
Wow!
Now read Ephesians 1:1-10 and you will note that Paul says these words after he
thoroughly makes the point that we are 'holy and blameless', he writes: ' we are destined in love', 'purposed in His will', 'freely bestowed with grace', 'lavished with grace', 'redeemed by His blood' and 'forgiven from all our sins according to His riches in grace'.
That was His mystery revealed in Christ, and it is a 'uniting of heaven and earth' because we must think from heaven when we look in the mirror and when we look at each other.
"From now on, therefore, we regard no one from a human point of view;
even though we once regarded Christ from a human point of view, we regard Him thus no longer.
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation;
the old has passed away, behold, the new has come.." 2 Cor.5:16-17
I posted a thought on FaceBook that was re-posted several times and commented upon in several countries. It struck a cord.
Ray LeBlond: Imagine yourself as a totally new creature in Christ...
Ok,... now stop imagining it and believe it.
Believe it.We are continuing to meet on Monday Night with the expressed purpose of learning to think and 'believe' from heaven instead of earth.
This in demonstrated by how we prophesy , preach and pray.
We do not ask God to heal the sick, we command sickness to go in Jesus name,
knowing that it is His power but our authority as new creatures in Christ.
We preach to the transformed man and consider the 'old man' dead, crucified with Christ.
We believe that a revelation of your true identity in Christ will 'transform' you, complete you, heal you, and restore you, bless you and refresh you and renew your mind!
And Believe!
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Monday Night Supernatural
We have been meeting every Monday Night for five months now. We started out in an 'upper room', which is quite appropriate for a class on the Supernatural.
It has been a wonderful and wild experience. It has become much more than a 'class'.
In March I was asked to start a new class for people who were interested in learning more about the supernatural gifts. Some people are hungry for revival. Many are interested in the 'things' they are hearing about in church.
There is a definite 'buzz' in the Body of Christ surrounding the move of God in the realm of the supernatural. Everywhere people are hearing about someone getting healed of major illness. The 'prophetic' gifts are being expressed in many of churches. Signs and Wonders are becoming common place. (if you are paying attention to that sort of thing).
The 'buzz' is not always positive. There is always the fear of weirdness and abuse. Still, the news of 'revival' is out there. People are curious.
There is coming a time when it will not be able to be ignored. But for now, it is enough to say that the 'revival' is being noticed. The 'fruit' of this renewal is touching many lives in a very positive way.
So I began the 'class' intending to continue for 10 weeks. We wanted to cover the various gifts. We had a special evening on the prophetic gift, then one on healing the sick. Some of our guest 'instructors' were regular folk who had a strong gift in some area. Most of them were members of the 'class' itself.
We never really advertised it. We sent out a few emails. Put a note in several church bulletins.
The response on the very first night gave a hint of things to come. We had more than 25 people show up and five churches were represented. This went on for several weeks. New people kept coming, the curious and the hungry, the questioners and the seekers. Before long we lost track.
(I have been told that we have had over 100 people come and visit the meeting over the past five months, they have come from 10 or more different churches, 30-50 return every Monday and new people keep coming).
The classes were, at first, instructional. We also had times for prayer and ministry. The fellowship was always good. But we soon realized that something else was happening.
The Holy Spirit was the One leading the meeting. The 'atmosphere' in the room could not be explained by good teaching, great fellowship or ministry.
Our 'worship' consisted of a couple of songs on CD or Video. The teachings on the various gifts were not given by experts or great speakers. But the Holy Spirit showed up every time, and we began to recognize that something extraordinary was happening.
Before the '10 weeks' were up we all decided that we were having too much fun to stop. We decided to keep the meeting going every Monday. After a while we realized 'this is no longer a CLASS'. (unless we were to admit that the Holy Spirit had become the Teacher). We recognized that there was some other dynamic happening.
This meeting had the atmosphere of revival.
I think it is important to recognize when the Spirit is at work. It is not something that allows us to claim special favor or blessing, rather, it is a attitude of 'honoring' His Presence and being grateful. In that light, I am very grateful for this moment.
We lay no claim to a 'revival atmosphere' like Azusa Street. Nor are we anywhere approaching the full measure of what 'revival' can look like. I have been to places like Brazil, Kansas City and Redding Ca., where the manifestations of His Presence are astonishing. I have been out of my own 'comfort zone' in some of these places. I have seen people touched by the Spirit in ways I cannot explain with any natural language.
Still, I sincerely believe that we must honor what we do have on Monday Night and not compare it to what we might think is 'better'. When we focus on what (we think) we 'lack' we inevitably dis-empower the very thing we 'have', and the result is that we get stuck there.
Honoring what God IS doing is extremely important. It is important as it pertains to our own growth in our own gifts, and it is important in our churches and ministries.
When we 'see' God's hand moving elsewhere, in one Christian or in another location, it is an invitation to 'go after that thing' for ourselves.
God never shows us something we 'lack', He only reveals something we can have. When we see something in the Spiritual realm that we desire, we 'press into' it, It is an invitation for 'the MORE' that is always available to us through the finished work of the Cross.
What we do have on Monday Night is wonderful. We have His Presence. We have community. We have people being healed of sickness. (a woman was healed of stage 4 ovarian cancer last month). We are seeing consistent manifestations of the prophetic gifts. Words of knowledge, Words of encouragement, Words of wisdom. Angelic visitations. People falling in the Spirit.
There are many reports of His tangible power in the form of heat and tingling throughout a persons body. And more testimonies of people being touched by a sense of His love then can be counted.
It is the atmosphere of revival.
To call it anything else would be dishonoring to what God is doing in our midst.
To illustrate this point Bill Johnson uses an apple orchard: In an orchard you could pick, of one tree, a ripe apple and find it full of flavor and satisfying fruit. Then you might find a small unripe apple on another tree. But to say it is 'not an apple' is untrue. It may be immature, yet it is still an apple.
Be thankful for the apple, it is full of potential !
Just as Jesus gave thanks for one boy's tiny lunch of loaves and fish, before it was multiplied to feed the thousands, we must thank God for what we have, bless it and watch it grow.
God always multiplies what we are thankful for!
I am very thankful for what God is doing on Monday Night.
But I realize that there is more going on than 'signs and wonders'.
I believe people are coming to Monday Night for more than the curious manifestations of His Spirit.
The atmosphere in the room is filled with His Presence because we focus on His Presence.
We expect it because we have come to understand something wonderful about our God: He is good.!
The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus, He loves it when the gospel is preached. And the gospel is a Person, Jesus.
When we focus our attention on the Finished Work of His Cross, we focus on Jesus.
When we take our eyes off ourselves, and even off the manifestations that touch us in the supernatural, we begin to 'see' the Kingdom. We can see the Kingdom of God best when we first recognize the King. (read my previous Blog: 'The Kingdom of God').
The message of God's grace opens up our hearts to understand why God would touch us with tangible expressions of His love. When He heals the sick, it is a touch of His love. When He gives a prophetic 'word' that reveals to a person something only He would know, God is saying, "I see you and I care to speak to you of my love".
We can understand why God would allow us to 'sense' or see the presence of His angels, and why He might let His Spirit fall so gloriously upon a heart that the person would 'fall' at His touch.
Even laughter and shaking, gold dust and feathers can be seen as the gentle revelation of His goodness. When we discover that He really is good.
He is good to us because He likes us. His goodness is expressed in His love.
The ultimate expression of love is the laying down of one's own life. So it is as Jesus defined it in John 15: 12-13.
It is interesting to note that Jesus used the word 'friend' when He spoke of laying down a life. Clearly He was referring to His own 'greater love'. And then, in context, He tells us that we 'are His friends'. (vs 14). He likes us!
I have noticed a wonderful thing.
I point it out simply because some people are sure to draw attention to the following words Jesus spoke in verse 14: "I call you friends if you do what I command you".
Some would say that this makes His love conditional. Some would point to this as an admonition to avoid (what some might call) 'the nonsense' of the supernatural. Some would say that we are not focusing on the command when we take pleasure in the supernatural manifestations of His love.
But the wonderful thing I have noticed is that the people who are touched by His tangible love are the very ones who are most likely to DO the thing Jesus said was His command, they tend to love one another. (vs 17). and they tend to demonstrate His love with real action and genuine expression.
I think people are coming on Monday night because they know that they are loved.
Loved.
By God, and each other.
We also know that, as 'friends' of God, we are capable of hearing what He is saying. We know that because of the finished work of the cross we all have access to everything Jesus paid for.
We are new creatures in Christ.
Supernatural ones. And because of His love, He does not play favorites.
We all are filled with His Spirit, gifted and called.
On Monday night we tend to remind each other of who we are in Him. Personally, I think that is what Biblical encouragement should really look like.
So it is, in our Monday Night meeting, that I find we have a group of people who are loving one another because He first loved on them with tangible expressions of His love.
Not to mention that they are taking His love to the streets, healing the sick and inviting the lost to discover a God of power and love.
Not to mention that in context of John 15: 14-17 that we are 'no longer called servants, but friends', and as such we are capable of 'knowing what the Master is doing'.
I think the Master is doing miracles!
And Monday Night is miraculous.
It has been a wonderful and wild experience. It has become much more than a 'class'.
In March I was asked to start a new class for people who were interested in learning more about the supernatural gifts. Some people are hungry for revival. Many are interested in the 'things' they are hearing about in church.
There is a definite 'buzz' in the Body of Christ surrounding the move of God in the realm of the supernatural. Everywhere people are hearing about someone getting healed of major illness. The 'prophetic' gifts are being expressed in many of churches. Signs and Wonders are becoming common place. (if you are paying attention to that sort of thing).
The 'buzz' is not always positive. There is always the fear of weirdness and abuse. Still, the news of 'revival' is out there. People are curious.
There is coming a time when it will not be able to be ignored. But for now, it is enough to say that the 'revival' is being noticed. The 'fruit' of this renewal is touching many lives in a very positive way.
So I began the 'class' intending to continue for 10 weeks. We wanted to cover the various gifts. We had a special evening on the prophetic gift, then one on healing the sick. Some of our guest 'instructors' were regular folk who had a strong gift in some area. Most of them were members of the 'class' itself.
We never really advertised it. We sent out a few emails. Put a note in several church bulletins.
The response on the very first night gave a hint of things to come. We had more than 25 people show up and five churches were represented. This went on for several weeks. New people kept coming, the curious and the hungry, the questioners and the seekers. Before long we lost track.
(I have been told that we have had over 100 people come and visit the meeting over the past five months, they have come from 10 or more different churches, 30-50 return every Monday and new people keep coming).
The classes were, at first, instructional. We also had times for prayer and ministry. The fellowship was always good. But we soon realized that something else was happening.
The Holy Spirit was the One leading the meeting. The 'atmosphere' in the room could not be explained by good teaching, great fellowship or ministry.
Our 'worship' consisted of a couple of songs on CD or Video. The teachings on the various gifts were not given by experts or great speakers. But the Holy Spirit showed up every time, and we began to recognize that something extraordinary was happening.
Before the '10 weeks' were up we all decided that we were having too much fun to stop. We decided to keep the meeting going every Monday. After a while we realized 'this is no longer a CLASS'. (unless we were to admit that the Holy Spirit had become the Teacher). We recognized that there was some other dynamic happening.
This meeting had the atmosphere of revival.
I think it is important to recognize when the Spirit is at work. It is not something that allows us to claim special favor or blessing, rather, it is a attitude of 'honoring' His Presence and being grateful. In that light, I am very grateful for this moment.
We lay no claim to a 'revival atmosphere' like Azusa Street. Nor are we anywhere approaching the full measure of what 'revival' can look like. I have been to places like Brazil, Kansas City and Redding Ca., where the manifestations of His Presence are astonishing. I have been out of my own 'comfort zone' in some of these places. I have seen people touched by the Spirit in ways I cannot explain with any natural language.
Still, I sincerely believe that we must honor what we do have on Monday Night and not compare it to what we might think is 'better'. When we focus on what (we think) we 'lack' we inevitably dis-empower the very thing we 'have', and the result is that we get stuck there.
Honoring what God IS doing is extremely important. It is important as it pertains to our own growth in our own gifts, and it is important in our churches and ministries.
When we 'see' God's hand moving elsewhere, in one Christian or in another location, it is an invitation to 'go after that thing' for ourselves.
God never shows us something we 'lack', He only reveals something we can have. When we see something in the Spiritual realm that we desire, we 'press into' it, It is an invitation for 'the MORE' that is always available to us through the finished work of the Cross.
What we do have on Monday Night is wonderful. We have His Presence. We have community. We have people being healed of sickness. (a woman was healed of stage 4 ovarian cancer last month). We are seeing consistent manifestations of the prophetic gifts. Words of knowledge, Words of encouragement, Words of wisdom. Angelic visitations. People falling in the Spirit.
There are many reports of His tangible power in the form of heat and tingling throughout a persons body. And more testimonies of people being touched by a sense of His love then can be counted.
It is the atmosphere of revival.
To call it anything else would be dishonoring to what God is doing in our midst.
To illustrate this point Bill Johnson uses an apple orchard: In an orchard you could pick, of one tree, a ripe apple and find it full of flavor and satisfying fruit. Then you might find a small unripe apple on another tree. But to say it is 'not an apple' is untrue. It may be immature, yet it is still an apple.
Be thankful for the apple, it is full of potential !
Just as Jesus gave thanks for one boy's tiny lunch of loaves and fish, before it was multiplied to feed the thousands, we must thank God for what we have, bless it and watch it grow.
God always multiplies what we are thankful for!
I am very thankful for what God is doing on Monday Night.
But I realize that there is more going on than 'signs and wonders'.
I believe people are coming to Monday Night for more than the curious manifestations of His Spirit.
The atmosphere in the room is filled with His Presence because we focus on His Presence.
We expect it because we have come to understand something wonderful about our God: He is good.!
The Holy Spirit reveals Jesus, He loves it when the gospel is preached. And the gospel is a Person, Jesus.
When we focus our attention on the Finished Work of His Cross, we focus on Jesus.
When we take our eyes off ourselves, and even off the manifestations that touch us in the supernatural, we begin to 'see' the Kingdom. We can see the Kingdom of God best when we first recognize the King. (read my previous Blog: 'The Kingdom of God').
The message of God's grace opens up our hearts to understand why God would touch us with tangible expressions of His love. When He heals the sick, it is a touch of His love. When He gives a prophetic 'word' that reveals to a person something only He would know, God is saying, "I see you and I care to speak to you of my love".
We can understand why God would allow us to 'sense' or see the presence of His angels, and why He might let His Spirit fall so gloriously upon a heart that the person would 'fall' at His touch.
Even laughter and shaking, gold dust and feathers can be seen as the gentle revelation of His goodness. When we discover that He really is good.
He is good to us because He likes us. His goodness is expressed in His love.
The ultimate expression of love is the laying down of one's own life. So it is as Jesus defined it in John 15: 12-13.
It is interesting to note that Jesus used the word 'friend' when He spoke of laying down a life. Clearly He was referring to His own 'greater love'. And then, in context, He tells us that we 'are His friends'. (vs 14). He likes us!
I have noticed a wonderful thing.
I point it out simply because some people are sure to draw attention to the following words Jesus spoke in verse 14: "I call you friends if you do what I command you".
Some would say that this makes His love conditional. Some would point to this as an admonition to avoid (what some might call) 'the nonsense' of the supernatural. Some would say that we are not focusing on the command when we take pleasure in the supernatural manifestations of His love.
But the wonderful thing I have noticed is that the people who are touched by His tangible love are the very ones who are most likely to DO the thing Jesus said was His command, they tend to love one another. (vs 17). and they tend to demonstrate His love with real action and genuine expression.
I think people are coming on Monday night because they know that they are loved.
Loved.
By God, and each other.
We also know that, as 'friends' of God, we are capable of hearing what He is saying. We know that because of the finished work of the cross we all have access to everything Jesus paid for.
We are new creatures in Christ.
Supernatural ones. And because of His love, He does not play favorites.
We all are filled with His Spirit, gifted and called.
On Monday night we tend to remind each other of who we are in Him. Personally, I think that is what Biblical encouragement should really look like.
So it is, in our Monday Night meeting, that I find we have a group of people who are loving one another because He first loved on them with tangible expressions of His love.
Not to mention that they are taking His love to the streets, healing the sick and inviting the lost to discover a God of power and love.
Not to mention that in context of John 15: 14-17 that we are 'no longer called servants, but friends', and as such we are capable of 'knowing what the Master is doing'.
I think the Master is doing miracles!
And Monday Night is miraculous.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
THE KINGDOM OF GOD
There were many in Israel who saw Jesus, a few saw Jesus Christ.
There were many in Israel who saw the power of God upon Him, a few realized that the Kingdom of God had come unto them!
When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night in the 3rd chapter of John, he was aware that the power of God was upon Jesus. But Jesus' 'answer' to his observation was unexpected. Jesus told him that one must be born anew, or from above, in order to 'see' the Kingdom of God. Jesus went on to explain that to be born from above is to be born of the Spirit.
I believe that when we receive Christ as Lord and savior we all receive the Holy Spirit. That means we have the ability to 'see' the Kingdom. But lately I have become aware of a simple conviction; I have not seen the Kingdom at any time, in my 30+ years of being a Christian, as I now see it.
What I mean is this; Jesus invited us to see something more. More then fellowship, church, tradition, ministry, prayer, Bible study, conferences, Sunday school and programs. He invited us to a relationship that can experience the invasion of heaven upon our tangible world. My world has been turned up-side right by this invasion and I am overwhelmed by the wonder of it.
Three Gospels record the event where Jesus heals a blind and dumb man and He is accused of doing so by demonic powers. His answer is astounding; first He makes it clear that it would be stupid of satan to heal the disease he inflicted upon the man, then He challenges them to see what really just happened. "If it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons then the Kingdom of God has come upon you!" (Lk.11:20) It was an invasion of heaven. A touch from the Kingdom into the realm of this reality with super-natural power.
It is just here that I want you to see something significant; the Kingdom of God is now! And it has power for us to be able to tap into a realm of glory we have always been meant to access but only a few realize. It is available to everyone who believes!
The Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God was to come, they imagined it to be a earthly restoration of the house of David with a Messiah to rescue them from worldly oppression.
They looked for a prophetic 'sign' of that appearing. Jesus told them that "the Kingdom of God was not coming with (outward) signs that can be observed (in the natural realm); nor could anyone say 'Lo, here it is!' or 'there!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you (or within you)." (Lk.17:2o-21) 'It is like the wind,' as Jesus told Nicodemus.
Like the wind in the sense of the Spirit.
Like the Spirit in the sense of 'wind'.
A Kingdom that becomes 'tangible' for those who are born of the Spirit.
A 'Kingdom of heaven' which is more 'real' than the 'reality' we touch with our five senses.
It is there/here all around us. It is available to everyone who believes.
I believe that Jesus gave an invitation. Mark 1:14-15 records: "Jesus came preaching the gospel of God, and saying, 'the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent (change your mind), and BELIEVE the gospel'."
Many believe the 'good news' of salvation and are saved. Many believe in spiritual gifts and experience the wonderful blessing of tongues. Most Christian love Jesus.
But is there MORE to 'believing' the gospel? Can we experience greater levels of intimacy? Can we experience more of His tangible love?
There were many in Israel who saw Jesus, but only a few saw Jesus Messiah.
A King with a Kingdom.
It is my belief that the Kingdom of God is greater than many of us yet see.
I believe that Jesus is greater than we think.
I believe that there is more to the Christian life than we have experienced.
If you have read any of my previous Blogs you will certainly know what I am alluding to.
I am experiencing astonishing things.
The Kingdom of God is in our midst, it is 'with-in' us.
The King is inviting us to MORE.
There were many in Israel who saw the power of God upon Him, a few realized that the Kingdom of God had come unto them!
When Nicodemus came to Jesus by night in the 3rd chapter of John, he was aware that the power of God was upon Jesus. But Jesus' 'answer' to his observation was unexpected. Jesus told him that one must be born anew, or from above, in order to 'see' the Kingdom of God. Jesus went on to explain that to be born from above is to be born of the Spirit.
I believe that when we receive Christ as Lord and savior we all receive the Holy Spirit. That means we have the ability to 'see' the Kingdom. But lately I have become aware of a simple conviction; I have not seen the Kingdom at any time, in my 30+ years of being a Christian, as I now see it.
What I mean is this; Jesus invited us to see something more. More then fellowship, church, tradition, ministry, prayer, Bible study, conferences, Sunday school and programs. He invited us to a relationship that can experience the invasion of heaven upon our tangible world. My world has been turned up-side right by this invasion and I am overwhelmed by the wonder of it.
Three Gospels record the event where Jesus heals a blind and dumb man and He is accused of doing so by demonic powers. His answer is astounding; first He makes it clear that it would be stupid of satan to heal the disease he inflicted upon the man, then He challenges them to see what really just happened. "If it is by the finger of God that I cast out demons then the Kingdom of God has come upon you!" (Lk.11:20) It was an invasion of heaven. A touch from the Kingdom into the realm of this reality with super-natural power.
It is just here that I want you to see something significant; the Kingdom of God is now! And it has power for us to be able to tap into a realm of glory we have always been meant to access but only a few realize. It is available to everyone who believes!
The Pharisees asked Jesus when the Kingdom of God was to come, they imagined it to be a earthly restoration of the house of David with a Messiah to rescue them from worldly oppression.
They looked for a prophetic 'sign' of that appearing. Jesus told them that "the Kingdom of God was not coming with (outward) signs that can be observed (in the natural realm); nor could anyone say 'Lo, here it is!' or 'there!' for behold, the Kingdom of God is in the midst of you (or within you)." (Lk.17:2o-21) 'It is like the wind,' as Jesus told Nicodemus.
Like the wind in the sense of the Spirit.
Like the Spirit in the sense of 'wind'.
A Kingdom that becomes 'tangible' for those who are born of the Spirit.
A 'Kingdom of heaven' which is more 'real' than the 'reality' we touch with our five senses.
It is there/here all around us. It is available to everyone who believes.
I believe that Jesus gave an invitation. Mark 1:14-15 records: "Jesus came preaching the gospel of God, and saying, 'the Kingdom of God is at hand; repent (change your mind), and BELIEVE the gospel'."
Many believe the 'good news' of salvation and are saved. Many believe in spiritual gifts and experience the wonderful blessing of tongues. Most Christian love Jesus.
But is there MORE to 'believing' the gospel? Can we experience greater levels of intimacy? Can we experience more of His tangible love?
There were many in Israel who saw Jesus, but only a few saw Jesus Messiah.
A King with a Kingdom.
It is my belief that the Kingdom of God is greater than many of us yet see.
I believe that Jesus is greater than we think.
I believe that there is more to the Christian life than we have experienced.
If you have read any of my previous Blogs you will certainly know what I am alluding to.
I am experiencing astonishing things.
The Kingdom of God is in our midst, it is 'with-in' us.
The King is inviting us to MORE.
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