Death and life are in the power of the tongue... Proverbs 18:21. Words have the power either to destroy or to cause faith to grow. With our speech, we have the opportunity to help people come into maturity and agreement with God’s truth and plan for them.
God has been challenging me to look for the budding virtues (the destiny; the good yet to come) that He sees in others and then to partner with Him in calling them forth through affirmation. I'm beginning to literally think of encouragement as putting courage in the heart of another. I recently taught in BHOP on the importance of praying positive prayers -- speaking life, destiny, and encouragement over the church, regions, groups, and individuals (follow these links for teaching Audio and Notes). This doesn't often come naturally, and so we ask the Holy Spirit to give us insight into what God sees and how He feels. Let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works… encouraging one another… Hebrews 10:24,25
To ensure that I press into growing in this, God has opened the door for me to step into a new role as BHOP's Director of Operations. In addition to bringing sharpening to BHOP's structure and daily operations, I will be seeking to help each team member excel in their roles. Jesus most effectively motivates me through the power of cherishing, and so I am asking Him to help me to do the same in this team.
Sunday, July 5, 2009
Thursday, April 30, 2009
The Righteous Judge
“The most neglected subject in the Kingdom of God is God. The knowledge of God is the Mt. Everest of the Kingdom... we must have a steady resolve in our spirit to press on... it takes a lifetime to climb and the Holy Spirit is our escort...” - Mike Bickle
I've found the above statement to be very real in my own life lately as I've just been beginning to dive deeper into studying what the Bible says about Jesus as Coming King and Righteous Judge. I was asked to teach on this subject this past Sunday night at our weekly BHOP "Forerunner Gathering". I thought I'd share the notes and audio of my message if you're interested in a deeper glimpse into my work at BHOP, or if you too are looking for a little paradigm tweaking!
Sneak peak from my notes: "In the season of His return, it is critical that the Church embrace these three expressions of Jesus [Bridegroom, Judge, and King]. Today, Jesus invites us to know His whole character, the plans that are in His heart, and how He will carry them out so that we will be in agreement rather than in offense on that Day. Eschatological understanding of Jesus' judgments steeped in His jealous love and desire for a pure Bride with whom to reign when He returns in victory, will help us overcome offense, anger, fear, and confusion so that people trust Jesus' leadership and mature in love."
Enjoy! And feel free to dialogue with me if you have questions, thoughts... I know this can be a provoking subject (it's been ruffling my feathers a bit too!)... but the intention of the provocation is that we each be drawn into getting to know Him better - He's beautiful!
I've found the above statement to be very real in my own life lately as I've just been beginning to dive deeper into studying what the Bible says about Jesus as Coming King and Righteous Judge. I was asked to teach on this subject this past Sunday night at our weekly BHOP "Forerunner Gathering". I thought I'd share the notes and audio of my message if you're interested in a deeper glimpse into my work at BHOP, or if you too are looking for a little paradigm tweaking!
Sneak peak from my notes: "In the season of His return, it is critical that the Church embrace these three expressions of Jesus [Bridegroom, Judge, and King]. Today, Jesus invites us to know His whole character, the plans that are in His heart, and how He will carry them out so that we will be in agreement rather than in offense on that Day. Eschatological understanding of Jesus' judgments steeped in His jealous love and desire for a pure Bride with whom to reign when He returns in victory, will help us overcome offense, anger, fear, and confusion so that people trust Jesus' leadership and mature in love."
Enjoy! And feel free to dialogue with me if you have questions, thoughts... I know this can be a provoking subject (it's been ruffling my feathers a bit too!)... but the intention of the provocation is that we each be drawn into getting to know Him better - He's beautiful!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Easter... Mortality Swallowed Up By Life - 2 Cor 5:4
My heart has been exhilarated throughout the past week as I have been reflecting much on the significance of Jesus' resurrection and looking toward the age to come when the Ever-living One will return to the earth. Below are just a few Scriptures to reflect on as you celebrate His resurrection and it's glorious implications of hope and victory!
Revelation 1:18a I am He who lives [the Ever-living One], and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore...
2 Timothy 1:10 ...Our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light...
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
1 Corinthians 6:14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.
Revelation 1:8b I am the Alpha and the Omega... who is and who was and who is to come...
Hebrews 2:9,10 But we see Jesus... now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory...
Titus 2:13 ...While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ...
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus... For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The Lord bless you as you celebrate the One who is ALIVE FOREVERMORE!
Revelation 1:18a I am He who lives [the Ever-living One], and was dead, and behold I am alive forevermore...
2 Timothy 1:10 ...Our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light...
1 Corinthians 15:20 But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
Romans 8:11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.
1 Corinthians 6:14 And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.
Revelation 1:8b I am the Alpha and the Omega... who is and who was and who is to come...
Hebrews 2:9,10 But we see Jesus... now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons to glory...
Titus 2:13 ...While we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ...
1 Thessalonians 4:14-18 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus... For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.
The Lord bless you as you celebrate the One who is ALIVE FOREVERMORE!
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Stirred to Know the Word
Not long ago, David Sliker came to teach a week-long eschatology (the study of the end times) course to the Bethany college students, so everyone in BHOP sat-in on the classes. We were all on the edge of our seats and getting stirred to know the Word better for ourselves. I loved seeing this hunger in the faces of these young missionaries in training and hearing their desire to live more wholeheartedly for Jesus in response to the teaching.
"God's promise to all believers is that the verses we find most troubling when taken literally, will make sense as we pray, fast, study and spend-time with Him. It is the common sense meaning of the Scriptures that stirs true fascination with God, not someone else's symbolic interpretation of those Scriptures. When we have an intimate connection with the end-time plan of God, the passages begin to come alive and make sense. The possibilities of understanding and knowing God become endless as He moves us beyond our notions of what we think should be into the realm of what He knows can be. When we believe God is big enough to fulfill His prophetic plans as literally as they are described in His Word, He will become to us more awesome, more glorious and more beautiful." - David Sliker, End-Times Simplified
"God's promise to all believers is that the verses we find most troubling when taken literally, will make sense as we pray, fast, study and spend-time with Him. It is the common sense meaning of the Scriptures that stirs true fascination with God, not someone else's symbolic interpretation of those Scriptures. When we have an intimate connection with the end-time plan of God, the passages begin to come alive and make sense. The possibilities of understanding and knowing God become endless as He moves us beyond our notions of what we think should be into the realm of what He knows can be. When we believe God is big enough to fulfill His prophetic plans as literally as they are described in His Word, He will become to us more awesome, more glorious and more beautiful." - David Sliker, End-Times Simplified
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Bethany House of Prayer Leadership Transition
What a tremendous blessing Nita Steiner has been to us at Bethany House of Prayer! Her faithful example has forever impacted the lives of each one of our young leaders and she will be missed as she relocates to Kansas City to spend a season in prayer at the International House of Prayer. As Nita retires at the end of December, BHOP is anticipating with excitement the addition of Richee Parks to our team of Intercessory Missionaries. Richee will be joining us in January as the new director of Bethany House of Prayer. Richee's heart for prayer and discipleship will be a tremendous gift to our team. Thank you for your prayer for me and the BHOP team as we say goodbye to Nita and receive Richee as our new leader.
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