I wanted to give an update and share a beautiful new place of belief and awareness I have entered into that may be uplifting to you as well. The Father and Jesus, we all know, want us to live in full trust with our taking each day at a time. Our plans are to be as the Lord is willing. Sometimes this is easier understood than done because we second guess if we really heard from the Lord or if its our imagination and presumption. But thank goodness I think I finally get the messages He is giving me. So I hope by my transparency about my financial struggles and what He has done for me, you will be inspired and blessed if you are struggling and feel oppression in any area of your life.
May 23, 2011
April 30, 2011
What to do about conflicting prophecies
Prophets, prophetic people, often disagree on what they see and hear. Sometimes apparently conflicting prophecies or visions may both happen through complex workings and timings of the Lord. Or the differing prophecies may be alternative outcomes that are conditional, such as depending on intercessory prayer. For example, both Moses and Hezekiah appealed to the Lord and God changed His mind regarding the outcome for those situations, see 2 Kings 20:1-6 and Ex 32:9-14 below. Or sometimes the visions or words are simply inaccurate and either wholly or partly not from God.
In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah son of Amoz went to him and said, “This is what the Lord says: Put your house in order, because you are going to die; you will not recover.” Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the Lord, “Remember, O Lord, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes.” And Hezekiah wept bitterly. Before Isaiah had left the middle court, the word of the Lord came to him: “Go back and tell Hezekiah, the leader of my people, ‘This is what the Lord, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will heal you. On the third day from now you will go up to the temple of the Lord. I will add fifteen years to your life.
2 Kings 20:1-6 (NIV)
“I have seen these people,” the Lord said to Moses, “and they are a stiff-necked people. Now leave me alone so that my anger may burn against them and that I may destroy them. Then I will make you into a great nation.” But Moses sought the favor of the Lord his God. “O Lord,” he said, “why should your anger burn against your people, whom you brought out of Egypt with great power and a mighty hand? Why should the Egyptians say, ‘It was with evil intent that he brought them out, to kill them in the mountains and to wipe them off the face of the earth’? Turn from your fierce anger; relent and do not bring disaster on your people. Remember your servants Abraham, Isaac and Israel, to whom you swore by your own self: ‘I will make your descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and I will give your descendants all this land I promised them, and it will be their inheritance forever.’“ Then the Lord relented and did not bring on his people the disaster he had threatened.
Ex 32:9-14 (NIV)
If you read my blog you know I have prophesied positive, grace-filled, merciful outcomes over the U.S. economy, the stock market, California and our political leadership. A large number of my prophecies have been very specific and not general. Thus, they can be measured for accuracy in the future. And because they are specific, what I am saying and believing may be the opposite of what others are saying.
I sometimes intercede against those prophecies and visions which I don’t believe are the “higher good” that the Lord intends (my description for a positive, grace-filled merciful outcome as opposed to a destructive, judgment outcome). Perhaps the judgment or devastating outcome that others see will happen without prayer. But I want to pray for the abundant, undeserved grace that I see and hear will occur.
Perhaps I am biased towards undeserved grace, mercy, and restoration because Jesus was a friend to sinners first and foremost. It was His unusual, overwhelming love that drew sinners, whereas the religious leaders of the day eschewed them. In fact, Jesus rebuked the self-righteous and judgmental Pharisees who thought they were holier than others and didn’t admit that they, too, were sinners and were thus woefully incapable of saving themselves. I want to look at others the way Jesus looked at me with love before He saved me. I desperately needed to have His light shine into my darkened mind and heart but didn’t know at the time I needed His infectious goodness. That is the brilliance of the moment of salvation: the light of Christ flashes on with intense brightness so you can see what you couldn’t see about yourself before. I want to love others because Jesus counseled us to love even our enemies. Jesus wins people over with love. Here is a key passage:
As the time approached for him to be taken up to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. And he sent messengers on ahead, who went into a Samaritan village to get things ready for him; but the people there did not welcome him, because he was heading for Jerusalem. When the disciples James and John saw this, they asked, “Lord, do you want us to call fire down from heaven to destroy them?” But Jesus turned and rebuked them. And he said, “You do not know what kind of spirit you are of, for the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” And they went to another village.
Luke 9:51-56 (NIV)
Notice the phrase, “the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives, but to save them.” Whenever I have found myself praying for justice or even harsh judgment when I have been severely injured or wronged, I will always find the Lord persistently correcting me until I change my heart to sincerely pray for salvation and abundant grace for that person or persons, not always in that order. The Lord sometimes heals and blesses before the person comes to know God. God will, of course, bring judgment at times. But the above scripture in Luke shows the extreme loving heart of Jesus, a bias towards love and patience rather than judgment. “The Message” Bible captures this love of God beautifully as well:
“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the energies of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that. “In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.
Matt 5:43-48 (MSG)
Regarding what I’m interceding against in the spirit realm, most of the time it’s taking authority through my prophetic sight and hearing over a “less desirable”, “less good”, even “darker” vision that could happen unless a “more desirable”, “higher good”, “more redemptive” prophecy were seen or heard. Although I believe what I see or hear will likely happen unconditionally without intercession, I will usually emphasize my agreement with prayer, even declarations. Again, it is not that destructive outcomes of judgment will not happen in some situations, they will. But if I see or hear a “higher good” of a positive, grace-filled, merciful outcome and I believe what I see or hear is from the Lord, I will both believe as well as pray in agreement with my prophetic sight and hearing. My prophecies and intercession for the US stock market since early 2009 were just that, a prophetic sight of and agreement with financial restoration from the Lord for America and many Americans. The prophecies were not just about the stock market going to 10,000 and then 12,000 but also health returning to American companies because God’s people work in those companies. Health has returned and is continuing to return to American companies. My prophecies came to pass while many opposite prophecies from others did not.
Maybe it took someone who dared to disagree to be emboldened by His Spirit and prophecy a different outcome for the Lord to then honor those prophecies by the fact they came to pass. If it means not “coming into agreement” with others regarding their prophecies, I believe that is not only acceptable but also prophesying a vastly different outcome may be the Holy Spirit’s leading to do so. It doesn’t mean I don’t love or respect those brothers and sisters in Christ, I do. It simply means I don’t feel called to align with those prophecies they uttered. Yes, I believe some of those prophecies to be wrong. And in other cases I believe they may be potentially accurate but changeable through a different bold prophecy and/or intercession. In summary, to the best of my ability I will speak out prophecies boldly and intercede if I believe the prophecies the Lord has given me are truly from His heart.
All of this can be described as “standing in the gap”. From the scriptures I’ve cited above, which are just a few, God is moved by prophetic sons and daughters who pray for redemption and grace, what I call a “higher good.” To some it may seem arrogant, but I believe it’s the opposite. It takes a lot of exposure of the person going against the flow of popular prophetic opinion (particularly utterances from nationally-recognized prophets), a lot of courage to muster up, and a lot of self-sacrifice of time and pleasure in intercessory prayer over the prophecies. It is, honestly, not pleasant most of the time. It is a great labor and not light-weight. Your flesh sometimes resists because it can be tiring, time-consuming work. But you can’t not do it, your spirit is pulled by His to prophesy, intercede and even declare to the heavenlies.
And then you discover, while you are laboring in all this, He is also working on your character so that you die increasingly to yourself. Being gold refined in hot fire is not a comfortable place for most people. Prophetic experiences carry over into the deeply personal as well, and a great cleansing takes place over and over in you like wash and rinse cycles that don’t stop. For example, as I prophesy certain positive outcomes and grace for various situations in America, so I find I must pray for positive outcomes and grace for those who have greatly injured me with wounds still raw and sliced deep. There is no choice but to allow those shadows of your soul to be revealed in their numbing darkness, that you have set yourself up in that regard as a Pharisee and a judge in the place of the one and only Judge. Then you choose to remove your Pharisee robe from concealing those dark areas, and let them be illuminated by Christ’s embrace of light and love.
Note: This blog post was completely revised on December 24, 2011 as I felt the previous blog post was confusing because it did not express my views as clearly as it could have.
April 17, 2011
Coat of Golden Mail
Last night I had a very vivid dream. I was standing before a large man and his breast and stomach consisted of overlapped gold coins so that only thick gold appeared, like a coat of mail. But I was aware his body was partly composed of the gold coins, his being blended with the gold.
I stood there half-curious inside myself, not certain what the message was. The Lord asked, “What do you feel?” I don’t remember saying anything, but after He asked I was aware I felt an atmosphere of death, deadness, lifelessness.
This morning the Lord reminded me that only love leads to happiness. Without love there is no happiness. I read 1 Corinthians 13 as if it were the first time I ever read it. There was abounding life and happiness in what I read, in the heart oozing out love and not covered by gold. Not that there aren’t rich people who are very loving and generous. Just that this vision was of a man placing his trust in gold to protect himself from the world. The happiness and love I was feeling as I read 1 Corinthians 13 was like a fountain pouring up and freely out of me.
“If I give all I possess to the poor… but have not love, I gain nothing. Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.” 1 Corinthians 13:3-8 (NIV)
The Lord also reminded me you can’t love money, thus be overly focused on it, and love God at the same time. Focusing too much on money, and thus loving it, causes death, lifelessness. Focusing on love yields overflowing life, the abundant life Jesus describes. If you put your trust utterly in God and follow Jesus, He will take care of your needs, which the Bible proves time and time throughout.
"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.” Matthew 6:24 (NIV)
Christians are in a spiritual war of Money versus Love as perhaps never before. Not until recent years has the “prosperity gospel” been taught so widely. Part of the teaching is victory in Jesus Christ means you are prospering in all areas of your life just as your soul prospers, and this includes financial wealth. We are exhorted to “sow a seed of faith” into a ministry. “Seed faith”, meaning giving specifically money and not giving of yourself through volunteering or helping those you meet, is a taught recipe for personal gain so we “reap the harvest” in the future. The flock has been fleeced by their naivety in how to handle money properly with clever, wise decisions. “So if you have not been trustworthy in handling worldly wealth, who will trust you with true riches? And if you have not been trustworthy with someone else's property, who will give you property of your own?” Luke 16:11-12 (NIV) And the flock, including myself in past years, has given to wealthy ministers and churches with expensive buildings who consider it acceptable to live exceedingly richly off of Christians they teach, much like self-help gurus do.
The apostle Paul gave us his example to follow, which was to work to provide for his own needs and those who needed financial help, and not rely on those he taught to provide for him: “You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:34-35 (NIV)
Jesus’ appeal to all His disciples was to not love money and not seek worldly riches, but rather seek the Kingdom of God and you will be sufficiently provided for, “So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” Matthew 6:31-34 (NIV) And Jesus also taught, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matt 6:19-21 (NIV)
The giving of money in the Lord’s new covenant of grace (the New Testament) was to help the poor, not to make the apostles wealthy. Yes, a Bible teacher is worthy of receiving compensation but the theme is one of moderation. Paul writes, “Anyone who receives instruction in the word must share all good things with his instructor.” Galatians 6:6 (NIV) And Jesus instructed, “As you go, preach this message: 'The kingdom of heaven is near.' Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. Do not take along any gold or silver or copper in your belts; take no bag for the journey, or extra tunic, or sandals or a staff; for the worker is worth his keep.” Matthew 10:7-10 (NIV) A minister or gospel worker is worthy of compensation for personal living expenses, but there is no indication a worker’s keep is lavish in nature.
One may argue there is nothing wrong with a minister becoming rich from the ministry (I am not commenting on making wealth through shrewd business dealings and investments not associated with the gospel), much like the CEO of a non-profit charity can become rich. But I ask, really, there is really nothing wrong? Why is it ok to deviate so sharply from what both Jesus and his apostles clearly taught and the examples they set? Why not use the money flowing to the ministry to help the poor even more and further the gospel and His kingdom even more, as the apostles did, rather than personally enrich the overseer of the ministry? Ministries may be non-profit companies from a legal standpoint, but does that mean the guideline is no longer the New Testament but rather secular CEO compensation? I’m not implying that the Lord doesn’t use wealthy ministers, He certainly does. I am just questioning whether their decisions regarding personal gain from ministry line up with the word of God.
I have been prayerful as I wrote all this associated with my vision of the coat of golden mail. I then went on a prayer walk to pray over what I wrote. I hope this blesses you and, perhaps, helps you to be on guard against those with a coat of golden mail who want your money, and, perhaps, your cooperation with them. To love others, love God, believe in Jesus whom God sent, and provide for the weak according to our abilities is what Jesus and His apostles taught us to do.
April 3, 2011
All... In
A prophetic friend, Ignacio, shared with me he thought this past weekend was going to be a very deep time with the Lord for me. And another prophetic friend, Eagle, sent me a half a dozen articles that spoke of intimacy with Christ and the price He paid to allow us to live freely in and for Him. It was a very deep weekend for me. First, there was no electricity at my home in the Sierra Nevada for the whole weekend and I lit fires to keep the home warm and burned candles. On the night of April 2, with the fire crackling, candles burning and a blanket over me, I started seeing Jesus very close, a few feet away. He was bent over towards me so I could see His gashed back, jagged and deep wounds full of warm blood. His back appeared almost three times wider than the size of a normal man. All that filled my field of vision was just His back with the many deep gashes. I kept looking at His back. I was in a very somber, weighty and reflective mood, drawn close to His sacrifice. He paid my debts, all of them. That was His choice to be flogged and tortured mercilessly. His was the final sacrifice on the eternal altar of God for me, being God Himself, the fully divine Son of God. He was the offering of all offerings, the sacrifice of all sacrifices, the King of all kings, the tithe of all tithes, the fulfillment of all Moses’ law which no man can fulfill, the cancelling of all debts held against us. All I fixated on for many minutes, I think perhaps fifteen minutes but I had no track of time, were those long, deep, bloody gashes. And that His back was three times the size of a normal man’s. Of course this is a vision and not reality. His triple-sized back in the vision represents the fact His back and wounds were wide enough to cover me entirely, to cover all my shortcomings and sins.
I believe I started falling asleep because this time was so heavy and somber. So I threw a couple more logs on the fire to have a half-warm house for another hour while I went to bed. Still fixated on His back, still drawn close to His deeply ripped and torn flesh, I heard, “Allen! Allen! Allen!” Allen is the street I turn on before I get to the street my Sierra Mountains home is on. I thought, “Allen? Allen? Lord, I don’t understand. What about Allen?” Then, deep within my spirit and very slow, I with His Spirit pronounced, “All… In. All… In.”
I thought in prayer to Him, “Lord, I am all in!” I’ve committed every last penny to KATX and one other private company I invested in and also bought further stock in that private company on the grey market. Yet I really didn’t want to think of money at all. I was so transfixed by just looking at Jesus and His gashed, bloody back. But my mind, I hope it was my spirit and not an unholy imagination but I do not now, saw myself pushing a fairly large pile of chips on a black jack table towards the dealer. But as I was pushing I noticed the dealer was demonic. He even had a couple little horns, red shirt, black tie and the hint of a black cape to add to the effect. But I saw behind Him was Jesus, all in white linen. But the dealer didn’t know Jesus was behind him.
So I pushed my chips, like a trusting sheep seeing Jesus as well, and the dealer’s demonic eyes lit up with greed. He was going to scoop up all my chips and hoard them to himself. But then Jesus tapped the dealer’s left shoulder a few times. The dealer’s head spun around, great fear were in his eyes as he recognized Jesus, and he released all the chips on the table, which seemed to inflate a bit to perhaps double, towards Jesus. Then the dealer left quickly and simply vanished in a haze. I knew my chips were safe. But I really didn’t want to think about money, it turned me off given the intimate time with Jesus before, so I wanted to stop this very brief vision and return to looking at Jesus and what He did for us. Thus, I don’t know if this brief vision was also of Him or was simply my emotions-based imagination. So I returned to looking at Jesus and focused again on His gashed and oversized back. All the punishment that should rain down on me actually hit His back instead. Not to make light of it, but His back is like a holy and impenetrable umbrella, taking all the force of the vicious storm and hail and, thus, protecting me and all of us who believe.
Then the scene changed and Jesus was walking on a dusty road as if 2000 years ago. I don’t know how to describe this, it sounds a bit odd, but my very human person and soul got closer and closer – face to face – to Him (being fully God). If you have any hesitation, Jesus is completely and wholly God and the brilliance of His being thoroughly God Himself was awesome and extremely humbling to me. He wanted to engulf my little soul so I could see as He sees. So, I hope this does not sound too odd, but my weak and puny human soul was there inside of Jesus Christ, as if a passenger in a vehicle to see the world as He does. Then there was a leper in front of us and Jesus prayed and the leper was immediately healed. I felt so small and insignificant, even though I was there inside of Jesus. As a side note, being inside of Jesus – His Spirit on earth in believers - is actually scriptural, although know what I experienced was a vision, “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” John 14:19-20 (NKJV)
So I told the Lord, “You can heal the leper”, emphasizing, “You.” But I didn’t think I could, even though in the past I have prayed for some serious illnesses and those I prayed for received healing. But in this vision I was feeling so powerless. Jesus said, “This power is from the Father,” which is true. The Father sent the third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, to Jesus Christ when He walked the earth 2000 years ago. In the vision Jesus prayed for someone else and I, the whole time in this vision, was extremely uncomfortable actually being in Jesus, His divine person, and watching His perspective. He sensed that and let me out, if you will.
In the next frame of the vision I was either in the Apostle Paul or Peter, also as if in the passenger seat. They, too, were praying for people and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ risen and Lord of all creation. I was uncomfortable seeing from their perspective, but since they are humans, I felt a little easier seeing from their perspective and being in the very same Holy Spirit who was in and on them (I hope this is making sense, this is a spiritual matter and simply a vision and not reality, because there is no way would I actually be in reality in either of the Apostles, this was just to give me perspective to their perspective).
This was all very weighty and somber and deep for me. I simply felt so humble and small. The apostles would have been weak as well without being in Christ and having His wisdom and power of His Holy Spirit enabling them to do His work. I then fell asleep.
The next day I told this vision to Eagle. Immediately he said to the Allen being All-in, “That means All Into Jesus, we are to press even more into Him.” He has been getting a similar message from the Lord.
All I know is I am fixated by Jesus now. I was before but now I am much more. All I want is to know more of Him. To be all-in Him. To enter all in and withhold nothing back. This evening I could feel myself shuddering a little as I committed myself even further to Him, to be clothed by Him rather than clothed by the trappings of the world. When we think we enter into Him, we realize that there is always further to go, further to commit. I don’t know where this will end up. But I do know, it is always worth casting off the vestiges of this world, the lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh, and step into His very Presence, into the magnificence of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ Himself. His Presence needs to be our clothing, we are commanded to make this a pattern in our life. We are not worthy by our deeds. But He, through His laying down His life for us, names us as worthy through our belief and trust in Him. So I want that gift so desperately. I want to be as fully in Him as I can be. I feel although I passed through the door, the depth of His Presence is very deep indeed.
Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13:14 (NIV)
All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Gal 3:27 (NIV)
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear.” Rev 3:20-22 (NKJV)
I believe I started falling asleep because this time was so heavy and somber. So I threw a couple more logs on the fire to have a half-warm house for another hour while I went to bed. Still fixated on His back, still drawn close to His deeply ripped and torn flesh, I heard, “Allen! Allen! Allen!” Allen is the street I turn on before I get to the street my Sierra Mountains home is on. I thought, “Allen? Allen? Lord, I don’t understand. What about Allen?” Then, deep within my spirit and very slow, I with His Spirit pronounced, “All… In. All… In.”
I thought in prayer to Him, “Lord, I am all in!” I’ve committed every last penny to KATX and one other private company I invested in and also bought further stock in that private company on the grey market. Yet I really didn’t want to think of money at all. I was so transfixed by just looking at Jesus and His gashed, bloody back. But my mind, I hope it was my spirit and not an unholy imagination but I do not now, saw myself pushing a fairly large pile of chips on a black jack table towards the dealer. But as I was pushing I noticed the dealer was demonic. He even had a couple little horns, red shirt, black tie and the hint of a black cape to add to the effect. But I saw behind Him was Jesus, all in white linen. But the dealer didn’t know Jesus was behind him.
So I pushed my chips, like a trusting sheep seeing Jesus as well, and the dealer’s demonic eyes lit up with greed. He was going to scoop up all my chips and hoard them to himself. But then Jesus tapped the dealer’s left shoulder a few times. The dealer’s head spun around, great fear were in his eyes as he recognized Jesus, and he released all the chips on the table, which seemed to inflate a bit to perhaps double, towards Jesus. Then the dealer left quickly and simply vanished in a haze. I knew my chips were safe. But I really didn’t want to think about money, it turned me off given the intimate time with Jesus before, so I wanted to stop this very brief vision and return to looking at Jesus and what He did for us. Thus, I don’t know if this brief vision was also of Him or was simply my emotions-based imagination. So I returned to looking at Jesus and focused again on His gashed and oversized back. All the punishment that should rain down on me actually hit His back instead. Not to make light of it, but His back is like a holy and impenetrable umbrella, taking all the force of the vicious storm and hail and, thus, protecting me and all of us who believe.
Then the scene changed and Jesus was walking on a dusty road as if 2000 years ago. I don’t know how to describe this, it sounds a bit odd, but my very human person and soul got closer and closer – face to face – to Him (being fully God). If you have any hesitation, Jesus is completely and wholly God and the brilliance of His being thoroughly God Himself was awesome and extremely humbling to me. He wanted to engulf my little soul so I could see as He sees. So, I hope this does not sound too odd, but my weak and puny human soul was there inside of Jesus Christ, as if a passenger in a vehicle to see the world as He does. Then there was a leper in front of us and Jesus prayed and the leper was immediately healed. I felt so small and insignificant, even though I was there inside of Jesus. As a side note, being inside of Jesus – His Spirit on earth in believers - is actually scriptural, although know what I experienced was a vision, “A little while longer and the world will see Me no more, but you will see Me. Because I live, you will live also. At that day you will know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you.” John 14:19-20 (NKJV)
So I told the Lord, “You can heal the leper”, emphasizing, “You.” But I didn’t think I could, even though in the past I have prayed for some serious illnesses and those I prayed for received healing. But in this vision I was feeling so powerless. Jesus said, “This power is from the Father,” which is true. The Father sent the third Person of the Godhead, the Holy Spirit, to Jesus Christ when He walked the earth 2000 years ago. In the vision Jesus prayed for someone else and I, the whole time in this vision, was extremely uncomfortable actually being in Jesus, His divine person, and watching His perspective. He sensed that and let me out, if you will.
In the next frame of the vision I was either in the Apostle Paul or Peter, also as if in the passenger seat. They, too, were praying for people and sharing the good news of Jesus Christ risen and Lord of all creation. I was uncomfortable seeing from their perspective, but since they are humans, I felt a little easier seeing from their perspective and being in the very same Holy Spirit who was in and on them (I hope this is making sense, this is a spiritual matter and simply a vision and not reality, because there is no way would I actually be in reality in either of the Apostles, this was just to give me perspective to their perspective).
This was all very weighty and somber and deep for me. I simply felt so humble and small. The apostles would have been weak as well without being in Christ and having His wisdom and power of His Holy Spirit enabling them to do His work. I then fell asleep.
The next day I told this vision to Eagle. Immediately he said to the Allen being All-in, “That means All Into Jesus, we are to press even more into Him.” He has been getting a similar message from the Lord.
All I know is I am fixated by Jesus now. I was before but now I am much more. All I want is to know more of Him. To be all-in Him. To enter all in and withhold nothing back. This evening I could feel myself shuddering a little as I committed myself even further to Him, to be clothed by Him rather than clothed by the trappings of the world. When we think we enter into Him, we realize that there is always further to go, further to commit. I don’t know where this will end up. But I do know, it is always worth casting off the vestiges of this world, the lust of the eyes and lust of the flesh, and step into His very Presence, into the magnificence of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ Himself. His Presence needs to be our clothing, we are commanded to make this a pattern in our life. We are not worthy by our deeds. But He, through His laying down His life for us, names us as worthy through our belief and trust in Him. So I want that gift so desperately. I want to be as fully in Him as I can be. I feel although I passed through the door, the depth of His Presence is very deep indeed.
Clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature. Romans 13:14 (NIV)
All of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. Gal 3:27 (NIV)
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me. To him who overcomes I will grant to sit with Me on My throne, as I also overcame and sat down with My Father on His throne. He who has an ear, let him hear.” Rev 3:20-22 (NKJV)
March 21, 2011
The Cross, Inheritance, Kairos Moment & 2011
My day on Sunday March 20 started out dry, dead to the flesh, crucified, and lifeless except for my love for and looking towards our Father and our incredible Redeemer, Jesus Christ. It was the kind of day where I wondered if Noah ever felt like that, building the ark and not hearing a reassuring word from God that he was indeed doing the right thing, doubting whether he really heard from God many months ago. Sometimes God won’t give you further reassurance and revelation because He is testing your ability to hear and discern and, thus, your faith. And He is allowing your flesh to die further on the Cross.
Feeling my flesh dead and dry yesterday morning, that afternoon I spoke with a prophetic friend, Ignacio, and we shared about various spiritual matters. He has blogged about how the Lord cares most about your unity with Him. He may – and will – take you through very difficult circumstances to draw you closer. We were talking about the prophetic ministry and that God cares more about the prophetic process and glorifying Jesus Christ and His kingdom than he does your bank account. He shared with me a book he had read that you can download for free: “Prophetic Ministry” by T. Austin-Sparks:
http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/prophetic_ministry.html
I could feel my spirit coming alive in anticipation of reading it. I realize I needed to be extra crucified and dry earlier in the day to soak up all the fresh waters of real Christianity in this book.
This short book explains not only the prophetic ministry but that of a Christian seeking to be used by the Lord. It comforted me immensely because I don’t find prophesying enjoyable, it is almost always the opposite, a great labor and crucifying of myself in the process. You also need to remain in faith and intercessory prayer over the word and not become double-minded. Then there will be other prophets and even Christian friends who disagree completely. And you have the emotionally uncomfortable tightrope of straddling the future (which holds the promise) and the present (where nothing seems to be happening or even the opposite is happening). The human soul is very awkward with harmonizing discord between the future and the present and would like things to be easy and simple. At least my soul would like things that way. But the kingdom of God isn’t that way. As Joyce Meyer says, “Christianity is not for wimps. It’s 24 x 7 work.”
Here are some excerpts to give you a taste that this is not a feel-good, pop Christianity book. It is for those willing have much more of themselves pruned away so there will be much more of the Lord present:
“The prophet must bring it home by his own experience. God is working the thing right in. He works it in in deep and terrible ways in the life of His servant to produce ministry…. God has been doing it through years in strange, deep, terrible ways in some lives, standing at nothing, touching everything; and the vessel, thus wrought upon, is the message. People do not come to hear what you have to teach. They have come to see what you are, to see that thing which has been wrought by God. What a price the prophetic instrument has to pay!”
“Well, what is a prophet? what is the prophetic function? It is this. God takes hold of a vessel… and He takes that vessel through a deep history, breaking and undoing, disillusioning, revolutionising the whole mentality, so that things which were held fiercely, assertively, are no longer so held. There is developed a wonderful pliableness, adjustableness, teachableness. Everything that was merely objective as to the work of God, as to Divine truth, as to orthodoxy or fundamentalism, all that was held so strongly, in an objective, legalistic way, as to what is right and wrong in methods – it is all dealt with, all broken. There is a new conception entirely, a new outlook upon things; no longer a formal system, something outside you which you take up, but something wrought in an inward way in the vessel. It is what the vessel is that is its ministry.”
“We cannot have the knowledge of the Lord – the most important thing in the mind of God for us – except on the ground of the continuous application of the Cross, and that will go right on to the end. Do not imagine that there will come a day when you have done with the Cross, when the principle of the Cross will no longer be necessary and when you have graduated from the school where the Cross is the instrument of the Lord. Such a day never will be! More and more you will come to recognise the necessity for that Cross. If you are going on into greater fullness of knowledge – I mean spiritual knowledge of the Lord – and therefore greater fullness of usefulness to Him, you must take it as settled that that principle of the Cross is going to be applied more and more deeply as you go on…. You must be prepared to let the Cross be so applied to your life that you are broken and emptied and fairly ground to powder – so that you are brought to the place where, if the Lord does not do something, you are finished. If you are prepared for that way, you will get to know the Lord.”
It is why I hope you indulge and might even find comfort in my trials and tests sometimes. I’m a real estate broker so my income can be very sporadic. At the time of this writing I have 1.5 months of cash in the bank, that is it. Then I will have no choice but to default on my mortgage. But in 2004 and 2005 I was a top broker across a couple counties. What happened? The Lord is Almighty, not I, and He (I believe) refuses to allow me to trust in myself and my intellect and my talents. So He brings me to the end of my rope where I risk losing something that is dear to me, my home. But, that is not the end of His-story, history. A month ago Christian clients “out of the blue” called me and wanted to buy a small home as an investment. The commission I will receive in a month is tiny by California standards, but it will give me 2 more months of cash in the bank. Then, a couple weeks later and also “out of the blue”, the office of a top producing agent in the Midwest called me and referred a client. I’m working hard on that home getting it spruced up for market. Likely in June I will have another 3 months of cash to live off of. So I would have run out of money in May but I will have a small commission in April. And I would have run out of money again in July but I have another commission likely in June. Coincidence? There is no way. I write freely and lightly about all this but please know that fierce worry and questioning if I had grave un-confessed sin has rocked my heart at times. The Lord’s sanctifying purpose in my life was to allow me to come to the end of my financial rope and trust only in Him, Jehovah Jireh, the Provider. This is one of the lighter examples of what has gone on in my life the past year. There have been even deeper challenges.
The most spiritually mature Christians I know have passed through the valley of death more than once and weathered tremendous afflictions. That is why I love what T. Austin-Sparks writes, “There is no safe place, apart from the constant application of the principle of the Cross. Safety absolutely demands it. Nothing is safe in our hands. The more the Lord blesses, the more peril there is. The greatest peril comes when the Lord begins to use us…. What is so necessary for us is an increasing measure of the preciousness of the Lord to our own hearts; that, whether we are able to do anything or not, He should still remain very precious to us. That is what He wants.”
I hope you gain Kingdom insight and comfort from the book as I did.
I was about to post the above yesterday but I felt it was incomplete and I didn’t know why. Today on March 21 a prophetic friend recommended I Google “Bob Jones Prophecy for 2011” and she wrote, “I pray God will lead you to the right one.” I’ve tweeted and blogged elsewhere I very rarely read or listen to other prophets because I hear the Lord much more clearly when I do not. Well, today I listened to “The Coming Year Word 2011” from Bob Jones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGmuh1WbErE&feature=related
It is an unusual coincidence, and comforting to me, that the themes in Bob Jones’ message for 2011 are similar to what I have blogged. I blogged in January 2011 that 2011 is a year for restoring that which has been promised but delayed:
http://propheticinvestor.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-=i-will-restore.html
In July 2010 I also blogged about Inheritance and a kairos moment shifting our atmosphere and life circumstances if we will fully cooperate:
http://propheticinvestor.blogspot.com/2010/07/inheritance_07.html
http://propheticinvestor.blogspot.com/2010/07/prophecy-to-others-about-kairos-moments.html
I believe the financial squeeze I am experiencing now is similar to Elijah being fed by ravens. Then the brook dried up. No more water or food was at that place so he had to move on. But later he came into agreement with the Lord’s will at that time and prayed for an abundance of rain, signifying spiritual might and material refreshment. The time was right, it was a kairos moment (1 Kings 18). A vision of Elijah being feds by ravens has occurred over and over with me the past several months. I have a profound understanding that this affliction – always meant for our growth and even, possibly, as a message to others – is transient, temporary. I will repeat below what He said on July 16, 2010 because I believe it is for such a time as this. It is important He says, “When your bread is used up I will multiply. You will have to let go.” When your bread is used up, when you are at the end of your rope, will the kairos moment occur. We will have to cooperate, to obey, “You will have to let go. You will have to leave something, an old way, ways that no longer work, dead ways.” I am there at the end of my rope and I praise Him and have joy and expectancy.
May we all apprehend the gifts He has in store through us and for us as His Kingdom advances and expands. May we be the spiritual tsunami the world needs, and I don’t use those words lightly because my heart truly aches with compassion for Japan. May the earth quake and the sons and daughters of God be manifest in a greater outpouring of compassion and love and selfless service. May we be all He has called us to be, without wavering or doubt or complaining or selfishness. I have been far from perfect, but I have repented of the sins He has shown me. His Cross has brought to light where I needed to repent and put off the old ways. I see His salvation in the distance. I taste the distant spring rains of His victory and His power which approach. And I will ever praise the Lord even when I hurt and hold tight to His preciousness. When we so cleave to Him and allow His cross to crucify that which is not of Him, He can do great things. I wish this fervently for all of us.
With love,
Sierra
http://propheticinvestor.blogspot.com/2010/07/prophecy-to-others-about-kairos-moments.html
“You are in the midst of a massive kairos moment.”
“Tell your friends, child, tell your dear dear brothers and sisters I am not shaking, although it may appear that way, I am shifting. I have to make more room for Me, more room for my gifts, more room for my abundance. Will you rest? Will you rest from your labors?
“I know you are tired of dry fields. I know you are tired of fields that barely supply your year’s bread. I am the Bread of Life. When your bread is used up I will multiply. You will have to let go. You will have to leave something, an old way, ways that no longer work, dead ways. You know what may have been a stream is now dried up, dried up with no enthusiasm. This is your kairos moment. As the winds swirl, so I’m shifting your atmosphere.
“Come! Take the time to explore. Because when you leave one land you will enter another. You can’t see the other fully but it is a very very good land where you will find peace and rest from your enemies. All of you have kairos moments! All of you! I love you! Feel My winds blow on you! I envelop you like the winds from the corners of the earth, all of you! Come! Let the two of us, Me and you, enjoy your kairos moment together. Do not hesitate. This is more real than what you have now which is fleeting. Dare! Dare! Dare to explore and find your good report and a land overflowing with peace and rest. I LOVE YOU.”
“Do not think these are the words of a soul because they seem too loving and good. Allow Me to speak to you like a Father, like a Daddy. Come. Let us explore. You will enjoy this!”
Update as of March 22, 2011: I feel I need to say again that I, as a practice, almost never read or listen to other prophets and their prophecies. Time to time I listen to Kim Clement because his perception of a God who redeems and does wondrous things is very similar to my perspective of God. If you see the words the Lord gave me about a California earthquake on March 12, 2011 as well as my comments on earthquakes in general, you will see that my faith sharply differs from that of many well-known prophets (Kim excepted). I must admit I have researched what other well-known prophets are saying about a California earthquake because I'm curious and live here. There appears to be a schism in the prophetic now, conflicting words and positions supposedly in the name of Christ. I don't know if this has gone on for a long time in the prophetic arena, as I simply researched the subject of a big California earthquake. Please feel free to read the March 12 prophecy. It was given to me while driving near the San Andreas fault and before I knew there were so many prophecies out there that are in stark disagreement. I can only stand on the words the Lord gave me and I don't just believe, I'm convinced they are His words. Love, Sierra
http://propheticinvestor.blogspot.com/2011/03/japan-earthquake-and-california.html
Update as of March 24, 2011: I wrote above, from T Austin-Sparks, “The prophet must bring it home by his own experience. God is working the thing right in. He works it in in deep and terrible ways in the life of His servant to produce ministry…. God has been doing it through years in strange, deep, terrible ways in some lives, standing at nothing, touching everything; and the vessel, thus wrought upon, is the message. People do not come to hear what you have to teach. They have come to see what you are, to see that thing which has been wrought by God. What a price the prophetic instrument has to pay!” I very much related to these statements. Then I commented, “I believe the financial squeeze I am experiencing now is similar to Elijah being fed by ravens. Then the brook dried up. No more water or food was at that place so he had to move on. But later he came into agreement with the Lord’s will at that time and prayed for an abundance of rain, signifying spiritual might and material refreshment. The time was right, it was a kairos moment (1 Kings 18). A vision of Elijah being feds by ravens has occurred over and over with me the past several months. I have a profound understanding that this affliction – always meant for our growth and even, possibly, as a message to others – is transient, temporary. I will repeat below what He said on July 16, 2010 because I believe it is for such a time as this. It is important He says, “When your bread is used up I will multiply. You will have to let go.” When your bread is used up, when you are at the end of your rope, will the kairos moment occur. We will have to cooperate, to obey, “You will have to let go. You will have to leave something, an old way, ways that no longer work, dead ways.” I am there at the end of my rope and I praise Him and have joy and expectancy.”
Well, I personally believe the Lord has not wasted a day in moving me along in this Elijah-like prophetic journey. Please know I am not qualified to even step into one of Elijah’s sandals. But that does not mean He cannot or will not give us similar experiences to those who have preceded us and forged forward in faith. Yesterday I opened a package I had ordered online, what was to be two 500-ml (1/2 liter) bottles of extra virgin olive oil. But instead, to my surprise, were two boxes the shape of boxed wine. I didn’t understand and checked the label, 3 liters each! I though, oh no, I ordered the wrong oil and this will be a small fortune. So I went to my computer and checked my electronic order and yes, I had only ordered two 500-ml (1/2 liter) bottles. Instead I received 6 times the amount of oil ordered! When driving I was speaking with a prophetic girlfriend and then the significance of what happened hit me. I repeated, “Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!” over a dozen times. After the brook dried up due to the drought, Elijah went to Zarephath where there was a widow the Lord wanted Elijah to meet. The widow provided because the Lord gave a supernatural abundance of flour and oil, “For thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.' " 1 Kings 17:14 (NKJV) I certainly have oil to last quite a while, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth. I believe this is a sign that the days of being fed by ravens are over. Now there is a jar of oil that will not run dry. But one day there will be even more abundance, there will be an abundance of rain. And on that day we will see “"a [storm] cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" 1 Kings 18:44 (NKJV) All in the Lord’s perfect timing.
Feeling my flesh dead and dry yesterday morning, that afternoon I spoke with a prophetic friend, Ignacio, and we shared about various spiritual matters. He has blogged about how the Lord cares most about your unity with Him. He may – and will – take you through very difficult circumstances to draw you closer. We were talking about the prophetic ministry and that God cares more about the prophetic process and glorifying Jesus Christ and His kingdom than he does your bank account. He shared with me a book he had read that you can download for free: “Prophetic Ministry” by T. Austin-Sparks:
http://www.austin-sparks.net/english/books/prophetic_ministry.html
I could feel my spirit coming alive in anticipation of reading it. I realize I needed to be extra crucified and dry earlier in the day to soak up all the fresh waters of real Christianity in this book.
This short book explains not only the prophetic ministry but that of a Christian seeking to be used by the Lord. It comforted me immensely because I don’t find prophesying enjoyable, it is almost always the opposite, a great labor and crucifying of myself in the process. You also need to remain in faith and intercessory prayer over the word and not become double-minded. Then there will be other prophets and even Christian friends who disagree completely. And you have the emotionally uncomfortable tightrope of straddling the future (which holds the promise) and the present (where nothing seems to be happening or even the opposite is happening). The human soul is very awkward with harmonizing discord between the future and the present and would like things to be easy and simple. At least my soul would like things that way. But the kingdom of God isn’t that way. As Joyce Meyer says, “Christianity is not for wimps. It’s 24 x 7 work.”
Here are some excerpts to give you a taste that this is not a feel-good, pop Christianity book. It is for those willing have much more of themselves pruned away so there will be much more of the Lord present:
“The prophet must bring it home by his own experience. God is working the thing right in. He works it in in deep and terrible ways in the life of His servant to produce ministry…. God has been doing it through years in strange, deep, terrible ways in some lives, standing at nothing, touching everything; and the vessel, thus wrought upon, is the message. People do not come to hear what you have to teach. They have come to see what you are, to see that thing which has been wrought by God. What a price the prophetic instrument has to pay!”
“Well, what is a prophet? what is the prophetic function? It is this. God takes hold of a vessel… and He takes that vessel through a deep history, breaking and undoing, disillusioning, revolutionising the whole mentality, so that things which were held fiercely, assertively, are no longer so held. There is developed a wonderful pliableness, adjustableness, teachableness. Everything that was merely objective as to the work of God, as to Divine truth, as to orthodoxy or fundamentalism, all that was held so strongly, in an objective, legalistic way, as to what is right and wrong in methods – it is all dealt with, all broken. There is a new conception entirely, a new outlook upon things; no longer a formal system, something outside you which you take up, but something wrought in an inward way in the vessel. It is what the vessel is that is its ministry.”
“We cannot have the knowledge of the Lord – the most important thing in the mind of God for us – except on the ground of the continuous application of the Cross, and that will go right on to the end. Do not imagine that there will come a day when you have done with the Cross, when the principle of the Cross will no longer be necessary and when you have graduated from the school where the Cross is the instrument of the Lord. Such a day never will be! More and more you will come to recognise the necessity for that Cross. If you are going on into greater fullness of knowledge – I mean spiritual knowledge of the Lord – and therefore greater fullness of usefulness to Him, you must take it as settled that that principle of the Cross is going to be applied more and more deeply as you go on…. You must be prepared to let the Cross be so applied to your life that you are broken and emptied and fairly ground to powder – so that you are brought to the place where, if the Lord does not do something, you are finished. If you are prepared for that way, you will get to know the Lord.”
It is why I hope you indulge and might even find comfort in my trials and tests sometimes. I’m a real estate broker so my income can be very sporadic. At the time of this writing I have 1.5 months of cash in the bank, that is it. Then I will have no choice but to default on my mortgage. But in 2004 and 2005 I was a top broker across a couple counties. What happened? The Lord is Almighty, not I, and He (I believe) refuses to allow me to trust in myself and my intellect and my talents. So He brings me to the end of my rope where I risk losing something that is dear to me, my home. But, that is not the end of His-story, history. A month ago Christian clients “out of the blue” called me and wanted to buy a small home as an investment. The commission I will receive in a month is tiny by California standards, but it will give me 2 more months of cash in the bank. Then, a couple weeks later and also “out of the blue”, the office of a top producing agent in the Midwest called me and referred a client. I’m working hard on that home getting it spruced up for market. Likely in June I will have another 3 months of cash to live off of. So I would have run out of money in May but I will have a small commission in April. And I would have run out of money again in July but I have another commission likely in June. Coincidence? There is no way. I write freely and lightly about all this but please know that fierce worry and questioning if I had grave un-confessed sin has rocked my heart at times. The Lord’s sanctifying purpose in my life was to allow me to come to the end of my financial rope and trust only in Him, Jehovah Jireh, the Provider. This is one of the lighter examples of what has gone on in my life the past year. There have been even deeper challenges.
The most spiritually mature Christians I know have passed through the valley of death more than once and weathered tremendous afflictions. That is why I love what T. Austin-Sparks writes, “There is no safe place, apart from the constant application of the principle of the Cross. Safety absolutely demands it. Nothing is safe in our hands. The more the Lord blesses, the more peril there is. The greatest peril comes when the Lord begins to use us…. What is so necessary for us is an increasing measure of the preciousness of the Lord to our own hearts; that, whether we are able to do anything or not, He should still remain very precious to us. That is what He wants.”
I hope you gain Kingdom insight and comfort from the book as I did.
I was about to post the above yesterday but I felt it was incomplete and I didn’t know why. Today on March 21 a prophetic friend recommended I Google “Bob Jones Prophecy for 2011” and she wrote, “I pray God will lead you to the right one.” I’ve tweeted and blogged elsewhere I very rarely read or listen to other prophets because I hear the Lord much more clearly when I do not. Well, today I listened to “The Coming Year Word 2011” from Bob Jones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uGmuh1WbErE&feature=related
It is an unusual coincidence, and comforting to me, that the themes in Bob Jones’ message for 2011 are similar to what I have blogged. I blogged in January 2011 that 2011 is a year for restoring that which has been promised but delayed:
http://propheticinvestor.blogspot.com/2011/01/2011-=i-will-restore.html
In July 2010 I also blogged about Inheritance and a kairos moment shifting our atmosphere and life circumstances if we will fully cooperate:
http://propheticinvestor.blogspot.com/2010/07/inheritance_07.html
http://propheticinvestor.blogspot.com/2010/07/prophecy-to-others-about-kairos-moments.html
I believe the financial squeeze I am experiencing now is similar to Elijah being fed by ravens. Then the brook dried up. No more water or food was at that place so he had to move on. But later he came into agreement with the Lord’s will at that time and prayed for an abundance of rain, signifying spiritual might and material refreshment. The time was right, it was a kairos moment (1 Kings 18). A vision of Elijah being feds by ravens has occurred over and over with me the past several months. I have a profound understanding that this affliction – always meant for our growth and even, possibly, as a message to others – is transient, temporary. I will repeat below what He said on July 16, 2010 because I believe it is for such a time as this. It is important He says, “When your bread is used up I will multiply. You will have to let go.” When your bread is used up, when you are at the end of your rope, will the kairos moment occur. We will have to cooperate, to obey, “You will have to let go. You will have to leave something, an old way, ways that no longer work, dead ways.” I am there at the end of my rope and I praise Him and have joy and expectancy.
May we all apprehend the gifts He has in store through us and for us as His Kingdom advances and expands. May we be the spiritual tsunami the world needs, and I don’t use those words lightly because my heart truly aches with compassion for Japan. May the earth quake and the sons and daughters of God be manifest in a greater outpouring of compassion and love and selfless service. May we be all He has called us to be, without wavering or doubt or complaining or selfishness. I have been far from perfect, but I have repented of the sins He has shown me. His Cross has brought to light where I needed to repent and put off the old ways. I see His salvation in the distance. I taste the distant spring rains of His victory and His power which approach. And I will ever praise the Lord even when I hurt and hold tight to His preciousness. When we so cleave to Him and allow His cross to crucify that which is not of Him, He can do great things. I wish this fervently for all of us.
With love,
Sierra
http://propheticinvestor.blogspot.com/2010/07/prophecy-to-others-about-kairos-moments.html
“You are in the midst of a massive kairos moment.”
“Tell your friends, child, tell your dear dear brothers and sisters I am not shaking, although it may appear that way, I am shifting. I have to make more room for Me, more room for my gifts, more room for my abundance. Will you rest? Will you rest from your labors?
“I know you are tired of dry fields. I know you are tired of fields that barely supply your year’s bread. I am the Bread of Life. When your bread is used up I will multiply. You will have to let go. You will have to leave something, an old way, ways that no longer work, dead ways. You know what may have been a stream is now dried up, dried up with no enthusiasm. This is your kairos moment. As the winds swirl, so I’m shifting your atmosphere.
“Come! Take the time to explore. Because when you leave one land you will enter another. You can’t see the other fully but it is a very very good land where you will find peace and rest from your enemies. All of you have kairos moments! All of you! I love you! Feel My winds blow on you! I envelop you like the winds from the corners of the earth, all of you! Come! Let the two of us, Me and you, enjoy your kairos moment together. Do not hesitate. This is more real than what you have now which is fleeting. Dare! Dare! Dare to explore and find your good report and a land overflowing with peace and rest. I LOVE YOU.”
“Do not think these are the words of a soul because they seem too loving and good. Allow Me to speak to you like a Father, like a Daddy. Come. Let us explore. You will enjoy this!”
Update as of March 22, 2011: I feel I need to say again that I, as a practice, almost never read or listen to other prophets and their prophecies. Time to time I listen to Kim Clement because his perception of a God who redeems and does wondrous things is very similar to my perspective of God. If you see the words the Lord gave me about a California earthquake on March 12, 2011 as well as my comments on earthquakes in general, you will see that my faith sharply differs from that of many well-known prophets (Kim excepted). I must admit I have researched what other well-known prophets are saying about a California earthquake because I'm curious and live here. There appears to be a schism in the prophetic now, conflicting words and positions supposedly in the name of Christ. I don't know if this has gone on for a long time in the prophetic arena, as I simply researched the subject of a big California earthquake. Please feel free to read the March 12 prophecy. It was given to me while driving near the San Andreas fault and before I knew there were so many prophecies out there that are in stark disagreement. I can only stand on the words the Lord gave me and I don't just believe, I'm convinced they are His words. Love, Sierra
http://propheticinvestor.blogspot.com/2011/03/japan-earthquake-and-california.html
Update as of March 24, 2011: I wrote above, from T Austin-Sparks, “The prophet must bring it home by his own experience. God is working the thing right in. He works it in in deep and terrible ways in the life of His servant to produce ministry…. God has been doing it through years in strange, deep, terrible ways in some lives, standing at nothing, touching everything; and the vessel, thus wrought upon, is the message. People do not come to hear what you have to teach. They have come to see what you are, to see that thing which has been wrought by God. What a price the prophetic instrument has to pay!” I very much related to these statements. Then I commented, “I believe the financial squeeze I am experiencing now is similar to Elijah being fed by ravens. Then the brook dried up. No more water or food was at that place so he had to move on. But later he came into agreement with the Lord’s will at that time and prayed for an abundance of rain, signifying spiritual might and material refreshment. The time was right, it was a kairos moment (1 Kings 18). A vision of Elijah being feds by ravens has occurred over and over with me the past several months. I have a profound understanding that this affliction – always meant for our growth and even, possibly, as a message to others – is transient, temporary. I will repeat below what He said on July 16, 2010 because I believe it is for such a time as this. It is important He says, “When your bread is used up I will multiply. You will have to let go.” When your bread is used up, when you are at the end of your rope, will the kairos moment occur. We will have to cooperate, to obey, “You will have to let go. You will have to leave something, an old way, ways that no longer work, dead ways.” I am there at the end of my rope and I praise Him and have joy and expectancy.”
Well, I personally believe the Lord has not wasted a day in moving me along in this Elijah-like prophetic journey. Please know I am not qualified to even step into one of Elijah’s sandals. But that does not mean He cannot or will not give us similar experiences to those who have preceded us and forged forward in faith. Yesterday I opened a package I had ordered online, what was to be two 500-ml (1/2 liter) bottles of extra virgin olive oil. But instead, to my surprise, were two boxes the shape of boxed wine. I didn’t understand and checked the label, 3 liters each! I though, oh no, I ordered the wrong oil and this will be a small fortune. So I went to my computer and checked my electronic order and yes, I had only ordered two 500-ml (1/2 liter) bottles. Instead I received 6 times the amount of oil ordered! When driving I was speaking with a prophetic girlfriend and then the significance of what happened hit me. I repeated, “Oh my! Oh my! Oh my!” over a dozen times. After the brook dried up due to the drought, Elijah went to Zarephath where there was a widow the Lord wanted Elijah to meet. The widow provided because the Lord gave a supernatural abundance of flour and oil, “For thus says the Lord God of Israel: 'The bin of flour shall not be used up, nor shall the jar of oil run dry, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth.' " 1 Kings 17:14 (NKJV) I certainly have oil to last quite a while, until the day the Lord sends rain on the earth. I believe this is a sign that the days of being fed by ravens are over. Now there is a jar of oil that will not run dry. But one day there will be even more abundance, there will be an abundance of rain. And on that day we will see “"a [storm] cloud, as small as a man's hand, rising out of the sea!" 1 Kings 18:44 (NKJV) All in the Lord’s perfect timing.
March 12, 2011
Japan Earthquake and California
I’ve had a heaviness ever since yesterday, and when I think about Japan the heaviness increases and I feel moved to prayer, to intercede that lives be saved, and that there be no nuclear disaster. Dear people on this far away island need our prayers and love.
I also tweeted last night, “I rarely read other prophets, but I encourage you to listen to Kim Clement re Japan's EQ: http://www.kimclement.com/japan-earthquake.php” I rarely read other prophets simply because I hear the Lord much better when I spend time alone with Him and don’t confuse my mind with many other prophecies, many which appear to conflict. I have great respect for Kim Clement and credit Him as the prophet the Lord drew me to in the late 1990’s to learn more about hearing the Lord accurately. So Kim is somewhat of a spiritual father, if you will, although he doesn’t know it. And I trust what I share on this blog will not discredit him in anyway. I simply want to give honor where it is due.
This said, I researched the prophecy Kim referred to above and here it is:
http://kimclementvault.com/prophecyread.asp?num=123
My spirit became as a magnet to this prophecy, drawn in an affinity to and agreement with it. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I see the committed Christians. And I live right in the Hayward fault zone.
http://seismo.berkeley.edu/hayward/hay_faults.gif
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/simulations/hayward/
I worked for a year at the USGS Office of Earthquake Studies researching earthquakes when I was an undergraduate. I know, as a geologist with training in geophysics, that “the big one” could hit the greater San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles area at any time. Most seismologists agree Japan, East Bay (Oakland, Hayward), San Francisco, and Los Angeles are a few of the prime areas for “the big one” earthquakes.
http://www.seismo.ethz.ch/static/GSHAP/
https://geohazards.usgs.gov/eqprob/2009/output/3656_large.png
https://geohazards.usgs.gov/eqprob/2009/output/2238_large.png
However, I’m in agreement with Kim that an increase in the Presence of God – not retribution – is coming to California. In fact, I don’t just believe, I am convinced this is true in the Spirit. Yes, we will have earthquakes throughout California. We will have some big shakers and likely a “big one” because earthquake science also points that way. But they will not be the all-consuming devastation others believe will happen in the coming few or several years. The Lord doesn’t want me to move, I’ve asked. He wants me to trust Him while I live in the Hayward fault zone – the one poised to pop even ahead of the San Andreas fault zone – and believe Him that He will protect many through the next “big one” when it comes.
Please know my heart aches for Japan and the devastation there. I oddly feel we Californians have escaped that devastation and will be spared similar devastation. Under the New Covenant, no state or government is so Christian that it invites collective, divine protection for its people. It is God alone who delivers and protects. In fact, the Bible shows over and over that prayers of the oppressed under intolerant or godless regimes reach the compassionate ears of God. Only the blood of Jesus Christ saves by washing away the sins of each individual believer as each person commits his or her life to Him. So I do not judge Japan or judge California. My heart aches for Japan and I pray for them.
I received the word below at about 10am this morning. The above was written several hours after this word.
“Samaria! Samaria! Oh, California, they call you, ‘Samaria’. Sodom and Gomorrah. They would rejoice in your demise and your being crushed to ashes. But I say to all the other states, to all the others, when you are without iniquity, when you are without murder, when you are without abortion, when you are without fornications, when you are without idolatries, when you are without theft, when you are without lying, when you are without double-mindedness, then, then can you cast a stone and crush the head of California. But until then, beware how you judge.”
I also tweeted last night, “I rarely read other prophets, but I encourage you to listen to Kim Clement re Japan's EQ: http://www.kimclement.com/japan-earthquake.php” I rarely read other prophets simply because I hear the Lord much better when I spend time alone with Him and don’t confuse my mind with many other prophecies, many which appear to conflict. I have great respect for Kim Clement and credit Him as the prophet the Lord drew me to in the late 1990’s to learn more about hearing the Lord accurately. So Kim is somewhat of a spiritual father, if you will, although he doesn’t know it. And I trust what I share on this blog will not discredit him in anyway. I simply want to give honor where it is due.
This said, I researched the prophecy Kim referred to above and here it is:
http://kimclementvault.com/prophecyread.asp?num=123
My spirit became as a magnet to this prophecy, drawn in an affinity to and agreement with it. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I see the committed Christians. And I live right in the Hayward fault zone.
http://seismo.berkeley.edu/hayward/hay_faults.gif
http://earthquake.usgs.gov/regional/nca/simulations/hayward/
I worked for a year at the USGS Office of Earthquake Studies researching earthquakes when I was an undergraduate. I know, as a geologist with training in geophysics, that “the big one” could hit the greater San Francisco Bay Area or Los Angeles area at any time. Most seismologists agree Japan, East Bay (Oakland, Hayward), San Francisco, and Los Angeles are a few of the prime areas for “the big one” earthquakes.
http://www.seismo.ethz.ch/static/GSHAP/
https://geohazards.usgs.gov/eqprob/2009/output/3656_large.png
https://geohazards.usgs.gov/eqprob/2009/output/2238_large.png
However, I’m in agreement with Kim that an increase in the Presence of God – not retribution – is coming to California. In fact, I don’t just believe, I am convinced this is true in the Spirit. Yes, we will have earthquakes throughout California. We will have some big shakers and likely a “big one” because earthquake science also points that way. But they will not be the all-consuming devastation others believe will happen in the coming few or several years. The Lord doesn’t want me to move, I’ve asked. He wants me to trust Him while I live in the Hayward fault zone – the one poised to pop even ahead of the San Andreas fault zone – and believe Him that He will protect many through the next “big one” when it comes.
Please know my heart aches for Japan and the devastation there. I oddly feel we Californians have escaped that devastation and will be spared similar devastation. Under the New Covenant, no state or government is so Christian that it invites collective, divine protection for its people. It is God alone who delivers and protects. In fact, the Bible shows over and over that prayers of the oppressed under intolerant or godless regimes reach the compassionate ears of God. Only the blood of Jesus Christ saves by washing away the sins of each individual believer as each person commits his or her life to Him. So I do not judge Japan or judge California. My heart aches for Japan and I pray for them.
I received the word below at about 10am this morning. The above was written several hours after this word.
“Samaria! Samaria! Oh, California, they call you, ‘Samaria’. Sodom and Gomorrah. They would rejoice in your demise and your being crushed to ashes. But I say to all the other states, to all the others, when you are without iniquity, when you are without murder, when you are without abortion, when you are without fornications, when you are without idolatries, when you are without theft, when you are without lying, when you are without double-mindedness, then, then can you cast a stone and crush the head of California. But until then, beware how you judge.”
February 15, 2011
True Wealth
God is always fascinating and ever-loving. It’s interesting that He will sometimes convey the same core messages but in slightly different ways to separate people who are connected as friends, who He knows will talk with one another. The “uncanny coincidence” that each person is getting similar themes from God confirms both His paternal, nurturing love as well as healthy guidance for our lives. He knows how our patterns of behavior, no matter how much we love Him and want to follow Him, need to be adjusted so we live an even more abundant life in Him for ourselves and for others.
The message recently coming through to not only myself but others I know is the simple message of living more like Jesus and not like the world. Stop focusing your energies on tomorrow but do what needs to be done today, follow God today, and enjoy today. Also, be content with what you have so you experience the fullness of a restful life of peace and true contentment. And, finally, that the things you own may have worth to the world, but not worth to God, thus there is a great tension and conflict between the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdoms on this earth. The world values your stuff and your achievements. God values that you are eternally His and in His family. His boundless, flowing love for you puts extraordinary value on you. He values caring relationships, you with Him and you with others.
Today vs. Tomorrow
Most of my friends, myself included, were raised as achievers. They have skills and responsibilities and are always preparing for tomorrow, thinking about tomorrow and applying themselves in working for tomorrow. A tomorrow-focused heart robs you of the pleasure of Jesus’ easy and light yoke today. I love the translation of The Message Bible, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matt 11:27-30 (MSG) Unforced rhythms of grace. Living freely and lightly. A Christian Shangri-la!! Don’t we all crave rhythms of grace and living freely and lightly? I do, in the depths of my being.
Contentment
And God has been drawing my attention to contentment. Paul said godliness with contentment is great gain and true wealth indeed. “They think religion is a way to make a fast buck. A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.” 1 Tim 6:5-8 (MSG) And, “men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” 1 Tim 6:5-8 (NKJV)
I don’t know about you, but since early 2010 I have always had just enough. Not overflowing, but enough. I should maybe call 2010 and 2011 the Manna Years because I wake up each morning with just enough money in the bank to pay my expenses for a short time period, but no “rainy day fund.” So money as either a fanciful crutch that everything will be ok and paid for or as a pathetic prop for my ego has been kicked out from under me. A loving God knows we need to be reminded that He alone sits on the throne lest we trust in uncertain riches or ourselves. “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” 1 Tim 6:17 (NKJV) And one has just to read the book of Job, if not the whole Bible, to know it’s the Lord alone who blesses and allows us to earn. We may work and work and work and apply all our talents and have worn out, empty hands. But then He has Manna sweetly waiting for us when we come to the end of our emotional and physical rope.
I am guessing many of us are experiencing a year(s) where the ways we used to live our Christian lives are no longer working quite as smoothly as it used to. And thank God for that, that He’s bringing us into a more rarified place. That place of even more utter reliance on Him and less self-reliance. That place of more today, and less tomorrow. That place of more contentment, and less concern and worry. That place where we are the sheep of His pasture and peacefully graze under His watchful care.
True Wealth
Finally the Lord has focused not only me but many of my friends on true wealth. The recession seems to have hurt the already hurting more than the financially rich. I have felt the pain and worries. But I, like Job, see an extraordinarily loving God who loved me too much to leave me the way I was. What a testimony we have when we can describe how the Lord provided over and over just enough to meet our needs. Or we cut the wasteful or fat expenses in our lives and realize we don’t miss those things. And that God, after we’ve made a personal sacrifice, replenishes our soul with a different source of happiness.
The things you own have worth to the world, but not worth to God. The world values your stuff and your achievements. God values that you are eternally His own. And He values caring relationships: you with Him and you with others. Our relationship with God is like a golden ribbon that encircles us with our Creator, Father and Savior. No one has shears strong enough to cut a tiny filament in that supernaturally indestructible ribbon. And I realize that if its money versus ribbons, I would rather have other supernatural gold ribbons that tie me in a bond of love and caring and smiles with others. The world says, he with the most toys wins. God says, he with the most supernatural gold ribbons win. He has opened my eyes to see and fully appreciate the many dear friends in my life and those people I may help. I don’t think I have ever been richer in my life. In fact, the Lord said plainly the other day, “You’ve never had it so good as now.” May we participate in the creation of each day by reaching out to one another and appreciating each other. Then, despite short-term pains and trials, each day we can truly say we are enormously wealthy beyond measurement. We have never had it so good as now.
Update as of February 15, 2011 8pm: A friend with whom I was discussing the above ideas yesterday strongly encouraged me to watch the movie Nicholas Nickelby. I started it last night and completed it tonight. It’s an anointed and even Rhema movie, if you will. Here is the line at the end Jesus might say, “Family need not be defined, merely, as those with whom they share blood, but those for whom they would give their blood.”
The message recently coming through to not only myself but others I know is the simple message of living more like Jesus and not like the world. Stop focusing your energies on tomorrow but do what needs to be done today, follow God today, and enjoy today. Also, be content with what you have so you experience the fullness of a restful life of peace and true contentment. And, finally, that the things you own may have worth to the world, but not worth to God, thus there is a great tension and conflict between the Kingdom of Heaven and the kingdoms on this earth. The world values your stuff and your achievements. God values that you are eternally His and in His family. His boundless, flowing love for you puts extraordinary value on you. He values caring relationships, you with Him and you with others.
Today vs. Tomorrow
Most of my friends, myself included, were raised as achievers. They have skills and responsibilities and are always preparing for tomorrow, thinking about tomorrow and applying themselves in working for tomorrow. A tomorrow-focused heart robs you of the pleasure of Jesus’ easy and light yoke today. I love the translation of The Message Bible, "Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly." Matt 11:27-30 (MSG) Unforced rhythms of grace. Living freely and lightly. A Christian Shangri-la!! Don’t we all crave rhythms of grace and living freely and lightly? I do, in the depths of my being.
Contentment
And God has been drawing my attention to contentment. Paul said godliness with contentment is great gain and true wealth indeed. “They think religion is a way to make a fast buck. A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough.” 1 Tim 6:5-8 (MSG) And, “men of corrupt mind, who have been robbed of the truth and who think that godliness is a means to financial gain. Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content.” 1 Tim 6:5-8 (NKJV)
I don’t know about you, but since early 2010 I have always had just enough. Not overflowing, but enough. I should maybe call 2010 and 2011 the Manna Years because I wake up each morning with just enough money in the bank to pay my expenses for a short time period, but no “rainy day fund.” So money as either a fanciful crutch that everything will be ok and paid for or as a pathetic prop for my ego has been kicked out from under me. A loving God knows we need to be reminded that He alone sits on the throne lest we trust in uncertain riches or ourselves. “Command those who are rich in this present age not to be haughty, nor to trust in uncertain riches but in the living God, who gives us richly all things to enjoy.” 1 Tim 6:17 (NKJV) And one has just to read the book of Job, if not the whole Bible, to know it’s the Lord alone who blesses and allows us to earn. We may work and work and work and apply all our talents and have worn out, empty hands. But then He has Manna sweetly waiting for us when we come to the end of our emotional and physical rope.
I am guessing many of us are experiencing a year(s) where the ways we used to live our Christian lives are no longer working quite as smoothly as it used to. And thank God for that, that He’s bringing us into a more rarified place. That place of even more utter reliance on Him and less self-reliance. That place of more today, and less tomorrow. That place of more contentment, and less concern and worry. That place where we are the sheep of His pasture and peacefully graze under His watchful care.
True Wealth
Finally the Lord has focused not only me but many of my friends on true wealth. The recession seems to have hurt the already hurting more than the financially rich. I have felt the pain and worries. But I, like Job, see an extraordinarily loving God who loved me too much to leave me the way I was. What a testimony we have when we can describe how the Lord provided over and over just enough to meet our needs. Or we cut the wasteful or fat expenses in our lives and realize we don’t miss those things. And that God, after we’ve made a personal sacrifice, replenishes our soul with a different source of happiness.
The things you own have worth to the world, but not worth to God. The world values your stuff and your achievements. God values that you are eternally His own. And He values caring relationships: you with Him and you with others. Our relationship with God is like a golden ribbon that encircles us with our Creator, Father and Savior. No one has shears strong enough to cut a tiny filament in that supernaturally indestructible ribbon. And I realize that if its money versus ribbons, I would rather have other supernatural gold ribbons that tie me in a bond of love and caring and smiles with others. The world says, he with the most toys wins. God says, he with the most supernatural gold ribbons win. He has opened my eyes to see and fully appreciate the many dear friends in my life and those people I may help. I don’t think I have ever been richer in my life. In fact, the Lord said plainly the other day, “You’ve never had it so good as now.” May we participate in the creation of each day by reaching out to one another and appreciating each other. Then, despite short-term pains and trials, each day we can truly say we are enormously wealthy beyond measurement. We have never had it so good as now.
Update as of February 15, 2011 8pm: A friend with whom I was discussing the above ideas yesterday strongly encouraged me to watch the movie Nicholas Nickelby. I started it last night and completed it tonight. It’s an anointed and even Rhema movie, if you will. Here is the line at the end Jesus might say, “Family need not be defined, merely, as those with whom they share blood, but those for whom they would give their blood.”
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