Let It Rain

I had a dream last night that I believe was about the outpouring of the Holy Spirit mentioned in Joel 2:28-29. 

In the dream I was in the bathroom of a house where the ceiling began leaking. I looked up and it appeared that the ceiling was so wet from the rain it could cave in. I went out of that room and into the main living area that was surrounded by windows. It resembled a beach house with the classic panoramic views. As I stood there, suddenly without warning the windows busted open and the rain began pouring into the house from every direction and flooding the place I was standing. 

I woke up from this dream and it would not leave me. I began asking the Lord what it meant and immediately the Lord started speaking to me about rain in the natural sense and what that looks like. I thought about what happens when a natural flood comes to an area and I realized that any time a flood comes it's never convenient. In fact, it’s always messy and we can never control when it comes or when it leaves. I could see in my minds eye a flood coming and how it can quite possibly completely tear down a building or a house. Then I thought about the times I had been stuck in a rain storm and gotten soaked from head to toe and how uncomfortable walking and driving home in those wet clothes was. 

Before I go any further I’d like to mention that a key in understanding spiritual dreams is to first ask God to interpret it, allow him to speak and show you things that will help you understand the mystery behind the dream. “God Dreams” are very symbolic and part of the joy in understanding them is the time you spend with the Lord allowing him to unfold it for you. 

Now let me go on...as I sat and listened to the Lord speak to me about this dream the song, Let it Rain, came to mind which says, "let it rain, open the floodgates of Heaven and let it rain." and I thought WOW.....we really aren't ready for what we're asking for, are we God? (I feel like the Lord just smiles when we realize these things and says “that’s what I’m helping you do now, daughter”)

Immediately, I began to think about the call to repentance in Joel 2:12-17 And the outpouring of His Spirit mentioned in Joel 2:28-29 which says:

“And afterward,
I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
your old men will dream dreams,
your young men will see visions.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
I will pour out my Spirit in those days."

I asked the Lord how to prepare for this outpouring? and the Lord simply said to me....How would you prepare for a flood? I thought about it for a minute and He said ok now do the opposite.

Some things that came to mind to prepare were:

1. Make sure all windows and doors are closed and secured

2. Put some Sandbags out to control the flood waters.

3. Take Shelter

4. Get to a High Place

5. Evacuate

Do the opposite:

1. Open yourself up to receive

2. Don't try to control the Holy Spirit

3. Expose yourself to the Lord (make yourself vulnerable)

4. Go Low (Stay Humble)

5. STAY Put

Rain is refreshing, it's needed for our land to grow, it replenishes and without it we would surely die. Rain is directly correlated to the Harvest in scripture. 

Those same truths apply to us spiritually. His Spirit is refreshing, needed for growth, replenishing, life giving and absolutely necessary for a Harvest to come forth. 

So although an outpouring of His Spirit could mess us up(in a good way), make us uncomfortable, and be completely inconvenient it’s also completely necessary. 

I challenge you to go read Joel 2. Look at the call to repentance specifically mentioned above and the outpouring of His Spirit and see what the Lord speaks to you. I believe the time of His return is approaching quickly and the church needs to ready herself for what God is about to do.

On a side note I understand there are many opinions of when the Joel 2 outpouring will take place and some even believe it already happened at Pentecost. I however am of the opinion that this outpouring happens before the rapture. 

I hope this blesses you and fires you up to pray and helps ready you for what’s to come.. Jesus is coming back soon. Be ready friends! 

Almost Persuaded

Do you ever feel like this whole Christianity thing is not as real as people say it is?  Maybe you've prayed the "sinners prayer" a thousand times but you've never had the life transforming experience others talk about.  You've tried everything you know to do, you've cried and you've wanted what so many others claim to have but it's never happened for you so you just stopped trying. 

That was me about 7 years ago.  I had all but given up on God until the demonic attacks became life threatening to me and I knew I had to search for this God everyone seemed to know but me.

I'm going to share with you a small portion of the message I heard from Bro Steve Ross that changed my life forever.

In Acts 26:24-32, Paul is sharing his testimony with King Agrippa and Festus, he's trying to persuade them to see truth. 

Read with me in Acts 26:24-32
24Now as he thus made his defense, Festus said with a loud voice, "Paul, you are beside yourself! Much learning is driving you mad!". 

25But he said, "I am not mad, most noble Festus, but speak the words of truth and reason.  26For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner. 27King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know that you do believe." 

28Then Agrippa said to Paul, "You almost persuade me to become a Christian."

29And Paul said, "I would to God that not only you, but also all who hear me today, might become both almost and altogether such as I am, except for these chains."

30When he had said these things, the King stood up, as well as the governor and Bernice and those who sat with them; 31and when they had gone aside, they talked among themselves, saying, "This man is doing nothing deserving of death and chains."

32Then Agrippa said to Festus, "This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."

King Agrippa had to make a decision; he had to decide to either be for or against Jesus Christ. He knew what had happened.  He was familiar with Jewish customs, traditions and teachings, the word says he was an "expert in all customs and questions which have to do with the Jews....."  He knew the teachings about the Messiah which is why he wanted to hear from Paul. 

"For the king, before whom I also speak freely, knows these things; for I am convinced that none of these things escapes his attention, since this thing was not done in a corner." Acts 26:26

Agrippa understood exactly what Paul was talking about when he said "this thing was not done in a corner". He knew he was talking about the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Paul said he was convinced that NONE of these things escapes his attention.  The crucifixion was still fresh on their minds.  He knew the words spoken at the mock trial ("I find no fault in you").  King Agrippa couldn't explain the crucifixion and resurrection, he couldn't explain the miraculous.  The Holy Spirit was touching the heart of Agrippa. 

So why was he "almost persuaded"?

The first thing I see is SIN......If I've heard it once, I've heard it a thousand times, sin will take you further than you ever wanted to go and cost you more than you ever wanted to give.  Sin stood in King Agrippa's way.

"The next day Agrippa and Bernice came with great pomp and entered the audience room with the high-ranking military officers and the prominent men of the City. At the command of Festus, Paul was brought in." Acts 25:23

Pomp means a dignified or splendid display.

Bernice was King Agrippa's sister.  Flavius Josephus a historian scholar stated that rumor was King Agrippa was in an incestuous relationship with his sister, Bernice.  Agrippa obviously didn't want to deal with his sin.  He wasn't ready to give it up. 

People love sin, don't we?  It's appealing to the flesh and a lot of times we just don't want to call it what it is. 

When I heard this message, Bro. Steve proposed these questions:
What one thing is worth spending an eternity in hell for? 
What is one thing worth giving your soul for? 
What is one thing worthy of you spending an eternity in eternal fire forever and ever and ever? 
Is one passion, one moment of pleasure worth it? 
Premarital sex, possessions, drugs, power, money, pride? 
What would you give in exchange for your soul? 

Matthew 16:26 says, "For what profit is it to a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?

King Agrippa was almost persuaded to be a Christian.  He almost turned from his sins and excepted Christ but sin stood in his way.  

The second reason King Agrippa was "almost persuaded" was because of Fear......He was afraid he would be classified as crazy just like Paul had been. (vs 24)

Have you wondered what people will say about you if you get totally committed to Christ?  Have you wondered if you'll lose your friends, have you wondered if you'll be made fun of?  We are so concerned with what others think about us but is it really worth giving your soul for?

The third reason he was "almost persuaded" was due to Cost..... He knew it would cost him something to follow Christ. He saw the chains that Paul was wearing.  He knew the position Paul was in for following Christ.

Salvation is free but it's definitely not cheap.  It's not easy, it's hard but it's worth it in the end.
If you think that you can say a prayer and keep living life as usual than you've missed it all.  Salvation will cost you your life as you know it.  It's a surrender to Him and His will.  Are you willing to pay the price?  Are you willing to lay down your sin for Jesus?

The fourth and final reason was he wasn't willing to surrender his Will....King Agrippa was unwilling to surrender his will to Christ.  He wasn't willing to be saved, it felt good, his eyes were opened but he rejected the gospel. He was almost persuaded but decided not today.

Salvation is so much more than an intellectual, emotional experience.  If all you ever do is cry and weep about how you want Christ as your Lord and Savior but you're never willing to surrender your will to him, you have nothing more than an intellectual knowledge of who he is.  You haven't found that transforming life that comes through knowing Christ as your personal savior yet.  You have to be willing to give him your all.  That means your desires, your wants, your life, your sin and allow him to use you as he designed you for from the time you were formed in your mothers womb.

In closing I pray if you don't really know Jesus as your Lord and Savior that you will after reading this.  The youtube video I've posted below is a video I did years ago after hearing this message for the first time.

Identity Theft

The enemy comes to steal, kill and destroy.  That is his goal.  Early on in my walk with Christ I discovered that the enemy really liked to remind me of my former life, he wanted to tell me what he thought my worth was and I would allow his lies to become truth to me.  Some precious Saint told me to take the truths of God's word and put it on notecards and start speaking those words over my life and so for a long time I carried notecards with me everywhere I went.  Some days I would just lay there and read those cards over and over until my mind could realign with the truth of God's word.  Before long I had a whole little book of truths stored up in my heart that I could recall when I needed them.  I than dedicated an entire page in my bible to my most favorite verses on who I am in Christ which I have listed for you below.  I encourage you to find your favorites and begin this journey of knowing who you are in Him so that when the enemy comes in with his lies you have a way to combat him with truth of the word.  Let's protect our identities in Christ from the enemy  once and for all.

MY IDENTITY IN CHRIST

 

It is not I who lives, but Christ lives in me, Galatians 2:20

God has not given me a Spirit of fear, but of power, love & sound mind, 2 Timothy 1:7

I am greatly loved by God, Romans 1:7, Ephesians 2:4, Colossians 3:12, 1Thessalonians 1:4

I am called of God to be the voice of Praise, Psalms 66:8, 2 Timothy 1:9

I am firmly rooted, built up, established in my faith and overflowing with gratitude, Colossians 2:7

I am forgiven & washed in the blood, Ephesians 1:7

I am the head and not the tail, above and not beneath, Deuteronomy 28:13

I am the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus, 2 Corinthians 5:21

I am an ambassador for Christ, 2 Corinthians 5:20

I am an overcomer by the blood of the lamb, Revelation 12:11

I am more than a conqueror through him who loves me, Romans 8:37

I am a joint heir with Christ, Romans 8:17

I am alive with Christ, Ephesians 2:5

I have the mind of Christ, 1 Corinthians 2:16, Philippians 2:5

I have the peace of God, Philippians 4:7

Greater is he who is in me than he who is in the world, 1 John 4:4

I have the power of the Holy Spirit, Mark 16:17-18

I have no lack, God supplies all my needs, Philippians 4:19

I can do all things through Christ, Philippians 4:13

No weapon formed against me shall be able to prosper, Isaiah 54:7

I am chosen by God, John 15:16 (handpicked)

I am sustained by God, Matthew 6:30-32

I am established by God, Deuteronomy 32:6

I am a part of a chosen generation, 1 Peter 2:9

I am the light of the world, Matthew 5:14

I am healed by his stripes, Isaiah 53:5

The joy of the Lord is my strength, Nehemiah 8:10, Psalms 28:7

I am a friend of Christ, John 15:15

I am established, anointed & sealed, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22

I am adopted as his child, Ephesians 1:5

I have purpose, Ephesians 1:9 & 3:11

I have access to the Father, Ephesians 2:18

I am not alone, Hebrews 13:5

I am dead to sin, Romans 1:12

I am victorious, 1 John 5:4

I am set free, Romans 8:2, John 8:32

I am not helpless, Philippians 4:13

I am delivered Colossians 1:13