Promises

Abiding Presence and the Manifest Presence of God

image from www.spirituallyunequalmarriage.comLynn Donovan here....

This is Part II in the series: Christ In Me

Read Part I (here).

Since my last post I’ve been seriously practicing the abiding Presence of Christ within. I focus on a few scriptures and I read aloud a looooooong statement of faith several times each week. This statement of faith is based upon scriptural truths. When I read these promises and truths this is what is happening to me.

  1. I refocus on the absolute truth about who God says I am and who He says He is.
  2. I am then reminded about everything that has ALREADY BEEN ACCOMPLISHED for me.
  3. I speak the truths out loud to put the demons on notice that if they mess with me, I will set them on fire and their butts will be handed to them!!!!!!!
  4. I’m dispelling doubts that may be intruding based upon my current experience.
  5. I’m embracing truths that I build my faith upon and then rest anticipating positive outcomes.
  6. I stir my spirit into belief.
  7. I then step into faith with belief for the miraculous.
  8. I begin to practice my faith by speaking aloud my expectations through commands just as Jesus models.
  9. I banish all thoughts of doubt, unbelief and FEAR.
  10. I then set my mind to expect the unfolding of what I have released from my authority in Christ Jesus and by the power of the Holy Spirit.

All of this process is in acknowledgement of the truth that Christ Jesus and the holy Spirit lives WITHIN ME. I am never alone. Christ lives with me. He is always available. I can hear His voice and I lean on His leadings.

Now, is this a process? Yes, some days I walk down this path of faith fairly quickly. Others, I battle against, fear, doubts and the circumstances of life. I battle the demonic who wants me to believe something other than the divinely inspired Word of God.

I’m finding these battles are fewer than in the past and my realignment with truth occurs much more quickly as I take thoughts captive to Christ.

So, this is the result.

Currently I’m battling a bump that appeared on my face near an incision line where cancerous cells were removed two years ago. I am commanding, believing, proclaiming and demanding complete healing. In Jesus name. Always, ALWAYS, in Jesus name. I have no authority outside of Christ but when I’m walking in belief and faith I contain tremendous amounts of power and authority.

I will, I WILL........ see this bump disappear before I arrive at the dermatologist. I want a dermatologist to tell me there is nothing there. That appointment is about a month out.

Interestingly, I was in a prayer session Monday, and as I prayed along with someone else, the nodule bust open and the pain lessened immediately.

WAHOOOOO!!

Okay, this post has already gone way to long. I will share in the future more regarding the manifest presence of God (and it's good). But next time, I need to tell you what happened when I began to pray in October about my hands!!!!!!

Stay tuned! Stories of the Kingdom of God are flying off my fingers.

I LOVE JESUS SO MUCH!!!  I love you so much also. Blessings and hugs, Lynn


Want To Heal Yourself and Others? - Step Into This Truth of the Word!

John 14 23Today, I want to charge right into a religious demon.

Yep, I’m pretty much over small talk at this point in my life *grin*. I want to talk about REAL things that TRULY matter.

I’m in a new and significant learning curve. Six months ago, Father took me through the entire Bible and revealed the truth (and the lies) about the end times passages. It was one of the most revelatory seasons of my life. I have such peace about the end of the age, the rapture, the church and this world. Thank you, Lord.

Today, I want to challenge what I believe the church in general, believes about the Presence of God. And this is without condemnation. But here it is:

Scripture teaches:

You, however, are not in the realm of the flesh but are in the realm of the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God lives in you. And if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, they do not belong to Christ. But if Christ is in you, then even though your body is subject to death because of sin, the Spirit gives life because of righteousness. ROMANS 8:9-10

Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them. JOHN 14:23

To whom God was pleased to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. COLOSSIANS 1:27

Okay, I’m mostly talking to myself now, but I’ve been captive to an error mindset. I know that in seasons past, I would pray things like, “Jesus, please show up. Jesus, bring Your Presence. Lord, I need you to come to me and show me what to do next. Jesus, where are you?”

Also, I’ve participated and joyfully sang worship lyrics that are calling for Jesus, and/or The Presence to “come down.”

Now, I’m not placing any condemnation upon myself or anyone else that has prayed or sang similarly. Yet, the Lord is revealing a deception to me that I didn’t understand prior to now.

Here it is: Christ LIVES in me.

“I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.” GALATIANS 2:20

Now I know we all have read this passage many times, but do we TRULY believe it? Because when you begin to truly catch the revelation of this truth…… IT CHANGES EVERYTHING!

We ALWAYS have God in us. Christ dwells in us. The Holy Spirit lives IN us. Father is in us because Christ and the Father are one. We are one together with Christ.

Wow wee!

Now take a minute to think this through. When we truly BELIEVE the Word of God and begin to comprehend that God is in us, and we don’t need to wait for Him to show up to bring healing, wisdom, salvations, help, and rescue, blessings, etc……, we arise to a new level of power and authority in Christ.

This means…..

RIGHT NOW: I am healed, in Jesus name.

RIGHT NOW: I am free of addictions, fear, anxiety, and small living.

RIGHT NOW: I have access to the Father’s provision because He owns the cattle on a thousand hills.

RIGHT NOW: I AM FREE from demonic oppression, petty friendships, stupid concerns of this earth, and what others think about me.

RIGHT NOW: I’m free to live authentically and wholly as created by God.

This also means……

RIGHT NOW: I carry the Son of the Living God within. The weight of this fathomless truth pushes me to greater honor, respect, and reverence.

RIGHT Now: My selfish and petty desires are insignificant to the lavish riches of my inheritance and the blessings that are mine, right now, on earth as it is in heaven.

RIGHT NOW: Humility and worship empower my prayers to lead others into freedom and truth.

RIGHT NOW: I feel coursing through my body, the potential of the untapped power source as well as the preeminent authority I carry as a daughter of Yahweh!

RIGHT NOW: Absolute devotion and surrender are the only response!

My friends, something is happening. I can feel the God of the ages alive in me. I want to rush to Walmart and pray for everyone strolling the produce isle. I want to meet the postman at the door and ask to lay hands on him. I am compelled to stop living in lazy comfort and to bring Christ into every interaction, all my days and night, into my church, my family, all my conversations and to become what Christ has promised to those who believe:

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become (powerful and authoritative) children of God— JOHN 1:12

I DON’T NEED TO CALL God to come down. I will no longer wait until I feel His manifest Presence because He is alive in me. All. The. Time. Forever.

When we begin to truly walk in this reality, we will start to live like Christ Jesus. And that is what our original design demands. As a result of living fully in this reality of these promises and truths, we will….

Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy, drive out demons. Freely you have received; freely give. MATTHEW 10:8

Next time you find yourself signing a song asking for God to come down, smile to yourself and call to your mind, “Christ is in me. He is already here. I carry Him with me, so what do I have to fear.”

Next Post: Difference between abiding presence and the manifest presence of God.

Okay, thoughts? See you in the comments. I love you. Walk TALL! Christ LIVES IN YOU! Hugs, Lynn


Your Book

Masterpiece plus verseArtwork by StudioJRU

Jeanne here!

Did you know that before you were breathed into existence by God, he wrote a book about your entire life?  That book is in heaven right now.  God created you with a set of absolutely unique gifts and talents and abilities and strengths.  There are things that God put inside you that he didn’t give anyone else.  And then he planned out a whole lifetime of ways for you to use those gifts to benefit the people around you and bring glory to him.  He designed you so that when you use your gifts to do the things he planned, it brings you great joy and a feeling of fulfillment. Your book is not just about you, but about the thousands of lives you will touch, all woven together.

 You are God’s masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which he planned for us to walk in.  Ephesians 2:10

I always pictured “good works” as passing out sandwiches and socks to homeless people, but this verse isn’t necessarily talking about acts of charity.  It concerns all the things God designed you to do in your little corner of the world.  For most of my life, I didn’t know what my purpose was.  I’m really just now starting to get it.

When He created you, God had a very specific set of characteristics that he built into you so you would be equipped to accomplish your purpose.  God has big dreams for you! Sadly, a lot of us grow up and never use or even discover our God-given design.  sin and violence. I believe we can determine whether we are operating in our giftings when two things are true: One, it blesses others or brings glory to God, and two, it brings us joy. 

We begin life with the unconditional love of our heavenly Father and a world of possibility.  But in ways big and small, the enemy kills our dreams, steals our joy, and destroys our vision.

So, what if we don’t know what our gifts are?  Or what if we use them for selfish purposes?  Does God give up on us?  Not at all. When it comes to us, God is a little bit like that annoying parent who thinks their kid can do no wrong.

Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never fails.   1 Corinthians 13:7

You’re not a disappointment to God.  He’s still working in your life trying to line things up to go well for you.  He doesn’t ever think about or even remember the times you messed up.  He is still as crazy about you as he was the day you were born.  He sees your potential; he is looking for ways to get you into position to receive all the blessings he wants to give you.  You are tremendously valuable to God, but not in the way the world judges value.

My mother had twelve children, and once when I was a kid I asked her which one was her favorite.   She answered, “The one who needs me most right then.”  I’m pretty sure God is like that.  He wants us to realize that we need him. He wants us to come as children, trusting him and loving him and just wanting to be close.  He isn’t waiting until we have it all together or until we have accomplished what he created us to do.

Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.  Hebrews 11:16

We need to realize that God is good, and that it will be tremendously rewarding to seek him. It absolutely requires sacrifice and commitment on our part.  But God’s mercy and grace are far more than enough to pick us back up when we fall.   For the joy set before him, Jesus endured the cross.  You and I were that joy.  The Father wanted us back, and Jesus was willing to pay the ultimate price to give us the opportunity to be in full, intimate relationship with him.

The next time the devil tries to whisper that you don’t measure up, remind him (and yourself) that you are God’s masterpiece, his beloved child intricately designed, bought with a price, and that no one can snatch you out of God's hand.  I encourage you to come into the presence of your Abba Father like a child, and ask him to read to you out of your book.  Share what you hear in the comments!

 


Overcoming Unbelief

Jesus Wilderness 2When I was in high school, my mother signed me up to teach a Christian education class to first graders.  The church provided a curriculum, a classroom, and a roster of students.  The first day of class I took attendance and began to teach the first lesson.  Almost immediately, one of the boys went to the back of the classroom and started playing with the art supplies.  I told him to go sit down, but he did not.  I ignored him and kept teaching.  Soon another child got up and went to the back of the room.  By the third session of this class, all I was doing was taking attendance and keeping the kids in the room. I stopped even attempting to teach. 

The gospels tell a story about a man who brings his demon-possessed son to Jesus’ disciples.  To summarize, Jesus is on the mountain with Peter, James, and John, and when they come down there is a crowd waiting.  A man tells Jesus about the torment of his son, and says that his disciples were not able to heal him.  Jesus expresses frustration with this “faithless and unbelieving generation” and then heals the boy. Later,

… the disciples came to Jesus privately and asked, “Why could we not cast it out?” So Jesus said to them, “Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.  However, this kind does not go out but by prayer and fasting.” Matthew 17:19-21, NKJV

Different translations of this passage say “This kind of demon only goes out by prayer and fasting” but in the original language, “this kind” refers to the unbelief, not the demon.  Jesus is clearly telling them that the issue is their faith, or rather the lack of it. 

When the demon saw Jesus, it threw the boy into convulsions and he fell to the ground, rolling around and foaming at the mouth.  I’m sure this was frightening for the disciples to witness, and though they knew Jesus had given them authority over the powers of darkness, they reacted with doubt.  The same thing happened to me as a teenager. I had the authority to place my hand on the wayward child’s shoulder and direct him back to his seat.  I lost control of the class simply because I did not exercise my rightful authority. In the same way, the disciples felt powerless even though they had the authority of Jesus himself.

These same disciples had successfully cast out demons and healed the sick in the past.  But in this circumstance, they had allowed what they saw to override what they knew to be true: that Jesus himself had given them the power to cast out demons.  It can be quite difficult to stand solidly on a spiritual truth when our flesh is screaming something contradictory. 

When Jesus stated that unbelief only comes out by prayer and fasting, he was referring to this tension between the facts (what we can see in the physical realm) and the Truth as defined and described by God. Jesus was always watching and listening to the Father.  He saw the same demonic seizure as his disciples, but instead of being intimidated, he focused on his Father’s will to heal and Holy Spirit’s power to invade the natural realm.  Jesus prepared for his ministry with 40 days fasting in the wilderness, and countless more late nights and pre-dawn mornings spent in prayer. Jesus got hungry and tired as we all do, but accomplishing the Father’s will was truly his life’s purpose.

To be honest, my flesh doesn’t always want to set aside my own agenda and spend time in prayer, and it surely doesn’t want to skip many meals. But look at the promise!  If you had faith the size of a mustard seed, you could move mountains… nothing would be impossible for you.

Jesus knows we can’t do this on our own. He is patient as we learn to follow his example, little by little.  If we increasingly trust him one minute, one hour, one day at a time, he will teach us to do what he did, and even greater things. 

Note: This story is related in Matthew 17:14-21, Mark 9:14-29, and Luke 9:37-43.


Fall Holy Feasts – What You Can Expect

Oil lamp Bible LD MinistriesFall Holy Feasts – What You Can Expect

Kingdom Marchers,

I’m interrupting this series on the Trinity because we are approaching a point in the year where we should take a moment and recognize God’s hand in our lives.

I’ve taught about the significance of Rosh Hashanah through Yom Kippur in the past. These holy feasts are markers for the Kingdom of God. They are markers in our lives.

Take an account of your life over the years. Begin to notate what the Lord has close out or remove from in the month of September.

Rosh Hashanah is the Jewish new year. Through my years of experience and taking notice of God’s hand in my life, consistently, year after year, the Lord removes assignments, jobs, relationships, ministry from my life in September.

It’s a literal closing down of one season. I’ve looked through my past and so many significant relationships came to an end in September. Many jobs, assignments and conditions also wind down and close out prior to Rosh Hashanah. Not always are we in favor or happy about what is closed or removed but I find over time, we will gain understanding of God’s purposes in the closures.

 

And this is why. He’s preparing us for new assignments, blessings and work that begins with Yom Kippur. The Jewish tradition has long been that God takes an account of every person’s life in that 10 days between the two feasts. He’s looking to see what we have completed that has been writing in our book (Psalm 139:16). And if we are off course, He will likely close out things that need to go.

BECAUSE the new is on the horizon.

October releases the new assignments for the next year. It’s a time of encounter and glory. Remember that it was October 12, 2012 that my life changed forever when I encountered the love of God in a tangible way. Every year something amazing happens in October. I expect this year to be the same….

I expect it for me….. AND FOR YEAR. So ask. So seek… So knock…

Let me ask you, what is God removing from your life this year? Then be prepared for the “NEW” because it’s ahead. Then in November prepare for the spiritual warfare because the devil will apply all his efforts to destroy what God has released.

I stand with you. The year ahead is all up to us. Do you want peace in our world? Do you want justice to reign in our governments? Do you want love and honor to lead our children? We are the carriers of truth and hope.

The year ahead is all up to us. Live in hope and don’t ever, never give into fear or defeat.

Being a believer in Jesus Christ is the BEST and HIGHEST life on this planet. We are so richly blessed to be chosen. Walk like the son and daughter you are and bring heaven to earth.

This is to be a lasting ordinance for you: On the tenth day of the seventh month you must deny yourselves and not do any work—whether native-born or a foreigner residing among you— because on this day atonement will be made for you, to cleanse you. Then, before the Lord, you will be clean from all your sins. – Leviticus 16:29

Shalom, Lynn