Open Heaven Ministries
Psalm 133: Union with Christ
21/11/12 10:36
Psalm 133 is a well-known, well-quoted, yet unusual chapter, because as it starts by talking about unity of the brethren, it then likens that unity to things that seem to have very little in common with it.
While meditating on this verse, the Lord gave me some wonderful insight into this Psalm.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren (brothers) to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment (fragrant oil) poured on the head, that ran down the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body].
3 It is like the dew... that descended upon the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore.
So what does unity have to do with oil (lots of oil !!) and rain falling on mountains?
Let's start with v1
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren (brothers) to dwell together in unity!
Let's focus on the word 'DWELL'
In Revelation 2:13, Jesus says I know where you live - a place where Satan sits enthroned... - where Satan dwells. (AMP)
My focus on this verse is NOT on Satan, it's on two powerful words ('enthroned' & 'dwells') that, in this verse, are the same and interchangeable.
These words are closely related as we understand the word "dwell" means to occupy and live in. Its your domain and location from where you live and conduct your affairs.
To be "enthroned" is to sit on a throne, "dwelling" in a palace - ruling with authority over a conquered area.
Now in Romans 8:11, it states that if the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells (sits enthroned) in you, He will quicken your mortal bodies!
And if the Spirit has that throne or seat of authority in you, then you are a true son of God! For... as many are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God! Ro. 8v14
You see, God has many children, those born again into His family, but not as many sons! Galatians 4:1-7 is a must read and explains this beautifully!
It tell us that as long as the son is still a child, he differs nothing from a slave EVEN THOUGH he is heir to his father's whole estate! But when the child reaches a state of maturity and realizes that all belongs to him and he begins to rule over his father's estate with designated authority, he becomes a son in his father's house!
Ro. 8:17 states that if we are God's children, then we are heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.
As children, we are all heirs but with a mindset of being freed slaves or servants! But the sons are the ones who step into their rightful place, and begin to rule in His Kingdom with Christ - as joint-heirs with Him, being led by the Spirit!
And in Ro. 8:19, we see that the earth is longing for the sons of God - joint-heir rulers - to be manifested or come into the light! Sons dwell, occupy and sit enthroned!
Now let's take another look at Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren (brothers) to dwell together in unity!
Ro. 8:29 states that "God chose us to be molded into the image of His Son, Who is Jesus... the FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN'' or the oldest Son of many sons! Jesus is our older brother!
Therefore, because of what we now know, this verse can be read as "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brethren ie. you and Jesus, sit enthroned as joint-heirs together in unity!"
Wow! that verse takes on a whole new meaning! Ephesians 2:6 says He has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus...
Now in the light of this context, let's look at verse 2 and see what v1 is likened to!
2 It is like the precious ointment (fragrant oil) poured on the head, that ran down the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments[consecrating the whole body].
Two points to make here is that firstly, in Bible days, God-chosen kings were anointed with oil before they sat on thrones! (King Saul, David, Jehu etc).
Secondly, we are the BODY OF CHRIST, and Christ Himself is the anointed HEAD! Colossians 1:18
Acts 10:38 says "How God anointed (poured oil upon) and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil - for God was with Him."
Verse 2 again: It is like the precious ointment (fragrant oil) poured (anointed) on the head (WHO IS CHRIST), that ran down the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body (WE ARE THE BODY!)].
The same Kingly anointing oil that God anointed Jesus with flows down onto us... His body! YOU ARE ANOINTED WITH ACTS 10:38!
"How God anointed (poured oil upon) and consecrated ... YOUR NAME! ... with the Holy Spirit and power and how ...YOU CAN & MUST GO ... about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil - for God ...IS WITH YOU!"
Romans 8:31 "What shall we say in regard to all these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Now for verse 3
3 It is like the dew... that descended upon the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore.
We are Zion, the city on a hill that cannot be hidden! Matt. 5:14
Just as the Holy Spirit anointing oil flows onto Jesus and onto us, so Heaven's rain falls on us and is not supposed to be stored up and held back like a dam wall, barracking the flow, but rather the rain forms the river of Life that flows down from Zion, down to the world below!
Isaiah 55 speaks about this rain, which is also His Word, that goes forth from His mouth and causes fruit to come forth!
For there... in that state of union and unity with Christ, being anointed and allowing our rivers of Life to flow (John 7:37-38) ... God commands the blessing (not 'a' blessing, but 'the' blessing), even LIFE!
THE RIVER OF LIFE FLOWING FROM THE THRONE OF GOD IS ON THE INSIDE OF YOU AND NEEDS TO FLOW! IT'S GOD'S CHOSEN PIPELINE CONNECTING HEAVEN TO EARTH !
You are sons, brothers, anointed kings and co-heirs enthroned in heavenly places WITH and IN Christ Jesus!
You have been anointed with the same Acts 10:38 oil that Jesus was anointed with! Go and do good and heal all oppressed by devil, for God is with you!
You have that river of life on the inside of you! Let it flow!
You have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwelling in you!
Freely you have received, Church, freely give! Now GO!
HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPER, RAISE THE DEAD, CAST OUT DEVILS. DECLARE THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME UPON THEM!
I CHARGE YOU !
While meditating on this verse, the Lord gave me some wonderful insight into this Psalm.
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren (brothers) to dwell together in unity!
2 It is like the precious ointment (fragrant oil) poured on the head, that ran down the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body].
3 It is like the dew... that descended upon the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore.
So what does unity have to do with oil (lots of oil !!) and rain falling on mountains?
Let's start with v1
1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren (brothers) to dwell together in unity!
Let's focus on the word 'DWELL'
In Revelation 2:13, Jesus says I know where you live - a place where Satan sits enthroned... - where Satan dwells. (AMP)
My focus on this verse is NOT on Satan, it's on two powerful words ('enthroned' & 'dwells') that, in this verse, are the same and interchangeable.
These words are closely related as we understand the word "dwell" means to occupy and live in. Its your domain and location from where you live and conduct your affairs.
To be "enthroned" is to sit on a throne, "dwelling" in a palace - ruling with authority over a conquered area.
Now in Romans 8:11, it states that if the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells (sits enthroned) in you, He will quicken your mortal bodies!
And if the Spirit has that throne or seat of authority in you, then you are a true son of God! For... as many are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God! Ro. 8v14
You see, God has many children, those born again into His family, but not as many sons! Galatians 4:1-7 is a must read and explains this beautifully!
It tell us that as long as the son is still a child, he differs nothing from a slave EVEN THOUGH he is heir to his father's whole estate! But when the child reaches a state of maturity and realizes that all belongs to him and he begins to rule over his father's estate with designated authority, he becomes a son in his father's house!
Ro. 8:17 states that if we are God's children, then we are heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ.
As children, we are all heirs but with a mindset of being freed slaves or servants! But the sons are the ones who step into their rightful place, and begin to rule in His Kingdom with Christ - as joint-heirs with Him, being led by the Spirit!
And in Ro. 8:19, we see that the earth is longing for the sons of God - joint-heir rulers - to be manifested or come into the light! Sons dwell, occupy and sit enthroned!
Now let's take another look at Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren (brothers) to dwell together in unity!
Ro. 8:29 states that "God chose us to be molded into the image of His Son, Who is Jesus... the FIRSTBORN AMONG MANY BRETHREN'' or the oldest Son of many sons! Jesus is our older brother!
Therefore, because of what we now know, this verse can be read as "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when brethren ie. you and Jesus, sit enthroned as joint-heirs together in unity!"
Wow! that verse takes on a whole new meaning! Ephesians 2:6 says He has raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus...
Now in the light of this context, let's look at verse 2 and see what v1 is likened to!
2 It is like the precious ointment (fragrant oil) poured on the head, that ran down the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments[consecrating the whole body].
Two points to make here is that firstly, in Bible days, God-chosen kings were anointed with oil before they sat on thrones! (King Saul, David, Jehu etc).
Secondly, we are the BODY OF CHRIST, and Christ Himself is the anointed HEAD! Colossians 1:18
Acts 10:38 says "How God anointed (poured oil upon) and consecrated Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil - for God was with Him."
Verse 2 again: It is like the precious ointment (fragrant oil) poured (anointed) on the head (WHO IS CHRIST), that ran down the beard, even the beard of Aaron [the first high priest], that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments [consecrating the whole body (WE ARE THE BODY!)].
The same Kingly anointing oil that God anointed Jesus with flows down onto us... His body! YOU ARE ANOINTED WITH ACTS 10:38!
"How God anointed (poured oil upon) and consecrated ... YOUR NAME! ... with the Holy Spirit and power and how ...YOU CAN & MUST GO ... about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil - for God ...IS WITH YOU!"
Romans 8:31 "What shall we say in regard to all these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?"
Now for verse 3
3 It is like the dew... that descended upon the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore.
We are Zion, the city on a hill that cannot be hidden! Matt. 5:14
Just as the Holy Spirit anointing oil flows onto Jesus and onto us, so Heaven's rain falls on us and is not supposed to be stored up and held back like a dam wall, barracking the flow, but rather the rain forms the river of Life that flows down from Zion, down to the world below!
Isaiah 55 speaks about this rain, which is also His Word, that goes forth from His mouth and causes fruit to come forth!
For there... in that state of union and unity with Christ, being anointed and allowing our rivers of Life to flow (John 7:37-38) ... God commands the blessing (not 'a' blessing, but 'the' blessing), even LIFE!
THE RIVER OF LIFE FLOWING FROM THE THRONE OF GOD IS ON THE INSIDE OF YOU AND NEEDS TO FLOW! IT'S GOD'S CHOSEN PIPELINE CONNECTING HEAVEN TO EARTH !
You are sons, brothers, anointed kings and co-heirs enthroned in heavenly places WITH and IN Christ Jesus!
You have been anointed with the same Acts 10:38 oil that Jesus was anointed with! Go and do good and heal all oppressed by devil, for God is with you!
You have that river of life on the inside of you! Let it flow!
You have the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwelling in you!
Freely you have received, Church, freely give! Now GO!
HEAL THE SICK, CLEANSE THE LEPER, RAISE THE DEAD, CAST OUT DEVILS. DECLARE THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME UPON THEM!
I CHARGE YOU !
Next Stop: Promised Land
21/11/12 10:35
Today I've got such an exciting word to share with you. It's one of the
greatest revelations I've received through His outstanding grace, and I
believe it's a word for you and for NOW! We're entering a brand new season.
It's a season of coming out of the dry valley wilderness and arriving at a
table laden with a feast of the finest foods en-route to your promised land!
He's there to dine with us - in the presence of our enemy, our
circumstances, trials and hardship we may be facing.
This is a word close to my heart! Be blessed and encouraged!
But first I would like to share a story or two about what God's been up to
lately!
Last Thursday we did hospital ministry and saw awesome miracles and people
coming to Jesus especially after being healed. One guy had a huge abscess
(over half the size of a tennis ball!) on his hand and had it surgically
removed that day. From what I could gather, the scar beneath the bandage was
2-3 inches long! He was in much pain but God healed him instantly and he
rejoiced and thanked Jesus repeatedly as he kept slapping the back of his
bandaged hand!
After we had finished, we were waiting outside for the others to finish in
their wards, and a man hobbled slowly and awkwardly up the hill towards us-
his leg was in so much pain! After my wife and I interrogated him, we found
out he had been bitten by a dog and his leg was septic and swollen. He made
it quite clear though that he didn't want us to pray for him and was quite
scared! We eventually convinced him and after praying, he was about 50%
healed and he was so amazed! We prayed again and this time he lifted up his
crutch and walked perfectly - no pain! We gave him some sweets and
literature (that we give out to all the patients) and just then his phone
rang. it was his mom asking him if he had arrived safely at the hospital. He
replied without a hesitation, " Yes I have arrived and I've already been
attended to. You can come pick me up now, I'm finished!"
As he walked off he remarked," And to think I almost didn't allow you to
pray for me!"
PRAISE GOD!
At the beginning of the year God gave our ministry Isaiah 61 for 2010. The
Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me.
Then God gave us Isaiah 11 (All about the 7 Spirits of God)! And the spirit
of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the
spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the
LORD;
I was really excited about this word and eager to walk in greater anointing
- manifesting the 7 Spirits of God in a measure much greater than before!
And yet, though revelation, miracles etc. have flowed in abundance,
spiritually, emotionally, financially, and even physically, this year has
been by far the toughest I've had to endure.
Often I reasoned, "where exactly does Isaiah 11 and 61 come in? That promise
sounds a lot more exciting then what I'm facing at the moment.
HE DID PROMISE IT! But it just seems so distant!"
Then recently God opened my eyes to the "BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER."
When Jesus was baptised, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and after his
temptation, he came out of the wilderness FULL of the Spirit's power. BUT
JESUS WASN'T ANOINTED.YET!
These were 3 different and specific encounters and infillings of the Holy
Ghost! They also occurred in order - "BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER" His trial in
the wilderness.
God showed me that each verse in Psalm 23 is a direct prophecy to Luke 4
(His baptism, temptation, and His being anointed).
Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still
waters.
Jesus was baptised in the Jordan by John the Baptist. Now, if the Jordan was
in flood, John would definitely not have baptised people because when the
converts were immersed, they would probably have popped up 100 meters
downstream! So Jesus was led by God and baptised in the still waters!
23:3 He restores my soul
As Jesus comes out of the water, the Father pours out His love and
reiterates the Father- son relationship they share. The Holy Spirit comes
and as in Isaiah 11, he rests upon Jesus. Think of the emotional and
spiritual impact that encounter would've had on Jesus!
23:3b. he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and
was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
Wait a minute. Jesus has just had an awesome encounter with God, His soul is
restored, the Spirit's all over Him and the first place He's led is WHERE?!
23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
And Jesus is tempted of the Devil. NOW THIS IS WHERE IT REALLY GETS
INTERESTING.
Temptation no1: Jesus is hungry! Satan says, "If You are the Son of God,
turn this stone into bread!" Jesus takes the focus completely off Himself
and Who He is and even what He possesses and puts His full attention on God
by saying," man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."
Temptation no2: Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high
mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory
of them. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be yours.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is
written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Note: Focus is off of Himself again and straight back to God!
Temptation no3:
4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the
temple, and said unto him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down
from here:
4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep
you.
4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, You shalt not tempt the
Lord your God.
The Devil was trying so hard to get Jesus to focus on Himself, His abilities
and even His identity! Jesus never even evaluated Himself but always
reverted back to God - His source!
AND JUST LOOK AT THE OUTCOME .
Temptation no1: Physical bread. "Devil, is bread the best you have to
offer?"
Psalm 23: 5 Thou preparest a table (feast!)... before me .in
the presence of mine enemies (The Devil watched in horror as God fed Jesus a
feast!)
Temptation no2: Power & glory. "all this power and glory I will give you"
Luke 4:14 (coming out of the wilderness) And Jesus returned in the power of
the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the
region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of
all.
Temptation no3: focus on angels rather than God. "cast thyself down from
hence. He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee"
Matthew 4:11 And the devil left Him and ANGELS CAME AND
MINISTERED UNTO HIM!
Jesus received a far superior measure of everything He was tempted with
because He never allowed Himself to be the focus but always kept His eyes on
God alone! In other words He humbled Himself.
1 Peter 5:5 God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may
exalt you in due time:
HOW do we humble ourselves??? BY.
5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Allowing Him to be and bring the solution, and not putting any hope and
trust in the flesh!
So Jesus comes out of the wilderness/valley (Ps23).
Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and
there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to
Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into
the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read.
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he
had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the
gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at
liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
(ISAIAH 61)
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.
And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
And he began to say unto them, This day this scripture is fulfilled in your
ears.
In other words: TODAY, I AM ANOINTED AND WHILE I WAS STANDING AND READING
Isaiah 61 IN YOUR MIDST, THE HOLY SPIRIT POURED OUT A BIG JAR OF ANOINTING
OIL ON MY HEAD!
Oh to have seen in the spirit realm at that moment! GLORIOUS!
NOW let's pick up where we left off in Psalm 23!
23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies(exiting the
widerness/valley): You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
When He was anointed, the miracles began to multiply and were so numerous!
His wisdom, knowledge and understanding were outstanding! The 7 Spirits of
God (Is 11) manifested through Jesus so powerfully and His cup truly
overflowed from that point onward!
ANOINT US OH GOD!! SO THAT: Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
for ever.
Put your trust in Him and allow Him to lead you! There's more than just hope
to look forward to! There's an overflowing cup that is your portion. There's
God's goodness and mercy ready to overtake you. His presence is about to
overshadow you in a greater measure!
Be strong, be encouraged!
Finally, see how this scripture summarizes Psalm 23 and Luke 4.
1Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
you in due time:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
establish, strengthen, settle you.
To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Be anointed with fresh oil and may your cup overflow.FOR HIS GLORY!
Wendell Oosthuis
greatest revelations I've received through His outstanding grace, and I
believe it's a word for you and for NOW! We're entering a brand new season.
It's a season of coming out of the dry valley wilderness and arriving at a
table laden with a feast of the finest foods en-route to your promised land!
He's there to dine with us - in the presence of our enemy, our
circumstances, trials and hardship we may be facing.
This is a word close to my heart! Be blessed and encouraged!
But first I would like to share a story or two about what God's been up to
lately!
Last Thursday we did hospital ministry and saw awesome miracles and people
coming to Jesus especially after being healed. One guy had a huge abscess
(over half the size of a tennis ball!) on his hand and had it surgically
removed that day. From what I could gather, the scar beneath the bandage was
2-3 inches long! He was in much pain but God healed him instantly and he
rejoiced and thanked Jesus repeatedly as he kept slapping the back of his
bandaged hand!
After we had finished, we were waiting outside for the others to finish in
their wards, and a man hobbled slowly and awkwardly up the hill towards us-
his leg was in so much pain! After my wife and I interrogated him, we found
out he had been bitten by a dog and his leg was septic and swollen. He made
it quite clear though that he didn't want us to pray for him and was quite
scared! We eventually convinced him and after praying, he was about 50%
healed and he was so amazed! We prayed again and this time he lifted up his
crutch and walked perfectly - no pain! We gave him some sweets and
literature (that we give out to all the patients) and just then his phone
rang. it was his mom asking him if he had arrived safely at the hospital. He
replied without a hesitation, " Yes I have arrived and I've already been
attended to. You can come pick me up now, I'm finished!"
As he walked off he remarked," And to think I almost didn't allow you to
pray for me!"
PRAISE GOD!
At the beginning of the year God gave our ministry Isaiah 61 for 2010. The
Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me.
Then God gave us Isaiah 11 (All about the 7 Spirits of God)! And the spirit
of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the
spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the
LORD;
I was really excited about this word and eager to walk in greater anointing
- manifesting the 7 Spirits of God in a measure much greater than before!
And yet, though revelation, miracles etc. have flowed in abundance,
spiritually, emotionally, financially, and even physically, this year has
been by far the toughest I've had to endure.
Often I reasoned, "where exactly does Isaiah 11 and 61 come in? That promise
sounds a lot more exciting then what I'm facing at the moment.
HE DID PROMISE IT! But it just seems so distant!"
Then recently God opened my eyes to the "BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER."
When Jesus was baptised, the Holy Spirit descended upon Him, and after his
temptation, he came out of the wilderness FULL of the Spirit's power. BUT
JESUS WASN'T ANOINTED.YET!
These were 3 different and specific encounters and infillings of the Holy
Ghost! They also occurred in order - "BEFORE, DURING AND AFTER" His trial in
the wilderness.
God showed me that each verse in Psalm 23 is a direct prophecy to Luke 4
(His baptism, temptation, and His being anointed).
Psalm 23 The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not be in want.
23:2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures: he leads me beside the still
waters.
Jesus was baptised in the Jordan by John the Baptist. Now, if the Jordan was
in flood, John would definitely not have baptised people because when the
converts were immersed, they would probably have popped up 100 meters
downstream! So Jesus was led by God and baptised in the still waters!
23:3 He restores my soul
As Jesus comes out of the water, the Father pours out His love and
reiterates the Father- son relationship they share. The Holy Spirit comes
and as in Isaiah 11, he rests upon Jesus. Think of the emotional and
spiritual impact that encounter would've had on Jesus!
23:3b. he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
Luke 4:1 And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost returned from Jordan, and
was led by the Spirit into the wilderness.
Wait a minute. Jesus has just had an awesome encounter with God, His soul is
restored, the Spirit's all over Him and the first place He's led is WHERE?!
23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will
fear no evil: for thou [art] with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.
And Jesus is tempted of the Devil. NOW THIS IS WHERE IT REALLY GETS
INTERESTING.
Temptation no1: Jesus is hungry! Satan says, "If You are the Son of God,
turn this stone into bread!" Jesus takes the focus completely off Himself
and Who He is and even what He possesses and puts His full attention on God
by saying," man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God."
Temptation no2: Luke 4:5 And the devil, taking him up into an high
mountain, showed unto him all the kingdoms of the world in a moment of time.
And the devil said unto him, All this power will I give thee, and the glory
of them. If thou therefore wilt worship me, all shall be yours.
And Jesus answered and said unto him, Get thee behind me, Satan: for it is
written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and him only shalt thou serve.
Note: Focus is off of Himself again and straight back to God!
Temptation no3:
4:9 And he brought him to Jerusalem, and set him on a pinnacle of the
temple, and said unto him, If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down
from here:
4:10 For it is written, He shall give his angels charge over you, to keep
you.
4:12 And Jesus answering said unto him, It is said, You shalt not tempt the
Lord your God.
The Devil was trying so hard to get Jesus to focus on Himself, His abilities
and even His identity! Jesus never even evaluated Himself but always
reverted back to God - His source!
AND JUST LOOK AT THE OUTCOME .
Temptation no1: Physical bread. "Devil, is bread the best you have to
offer?"
Psalm 23: 5 Thou preparest a table (feast!)... before me .in
the presence of mine enemies (The Devil watched in horror as God fed Jesus a
feast!)
Temptation no2: Power & glory. "all this power and glory I will give you"
Luke 4:14 (coming out of the wilderness) And Jesus returned in the power of
the Spirit into Galilee: and there went out a fame of him through all the
region round about. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of
all.
Temptation no3: focus on angels rather than God. "cast thyself down from
hence. He shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee"
Matthew 4:11 And the devil left Him and ANGELS CAME AND
MINISTERED UNTO HIM!
Jesus received a far superior measure of everything He was tempted with
because He never allowed Himself to be the focus but always kept His eyes on
God alone! In other words He humbled Himself.
1 Peter 5:5 God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
5:6 Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may
exalt you in due time:
HOW do we humble ourselves??? BY.
5:7 Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Allowing Him to be and bring the solution, and not putting any hope and
trust in the flesh!
So Jesus comes out of the wilderness/valley (Ps23).
Luke 4:14 And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee: and
there went out a fame of him through all the region round about.
And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified of all. And he came to
Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into
the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up to read.
And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Isaiah. And when he
had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the
gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach
deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at
liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.
(ISAIAH 61)
And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down.
And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.
And he began to say unto them, This day this scripture is fulfilled in your
ears.
In other words: TODAY, I AM ANOINTED AND WHILE I WAS STANDING AND READING
Isaiah 61 IN YOUR MIDST, THE HOLY SPIRIT POURED OUT A BIG JAR OF ANOINTING
OIL ON MY HEAD!
Oh to have seen in the spirit realm at that moment! GLORIOUS!
NOW let's pick up where we left off in Psalm 23!
23:5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies(exiting the
widerness/valley): You anoint my head with oil; my cup runs over.
When He was anointed, the miracles began to multiply and were so numerous!
His wisdom, knowledge and understanding were outstanding! The 7 Spirits of
God (Is 11) manifested through Jesus so powerfully and His cup truly
overflowed from that point onward!
ANOINT US OH GOD!! SO THAT: Psalm 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall
follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
for ever.
Put your trust in Him and allow Him to lead you! There's more than just hope
to look forward to! There's an overflowing cup that is your portion. There's
God's goodness and mercy ready to overtake you. His presence is about to
overshadow you in a greater measure!
Be strong, be encouraged!
Finally, see how this scripture summarizes Psalm 23 and Luke 4.
1Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt
you in due time:
Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are
accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by
Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect,
establish, strengthen, settle you.
To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
Be anointed with fresh oil and may your cup overflow.FOR HIS GLORY!
Wendell Oosthuis
Not Superman - Super C!
21/11/12 10:34
NOT SUPERMAN!! JUST SUPER C!!
I was on my way home one day (in a hurry as usual), enjoying a roll of Super
C's and I passed 2 men sitting under a tree. The Holy Spirit said the
strangest thing to me."Go back and give them the rest of your super C's!"
And that's all He said! Well, the negotiations in my mind began. Out of a
roll of 10-12 sweets, I still remember counting only 3 left. The excuses
kept filling my mind as I wasn't too excited to part with my last 3 candies!
Then I had the perfect excuse.. I thought very rationally. 'Lord, you want
me to turn around, greet the men, give them each a sweet (and expect them to
share the 3rd one!) and ask them if they want to receive Jesus (cos of my
"such great selfless generosity?!!!!")' Well, I didn't get an answer. But in
the silence, He was speaking. After a sigh I said "Alright Lord, I'll do
it," and turned around. To my delight, everything made sense the moment I
approached them! I noticed one of the men had a broken leg with a cast!
When God orchestrates a situation like that, you just know it's His will
that this guy gets healed NOW! You don't even need to stir up faith. With
100% confidence I could expect a miracle because I realized it actually had
nothing to do with super C's (which I forgot to give them) but with God
wanting to reveal His love to them. Praise God I obeyed a weird command!
That's why intimacy with God is so important. Jesus said, "My sheep hear My
voice." If I had not obeyed, He would not have said, "OK I'll just appear to
them in shining glory and do the job Wendell was supposed to do." No, that
guy would've had the cast on for the full 6 weeks and never experienced an
encounter with God.
He phoned a few days later to tell me the cast was cut off and he was
walking perfectly. and loving Jesus!
I'm so glad I obeyed, but sometimes neglecting that still small voice can
have disastrous consequences!
Recently I heard a heart wrenching story of a teenage girl who had given up
on life. She was going to end her misery and prayed and said, "God, I'm
going to the pier and I'm going to jump into the ocean beneath and end my
life. There's no meaning to this life. If You are real and You care, send
someone to the pier to stop me."
She went to the pier. Nobody came. She jumped.
Was there no one in the whole city who could hear His voice? Was there
nobody who would act upon the Spirit's unction to blindly obey and go to a
pier?
Perhaps that area was not safe. Maybe it was during winter and God's
children had 'rational' reasons why they couldn't go. What COULD have
happened? She could've been saved from destruction and become a fireball for
Jesus!
Oh, may we be sensitive to the still small voice!
A question I've asked myself is how do I KNOW that it's God speaking and not
my own random thoughts? I wish I had the answer clearly in black and white,
but if you think about it, how do you recognize people's voices? Only
through conversation! I have often put on an accent when phoning a friend or
family member and unless I'm really good, they catch me out because they
recognize something in my tone or in the way I speak that gives me away!
With regards to hearing God's voice, if I have an unction in my spirit or a
thought, I act on it! Sometimes I'm wrong, but the more I practice and spend
time listening for His voice, the better I hear and discern. The good old
saying remains true: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!
Hebrews 6:12 In order that you may not grow disinterested and become
[spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith
and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the
promises.
I was walking with Tess, my wife, one day and we were on our way to pray for
a dear mother's daughter at the daughter's house. As we neared the house, a
name 'Tandeka' dropped in my head. I immediately turned to the mother and
said, "Who's Tandeka?"
The mother gave me a shocked look and said, "That's the name of my daughter
whose house we're going to!"
I rejoiced because I had spoken out names in the past without much success
but perseverance and practice in discerning God's voice paid off!
God blessed that family mightily. Their faith was also built up through the
word of knowledge and a prophetic word about Tandeka's rebellious son! While
we were praying for her, I put Tess on the spot and told her to get a word
for her from God, bowed my head (avoiding 'the look' she gave me), and
waited. She asked Jesus though and got such a powerful word that, after she
gave it, the mother was blown away and kept on repeating to her "howu!! you
prophet!!"
Thank you Jesus!
GRACE
I was driving one day with my sister and we passed an elderly man who
clearly was in crippling pain and was walking slowly with a stick. I turned
to Kim and said, "Should we zap him?"
We stopped and turned around. But there was a problem. we had Maroon 5, a
secular CD, playing in the car at the time!
How high would your faith level be if you were about to pray for an almost
crippled man with a Maroon 5 song stuck in your head? Fortunately I had the
revelation of grace but didn't say anything to Kim. We prayed for him and he
was completely healed! As we drove off, I looked and saw the man standing in
amazement at what just happened (his back was to us) and watched as he
tipped his hat in reverence to God, and continued to walk perfectly - cane
under his arm!
Kim learned a valuable lesson: don't let anything condemn you and give you a
'valid' reason why you can't obey or why it won't work. Always be available
to allow his life to flow through you.
If you're gonna wait for a worship song to come on the radio, while in a
supermarket, so that you feel like you're in church, before you decide to
pray for someone, you'll definitely miss it!
We need to remember that as we're learning and God's teaching and maturing
us, there's more than enough grace for us to make mistakes, learn from them
and grow! The life we are supposed to live is one of 100% grace. God does
it ALL! We relied on 100% grace to save us, but after that, we often resort
to working and striving to be good enough for God and we began to mix grace
with law and condemnation. Its not 90% grace and 10% law! Romans 8 declares
that there's NO (zero!) condemnation for those who are in Christ. God's not
looking for our good works that we run around trying to perform so as to get
His attention somehow. We already have His attention. We're His favourite!
He's made us worthy!
All He requires of us is our availability and willingness - so that His life
can flow through us, His earthen vessels!
THE 'WHAT IF' FACTOR
I thought I'd just throw in this story. This is definitely one that baffled
me for a long time! If you have the answer, I'd love to hear it!
I was in Harrismith 2 years ago, visiting a pastor friend of mine. We prayed
for his neighbour's daughter who was about 12 years old. She was suffering
from an unknown muscle disease. It had become so severe that she had been
taken out of school because she could hardly hold a pen! Literally every
single muscle in her body was paining - all the time! Can you imagine every
muscle from your toes right up through your legs, back, neck, face etc. in
pain 24/7?
As we prayed for her that Saturday morning, the glory of God was so thick in
that place. We had been worshiping and praying in the lounge for hours! She
stepped into the glory and was completely healed within a few minutes.
I told her, "Freely you have received, freely give!" and we went straight to
town with her to minister to people on the street. This girl went with such
boldness! Going ahead of us (we tried to keep up!) I remember her praying
for a Gogo who had 3rd degree burns. She wept because she couldn't embrace
her grandchildren. If they tried to hug her, she would scream out because of
the pain! After this girl prayed for her, she was 100% healed. The Gogo was
slapping herself with no pain! The next Kathryn Kuhlman was prowling the
streets! We watched in amazement how a 12 year old just loved people and
grownups were weeping as she ministered to them! WOW what a success story
right?! Healed by 10am and healing the sick by 10:30! I went home that
afternoon ecstatic!
The next morning I had a call from the pastor who informed me that around
3pm, the pain had returned and the girl was in a worse state then before!
What? I got so angry with that devil and made plans to go back and sort it
out - not with arrogance but with the authority we have (read David and
Goliath)! But the family, who were very religious (in the Pharisee sense),
wouldn't allow us near her to pray for her again and every door slammed
shut! This amazing story seemed to backfire horribly. What an attack on
destiny!
I was very disappointed, but God used that situation to teach me one of
life's powerful lessons:
We are the vessels; He's the One who does it. The results are not up to us.
Our purpose is to be available and willing, have faith and trust in God. The
results are up to Him - not us! That's why I can pray for any sickness or a
cripple and not be scared to try again if they don't get healed! I've prayed
for people with cancer who experienced instant healing and prayed for others
with more faith, more expectancy, and they passed on to eternity.
It is humbling for sure when they don't get healed but since when are we
supposed to have a reputation?! Without pride and a reputation, you have
nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Hebrews 6:12 In order that you may not grow disinterested and become
[spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith
and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the
promises.
Since then, the Lord has opened the door for the pastor and his wife to
minister to and counsel the family. The family's growing spiritually and are
receptive and the girl is much better and returned to school this year. The
Lord knows what He's doing and we trust in Him!
The Bible says that without faith, it's impossible to please God. In other
words, the way we please God is through faith! Results belong to God.
Therefore, God is just as pleased when I pray and see a miracle and when I
pray and nothing happens! As long as I have faith!
If it was all about apparent results, Jesus ministry was a huge flop! He
healed thousands, fed probably well over 10 thousand people supernaturally,
had crowds trampling each other just to see Him, and eventually had 120 to
show for it! (Acts 2)
Hebrews 10:23 So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the
hope we cherish, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and
faithful to His word. And let us consider and give attentive, continuous
care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up to love and
helpful deeds and noble activities.
May you continue in the work without growing weary in well doing because in
due time. we shall reap if we do not faint, cease and lose heart. (Gal 6:9)
Be blessed!
I was on my way home one day (in a hurry as usual), enjoying a roll of Super
C's and I passed 2 men sitting under a tree. The Holy Spirit said the
strangest thing to me."Go back and give them the rest of your super C's!"
And that's all He said! Well, the negotiations in my mind began. Out of a
roll of 10-12 sweets, I still remember counting only 3 left. The excuses
kept filling my mind as I wasn't too excited to part with my last 3 candies!
Then I had the perfect excuse.. I thought very rationally. 'Lord, you want
me to turn around, greet the men, give them each a sweet (and expect them to
share the 3rd one!) and ask them if they want to receive Jesus (cos of my
"such great selfless generosity?!!!!")' Well, I didn't get an answer. But in
the silence, He was speaking. After a sigh I said "Alright Lord, I'll do
it," and turned around. To my delight, everything made sense the moment I
approached them! I noticed one of the men had a broken leg with a cast!
When God orchestrates a situation like that, you just know it's His will
that this guy gets healed NOW! You don't even need to stir up faith. With
100% confidence I could expect a miracle because I realized it actually had
nothing to do with super C's (which I forgot to give them) but with God
wanting to reveal His love to them. Praise God I obeyed a weird command!
That's why intimacy with God is so important. Jesus said, "My sheep hear My
voice." If I had not obeyed, He would not have said, "OK I'll just appear to
them in shining glory and do the job Wendell was supposed to do." No, that
guy would've had the cast on for the full 6 weeks and never experienced an
encounter with God.
He phoned a few days later to tell me the cast was cut off and he was
walking perfectly. and loving Jesus!
I'm so glad I obeyed, but sometimes neglecting that still small voice can
have disastrous consequences!
Recently I heard a heart wrenching story of a teenage girl who had given up
on life. She was going to end her misery and prayed and said, "God, I'm
going to the pier and I'm going to jump into the ocean beneath and end my
life. There's no meaning to this life. If You are real and You care, send
someone to the pier to stop me."
She went to the pier. Nobody came. She jumped.
Was there no one in the whole city who could hear His voice? Was there
nobody who would act upon the Spirit's unction to blindly obey and go to a
pier?
Perhaps that area was not safe. Maybe it was during winter and God's
children had 'rational' reasons why they couldn't go. What COULD have
happened? She could've been saved from destruction and become a fireball for
Jesus!
Oh, may we be sensitive to the still small voice!
A question I've asked myself is how do I KNOW that it's God speaking and not
my own random thoughts? I wish I had the answer clearly in black and white,
but if you think about it, how do you recognize people's voices? Only
through conversation! I have often put on an accent when phoning a friend or
family member and unless I'm really good, they catch me out because they
recognize something in my tone or in the way I speak that gives me away!
With regards to hearing God's voice, if I have an unction in my spirit or a
thought, I act on it! Sometimes I'm wrong, but the more I practice and spend
time listening for His voice, the better I hear and discern. The good old
saying remains true: PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT!
Hebrews 6:12 In order that you may not grow disinterested and become
[spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith
and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the
promises.
I was walking with Tess, my wife, one day and we were on our way to pray for
a dear mother's daughter at the daughter's house. As we neared the house, a
name 'Tandeka' dropped in my head. I immediately turned to the mother and
said, "Who's Tandeka?"
The mother gave me a shocked look and said, "That's the name of my daughter
whose house we're going to!"
I rejoiced because I had spoken out names in the past without much success
but perseverance and practice in discerning God's voice paid off!
God blessed that family mightily. Their faith was also built up through the
word of knowledge and a prophetic word about Tandeka's rebellious son! While
we were praying for her, I put Tess on the spot and told her to get a word
for her from God, bowed my head (avoiding 'the look' she gave me), and
waited. She asked Jesus though and got such a powerful word that, after she
gave it, the mother was blown away and kept on repeating to her "howu!! you
prophet!!"
Thank you Jesus!
GRACE
I was driving one day with my sister and we passed an elderly man who
clearly was in crippling pain and was walking slowly with a stick. I turned
to Kim and said, "Should we zap him?"
We stopped and turned around. But there was a problem. we had Maroon 5, a
secular CD, playing in the car at the time!
How high would your faith level be if you were about to pray for an almost
crippled man with a Maroon 5 song stuck in your head? Fortunately I had the
revelation of grace but didn't say anything to Kim. We prayed for him and he
was completely healed! As we drove off, I looked and saw the man standing in
amazement at what just happened (his back was to us) and watched as he
tipped his hat in reverence to God, and continued to walk perfectly - cane
under his arm!
Kim learned a valuable lesson: don't let anything condemn you and give you a
'valid' reason why you can't obey or why it won't work. Always be available
to allow his life to flow through you.
If you're gonna wait for a worship song to come on the radio, while in a
supermarket, so that you feel like you're in church, before you decide to
pray for someone, you'll definitely miss it!
We need to remember that as we're learning and God's teaching and maturing
us, there's more than enough grace for us to make mistakes, learn from them
and grow! The life we are supposed to live is one of 100% grace. God does
it ALL! We relied on 100% grace to save us, but after that, we often resort
to working and striving to be good enough for God and we began to mix grace
with law and condemnation. Its not 90% grace and 10% law! Romans 8 declares
that there's NO (zero!) condemnation for those who are in Christ. God's not
looking for our good works that we run around trying to perform so as to get
His attention somehow. We already have His attention. We're His favourite!
He's made us worthy!
All He requires of us is our availability and willingness - so that His life
can flow through us, His earthen vessels!
THE 'WHAT IF' FACTOR
I thought I'd just throw in this story. This is definitely one that baffled
me for a long time! If you have the answer, I'd love to hear it!
I was in Harrismith 2 years ago, visiting a pastor friend of mine. We prayed
for his neighbour's daughter who was about 12 years old. She was suffering
from an unknown muscle disease. It had become so severe that she had been
taken out of school because she could hardly hold a pen! Literally every
single muscle in her body was paining - all the time! Can you imagine every
muscle from your toes right up through your legs, back, neck, face etc. in
pain 24/7?
As we prayed for her that Saturday morning, the glory of God was so thick in
that place. We had been worshiping and praying in the lounge for hours! She
stepped into the glory and was completely healed within a few minutes.
I told her, "Freely you have received, freely give!" and we went straight to
town with her to minister to people on the street. This girl went with such
boldness! Going ahead of us (we tried to keep up!) I remember her praying
for a Gogo who had 3rd degree burns. She wept because she couldn't embrace
her grandchildren. If they tried to hug her, she would scream out because of
the pain! After this girl prayed for her, she was 100% healed. The Gogo was
slapping herself with no pain! The next Kathryn Kuhlman was prowling the
streets! We watched in amazement how a 12 year old just loved people and
grownups were weeping as she ministered to them! WOW what a success story
right?! Healed by 10am and healing the sick by 10:30! I went home that
afternoon ecstatic!
The next morning I had a call from the pastor who informed me that around
3pm, the pain had returned and the girl was in a worse state then before!
What? I got so angry with that devil and made plans to go back and sort it
out - not with arrogance but with the authority we have (read David and
Goliath)! But the family, who were very religious (in the Pharisee sense),
wouldn't allow us near her to pray for her again and every door slammed
shut! This amazing story seemed to backfire horribly. What an attack on
destiny!
I was very disappointed, but God used that situation to teach me one of
life's powerful lessons:
We are the vessels; He's the One who does it. The results are not up to us.
Our purpose is to be available and willing, have faith and trust in God. The
results are up to Him - not us! That's why I can pray for any sickness or a
cripple and not be scared to try again if they don't get healed! I've prayed
for people with cancer who experienced instant healing and prayed for others
with more faith, more expectancy, and they passed on to eternity.
It is humbling for sure when they don't get healed but since when are we
supposed to have a reputation?! Without pride and a reputation, you have
nothing to lose and everything to gain!
Hebrews 6:12 In order that you may not grow disinterested and become
[spiritual] sluggards, but imitators, behaving as do those who through faith
and by practice of patient endurance and waiting are [now] inheriting the
promises.
Since then, the Lord has opened the door for the pastor and his wife to
minister to and counsel the family. The family's growing spiritually and are
receptive and the girl is much better and returned to school this year. The
Lord knows what He's doing and we trust in Him!
The Bible says that without faith, it's impossible to please God. In other
words, the way we please God is through faith! Results belong to God.
Therefore, God is just as pleased when I pray and see a miracle and when I
pray and nothing happens! As long as I have faith!
If it was all about apparent results, Jesus ministry was a huge flop! He
healed thousands, fed probably well over 10 thousand people supernaturally,
had crowds trampling each other just to see Him, and eventually had 120 to
show for it! (Acts 2)
Hebrews 10:23 So let us seize and hold fast and retain without wavering the
hope we cherish, for He Who promised is reliable (sure) and
faithful to His word. And let us consider and give attentive, continuous
care to watching over one another, studying how we may stir up to love and
helpful deeds and noble activities.
May you continue in the work without growing weary in well doing because in
due time. we shall reap if we do not faint, cease and lose heart. (Gal 6:9)
Be blessed!
Milkshake or Braaivleis
21/11/12 10:32
Tess and I have just come back from ministering in Vryheid and we were so amazed at what God had in store for the unsuspecting public!
We arrived about 2 hours early and decided to “test the waters” and see what God wanted to do.
We found a large Shoprite supermarket and immediately went crutch hunting! It wasn't long before we found what we were looking for – a perfect candidate and recipient of a miracle!
This lady's foot had been ridden over by a car 11 months ago and she was still very much in pain and dependent on her crutch. We prayed and she was 90% healed. As she walked off, her son, a Shoprite employee, said, “Praise God, my mom is healed! She couldn't walk like that before!”
We proceeded to look for others to share the love and power of God with and came across about 8 people. There was a lady there who looked very ill. We were told that she had cervical cancer and the hospital said they could operate only in October 2011! Her sister begged us to pray for her and said, “While we're waiting for October to come, my sister is dying!”
She had much pain and 2 cancerous growths in the stomach area. God touched her and instantly she was healed! She checked herself and told her sister in Zulu (which fortunately I could understand) that the lumps had disappeared and the pain was gone! PRAISE GOD! She began to walk and sported a beautiful smile!
The angels must have been walking behind people pushing them in our direction because within minutes a crowd had formed and we spent the next hour or 2 praying for people for all kinds of pains, sicknesses and needs. Almost every one of the people (about 30) were instantly healed! It was chaos... it was glorious! Jesus was in His element that day and people were loving Him and experiencing His reality.
It was also so encouraging to see how many young Zulu men came up for prayer. In my experience, they have almost always been closed to the Gospel, but that day the Lord showed me how their hearts are crying out for God's love and reality!
God is so good!
I took Spencer, my brother-in-law, onto the Durban streets a while ago, and God taught me 2 great lessons that day! I think it will really be worth sharing...
We came across an Indian man with 2 crutches and a cast on his leg. The cast had worn through at the bottom from him trying to walk on it.
He told us that the doctor said he should rest his broken ankle to avoid complications and allow it to heal, but he was a poor man and if he didn't work, he couldn't get money to eat! He was a Christian and trusted God to heal him. We prayed for him 2 or 3 times and nothing happened! As we walked off, I said to Spencer a statement that a lot of us agree with: “It's sometimes a lot easier for unbelievers to get healed than for Christians!”
The very moment those words came out of my mouth we heard someone yelling about 50m behind us! The man we had just prayed for had suddenly been healed! He placed the 2 crutches in one hand and walked off pain-free!
And God spoke... “So where in the Bible does it prove your last statement?”
He had set me up for a mindset change! But He wasn't finished...
On our way back I told Spencer that the young black men are usually so closed to the Gospel and get a thrill out of wasting as much of my time as possible when I approach them. They therefore also steal the time of others who are open and in need of a miracle.
AGAIN... scarcely had I said this when, yes, a young black man came limping toward us! He'd been beaten and robbed the day before and was in a bad way. Some of his fingers were cut to the bone and he had an open wound on his head where they had hit him with a gun. He had bruised ribs and legs.
We prayed for healing starting with his spirit (removing spirit of fear and replacing it with love, power and a sound mind), moved onto his soul (emotions etc) and ended with his body. God did an amazing work! The young man was completely healed and even the open wounds on his head and fingers had no pain! He was filled with joy and received Jesus gladly!
Lesson no.2 learned : that statement I declared to Spencer also didn't line up with the Word.
So let's always use the Word as our basis, and not even our previous experiences. God heals Christians as readily as unbelievers because he loves and died for all equally. God is not in any way limited to whom He can touch – race, gender, or age!
The message I would like to share I feel is so necessary for the church – a challenge from the Lord's heart to move us from mediocrity to maturity, from children to sons, from condemnation to perfection!
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles (of laying foundations again and again)... let us go on to perfection! (italics mine)
I have often had people ask me or tell me that I have a GIFT of healing. My perhaps controversial response to that statement is that “I don't know and actually I really don't care!”
HEAR ME OUT...
If I'm labeled as having a certain gift, firstly, it can place an 'expectation limitation' on the person ministering ie. If I have a gift of healing, people can focus on one particular gift and have little or no expectation for God to work in any other way, like prophecy, wisdom etc.
Psalm 78:39,40 explains that they grieved God by limiting Him.
Secondly, people have used me as an excuse to say, “Well, Wendell prays for the sick and sees results because he has a gift. I don't have that gift so I'm excused from praying for the sick or prophesying etc. and expecting the same results. Send the sick to Wendell... He's got the gift.”
Sadly, that is often the feel I get from people. The gifts and anointings are available to all who will seek Him! They are developed through faith and practice (Heb. 6:12).
I understand that people are obviously called to different ministries and functions in the body of Christ, but that shouldn't place a limitation on what we can experience, expect, or flow in!
Here is my take on the SPIRITUAL GIFTS in 1 Cor. 12...
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul said he had fed them with milk (laying foundations because they were babes in Christ) yet he desired to feed the Corinthian church with meat – the mature stuff.
Then he goes on to say that “even now you are not ready for solid food, therefore I have to continue to give you … MILK.” So he continued giving them milk, and consequently I conclude that: THE REST OF HIS 1st LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS IS … MILK.
Therefore in 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul is speaking about the gifts of the Spirit, he is still giving them... MILK.
Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with milk. It is absolutely essential for every mammal and baby. But milk is essential for just that... BABIES!
You see, Jesus never operated in a gift. In 1 Cor. 12 Paul talks about the gift of knowledge, wisdom, and/or understanding (discernment).
But Isaiah 11 (Talking about Jesus) says the Spirit of knowledge, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding etc will rest upon Him.
John 3:34 says Jesus had and operated in the Spirit without measure! And that's the meat! And that's what I'm after!
Also, Jesus never said to His followers “Here's a gift of healing – go heal the sick and preach.” Nor did he say, “those of you with gifts of healing go heal, those with discerning gifts go drive out demons, and those with a gift of prophecy, you prophesy, and the rest of you are cheerleaders and spectators!”
No, Jesus didn't hand out gifts... He gave them authority in His Name over all the works of darkness!
“As the Father has sent me, even so send I you!” (John 20:21)
If Jesus sent us even as His Father sent Him, how can we expect to do what Jesus did (and greater works Jn 14:12) with anything less than the Spirit without measure? And we have this Spirit!
Galatians 4 says as long as the heir is a CHILD (under the law & needing milk), he differs nothing from a slave, although he is the MASTER (Heir or son, having full authority) of all the estate.
Verse 4-6 says: "But when the fullness of time was come God sent forth His Son... that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because we are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His son into our hearts crying Abba, Father."
When I was a young teen I really wanted to learn how to drive a tractor. I arrived at the shed and asked, then begged the labourers on the farm to give me just a 5 minute driving lesson. They were quite unwilling because it was "knock-off" time and to them I, and my pleading, became nothing less then a joke! A few years later though I started working on the farm full-time and became a son in the business. Because I had my grandfather's authority, things changed completely. Men, twice or even 3 times my age were obeying my every command (not request), and if we needed to work an hour or 2 overtime, they had to submit to me because I was no longer a child, but a son! And a son under authority!
So in Matthew 28:18, Jesus says "ALL power (Greek word is authority) is given to Me... therefore go." Therefore, if ALL authority belongs to Jesus, then the devil has no authority, and neither do we! But we are under His authority and go in His name and in His authority. And because the devil has no authority, all that he does is illegal and we have the right to do something about it!
When we were born again, we all became children of God and we know how children love gifts (1 Cor.12)! But the earth is waiting in earnest expectation for SONS TO BE REVEALED! Sons that will walk in authority and power - sons who walk in the Spirit and fullness of Isaiah 11!
As Galatians 4:5 explaines, the transition from a child to a son is not a gradual process, but rather a receiving of the great revelation of who we are and what we possess in Christ!
Let's look at these 2 Scriptures:
Col 2:9-10 For in him (Christ) dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in him.
If you have Christ, you have the fulness of God within you! You won't "one day be complete"... In Christ, you are complete!
Read this next verse emphasizing on every word!
Heb 10:14 For by a single offering, He (Christ) has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy.
That whole verse is written in the past tense! Not "will one day perfect us forever..." In His eyes, He sees us complete in Him, perfect in Him, and holy now and forever!
Now perhaps you're thinking, "wait a minute, I know I'm not perfect and the Christians around me sure ain't perfect!"
God sees us through the "it-is-finished" work of the cross. He sees us perfect through the blood of Jesus. That's why we have boldness in prayer etc because He doesn't see us with our sins and failures, He sees us as He sees Jesus - PERFECTED!
People live, hoping that one day they'll get there... instead of living and manifesting out of their perfected state purchased on the cross! They want to get from A to B, from imperfection to perfection, unholy to holy, incomplete to complete, unworthy to worthy, but IN CHRIST... we are already at B - perfect, holy, complete, worthy and we need to live and manifest Christ from there! In Him we live and move and have our being!
It's not in the becoming, it's in the being. One day, quite unsuspectingly, God boomed these words into my spirit "Why must we always DO, DO, DO, when we can just BE, BE, BE!" We are human BEINGS, not human DOINGS!
So be liberated into receiving the full work of the the cross of Christ. It's all about Him and what He has done. If I based my life and worth on my performance, I promise you, I would be constantly depressed! I work really hard at not "beating myself up" and make it my goal to base my life on His performance and, receiving sonship, aim to live a life where Christ is constantly manifested in and through me. And honestly, I feel that's the reason I have seen so many miracles etc. and God has used me extensively, because my confidence is in what He has done already and not in my prayers, fasting, or anything else!
Hebrews 12:2 "Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith..."
Now obviously we all need character building and constant spiritual growth in certain areas. We're constantly learning, but we are liberated when we realize that we learn from point B not point A! It's like an onion... we are that onion. An onion never has a strong tear-jerking smell... that is... until its fleshly layers start peeling off! We are a complete onion! We're not trying to produce a strong fragrance, we have it! But the more we pursue God, the more our layers seem to peel off and the stronger our fragrance (or anointing) becomes.
And the more we draw closer to God - walking in the Spirit, the less we will walk in the flesh. The Bible tells us that if we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. So stop trying to NOT SIN (because your focus will be on you and the sin!) and pursue walking and growing in the Spirit, looking unto Jesus constantly!
So milk is good! 1 Corinthians is very good. Drink milk and enjoy it! But don't settle on milk for your sustenance! There is so much more!
The babies are the ones who lie on their backs and cry for food - and get it. The Father's mothering nature gave the children of Israel whatever they wanted and whined for in the desert - manna, quail, water - but they limited God and never reached their promised land.
The sons open the fridge, make a milkshake, cook the meat and feast on all that's in the house - knowing all is theirs (though they didn't purchase it), they help themselves to the bounty therein - just because... they are sons!
Be liberated, be blessed
Wendell
We arrived about 2 hours early and decided to “test the waters” and see what God wanted to do.
We found a large Shoprite supermarket and immediately went crutch hunting! It wasn't long before we found what we were looking for – a perfect candidate and recipient of a miracle!
This lady's foot had been ridden over by a car 11 months ago and she was still very much in pain and dependent on her crutch. We prayed and she was 90% healed. As she walked off, her son, a Shoprite employee, said, “Praise God, my mom is healed! She couldn't walk like that before!”
We proceeded to look for others to share the love and power of God with and came across about 8 people. There was a lady there who looked very ill. We were told that she had cervical cancer and the hospital said they could operate only in October 2011! Her sister begged us to pray for her and said, “While we're waiting for October to come, my sister is dying!”
She had much pain and 2 cancerous growths in the stomach area. God touched her and instantly she was healed! She checked herself and told her sister in Zulu (which fortunately I could understand) that the lumps had disappeared and the pain was gone! PRAISE GOD! She began to walk and sported a beautiful smile!
The angels must have been walking behind people pushing them in our direction because within minutes a crowd had formed and we spent the next hour or 2 praying for people for all kinds of pains, sicknesses and needs. Almost every one of the people (about 30) were instantly healed! It was chaos... it was glorious! Jesus was in His element that day and people were loving Him and experiencing His reality.
It was also so encouraging to see how many young Zulu men came up for prayer. In my experience, they have almost always been closed to the Gospel, but that day the Lord showed me how their hearts are crying out for God's love and reality!
God is so good!
I took Spencer, my brother-in-law, onto the Durban streets a while ago, and God taught me 2 great lessons that day! I think it will really be worth sharing...
We came across an Indian man with 2 crutches and a cast on his leg. The cast had worn through at the bottom from him trying to walk on it.
He told us that the doctor said he should rest his broken ankle to avoid complications and allow it to heal, but he was a poor man and if he didn't work, he couldn't get money to eat! He was a Christian and trusted God to heal him. We prayed for him 2 or 3 times and nothing happened! As we walked off, I said to Spencer a statement that a lot of us agree with: “It's sometimes a lot easier for unbelievers to get healed than for Christians!”
The very moment those words came out of my mouth we heard someone yelling about 50m behind us! The man we had just prayed for had suddenly been healed! He placed the 2 crutches in one hand and walked off pain-free!
And God spoke... “So where in the Bible does it prove your last statement?”
He had set me up for a mindset change! But He wasn't finished...
On our way back I told Spencer that the young black men are usually so closed to the Gospel and get a thrill out of wasting as much of my time as possible when I approach them. They therefore also steal the time of others who are open and in need of a miracle.
AGAIN... scarcely had I said this when, yes, a young black man came limping toward us! He'd been beaten and robbed the day before and was in a bad way. Some of his fingers were cut to the bone and he had an open wound on his head where they had hit him with a gun. He had bruised ribs and legs.
We prayed for healing starting with his spirit (removing spirit of fear and replacing it with love, power and a sound mind), moved onto his soul (emotions etc) and ended with his body. God did an amazing work! The young man was completely healed and even the open wounds on his head and fingers had no pain! He was filled with joy and received Jesus gladly!
Lesson no.2 learned : that statement I declared to Spencer also didn't line up with the Word.
So let's always use the Word as our basis, and not even our previous experiences. God heals Christians as readily as unbelievers because he loves and died for all equally. God is not in any way limited to whom He can touch – race, gender, or age!
The message I would like to share I feel is so necessary for the church – a challenge from the Lord's heart to move us from mediocrity to maturity, from children to sons, from condemnation to perfection!
Heb 6:1 Therefore leaving the principles (of laying foundations again and again)... let us go on to perfection! (italics mine)
I have often had people ask me or tell me that I have a GIFT of healing. My perhaps controversial response to that statement is that “I don't know and actually I really don't care!”
HEAR ME OUT...
If I'm labeled as having a certain gift, firstly, it can place an 'expectation limitation' on the person ministering ie. If I have a gift of healing, people can focus on one particular gift and have little or no expectation for God to work in any other way, like prophecy, wisdom etc.
Psalm 78:39,40 explains that they grieved God by limiting Him.
Secondly, people have used me as an excuse to say, “Well, Wendell prays for the sick and sees results because he has a gift. I don't have that gift so I'm excused from praying for the sick or prophesying etc. and expecting the same results. Send the sick to Wendell... He's got the gift.”
Sadly, that is often the feel I get from people. The gifts and anointings are available to all who will seek Him! They are developed through faith and practice (Heb. 6:12).
I understand that people are obviously called to different ministries and functions in the body of Christ, but that shouldn't place a limitation on what we can experience, expect, or flow in!
Here is my take on the SPIRITUAL GIFTS in 1 Cor. 12...
In 1 Corinthians 3, Paul said he had fed them with milk (laying foundations because they were babes in Christ) yet he desired to feed the Corinthian church with meat – the mature stuff.
Then he goes on to say that “even now you are not ready for solid food, therefore I have to continue to give you … MILK.” So he continued giving them milk, and consequently I conclude that: THE REST OF HIS 1st LETTER TO THE CORINTHIANS IS … MILK.
Therefore in 1 Corinthians 12, where Paul is speaking about the gifts of the Spirit, he is still giving them... MILK.
Now there is absolutely nothing wrong with milk. It is absolutely essential for every mammal and baby. But milk is essential for just that... BABIES!
You see, Jesus never operated in a gift. In 1 Cor. 12 Paul talks about the gift of knowledge, wisdom, and/or understanding (discernment).
But Isaiah 11 (Talking about Jesus) says the Spirit of knowledge, the Spirit of wisdom, the Spirit of understanding etc will rest upon Him.
John 3:34 says Jesus had and operated in the Spirit without measure! And that's the meat! And that's what I'm after!
Also, Jesus never said to His followers “Here's a gift of healing – go heal the sick and preach.” Nor did he say, “those of you with gifts of healing go heal, those with discerning gifts go drive out demons, and those with a gift of prophecy, you prophesy, and the rest of you are cheerleaders and spectators!”
No, Jesus didn't hand out gifts... He gave them authority in His Name over all the works of darkness!
“As the Father has sent me, even so send I you!” (John 20:21)
If Jesus sent us even as His Father sent Him, how can we expect to do what Jesus did (and greater works Jn 14:12) with anything less than the Spirit without measure? And we have this Spirit!
Galatians 4 says as long as the heir is a CHILD (under the law & needing milk), he differs nothing from a slave, although he is the MASTER (Heir or son, having full authority) of all the estate.
Verse 4-6 says: "But when the fullness of time was come God sent forth His Son... that we might receive the adoption of sons. And because we are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His son into our hearts crying Abba, Father."
When I was a young teen I really wanted to learn how to drive a tractor. I arrived at the shed and asked, then begged the labourers on the farm to give me just a 5 minute driving lesson. They were quite unwilling because it was "knock-off" time and to them I, and my pleading, became nothing less then a joke! A few years later though I started working on the farm full-time and became a son in the business. Because I had my grandfather's authority, things changed completely. Men, twice or even 3 times my age were obeying my every command (not request), and if we needed to work an hour or 2 overtime, they had to submit to me because I was no longer a child, but a son! And a son under authority!
So in Matthew 28:18, Jesus says "ALL power (Greek word is authority) is given to Me... therefore go." Therefore, if ALL authority belongs to Jesus, then the devil has no authority, and neither do we! But we are under His authority and go in His name and in His authority. And because the devil has no authority, all that he does is illegal and we have the right to do something about it!
When we were born again, we all became children of God and we know how children love gifts (1 Cor.12)! But the earth is waiting in earnest expectation for SONS TO BE REVEALED! Sons that will walk in authority and power - sons who walk in the Spirit and fullness of Isaiah 11!
As Galatians 4:5 explaines, the transition from a child to a son is not a gradual process, but rather a receiving of the great revelation of who we are and what we possess in Christ!
Let's look at these 2 Scriptures:
Col 2:9-10 For in him (Christ) dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And you are complete in him.
If you have Christ, you have the fulness of God within you! You won't "one day be complete"... In Christ, you are complete!
Read this next verse emphasizing on every word!
Heb 10:14 For by a single offering, He (Christ) has forever completely cleansed and perfected those who are consecrated and made holy.
That whole verse is written in the past tense! Not "will one day perfect us forever..." In His eyes, He sees us complete in Him, perfect in Him, and holy now and forever!
Now perhaps you're thinking, "wait a minute, I know I'm not perfect and the Christians around me sure ain't perfect!"
God sees us through the "it-is-finished" work of the cross. He sees us perfect through the blood of Jesus. That's why we have boldness in prayer etc because He doesn't see us with our sins and failures, He sees us as He sees Jesus - PERFECTED!
People live, hoping that one day they'll get there... instead of living and manifesting out of their perfected state purchased on the cross! They want to get from A to B, from imperfection to perfection, unholy to holy, incomplete to complete, unworthy to worthy, but IN CHRIST... we are already at B - perfect, holy, complete, worthy and we need to live and manifest Christ from there! In Him we live and move and have our being!
It's not in the becoming, it's in the being. One day, quite unsuspectingly, God boomed these words into my spirit "Why must we always DO, DO, DO, when we can just BE, BE, BE!" We are human BEINGS, not human DOINGS!
So be liberated into receiving the full work of the the cross of Christ. It's all about Him and what He has done. If I based my life and worth on my performance, I promise you, I would be constantly depressed! I work really hard at not "beating myself up" and make it my goal to base my life on His performance and, receiving sonship, aim to live a life where Christ is constantly manifested in and through me. And honestly, I feel that's the reason I have seen so many miracles etc. and God has used me extensively, because my confidence is in what He has done already and not in my prayers, fasting, or anything else!
Hebrews 12:2 "Looking away [from all that will distract] to Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith..."
Now obviously we all need character building and constant spiritual growth in certain areas. We're constantly learning, but we are liberated when we realize that we learn from point B not point A! It's like an onion... we are that onion. An onion never has a strong tear-jerking smell... that is... until its fleshly layers start peeling off! We are a complete onion! We're not trying to produce a strong fragrance, we have it! But the more we pursue God, the more our layers seem to peel off and the stronger our fragrance (or anointing) becomes.
And the more we draw closer to God - walking in the Spirit, the less we will walk in the flesh. The Bible tells us that if we walk in the Spirit, we will not fulfill the lusts of the flesh. So stop trying to NOT SIN (because your focus will be on you and the sin!) and pursue walking and growing in the Spirit, looking unto Jesus constantly!
So milk is good! 1 Corinthians is very good. Drink milk and enjoy it! But don't settle on milk for your sustenance! There is so much more!
The babies are the ones who lie on their backs and cry for food - and get it. The Father's mothering nature gave the children of Israel whatever they wanted and whined for in the desert - manna, quail, water - but they limited God and never reached their promised land.
The sons open the fridge, make a milkshake, cook the meat and feast on all that's in the house - knowing all is theirs (though they didn't purchase it), they help themselves to the bounty therein - just because... they are sons!
Be liberated, be blessed
Wendell