As co-laborers in the Kingdom of God, we must learn to cooperate with one another and appreciate the value of God's Assignments on each others lives. For this reason, this page is dedicated to the Work, Word and Wisdom of others in Ministry!
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Fighting Witchcraft in Me
By: Richard Gazowsky
Recently the Lord called me to an extensive period of prayer, to do some deep cleaning in my life. I hadn’t known that the deep cleaning in me would also have a lasting impact on how other people affected and controlled my life. Sometimes we don’t understand how spiritual links are made. Spiritual links are emotional ties that are connected to either the opinion or instructions of others. If these ties are illegitimate, they are also dangerous and may deeply affect your ability to progress in life. The subject I am dealing with may seem to be very sensitive, and perhaps even a bit too detailed. You must understand, however, that it affects the entire journey of your life, and may literally determine what type of person you become or what style of living you will enjoy. Personal evaluation is therefore vital to anyone seeking a higher standard of spiritual or physical living. This is the price that has to be paid!
This journey cannot be made without the guidance of the Holy Spirit. It is the infilling (or baptism) of the Holy Ghost that empowers you to make such a drastic change. I recently interviewed different Russian scientists who were both raised and worked under the Russian Communist regime. I had not been aware of how intensely overbearing Communism was. People were taught to spy on their neighbors. If anyone simply remodeled their house, they were reported to the KGB and were made to give account about the extra money they’d gotten to remodel. This also put them on a “corruption” list, which meant numerous police visits. The scientists told me that it was unbearable to be forced to live at one social status when every man, woman, and child has the same desire that we Americans have to break out of “the pack” and be successful. The Russian scientist who was sharing the story was amazed at what Ronald Regan accomplished in one day, which we know was from the Lord. The day that the Berlin Wall fell the spirit of communism was broken throughout the lives of nearly a billion people in the Soviet block, and the government’s control was removed as the people became free. The men told me that the change was most evident when neighbors watched people they had known their entire lives become instantly inspired to start a farm, a store, a business or anything else they could call their own.
The spirit of communism is a form of witchcraft, and in the example presented, a government using it. Witchcraft by definition means a “controlling spirit” and it is a controlling spirit that tries to bind you and me from moving out of the status quo we are living in. We often refer to this form of control as a “religious spirit” because in America it is most visible within formal religions. This is no condemnation of churches; I pastor one myself. Nor does it mean that governments, employers and families are suspect, though controlling spirits may exist in each one of them. God wants us to deal with the controlling spirit itself and break its power over our personal lives. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “He that the Son has set free is free indeed.” Israel talked about being freed from slavery, but the Egyptians were only the “surface” problem. As the Jewish slaves moved into the freedom of the wilderness, they had to deal with a slave mentality that was still chaining them down. They were not prepared to enter into the promised land because they felt like they were just grasshoppers compared to the owners of Canaan’s land who were giants. This slave mentality was chained to their minds from the days of Egyptian slavery, pounded into their spirits, and is a form of witchcraft, or a “controlling spirit”. This spirit was so iron clad that God had to destroy an entire generation before it could be broken. As in Russia, it may appear to you that the witchcraft chains on your life are almost completely unbreakable. Trust the Lord, and in one moment He can break you free.
As I mentioned, this is no attempt to free you from witchcraft, nor are you going to be helped the advice of some counselor. This is so intimate and personal that you are going to have to trust the Holy Spirit to guide you Himself. It is only intimacy with God that is going to bring any lasting results.
A few things I have learned in my experience:
About six years ago the Lord told me to move into my mother’s house to help care for her. My mother founded the church that I now pastor, and those of you who know her know how strong her personality is. She is not embarrassed to share her opinion about anything. I am also a strong leader and also have no problem sharing my opinion about anything. Therefore, my mother and I seemed to be in conflict daily. Now that I am the senior pastor of the church, I have to make decisions that she may disagree with, but at the same time she is my mother and my landlord. When I am in her house, I am under her covering. As you can imagine, these dynamics have led to heated discussions, and there were times when my mother and I have said things that I wish I could erase from my memory. Finally, God called me to a time of extended prayer and fasting, and during this time He said, “Richard, the whole problem you are having with your mother is not about your mother at all; thou art the man.” It was almost like a nuclear explosion happened in my own spirit; a burning flame raged through the interior of my body. I had been harboring a controlling spirit, which wanted to control my mother, and this was witchcraft in me.
The Lord has shown me during the past year how to approach my mother without confronting her. He told me that when I was to make a change which she might find difficult, that a bit of eloquence was better than a blunt sword. He also showed me to compliment her daily, and even hourly, because these are the latter years when she is to enjoy the fruits of her labor. I was chosen by God to make sure that she did enjoy it. When she saw something that was wrong in my children, family, church and personal life, that I was to listen to her, not confront her. I should listen to her advice though I would still need to ask the Lord whether or not to obey it. The amazing change in our relationship was just as stunning as the change in Russia; it brought a completely new level of freedom to our relationship. Yesterday evening, as I was leaving the house, my mom (87 years old), was telling jokes, giggling with my kids and waving good-bye to Sandy and me as we drove off to church and she readied herself for an early bedtime. A thought hit me. Wow! This was like leaving Disneyland and having the fairy godmother sprinkle pixie dust on me. I suddenly saw a vision of myself as a 7-year-old boy huddled by the fence in the corner of my family’s backyard, as I was trying to get away from the sounds of my dad yelling at my mom. At that point I couldn’t run any further; the fence was as far as I could go. The sounds of anger and the spirit of witchcraft still gripped my little heart and soul. Oh, how I wanted to be free from the fear that arguments and control brings, and now at 55 years of age I have finally found that freedom, and all the time it was about me. You may say, “No Richard! It is not you; blame the other people.” That, however, is not true; it never was the others. It was always me, because I chose to judge them. See, that is the key, it happens when you choose to “judge them”. But, of course, that is another blog.
The Next Decade: A New Generation of Blessings,
Entrepreneurs, and Creative Expression
We are standing as it were at the banks of the Jordan, and generational shift is occurring as it did with Moses and Joshua and as it did with Elijah and Elisha. The crossing of the Jordan is about a shift in the economy of God and the administration of the move of God. A generation that was rooted in warring for survival is passing off the scene and a generation more open and more capable of facing the unfolding of the future and warring for possession of their inheritance-not merely as individuals, rather more importantly as tribes-is going to emerge. Whether we use the metaphor of the Ark of the Covenant going ahead of us being carried on the soft shoulders of the priests or we use the metaphor of the mantle of the prophet being used to part the waters-a threshold is going to be crossed in the coming days as we've entered this new decade.
The SPEED OF CHANGE (Daniel 12:4) will increase at a rapid level in the coming era and we will experience radical acceleration into the new and unexplored dimensions of the Word and the Spirit as we are strategically prepared, strategically postured, and strategically positioned for what wants to emerge out of the invisible into the visible relative to Kingdom expansion and enlargement.
Daniel 12:4 But you, Daniel, close up and seal the words of the scroll until the time of the end. Many will go here and there to increase knowledge.
Blessings for a New Generation
With strategic preparation (as in the lives of the children born in the wilderness who enter the land and now are told to prepare provision for a crossing over in three days, and the dealings of God with Elisha in Abel-meholah where the mantle will fall upon him while he is plowing, which is the first step in harvesting), and strategic posturing (which for the generation under Joshua required a fresh circumcision and cutting of the flesh, and for Elisha a sacrifice of everything he had ever worked for in order to pursue the calling inherent in the mantle which had already fallen upon him; both metaphors describing the fresh and radical embrace of the crucified life and the cauterizing power of the Cross which releases the power and glory of the throne), and strategic positioning (following the first two stages, the tribes will find themselves in the right place at the right time)-there will be the opening of strategic portals, gateways and places of access and transition and change (both of which will be constant in the coming days) that will, for those ready to adapt with precision and skill, open up avenues of rich and fertile resources and blessings held in trust for this new generation.
For those who long for the nostalgia of past days of glory, there will be a brief period of what looks like a return to a former day in the move of God, as it were when the sons of the prophets begged Elisha that they seek out the whereabouts of the departed Elijah (which also was a short three-day journey, the invitation being to die to a former move, bury it as part of something complete, and rise to the new era that is dawning).
A new thing will begin to unfold for those who, according to Isaiah, are "aware of it." While the new move of God will not move the "ancient landmarks" that have been established by the fathers, it will find fresh applications and fresh processes for the fleshing out of the Word (when Jesus came to earth, when the Word became flesh, see John 1:14) as the Body embodies the testimony of Jesus, which is what ultimately the spirit of prophecy is all about.
New Generation of Entrepreneurs
In the process of this unfolding, both in the meeting place and in the marketplace, there will be a recovery of a godly work ethic as well as the recovery of a "can-do" spirit. This will spark innovation, ingenuity and creativity, and a renewed spirit of servanthood, which will be attested to and endorsed by God with signs, wonders and the miraculous.
Enterprise will get bigger by getting smaller. The rise of a new generation of entrepreneurs in the Kingdom, who have goods and services to offer the marketplace for the well-being of all, will find many open doors for their trade and craft. God will shake many more major monopolies, and make room for values-based and morally and ethically sound entrepreneurs to rebuild the economy of the nation and the nations.
A Generation of New Expression and Creative Evangelism
In addition, as the level of gifting and creativity increases in the arts, there will be more outlets for the expression of creativity and culture. As it was in the Renaissance, where culture was elevated because of the influence of the Reformation, so there will be a move of a generation who will bring a fresh expression of purity to the arts and media. Production companies and studio sent entertainment industry. built specifically for Kingdom purposes will rise in many locations and even unexpected locations, and will produce first-class quality products that will rival what is done in the
The Internet will become a vast place of opportunity for the arts, drama, commerce, and even news from a Biblical perspective and worldview. The world as our parents, grandparents, and great grandparents have known it will no longer be the world we live in. Alvin Toffler called the Information Age the third wave (the first being the Agricultural Wave which lasted for thousands of years, the 2nd being the Industrial Age which lasted for about a century and a half). The Information Age is fast morphing into an age unnamed as yet, and for the Believer we will enter into a time of seeing the "plowman overtake the reaper."
Unprecedented opportunity for the harvest of souls will be present because of the major global shifts and the continued shaking of the nations by the Voice of the Lord. There will be multitudes in the valley of decision and there will be great campaigns on many continents and in many creative ways for the evangelization of the people groups of the earth.
Dr. Mark J. Chironna
Mark Chironna Ministries
Email: markchironna@markchironna.com
December 20, 2009
TESTING~THIS IS ONLY A TEST by ELAINE TAVOLACCI
Staten Island, NY
www.awordinseason.info
I have a word from the Lord
for those of you that have been going through a difficult season and it
seems like all the promises of God and the prophetic words that were
spoken over your life will never come to pass. The other night I had a
dream and in the dream I was writing down these words that I heard:
“Testing, This is only a Test”. It sounded like something that I heard
years ago on the television saying: This station will conduct a test
from the Emergency Broadcast System, this is only a test. I record all
my dreams during the night that have spiritual significance and I knew
that this dream was a word from the Lord and it has certainly been
confirmed several times this week. There are many of you that know that
you were called to a particular ministry or some other plan that the
Lord has for your life but if you look at things in the natural, your
circumstances don't seem to line up with your promise. God tests us to
prove us so that He could move us into the position that He has for us.
As Joseph was being tested he didn't sit in the dungeons in fear or
worry but he stayed plugged in to Gods agenda and didn't allow a root of
bitterness to enter in. He kept himself clean in the eyes of God when
Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him. He never retaliated even when he
was scorned and beaten. Psalm 105: 16 – 22 shows us how God turned
Joseph’s life around but verse 19 explains it all.
Psalm 105:19
Until the time that his word came to pass, The word of the Lord tested
him.
Joseph had two dreams. In the first dream the sheaves of grain were
bowing down to him. That represented his earthly authority and favor
with man that God was going to give him. In the second dream the sun and
moon and eleven stars were bowing down to him. That represented his
Spiritual authority and favor with God that He was going to release to
Joseph. Did these promises come to pass? Yes but if you read the life of
Joseph you will see all the adversity that he went through until the
word came to pass. If he looked at things in the natural he would have
thought that he missed God but he was fully persuaded of what God had
shown him. Now I am not saying that everyone will go through devastating
trials that has a calling but what I am saying is that this is the
reason why many of you are going through difficult times. Many of you
seem to be in a constant battle and you don't understand what is
happening. God doesn't cause these things to happen but sometimes He
allows them to test your character. Joseph’s own brothers sold him into
slavery right after he had those dreams. How many of you have brothers
and sisters that think that you are losing your mind because you are
believing God for something unattainable in the natural? Even some of
your Christian friends won't understand you when you have a significant
calling on your life. Many years later when Joseph came into his promise
he met with his brothers again and forgave them. This is what he said:
Genesis 50: 20
But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in
order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.
You may have been through betrayals and injustice. People may have
spoken all kinds of evil against you. If you have a calling on your life
you are going to be tested. God can never tempt us but He will test us.
I heard a very profound statement this week. Don't let your talent take
you where your character can't keep you. Joseph certainly was a man of
honorable character.
As I said last week we are coming into a great move of God and Jesus has
awesome plans but you must be positioned for your destiny. Recognize the
test. Stay steadfast and don't lose your focus as you allow Jesus to
work character and integrity in your life.
DEBRA LOWE
About the Author
Called, appointed and anointed by God, Pastor Debra Lowe has been called to the forefront to pastor along side her husband, Michael Lowe at Hesed Ministries. Pastor Debra has served the Lord for 28 years. Called as a Prophet to the nation she also walks in the office of teacher and is an intercessor. Pastor Debra has used these gifts to minister to the body of Christ, teaching men, women and children to enter into His presence causing them to mature and be changed by His Word. As a servant of the Most High God she brings forth a word in due season to the body of Christ.
In My house that is being purified, there is a people that is rising that will not need or require man's rewards, favor or approval. They are My unique and powerful breed, a company of anointed believers that are unstoppable. These precious ones are dedicated and set apart for My holy purposes. They respond only to My voice and they will not bow to man's voices. Only one Master do they truly serve, they do not serve mammon, fame, fortune or favor. When they speak, they speak only My Words with signs and wonders following. Many are offended by these that are yielded to Me, and because of their offense, the Word comes to them as an abrasive thing. I have lifted these anointed ones to uncover and reveal the false systems that have been hiding in My Church. Purging and purifying My house and preparing My children for Me. Washing out all of the spots and the blemishes in My House. It is because of My mercy that My people have not been consumed. I have often kept back the full force of My glory, so that My children would not be consumed. I hear the passionate cries for more of My glory from those with a pure heart and that is why there must be a shaking to purge. It is My will to fill My House with My glory, so that My children will again shine in darkness. So that the whole world will see and know that there is a true God. Do not despise or be offended with those who come and compel you to return to your first Love. For those who will return and repent there is a refreshing and a reviving. I will take the weak and wounded places in your heart and make them become a strong place to minister and flow as a healing river for the afflicted and broken in this world. Those who will walk in this greater anointing and power will be the ones that have been convicted in their hearts and have sought me in the secret times. They are not trusting in their own self righteousness nor in their religious pride. Now they are yielding to a greater degree of holiness and separation, and they will cleanse My Bride and prepare her for Me. They are true ministers who care for My people. They have My heart. They have endured much for My Name, persecution, rejection, accusations, abuse, being misjudged and being forsaken. These are My people, My ministers, you are the flames of My fire.
Scripture References: Ephes.5:26-27; II Peter 2:13: Jude12; Rom. 6:19; Lam.3:22
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WHEN HARSH WINDS BLOW
by Mary Lindow
As I have pondered them and have allowed the Voice of the Holy Spirit to instruct me as to why I have been impressed with this rather "unwavering statement" I sense the Lord addressing many deeper issues that are well anchored and maintained within our souls as believers.
Often when listening to the traumatic stories of those who have lived through a nightmarish storm, the realities of what they hold near and dear have been laid bare and brought to the surface. Many weep over the loss of family photographs or tender things like Grandma's old chipped china and are unconcerned about larger material items, but are deeply thankful for the safety of family members after a traumatic event. Others, are shaking fists at the sky and are enraged that they have been infringed upon during a difficult time, and want somebody else to pay for it!
THE HARSH WINDS OF LIFE BLOW UPON THE GODLY. .AND THE UNGODLY. NO ONE IS EXEMPT.
There are some of life's storms that threaten to blow away everything we've depended on as well.
Friendships are tested, relationships are strained, and the Lord uses these harsh winds blowing against our lives to remove the crusty chaff that can form and harden around the seed of our lives.
Those who are independent in nature find a bitterness creeping into their attitudes and heart. They feel infringed upon when things are not easily controlled or maneuvered in their favor. And so, the Holy Spirit allows the winds to blow until a conviction penetrates the self centered soul and exposes the fleshy comfort zone of, "My Way, My World, My Rights"!
"No man has power over the wind to contain it; so no one has power over the day of his death. As no one is discharged in time of war, so wickedness will not release those who practice it." Ecclesiastes 8:8
HOW LONG WILL THE HARSH WINDS BLOW?
As long as we practice wicked behavior in the eyes of the Lord, and no matter how hard we try, we cannot stop it! He is winnowing us, allowing us to be caught up into the refining wind of the Holy Spirit's conviction so that the chaff and waste places in our souls is removed.
CHAFF MUST GO! WHY?
Chaff is a waste material plowed into the soil or burned.
Chaff, as a waste product from grain processing, shows us a symbolic use of the idea that refers to something seen as worthless. This is where we read, "to separate the wheat from the chaff" from Matthew 3. It means to separate things of value from things of no value. Another example is in Psalm 1 which says: "Not so the wicked! They are like chaff that the wind blows away".
We Christians often presume that because we are redeemed through the beautiful sacrifice of Christ for our lives, that we have an opportunity for an easier and more privileged life.
This is simply not so! We are given a shield and a "holy stamina" to withstand the wiles of this world, but no free passes to a life of ease.
The Lord loves ALL of mankind. He longs for ALL of mankind, (that includes you and I) to come to a place of trust in His way.not our way. Fully stripped of self-will, self-gratification, self- justification, and self-focus.
"He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." Matthew 5:45
I KNOW! I KNOW! THIS STINGS!
"But if you harbor bitter envy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast about it or deny the truth." James 3:14
I can hear a few "righteous folks" saying, " I would never boast about envy!" Well! Selfish ambition is well hidden in our personal behaviors. We offer gifts or opportunities for others to be blessed or helped as long as we are feeling in control and benevolent at the time of the offer or good intention. But when the winds of life shift and the Lord allows the chaff of "waste materials" of our soul to be "Tornadoed" -bitterness and exclusive rights abound!
Huffiness, abrupt harshness and passive aggression will manifest and expose the soul's clinging nature which does not want the hand of God striping away any safety veneer that we use to protect our approach to life.
A CHANGE IN THE SPIRITUAL CLIMATE HAS OCCURRED!
"A strong wind was blowing and the waters grew rough." John 6:18
Jesus allowed the wind to be a teaching point for his disciples. They had walked with Him, talked with Him and served alongside Him. But trusting Him when the Storms and Harsh winds blew reveal a weakness that we all must look at, and often. We trust the Lord when things are going our way, but when the Harshness of a storm blows us off the course that we set, many times we run to our own devices or Plan B.
So many at this time in this difficult age are screaming, " Lord! Don't you care about me? The winds are blowing, and I am fearful for my life! If you Love me, why are you allowing this horrid event to occur?
Even Peter in his zeal to get out a boat and see if it was indeed Jesus calling to him to come, once he was out of the safety of his own control and the winds blew against him, he focused on it, and not upon Jesus, who was there the whole time. Peter cries out, "LORD I am Perishing SAVE ME!!"
CONTROL IS A DEEP, DEEP NEED
Perhaps the deepest need people have is for control. When we feel out of control, we experience a powerful and uncomfortable tension between the need for control and the evidence of inadequate control.
Without the Presence of God in our lives we will attempt to control everything, every event and every person around us in order to attain the sense of order that we crave.
DRAWING NEAR TO GOD
It was James, the brother of Jesus, who wrote to the believers in Jerusalem, "Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, sinners, and purify your hearts, double-minded people!" (James 4:8).
If we draw near to God, he will respond and draw near to us. Drawing near to God is spending time with Him, worshiping Him, praying and talking to Him, inviting Him into every aspect of our lives.
BRING YOUR HEART UNDER HIS LORDSHIP
James then gives us the blueprint for drawing near. If you've committed sin, confess it, get rid of it.
Next, ask the Lord to examine your heart, your motives, and the things that make you do what you do. Bring your heart under His lordship as well. May our actions be manifestations of a clean heart and conscience. Allow HIM to remove the Chaff, the wasted time controlling things, and TRUST Him to align your life.
Notice that when he writes about this he says, "Purify your hearts, double-minded people." What does he mean by "double-minded"? A person who is double-minded is drawn in two completely different directions. And so he or she will get nowhere fast because loyalty is divided and they will vacillate between faith and unbelief. A double-minded person is unstable in all his/her ways and his/her spiritual walk is inconsistent because he/she tries to serve God and his/her own interests and gamble their life against the Harsh Winds. We've all learned that this kind of living never works. You cannot serve two masters.
GOD DOESN'T PLAY GAMES!
No one is going to get very far with God by playing spiritual games. It will soon be discovered that the only people playing the game with you will be "me, myself, and I." It's just like people thinking that they can "ride the fence" into the kingdom. There is no riding the fence, there is no lukewarm support group-you're either in or out. If we really want to know Him, we are going to have to get serious about our relationship with Him.
A MOMENT IN HIS ANGER - A LIFETIME IN HIS FAVOR.
God disciplines for a moment when He wishes to get our attention and our lives may indeed become painful for a period, but then comes His favor. God doesn't delight in either our depression or our damage. When He begins to deal with the chaff in our lives, it is for our advantage, that we may be conformed to His likeness and reflect His holiness.
When we sense God's disapproval, when it appears He has withdrawn from us, it is only so that we see our utter need of Him.
When life seems to be so sour, when everything crumbles, we must remember what we say we believe, that God's favor is with us, because of Christ's wrthiness given to us, because we are adopted and His - which means that His favor always wins out over His disapproval.
This picture is painted well by the words "Weeping remains for a night." Weeping and sorrow are pictured as a traveler who comes to stay for a night. The pain and sorrow we feel may seem as though it has moved in with us like an unwelcomed
guest who decides to stay for a very long time.
BUT, REJOICING COMES IN THE MORNING.
Your mourning will dissipate in the morning. Your winter will melt into summer.
God will replace your sighing with singing. Grief will give way to gladness.
What was once bitter will be made sweet, what was once a desolate wilderness will be transformed into a paradise.
Like the first rays of the sunrise which dispel the harsh winds and gloom of night, God gives us joy when the darkness of our problems seem as though they'll never leave.
YOUR CROSS - HIS GLORY
What is so crucial to understand is that as a Christian, your life will be filled with times of weakness and strength, with want and wealth, with disgrace and honor, with crosses and comforts, miseries and mercies, joys and sorrows, delight and mourning. And as this cycle of separating Chaff from our lives reoccurs many times in our lives it moves us from the cross to glory.
For your own health and so that you find all your satisfaction in Christ alone, God will send you times of great growth and other times of emptiness.
When the harsh winds blow, know that God desires that you find your hope and comfort by His own fire.
When the balmy breezes come, give Him praise and thanksgiving for the warmth He provides.
"Have mercy on me, O God, have mercy on me, for in you my soul takes refuge.
I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings until the disaster has passed."
Psalm 57:1
By Mary Lindow
