Category Archives: OTHER AUTHORS

“Occupy the Revelation God Has Given You!” Faith Marie Baczko

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“Occupy the Revelation God Has Given You!” Faith Marie Baczko, Oakville, Ontario, Canada

 

In my last word, I shared about a new season I believe we were entering into on 11/11/18, where many would be leaving the wilderness warfare behind with the strength and fortitude to possess their promised lands. I would like to share some keys God has provided to enter into this new season and hold this position. The first is regarding the new wineskin.

The New Wineskin

The Lord showed me that the mind of the Body of Christ is the wineskin that must now become new to contain His new wine. We sometimes associate the new wineskin with a new Church structure or new model, however new models and structures having the capacity to contain God’s new dynamic, comes first with the renewing of the mind. This is a supernatural reformation infusing us with the ability to receive and process the new wine. Transformation can then take place as a natural progression of the outpouring of new wine—an outpouring carrying the vision and DNA for the new season, containing fresh revelations of the majesty of the exalted Christ.

The mind must be renewed and refashioned to withstand the challenges of the new season we have entered in order to rightly comprehend and process the purposes of God in it. The mind must be rewired to receive and accept a fresh spiritual dynamic intended to take us into a new dimension of God’s glory.

“It is imperative that we overcome the darkness and the flesh, and begin to occupy the revelations God has given us, and occupy and live in His Word by camping out on it until we fully believe it and it become woven into our DNA!”

Transformation into the new wineskin requires that the old has to go. The old is characterized by small mindedness, religious mindsets bound to control, un-Christlike attitudes devoid of God’s love and compassion, and irrelevant traditions no longer serving the Lord that are actually working to hinder His purposes in the new work.

“Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God’s will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in His eyes.” (Rom. 12:2 The Passion Translation)

The new wineskin is a mind that possesses the capacity to change, to be transformed, to perceive and to track with the movements of God, to hold fresh revelation, released in appointed times for appointed times. “See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?” (Is. 43:19). We are greatly restricted in the perceiving of God’s new thing by limited thinking. Our vision must be enlarged to see the depth, the height and the width of the fullness of the God’s majestic picture in order to comprehend His strategies and partner with Him for bringing it into reality.

Vision for God’s new thing can be received by the mind that has been transformed and made pliable through brokenness, humility, love and compassion, and the deep desire to bow to the will of God. New levels and new dimensions of glory await those willing to make necessary changes. Let’s stretch our vision in this hour to see something more marvelous than we have seen previously.

Occupy The Revelation

The old wineskin cannot occupy new territory. The Lord has given much revelation—whether for my life or ministry—that has given me great joy, hope and expectation. However, with the trials of life, I sometimes find myself returning to an old place of uncertainty, once again seeking Him for direction. I was in such a place when I heard Him say, “Occupy the revelation!” With this statement came an understanding that we must not lose the anointed, supernatural seed and the divine impact to our spirit, which comes from heavenly, Holy Spirit revelation. The revelation (rather than moving us on to take spiritual ground) can become lost because of the mind’s inability or lack of capacity to hold on to it! (Photo via Wikimedia Commons)

Our soul is comprised of mind, will and emotion and is easily impacted by the trials and circumstances of life if not fiercely guarded and protected by faith in Christ—the Divine Shield that protects from all the elements of life. If the mind is not guarded it will easily be infiltrated by fear, doubt and unbelief. These are the fruits of an orphan spirit. The thief will always attempt to steal the revelation and push us off the ground God intends for us to occupy.

The Orphan Spirit Breeds:

• Insecurity that convinces you that you are not worthy and therefore don’t belong.

• Doubt and unbelief that convinces you things will never change and that you are not capable of holding it if they do!

• Fear of taking the risk to believe and therefore act, and if you do, you will be making a mistake.

• Intimidation and fear of man that says “you are not good enough” and convinces you to stay hidden.

Let’s present ourselves before the Lord and be willing to receive understanding of old negative mindsets which can hinder our perspective and our ability to hold revelation. This includes any mindsets that are limited, rigid and restricted, and unable to embrace the glorious destiny God has prepared for the lives of His people. The old wineskin is one of fear, lack and limitation. God’s intention for His people is that we receive the spirit of sonship which convinces us that we are sons and daughters of God—fully accepted in the beloved, prepared and equipped for the greatest move on Earth!

“The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.'” (Rom. 8:15 NIV)

Let’s begin to occupy the revelations God has given to us and live in His Word by camping out on it until we fully believe it and it becomes woven into our DNA! It’s time to forcefully resist the lies of the enemy, know that we are fully accepted in the Beloved and move out in the power of His might.

Decide and Declare It

How do we occupy the revelation of His Word for us? God spoke to my heart and said, “You decide!” There were times when I sought the Lord for details of His intentions for my life or the ministry He had given me, then I would get frustrated when I did not hear or could not understand His direction. I began to understand that as we grow in maturity in the stature of Christ, having our minds continually renewed, we become mothers and fathers of the faith, and God trusts us to make certain decisions. God trusts us to move in sync with Him, within His will, within the parameters of His Word and the revelations and visions He has given us for our lives. He said in His Word: “You will also declare a thing, and it will be established for you; so light will shine on your ways” (Job 22:28).

“The mind must be renewed and refashioned to withstand the challenges of the new season we have entered, in order to rightly comprehend and process the purposes of God in it.”

The Greek word for ways is Derek, and it means: “a road, a course of life or mode of action.” God has supplied us with authority in His Word to decide on the course of our lives and the actions we will take based on our agreement with His will. He has given us the power to frame our lives within His Word, just as He framed the worlds with His Word at creation and created the visible with the invisible substance of faith (Heb. 11:3). God has left room for us to decide in the paths of our destiny, in order to fulfill the Scripture, “Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart” (Ps. 37:4).

Our decision to agree with the heavenly vision moves us onto new spiritual ground that releases God’s favor and opens new doors of opportunity. Then as we make the decision to step out on to new paths, standing on the Word of God and decreeing and declaring His truth, the vision is given the potential to become reality.

Faith That Sees

In applying this to faith, when a revelation is received from God and is observed by faith and seen in vision, if it is believed and called forth into reality—the invisible becomes visible. By faith we call forth the things that are not as though they are. Faith sees with spiritual eyes and nurtures the vision with God-given imagination; the vision takes hold of the person and because of faith they will not let go until it has come forth.

The vision is conceived on the inside by observing it in spirit and becomes established by declaration of faith words. Our internal capacity to conceive must increase, and the wineskin of the mind refashioned to contain the largeness of God’s revelation. We hold on to it by faith and occupy the revelation by giving it a place of prominence in our hearts. The battle to give birth is a decision to fight for what we believe. Begin to SEE the door to opening to your opportunity, visualize it, embrace it and declare it!

“By faith Sarah herself also received strength to conceive seed, and she bore a child when she was past the age, because she judged Him faithful who had promised.” (Heb. 11:11)

After recently reading this passage, my spirit became very stirred as I saw all these principles come together powerfully in Sarah—I saw something marvelous that I had not seen before. Firstly, the miracle came forth by faith—Sarah believed! Secondly, where did her faith come from? She counted Him faithful who had promised. Sarah had experienced the faithfulness of God in her life on many occasions. The word for faith used in this Scripture is pistis and means: conviction of the truthfulness of God. Sarah received strength to conceive. The Greek word for strength is Dunamis which means: miraculous, supernatural power. (Photo via Unsplash)

Sarah’s mind was renewed by faith in God—she saw, she believed, she trusted, thereby establishing a foundation of faith for all future generations. Sarah decided, she made the decision to act on the promise that marked out the course of her life. She occupied the revelation and nurtured it and brought forth a child in old age! Sarah’s faith released the explosive, miraculous, Dunamis power of God to break forth in her body and in her life.

I encourage you to begin to see and observe God’s vision for your life. Occupy the revelations He has given you—hold on to them. Decide in agreement with God, then frame the future within those parameters with His Word. God has given us partnership and sonship.

He’s saying: “Decide! Tell Me what is your heart’s desire! Move out within the parameters of your life based on what I have given you in vision. You have the mind of Christ. Decide, declare it and it will be established, and light will shine on the course you have taken!” (To Subscribe to the Elijah List subscribe here.)

Faith Marie Baczko, Executive Director
Headstone Ministries International | Schools of The Last Wine
Email: contact@headstoneministries.com
Website: www.headstoneministries.com

Finding Destiny in the Midst of Chaos – Gretchen Rodriguez

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Finding Destiny in the Midst of Chaos, by Gretchen Rodriguez

Sometimes destiny unfolds in the most unusual circumstances. For me, everything changed when we moved back to the States, after serving on the mission field for nine years. We decided to move to California and become members of our dream church, Bethel. I was thrilled! Little did I know that a life-changing adventure was about to begin.
The journey with the Lord always guides us beyond ourselves. It leads us away from our “do” and straight into our “who”. This was exactly what I was about to discover. Though I fully believed I would continue in ministry, it wasn’t God’s top priority. His priority was, and always is, to help us understand exactly who we are in His eyes.
Weeks after being accepted on the church’s dance team, I injured my back. It was bad and I was devastated. I’d studied and taught ballet since I was three years old. I’d wanted to be on Bethel’s dance team for years. Now what was I going to do?
For six months, I did little more than lay flat. Though I wasn’t angry, I certainly had a lot of questions. We’ve all experienced times when God didn’t make sense and this was one of those times.
Have you ever felt like you were losing grip and unless God was hanging on to you, you’d be sucked into an emotional black hole? That’s how I felt. I had spent most of my life pouring into others through ministry and dance and now all I could do was—nothing. Nothing but focus on Him and worship. And that was all He wanted.
Though God never afflicts us with suffering and pain, He is the Master of reaching us in their midst. He began to teach me who I was, in greater depth than I had ever known.
During this time, God was fine-tuning my identity. Suddenly, I wasn’t Gretchen the missionary, Gretchen the dancer, or Gretchen the pastor. I was just—me. Known and loved by God. Hidden in His presence and enjoying every moment of it. I lost all desire to “do” anything. I was perfectly happy being a lovesick bride.
God knows how to use situations, which would otherwise bring devastation, and use them for our good. He’s a faithful Father. The victories we gain in the wilderness, become golden truths imprinted upon our souls, which can never be erased. Never despise the difficult times, because it is out of them that the greatest breakthroughs erupt.
From this place of total surrender, He resurrected a secret desire in my heart—a desire to become a writer. I began to take risks and do things I never thought I would. Titles no longer made me brave. His voice did. Courage lifted me up and wrapped me securely in His arms. I was strong because I found fulfillment in being His child.
I became a writer, not because I was searching for identity, but because I had found it. Out of heart-wrenching disappointment, I found my purpose—to be His and to be completely at peace with that and nothing more.
All that I did began to flow effortlessly from my love for Him. It was no longer about doing things to find my place, it was about doing things because I had found my reason for doing them.
Now, four years later, my back is getting stronger, I’m an assistant leader for our dance team and authoring books with Brian Simmons. Most importantly, I’ve learned how amazing it is to simply be me.
If you have found yourself in similar circumstances, where nothing is turning out the way you thought it would, hang on! You’re on the verge of your greatest breakthrough! God is calling you higher—to a life that challenges you in the most beautiful ways. He wants you to dream with Him, to hope in the face of countless disappointments, to believe in miracles, and to be so confident in His love for you that your life explodes with purpose!

“God, the searcher of the heart, knows fully our longings, yet he also understands the desires of the Spirit, because the Holy Spirit passionately pleads before God for us, his holy ones, in perfect harmony with God’s plan and our destiny.” Romans 8:27 The Passion Translation

Blessings, Gretchen Rodriguez

You can find Gretchen here: https://www.facebook.com/GretchenMureRodriguez/
Gretchen’s first book with Brian Simmons, Prayers on Fire 365 Days Praying the Psalms, can be found on Amazon and at Barnes and Noble.

“Time To Soar Higher, Roar Louder!”

Aside

Bobby_Carolyn_Conner_500px, Bullard, TX

“It is time to Soar higher and Roar louder” – Bobby Conner

I was in Singapore at the exact moment I was typing out the title for this teaching, and as soon as the last word was typed, suddenly, a group of jet planes flew just over the hotel where I was staying and it shook the place as they roared by. I think this is a strong confirmation. The Saints of God will be ready to roar as righteous lions and soar as prophetic eagles (see Isaiah 40:31 and Proverbs 28:1). God’s design and desire for Believers is to be bold, brave and very courageous (see Joshua 1:9). This is possible because of HE WHO dwells within us (see 1 John: 4:4). In Christ Jesus we are unstoppable and invincible (see Romans 8:37).

Yes, we will have conflicts and confrontations but the Scriptures declare: In God we are victorious and no weapons made works against us (see Isaiah 54:17).

Swift and Complete Obedience

By the overflowing grace of God this is my forty-seventh year in ministry! And I’ve had the wonderful privilege of preaching the Word of God around the world. I’ve averaged speaking five times a week for over forty-seven years. I said all that to say this—if I could give you any advice to help you be successful in your Christian walk it is this: “Practice swift and complete obedience! Do as quickly and completely, as you can, all God is asking you to do.” There is no substitute for obeying God. Truly obedience is better than sacrifice (see 1 Samuel 15:22).

During these chaotic changing times, it is crucial that we embrace the Lord’s promise given to us in John 10:27: “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.” Each one of us should earnestly pray, asking God to remove anything that would hinder us from clearly hearing and discerning His voice. (Photo via flickr)

Claim the promise found in Matthew 13:16-17—that we have blessed ears and blessed eyes; capable of hearing and seeing revealed truth. Ask the Spirit of Truth to open the eyes of your heart, flooding it with revelatory insights into the Word and ways of God (see Ephesians 1:17-18). Ask for wisdom to walk in alignment with the written Word of God (James 1:22).

Never forget the statement of Christ Jesus: But He replied, “It has been written, Man shall not live and be upheld and sustained by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

Make a firm commitment to fully follow the Lamb wherever He leads (Revelation 14:4). Let the Word of God be a bright beacon, beaming, light for your pathway. God’s Word is a lamp to your feet and a light to your path (Psalm 119:105, 130). The Christian life is not lived stumbling in the darkness but walking confidently in the light (1 John 1:5-10).

The Opportunity to Advance the Kingdom

Yes, Scripture states: it will get ever increasingly darker in the world, but for the true children of God it will get lighter and brighter (Isaiah 60:1-3). We are living in unprecedented times; never before has there been such an opportunity for advancing the Kingdom of God. (Photo via Pixabay)

As followers of Christ, we are to be the light of the world, a city set high on a hill giving bright hope and light to a hurting world (see Matthew 5:14-16). We are called to walk boldly in the radiant light of Christ the King (see Psalm 36:9). We are instructed to walk as Children of Light (see Ephesians 5:8). The Church truly stands at an open door and the Lord has extended His invitation for us to come up higher (Revelation 4:1-4).

Notice these verses in Isaiah 21:11-12: “Watchman, what of the night? Watchman, what of the night?” The watchman said, “The morning comes, and also the night…”

Just as the prophet reported about the night and the light appearing at the same time, these days also will be days of great contrast: joy and sorrow, jubilation and depression, life and death, peace and anarchy. The key to our victorious journey is our focus upon the finished work of Christ. It is Christ in us the assurance of Glory (see Colossians 1:27).

The Spirit of God is calling each of us to behold the Beloved in His glory. It is time to view the victorious King. The more we know about HIM, the more we will understand who we are to be.

As we remain steadfast in our quest to see Him as He is, then we will become more and more like HIM. As we behold HIM with an unveiled face we are changed— transformed into His likeness (see 2 Corinthians 3:18).

Great Praise and Adoration

The Spirit God is emphasizing Psalm 108. Great praise and adoration will arise as our eyes are restored and we behold the Lord in His awesome beauty, anointing, and power. We are about to be truly awestruck by the revelation of God’s glorious Son.

Get ready to experience a Holy Spirit invasion and a truly divine intervention as you study these verses:

O God, my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, lute and harp!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise You, O LORD, among the peoples, And I will sing praises to you, among the nations. For Your mercy is great above the heavens,
And Your truth reaches to the clouds.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, And Your glory above all the earth; That Your beloved may be delivered,
Save with your right hand, and hear me…

Give us help from trouble;
For the help of man is useless. Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.
Psalm 108:1-6, 12-13

As we praise the Lord and extol His holy name, great help is released from Heaven. The last statement of this Psalm is key for these days: “Through God we will do valiantly, For it is He who shall tread down our enemies.”

How Shall We Live?

What will make the difference in how these crucial times affect your life? Simply this—your walk with Jesus Christ will make all the difference. Grace will be released to the soul that turns to Christ with a desperate heart. Judgment awaits the deceptive, rebellious heart. This judgment came quickly to the two pretenders, Ananias and Sapphira, in Acts 5. Their sin was lying about their hearts’ devotion to the Lord. This type of deception will now also be judged. (Photo via Pixabay)

These are days when the battle for our minds will rage. The foe will try to cause us to divert our eyes from the Lord and focus on the events occurring on earth. Now is the time to give earnest heed to the warnings found in Romans 8:5-6:

“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spirituality minded is life and peace.”

Let these words sink deep into your soul, for they will be life and peace to those who will hear and obey. Strive to become a doer of the Word and not just a hearer (see James 1:22).

The battle is for our minds. Proverbs 23:7 informs us “For as he [a person] thinks in his heart, so is he.” It is vital that we keep our hearts filled with the Living Word of God. We must keep our minds focused and stayed on the Lord (Isaiah 26:3). What we set our minds on will determine how we live during these dark days. The Scriptures remind us to set our minds “on things above” (see Colossians 3:2) and think on things that are pure and honest and good (see Philippians 4:8).

May the Spirit of God open the eyes of our understanding to give us wisdom and direction during these apocalyptic, dark days! With our eyes focused firmly upon the Lord and His steadfast promises, we are fearless, marching boldly and confidently into our future (see Jeremiah 31:17).

God bless you and your walk of victory in the Victorious One.

Bobby Conner
Eagles View Ministries
Email: manager@bobbyconner.org
Website: www.bobbyconner.org

Don’t Let a Familiar Spirit Limit Your Future ~ Wanda Alger

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Before we can fully enter into the new territories and opportunities that God has for us this summer and fall, we need to address something that may hold some of us back: Familiar Spirits.

The Lord spoke this to me last week as my husband and I were about to put an offer on a beautiful property we felt led to buy. We went on-sight to pray for wisdom and, as we waited, the Lord indicated that there was a “Familiar Spirit” on the land. As I prayed further, I sensed He was addressing a stronghold at work that was limiting any offers being received for the property.

The previous owner and his family had been there for thirty years. Though I didn’t sense anything “evil” at work, the accumulated memories and perspectives, both good and bad, from the past life with this family had opened a door to a Familiar Spirit to take possession of the property. Until that was dealt with, it would be much more difficult for a new owner to acquire the property.

I have personally dealt with this type of ungodly spirit in my own life. The enemy takes advantage of our fondness for memories and perspectives from the past and can create a stronghold that limits our ability to receive NEW things. Our own experiences can become so “familiar” to us that we aren’t able to perceive or embrace new perspectives or priorities.  We can, unconsciously, idolize our past as something sacred. The result of this mindset will cause inner unrest and irritation at anything new that tries to come into our lives. That which was once meaningful and life-giving now becomes a stronghold of the past.

For it is not an enemy who taunts me – then I could bear it; it is not an adversary who deals insolently with me – then I could hide from him.  But it is you, a man, my equal, my companion, my familiar friend. We used to take sweet counsel together; within God’s house we walked in the throng. (Psalm 55:12-14)

The Lord had been preparing me for this revelation a month earlier. I had a dream where my left arm was being cut off! It wasn’t painful;  I simply knew it needed to be done. Even as I was lying on the operating table, my friends watched with me as an angel stood by to encourage me. Since that dream, I knew the Lord was preparing me for a pruning work in my life. I had no idea what it might be, but I knew that whatever it was, it was so familiar to me, it would feel like my left arm was being cut off.

On the same day we prayed over the property, I was driving around town and praying about this Familiar Spirit when the Lord reminded me of the dream about my left arm. He identified MY Familiar Spirit that was holding me back from stepping into the next season of ministry. I was absolutely shocked. The area He revealed had become such a part of my call and identity; I never would have imagined it could be a hindrance. Yet, as His truth sunk in, I realized how much my familiarity with this strength and gift had me stuck in a rut. Because I was so used to operating in a particular way, I wasn’t even open to considering other possibilities.

I began to experience the exact same feelings I had in the dream. Even though it would seem unthinkable to let go of this priority in my life, I knew it must be done in order to move forward and embrace new mindsets, new skill sets, and new perspectives. I had a total peace about it; even anticipation as to what the Lord was going to bring my way!  In praying through these Familiar Spirits I sensed a shift in the spirit and the Lord confirmed this reality when the owner of the property accepted our offer – the only offer he received – and took!

I believe this is a word from the Lord for many who are being prepared for some NEW things. Even as we have prayed for an outpouring of the Spirit in our lives and communities, some of our current wineskins are too familiar and will not be able to contain the new wine. Some of our patterns of thinking and ways of living, and even ministering, must be totally surrendered in order for the Lord to have absolute sway with His means and methods of bringing breakthrough.

Be alert to any mindsets, methods, or memories that are attached to a Familiar Spirit which may be limiting new possibilities in your future. Allow Him to fill you with greater faith and anticipation for the new things to come – even seemingly impossible things.

You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. (Psalm 139:3 NIV)

 

 

ad64448335534d37988726a1e1954ea6WANDA ALGER

Wanda is a recognized Five-fold prophetic minister with Dove Christian Fellowship International and an ordained minister. She is also the Mobilization Director with Intercessors for America sharing the message of transforming revival. Wanda ministers along with her husband, Bobby, at Crossroads Community Church in Winchester, Virginia, which they planted in 1998. Follow her weekly blog at www.wandaalger.me or visit www.ifapray.org and click on Community Transformation to read more. She also maintains her community’s website regarding community transformation (www.transformwinchester.com).

Well Diggers

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WELL PICTURE

This is a very apt and “now” Word for the body of Christ received by my good friend, Kathy de la Hunt from Howick, South Africa.  We need to pay heed to this Word and do some adjustments where applicable.

The name Beersheba caught my attention, being a place of fulfillment of God’s promises over our lives.  Continue reading →

One Thing – Dorsey E. Marshall

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Intertwined

Welcome! Thank you for joining me each day for The Success Minute. I pray that you will make today great in your life. Share this with a friend! Have them sign up for their own copy. IT’S FREE! You may also email me at Dorsey43@cfaith.com

                              “Don’t become so involved in the Lord’s work that you neglect the Lord of that work!” 

ONE THING

“But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:42

Being a person who is gifted in the kitchen and who loves to put together a nice meal for my guests, I can identify with Martha, Continue reading →