God's Glory - Reflected In His Goodness!

2 Chron 5:13-14

13 indeed it came to pass, when the trumpeters and singers were as one, to make one sound to be heard in praising and thanking the LORD, and when they lifted up their voice with the trumpets and cymbals and instruments of music, and praised the LORD, saying: "For He is good, For His mercy endures forever," that the house, the house of the LORD, was filled with a cloud,
14 so that the priests could not continue ministering because of the cloud; for the glory of the LORD filled the house of God.
NKJV

My Comments:

We're living in a time that gets faster with every day that passes us by. I strongly believe, looking at recent events that we're in the End Times, and that we're pressing in closer to the day that Jesus will come back. 

The Bible says that Christ gave Himself for the Church, that He might present her to Himself as a Glorious Church (Ephesians 5:27). Just before He comes back, we're going to see an outburst of the manifestation of the Glory of God on the face of this earth. 

When He comes down in His Glory and His power, we'll see things happen like never before. Everything written about in the Bible; all the healings, miracles, signs and wonders; are just the warm-up to what we'll see. Even what the Church has experienced from 0 A.D to 2013 AD is nothing compared to what will take place. It's not time to look back at the past, it's time to look forward to the full manifestation of His glory!

God promised us that the earth would be filled with the knowledge of His Glory, as the waters cover the sea (Habakkuk 2:14)

Note in the above text that the Glory of the Lord came, after Israel stood together as one and praised Him, saying; "For He is good, for His mercy endures forever". This is significant as we can see that God's Glory will always be reflected in His goodness!

Even in Exodus, God revealed His nature as that being good; not only that, He tied His very nature of being good to His Glory! Consider the following:

Exodus 33:18-20

18 And he (Moses) said, "Please, show me Your glory."

19 Then He (God) said, "I will make all My goodness pass before you, and I will proclaim the name of the LORD before you. I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion."

When Moses asked the Lord to show His glory, God immediately responded by saying that All His goodness will pass before Moses!

Note also in the next chapter,

Exodus 34:5-6

5 Now the LORD descended in the cloud (the Glory) and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD.

6 And the LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth,

When the Glory of God hits this earth, we're gonna see more than just the signs and wonders, There will be an abundance of His Goodness being poured out on the earth!

When that happens, We'll declare like Israel:

"For He is good,

For His mercy endures forever,"

Prayer Habits #2

The awesome part about God is this: you may have prepared something but He can turn it around to fit His Plan, His Purpose. I actually prepared to share on another few habits I practice with regards to developing a strong prayer life, but He turned last night's prayer meeting into a Spirit-Led prayer meeting...how awesome is that :)

In any case, I thought I'd publish my notes so as to keep updating like I promised on my habits concerning prayer, so here's the next set of habits I have regarding my prayer life!

It's in point form again, easier reading! :)

Some of it may have more scripture references, I strongly encourage you to just read them, meditate on them, chew on them until you get the revelation of it.

Habit #4: Treat and rely on the Word of God as your fuel for prayer

1 John 5:14-15

Now this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. 15 And if we know that He hears us, whatever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we have asked of Him.

- God's Word stands eternal -> it's forever established (Ps 119:89)

- He's always ready to perform according to His Word (Jer 1:12)

- God's Word is the same as His Will

- Praying using the Word isn't like you just skim over it in passing and just speak it out, hoping that something will happen. You have to go deep into it, meditate on it

- It's like petrol that keeps the car going. Too many times we start praying enthusiastically, but we run short of what we wanted to pray about.

- You find that when you just pray whatever comes to your head, you start to wonder whether you have that prayer answered. If you prayed using God's Word, you know you have something to base your faith on, because the Word is eternally there

- Reinhard Bonnke's revelation from God: God's Word in our mouths is exactly the same as God's Word in His mouth

- The Word was spoken (by God) that it could be written; and it was written so that it can be spoken: by us!

- Kenneth E. Hagin: when his daughter had a growth in her eye at an early age, all he did was spend time meditating on the Word for a few days before he spoke to that growth, commanding it to leave.

- Get the Word on the inside, and you'll find that it gives you the staying power to hold fast to what you prayed

- Kenneth E. Hagin: Find a scripture that covers whatever it is that you're believing God for. Meditate on it, then use it as your fuel to keep you going on.

Habit #5: When you pray using God's Word, mix faith with your prayer, believing that what you prayed using the Word works!

Heb 4:2

For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them,not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.

- Just because you pray/speak the Word does not mean you don't need faith!

- You need faith for everything (Heb 11:6) "But without faith it is impossible to please Him (God)..."

- When you pray using the Word of God as your basis, believe that you have it! (Matt 21:22) Whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive

- Don't doubt that the Word works, believe it! (Ja 1:6-8) 

James 1:6-8

6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord;8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Strengthening Yourself - With A Song

1 Sam 30:6

6 David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God.
AMP

My Comments:

We all go through storms at some point in our lives. We can see that King David of Israel certainly did in the above passage. While they were out, a group of people called the Amalekites invaded where the city where they stayed and took all their families captive. When David and his men came back, David saw that the people intended to stone him, and the Bible says that he was "greatly distressed"

Notice however what he did. It is written "But David encouraged and strengthened himself in the Lord his God." Thank God that for every adverse situation we have in our lives, we can always rely on a 'But' to see how to go!

It is understood that David would have strengthened himself and encouraged himself through singing out psalms about the goodness of God and how God has continually been with him and for him. By doing this, he strengthened himself to the point that he could be able to rise up and reverse that adverse situation.

Likewise we also can do the same when we have situations that seem to rise up against us. Notice what Paul encouraged the church in Ephesus:

Eph 5:18-19

18 ...but be filled with the Spirit,
19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

In the Greek, the phrase "be filled" implies a sense of being continually filled again and again, not so much of having been filled once. Paul encouraged the church to always be "being" filled with the Spirit, by speaking to each other in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. 

If David could strengthen himself in the Old Testament through singing out psalms about the goodness of God, how much more should we, being in the New Testament be able to strengthen ourselves through giving out psalms, hymns and spiritual songs that are inspired by the Holy Spirit!

Whenever I face a situation that seems to be heading down south, I always look to the Greater One who lives inside of me. I trust Him for a song that I can sing, a poem that I can give out that can strengthen myself!

I'll close with a psalm, or a poem that the Lord gave me a few days ago. I gave it the title of "Praise" as it strengthened me in the knowledge of how praise that is inspired of God and directed to God brings us the victory!

Praise

Praising Him in the morning

Praising Him in the night

Praising Him everyday

As we live in His sight

To be strong in Him

And in the power of His might

To dwell in His glory

And to walk in His Light

We will watch and see

As our enemy is put to flight!

Prayer Habits

In our weekly Tuesday prayer meeting, I had intended to share some habits I have regarding prayer and being led by the Spirit in prayer. However, we were led into praying for some things and I wasn't able to share everything I had.

Here's some of it, there's more coming.... eventually! Might as well avoid giving spiritual indigestion if I can help it! :P

It may be pretty basic, but I like what Charles Cowan, a pastor had to say:

"The secret of a strong faith is hidden in my daily routine"

Likewise, as I practiced these habits that I have, I found that my prayer life improved, tremendously

It's in point form, as if I wrote it out in blog form... it'll be like an essay :P

Habit #1: Keep a prayer notebook

Hab 2:2
Then the LORD answered me and said: "Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it.

- It helps you keep track of things you were led to pray out through the Spirit
- When you see things come to pass that you prayed about, you have a physical reminder that you prayed about it. It gives you the reassurance and confidence that you're hearing accurately from God
- If you know that you prayed things out that are yet to come to pass, you can remind yourself of what you prayed and remind steadfast and immovable on the promise that what you prayed WILL come to pass
- By observing the things you were led to pray about, you may find a specific pattern that God directs you in praying like you continually praying for the Church, Israel, businesses, etc

Habit #2: Expect to hear from God

John 10:2-3
2 But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. 3 To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear his (God's) voice; and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.

- Prayer isn't just a monologue (you just rattling out words and talking non-stop to God), it's a dialogue!
- Having a notebook ready at your side is an indicator that you're expecting to hear from God, and that you're ready to write down whatever it is that you get from Him

Habit #3: When praying in other tongues, always keep your faith active for the interpretation

1 Cor 14:13-16
13 Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. 14 For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful.15 What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding.

- Paul wrote to the church in Corinth encouraging them to believe and trust God for the interpretation to what  they prayed in tongues
- This is different from 1 Cor 12:10 in its function. 1 Cor 12:10 refers to a specific manifestation or operation of the Spirit for that particular moment. We see this from time to time in our prayer meetings. I can't turn this on  or off at my own will, it is as He wills!
- However, when I talk to God and I pray in other tongues, I can ask Him for the interpretation to what I prayed  out in tongues. It may come at that moment, it may come later, but I can trust that I will get the  interpretation to what I prayed out.

The above three habits can be best seen in the life of John G. Lake, possibly one of the greatest healing evangelists ever seen in the early 1900's. Quoting him directly as below:

I want to talk with the utmost frankness, and say to you that tongues have been to me the making of my ministry. It is that peculiar communication with God when God reveals to my soul the truth that I utter to you day by day in my ministry.

But that time of communication with me is mostly in the night. Many a time I climb out of bed, take my pencil and pad [Habit #1] and jot down the beautiful things of God, the wonderful things of God, that He talks out in my spirit and reveals to my heart. [Habit #2, Habit #3]

Prophecy: Mark Brazee

For the past three weeks, I've been stirred in my heart to pray about the Glory of God and that we're believing that His Glory will hit not only our church but the Church as a whole. I shared this in our weekly church prayer and just recently I was blessed to hear a prophecy given out by Mark Brazee from World Outreach Church Tulsa. 

In as much as it may have been meant for the church in Tulsa, and that city and that nation; I'm believing God that it'll happen over here as well! Too often times we write our own nation off as being beyond hope due to circumstances; whether politically or spiritually.

I trust that this would be a blessing. I wish to add that this was a combination of both prophecy, and tongues with the interpretation. I've highlighted the various manifestations in bold italic to make it easier to separate the parts.

Prophecy:

We're so close to the rain. We're so close. There's a sound of abundance of rain. Man you can almost close your eyes and hear the wind off in the distance, thunders of the Holy Ghost, lightnings of God flash. There's something out there, it's not that far off. Years ago it was like a bright cloud on the horizon now it's like at the door. And it's not just here but it's got to be here.

We've got tens of thousand of laborers in this city that are saying “God here am I just send me somewhere I’ll go anywhere just let me know where to go”. Well no use running until you got the right message. No use running. Jesus said tarry in Jerusalem until you're endued with power from on high. He said you got the message now go and get the power to go and preach the message with power. I believe that’s why a lot haven't been launched so far in this city because there's another step to take.

What's that, Rain.

Isn't it interesting how rain can fall and it can act like fire. Hallelujah. Light you on fire and send you to the nations. Hallelujah. And when it falls doors will open. When it falls finances will come. When it falls invitations will show up. When it falls people will suddenly know where to go.  When it falls people will begin to see themselves in other nations and they'll pack their bags and leave and never come back. When it falls people are gonna know where to go. When it falls they're gonna hear voices from foreign languages and they're gonna know “that's where I need to go”. When the glory falls. When the rain falls. It's gonna change everything. What was impossible without will be probable with. Hallelujah. Glory to God

Tongues

So lay aside every weight and the sin that does so easily beset you. Set aside things that are holding you back. Set aside things that will get in your way when the call comes to go here, to go there. Prepare yourself and get ready to go for the cry of the harvest is coming forth and you'll find the pull of the Spirit of God will come upon you to take you places, to send you places, or to help send others to places.

Things are gonna change. There shall come drastic changes in the not too distant future. Things will change in the natural, things will change in the spiritual. And many will find themselves saying “This is what I was born for. This is what I dreamed of. This is what I was born to do. This is what I've looked for all my life".

Tongues

Well don't think “Oh The Lord couldn't use me, I made so many mistakes”. The past is gone and must be forgotten. Rise up out of the dust. Rise up out of the ashes. Rise up out of self condemnation. And realize, you're a member of the Body of Christ and you can be used by God.

And prepare yourself for what He has prepared for you, prepare yourself in the word and prepare yourself in prayer. For there must and there shall come a move of prayer.  No, not only to this nation but to this city there shall come a move of prayer. And the day will come that it will shock many. It will shock many even from other locations to see what the Spirit of God will do in this city.

Many have said they've written this place off. Many have even said it will never happen there. Many have said “Ah I'm glad to be out of there, last one out turn off the lights, ah I'm so glad to be gone”. But those that are in the know, those that are willing to go. The Spirit of God will draw men, light them up, launch them out. Hallelujah. Glory to God. Well, lets thank Him

Prophecy

And the rain shall fall. It will fall like a trickle but it will turn into a flood. It will rain. Flooding cities. Even flooding states. The rain of the Spirit of God will fall. But it will manifest in the supernatural. For yes the supernatural shall begin to rise, the tide shall rise up.

And the things you've heard of. The things you've dreamed of. The things you've petitioned the Father for. Things you've only read about in books and said oh to be alive in those days. No don't look to the past but look to the future because that was the warmup for the end.

And the things that have been done before shall be done again. There'll be diseases that some can’t even spell and they'll be healed on the spot, there'll be bodies that'll be made right. There'll be body parts that will be replaced. There will be those that will begin to see that they've never seen in their lives. Eyes will be formed where there were no eyes. Even limbs will grow where there were never any limbs. There are those that have lost parts because of cancerous attacks and it will come back not over a period of months but even over a period of hours.

And there will come times that reports will come forth and it will even be verified and documented even the dead shall be raised in this nation. And everything you've heard of in that nation, it will all come to pass and it shall be done in this nation.

There'll come a mighty harvest, a mighty rain, a mighty harvest. And churches will plant churches. And they'll plant churches. And they'll plant churches. And they'll plant churches. And churches will begin to spring up. And leadership will be raised up supernaturally fast in new churches. Leadership shall be rapidly maturing to the point to be able to go plant a work. And it will get to the place that some will say I don't know I can't find a city anywhere I can't even find a small village that doesn't have a Holy Ghost church in it somewhere. And they'll sweep the nation, and then touch the world. Hallelujah. Lord we thank you for it. Glory to God

Prophecy: Follow Me

I was in the church a few days ago praying when a word came out regarding following God and receiving His guidance in every aspect of our lives.

I trust that this will be a blessing to you:

Prophecy:

If you will follow Me and pay close attention to when I speak, I will guide you and lead you into things that will prosper you.I will guide you with My eye. Yes, My Hand will direct you and place you onto the path if you will allow me.

For I will not lead you down a path of destruction where the end is of death; for my path leads to life in all it's abundance. Do not fear and tremble when you face the storm but be bold, be of cheer for I am with you each and every step of the way.

Walking In God's Plan - Even When We Don't See It

Jeremiah 29:11

11 For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.
AMP

Ps 32:8

8 I [the Lord] will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you.
AMP

2 Cor 5:7

7 For we walk by faith, not by sight.
NKJV 

My Comments:

The Bible tells us that God has a plan for each and every single one of us, that it is His Will that we walk in and enjoy the plan that He has for us. His plan for our lives is always good.

Walking in the plan and will of God for our lives is a gradual process, not something that occurs in an instant and that comes automatically. We may know that we have a plan and call of God on our lives, but at times we may wonder whether we'll be able to fulfill that plan.

The Psalmist David in Psalm 32, spoke concerning the Lord that He'll instruct us and teach us in the way we should go, that He counsels us with His eye on us. That is something to thank Him for, that He'll never leave us to our own devices, to try and blunder our way through life, but that He'll give us guidance concerning how we can walk in His plans for our lives!

His eye is upon us, which means that we'll always be under His watchful gaze. That even if we miss a step and stray from the path set before us, He'll gently guide us back onto the right path.

Walking in God's plan involves walking by faith. God leads us step by step. For every step we take, he'll give us revelation and insight into the next step to take. We see this in Genesis where He told Abraham to come out of where he was and go to where God was leading him. He didn't reveal His entire plan to Abraham, but told him what to do and where to go, step by step.

We may falter in life and wonder whether we'll be able to fulfill the plan that we know we have from God. Don't give up! Just choose to walk by faith, knowing that God is always there to guide us back onto the right track, that He watches over us fervently and lovingly, giving us counsel when we need it the most!