I woke up with a picture. I saw an obelisk in the ground, but on the obelisk there was a syringe. I knew the syringe was in some way connected to the structure. Obelisks represent authority and dominion. Wherever you see big political or economical establishments (geographically) there seem to be obelisks.
My understanding of obelisks has always been that they are a fallic symbol. This means that they represent the fertility and sexuality of man and masculinity. I believe it is an ungodly insemination, a poison being injected into our land.
A while back I saw another picture of the spiritual atmosphere, that fourth dimension between life as we know it in third dimension and the realm on heaven. The picture was of a large "S" shaped blade, similar to the one that you would see in a blender. The blade was rotating in a circular motion over the earth. I knew there was no good purpose for that blade being there, it was a barrier and a distuption to the atmosphere. It was damaging to the life-giving prayer and praise covering over the earth that was being offered up by the people of God. The picture was bleak and there was no light.
This 'atmosphere' I was seeing is referred to in the bible, e.g. in Ephesians 1:3, as the 'heavenly' or 'high' places. The greek word used is 'epouranios', defined as the 'lower heavens, of the stars' or 'the heavens, of the clouds'. This suggests that we really do exist in two realms: the natural and the spiritual. Later in Ephesians (Ch 6:12) we are also told that "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high [places]". This term 'high places' is that same word for that realm of heaven that is not the same heaven we will go to when we die (we know this because we will not be fighting principalities and powers in heaven where God abides, but rather that 'heavenly place' where Satan has dominion.
This is why spiritual warfare is necessary. We have to battle the powers and principalities of the air and "clear the atmosphere" daily. Many people say they cannot hear God speaking to them. The question I have is: when last did these people really address things that are hindering their personal progress and spiritual growth? Just how committed are they to making their voice heard before God?
Monday, 30 March 2009
Tuesday, 24 March 2009
Reopening the Wells of Revival
A week or so before the Call stadium event, Ricky Skaggs (a well-known bluegrass fiddle player who lives in Nashville) announced that he would be taking a group of 30 volunteers to Kentucky as a "pre-call assignment" that he and Ray Hughes (another country musician) had planned. I didn’t really feel the urge to go, but something in my spirit prompted me and so I decided that I should be obey my spiritual instinct and decided that I would volunteer to go. I don't think I'd ever have made plans to travel to Kentucky at another time so I'm glad I made the most of the opportunity.
After stopping off at a Starbucks and the local Wal-Mart to pick up a few others, we arrived at our destination. At first, it seemed to be farmland, but then we found a small-enclosed area a little further down the dirt road. We headed over to a log cabin at the far right hand corner of the field (see image). As Ray and Ricky began to talk, I saw that this place was highly significant. We were sitting in the “Red River Meeting House” where the outbreak took place in the 1800’s revival – the “Second Great Awakening” in America. As the procession got underway, we felt a Spirit of Revival rest on and around us as we started stirring ourselves up in the spirit. After Ray and Ricky shared some background information about the 1800’s revival, we spent some time praying in tongues and then transitioned into a ceremony. Ray started describing the significance of a bell that he had managed to borrow for this very occasion. It was rung at the brink of another revival (prior to this one) seven times. He also explained how the revival anointing had been a waterlogged by his generation's sinful lifestyles.
After this, Ricky and Luke sounded a shofar several times and said that they heard and seen an angel respond with a shofar blast after it was sounded three times. A few others testified to have heard it. We then formed two lines and had our feet (or socks) and foreheads anointed with oil.
Once we were commissioned to start praying in the sanctuary, I felt a weightiness about me – something in the atmosphere. It wasn’t an oppressive atmosphere, but more of a sense of significance. Beside me was the group who had just come back from a mission trip to Israel: they were clearly indicating that they had picked up on this too. For me, this was a validation of time well spent and reaffirming that God wanted me to be in that place at that specific time.
So what are the repercussions on the city of Nashville? God showed me a historical picture of the city: it appeared to be the renaissance era. It was a scaled up version of the city and appeared very different to the Nashville known to my generation. Earlier that morning, I had seen a book on the small bookshelf at the front of the building - as I was walking to my morning prayer set - entitled: “The Nashville I knew” by Jack Norman, Sr. Throughout the book it talks about Nashville in the 1900’s. The photography seemed to match up with the appearance of the city in my picture. I think that God was telling me that the city had once changed when revival came to America in the 1800’s, but had fallen back into sin after the revival generation had come and gone.
I received this picture of Nashville at the "silent siege" with Pure Life Revolution (see video below) in front of the “Hustler Hollywood” sex shop on Church Street, Nashville. The rest of the picture was one of chaos: I saw wild animals on the loose, roaming free in the streets and alleyways – all over. I saw the phrase “party animals”. I then was taken to the story of Noah and the Ark. In the story, the animals entered the Ark in pairs. Ricky Skaggs' word in Kentucky was that the revival would come like a flood. This word fits with the picture I saw of the animals roaming free on the city streets and alleyways of Nashville, (representing the sinful state of mankind before the flood) and the deliverance by His hand when the waters flood the land.
To tie it all in, I saw underfoot (where I stood,) the source of water that the wells are founded on is a lagoon, which will rise from the ground and flood the cities affected by the revival. The concrete sidewalks represent the sinful nature of mankind: we’ve tried to build on top of God’s original source of provision for his people and what better example of this than the sex shop behind me? I also saw a large tree take root in the ground beneath Hustlers and its branches grew all around the inside on shop floor level. The tree is taking root in the good soil and drawing from the waters of revival.
After stopping off at a Starbucks and the local Wal-Mart to pick up a few others, we arrived at our destination. At first, it seemed to be farmland, but then we found a small-enclosed area a little further down the dirt road. We headed over to a log cabin at the far right hand corner of the field (see image). As Ray and Ricky began to talk, I saw that this place was highly significant. We were sitting in the “Red River Meeting House” where the outbreak took place in the 1800’s revival – the “Second Great Awakening” in America. As the procession got underway, we felt a Spirit of Revival rest on and around us as we started stirring ourselves up in the spirit. After Ray and Ricky shared some background information about the 1800’s revival, we spent some time praying in tongues and then transitioned into a ceremony. Ray started describing the significance of a bell that he had managed to borrow for this very occasion. It was rung at the brink of another revival (prior to this one) seven times. He also explained how the revival anointing had been a waterlogged by his generation's sinful lifestyles.
After this, Ricky and Luke sounded a shofar several times and said that they heard and seen an angel respond with a shofar blast after it was sounded three times. A few others testified to have heard it. We then formed two lines and had our feet (or socks) and foreheads anointed with oil.
Once we were commissioned to start praying in the sanctuary, I felt a weightiness about me – something in the atmosphere. It wasn’t an oppressive atmosphere, but more of a sense of significance. Beside me was the group who had just come back from a mission trip to Israel: they were clearly indicating that they had picked up on this too. For me, this was a validation of time well spent and reaffirming that God wanted me to be in that place at that specific time.
So what are the repercussions on the city of Nashville? God showed me a historical picture of the city: it appeared to be the renaissance era. It was a scaled up version of the city and appeared very different to the Nashville known to my generation. Earlier that morning, I had seen a book on the small bookshelf at the front of the building - as I was walking to my morning prayer set - entitled: “The Nashville I knew” by Jack Norman, Sr. Throughout the book it talks about Nashville in the 1900’s. The photography seemed to match up with the appearance of the city in my picture. I think that God was telling me that the city had once changed when revival came to America in the 1800’s, but had fallen back into sin after the revival generation had come and gone.
I received this picture of Nashville at the "silent siege" with Pure Life Revolution (see video below) in front of the “Hustler Hollywood” sex shop on Church Street, Nashville. The rest of the picture was one of chaos: I saw wild animals on the loose, roaming free in the streets and alleyways – all over. I saw the phrase “party animals”. I then was taken to the story of Noah and the Ark. In the story, the animals entered the Ark in pairs. Ricky Skaggs' word in Kentucky was that the revival would come like a flood. This word fits with the picture I saw of the animals roaming free on the city streets and alleyways of Nashville, (representing the sinful state of mankind before the flood) and the deliverance by His hand when the waters flood the land.
To tie it all in, I saw underfoot (where I stood,) the source of water that the wells are founded on is a lagoon, which will rise from the ground and flood the cities affected by the revival. The concrete sidewalks represent the sinful nature of mankind: we’ve tried to build on top of God’s original source of provision for his people and what better example of this than the sex shop behind me? I also saw a large tree take root in the ground beneath Hustlers and its branches grew all around the inside on shop floor level. The tree is taking root in the good soil and drawing from the waters of revival.
The Cloud
A familiar looking angel appeared and gave me a new sword. It had a protea insignia on the hilt. The protea is the national flower of South Africa. I knew that this was the same angel that had pierced through the cloud that shrouded the world and the very same sword that he had used to do so. It was alight with flames and energy. He rested the blade with the flat edge on my shoulder and handed it to me. I was confused as to why God gave me another sword! This time I knew it resembled the sword Rick Joyner described in ‘The Torch and Sword’. I have no doubt that the same angel has been reappearing to me and others in this season. Who is this angel? I share the belief that he is one of the cherubim and has been commissioned to aid us in our battles and intercession. I want to establish a relationship with this angel and have prayed that God would allow for him appear before me.
I was given some words to a song yesterday at the Siege. The title is: “Truth at Hand” and I believed it to be the Sword of the Spirit. It occurred to me that Jason Upton had written a song and album entitled: “Key of David” so I felt I should listen to it. Prior to listening to it on this occasion, I’d never listened to it all the way through – in fact I knew it would be a significant album to have in my collection but didn’t feel prompted to listen to any of it at the time I got it.
Later I had a vision of a city on fire: The angel was sprinkling salt over the smouldering buildings. I knew this represented us as the salt of the earth. The burning city is Babylon. Jeremiah 24 talks about good figs and bad figs, it also speaks of how God will respond to the bad figs.
I was given some words to a song yesterday at the Siege. The title is: “Truth at Hand” and I believed it to be the Sword of the Spirit. It occurred to me that Jason Upton had written a song and album entitled: “Key of David” so I felt I should listen to it. Prior to listening to it on this occasion, I’d never listened to it all the way through – in fact I knew it would be a significant album to have in my collection but didn’t feel prompted to listen to any of it at the time I got it.
Later I had a vision of a city on fire: The angel was sprinkling salt over the smouldering buildings. I knew this represented us as the salt of the earth. The burning city is Babylon. Jeremiah 24 talks about good figs and bad figs, it also speaks of how God will respond to the bad figs.
Monday, 23 March 2009
Deeper & Higher
I think I’m starting to catch the drift.
There is a restoration taking place amongst God’s creative people. I know that it starts here - all we have to do is believe it and allow ourselves to see. And I do believe that seers are being birthed as from today! Today I realise that in order for us to be able to receive understanding about the things revealed to us in the spirit, we need to be submersed in the presence of God. I started taking concise notes, almost stream of consciousness, that I would later release into the group I was with at the time:
Daily revelation; absorb teaching like a sponge.
We are the sands of the beach and we can feel the ebb & flow of the tide as it washes over us – we should want the tide to come in so that we get completely submersed in the water.
As we draw closer to God we’ll hear His voice more clearly.
Window of the mind: we could be looking out to what God is doing through a peephole or we could broaden our vision through a panoramic 360-degree bay window.
Fire-breathing individuals
The fire starts from within. God abides in us.
Refining fire to purge impurities.
"We will burn but not die" (Lou Engle)
“Patented for you God, I am your design”. (‘Coincidentally’ we had David Van Koevering speak the following evening – he’s patented 600 of his own inventions, including the first keyboard synthesizer).
It is important to explain what the weather conditions were outside during the time this was all going on (earlier this month). I remember checking the forecast the evening before, when it was warm and still, and saw that storms were on the way. I didn’t anticipate that these conditions would be so fitting for the move of God that took place the following day – the rain, lightning and thunder were all cued in a fairly narrow time bracket as if God was rehearsing a display of his power while we all looked at each other in awe. The rain and thunder ceased after the music.
I asked God what the river represented and He said love, grace, mercy and compassion. I also felt that it was a place where we receive a wealth of revelation, no pun intended, there are literally jewels carried in the current. I was reminded of a vision I had of a beautiful waterfall, where gold-leafed pages of the Word of God were streaming down as the water cascaded into a serene pool where there was amazing tranquillity and the Word just lay in the quiet of the pool and that is where I believe I was in this time of soaking.
The musicians sing “Open the floodgates”; “Overflow you banks”
I was in the river and could hear myself splashing – every movement I made was audible. I ran my hands through the water at each side of my body and then lay down and completely submerged myself in the river. There was a current that washed my sin downstream to the throne.
I knew that even once I’d stopped paying attention to the fact that I was still in the river I was still going to be in that place of soaking and revelation. So as these thoughts were going through my mind, I was in a state of oblivion: totally unaware of where God was going to take me next. Without warning, I found myself in a terrifying place before God. I knelt before Him and became overwhelmed with righteous fear. I dropped to my knees in spirit and in flesh as I readied myself to receive whatever it was he was about to give or impart. It felt similar to a throne room experience I had once before, where He’d knighted me and given me a sceptre that was both a weapon and a royal statement. I believe it was also when I’d been in the river that this occurred the last time (which causes me to believe that it’s when you’re in the river that the deep revelation comes). I feel He is enlarging my armoury as I go to new places in Him – going from faith to faith and increasing in levels of faith. I believe it is Todd Bentley who says: “Our current ceilings will become our new floors” and I believe that’s what I saw my faith doing in the spirit today.
The God I saw before me was a whole new experience in my spiritual walk. I had never seen Him as being such an intimidating adversary. I saw Him as the Warlord, “Commander of the angel armies”. He was bearing full crystal-like armour (combined with a gleaming metal that resembled titanium) with ornate textures resembling grapes and vines, there were spikes on the shoulder guards and there was an armoured collar where the armour met his neck. The closer I looked, the more detail I saw: the armour was encrusted with emeralds.
He handed me the sword that He had been wielding, it was also highly detailed in design and matched the style of the armour. I heard Him say that He was calling me to be His armour bearer! In addition, he said: “Be blessed” and “Remain in the vine”. I realised that grapes speak of fruitfulness and blessing. Grapes were a fruit that only the rich and royalty could afford; they would be provided at banquets during times of celebration. The colour of the grapes I saw were a dark red (crimson) or purple – both are colours associated with Royalty. At the hilt of the sword, I saw a bunch of grapes and a vine that sustained the growth of these grapes. Slowly the vine began to grow and merge with the flesh of my hand. I knew this was a visual way of showing me that I would remain in the vine and that I would be fruitful through the works of my right hand.
After all these revelatory insights into heaven, I was prompted to look up the “throne room” in my Bible’s concordance, and knew that there would be a passage somewhere in Revelation that speaks of the throne and its surroundings. I saw Revelation 4:2 in the listing so I read it to see if it would elaborate on what I had just seen. Verse 5 amazed me when I read about the seven torches in front of the throne with burning flames.
Feeling a little overwhelmed by the weight of my spirit man, as God had downloaded so much in such a short period of time (during the course of the two hours) I had to get up to my feet and get some fresh air. Just as I was doing so, I caught a glimpse of some artwork that Jesse (a girl in our prayer set) had been working on. I could hardly believe my eyes. She had drawn this picture with Revelation 4:1 as her basis.
I feel that my word for the company as a whole is that God wants to bring us from the courtroom into the throne room. There is nothing wrong with regular corporate intercession, but I believe that the foundation should be personal intimacy with Christ, so that our prayers are really heard because they will come from a pure heart that is gaining compassion and understanding for the things of God. There is a distinct emphasis on intimacy at this stage. I feel that the key battles have been fought and we now need to make preparations for the war itself. This is again emphasised in “The Torch and the Sword” on pg. 50 where the enemy is amassing around the last remaining “torchbearers” and “warriors” but there is still time to drink from the river and get training before the war breaks out.
Rafael, (another intern who lives in the same cabin as I do) posed a question that sounded something like: “So are you definitely going to be on the tour?” and I assumed he was talking to me when in actual fact he was talking to someone else, but he still heard my enthusiastic response: “Oh yes, for sure”. After speaking with the other guy, he started to express how much he thought I was going to be an ambassador when I go back home – I will carry the mantle and mandates of The Cause in the UK.
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