Saturday, January 26, 2008

Byron Bay

Well, we had another powerful week at Byron Bay.
Let me explain Byron Bay.

Byron Bay is a beautiful place-- nice ocean, great weather, it has a lighthouse with a great mountainous view (small mountains), and is probably one of the most concentrated forms of Post-modernism and New Age practices in all of Australia, and possibly in the Southern Hemisphere.

1.75 million backpackers and travelers pass through Byron Bay each year and most become captivated by the environment.. A place where a person comes to 'seek the truth' or to 'find enlightenment.' Almost every known cult has some sort of representation in and around Byron Bay because of it's nature. It is a place to go for a good time-- drugs, pubs, good conversations, with people accepting of all and every idea.
It is truly a remarkable place.

Every time we send a team of YWAMers to this place, there is a wave of oppression that hits the group. Some get tired and annoyed, some get very cutting with their comments, some become lazy and some feel absolutely depressed. Without fail, every time we come to this place we have to do some level of spiritual warfare, declaring Jesus as Lord and choosing to walk in love, patience and faithfulness. It was the same this time.

I sat down to pray with my outreach team and we talked vaguely about things we wanted to see and pray about.. And then someone came out with this: "I don't really have anything to share about outreach right now.. But I feel like I need to tell you guys that I feel really depressed to the point that I don't want to go on with this DTS anymore. I just want to go home."
I felt a shift in what the Lord wanted to address in this time of prayer. I asked if anyone else felt similarly and each and every one of my team shared similar feels of depression, anger, and heaviness. After I let each share, I told them the reality of what was going on.. Something the Lord had shared with me in a morning quiet time: "All conflict will be heightened by the powers of darkness in the area." We stood and grabbed hands and each of us let out the prayer of our hearts-- a cry for freedom, a cry for a breakout of God's love to come into Byron and into our DTS. And as we begin to pray, each of us felt the Spirit moving so strongly! God began to work in each of us and start to take away the heaviness we had been feeling.
Then the verse came to mind, "Freely you have received, now freely give." And with that we began interceding for our whole school. Praying specifically for them to become overcomers in Christ-- to let Byron Bay be the training ground for the outreach we are all about to embark on.

That night we went into the city for evangelism. We gave out free pancakes and played some music and tons of us had incredible conversations. I spoke to man about the Lord-- He was a lukewarm christian to say the least. But after hearing his heart and where he was at, I encouraged him and following the leading of the Holy Spirit I prophesied to him.. Immediately after, I saw so much hope inspired into him and he received it so openly.

Praise the Lord! He is on the move in Byron Bay, and we were able to be apart of it with him.

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

Journal Entry #2- Fear of the Lord

Some of you may remember my testimony last May after coming home from YWAM and the main theme of it was the Fear of God. Here is a recent journal entry where I was processing more of what the Fear of God is and what it looks like. I hope and pray that the Lord will speak directly to YOU through this entry. Maybe you can relate with where I'm coming from. Here it is:

MY THOUGHTS:
-- Here is what I don't understand about the fear of God. I don't think your nature is to have your children motivated out of fear... fear is a dreadful thing-- it brings anxiety and nervousness. So what does it mean to fear you?

God's thoughts to me:

++ "My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws." Psalm 119:120
Fear of me does not bring anxiety or dread to your spirit or your soul, but to your flesh. As a follower of God, there is a constant battle between your spirit and your flesh. Your spirit is in tune with my Spirit but your flesh always seeks to control. A Holy fear of God brings trembling, dread and awe to the flesh that causes it to submit. Fear of Me, brings life to you because it makes room for my Spirit to work in and through you.
In this way your flesh becomes less and my Holy Spirit becomes greater within you. My fear is a key to walking in right relationship with me. A man who fears the Lord knows me intimately and I trust him. A man with no fear of the God is controlling, selfish and foolish-- he does not have in mind the things of God, but the things of man. "He must become greater; I must become less." (John 3:30)

My prayer after this revelation:
Oh, God bring me to that place of utter fear of the Lord! I want my flesh to become lesser that you may be greater and glorified! Lord, let me flesh tremble in fear of you and let your love so fill me that it be the one driving motivation of all that I do! Praise your Holy Name!

Tuesday, January 8, 2008

From my Journal.

This is a conversation I had with God on November 22nd, 2007:

MY PRAYER:
∞Today is a most beautiful day. The sweet sea breeze, the warm sun, the blue waters and the greenest grass. Thank you for this beautiful day.
Yesterday night it was revealed to me by You, that there is judgement in my mind and heart. There is such a fine line between discernment and judgement. How can I know when my flesh so subtly creeps into my perception? How do I stay away from judgement?
"Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against is brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgement on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-- who are you to judge your neighbor?" James 4:11,12

"I care very little if I am judged by you or by any human court; indeed, I do not even judge myself. My conscience is clear, but that does not make me innocent. It is the Lord who judges me." 1 Corinthians 4:3,4

GOD SAID TO ME:
§ The discernment I give you will always be motivated out of a heart of love and compassion. As soon as you start coparing a person or sizing them up in a cutting way, you have stepped into judgement. Discernment is of the Spirit. Judgement is of the mind. Discernment is a knowing within you, but judgement seeks to type-cast a person.
You avoid judgement by looking to me for my word and my heart. When I reveal something to you, even if it is a negative thing, I do it for the sake of my love. It is our responsibility to seek me on how to operate in love when I show you something about another person's or your character.
Never seek to convict someone for my sake. Althought you may have a good heart, it is my place to convict. I may use you to rebuke but it will always be in my timing.
Learn my timing and you will see fruit from the things you sow into.

MY RESPONSE:
∞"Any time you compare yourself with others you lose. For either you
find you are not as good, which is a put down of the way God sees
you, or you are better, which is pride."-Ken Helser
Oh Lord Jesus, show me your ways, your pace, and your judgement. God, give me your heart for all of my friends, family, one-on-one and outreach team. I want to discern accordin to you!
I want to stop judging myself and others.. God I want to see you-- and when I see you, I will see me rightly and I will see others rightly. I want to see through your eyes and hear with your ears!
Thank you God.