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.
Saturday, January 26, 2008
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!
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.
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.
Saturday, December 15, 2007
Fear of the Lord
"There can be no intimacy without painful passion." -Ken Helser.
For those of you who heard my testimony, you may remember me talking about the Fear of the Lord. It was a lecture topic that changed my life and flipped my world upside down. Of course, it wasn't the lecture that changed my world, it was the One whom the lecture was about, Jesus Christ.
This last week's topic was the Fear of the Lord taught just as last time by my mentor, Nathan McGill. I was expecting to see break though-- I was expecting to see things happen. I think all of us on the staff team were. I think it's because when conviction comes two choices-- obedience or disobedience. And we were just aching to see conviction come to our school and to ourselves so that we could go beyond what we knew of God and into higher places and more intimacy with Him.
Nathan had 3 days. He always gets shorted because he's not an 'out-of-town' speaker.. But 3 days is enough. It was enough for God to move and alter my life completely, so why shouldn't I expect Him to do a similar thing in the lives if my students?
The first day was hardly a lecture. We all came, knees bowed, worshipping, crying out to God. Some entered in and some didn't. But the focus wasn't on that-- it was on Him. He called us to worship, so we worshipped. I remember Nathan was leading out in prayer much of the time and at one point, in tears he screamed out, "Oh God! I've never started a class like this! But I want so badly to have your will done, I will lay my agenda aside!"
I kinda laughed at that actually.. He didn't realize he was saying that out loud. ha.. anyway.
The second day we spent more time in notes and in defining what fear of the Lord is: to be in awe of Him who holds everything together.. and as a result of a revelation of that power and everlastingness, we submit to hate what he hates and love what he loves.
The third day we came to the thing that keeps us from fearing God most of all other things-- fear of man. We didn't finish the notes because the Spirit of God began to move and we wanted to co-operate with it. We put a chair up their and a microphone and began to repent of being motivated out of fear of man rather than God in all the different areas of our lives.. A student would repent and then we would gather around them and pray, prophesy and speak out what God was saying and doing. Most of us staff went to the chair and repented of being motivated by the fear of man (including myself) as well as 3/4 of the students.. and we began to see SO much breakthrough individually and corporately as we continued to worship God even as we ministered to one another.
3 days. God can change and transform you in a minute if you allow Him to. But so often, we hold on to that which is most dear, that which is comfortable to us. That sinful life of living in fear of man (which is pride) rather than allowing the fear of God to be the purpose and motivation of everything we do in our lives.
Oh God, thank you for moving in the lives of these students! Continue this work in our hearts God. But more importantly, to all who read this, meet them in such a way that all fear and shame will be chased out by your love, for your perfect love casts out all fear. Move them to repentance Lord that they may find more intimacy and that they may know You for who You are, not for what You do. Praise you Lord.
"Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecc. 12:13)
For those of you who heard my testimony, you may remember me talking about the Fear of the Lord. It was a lecture topic that changed my life and flipped my world upside down. Of course, it wasn't the lecture that changed my world, it was the One whom the lecture was about, Jesus Christ.
This last week's topic was the Fear of the Lord taught just as last time by my mentor, Nathan McGill. I was expecting to see break though-- I was expecting to see things happen. I think all of us on the staff team were. I think it's because when conviction comes two choices-- obedience or disobedience. And we were just aching to see conviction come to our school and to ourselves so that we could go beyond what we knew of God and into higher places and more intimacy with Him.
Nathan had 3 days. He always gets shorted because he's not an 'out-of-town' speaker.. But 3 days is enough. It was enough for God to move and alter my life completely, so why shouldn't I expect Him to do a similar thing in the lives if my students?
The first day was hardly a lecture. We all came, knees bowed, worshipping, crying out to God. Some entered in and some didn't. But the focus wasn't on that-- it was on Him. He called us to worship, so we worshipped. I remember Nathan was leading out in prayer much of the time and at one point, in tears he screamed out, "Oh God! I've never started a class like this! But I want so badly to have your will done, I will lay my agenda aside!"
I kinda laughed at that actually.. He didn't realize he was saying that out loud. ha.. anyway.
The second day we spent more time in notes and in defining what fear of the Lord is: to be in awe of Him who holds everything together.. and as a result of a revelation of that power and everlastingness, we submit to hate what he hates and love what he loves.
The third day we came to the thing that keeps us from fearing God most of all other things-- fear of man. We didn't finish the notes because the Spirit of God began to move and we wanted to co-operate with it. We put a chair up their and a microphone and began to repent of being motivated out of fear of man rather than God in all the different areas of our lives.. A student would repent and then we would gather around them and pray, prophesy and speak out what God was saying and doing. Most of us staff went to the chair and repented of being motivated by the fear of man (including myself) as well as 3/4 of the students.. and we began to see SO much breakthrough individually and corporately as we continued to worship God even as we ministered to one another.
3 days. God can change and transform you in a minute if you allow Him to. But so often, we hold on to that which is most dear, that which is comfortable to us. That sinful life of living in fear of man (which is pride) rather than allowing the fear of God to be the purpose and motivation of everything we do in our lives.
Oh God, thank you for moving in the lives of these students! Continue this work in our hearts God. But more importantly, to all who read this, meet them in such a way that all fear and shame will be chased out by your love, for your perfect love casts out all fear. Move them to repentance Lord that they may find more intimacy and that they may know You for who You are, not for what You do. Praise you Lord.
"Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the whole duty of man." (Ecc. 12:13)
Monday, December 10, 2007
Prophetic Deal-yo.
So, for those of you who don't know, one of the foundational values of YWAM is 'Championing Young People into the Kingdom'-- which is a long phrase that means we release, encourage and help fuel the dreams of visions of young leaders who are with YWAM and to disciple those who come through our DTS.
What does that mean for me? I have leaders who believe in me. Not because they have to, but because they see something that God has placed in me that they want to fan the flame and help further me into advancing the kingdom of heaven in the lives of others. I have mentors who keep me accountable, base directors who dream dreams with me, and school leaders who back me in every decision I make-- and work through the good and bad consquences with me. How awesome is that?
I have been asked to teach and lead the first day of a Prophetic Workshop for this DTS. The first day is all about the basic understanding of the prophetic, and then second day is prophetic in the Arts.
This is something God has really stirred in me consistantly-- to prophesy-- to speak from God's heart so that people may be turned to their true identity in Jesus Christ.
The privilege!
But as I was walking home I humbly confessed to God... "Lord, I don't even know where to begin to teach the prophetic. But I surrender this to you. I know you have placed a prophetic voice within me, so I believe you really show me exactly what to show from scripture, and how to verbalize prophetic principles.
As I began to study the word God was downloading revelation and understanding of what I had been walking in for this past year and a half -- the prophetic. He showed me scriptures through Elijah which portrayed beautifully prophetic principles, understanding of Paul's instructions to the Corinthians and proper guidelines for we who are in Christ Jesus and choose to co-operate with him in this awesome gifting.
I prayed a lot over the students, and began to prophesy outloud in my time with the Lord over their lives and the prophetic voice he was abut to place inside of each of them.
When they came, I could feel in the presence of God.. He was waiting to crown His children with this wonderful birthright-- to hear the voice of their Father.
I taught. I taught a lot longer than I expected. But the Holy Spirit brought up stories, and brought up new points as I began to talk that were awesome. Really, I was in awe. The students ate it up. But really, it wasn't me. I don't have much to offer other than the willingness to serve God. And even that I can be pretty bad with at times. But the Spirit spoke through me (don't worry there were other staff their to keep me in check).. And then we did some exercises.. And we began to see God speak through each that was there!
Hearing God's voice is so easy! It's following it that is the difficult part.
After a good 30-45 minutes of prophetic exercises, we prayed and left encouraged, exhorted and comforted-- As we all should be.
How great is our God!
What does that mean for me? I have leaders who believe in me. Not because they have to, but because they see something that God has placed in me that they want to fan the flame and help further me into advancing the kingdom of heaven in the lives of others. I have mentors who keep me accountable, base directors who dream dreams with me, and school leaders who back me in every decision I make-- and work through the good and bad consquences with me. How awesome is that?
I have been asked to teach and lead the first day of a Prophetic Workshop for this DTS. The first day is all about the basic understanding of the prophetic, and then second day is prophetic in the Arts.
This is something God has really stirred in me consistantly-- to prophesy-- to speak from God's heart so that people may be turned to their true identity in Jesus Christ.
The privilege!
But as I was walking home I humbly confessed to God... "Lord, I don't even know where to begin to teach the prophetic. But I surrender this to you. I know you have placed a prophetic voice within me, so I believe you really show me exactly what to show from scripture, and how to verbalize prophetic principles.
As I began to study the word God was downloading revelation and understanding of what I had been walking in for this past year and a half -- the prophetic. He showed me scriptures through Elijah which portrayed beautifully prophetic principles, understanding of Paul's instructions to the Corinthians and proper guidelines for we who are in Christ Jesus and choose to co-operate with him in this awesome gifting.
I prayed a lot over the students, and began to prophesy outloud in my time with the Lord over their lives and the prophetic voice he was abut to place inside of each of them.
When they came, I could feel in the presence of God.. He was waiting to crown His children with this wonderful birthright-- to hear the voice of their Father.
I taught. I taught a lot longer than I expected. But the Holy Spirit brought up stories, and brought up new points as I began to talk that were awesome. Really, I was in awe. The students ate it up. But really, it wasn't me. I don't have much to offer other than the willingness to serve God. And even that I can be pretty bad with at times. But the Spirit spoke through me (don't worry there were other staff their to keep me in check).. And then we did some exercises.. And we began to see God speak through each that was there!
Hearing God's voice is so easy! It's following it that is the difficult part.
After a good 30-45 minutes of prophetic exercises, we prayed and left encouraged, exhorted and comforted-- As we all should be.
How great is our God!
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Holy Spirit.
It's been longer than I would've liked updating this blog, but responsibility sets in and takes my time and energy away.. But here's a new entry just for you! Woo!
I thought I'd share a few cool stories:
A few weeks ago we were covering the topic "Father Heart of God" and we had a speaker named Ken Helser. Thankfully, Ken had taken me under his wing in personal mentorship that week giving me the keys and secrets of his ministry and personal life. I was so blessed!
One day we were worshiping after class and had dismissed the students but allowed time for some to stay if they liked. Ken put on his son's worship CD (I highly reccomend it, buy it on iTunes: Jonathan Helser "The Awakening") and we were all seeking the Lord. It was a very powerful time of worship.. At one point as the Holy Spirit began to minister to us and the intensity of the song and worship began to pick up, a girl began to scream. At first it was a bit hard to distinguish whether this was a good scream or not. But something in my spirit didn't feel right about it, and I began to hear the fear behind her scream.
Immediately, I responded and Ken turned as well. Both of us walked to her and began speaking in tongues similtaneously as we laid hands on her. She screamed more and we prayed harder realizing this was a manifestion of something not of God. As we prayed her screams became quieter and quieter and Ken led her through a prayer of delieverance while I continued to pray over her. And it was done! She was freed! It had been a generational curse placed on her by others that had become a stronghold in her life.
How is amazing is our God!?
Another cool story:
Yesterdy in class we provided ministry time over the weeks topic which was the 'Holy Spirit'. During the worship, I felt led to offer baptizm of the Holy Spirit and prayer for gifts of the Spirit as well. I had given Caleb (one of my guys) a word earlier that day about the Lord's Spirit being poured out over Him.
He came forward as did another one of my guys, and as we began to pray over them there was such breakthrough! The both began to shake, and teared up.. Caleb said he felt something brushing across the other side of his face at one point, as if someone had blown wind at him. I prayed with another staff girl over one of the girls on my outreach team to recieve the gifting of healing and that was a powerful time as well.
It was so cool to see God breakthrough the lives of these students and begin to equip them for their life of ministry ahead of them!
Thank you so much for your support in prayers and in finances!
God Bless,
Kels.
I thought I'd share a few cool stories:
A few weeks ago we were covering the topic "Father Heart of God" and we had a speaker named Ken Helser. Thankfully, Ken had taken me under his wing in personal mentorship that week giving me the keys and secrets of his ministry and personal life. I was so blessed!
One day we were worshiping after class and had dismissed the students but allowed time for some to stay if they liked. Ken put on his son's worship CD (I highly reccomend it, buy it on iTunes: Jonathan Helser "The Awakening") and we were all seeking the Lord. It was a very powerful time of worship.. At one point as the Holy Spirit began to minister to us and the intensity of the song and worship began to pick up, a girl began to scream. At first it was a bit hard to distinguish whether this was a good scream or not. But something in my spirit didn't feel right about it, and I began to hear the fear behind her scream.
Immediately, I responded and Ken turned as well. Both of us walked to her and began speaking in tongues similtaneously as we laid hands on her. She screamed more and we prayed harder realizing this was a manifestion of something not of God. As we prayed her screams became quieter and quieter and Ken led her through a prayer of delieverance while I continued to pray over her. And it was done! She was freed! It had been a generational curse placed on her by others that had become a stronghold in her life.
How is amazing is our God!?
Another cool story:
Yesterdy in class we provided ministry time over the weeks topic which was the 'Holy Spirit'. During the worship, I felt led to offer baptizm of the Holy Spirit and prayer for gifts of the Spirit as well. I had given Caleb (one of my guys) a word earlier that day about the Lord's Spirit being poured out over Him.
He came forward as did another one of my guys, and as we began to pray over them there was such breakthrough! The both began to shake, and teared up.. Caleb said he felt something brushing across the other side of his face at one point, as if someone had blown wind at him. I prayed with another staff girl over one of the girls on my outreach team to recieve the gifting of healing and that was a powerful time as well.
It was so cool to see God breakthrough the lives of these students and begin to equip them for their life of ministry ahead of them!
Thank you so much for your support in prayers and in finances!
God Bless,
Kels.
Thursday, November 8, 2007
Preparing the Preacher?
Man. I can tell that I'm going to have fun coming up with titles for these little blog-a-trons. Ha. Blog-a-trons.
Anyway, thought I'd share a story.
For those of you (I don't actually know who reads this thing) who know Mr. Thomas Mohn, I remember him telling me once, "A long time ago God told me He didn't want to prepare the sermons with me, he wanted to prepare the preacher." I think that's a wise perception. As soon as I started leading worship again in YWAM (almost a year ago) that was a principle I applied to my daily life. I didn't want to be one of those worshipers who spends all his time preparing the music, and making sure everything is perfect while leaving the heart untended. I prayed that God would teach me how to prepare my heart to lead worship and out of that my worship would flow.
He's been faithful to do that so far. Most times I lead worship these days I pick maybe one song in my head that I've felt the Lord speak to me in my time with Him, and the rest of the worship time will turn into prophetic singing, intercession, stillness or more songs that He brings to my mind. And still, I've only scracthed the surface of the depth of power that comes surrendering to God and acting in submission to Him.
Recently, we were doing a locacl outreach in Roma (a rural bush town in Australia, about 6 hour drive south west from Brisbane) and Leah (my leader) asked me to teach at a church in Chinchilla which is a town that we would be passing through on our way home. I agreed but let's face it: I had no clue where to begin. I think it can be so humorous how God will teach something in one area of your life, and then continue to teach it to you until you get it in ALL areas of your life. As I was talking to her and a few other leaders, the message came across, "Only teach what you have to give." Which is true to an extent, but then again I don't think we should limit God to that.
So I went through my journal and through some things that I thought I could teach on-- conviction namely.
The week goes by and I have notes, scriptures and a lot of great stories talking about conviction.. I feel like a bonified teacher at this point. And then I realize something. I'm not really a teacher. I'm not really a preacher either. I'm a helper. Ben Pasley puts it like this, “Helpers, on the other hand, come to us with personal concern and a belief that we have inside of us the tools to excel, but we simply need encouragement and maybe a working model to follow.”
And then another awful realization set in as I was reading a book by Larry Lea.
I hadn't asked God what he wanted to say to the church I was teaching at. I was prepared to speak a message completely from my flesh without even thinkning of what God wanted to do. Conviction set in hard at that point (I know, ironic.) on Saturday afternoon the day before I was to teach.
So I prayed. I sought God with my whole heart and allowed Him to take away my sin and to speak to me.
As I surrendered to God, verses started popping up in my head. I looked them up, read them allowed and started preaching. I started to speaking out the revelation God was giving me and after about 15 minutes I had a whole sermon. Amazed, I took a second to reflect. "Where did that come from?"
I jotted down some notes and praised God.
The next morning, I woke up early and went through the process all over again. By the time, I went up to in front of the church to share, I felt the Spirit dripping all over me. It was heavy. I began to share, and as I did I noticed something: The anointing was there. People were on the edge of their seats listening. They were eager to listen to what I was saying.. It was incredible! And as I allowed God to speak through me, the Spirit was moving on the hearts of the church.
We had a time of prayer afterward for all who wanted it, and that was such a powerful time. One lady fell over as I prayed for her.. So praise God!
Once again, I see fulfillment of that scripture in Samuel: "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Thank you Lord, for being a God who is all about the heart.
Anyway, thought I'd share a story.
For those of you (I don't actually know who reads this thing) who know Mr. Thomas Mohn, I remember him telling me once, "A long time ago God told me He didn't want to prepare the sermons with me, he wanted to prepare the preacher." I think that's a wise perception. As soon as I started leading worship again in YWAM (almost a year ago) that was a principle I applied to my daily life. I didn't want to be one of those worshipers who spends all his time preparing the music, and making sure everything is perfect while leaving the heart untended. I prayed that God would teach me how to prepare my heart to lead worship and out of that my worship would flow.
He's been faithful to do that so far. Most times I lead worship these days I pick maybe one song in my head that I've felt the Lord speak to me in my time with Him, and the rest of the worship time will turn into prophetic singing, intercession, stillness or more songs that He brings to my mind. And still, I've only scracthed the surface of the depth of power that comes surrendering to God and acting in submission to Him.
Recently, we were doing a locacl outreach in Roma (a rural bush town in Australia, about 6 hour drive south west from Brisbane) and Leah (my leader) asked me to teach at a church in Chinchilla which is a town that we would be passing through on our way home. I agreed but let's face it: I had no clue where to begin. I think it can be so humorous how God will teach something in one area of your life, and then continue to teach it to you until you get it in ALL areas of your life. As I was talking to her and a few other leaders, the message came across, "Only teach what you have to give." Which is true to an extent, but then again I don't think we should limit God to that.
So I went through my journal and through some things that I thought I could teach on-- conviction namely.
The week goes by and I have notes, scriptures and a lot of great stories talking about conviction.. I feel like a bonified teacher at this point. And then I realize something. I'm not really a teacher. I'm not really a preacher either. I'm a helper. Ben Pasley puts it like this, “Helpers, on the other hand, come to us with personal concern and a belief that we have inside of us the tools to excel, but we simply need encouragement and maybe a working model to follow.”
And then another awful realization set in as I was reading a book by Larry Lea.
I hadn't asked God what he wanted to say to the church I was teaching at. I was prepared to speak a message completely from my flesh without even thinkning of what God wanted to do. Conviction set in hard at that point (I know, ironic.) on Saturday afternoon the day before I was to teach.
So I prayed. I sought God with my whole heart and allowed Him to take away my sin and to speak to me.
As I surrendered to God, verses started popping up in my head. I looked them up, read them allowed and started preaching. I started to speaking out the revelation God was giving me and after about 15 minutes I had a whole sermon. Amazed, I took a second to reflect. "Where did that come from?"
I jotted down some notes and praised God.
The next morning, I woke up early and went through the process all over again. By the time, I went up to in front of the church to share, I felt the Spirit dripping all over me. It was heavy. I began to share, and as I did I noticed something: The anointing was there. People were on the edge of their seats listening. They were eager to listen to what I was saying.. It was incredible! And as I allowed God to speak through me, the Spirit was moving on the hearts of the church.
We had a time of prayer afterward for all who wanted it, and that was such a powerful time. One lady fell over as I prayed for her.. So praise God!
Once again, I see fulfillment of that scripture in Samuel: "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart."
Thank you Lord, for being a God who is all about the heart.
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