Loving Righteousness / Hating Iniquity…. Qualified for the Oil of Gladness

As God’s created beings and as His begotten sons and daughters, we have such a privilege of being in right standing with the Father through the Son. As sons and daughters, we were “begotten” while all other beings were “created”. We were begotten to rule and reign within His Marvelous Kingdom.
Hebrews 1:8 (KJV 1900) — 8 But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of thy kingdom.

Now we all know a lot about righteousness and being in right standing with God. We know we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. We know we started this journey into righteousness when we were born again. But we also make assumptions that we have it in fullness which is far from being correct. The fullness is attainable but not just automatic. I have come to find that as iniquity is confronted with righteousness, then righteousness takes hold and expands into the areas where iniquity was once found. The above verse says the scepter of righteousness is the scepter of the kingdom and this scepter of righteousness is how the kingdom governs and rules. The supreme rule is not done through an anointing but through righteousness. So, righteousness is actually where authority comes from and also how the kingdom rule is expressed. Why do we not see so much more authority moving things and shifting things? The very next verse in Hebrews gives us an amazing clue.

Hebrews 1:9 (KJV 1900) — 9 Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.

The word for loved (righteousness) Agapeo means ‘to welcome, be fond of, to be pleased’. The word for hate (iniquity) means ‘to detest, to dislike strongly to the point of being hostile’. It goes so far as ‘to reject and disown what is evil’. So, two questions now come: do we really love righteousness? Do we really detest iniquity?

If we love something we:
 cherish it
 value it
 prioritize it
 make room for it
 make time for it
If we hate something we:
 Refuse to walk in sin or transgression and iniquity
 Despise it in our heart
 We work against it
 We help others to avoid it
 We free people from it

So, do we honestly get up in the morning and say, “I really love my righteousness today, I honor it, cherish it, value it and esteem it? I’m prioritizing it and making room for it in my life today. And boy do I hate iniquity! I really despise what it does to people and will take action against it today. I want nothing to do with it and want to free others from it.” Now is that really our attitude?
Hate and love is both an attitude and an action. The attitude comes first and then the action will follow. Because Jesus hated iniquity and loved righteousness, He could DESTROY the works of the devil! Our love of righteousness and hatred of evil will increase by two means:
(1) By experiencing greater intimacy and oneness with the Lord Jesus who loved righteousness and hated iniquity
(2) By growing in love and compassion for our brethren and those whose lives are being destroyed by sin.

Psalm 94:16 (KJV 1900) — 16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? Or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity?

Now the outcome is to be anointed with oil of gladness. Gladness means ‘an extreme joy, to rejoicing exceedingly’. This gladness is part of the Body of Christ’s inheritance. The oil of gladness is for those who will pass the test of loving righteousness and hating iniquity. The level to which you love righteousness must register in the measure to which you hate iniquity….it is an equal exchange. In other words, love and hate walk together. For love to be powerful, there must be a dimension of hate. But the qualifier of the anointing of the oil of gladness it is to hate iniquity and love righteousness, it’s not automatic. This oil of gladness was nothing less than the Holy Spirit. It was the fullness of the Holy Spirit coming upon sons and daughters. It was an anointing of sacred Presence!

John 16:5–11 (KJV 1900) — 5 But now I go my way to him that sent me; and none of you asketh me, Whither goest thou? 6 But because I have said these things unto you, sorrow hath filled your heart. 7 Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you. 8 And when he is come, he will reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.

Hebrews 1:9 says Jesus was anointed above His fellows. Who are the fellows, the disciples? The word “fellows” means ‘sharers, or companions’. In other words, this is anyone who truly knew Him and walked with Him. (Proper attitude and proper actions). This means that if we just didn’t receive righteousness as a provision but truly engaged into it with corresponding actions we too could experience greater and greater degrees of the Holy Spirit upon us. He wants us to share in this joy of the Holy Spirit’s gift living in us!

So do you really, I mean really, love righteousness? Then when you get up in the morning, decide with a conscious decision to engage in that righteousness and begin to make the same conscious decision to hate and despise iniquity. Iniquity is running rampant in the Body because we don’t truly love our righteousness. My prayer for you is that a new anointing will come upon you, an anointing you have never experienced yet. An anointing reserved for a select group, those who love righteousness and hate iniquity. That His anointing will bring a smearing of gladness upon you.

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Iniquity Affecting Awakening

I have been looking at why the awakening that so many are contending for is seemingly delayed. Also, why is there reluctance to fully receive the Kingdom of God, apostles, prophets, creative music, and all the other things God is emphasizing in this hour? A recent sharing I did on Facebook from another site was interesting in the varied comments on the topic. It was revealing of the iniquities we have in the Church. Today I inform you of part of the battle and I warn you not to contribute to the problem.
The reason so many things seem delayed is because of what people believe. The root of unbelief is iniquity which is twisted thinking or wrong thinking or lawlessness. It believes something in error that needs to have repentance. A wrong belief can cause the fruit of lawlessness or having your own belief system to interpret what you think to be true. This can even lead to being in self-deceived states and becoming unrighteous. Lawlessness is the outcome of iniquity and it can be defined as being unrighteous.

2 Corinthians 3: 16-18 Nevertheless when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away. Now the Lord is that Spirit: and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 4:4 (KJV 1900) — 4 In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.

The veil that is to be taken away is iniquity. It blinds the mind or removes illumination, choosing to believe in error. Many are living in the reality of seeing the Glory of God in things around them, but the clear majority, even though participating in some great meetings, are still not seeing the glory of God. The reason is the veils of iniquity that have not been removed neither from understanding nor from their spiritual senses. Iniquity is not just a single iniquity but can be many different types of iniquities.
• Interpretation of truth
• How you view your position
• How you receive the Word of God
• How you perceive your assignment in the earth
• If you’re received or feel rejected
• How you understand any topic God is highlighting in this hour.
The main iniquities are working strongly against what God is emphasizing in this hour and what God is emphasizing is the truth needed to remove the iniquity. Iniquity is not just an overall veiling but there are degrees of iniquity. We get saved living in iniquity and acting upon it as sin. Sin is forgiven but iniquity is purged with mercy and truth. A person can get saved or be saved a long time in the Body of Christ and still be filled with iniquity. It is just being acted out in the Church and not in the world. These iniquities can be a vast number and all affecting many different things. Iniquity’s outcome is spiritual death. It can be all consuming and even rob strength from you.

Psalm 31:9–10 (KJV 1900) — 9 Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am in trouble: Mine eye is consumed with grief, yea, my soul and my belly. 10 For my life is spent with grief, and my years with sighing: My strength faileth because of mine iniquity, and my bones are consumed.

Iniquity is the distortion of God’s message over time and then passed to future generations. Iniquity is the place we process our thoughts to come to conclusions. Iniquity can even cause a righteous person to fall away believing they are fine with a mixture of the world thus creating a self-deceived state.
Righteousness is tied to the throne of God, while iniquity is tied to a principality trying to pervert or twist thinking to separate a person from God’s design for them. Righteousness is an attribute of the Lord that aligns everything up with the Kingdom of God. Righteousness of God contains within itself a powerful force that continually judges iniquity and fights against it to align everything with God.
Righteousness opens our way into heaven’s abundance and pulls everything connected with the Kingdom of heaven and all that it holds. This is because righteousness is intimately tied to the glory of God; because they go hand in hand, manifesting them simultaneously. So, righteousness and iniquity are in a constant pull or battle with ultimately iniquity battling against God’s glory!

The righteousness of God will remove iniquity from our being. The glory of God immerses us in everything God is and comes to the degree of righteousness is present. Glory requires holiness and righteousness produces holiness which draws God’s glory. The Glory burns and destroys everything that separates us from God. To achieve our sanctification, iniquity must be identified and eliminated.

Isaiah 60:1–5 (KJV 1900) — 1 Arise, shine; for thy light is come, And the glory of the LORD is risen upon thee. 2 For, behold, the darkness shall cover the earth, And gross darkness the people: But the LORD shall arise upon thee, And his glory shall be seen upon thee. 3 And the Gentiles shall come to thy light, And kings to the brightness of thy rising. 4 Lift up thine eyes round about, and see: All they gather themselves together, they come to thee: Thy sons shall come from far, And thy daughters shall be nursed at thy side. 5 Then thou shalt see, and flow together, And thine heart shall fear, and be enlarged; Because the abundance of the sea shall be converted unto thee, The forces of the Gentiles shall come unto thee.

This verse is actually all God is emphasizing in this hour. This light is your righteousness that draws the glory of God. This glory can only manifest itself when righteousness has begun its transforming power in a child of God. It is the drawing of spiritual sons and daughters and kings for cultural transformation.

In this hour, true apostolic teaching releases revelation and is confronting iniquity and purging mindsets. The Apostles did not just give knowledge but actually brought people into relationship with Christ, their righteousness. Today we have so many meetings transferring knowledge but not confronting iniquity. When you are confronted with whether you are righteous or not, you must examine your life and this allows the Holy Spirit to sift you. Why are apostles not received in this hour? Because people want their iniquities!

2 Timothy 2:19 (KJV 1900) — 19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, let everyone that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.

Here is a simple iniquity we all participate in. We pray “in Jesus’ Name” not realizing we are doing it as an official representative of that Name. It is not an ending to a prayer; we simply tag it at the end. It is calling on all that Name represents to come and perform that which we just stated. When we pray a simple prayer over a meal, do we really need all of heaven to bless our food? It actually is the beginning of the invitation of Christ to come and unite with your spirit to accomplish together what you just prayed. If there is iniquity within you in an area, God cannot unite with you in that area.
Isaiah 59:2–4 (KJV 1900) — 2 But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, And your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear. 3 For your hands are defiled with blood, And your fingers with iniquity; Your lips have spoken lies, Your tongue hath muttered perverseness. 4 None calleth for justice, nor any pleadeth for truth: They trust in vanity, and speak lies; They conceive mischief, and bring forth iniquity.

It is a heart decision to give up iniquity and embrace truth – thus repentance. Repentance is not spoken of in the Church very often. We believe our knowledge of God is taking care of repentance. But there must be repentance – not in general but specifically confronting each area of iniquity. The response of righteousness will create greater degrees of righteousness. Again, we take the scripture that we are righteous in Christ as finished work. This is true after we have gone through a process creating righteousness. Again, this is another iniquity of removing a process to get the final results. Righteousness will bring holiness and holiness will reveal the glory of God.
Read the account of the Emmaus Road in Luke 24:25-32. Both groups were slow of heart and needed their eyes opened. These were Jesus’ own disciples. Even after all the time He invested, they still were not convinced. Jesus removed the iniquity of His disciples in a certain area by bringing truth that produced righteousness. Once the iniquity was removed, they returned and told everyone. It produced a true cultural awakening revealing God’s glory. I hope I’ve challenged you to search your hearts and allow the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the places of assumptions you might have formed..

Pioneers and Forerunners #2 – Graces of Vision

In my last blog, I spoke of the difference between pioneers and forerunners. Again, I received several good responses. I want to expand that blog since it has helped many people to understand what they are going through. It has also shown me the need to gather the pioneers to get mutual encouragement. I believe most of our conferences are for the forerunners.
Now looking again at pioneers and forerunners, we see that the pioneer is a visionary. They must see afar off and have a sense of direction. The apostolic and prophet graces fall directly into the category of pioneer. They are both visionary and bring new concepts of the future and new paths of spiritual travel. This is not to say there aren’t some pioneers in the other graces of pastor, teacher, and evangelist moving as well. It is just their numbers are very few.
Both apostles and prophets pioneer through the second heavens and make a new path to experience God in the throne room. They confront powers, principalities and oppositions of both demonic and men as they open new ways of seeing and strategy. They have an expectation after all the investment and spiritual work, that the forerunners and settlers will maintain the path and engage into the new discoveries. Both gifts are experiencing frustrations in this hour as they are not fully received nor are the pathways they have opened being received. Mainly pioneers are receiving the revelation from other pioneers. A secondary frustration is what has been opened in the purest form is then shifted or changed by man’s opinions or for man’s own gain. The capitalization of building a person’s own ministry on another’s revelation is doing much damage to many in the Body of Christ. It’s taking advantage of those who have labored in secret and giving them no honor, recognition, or placement in the Body of Christ.
Today we have seen new concepts of the truth being taught by very gifted teachers. These revelatory teachers are not gathering large followings nor settling as teaching centers, but are more transient teachers who are seeding the Body of Christ with revelatory truth. These teachers hang out with apostles and prophets and engage in conversations that are both revelatory and doctrinally sound. They are mature teachers and have deepened their teaching gift with ever increasing revelation.
But primarily, the teaching gift is in the forerunner ministry. They are stationary to grow and establish the Body of Christ. This type of teacher is not so much pursuing revelation to add to their teaching arsenal but is teaching more of the foundations to firmly settle the Body of Christ. They work with Pastors who are in the forerunner category settling people in faith. For the pastor who is frustrated with the constant need to settle people but wants to bring new revelation, they should probably look at their other graces and see if they might be more prophetic and need to shift into the area of pioneering.
It is very easy to see the pastoral grace is a forerunner or a settler type of ministry. The evangelist is there as well building the base of people by expanding the ministry with new converts to the Kingdom. Most pastors are forever consumed with the personal problems and life journeys that people are going through. But the gifting of the prophet and apostle can benefit them greatly. They bring vision and strategy to the people of God pulling them out of their focus on their problems and onto a Kingdom destiny. People who engage in a vision higher than themselves generally see their problems as small and allow them to fade away in their importance. Pastors are in more need of true apostles to give them strategy and bring the Kingdom. True apostles come to partner with and not take over or have them join a network. The days of networks are coming to an end and the time of divine alignments by relationships is upon us. Since I dissolved the network I had years ago, (I had about 80 ministers in it) it became very freeing to not build a structure but to build leaders. I know a lot of people but not everyone I know has been integrated into my network because it does not exist!
So, the understanding of pioneers and forerunners is critical to understand how to function and how to place and value certain things. Take prophecy: there are varying degrees of prophecy. Some is very directive and others are encouraging. The most important words to shift direction on are the prophetic words of prophets and apostles. Other words may be more for the forerunners of places that are establishing the Body of Christ and encourages many. Teaching can be both foundational and revelatory. Revelatory teaching opens vast areas to expand as foundations. Assignments. Many new territories take both apostolic and prophet grace to open while at other times, it’s simply taking what is already established and adding to it.
If we look at the book of Acts, we see the both the pioneering spirit and the forerunner spirit. The first 11 chapters are about the Church in Jerusalem and how it functioned as a forerunner. There were new concepts of taking care of social injustice and new ways of living life in relationship with God. Healing, miracles, and the supernatural are all shown as different from the religious structures. Foundations were laid to build a future upon, based on the fresh revelation of Christ. Acts 12 unfolds as the transitional chapter. Its prophetic symbolism is vast. Peter is locked in prison. Look at it like this; Peter is not locked in prison but the revelation that Peter carried is imprisoned. The Church is praying and crying out for Peter to be released. They are praying for what Peter is carrying to be released. A cry for more revelation. Revelation is released and revelation comes out of prison. Revelation enters a city and it finds a praying Ecclesia! Remember, Peter played a key role of saying Jesus was the Christ, the Son of God. Peter spoke after Pentecost and explained what was happening. Acts 13 onward is about the pioneers and the expansion of the Kingdom. We see the revelation they received dictated the course they were to go. New territories and new revelation came. Yes, we need the forerunners establishing, but we also need them connected to the pioneers to sustain the new territories they are attaining.

Pioneering or Forerunning

Today as I got up, I started thinking on the life I have had of pioneering or forerunning. I used to think they were the same but after this morning’s reflections; I’ve concluded they are two completely different things.

When you are forerunning, you are announcing to a large group of people who are willing to follow you. Most forerunners have very large or sustainable congregations or larger groups of people already following them. The forerunner is only announcing to a group of people what has already been discovered. Generally, the forerunner is declaring revelation that has already been uncovered but is now finally ready to be received. The forerunner is not alone but has other forerunners to draw strength from. The forerunner looks extremely successful, supposedly has new revelation, numbers of followers, and enough funds to do the work. They seem to get great honor being a forerunner and are greatly appreciated for what they are doing.

Pioneering is different. You are blazing a new trail that has not yet been discovered. It’s a lot harder work because the resources of people are not there and finances are generally really stretched. Pioneers see destiny afar off and are dreamers of a better way. They are removing the obstacles off the path so the forerunners can function. The pioneer walks a pretty lonely road as there are not many around them to draw strength from. Unlike the forerunner who draws strength from followers, the pioneer must draw strength from the vision and destiny. The number of these trail blazers is low, there are not enough funds, and overall, they appear to be unsuccessful. No one wants to come down the blazed trail until it’s been completed. By then, the pioneer has moved on to the next assignment, never settling. They seem to get little honor and are unappreciated or unnoticed being a pioneer.

Over the years, I have been a pioneer desiring to be a forerunner. In all honesty, the forerunner’s followers are hungry to receive the new path, making it easier to do the work of ministry. It’s been a great journey discovering the unknown as I’ve lived a revelatory life but equally frustrating to see what is now a 5 or even 10 year old revelation for me, to be new for the forerunners. In the same moment, it is equally rewarding to know the path you cut was the right path. Yet you come back to the new path in front of you and you wonder again, will the forerunners find this new path or just settle on the path they are on. We experienced the exact same moves of God others have over the last 20 years, but God said “You can stay here and camp or you can let go of it and go deeper”. I chose the deeper while the majority camped.

Combating Leviathan to Bring Light to Iowa

In my last blog, I exposed the Leviathan principality that is working in Iowa. (See past blog) Since the posting, many people have contacted me from other states saying they are combating the same exact things. Many have decided to follow my blog to find answers for their regions. I want to begin to address a strategic plan of spiritual warfare against the demonic forces that we encounter.
How do we fight against an unseen enemy and how do we determine the results? In the past, I have seen many so called prophetic acts that engaged a lot of activity but had little to no results. I do believe in prophetic acts, but only if they are very divinely inspired and prayed into and not a fleeting thought in the moment. I don’t see New Testament apostles doing prophetic acts but actual acts. That’s why the book is called The “Acts” of the Apostles. They were real men sent by God to do real acts of God to display His Kingdom in society. They did not depend on numbers to engage demonic forces but relied strictly on the spiritual authority they had been given. Success was not dependent on everyone agreeing or even understanding. It was based on them hearing God’s voice clearly and obeying. We are to pull down strongholds. You don’t pull strongholds down as an individual but with a group of people. This is an action of a group of people who demolish a fortress brick by brick until there is nothing left that remains. This, to me is the first step in strategy, finding the group of warriors.
We also need to find apostles and prophets. I’m not talking about those who want to be or who might be called, but commissioned apostles appointed by Christ, not men and assumptions. These will only be the ones carrying true authority to deal with deep things in the second heaven. They will know the time and moment to step into the heavens and begin to make the shifts. We also must have Christ appointed prophets as well. Ones who declare the true word of God, speaking what must be said. All apostles require and need prophets and all prophets require and need apostles. I have come to a conclusion over time that unless these divine Christ appointed relationships are in place, the strategy of God will not be fully known. If these relationships do not exist, then there is improper alignment, rebellion, or they are not truly called to operate in the grace of these two callings. These giftings will reveal the true word of God over regions and allow that word to be documented so that the Church can war with it. It becomes the spiritual roadmap that reveals the future and causes hope to arise and faith to be activated. The Biblical pattern in the book of Acts shows that when a principality was operating in a region, then Apostolic/Prophetic teams were sent into an area. They understood the culture and the demonic influences behind the people’s belief systems. They began to confront the principality by confronting what people believed. This is probably the primary way of defeating demonic oppression and deception. This occurs until a divine moment of time, confronting each head of Leviathan and weakening the overall principality. We need apostolic / prophetic teams to not just do meetings but go into regions and occupy for a season until breakthrough begins to happen.
Prayer is a key strategic point. There must be prayer over God’s people and decrees over demons plaguing God’s people. Prayer that seeks the heart of God to cause a person’s own heart to be changed. Prayers that communicate the burden we are carrying so God can adjust that burden. Prayer is what maintains and protects God’s people. But prayer alone will not bring changes so much in culture as tarrying to hear God’s plans and strategies is needed. This is more key than anything. In the past when we confronted principalities, we prayed for God’s people, interceded for the lost, made decrees and did lots and lots of deliverance over the people under the demonic oppression. We taught truth and held a Kingdom standard. The prayer room or prayer time was a key time because it allowed us to move into the spiritual realm as a contending group. It was not so much the act of prayer but what it allowed to be produced in us as a corporate Body. It was not just a few of us on the journey of prayer but all of us together. After all, we ALL were on assignment so everything we did, we did together. This was key because it caused our hearts to be knit in His purpose as all of us experienced and heard the same things. We also could hear each other’s heart and understood each other’s hearts. There was as much said and spoken in the prayer gathering as there was in our main meetings. The prayer meeting would set the stage for what God would then form in our main meetings. Without the time in the prayer gathering, a person would be at a disadvantage in understanding the overall direction as things unfolded.
All things will contribute to the weakening of demonic oppression. Healing, winning souls, deliverance, etc., all weaken evil influences. These things are very important, but if the Church is needing awakened, then these things will be hard to set into motion. People will only change how they function after they change what they value. So we must teach and teach and teach as people are perishing for lack of Kingdom knowledge. This has been and currently is the season of revelatory teachers needed. What they are forming is the people of God activated and functioning in real authority.
Now let me give a warning. What seems to happen when we start talking of principalities is there are a lot of ideas and Godly intentions, but little of it fits into an overall plan and strategy to take demonic opposition out of the way. Also, it seems that people can get very fixated on the demonic and not on the Lord thus even empowering demonic forces with their faith. All the good ideas will contribute to the overall success possibly, but they can also distract the Church as it divides people into different groups and passions with no real overall Kingdom plan or agenda unfolding. It can be said these initiatives are Kingdom but are they strategic, playing into an overall Kingdom plan of God? I have seen this in our state with some things that can appear to be a good initiative but don’t have a long-term goal or plan that continues. People can walk away feeling good about what they accomplished but when all is said and done, there was little to no impact. We must be sure we are hearing God and to know the application of what we hear. We must know how our initiatives fit into a larger plan.
The main thing is that we have grown accustomed to life as it is. Human nature is already non-confrontational. The deception we live with is thinking we have already arrived or that things are not really that bad. This mindset needs addressed first. We can’t have change unless we are discontent with the status quo. But there will come a moment of in time, divinely led and inspired, when a corporate group pf people are gathered and in faith will confront Leviathan head on and cut the heads off it. These people will then stand in faith afterwards not giving any ground in the spiritual realm back. This will literally shift the heavens and the atmosphere over a region. It takes time to defeat Principalities. We see Paul weakening many demonic forces over time. This is like a giant chess match being played out with the ultimate prize being a true sovereign move of God unfolding. It is the removing of what is detrimental to allow the light of God to shine into men’s hearts.
We truly need a divine sovereign move of God. Every meeting becomes another key step. Another step in the unfolding plan of God dominion and alignment of hearts. Every person is seen as a possible key to contributing to Kingdom advancement. The mindset is to advance. Advance in gatherings, advance seeing God in lives, advance seeing Kingdom people touching society and seeing that touch influence culture.

Leviathan Restricting the Light of Iowa

Leviathan Restricting the Light of Iowa
I have been under severe attack in the last couple weeks. I had overwhelming thoughts to quit, depression and hopelessness and a host of others things. It is similar to when I took on another stronghold over a region and began battling it. Some of these are coming from things I have taken on to break off of people and others I believe are directly related to what I am preaching on and stirring in the spirit realm. My car was recently bombed by large birds on the windshield late at night. It reminded me of the witchcraft of Africa I have experienced.
There is a stronghold setting over our state. I had a prophetic word that I would not just break a stronghold off our state but it would affect the central USA. I have dealt with principalities before in Africa and here. I know what it takes to displace them and all that comes with it. There is much speculation concerning what demonic activity is going on in our state. All the way from no knowledge to some, to speculation, to fantasy. It takes revelation to know what to combat. It also takes research and study along with discernment without speculation. But one thing seems to remain consistent, everyone speaks of a demonic principality called Leviathan as the agent of the demonic.
First let me bring clarity to Leviathan. Leviathan, a twisting coiling serpent, is a seven headed principality working with strong demonic agents. In mythology, it would coil around the head, eyes and ears to restrict light, stop ears and hold the mind from understanding. This principality creates indebtedness. In mythology, it lived in rivers. Before I moved to the capital city, this demonic force was over our region. I finally combated it and overcame with a large group of leaders and spiritual warriors. The result was an announcement made by the large cult in our hometown that they had lost control of the spiritual realm over the region. People then began to feel the presence of God 20 miles outside of our city as they drove into town. The night we confronted this demonic force, a man had a vision that we had cut off five of the seven heads by our actions. That night five people died mysterious deaths in our small community!
Now to see the application the Lord has shown me. Leviathan’s seven heads are seven strongholds or smaller principalities. This is what makes it so hard to confront and change. We believe one of the heads is actually Leviathan when it is not. It is the combination of several demonic forces. Also understand that Leviathan will gather different heads to complete different task over regions. So the list I present is specific for Iowa. Other areas may have a similar list or even an exact list. I’ve identified the following heads: Pride, Jealousy, Spirit of Diana or Restraint, Religious spirit, Bondage, Murder, Spirit of Saul or False Leadership. Now these are root spirits producing certain fruit attached to them. The fruit is not the spirit but is only the outcome of its activity. But each one can seem to be dominant in itself. Leviathan is the “life source” or overall director of these seven heads working together in conjunction to perform a demonic activity. The tangled weave makes it hard to get a clear perspective. The main thing is to realize everything has an alignment and an attachment.
Iowa means sleepy one and here we are in our nation contending for awakening! This Leviathan spirit has so constricted and restrained, it has suffocated the Church in Iowa to put to sleep both the revelation of God and the people of God. It is the god of this age that has blinded the minds of the unbelievers lest they would believe the Gospel. It is not talking about the gospel of salvation but the gospel of the Kingdom of God. The restriction and unwillingness to really embrace revelation is directly related to pride in hearts and jealousy in actions. Pride enters the heart and keeps the person from seeing their lack or the self-deceived state they are in. This seems to bring forth a lack of true ownership for the Word of God and the revelation of the Lord that is given. This is the very thing the Iowa Band fought in the 1850’s in Iowa, the rejection of revelation as it was replaced with self reasoning. A new type of enlightenment came into Iowa in the 1930’s as the “age of enlightenment” appeared and man’s reasoning was found superior to God’s. This began a release of the religious spirit and an institutionalized Christianity began to appear.
This principality creates indebtedness and that indebtedness is seen in obligation to religious practices and institutions, specifically to the Goddess Diana found in Acts 19. Diana means ‘fully enlightened but flow restrained’. It works alongside Leviathan to bring a false enlightenment and it works to remove the ability to reproduce. It makes the temple an idol and we have done the same by pouring millions of dollars into structures instead of injustices. Today people pick ministries to associate with based many times on the beauty of a building instead of the presence of God. In Acts 19:27, there was concern when Paul confronted the teaching of this type of restraining structure at Ephesus. They were worried their “craft” would be in jeopardy as they made their living from this craft. The Lord told me the craft is the ability to restrain flow while convincing people they are enlightened. The result is people think being a good person is good enough. Getting involved in different causes, volunteerism, and doing the weekly duty and obligation (indebtedness) had created a knowledge of God without true deep relationship with God. We have knowledge of God, have acquaintance with God but don’t really know Him.
The ability to create large places of gathering without a life-giving flow has released the spirit of jealousy with leaders. Desiring to have large congregations, a compromise can settle in hearts to not present the full truth, thus empowering Leviathan even more. Competition arises and the outcome releases the spirit of murder as character assassination begins. Instead of letting God deal in hearts to convict and expose, fault finding in individuals, instead of judging with righteous judgements occurs. We can judge if something isn’t Biblical and we are suppose to, we can only discern what spirit something is from. With discernment shifted to speculation, coming from competition and jealousy, we must confess we have little to no Biblical discernment operating.
These things contribute to many stepping out of their primary calling and trying to step into a grace that has not been imparted to them. This has created a lot of confusion within the Body of Christ concerning function, identity, leadership and authority. It causes a drawing back as to who to believe, thus we don’t believe anyone except our own belief system and actually end with an open ended belief system. These progressive things have created a suspicion concerning other leaders and an unwillingness to embrace true apostolic government, authority, order and alignment. No true apostolic council exists in Iowa. There are few apostles and few strong prophets. Our state is lacking drastically in this area. They have not been received, (not receiving revelation) and when they have appeared, they have been rejected. But what is odd is the number of those “who say they are apostles but are not”. Without getting into a lengthy teaching, there simply is no apostolic fruit, no reproduction of sons, no apostolic lifestyle and no apostleship to verify the authentic calling. Leviathan has stopped the reproduction of Kingdom leadership and the heritage of fruit produced. This has created an endless variety of belief systems and has actually paralyzed the Body of Christ for some time.
But God always has a remnant reserved to bring forth the ancient paths and ancient ways. This is a remnant that has held fast to what they believe and refused mixture and compromise. A remnant willing to confront demonic forces and sees plainly both the mixed things and the intentions of God. There are remnant pockets in Iowa emerging. Places fueling hunger and answering the emptiness of people’s hearts. These places preach uncompromised messages and bring real encounters with God with power and signs and wonders. They are beginning to disciple in Kingdom principles and apostolic alignments. But for the most part, they are emerging outside of the current structures because the current structures have been infiltrated with the heads of Leviathan.
We are also not just finding these pockets but beginning to find the ones within the structures who want to break out of the bondages of lack. Amazingly, many traditional denominational leaders desire the Spirit filled lifestyle and all that it brings. I can see these two groups are the ones carrying hunger for awakening, and will be the voices of it as well. Those who are currently “Spirit filled” really need to examine their lives and motives as I can see them almost being left behind because of mindsets of believing they have already “arrived”.
The recent attack I experienced came after speaking on the Glory of God. I believe this is part of combating this spirit, along with outpouring meetings and healing meetings. The Lord told me that Iowa will not experience a move brought by someone from the outside but from those within. The fire we seek will only be sustained by those living in the land. He also told me the outpouring we desire will only come as people’s hearts are healed from the wounds they have experienced and disappointments from what they have experienced in the faith. In other words, we must break the Leviathan influences off of them. The army we seek is in both the prodigals and broken-hearted ones and the millennials who are wired to carry a true move of God.
Let me also clarify what I’m talking about when I say ‘glory’. I’m not talking about the typical glory manifested in a room that so many seem to be chasing, but the glory of God within an individual that is always present to display Christ. The glory that is the highest glory is this inward glory. Manifest glory comes and goes and does not sustain. It is an Old Testament glory. A glory like Moses experienced and is transitional to encourage into the future but it is fading. The glory that is within is transformational. It is ever expanding. Manifested glory is for the saints to believe, but the glory within is to go on mission. Demonic forces will never be stopped by us entertaining each other inside the walls hoping for God to manifest, but cultural change will occur as we go outward and do mission. This is the manifestation of the sons of God outside the walls not inside. This is what the whole earth is groaning for in Romans 8. Now if this is the real answer, the final response from man to confront everything and bring forth Eternity, then anything that brings forth light to shine will confront the deepest darkness. That’s what the glory within in is, a huge light we carry. Once that light begins to shine in our daily lives, then everything begins to change drastically.
I’ll post more as revelation increases.

Transitional Tarrying

This blog will be kind of different than many I write. It’s been a long time since I blogged and you probably noticed my Face Book posting is less often as well. Hopefully the following will explain some things. I am sharing how I have tarried through about a one year transition within my spirit. I hope you will see how God’s dealing occurred and how He formed things in me. Anything of any true value takes time to build. Anything that occurs quickly may have shallowness to it. Many have asked me to travel and speak. Many of you reading this have even asked me. I have either not responded or have been vague in my answer. You see, I just don’t want to go do another meeting. I enjoy the fellowship, the friendship and even the traveling. I love meeting new people and really enjoy teaching the Body of Christ the revelation given to me. I decided about a year ago to slow way down almost to a halt in traveling until I felt I really could leave an impact. I’ve been doing a long stretch of tarrying and waiting on the Lord. I could have pushed forward opening my own doors like many do, but I knew I would miss what God wanted to do deep in me of developing something of eternal weightiness.

I have been concerned about how much energy we put into so many meetings and yet still do not get lasting breakthrough. We are engaging with the Omnipresent God in a room but have not developed an atmosphere for the manifest presence of God dropping heaven to earth with holiness and power. This has been the journey I have been on for a year now. A pursuit in the ways of God that many in the past season found. When I see and hear of those who have gone before us and the legacy they brought, I have to ask God what is lacking in how we do things. This has caused me to come to a conclusion, we are having good meetings but they may not be what we claim them to be. I have watched from afar and seen many people touched for possibly the first time by God. I have seen a lot of money spent, time used, and even hope be applied to only come up to an invisible ceiling that seems to be the finish line.

It also has set me on a private journey with myself and my BASE family for almost a year. We are Kingdom minded, apostolic driven and have formed a holy community, yet things are still missing. This journey was to possibly find the “missing” things the early Church seemed to have to impact culture. As revelation has come to me, my ministry became the place of the “holy experiment”. As I occasionally spoke at different places, I would release these different revelations and saw the impact upon people and even the atmosphere of the rooms change drastically. I have seen the fear of God come as people trembled under His presence without getting prayer (from an altar ministry setting). I have seen holy silence and a holy hush. I have also seen people crying out to God. I can honestly say with all sincerity, I don’t have all the answers and in the same breath, I know I have some of the answers.

During this past season, I did what was at hand, building relationships, teaching in our Awakening School of Leadership, and overseeing the ministry. I did speak at some places as asked. But during this time as God was forming in me, He was confirming things I knew to be true. I have had several prophetic words about being in hiding and coming out. Words about traveling and impacting and an overwhelming amount of affirmation of carrying something the Body of Christ really needs in this hour. Many cannot believe I am not out already. Yet I have held fast and told God unless I really know I am carrying something, something to impact and not just perform at another meeting, I won’t be going. In this last season, I did travel but usually just to see sons and daughters and occasionally I would speak. This has caused me to go through many tests as a leader. A word test, a time test, a patience test, a motive test and a host of others. God has dealt with me in some very pointed ways. He has dialogued with me very strongly about the deposit He has given me and what I’m truly doing with it. He also has told me it is time to run the next race and everything to this point has only been training for what I’m about to do. Visitations are increasing for me and a few months back, I had an angelic visitation with a healing angel. At first it appeared I did not receive my healing, but over time it has proven I did indeed and in an over- the-top type of way. I also am having increased visitations from the Holy Spirit manifesting and preaching to me, and the Spirit of the Lord coming to speak to me.

One prophetic word I received in this past year had 3 distinct dates. The month of May is the first one as a type of on- ramp to the next season. Now May is about finished and after almost a year of wrestling, I have decided to step into the next season. I asked God to give me a specific thing to confirm the next season being here and He did. I know more will unfold as the next 2 dates unfold, but they are several months out and even over a year away. Obedience in tarrying is part of the key the early Church knew that we have abandoned. We are allowing schedules to drive us and not always letting the Spirit lead us. The early Church waited until the right timing. We believe the timing is always in the moment we receive revelation. But revelation takes time to grab hold of in the heart and spirit. I know from serving in a prophetic office for 8 years (years ago) that the longer you hold something, the greater it becomes in your spirit. The revelation I have has been released some but is still developing as well.

I will continue to tarry, but the overall season of tarrying for the transition is coming to an end. This means this next season for me will be to begin to travel, not to do meetings, but to shift atmospheres, release needed revelation and bring God’s sovereign ways into people’s lives. The Lord has indeed brought me into a “next level” of things and He is now really pushing me to make this transition. I feel unprepared in many ways while at the same time feeling totally prepared. My desire to see the Body of Christ truly grow up and become manifest sons far outreaches any fears or insecurities I may have. I really covet your prayers as I step forward as I sense much of the way of what I will do will look very different than what might be expected. I will maintain my lead role at the BASE in Iowa and also teach in the Awakening School of Leadership that we have established. I will expand relationships in the state of Iowa even more, as The BASE is called to do a statewide work. I am writing a new book right now and plan on producing more written materials in the next transition. Right now I have a business that takes a lot of my time as it is my main income stream. I am in the process of selling it and living a life of faith once again.

So I am now planning a summer/ fall schedule of traveling and imparting revelation. I already have several ministries I will be traveling to and have been asked to speak at a national conference in October. Along with this, an apostle has asked me to speak to several pockets of his spiritual sons to impart to them. If you think I can benefit your ministry and you’re interested (not in another meeting) but really pursuing to bring something fresh into existence, then give me a call and let’s partner together for the Kingdom. In the past, I have not contacted anyone to speak and only go where I have been invited. I will continue this policy in the future as well.

What Season Is It

With the end of the year, there is always so much discussion concerning the next year we are stepping into. Everyone asks “What is God saying about this next year?” It’s as if the Gregorian calendar suddenly releases God’s voice to speak something new or different than what He has already been saying. We try to analyze the year by the Hebrew numerical system and the meanings of letters. We then put our faith into what these definitions mean trying to empower them, but also limiting what God can do. We usually come down to the same conclusion. The past year was not so good and the next year is going to be better.
What we don’t realize is that we are making an indictment upon ourselves concerning our own walk with God and our expectations. We, in a subtle way, are saying we are not happy with the past and we are hoping that future is going to be better. We shift our faith off what we have believed for to something new to believe. Many times we never come back to the original intentions of God for our life to complete it. I wonder if some of this comes down to a humanistic viewpoint. Humanism is when we believe God exists to make me happy. I did not live as happy as I wanted to last year and I hope I will be more happy this year. We shift what we are believing for and it always is shifted to what is going to bring happiness to us. When I said yes to the call, I gave up my rights. I said I would go where He wanted me to go, and say and do what He wants me to say and do. If it was up to me, I would be doing something different and living someplace else. It would then be what pleases me. But my decision of Lordship is not about me but always about what pleases Him. It is the Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom. That should fill us with delight!
Maybe we don’t need to look for a new word but see how God would expand upon what is already in motion. Maybe we still have assignments we did not complete that need to have our attention. When we dismiss the past season we actually nullify our foundations to build upon. The question I have is: how many of the prophetic words given last year are now fulfilled? Did they come to pass? Were they truly a prophetic word or exhortation? As I am getting older in the faith, it is easier for me to not be moved by just another prophetic word, or a generic ‘fits all’ type word. I’m moved by the words that hold the fire of God and His breath on them. Words that give hope but prick the heart with reality that must be attained. Words that don’t set direction as much as set the fear of God to be resident in the heart.
I can tell you the season we are in and we should all be able to recognize it. We are in a season of the expansion of the Kingdom of God. We are in a season of awakening. We are in a season of God dealing in our hearts, convicting us of our sin and our transgression. He is purging our iniquities with mercy and Truth. He is confronting our unbelief, redefining our identity, and fine tuning our assignments. He is bringing us into holy community and sonship. He is connecting and forming us in a family, a tribe, and a holy nation. He is setting the stage for a display of His Kingdom.
He is dealing with the Church to see themselves as a sovereign people living in a sovereign moment to do a sovereign work. Thus revelation will only come as the Church truly tarries before the Lord until His nature is formed and this grace is released. He wants us to carry more than anointing but His breath and the understanding of the very origin points of God’s intentions and principles. He is truly taking us deeper into the seriousness of the Kingdom.
You see nothing has changed for me because the calendar page flipped. Sure it’s great to get exhortation and encouragement, that’s what most of the words are at this time of the year. They come to encourage us to fulfill what already has been spoken prophetically. They might remind us the prophetic destiny that is before us.

What are you looking for?

What are you looking for as you surf endlessly through all the Face Book posts? Is this where you think you will find God? Is this the place that holds your answers? We waste so much time trying to find revelation in the wrong places. We look at others’ posts and lives and think “boy, those are interesting insights” not realizing the person may have labored over what was posted for a long time perfecting and polishing those thoughts.

What are you looking for? We sit here and watch video after video of ministries doing things, saying things and speaking to things, yet it appears with all the social media tools, we are seeing little change at all. With all the technology, it appears we are basically ignorant how and when to use it. It fills us with every type of gospel and every type of belief system. It fills us with such a mixture of the world.

What are you looking for? What exactly did you want to get out of Sunday’s service anyway? Some good music, some good teaching, someone else to dig out the nuggets of truth since after all, you have had such a busy week. We look for fellowship; we look for connection to God. We look for something to ease the pain of the week instead of living above it. Perhaps we are looking for a greater reality and we think it will be found as we gather.

What are you looking for? What exactly is filling all your free time? Is it your hobbies, camping, boating, fishing, sports, movies, reading books, watching TV? We do these things and hope we can find God in these things to justify the time spent. Occasionally we hear a testimony of God showing up. But it seems like the testimony does not ignite our faith into the future very much.

What are you looking for? Are you looking to see a man come under the Spirit of God so much that the fire of God can be seen from him? Are you looking for the spiritual show to become better and better and finally you will be convinced enough to join in? Do you want others to do the praying and “the fasting” and the “spiritual warfare” and the “studying” so you can then look upon what they have found and become?

What are you looking for? If you’re looking for awakening, then what exactly does awakening look like? How do we know we have found it? Because what we see sure isn’t producing the shift in hearts we desire. Are we chasing a dream or God’s reality? Are we seeing like He sees and taking a hard look at our own lives and the lack of holiness? Are we seeing the places of darkness in the heart that need the light to shine into? Can we actually be honest for just a moment as the Body of Christ and admit our great need for God’s Spirit to deal with us before anything of any substance can happen through us?

What are you looking for? I’ll tell you what I’m not looking for! I’m not looking to find my encounter with God in a book, a meeting, a man, a worship set, an anointing, a past move, a present move or a future move. I’m not looking for someone else to take away my privilege of a fasted lifestyle, my warfare, my determination nor my destiny because I was too spiritually lazy. I’m not looking for another man’s revelation to be my message, another ministry’s vision to be incorporated into mine, nor another nice prophecy to tickle my ears and cause my heart to have a false hope.

What are you looking for? I’ll tell you what I’m looking for: an encounter with God that comes because of my face to the floor and my heart exposed. I’m looking for a people who would give their lives for holiness and not the gifts, or fivefold offices or the accolades that men would give. I’m looking to be hidden in Him and the greatest works I do for Him no one would know. I’m looking for those who have like faith and like passion, not of my faith or passions, but the faith and passions of the Christ. I’m looking for the breath of God to come and speak cleansing into the recesses of souls confronting the false doctrines men have established to build their ministries upon. I’m looking for the conviction of the Holy Spirit to come into a nation and the Church so strongly that men’s hearts fail them, fear of God grips them, and they are held in suspension until decisions are made within them.

I’m not looking for what we are currently calling fivefold, awakening, revival, or whatever tag that has to be the center piece of attention but the Lordship of Christ would put all such nonsense into an eternal grave and resurrect a people who are under Lordship’s power first in their heart. I’m looking for competition to be replaced with esteem and honor. I’m looking for national prophets to carry a true national word. I’m looking for apostles to be allowed to function so we can sort out the mess and find the true apostles. I’m look for real sons and daughters willing to walk a journey in life together with a spiritual father and willing to pay the price to do so. I’m looking for the foolishness of being “spiritual” to cease as an excuse for a person’s unwillingness to change or hear truth. I’m looking for messages that come from heaven not the Internet, Google, books, etc. that shakes the unredeemed portion in believers’ lives to step into light and out of the darkness. I’m looking for demons to scream out in meetings because holiness is present. I’m looking for something like John, the revelator, that has “not yet been seen but is required for what must be”.

Fathering, the way to form 5- fold leaders

As I have studied spiritual fathering and being a spiritual father for about 20 years, I can quickly see the benefits of this for the sons and daughters being developed. I see the great need in the Body yet so many in need of this are sitting under leaders that have no idea of what spiritual fathering is.

The Lord has led me to start a new school in the fall of this year that is to be both a ministry school and a school of fathering. I oversaw a ministry school for 13 years and I knew this had to look different. As I looked around, I didn’t see a model so I have had to work through many things to put together a school that trains for ministry but has fathering within it. We won’t be charging for fathering but for the training part of the school. I am really excited for the school to begin and I see a more solid Biblical pattern for training leaders than ever before. This is leading me to write this blog.

I don’t want to just turn out students; I want strong and true sons and daughters. I know the approach is relationship based and is not forced. Our current models of training leaders is to send them to school, train and equip them with knowledge and some opportunities, and then send them out to do ministry and establish new works. My heart recently broke when a young girl who was in a school of minsitry I talked with was crying out for a father to speak to her. You guess it I was the one and it was fantastic. I realized for all our training we are still not touching the real heart issues needing to be shifted. Yet, as I look at the early Church, there is no real Biblical pattern showing forth the training of five-fold ministry. There is no pattern on how to form a prophet, apostle or any other grace gift. It appears all the emphasis we place on these graces is not as important in the early church. Perhaps we have missed something.

What we do see though is the training of sons and daughters. We see spiritual fathering and sons and daughters responding to that fathering. We also see those same sons and daughters being given responsibilities from the fathers and assignments to complete. We see them laboring along with fathers and knowing their hearts. I wonder if the reason Jesus only appointed apostles and spoke of them was because all true apostles are fathers. We know that the apostle’s role is also to father the future leaders. Of course we see the best dynamic unfolding with Paul and Timothy.  Timothy moved from his son ship to be a leader in the Ephesus church. Along the way, Paul’s heart was reproduced within him and Paul’s voice was heard through him to the Corinthian church as he delivered and read the letters to them. Paul was forming a future apostle by forming a son.

Could the recognition of false apostles and prophets that Paul talked of be more about them having no real father than trying to be something they are not? At least, some of them?  True fathering can easily be seen in a leader’s life. Look at David after defeating Goliath. King Saul asked a simple question of Abner, the captain of the host, “Whose son is this youth?” (I Samuel 17:55) He knew it took a certain type of father to form a certain type of leader.

Paul was adamant with Timothy about his lineage. He told Timothy he saw the heritage in Timothy through his mother and grandmother. Then he told him to look for faithful men who can teach others also. He never told Timothy to go train five-fold leaders. Paul actually never gave a single example of training fivefold ministers but all he taught can be applied to sons. He did tell him to find those qualified as faithful and from those, create sons who will teach others! This sounds like a Biblical pattern of raising five-fold ministry gifts.

I have come to a conclusion that we have created five-fold ministry by more of a worldly pattern with the giving of knowledge in schools of ministry. By knowledge, we define giftings and to a large degree, callings. We set people into the place of five-fold. Some make it while many struggle or even fail. Many were never ready but their schooling says ‘you have graduated or are ready’. Then from that foundation of knowledge, we try to form fathers from five-fold leaders who were never really sons. I believe the more Biblical pattern of forming five-fold leaders is to father them first, to pour life experience in with the Biblical knowledge.  Then from the depths of fathering, the gift will be seen and recognized. The father would release the sons and daughters into ministry.  In other words, five-fold giftings, which are really graces, should be coming forth from fathers. By having true sons and daughters doing ministry, I believe we would see a tremendous impact with ministries and the face of Christianity would appear very different.

I know this is a tremendous paradigm shift of the current approaches and way of training. We have defined so much by Greek and Hebrew language instead of the Kingdom language of heaven. Perhaps the real “equipping” needed in the Body is not just the knowledge of Truth but application of Truth coming from fathers who have made that Truth a part of their life. In other words the equipping is really spiritual fathering! If that is the role of the five-fold, then how can the five-fold father equip the Body without them first being true sons and daughters?

So my premise of this blog is to announce my own paradigm shift concerning training leaders and what is really expected from sons and daughters. I, like William Penn as the nation was being formed, am starting a “Holy Experiment” in a new way of raising sons and daughters and five-fold leaders in our school this fall starting in Sept. If you’re interested in this forerunning, pioneering school, you can find more information on our FaceBook page at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1468560813402697/.