2015 Inspired By the Holy Spirit

I don’t believe this season started just this year either. I believe that we have been in this for a while, but the seasons will become more clearer this year. If you’ve been in an unusually long season then get ready for God’s strategy to bring you out. Even the way He brings you out is going to be unusual.

In December and January we have seen literally thousands and thousands of butterflies unusually large amounts. The Lord showed me that as caterpillars they have gone through a long season of metamorphosis but now countless butterflies are emerging out of their chrysalises to enjoy their new found freedom and new season.

So this is the year God’s people will emerge from their long season of metamorphosis and come out changed, challenged and ready to spread their wings into the next season that God has for their lives.

Amos 9 talks about unusual seasons where the reaper will be overtaken by the plowman because the reaper is still reaping the harvest but the plowman is plowing for another season; an unusual season within a season.

Amos 9:13-15 Psalm 66:10-12 Song of Solomon 3:6 Joel 2:24-27 

A whirlwind can also represent miracles such as when Elijah was taken to heaven it can also represent the voice of the Lord speaking to you like He did with Lot.

Job 40:6-7 NKJV Then the LORD answered Job out of the whirlwind, and said: “Now prepare yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer Me:”

These whirlwinds will spawn winds of change that will blow across the nations of the earth, winds that will shake the dead and unproductive branches from our life. But the things of God that remain in us will be unshakable. Just like the past few days the winds coming off a big whirlwind (a category 3 cyclone) has blown down branches and debris and dead bark into my pool. Hebrews 12:26-29 Matthew 7:24-27

THERE’S AN EMPHASIS ON OBEDIENCE, SACRIFICE AND COMMITMENT.                                                                                 Obedience to God is simply doing what He’s asked us to do. Yongi Cho was asked why his ministry is so successful and he said it’s simple I hear and I obey. Let this be a year where we sacrifice the things of the flesh for the things of the Spirit. What is the Lord asking you to sacrifice for him this year? Then commit yourself wholeheartedly.     2 Chronicles 31:20-21 NIV  [20] This is what Hezekiah did throughout Judah, doing what was good and right and faithful before the Lord his God. [21] In everything that he undertook in the service of God’s temple and in obedience to the law and the commands, he sought his God and worked wholeheartedly. And so he prospered. Joshua 22:5

A YEAR TO SHAKE IT OFF, STEP UP AND TAKE RESPONSIBILITY.

Shake off your bad attitude, wrong thinking, dwelling in the past, fear of failure, what’s in it for me self centredness, and step up and take responsibility for your actions, your position (whether it’s at home, at your work or at church), your family, your christian walk, your ministry, over your flesh.

GOD THE TERMINATOR.

The word finish means to terminate. He is the author and the finisher. He will finish what He started. He will bring an end to the siege, the destruction, the poverty, the sickness, the self doubt in your life this year.

A YEAR TO BE CALLED, COMMITTED AND CRAZY

Let it be a year of no regrets, do something you’ve never done before while the opportunity is there, break out of the box.

Running in -21C (I remember Julie saying we must be crazy, but I said no we’re the only ones committed this morning), many times we’ve run in the pouring rain and we don’t  see another jogger out there. There is an enemy called ‘comfortable’ and ‘average’ break out and be the person God wants you to be and do what He wants you to do, go pray for that person, go for that job, believe for the impossible.

Don’t end up saying I should’ve or I could’ve or I wish I would’ve. Instead say I’m so glad I did or I can’t believe I did that. Like Julie doing parasailing!

Keep doing what God asked you to do even if you are $70,000 in debt because you’re doing what He asked and there will come a day when everything gets turned around back in your favour.

Don’t give in don’t stop even when others tell you you’re flogging a dead horse and tell you go and get a job, start a church or do something to make the finances come in. Galatians 6:9 NKJV  And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.

Having faith in God seems crazy to others because faith sees what others don’t.

TIME TO BUY A SWORD

Time for a new level of warfare. The devil is also shifting and changing strategy but we get caught up in waging the same warfare strategy just like the last battle. When we do this we risk huge casualties like they experienced when the army of God took on the little insignificant town of Ai.

Bishop Hamon always says, what you don’t fight in the spiritual you’ll have to fight in the natural.

Intercession needs to go to a whole new level.

This is a different season than what you thought.

EXPECT THE EXTRAORDINARY.  THE INCREDIBLE, THE AMAZING, THE UNBELIEVABLE, THE MIRACULOUS.

Don’t expect the same as before, lift your vision, lift your expectation, expand your borders get ready for bigger and greater things.

BEWARE OF COUNTERFEIT, DECEPTION & LIES.

Beware of a counterfeit gospel. Beware of counterfeit spiritual encounters. Beware of counterfeit ministries! They deceive and are secretive and don’t tell the truth, have nothing to do with these. Paul makes it very clear in Gal 1-8 about preaching any other Gospel other then the one he’s preached.

Beware of Jezebel because it can control you and render you useless especially in the ability to reproduce. Remember she wanted to control the counterfeit false prophetic voices of the land. Jezebel takes from you what God has given or promised you.

You shall know the counterfeit by their fruits. They have to reproduce after themselves.

A blackberry bush can’t produce apples.

Don’t be deceived any more, sometimes we have become so desensitized we can’t sense Holy Spirit convicting us of sin. We have trusted in lies and in our flesh more than in the Word of God. We’ve lied, we’ve covered up, we’ve done things in secret, we’ve compromised and we’ve been lukewarm. But now we have an opportunity to be real and lead a life that’s worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him and being fruitful in every good work. Col 1-10.

DONT BE SUBDUED.

Don’t let your guard down this year.

Judges 16:18-20 NIV [18] When Delilah saw that he had told her everything, she sent word to the rulers of the Philistines , “Come back once more; he has told me everything.” So the rulers of the Philistines returned with the silver in their hands. [19] After putting him to sleep on her lap, she called for someone to shave off the seven braids of his hair, AND SO BEGAN TO SUBDUE HIM. And his strength left him. [20] Then she called, “Samson, the Philistines are upon you!” He awoke from his sleep and thought, “I’ll go out as before and shake myself free.” But he did not know that the Lord had left him.

BE PREPARED TO WAIT A LITTLE LONGER THIS YEAR, IT’LL BE WORTH IT.

Trim your lamp and collect your oil and get ready just like the wise virgins you can have your lamps but if you haven’t got a reserve with you you’ll miss out. Dig the ditches, the wells, the reservoirs, collect the jars because God will fill them. This year is all about preparedness. Don’t just have enough because the season could be a little longer than you thought so always be prepared to dig deeper and go the extra mile. There’s been many times Julie and I have had to dip into the reserve tank to keep going but if you haven’t got a reserve tank or anything in it then that’s as far as you can go.

Matthew 25:3-10 NIV [3] The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. [4] The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps. [5] The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep. [6] “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’ [7] “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. [8] The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’ [9] “ ‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’ [10] “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.

I HEARD THE WORD ‘CAST’ FOR 2015.

Did you know there is something like 70 different meanings for the word, cast?

When you break an arm they put it in a cast. A boating term to cast off. A knitting term, A movie cast. Cast iron. To cast your falcon from your hand towards its prey. To cast a stone. To cast your vision. To cast your cares. To cast your nets. To cast out Devils. To cast your eye over. To cast lots for. A cast away. Worm castings.

So what are you going to cast this year?

Psalm 51:10-12 NIV [10] Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. [11] Do not cast me from your presence or take your Holy Spirit from me. [12] Restore to me the joy of your salvation and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Psalm 55:22 NIV [22] Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.

Matthew 10:8 [8] Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, CAST OUT DEVILS: freely ye have received, freely give.