About Michael Van Vlymen Art

I have always loved drawing and painting and have been creating art for as long as I can remember. It brings me joy to create new works of art and so I try to make a little time for doing that. My earliest works were cartoons and eventually I started doing realistic drawings of people, including some of the Lord Jesus. I think I was about 10 years old when I drew my first portrait of Jesus.

The Lord blessed me with the desire and with a bit of skill in that area and it has always been a hobby more than anything else. The only noteable exception was when I was young I owned a small sign painting company and did that as well as wall murals and paintings. For the most part it was always for my own enjoyment.

Several years ago, as some of you know, I began having some really powerful encounters with the things of Heaven and the spiritual realm. There were visitations from the Lord and from angels as well. Sometimes they were quite overwhelming to say the least! I wrote about many of these encounters, not for the sake of amusement but I try in all the things I share in this regard to also tell the lesson I learned or the point of the visitation. It was not just an “encounter” it was a revelation or an instruction or even a correction at times. Truly powerful encounters of God and I tried very hard to share some of these with the purpose very much in mind.

I would often create posts talking about these things, sharing little pieces of encouragement etc.. Many times I would do Google searches trying to find pictures or paintings or drawings of angels that in some small way approximated what I had encountered. If I had an ancounter with a large fierce looking angel who carried the glory of God, I would try to find a picture like that to use in my post.

I soon learned it was next to impossible to find what I was looking for. I would search and find very cartoonish looking angels or “angels” that looked demonic or angels that had very carnal looking appearances. There were some that were close… more “sci-fi” looking, but still not conveying what I felt was needed. I especially had trouble when I looked for powerful looking black angel pictures because it seemed as though about half of my encounters were with non-white angels. ( I have many who challenged me on this but it is what it is.)

I decided to create the images I needed for my posts and blogs. I enjoyed doing it and was able to bring a realism to angel images that in some was approximated what I had experienced. Not entirely mind you, but at least closer than what I had previously found.

Many of the pieces I have done are an attempt to show the angels from actual encounters I have had. Such as the 2 angels Healing and Breakthrough that sat with my wife Gordana on the flight home from Manila to Dulles airport. I was able to come pretty close to their appearances in the art. There were others as well…an angel who gave me a sword…another who wrestled with me in the Virgin Islands and another whose presence was so overwhelming I could not handle it. So, I was happy to have the art to go with the testimonies.

Fast forward to spending a week with friends in ministry whose opinion I greatly respect. They suggested to me that I not keep the art for posts alone but that I make it available for those who may be interested or inspired by it. I knew when it was suggested that it was the Lord. I had already given several posters to parents whose children hung them in their bedrooms and I was told it gave them peace having a reminder that God’s angels were there watching over them. I had several other testimonies as well so I decided to do it.

I feel a bit strange about it but here it is if it is something you may be interested in. I pray my art inspires you or encourages you in some way!

https://michaelvanvlymenart.com/

Blessings!

Mike

Loving Others as if They were Your Own

A woman about 20 years older than I came to me after the meeting and gave me a big hug. “I know this may seem strange to you but I feel as if you are my dad.” She said. The truth is that now it doesn’t seem strange at all. After I began to earnestly ask for the heart of the Father, I began to see everyone more as sons and daughters no matter their age.

With all the people and situations I have had to deal with these last few years, what I’ve found is that I make better choices, give better advice, pray better prayers and love in greater measure as I ask myself “What if they belonged to me? What if they were my own?” It puts me in a profoundly different place. Just something to ponder…

-Michael

Casting your Pearls

Casting your Pearls…

I know you are kind… You are loving and you have a lot of grace for people. I’ve seen you explain things to people who show you no respect and you handle it so admirably…
But… Those people who are always disrespectful and nasty are sometimes just fulfilling their “ministry” to steal people’s joy. Sometimes you have to move on and stop casting your pearls…

I learned this the hard way when I first started ministering. I was at a church and dealing with 3 people after the service in the prayer room who were frantic for my help and kept talking and telling their problems to me so I would know how to pray for their deliverance…

They kept me occupied for an hour and a half until all those who were waiting to be prayed for had finally given up waiting and left… As soon as that happened that everyone else was gone, all three abruptly left as well with no explanation and no prayer.

When I prayed about it the Lord told me they were just there to fulfill their assignment to take up and waste my time so I wouldn’t have time for those who really wanted my help.

Yes it happens on social media too…

*I don’t say things like this lightly. I give people every opportunity but we need to exercise wisdom…

– Michael

Sheltered under the Shadow of His Wing

The Lord has your back. No doubt about it!

I was driving to work one morning. It was dark. There was heavy traffic, it was raining and I was on the entrance ramp to the highway which was also in a construction zone. I was going about 50 MPH. I was about 20-30 feet behind the car in front of me when all of the sudden all of my dash lights came on and started blinking on and off… a bell like sound was ringing and my foot which had been on the brake went straight to the floor. I pumped the brakes several times and it was no use, I had no brakes… no resistance at all in the pedal. I cried out to the Lord and began to pray in tongues…

Suddenly all the flashing lights and noises stopped, I had brakes again and drove the rest of the way (about 30 minutes) to work praising the Lord and thanking him.

When I got to work I asked Avery, the guy who ran the garage at work to look at my brakes and see if they were ok. He agreed to do it for me. A couple hours later he came and found me. “How did you get the car here to work?” he wanted to know. I explained what happened and told him I then drove it the 20 miles to work. He said. You have no brakes. The break line was broken. You couldn’t have had brakes.

This is but one story among many of His miraculous intervention in our lives. God has your back.

Forgiving Those who don’t Applaud You

Forgiving those who don’t applaud you…

When I left my regular full-time job, my current boss at that time ordered a cake and threw a little party for me. Several people from my department came to say goodbye and talk a bit, have some cake and wish me well. It was very nice.

There were several people who had the opportunity to come but did not. They were people I had helped in various ways over the years so on one hand I could have been quite sad about it… except I had come to know them….

Someone came up to me at the party and tried to shame me that certain people didn’t come. They told me that their friends would all come to show respect to them. They kept trying to rub it in and wouldn’t let it go. You know, those certain people who the enemy uses to try to suck the life out of your joyful state.

I explained as simply as I could… I don’t want people to be with me that don’t really want to be there, regardless of what anyone thinks. I don’t want to be invited to parties or other functions where I’m not really wanted. I have never seen the sense of having a desire to be a part of a group that doesn’t want you. I didn’t and don’t care that they didn’t show up. It was for the best in my opinion. The person was upset that I was not shamed.

It never works out well to chase after people to accept you or love you. There are many that don’t know how. Just grieve the loss if you must but press ahead, forgetting those things that are behind. God has people that will be true friends to you. Those are the ones you build relationship with.

Father give us true friends that make our hearts glad.

Michael

Discernment – Should We be Actually Walking in it?

 

Many years ago we attended a church that was big and growing by leaps and bounds. They had to build a bigger place because so many were being added every week. In the end the place could hold several thousand people. Every Sunday the worship team got everyone going. Thousands of people lifting their hands and jumping in worship. They had a staff of about ten pastors and the main pastor was highly respected by most. He could preach in a way that could move people.

This church had guest speakers continually over the years we were there and you would know them if I named them. They were the biggest names and the people most respected in the church world as being men and women of God. Everything not only looked just fine but looked great. People would jump and dance and pray in tongues, every kind of class and group you could think of could be found there and all the things we know should be happening seemed to be happening.

In all the years we went there, I always had a bad feeling about the pastor but wrote it off as a personality conflict. I didn’t like him but figured that was just my problem. I just asked the Lord to help me from judging people wrongly.  I ignored my “gut” feeling.

In the end, after about 8-10 years we left the church. Not long after that we found out the church was going through a really hard time as the pastor was found out to have been having a long standing affair for almost the whole time he was in ministry.
Several of the assistant pastors computers were audited because of this about the pastor coming to light, and it was then uncovered that several of the assistant pastors had pornography “issues”.

You don’t have to agree with me on this, but as for me and my family I don’t want them to be sitting under the teaching and authority of those living in sin. Period.

How could all those people and all those famous ministers miss it, and for so very long? Was there no one walking in any degree of discernment? I blame myself as well because I was in the same boat. I talked to the Lord about this and when I asked Him “where are those with discernment”, He said “You be the one.” That was not just a statement for me but for all of us. He was telling me that it is each one’s responsibility to hear God’s voice clearly and discern good from evil, truth from lies, and what is of God and what is not.

Having discernment is especially critical for those desiring to be used of the Lord in ministry. It’s critical for deciding in whose care to place your children. It’s critical for choosing who you join to and who you don’t. There is no getting away from this responsibility. (In my opinion)

So… the cat is out of the bag. Feel free to comment in any way you choose. Do we bare any responsibility for walking in discernment or is it all on God or does it even matter? You tell me.

I may sound a bit hard here. If so, I’m sorry. I don’t like to see people get hurt.

with love, Mike

Has the Lord Called You to Write?

A couple of years ago a believing friend at work asked me for a word. He knew God was doing things in my life and wanted that same grace over his life as well. I explained to him that I did not “flow” in the prophetic like he did and that he should ask someone that has that gift. My friend was not dissuaded and continued to ask me…. for TWO years! I had to give him credit for persistence.

​Finally I agreed. The reality was that I knew I could get a word from the Lord but at that time I had to spend some serious time in prayer to get one. He really is a gifted prophet who desired to be launched and used of the Lord so I told him I would pray and ask the Lord where his open doors and breakthrough was waiting for him. I spent two days, or rather two days of my evenings / nights asking about his situation and the Lord spoke to me very clearly. I knew exactly where his breakthrough was waiting.

​I was excited to relay the good news to him but there was a bit of a hard word attached as well. So I went to him and we sat down and I gave him the good news. The Lord has told me where your breakthrough is waiting. He waited with expectation as I first explained there was a small issue of unforgiveness that he had to deal with. I told him who the other person was because the Lord had shown me a rather large chunk of their relationship. He looked at me in a very detached way and said “That’s none of your business.” but, he continued, “tell me where the breakthrough is. ”

​I knew of course that his breakthrough was connected to getting his heart right. That was the blockage he was facing but I told him the rest anyway. I said the Lord told me that you are supposed to write out the way you hear His voice and how this has developed in your life. If you do this, many people will learn from it and be prepared for their own ministry and calling. The Lord said the book you write on this will open the doors for you to go and teach. Or to put it another way, your gift will make room for you.
​I really did not expect him to be so disappointed especially since it took me two days to get the word. He told me that if God wants him to write a book, He is going to have to tell him. That was almost two years ago and he still asks me from time to time if I can ask the Lord for him where his breakthrough is. I find this very sad.
​
The reality is that there are many people whom the Lord has spoken to asking them to share and teach the revelation He has given them. Maybe this is you. One of the biggest hurtles people seem to face in this is the idea that their revelation is not so special or compelling so as to warrant the writing of a book. If the Lord has prompted you to write, He has a good reason for it. Just begin. Believe the Holy Spirit will give you the words He wants you to say. (Luke 12;12)

​That breakthrough you have been looking for? Maybe this is it.

​Blessings, Mike

Stewardship and Responsibility

 

Should I Pay the Price for the Anointing?

There is a price to be paid, make no mistake about that. No matter what you pursue in life, if you desire to obtain something you pay a price. Let me just say at this point that I know Jesus paid it all. Jesus paid the ultimate price. Everything good we have is from Him from our health to our finances. We are not “earning” anything in that respect.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning. (James 1:17 NKJV)

Maybe a better way to say it just to avoid confusion is that there is a choice to be made. Do we choose to think about heavenly things or worldly things? Do we choose to fellowship with the saints or sleep in? Do we choose to study the word or watch that new crime drama? Are we going to pray today or are we going to take a break from prayer? I made the point about paying a price because we are talking about money and kingdom finances and provision in the bigger picture. We often speak of “spending” our time don’t we? Whether we are talking about time or money, are we good stewards? Does it really matter where our time or money goes as long as we are giving to God? I believe it does. Being a good steward doesn’t mean just giving your share. I don’t believe in mindless giving. Jesus said I only do what I see the Father do. That is very specific.

I have heard many people say “It doesn’t matter what they do with the money. That’s not my business. I gave my ten percent and did my part so the rest is on them.” Have you heard that before? I have. I’m reminded of the wicked servant who buried the money entrusted to him.

14 For the kingdom of heaven is like a man traveling to a far country, who called his own servants and delivered his goods to them. 15 And to one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one, to each according to his own ability; and immediately he went on a journey. 16 Then he who had received the five talents went and traded with them, and made another five talents. 17 And likewise he who had received two gained two more also. 18 But he who had received one went and dug in the ground, and hid his lord’s money. 19 After a long time the lord of those servants came and settled accounts with them.
20 “So he who had received five talents came and brought five other talents, saying, ‘Lord, you delivered to me five talents; look, I have gained five more talents besides them.’ 21 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you were faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’ 22 He also who had received two talents came and said, ‘Lord, you delivered to me two talents; look, I have gained two more talents besides them.’ 23 His lord said to him, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant; you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over many things. Enter into the joy of your lord.’
24 “Then he who had received the one talent came and said, ‘Lord, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you have not sown, and gathering where you have not scattered seed. 25 And I was afraid, and went and hid your talent in the ground. Look, there you have what is yours.’
26 “But his lord answered and said to him, ‘You wicked and lazy servant, you knew that I reap where I have not sown, and gather where I have not scattered seed. 27 So you ought to have deposited my money with the bankers, and at my coming I would have received back my own with interest. 28 Therefore take the talent from him, and give it to him who has ten talents.
29 ‘For to everyone who has, more will be given, and he will have abundance; but from him who does not have, even what he has will be taken away. 30 And cast the unprofitable servant into the outer darkness. There will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

What do you take from this scripture? The wicked servant did not put his master’s money where it would bring increase. Is it really ok to give without thought of what the master’s money yields? No. We are responsible for the things that are entrusted to us. We cannot shift the responsibility onto someone else. “Well… Pastor so and so told me to. It’s his fault.” No, it isn’t. Wisdom in all things. Where am I going?

The $1000 Anointing

Not long ago I spoke in a church where there were a lot of people who desired to be used of God in ministry. To be fair, that could be said about a lot of the churches I where I have spoken. But after one of the meetings a young man approached me and asked for a moment of my time. I knew by the spirit that he was serious about the things of God. The Lord told me to speak with him. He told me he had an important decision to make the next day and he asked if I could either give him direction or pray concerning his decision.

Then he told me the situation. This young man had approached a well-known apostle and asked for a prayer of impartation so that he could be used of the Lord in greater measure. I myself have stood in the prayer lines of people I admire, so I could relate to this. The apostle told him that he would release his anointing to the young man and be his “covering” if the young man would pay him $1,000. He was taken a bit by surprise he said, but didn’t want to miss out if this was God. But on the other hand a $1,000 is a lot of money so he wanted to be sure. His question to me was “Should I pay this money so that he will pray for me and be my covering?” The apostle was coming to attend the meeting the next day so he had to have an answer before then.

I laid my hand on his shoulder and closed my eyes to pray but before I could even start, the Lord spoke to me. “Explain to him the basics concerning apostles and prophets.”

I told him that apostles and prophets are foundational offices in the body of Christ. They are they ones that allow others to build upon them. They are the ones that build you up, equip you, prepare you, and launch you by the Spirit of God. I explained that if an apostle feels led of the Lord to be your covering, it is a very serious thing. It is not something that is done lightly but is a responsibility before God. I told him that I myself have been asked to be someone’s covering but would not do it unless the Lord told me to do so. It’s serious.

I explained that one of the marks of the apostles and prophets of God is humility. Not just gifting but humility and Christ-like character. There is no job beneath them because they are the low place… the foundation. A servant is not above his master. An apostle will wash your feet. An apostle is the ultimate servant with the heart of a servant. Think Jesus. An apostle delights in blessing those whom the Lord has given to him.

I talked to him about several other things as well The young man said ‘I really feel peace in what you have just told me.”

What Does the Scripture Say?                                                                                             Maybe the apostle was trying to test the young man’s heart. Maybe… But that wasn’t what God revealed to me. Jesus told the rich young ruler to sell all he had and give the money to the poor and then follow Him.

21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.
22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions. (Matthew 19:21-22 KJV)

Jesus did not say “Sell all you have and give me the money.” No, the bible says to avoid even the appearance of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22)
I’m reminded of the story of Simon the sorcerer who wished to purchase the power that the disciples carried.

18 And when Simon saw that through the laying on of the apostles’ hands the Holy Spirit was given, he offered them money, 19 saying, “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”
20 But Peter said to him, “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! (Acts 18:18-20 NKJV)

The young man I spoke to was not a “Simon” by any stretch of the imagination but rather just a young man who was hungry for God and did not want to miss out on an opportunity from God. The Lord showed me that He was going to use the young man mightily in the days ahead. I’m excited for him.

The Role of Money in the Kingdom

Again, we must be wise and responsible with that which God entrusts to us. Whether we are talking about $1,000 or $10 we have to realize that it all matters. Do you want to see the blessing of God upon your life? Realize every financial decision, every seed sown and dollar given has an impact one way or the other…. For you or against you.

Yes, we bless people. We love to bless the apostles and prophets. We are part of a plan and if we want to walk in kingdom abundance, we must see that nothing is haphazard. We must be good and faithful stewards putting the Lord’s money where He instructs us to so that it will bear great fruit.

Mike

For more on Supernatural Provision here is Book One of “Supernatural Provision”

Click Here for Supernatural Provision

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Knowing Who You Are in Christ

Authority

I remember like it was yesterday talking to Dr. Bruce Allen about coming to Perth, Australia to be a part of a school he was conducting there. It was the end of 2014 when he asked me what the Lord had been speaking to me about in that season. I didn’t even have to stop to think about it. I had been speaking to so many family and friends alike who needed miracles in their lives. Many people attacked from the enemy in finances, health, temptations of different kinds, emotional issues, loved ones who needed Christ, many so weary and needing breakthrough. I told him “spiritual warfare.“

Many people have their own opinion when it comes to spiritual warfare , even down to what that term means exactly. Many are fearful about the subject and many believe that if they don’t think about such things, they can’t be affected by them.

To me, I believe that there is a lot to learn. The Bible says NOT to be ignorant.

Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.               (2 Corinthians 2:11 KJV)

The most important thing that we can learn however is who we are in Christ. If we truly get a revelation of who we are, we can begin to understand the authority He has given us. Once we understand who we are and the authority we carry, and I mean truly understand it, we will begin to walk in that authority and see the power of God manifested in our own lives as well as the lives of those we pray for.

Heaven is With Us

I know you may be weary. I understand that feeling only too well. But we are not alone in this battle. The Lord has promised us…

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”(Deuteronomy 31:6 NIV)

The Bible says that every knee shall bow. Does that mean someday or does that mean now? Are there situations in your life that need to bow their knee to the name of Jesus Christ? Yes, of course there are.

This is not the time to fall back or to grow weary in the battle. King David, a man after God’s own heart said…

Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand; (Psalm 149:6 KJV)

There is something powerful happening in the Earth with God’s people. He is pouring out His spirit upon all flesh and that includes you and me. This is the hour of breakthrough!

God had taught me many lessons in the spirit about the spiritual realm, how we are affected by things and the authority we carry. I took those lessons to Perth, Australia in February of 2015. They were things like…

Understanding the Reality of Spiritual Warfare – Who We Are in Christ – The Weapons of Warfare – The Armor of God – Overcoming and Walking in Holiness – Seeing Breakthrough – Living a Powerful Supernatural Life

I can’t take credit for anything that the Lord has taught me on any subject. The revelation came from Him and the glory is His. But I would like to share with you some of the things He has taught me.

My teaching from the school in Perth is FREE on Amazon December 21st – 22nd on all Amazon platforms worldwide.

Click Here for Info

 

 

The Practice of Stillness

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)

Be Still…

There is a key to entering into a deeper place in our relationship with God. It’s a key that not only allows us but helps us to hear His voice better. It’s a key that makes it easier to sense His presence and His nearness… a key that will keep the noise and distraction of the things of the world at bay. It is stillness.

We can read a scripture like Psalm 46:10 and have an idea of what it might be saying to us. For years I looked at this verse and thought that it meant pretty much that when everything is said and done we should just believe God to fulfill His promises. This is true on one level. There is a deeper meaning that only seemed to become clear to me as I spent more time with a focused desire to get closer to the Lord and live a more Spirit-led life according to Galatians 5:25.

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:25)

Be Still with expectation….

Being still for me is a time of coming before God and just sitting in His presence. It isn’t a time of prayer or worship, it not a time of replaying the day in my mind or focusing on the issues in my life. It is simply sitting in God’s presence and being with Him. I don’t meditate on the scriptures normally when I am still before God but I do keep an expectation in my heart that as I spend time with Him that He will manifest Himself to me in some way.

When people have asked “What do you think about as you sit in stillness”, this is my answer… I keep in my heart an expectation.

You see, we hear a scripture like John 10:27 and sometimes we wonder why we don’t hear better.

My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me: (John 10:27)

It is so very easy to let the distractions of everyday life to crowd out that still, small voice that God can be speaking to us and even answering the desires of our hearts and we might never know it. Let me give you a practical example… If you were watching television in a room crowded with people taking, and suddenly an important breaking news bulletin came over the TV, you would more than likely ask everyone to be quiet so that you could hear this important message. How much more do we need to hear the important voice of God?

Be Very Still…

What is stillness exactly? The dictionary says that it is the absence of movement and sound. The complete absence? Yes. Just how much do we desire to make this heavenly connection? In complete stillness my focus is upon my proximity to the Lord and my expectation of being with Him. If I am moving about or listening to natural sounds it shifts my focus from the spirit to the natural, even if unintentionally. Many times we have to train ourselves to stop allowing random thoughts to invade this stillness. If you are just learning this discipline, I suggest that you think about a scripture, not to analyze it but rather to allow the Lord to give you an understanding that perhaps you had not considered before. Another thing you might do if various pictures try to invade your thoughts is to picture the Lord’s face. (Or what you imagine the Lord might look like)

The Bible says to bring every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. This is something we must actively do.

Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; (2 Corinthians 10:5)

Be Still a While…

As I began to put this practice into place in my own life, there was a period of learning that took place. I would constantly have to tell my thoughts to be still or my body would want to move around, or I would even begin to wonder if this had the value I had heard that it had. It was all part of the process of learning to be still. In the early days I would wait upon God in stillness for 10 minutes and sometimes even that was a struggle. I gradually increased the amount of time I spent in stillness, but the real breakthrough happened as I began to encounter the Lord and the things of His Kingdom as I practiced stillness before Him.

Once Heaven began to open around me and my life, the struggle to wait on God and be still was gone. What could have happened that was so powerful to take the struggle away from me? Encounters with God…real and powerful encounters with God.

That’s the place where I desire for you to go… that place of encounters with God. Everything changes in His presence!

God bless you

Michael

Here are 2 books I have written that talk more about this subject.

Practical steps for seeing in the spiritual realm.

Click Here for More Info on How to See in the Spirit

Click Here for More Info on Powerful Keys to Spiritual Sight