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 20th – 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

 

Supernatural Provision – Part 4

Popular Teachings

In the area of financial breakthrough and the revelation the Lord has given to me about the resources of Heaven and walking in divine provision, I want to reiterate obedience is better than sacrifice, and tie that truth to a couple other things that the Lord has shown me.

We know there are scriptures that tell us what we should expect. Yes I said expect. If we could not expect God’s Word to come to pass, that would be very odd indeed. So we have an expectation, but most people are not seeing the breakthrough. I will give you a little hint about things to come and tell you that supernatural is a key word when you talk about the provision of God. If we have to figure it all out, there is a problem.

Of course I’m not saying we should be ignorant about finances or how to pay bills etc. I’m saying that just as it is in healing or with miracles, there is a level that goes beyond the “normal.” That is where we need to be.

​But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:19 KJV)

​I have been young, and now am old; yet have I not seen the righteous forsaken, nor his seed begging bread. (Psalm 37:25 KJV)

When we look at the disconnect between what the Word says and where we are, we can’t help but look at and evaluate popular teaching in the church about money. Every time there is a fund drive or a give-a-thon at church or on TV, we see certain teachings that get presented over and over. First, let me say that many of the teachings we know to be true. I often use the example of the message “bake me a cake first” because it is a popular message that most people know. There are many messages and ideas and beliefs that I would ask you to really pray about.

click here for more

Thanks, MIke

 

 

School of the Supernatural – Walking in our Inheritance as Sons of God

This book, School of the Supernatural takes believers on a Biblical journey from our right and obligation to walk in the supernatural things of God, to instruction, steps of faith, and activation to cause this reality of the miraculous of the Kingdom to be manifested in our lives.

For those using this resource to conduct their own schools of the supernatural, you will be comforted to know that the emphasis in this book, and in this journey is firmly placed upon our relationship with Jesus Christ and the foundation of The Word and being anchored in it.

Here are some of the topics covered…
​Choosing a Supernatural Life
The Offense of Signs and Wonders
The Word, Worship and Prayer as Gateways
How to Get Breakthrough
Seeing in the Spirit will Launch You into the Supernatural
Your Position in Christ
Holiness and Sanctification
Overcoming Fear of the Supernatural
How and Why to Pray in Stillness
Working with Angels Should be a Normal, Everyday Part of our Lives
Being Supernatural and yet Normal at the Same Time
How to Pray Powerful and Effective Prayers
You are Called to This Life as a Believer!
Living 24/7 in Both Realms
Jesus did not Make this Difficult!

This book was written in preparation for the school of the supernatural intensive conference that was held in Rinteln, Germany  2017.

Click Here for More Info

God is Removing the Guardrails

 

Today the Lord spoke to me. He said “I’m removing the guardrails.” Well, let me back up a minute… You see, today I was at work (yes I do work. Paul made tents and so do I. Kind of) and my job was to paint an area of wall in our warehouse located in the walkway.  There is a guardrail about 3-4 feet from the wall to guard the walkway and it stands about a foot tall. There are also little yellow footprints on the floor to let people know where to walk. How nice. Sounds good so far.

The problem was that as I was trying to paint,  people kept using the walkway and trying to get past me. I would be down on the floor trimming with the brush or trying to dip my roller in the paint tray with people trying to step over me and also letting me know that I was in their way. The funny thing was that on the other side of the 1′ tall guard rail was wide open floor space that they could have used. A simple step over the rail and they would have loads of space to walk.

But people get used to the rules and I realize that. People understand that we must follow the little yellow footprints and stay within the area prescribed for walking. It’s for our own protection as has management explained to us. No one wants to take the chance of bucking the system and getting into trouble. All that sounds good except for the fact that I know why the guardrail was installed. It was not put up because there were safety issues or injuries to the employees in the building at all. The reason the rail was installed was because workers were constantly ramming their pushcarts into the wall and damaging it. The guardrail was put up to protect the wall, not to protect the people.

So today as I was working, the Lord was speaking to me about the systems that the “church” sets in place that they say are there to protect people. The rules and regulations that have no basis in scripture but are given more weight than scripture are the guardrails. It’s the “we’ve always done it this way. Don’t rock the boat” mindset. As long as we have those rails up, things can go very smoothly, the services seem so nice and organized and we all get out in time to get to the buffet before the line gets too long.

All those little things… three songs for worship… a nice 20 minute sermon… maybe a poem and at the end 15 minutes for those who need prayer… Those rails are there to protect the religious institution and not to protect the people. Once the rails are gone and the Holy Spirit is invited to have free reign, anything can happen. (and does) Without the rules and regulations to protect the traditions of men, we can follow the voice of the Spirit and things get real. Real salvations…real deliverances….real healings…real miracles… a real relationship. That’s what the Lord was talking to me about today. He is removing those guardrails for so many people and they are seeing firsthand what the Gospel and the Kingdom is really all about. They are being drawn out and set free from that “I have to follow the path like everyone else.”

I have seen this in many places. Churches that never even believed in healing are now praying for the sick. Mainline denominational assemblies having classes on deliverance, healing and the gifts of the Spirit. It’s exciting and it’s growing. God is removing the guardrails. On a personal note, I have been invited to share on the supernatural to denominations that I never would have imagined. Praise God!

Following the rules just because everyone else does, is not safe.  Following the voice of the Spirit is quite safe. I’m glad those rails are coming down… for everyone’s sake.

Blessings!

Mike

http://www.riverofblessingsinternationalministries.org                         http://www.michaelvanvlymen.com

 

SCHOOL OF THE SUPERNATURAL – Rinteln, Germany June 2-5 2017

School of the Supernatural!

What a fantastic time we had at JESUSGemeinde Rinteln for the School of the Supernatural! Well over 200 hungry believers from many different nations gathered together in one accord to experience the presence and the power of God and grow in the supernatural things of the Lord. Altogether we had nine powerful meetings followed by lots of time of prayer and impartation. Some of the meetings lasted quite long, but I don’t like to leave questions unanswered or anyone in the prayer line un-prayed for!

The Pastors of the church , Bernhard and Karin Koch there were very gracious and ministered powerfully also during the school. Thomas Hantsche  also a great blessing in not only interpreting but bringing his own anointing into the mix!

Iron Sharpening Iron

One thing I love about these types of schools and conferences is that those who attend, much of the time are already moving powerfully in the gifts. You could take just about anyone out of the crowd and put them behind the pulpit and be edified. When you have a group of that type, anything can happen.

We had many sessions of teaching and also times for questions and answer. There were times for testimonies about what God was doing during the school, and for me this was one of my favorite parts. I love to hear what God is doing in the lives of others. Many were healed of various illness and several delivered also. Many launched into encounters with God that they had never experienced before. A couple of my favorite testimonies are….

Testimonies!

On the last day of the school, everyone was leaving when a woman came back in and wanted to tell me something,. She said as she was driving away, she realized that she could not see normally through her glasses. She got a little upset, wondering what was wrong. So she took the glasses off and then realized that she could she perfectly without them. She turned and drove back to the church to give testimony! Praise God!

A few minutes later, another woman came back to the church. She said “I know it’s over but I felt the Lord say He wasn’t finished, so I came back.” I told her that we must pray then! A few seconds into the prayer, she was under the power of God and stayed that way for about a half-hour. When she was able to get up she realized that the Lord had set her free from something. Hallelujah!

One testimony I can relate to…  There was a man who took the mic during testimony time and said that he was a bit upset. I wondered what was coming next… He explained “I have been sitting right here next to my daughter and she got covered in gold dust and I didn’t get any!” Lol! ( Those who get offended by such testimonies of signs and wonders please just disregard this one. Thank you.)

The School

So what did we talk about and learn about at the School of the Supernatural? Here is a non-comprehensive list of topics we tackled….

• Choosing a Supernatural Life
• The Offense of Signs and Wonders
• The Word, Worship and Prayer as Gateways
• How to Get Breakthrough
• Seeing in the Spirit will Launch You into the Supernatural
• Your Position in Christ
• Holiness and Sanctification
• Overcoming Fear of the Supernatural
• How and Why to Pray in Stillness
• Working with Angels Should be a Normal, Everyday Part of our Lives
• Being Supernatural and yet Normal at the Same Time
• How to Pray Powerful and Effective Prayers
• You are Called to This Life as a Believer!
• Living 24/7 in Both Realms
• Jesus did not Make this Difficult!

These are a few of the things we got into as well as topics brought up by many questions that people had.

All in all, it was an incredible 4 days of fellowship and encounters with God! I wish you all had been there!

Mike

http://www.riverofblessingsinternationalministries.org                   http://www.michaelvanvlymen.com

 

 

Is The Supernatural Really God?!

Moses boldly marched up to Pharaoh’s palace and was brought before him. “Let my people go!”  Pharaoh was not intimidated. He knew Moses. They grew up together. In Pharaoh’s eye’s Moses wasn’t so special. “Who does he think he is anyway?” Pharaoh mused. But Moses wasn’t the same man he was when he left Egypt. He had encountered the living God and learned a few things about God’s supernatural power and his (Moses’) destiny. Moses had seen miracles. He had been instructed to move in the supernatural for the Kingdom’s cause. Boldness is a benefit of seeing the hand of God move powerfully…it takes your faith to new levels.

Moses, sure of his calling and his God stepped closer to Pharaoh, looked him in the eye and handed his staff to Aaron. Aaron threw down the staff. There were gasps from the surrounding crowd. The staff of Moses had turned into a huge serpent, slithering around on the steps of the throne. Many in the crowd were stunned! The Pharaoh’s magicians, Jannes and Jambres came forward and also threw down their staffs. Their staffs also became serpents and slithered upon the steps of the Pharaoh’s throne.

The gasps in the crowd increased and suddenly many began criticizing and complaining about Moses. “Oh my goodness” they whispered amongst themselves,. “He is doing the same thing those demonic magicians are doing! This must be of the devil!” The mood in the crowd changed….they eyed Moses suspiciously….. “How could this be God if it looks so demonic?!” No doubt about it they reasoned…Moses is in deception.

The Heart of the Matter

Of course we know it didn’t really happen this way. (Read Exodus 5) The people of the day, the children of Israel, had no problem believing that God could and would do the most amazing supernatural things. Not only did they know it but they depended upon it. Read the Bible. They had a history of the supernatural and it was normal for the people of God to experience the supernatural, receive miracles, see and speak with angels, perform signs and wonders, etc.. What happened?

Somewhere along the way we stopped believing. Bill Johnson of Bethel Church calls that “unbelieving believers”, people who believe in God but deny His power today. All throughout the Word, Genesis to Revelation, the power of God was manifest and evident. Even in the writings of the early church fathers it was obvious that they still believed  and walked in the power of God. Tertullian, an early church father around 100-200 A.D., taught new converts to ask for and believe the gifts of the Spirit to come upon them.

I believe the problem that caused believers to stop believing and working in the miraculous is the same problem we face today. In lives so engrossed in the natural, we cease to see the supernatural. If churches and believers alike do not heal the sick, cast out devils or do supernatural exploits, we must have an excuse as to why. “Why can’t you do miracles? The rest of the Bible people did!”  What kind of answer is appropriate? “Well Brother, God doesn’t do those things anymore.” Once you have one person of “authority” that starts teaching people the new normal is NOT to expect miracles, it infects the whole group. Multiply that by centuries and you have millions of people who believe in Christ but not in His power to be available today. Now THAT is demonic. Don’t be offended! I was a non-believing believer for much of my life. You don’t know until you know….

Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:14)

The very sad thing about this is that there are so many people who need the power of God manifested in their lives today. Everyday I hear the most heartbreaking stories of people who need a touch from God. Many won’t even allow you to pray for them because they have been instructed that anything miraculous is of the devil.

What is the Answer?

Pray. Pray for those who need God’s power to at least ask Him to show them if it is real or not. Encourage that God does not lead us into deception if we are seeking Him!

Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?  (Matthew 7:9)

Share scriptures that tell of God’s desire to heal us and deliver us. Give a Biblical reason for them to consider that God has not changed.

And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:22-24)

Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8)

Live ready to provide an answer! God is seeking to manifest His love towards us ALL and He will create opportunities for us to display His power to those in need. A person being in need, many times will open a door for God to move. There is nothing like being desperate for God. I have been there!

But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15)

If you are one of those who believes that everything God has done, He will do and everything the Bible reveals is for us today, don’t be dismayed. Sometimes you may wonder where you fit in. You may not fit in anywhere right now but God has people just like you all over the earth and increase is happening! Thank God for those you know who believe, and fellowship together, encouraging each other in the faith! Know that you are not alone! We are right here with you!

Blessing upon you!

Mike

 

 

 

 

 

 

Are You Offended by Signs and Wonders?

One of the most encouraging things that I have discovered in these last few years has been the signs and wonders of God. Those special supernatural events that are unusual to even the most spirit filled of the bunch. It’s encouraging to me because it is a strong reminder that God is very present. It tells me that He is thinking about us and that He cares. To me, it also means that there is no issue or problem beyond His ability to solve it. When all of our natural reasoning and efforts may fail, we know that God is not bound by  the “normal”.  He can answer our needs in any way He chooses and bless us beyond our ability to understand it. Is there an incurable disease? He can cure it. Not enough food or money? He can multiply it. (literally) He can do anything!

The problem with signs and wonders comes when God does things that makes little or no sense to our natural minds. Some of us have grown up with a religious idea of what God will or won’t do and we balk when He steps outside of our comfort zone. Supernatural fragrances? What possible purpose could something like that serve? Winds blowing inside a closed room? Sounds pretty strange also. Don’t even get started about the gemstones from Heaven and the gold dust appearing on people. That is an offense that many, many people have taken. No…. normal signs and wonders would be salvations and healings. (as long as the healings are not too weird)

One minister speaking at a church we were at once stood before the congregation weeping and saying “We need to get back to the normal Gospel. We don’t need all that signs and wonders stuff.” Another Pastor told me once that it was all foolishness. Why would God even do those kinds of things when so many people need to be healed. It wasn’t something that “serious” men of God paid any attention to.

Yes, signs and wonders are truly an offense to many people. An angel told me the other day that they are a blessing to some and an offense to others. It is the same with many parts of the Gospel. If it doesn’t make sense, it can’t be God. (Or so many believe.) It becomes easier to accept once it happens to us. Then the light seems to come on. “Well…I know that I truly love God and now I’m experiencing this weird phenomenon so in my case this really must be God.” Exactly.

When some have asked me why God would do something with no apparent value or purpose when there are so many sick that need to be healed, I offer a simple explanation. Because He is a good Father and He loves to bless us.  We are believers right? We are ambassadors for Christ. We represent Him and the Kingdom. We are supposed to be doing His will. So why do we buy our own children the “nice” shoes when there are children across the world with no shoes at all? Why do we take the kids out for ice cream when there are children with no food? Why do we purchase unneeded things when there are people who cant afford even the most basic necessities of life? Is it because we are cruel or uncaring? No. We are not, and neither is God. We don’t judge ourselves for such things and we can’t judge God when He does something special like the signs and wonders.

God seeks to encourage us and sometimes the fragrance of His presence does just that . Sometimes He multiplies your money to tell you He cares about you and will meet your needs. Yes, I’m sure there is someone out there who is out of balance. If you ask someone “Would you rather have a healing for so and so or an angel feather?” and they choose the feather, there would be a problem. But in all honesty I have never met such a person.

So all I’m asking is this… If you have an issue with this stuff,  just let God be God. Let Him do what He wants to do in your life! Even if we don’t understand it all, we can trust Him. He knows what He is doing! The Bible says that His ways are above our ways, so don’t think that everything has to make sense for it to be God. If you tell Him that you are willing to yield to His plan no matter what it looks like, He may just surprise you!