Share: The Army of God Mobilizes, Part 33 (Message by Rick Joyner on our Giftings and our priorities as Christians)

The Army of God Mobilizes, Part 33

Last week we ended our study by asking the questions about knowing our purposes, ministries, gifts, etc., which we have been given by God. If our Word for the Week readers are typical, only about 2 percent could answer all of these questions with “yes,” and less than 10 percent could answer any of them with “yes.” This is remarkable because studies have concluded that the number one question that people have is what their purpose is in life. Every human being knows inherently that they are not here by some random accident, but they have a purpose. Yet most tragically, less than 10 percent of Christians, who know their Creator, have the answer to this.

This reveals what is probably the greatest failure of present church life, but we can expect it to be changed—soon. When this is corrected, and Christians begin to perceive their purposes and the gifts or tools that they have been given for accomplishing their purpose, as well as the corporate purpose of the church in our time, the result is going to be the release of the most powerful spiritual force the world has seen.

Seeing our own purpose can have the single most powerful impact on our own life after coming to know the Lord, being born again, and being baptized in His Spirit. Every Christian knows they are called to be a witness, but we have a calling in His body that is more specific than that. Every Christian is called to function in at least one spiritual gift, which is the tool that we are given for fulfilling our purpose. So how do we come to the knowledge of these? There is a clear and easy path to it. My purpose for this study is to make it as clear and easy as possible.

I say easy, as in easy to understand, but it can be more difficult to actually walk out. However, not walking this out will result in a much more difficult and frustrating life. Let me first give you an outline of the following factors, and then we will go deeper into how they apply:

#1) Resolving to live to do the Lord’s will as the chief pursuit of our lives

#2) Beholding the glory of the Lord

#3) Honoring our spiritual fathers and mothers

#4) Finding and becoming a committed part of the body of believers we are
called to be with

#5) Receiving the ministry of the five equipping ministries listed in Ephesians 4

#6) Being recognized, trained, and discipled

#7) Engaging in our calling

We will briefly examine just how each of these apply. These are necessary for us to accomplish the purpose for which Christ called every one of us and to be a successful human being. The most basic criteria for success as a human, becoming what we were created to be and doing what we were created to do, is loving God. We were created for this and known by God before the foundation of the world. If there is any measure of success for us, it will be to hear from the King on that great judgment day, “Well done, good and faithful servant” (see Matthew 25:21 NIV). Therefore, to hear those words should be the chief pursuit of our lives.

Anything that eclipses our devotion to knowing and serving the Lord is an idol. An idol is anything that has more of our affection than He does, and it is also anything that we put our trust in above Him. The Word makes clear no idolaters will inherit the kingdom of God (see I Corinthians 6:9). In Revelation 21:8, we are told idolaters will be thrown into the lake of fire and suffer the second death. Being an idolater is not something we want to be! That is the negative but, nevertheless, a true and necessary warning, so it is imperative that we not let anything eclipse our love and devotion to the Lord.

The positive is that keeping the Lord as our chief love and devotion is not only the path of life and the true fulfillment in this life, it also leads to eternal life that will be more wonderful than our minds can even now perceive. This present life is but “a vapor,” a wisp that passes with remarkable speed. What we do here on earth establishes our eternal destiny, so we should not take this life or our calling and responsibility lightly but rather with all the seriousness and devotion that it deserves.

The Scriptures are also clear and we can totally trust in the truth that God is good—He is good to all and He loves all, wanting the very best for all. If we do not fulfill our purpose in life, it will not be His fault, but ours. We must want Him and His will enough to seek it.

He wants the best for us; living in His will and doing His will is the best life that we can ever live. This life that has been chosen for us could be hard at times and could even end in martyrdom, but if that is the case it is still the best life that we could ever live, and much better than any other option.

Of course, the most basic calling for everyone is to love God above anyone or anything. Therefore, growing in love for Him is the foundation upon which every truly successful life is built. If we love Him above all and keep Him as our first love, then He will be the continuing devotion and pursuit of our lives. After that, we must love one another. So loving Him and one another is the foundation. A foundation is something we not only walk on every day and build everything else on, but it must be the strongest part of the building. Since “the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing,” this is the main thing that we must always keep the main thing. Everything else is dependent on this. We must never be beguiled from the simplicity of devotion to Christ (see II Corinthians 11:3).

We will discuss how love is both the door and the path to everything else. One who loves is not only the happiest human being, but the most fulfilled, as long as we keep the order of love right—God first and then people. It is not wrong to love things, but it is right to love the good things God has given to us, receiving them with thanksgiving. However, we must keep our love for the Giver first.

As we grow into the army we are called to be, one of our most powerful weapons is love. In many ways this army is like other armies in devotion, discipline, focus, training, seriousness, and so on, but in some basic ways it is unlike any other army. The weapons of this army are not like any human weapons, but are divinely powerful. We do not hate our enemies, but we love them! We do not fight to kill but to give life—not to conquer, but to set others free.

And this you can count on—you are going to love this job!

Of Superhumans/Superanointeds and Prayer

Before somebody checks in on this and calls me a HERETIC, I'd like to straight to the heart of what I want to say:

You have access to the greatest authority on earth, anytime, anywhere: God the Father, through the Holy Spirit, and the name of the Lord JESUS. Yeshuah. Hesus.

The thing is that people tend to think that the power of the Holy Spirit: the ability to prophesy and speak in tongues as well as the other gifts, are only apportioned to "Super Christians."

Not true.

I used to be one of those who believed in that lie. When I sought out the lady known to be Victory Christian Fellowship's most renowned prophet and intercessor, and asked for an "impartation," she only had one heart in her prayer for me: EYES OF A DOVE: focused on Jesus.

As she prayed for me, I remembered one realization that no doubt the Holy Spirit set in my heart years ago, when I committed my life to the Lord in UP Los Baños, in 2003. In fact, I had corrected a girl that was overly praising the pastors and leaders while we were in a prayer meeting circle, with my own prayer containing that realization: That there is no need to look up to these people in false adoration and allowing ourselves to believe that they are the only ones who can preach like that and pray like that.

The Lord has already died, rose again, seated at the right hand of the Father, and He has apportioned His Holy Spirit to EVERYONE.

EVERYONE.

Not "Everyone-except-[insert your name here]."

As the pastors in Victory said, "There is no JUNIOR HOLY SPIRIT."

You know, these men and women who lead us were like us once: young, full of dreams, but messy and messed up.

They had their wilderness moments, and they had their sablay moments.

Yet, it is not them who set themselves on these places of authority. They were not the ones who just strategized where they wanted God to put them and maneuvered things. They went through the worst of seasons and the worst of moments, sumablay sila, but as God adjudged them faithful and worthy, He promotes them Himself.

The thing is that we have to seek the Lord and delight in Him AS FOR WHO HE IS. Not for the ministry we anticipate, not for the blessings we anticipate. We delight in the Lord, because He is so lovely, and He deserves our praise.

Sa totoo lang, I had grasped for so much before, I wanted anointings and stuff..

I went through so much.. And I got a lot of stuff that I wanted.. Rewards..

Then the other week, Pastor Robert gave us a Giftings test. As I tallied all the giftings, my perfectionistic streak coming out, one gift was missing.

I looked for it matter-of-factly. But when I finally spotted it and neatly placed it on its row among the top three, I wistfully looked at it and blanched... Because I had so longed for and grasped after it, and at that moment... It didn't matter as much anymore.

Because when all is said and done...

• I serve because I can't live with myself if I knew God called me for that task for the moment and wasn't faithful with it.
• I serve with excellence coz I cannot stand leaving slipshod work, no matter how long it takes.

And at the end of the day...




.......All I wanted was that Creme Brulee, Tiramisu, Rocky Road Cake or some other sweet, sinful dessert, that I could have, after all the work has been done.

What if? # 2 >>>Dancing for Jesus???<<<

I was, as usual, just ambling my way through the Internet today, posting my favorite songs on the Women Pioneers group site I set up where women from Victory Pioneer (and whoever else wants to join) can actually share music, videos, resources, thoughts and stuff.

I saw this video, which made me cry, because it reminded me of all the high school plays and productions that I had taken part in, for the glory of man.

I was also reminded of the play that Gigi had written and taken part in, in a role I would covet anyday, Nyaharhar, and I realized that this is time for another what-if.

Earlier, I had posted on a what-if that was mostly for boys: Parkour.

This what-if is something that women may now relate to: dancing.

We were called to worship, right? And Jesus won't come again till there is a concerted effort to worship Him, a chorus that resounds up to His throne in Heaven, our songs in unison.

So again, the gears in my head are turning, and I want to infect you, too.

What if... You danced your heart out to worship Jesus?

To the parents: What if we took ownership of productions like these in our children's schools and gave them to the Lord?

To the youth: What if we did dance like this for the Lord?


Would you take the call?

My Top Three Songs of the Year

Guys, what are your favorite songs of late? :)

Here are my top three. :)

Share ko lang, kasi sobrang tagos sa puso..


Amber Brooks of MorningStar Ministries (Rick Joyner's group), and her song Like You Promised:

The Cry of the prophets around the world, I Can Hear the Rhythm/People Get Ready by Misty Edwards:

Version 2 of People Get Ready/I Can Hear the Rhythm (Cut short due to YouTube's minute restrictions):

The Song that awakened my heart back in February, You Won't Relent by Misty Edwards:


Misty Edwards is a worship leader for International House of Prayer, led by Mike Bickle, while Amber Brooks is part of MorningStar Ministries, most known for being the church to where prophet Rick Joyner belongs.


Blessings to those who listen, and share rin kayo ng favorites nyo!


For more rockin' music:


http://www.elijahstreams.com

Something to inspire.

I don't know if this man, who has touched so many lives from this moving lecture, was a Christian. All I know is that what he taught in his last lecture series was something Christ would like to teach us, too. :)

It ain't about religion indeed. It's about LIFE and living life to the fullest, by... Loving (I'm guilty of the charge of having a metal heart, please pray for me..) and dreaming... And being passionate for excellence. :)

Below is the Oprah version.

And here is the full version.
Attached is the full transcript, ready for your download. :)

Check the bottom of this post. :)

Enjoy!

Calling the Next Generation!

As usual, I was just minding my own business, trying to fix my blog, and a blog I had promised my Editor-in-Chief friends from Central Philippine University, where I graduated, and I came across this post by another Christian, detailing her agony about how she hadn't seen Christians developing FREE Blogger templates. If anything, she has even voiced out what I had only thought before: that software and what-not created by Christians for Christians are, well, in need of massive improvement.

I don't blame her. Because before, I used to complain the same thing about how the Christian community seems to be rather deprived.

I know that since Jesus was also persecuted and hated by the world, it's only natural that we're the minority, too. But wait up. The past of the Christian being on the sidelines of the world is gone.

This year had been marked by the American Prophetic community of the year when the Lord's people are taking back the land the enemy has claimed and closing the gates of hell.

If I'm speaking alien here nevermind. What you need to know is that, this year marks something in the air for the Lord. He is sounding the trumpet for His people to rise up and take their places.

Are you called to web dev?

Are you called to writing in mainstream media?

Are you called to love numbers and become an excellent accountant?


Rise up.


We were meant to live for so much more. We were meant to live for beyond feeding ourselves or our families. We were called to take dominion and seize what is Jesus'!

You're young you say? Timothy was young too.

Dudes, figure out what you love doing. Chances are, this is where God will use you to the fullest.

Life is more than the paycheck. Life is more than the misery. When you are on track and on focus towards the goal that the Lord has set for you, three things will happen:

1. You will understand what needs to be pruned or chopped off in your life to make room for more focus in the direction you were called.
2. You will know exactly what it is you need to be doing.
3. You will stop running around in circles.

So yeah, my jobhunting to Manila Bulletin, Powermac, etc., were never in vain. Powermac, I'm sure I will have a season there. I was given the open door in case I still want to come back and I am taking it, when the time is right. Manila Bulletin, I am seriously not sure, but one thing is certain for me: our mainstream media needs new blood.

It may not be me,

It may not be you,

It may be your seatmate in the next D'Block, Yo-Jam, or whatever youth group meeting you are attending that day.

It may be that girl you've been praying for to fall in love with Jesus.

All I know is that we are called to pray, figure out where God is going to use us to the fullest, and walk, relentlessly, in that path.


Blessings!

What If: >>>Extreme Sports for Jesus, Being a Christian Ninja, and Other Stuff Off the Top of my Head<<<

The great part about having a Christian boss who, by all indications so far, is a true-blue JESUS worshiper, is that she's a lot understanding about my adjustment period. She's allowing me to just sink my teeth into the schedule and stuff for now. I, on the other hand, am seriously wanting a maid already. Only, I couldn't afford a maid, heheh.

Much of my time is consumed washing the dishes coz my landlord hatez the mess I leave. Ohkaay. So I have to deal.

Now, because everything is just going crazy and it seems like I'm losing my love for my First Love, I just decided to take some time out and listen to Mike Bickle of International House of Prayer and his vision for International houses of prayer being set up around the world.

I would love to take part in that.

But then there I started craving for one of Misty Edwards' songs. Misty is a member of IHOP's Prayer Room, and her songs are just rockin' and soul-shaking, like this one:


...And in my search for that particular video to share with you, I came across this one, about kids doing the new extreme sport, "Parkour."

What I learned from my earthly father is that with everything that a person has to do, there has to be purpose. There has to be an end goal for everything we do.

While I admire these kids' power and talent, I can't help thinking that this is so reminiscent of the abilities of the ninjas in the old days.

As Misty is singing, we are on the verge of Christ's return. I bear witness to the fact that there IS something happening in the air. He did say in the Bible that when the Son of Man comes, signs abound. It is like the time of harvest, when the wheat heads are full, and they're drooping from the weight of their fertility.

If you are unaware that so many things are happening and all you see is that you want to live your life with your head in the sand, and that Jesus may well not return, then what-evar. All I know is that electricity is starting to crackle in the air.

But back to these kids doing Parkour. Bear with me as I paint a mental picture. In the areas where God is so needed, there is still so much of a need for physical strength, and in the path of flight, where persecution might happen, don't you think that talents like Parkour would have use?

Imagine. Thousands of Christian "ninja's" taking ground for Jesus in the Middle East, in the Communist countries, in the mountainous and hostile regions where His name has yet to be heard.

Imagine. Your prowess of backdiving and stuff better utilized as you flee from physical enemies in nations where they do not understand that God owns this earth and He is taking ground and He wants to use you?

I sure want to learn Parkour if only the Philippines were not so hostile to new things like these. There were days, when I was on an extended fast, that my feet were so light and quick that I felt like I could do things like these.

I know I will get the chance to play around with my physical strength. For now, I'm letting the gears turn in your head.

What if Jesus needed end-time ninja's to go brave Cuba, South America, or even Japan, North Korea, and the unreached areas of China?

What if?

Are you willing to take the call?