On this Sunday which we celebrate our Lord's resurrection from the dead I'd like to share with you the daily teaching I get from Al Houghton's Word at Work.  You can sign up for his daily teaching here at The Word at Work.  Here's the main point I want you to hear.  He says, "it can't flow through us if we don't welcome it to us."  

The Word at Work by Al Houghton, April 21, 2019
Scripture: Luke 4: 6-8. 

We see this principal again in Luke 4:6-8. This passage says, “And the devil said to Him, ‘All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. Therefore, if You will worship (proskuneo) before me, all will be Yours.’ And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Get behind Me, satan! For it is written, “You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only you shall serve.’” Proskuneo means bow your knee, like a puppy, expecting to get food from the master’s hand and submitting to the master. There it is again, the same thing. Bow your knee and submit. If we as believers steadfastly refuse to bow our knee and submit to the devil and we only bow our knee to God, then we have the authority to cause others to bow their knee or flee. That is the only way we get it. Walking in power and authority is a product of Who we worship! Who do we yield to? Do we bring ourselves under God’s authority? That is the test! It can’t flow through us if we don’t welcome it to us. Over and over again Jesus makes this point! Yielding to the Spirit guarantees power! Moses, Samuel and the prophets all had to learn this Biblical truth! End of Al’s message.

In this scripture “led” implies submission and it illustrates how our submission to God’s authority, not only gives us authority but qualifies us to share in His glory. The glory Jesus prayed we’d share with Him in John 17. I find the following scriptures very appropriate on this Resurrection Sunday.  

I awoke at 4 AM.  As I waited on the Lord I fell asleep and had a dream.  

In this dream I was a young man of college age.  Immediately I knew the context of the prayer.  I had sex with a woman who got an abortion.  Today, we usually focus on the women who have an abortion. But, in this dream God's spotlight was on the man.

I felt the weight of sin as I realized that I'd participated in a murder.  Words fail to capture the heavy guilt I felt as I remembered Revelation 21:6-8:

And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts. He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son. But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”

In the dream, I fully realized the gravity of my sin and the hopelessness of my situation.  I was a co-conspirator in a murder.  I was guilty.  I had not only participated in sex outside of marriage but I had also chosen to believe and propagate the lies such as:​

We find ourselves on the precipice of Church history once again.  The spiritual war that spilled out from heaven to earth in Revelation 12 is raging in this world as Revelation 12:12 has manifested.  It warns "Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”

Three Kinds of People in War
Here's an important Biblical principle expressed in 1 Corinthians 15:46 which teaches us that the natural comes first and then the spiritual.  So, there are some things we can learn about spiritual war by studying natural war.  

Consider this brief historical look at America's war for independence (1775-1783).  There were three kinds of people. 

1. The Volunteers!  These were members of the militia, minutemen, and the Continental Army actively engaged in the fight and they made up about 3% of the population.  Another 25-30% actively supporting the cause for freedom from tyranny.
2. The Complacent!  These are those who just did not care one way or the other.  If the British won fine or if the Colonies won, they were fine.  This made up about 30-40% of the population.  They could also be described as disinterested, aloof, uninterested which veil ignorance and some cowardice.  Their primary interest was their self.  
3. The Tories!  - These were in one sense like the anti-war protesters of the Vietnam era but in another sense they were not.  Many joined with the British Army fighting against  those who volunteered in the War of Independence. 

It's basically the same in any conflict.  As I waited upon the Lord about the spiritual war we are in this is what I heard were the three kinds of people in this spiritual war today.  I call them the 3 R's!  The question is, which one are you?  

The Three Kinds of People in Spiritual War Today

When one accepts Christ they are born again.  They are introduced to the Lamb of God who came to take away the sins of the world.  A new born baby is cared for and loved by parents who heap affection on their child.  They take care of EVERYTHING!  They even act like their poop is cute!  OK, maybe not to everyone, certainly not to me, but I've heard some ladies say something to that effect in years past.  Bottom line, there is a huge amount of mercy and grace demonstrated due to the child's inability to care for itself. 

But as the child matures the method of instruction changes. For example, have you ever noticed you don't have to teach children how to lie?  Love administers correction, pain, to teach them there are consequences for lying, not obeying their parents instruction, being disrespectful of elders etc. (Proverbs 22:15, 23:13 & 29:15). 

As I matured into my teenage years I played football. You can get hurt if you are not careful.  Therefore, the method, content and expectations the coaches put upon us also increased. Their love for us and the game was expressed through drills and disciplines that were forms of tough love.  The more you bled and sweated in practice the more likely you'd play safe and win.  I learned you were more likely to get hurt when you only played at half speed.   

I Learned Tough Love in the Navy
When I joined the Navy, the stakes got even higher.  In fact, we operated in an environment sometimes where  even in peace time where there was a higher risk of injury and death.   Therefore the officers and drill instructors involved in my training confronted even the smallest infractions.  Why?  Because of the consequences. 

I'll never forget Master Sergeant Flagger marching into my first day of Aviation Officer Candidate School and throwing a desk through the wall to get our attention.  Why?  Because two of his men had been killed trying to rescue a pilot and he was going to make sure that if anyone else died they'd be worth it.  My class started with 42 and only 15 of us made it through.  His method was designed to create an experience we'd never forget!  His motive?  Love of the brotherhood, love for the Corps, love for His country.  You see, he lived, they lived, we lived what Jesus taught about "greater love has no one than this, than to lay one's life down for his friends."  John 15:3   

​The problem we have today is that a significant portion of the Church majors on the love that is displayed through the Lamb of God to children.  They'll never mature unless a father's love is demonstrated through progressive correction (Hebrews 12:6).  What do I mean by progressive correction/instruction.  I mean as responsibility grows the consequences for failure to perform increases. 

Growth is of a child is assured if they are fed.  Maturity is assured if they are trained. 

God used the Navy as my seminary.  I saw many Biblical truths and principles actually applied there than I ever did in the local churches which focused primarily on meeting people's needs.  The military prioritized their country and assigned mission first.  The people, which are considered very important, were prioritized second.  It reminds me of what Jesus said in Matthew 6:33 about seeking the kingdom first and then all your needs would be taken care of. 

The Spiritual War is a Culture War ​
Bottom line, you cannot prepare the army of God using the same kinds of disciplines you would use with a little child.  The truth is, we were born into a spiritual war that spilled from heaven to earth in Revelation 12 and the issue at hand are the souls of men and women and their eternal destiny in heaven or in hell.  

Today marks the 10th day of a Daniel Fast God called us to in order to Make Way for the King in 2019.  It is a call to consecration.  The day after I wrote the last article I read a word from Jeremiah Johnson, The Cleansing Angel Visited Me, Many Will Fast & Pray in 2019,  that basically says the same thing!

This morning I awoke well before the sun rose with God speaking to me about how God wants, God needs consecrated vessels.  I was impressed that "God wants consecrated vessels.  Vessels where the cup on the inside is clean.  Why?  Because the King is coming in 2019 and He wants vessels prepared to receive the glory He is going to pour out."  

Then a number of scriptures immediately to flooded my mind!

In early January God began speaking to me about our moral compass again.  On January 7, 2019 I published "It's Time to Recalibrate Our Moral Compass!"  On January 10th, three days later, Fox News reported  "Something very strange is happening to Earth's magnetic North Pole and no one knows why. "  It says (note I added bold large print to make a point):

“The magnetic pole is moving so quickly that it has forced the world’s geomagnetism experts into a rare move,” Nature reports.
On January 30 (delayed due to the US Government shutdown), the World Magnetic Model — which governs modern navigation systems — is due to undergo an urgent update.

This model is a vital component of systems ranging from geopositioning systems used to navigate ships through to smartphone trackers and maps.

The current model was expected to be valid until 2020. But the magnetic pole began to shift so quickly, it was realized in 2018 that the model had to be fixed — now."
​
The scripture reveals what God uses signs and wonder for.  Jeremiah 32:21 indicates that God brought His people out of the land of Egypt by signs and wonders while Daniel 6:27 says, "He delivers and rescues, and He works signs and wonders In heaven and on earth..."  In Isaiah 44:25-26 God says "Who frustrates the signs of babblers, and drives diviners mad: who turns wise men backwards and makes their knowledge foolishness.  Who confirms the word of His servant, and performs the counsel of His messenger..." Signs and wonders are used to:

• Show God's people a way out of bondage
• Deliver His people
• Confirm the word of His servants or messengers

This Sign Should Make You Wonder
What should it make you wonder? 

Brenda and I are not satisfied!  We are hungry for more of Jesus.  We've seen miracles, healings, signs, wonders, heard the voice of the Lord... BUT, are just not satisfied with some being healed, seeing miracles sometimes, hearing the voice of the Lord sometimes.  While we covet to see more of God at work, what we really want is to see Him.  To walk closer daily to Him.  To know Him, His heart and His ways.  Do you know what I mean?  

That's led us to a place where we've entered into a new season of self discipline.  It's not a religious thing per se!  But it is a discipline.  It's like Paul said 1 Corinthians 9:27, "But I discipline my body and keep it under control, lest after preaching to others I myself should be disqualified."

Desire & Discipline Turn Into a Delight
Years ago in the 1980s we began a hungry pursuit of God and it led to "could you not tarry one hour."  That was the goal.  We discovered that what began as a desire, turned into a discipline which later turned into a delight.  Today, it was not uncommon for me to spend easily two to three hours a day with our Lord in the word and in prayer.  

Because we are not satisfied we've challenged ourselves through our involvement in a school of the prophets with Jesus Ministries (Bro. Sadhu).  In his school we have homework which includes at least one hour each day in tongues, one hour each day meditating on and reading God's word, and at least one our a day waiting (watching and listening quietly) to see what our Lord might want to show or speak to us. 

Prepare to Make Way for the King in 2019
Last week when I'd arisen long before the sun rose I head the Lord speak so clearly, "Make Way for the King in 2019!"  This is what led to the call for a 21 day Daniel Fast.  Click here for details as to why a Daniel Fast at this time. 

Then I realized how that the daily disciplines we were working on were "MAKING WAY for the KING of KINGS and Lord of Lords, in our lives... every day.  This is a must if we intend to obey that word corporately too.

Many have asked lots of questions about the fast as well some have asked many questions about the new disciplines.  With that in mind I'll share some common questions and my answer.  

OneHope is led by Steve Buss and his team in Eugene/Springfield Oregon. They've been using the 1Church1Day strategy in their network since 2015.  They've got 40+ churches working together to lift up a canopy of prayer over their community.  Following our strategy they have 10 councils of leaders representing the 7 spheres of society who help inform them as to what to pray. 

Kaylee, who is part of the OneHope team just sent an email saying:

We had a really significant answer to prayer last week.  Please read, rejoice, and be encouraged. It's the first testimony on the "Answer to Prayer" document. 
 
The fire chief (on our first responder strategic team) called Steve three hours after the near-tragedy to give glory to God. And the city manager (on our government team) texted us that morning saying, "please don't let One Church - One Day stop praying..." 
 
We're humbled by the way God is using our prayers.    
 
Kaylee

What follows is their "Answers to Prayer Report" which describes the miracle that occurred when firefighters were ambushed by a shooter in Springfield Oregon.

Here's a message Tim shared at Living Hope in Renton Washington March 18, 2018. 

Leaven is a rising agent. It rises and sets when heat is applied. The question is, when the fire comes, when trials come, what rises out of you?  The leaven of heaven or..... the leaven of this world, the Pharisees or of Herod? 

Discover how to get the leaven of heaven inside of you!  Click read more below if you would like the notes.

Have you ever tried to serve God and miss it? Have you ever tried to overcome a weakness or a habitual sin and just seemed to fail time and again? Have you ever tried to learn a skill and thought you couldn’t do it?  Have you ever make a commitment to yourself that you would not let your mom, dad, brother, sister or friend push your buttons?  You know, those touchy places in your life that make you mad or angry. 

Have you ever thought, I just can’t do this?  I can’t overcome this weakness or addiction? Have you ever felt like you’d never be able to do enough to earn God’s love? 

I’ve felt like that. But let me share with you what I discovered one day in the midst of complete and utter failure. I learned that:

• I could not earn my heavenly Father’s love. He already loves me.
• My definition of success and God’s definition were different.
• The key to winning in Christ is that when I fail, I rise again! 

Micah 7:8-11 became one of my favorite scriptures.  It says “Do not rejoice over me, my enemy; When I fall, I will arise; When I sit in darkness, The Lord will be a light to me.  I will bear the indignation of the Lord, Because I have sinned against Him, Until He pleads my case And executes justice for me. He will bring me forth to the light; I will see His righteousness.  Then she who is my enemy will see, And shame will cover her who said to me, “Where is the Lord your God?” My eyes will see her; Now she will be trampled down like mud in the streets.

The Key to Success
I learned that I was only defeated…. If I stayed down.