I wrote, “The Final Feast”, not to tell believers exactly how to become a Tabernacle Christian but rather to help those interested personally explore this undiscovered country. Learn about the spiritual fulfillment of the Feast of Tabernacles and Divine Love here…
There is a love greater than all other loves. It is greater than the attraction between a man and a woman, between mothers and their children, greater than all the holy men and women of the world put together. This move of His Spirit is true love from above, the love that gave Jesus the strength to sacrifice his life for the sins of the world. It is the very nature of God.
“I’ve read some of the articles on this website which concern divine divorce and I found these interesting. I have a recommendation for an article topic I would enjoy having your opinion about. Have you heard the ‘apoluo’ vs ‘apostasion’ debate? Whereas “apoluo”(Greek) means “put away”, “apostasion”(Greek) means “divorce” and both terms are used in the bible.
“In short, the premise of the debate is that the verses in the bible which speak against divorce actually speak against “putting away”(apoluo) one’s spouse without a written bill of divorcement, not actual “divorce” where papers are signed. In essence, in ancient times, men would “put away” their wives without giving them a bill of divorcement to officially dissolve their marriages. This kept women in a strange limbo state where they were neither married and neither divorced. They could not remarry nor return to their husbands and this was a cruel predicament for them to find themselves in. This is what God spoke against when he spoke against ‘divorce’, not actually properly divorcing a spouse by giving them a proper written certificate of divorce. Anyways, if you have time, I’d love for an article on the subject to be written and added to the website. Thank you.”
I very much appreciate when readers ask questions and make comments, it helps us explore these topics together. Thank you!
When I read this question, I thought it made a good point about how it is sometimes unclear how to interpret scriptures in light of our distance from their historical context. While I don’t feel led to examine these specific Greek words, what I do want to speak about today is that God’s Spirit and His Word agree – even if we don’t understand precisely how. That is to say that our Father has one, consistent viewpoint, and what He says to us by His Spirit agrees with what is written in the scriptures. Moreover, His viewpoint on divorce, while expansive, is congruent from the first century until now.
However, God says,
“For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.”
2 Peter 1:21
Therefore, the scriptures are derived from what the Holy Spirit speaks and not the other way around.
Just as in the days when the prophets of old spoke as the Holy Spirit moved them, so, too, God speaks today and moves upon people to reveal His will. That same Spirit that came upon Isaiah, Ezekiel, and Jeremiah, now lives in us and leads and guides us even more intimately. In fact, that same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead now moves within each one of us if we yield to His still small voice.
The word agrees with His Spirit
Therefore, what His Spirit speaks to each one of us is of greater authority and has more significance than our man-made doctrines. His Spirit does not violate His word, and neither does His word violate His Spirit. In fact, as the scriptures state, “The Word was with God and the Word was God.”
However, and this is where I think the comment at the beginning of this essay highlights a good point, when we try to interpret God’s word from a distance of about 2000 years, sometimes the cultural context can be obscured. After 2000 years it becomes difficult to understand everything as easily as they did. What Jesus said to those in the first century made perfect sense – within their time – but today we need the Holy Spirit to illuminate its true meaning. Take, for example, the book of Philemon, which speaks about slavery. How do you literally apply that today? The truth is you can’t, because those circumstances don’t exist in our culture.
Therefore, when we try to understand Christ’s words, spoken to Pharisees and religious Jews, in a modern context, situational specifics get lost, because they don’t translate well into our present understanding. This is precisely the case with the standard doctrine concerning divorce as it is interpreted in normative Christianity.
Do you eat pork?
Most people don’t wash another believer’s feet, observe clean and unclean food laws, force the women in church to wear head coverings, or prevent women from teaching. Yet all those doctrines are specifically laid out in scripture. Why don’t we follow them now? It is because we understand that those types of activities don’t apply to our current societies. For instance, most people don’t walk on a dusty dirt road to church, therefore they don’t need to have their feet washed before they enter a house of worship. Our food is cleaner these days, so most people even eat pork, which was strictly forbidden in Christ’s day.
Likewise, our understanding of the scriptures is an approximation of what God really means, and because we are fallible, we must understand that our teachings may also be flawed. Through pride and arrogance, many church leaders and theologians believe they only speak “the word of God”, but in reality, hardly any of them can agree on what that word of God is. This is why the Holy Spirit, who wrote the scriptures, is of better authority to interpret His word than we are. While we do the best we can to understand what He wrote, it should always be with the proviso that His Spirit can lead and guide us into further truth when we misunderstand. When He says something that contradicts what we have been taught, instead of rejecting His voice, we should rather ask as Mary did,
“And in the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent from God unto a city of Galilee, named Nazareth, To a virgin espoused to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David; and the virgin’s name was Mary. And the angel came in unto her, and said, Hail, thou that art highly favoured, the Lord is with thee: blessed art thou among women.”
And,
“How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.”
Luke 1:26-28, 34-35 – NASB 1995
The Holy Spirit is always preeminent
When God speaks, His Spirit takes precedence over what we believe, simply because our understanding of His word is imperfect, while He is perfect. This is why we can trust His voice to lead and guide us into all truth, knowing that even when we can’t clearly see how what He means fits into our theological understanding, it eventually will. An example of this is when Jesus said, “Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.” No one understood this but Jesus at the time, though as they followed after Him and were filled with His Holy Spirit, they eventually did.
Understanding Divine Divorce through God’s Spirit
When God leads a man or woman to divorce, they often face strong opposition from their family, friends, and most of all, their church. In an already difficult situation, they must contend with others who are sure, based on church doctrine, they are making the wrong choice. For those on the outside of their situation, there is little sympathy for their plight and, in fact, many times a cruel hardness of heart toward them that is unworthy of the faith they profess.
When you think about it, those who are not facing the challenges of those who are being led to Divinely divorce – who may not even be hearing God’s voice for their own lives – face little real-world consequences for forcing others to “stay the course” and “trust God in a bad marriage.” To outsiders and clergy, all that matters is doctrine, no matter how ludicrous following their dogma is.
Only you will stand before, and give an account of, your life to Christ at the Great White Throne Judgment. All that will matter in that hour is if you heard God’s voice and did His will. God speaking to you today is more important and of greater authority than all the church fathers, pastors, counselors, friends, and family who are not open to hearing what He is telling you to do.
When God speaks, He is correct, and it is our understanding that needs adjustment. Our Father knows perfectly well what He means, and He means what He says, no matter if you or anyone else understands it. The Spirit agrees with His word because His Spirit wrote it, but that doesn’t mean His Spirit must agree with our interpretation of the scriptures or the doctrine we derived from it. Oftentimes, because we misunderstand what He said, we live in consternation, trying to work out principles and teachings that have nothing to do with what He actually meant. This is particularly true with Divine Divorce.
It matters what God says to you personally
For many believers, marriage, even inside a church, is a civil contract made between two people. It is an agreement formed with the best intention between those who have decided to wed. Often, God did not lead them to be together and thus, just as your decision to wed was yours, your decision to divorce is yours. However, if God has joined you as Divine Mates, you should not break apart what He put together. In that case, just as He led you to become man and wife, He would have to lead you to divorce. In either case, if the Holy Spirit leads you to separate from your spouse, it is His prerogative to make that decision, for He is Lord over all.
No one breaks a marriage lightly. It is a heart-wrenching and difficult decision, which most people struggle with endlessly. I do not advocate divorce except when there are clear reasons for doing so or when God specifically leads you to separate. It is always, ultimately, between the believers involved and God. The main disagreement I have with most church doctrine on this subject is that it is based on words Jesus spoke to the circumstances and cultural situations that are not always relevant to our day and age. In the modern-day church, there is no way to “repent” for a foolish vow, and that sometimes traps people into marriages that they cannot escape without losing the favor and love of family members, friends, and their church. Our Father is simply not that cruel.
Finally, the Holy Spirit must be given preeminence in our lives and be allowed to rule our understanding of His word. Man’s understanding of scripture is imperfect, God’s Spirit is not. For example, hardly anything that the medieval Catholic church taught as sound doctrine is even remotely true today. The fact is, in relationship to God’s Spirit, our understanding of His true intent, and the meaning of His scriptures, is not much better. Allow God to lead you, and trust His voice. Do not worry if others don’t understand or agree with what He is speaking to you. Always remember, Jesus is your Lord, and as one of His sheep, you only hear His voice.
Oceans (Where Feet May Fail) by Hillsong United
Let this be your prayer when everyone and everything seems to be against you.
“And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him.”
Genesis 2:18
And,
“If any man have ears to hear, let him hear.”
Mark 4:23
What is happening in our world is unlike anything that has come upon it before. Even though throughout history we have seen several foreshadowings of the antichrist, the actual fulfillment of the prophecy of the man of sin is beyond our present comprehension. Light being hailed as darkness and darkness being lauded as light is just the beginning.
The war on relationships is a purposeful sabotage the devil uses to break unions between men and women. The goal is to weaken us and, on a larger scale, fracture the body of Christ. The destruction of the family unit has, at its core, the intention to destroy the method that God uses to manifest Himself in this creation.
Become a complete vessel
Spiritual connections between men and women, the union of our bodies, souls, and spirits, was God’s original intention when He created Adam. Men without a divine mate are incomplete, and women without a divine mate are also incomplete. It is only through the physical union of our bodies, souls, and spirits that we become one with each other and God and thus a whole being.
The woman, taken out of man and formed from his rib, is reunited with his body and they become one. She rejoins his body and they become one flesh. Together they bring forth after His kind and the children of God are born.
God says,
“Male and female created he them; and blessed them, and called their name Adam, in the day when they were created.”
Genesis 5:2
God called the man and woman, together, Adam. In our Father’s eyes, they were one, united in Him, inseparable.
Thus, the devil’s plan is to divide Adam, the union of men and women, to weaken God’s people to the point where they will accept and follow the antichrist. Satan is actively breaking apart that which God intended to put together. In essence, the enemy of our souls wants to shatter to pieces the vessels God intended to hold His Spirit so that we are incapable of fully yielding to Him.
In this time of worldwide troubles, where nation rises against nation and kingdom against kingdom, where there are famines, pestilences, and earthquakes in diverse places, the way we defend ourselves and prepare for the rapture is by yielding to God and becoming whole with each other. This is done by uniting, as men and women, into the whole person our Father made us to be. This is accomplished by allowing our creator to unite us with our divine mate–or at the very least a spiritual connection.
Unite with a man or woman of God’s choice
If you already have a God-given mate, this is a good thing, for in the coming days God will be able to do mighty things through your union. If you do not have a divine mate, God will still be with you by giving you spiritual connections, and His grace will cover you, even though you will face enormous challenges. Paul was wrong when he said that remaining single was preferable to marriage in times of distress. Nothing allows God to move through you and be more effective in this present world than being united with a man or woman of God’s choice. Truly, you must have both parts working in unison for God to fully manifest through your lives.
What I write here is revelation, it is not natural-minded thinking. It is contrary and antithetical to most everything that the world believes and, indeed, what many believers realize. Many in this day and age feel that finding your mate is, while preferable, optional. Nothing could be further from the truth. Moreover, women who feel that they can make it in the coming days of deception without a God-given head are fooling themselves and have already started to enter into the deception of the antichrist.
Trust that your Father knows best
Clear your mind of what you assume, and allow God to lead you in all things. It is the tail of the dragon that we need to be aware of, for the natural man will not see it coming. Only those with spiritual eyes to see and ears to hear will be able to withstand the onslaught of demonic deception that is sweeping the world. The best way to prepare for this is to find your divine mate and unite to be a complete vessel through which God may flow.
Finding your divine mate will probably not make sense and may not seem convenient. Most likely, your natural mind will reel at God’s choice, though your spirit will be elated. Trust God and give yourself over to Him completely, and do not question the wisdom of your heavenly Father. Time is of the essence; the days of spiritual darkness are upon us.
Amen.
What I invite you to consider is that God is Love through your union. This is the clearest manifestation of who God is and how He intended to manifest His love to the world.
We’ve all heard the saying, “God is good all the time.” Sometimes, we say it without much thought, just acknowledging His nature, but the fact is that turn of phrase is a profound statement and, in fact, a revelation.
God says,
“God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. And there was evening, and there was morning—the sixth day.”
Genesis 1:31 (NIV)
The truth is, what our creator made was very good, better than we can even imagine in our day and age. Mankind began from a place of privilege and honor, having been made in His image and likeness. The earth was pristine, and all God’s creatures lived in harmony.
Furthermore, the original intent of God was for His children to be connected to Him and each other in a way that we can hardly fathom. His Spirit was to be united with our spirits, which then ruled our souls and bodies. When we looked at each other, we literally saw God looking back. We had access to, and yielded to, His mind and lived in complete harmony without care or worry about tomorrow for we were the children of God. This is where we began and this is where we will end up, by the grace of God and through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ.
When it is dark, you need light
Strong revelation is simply the light of God shining upon our minds so that we understand what He already knows. It is seeing things as they truly are, in high relief, so that we are not confused. Contrary to what the world demands we believe, we did not evolve into what we are now, we devolved downward into our present state. Perfection was our birthright, but through sin, we drifted away from Eden and sank down into a morass of natural-minded confusion. Gradually, we became little more than shadows of our former glory, forgot who we were, and began to subsist in caves, becoming merely intelligent animals, devoid of the divine nature we once possessed.
What I have just written is truth, and you know it, feel it, and sense it. This is because we do remember. Somewhere deep inside all of us is the innate knowledge of what we were, and an ember of that greatness still burns in us. This is why we all like green grass, flowing streams, and waterfalls, have a mania for gates (even if they have no purpose), and possess a desire to fly to the stars, even though we know there is nothing out there. We remember what we were made to be, and we long to become it again.
Getting inspiration the wrong way
In the creative arts – music, art, media, or anything else that requires inspiration – we find a lot of sexual sin. It is a cliche that rock stars are promiscuous, directors have casting couches, artists have lovely muses. Why is this? Is it just power and lust, or is there some deeper reason that leads people into all manner of perversion?
The fact is, that though there is a large amount of lust going on in these situations, these artists use these fleeting connections to access inspiration so that they can operate on the level that is needed to produce truly great art. Great music, for example, is often inspired by an artist’s experience with love, good or bad. They write their songs on a level that is beyond what normal people can do, simply because they have experienced and touched upon what we were all originally meant to experience.
The same happens with people who use drugs. They become addicted, yes, but on their journey to hell they experience and touch upon heaven. Those fleeting glimpses of what can be hook them into the destructive spiral of addiction.
There is another, better, way
God’s original intention was to give everyone all these things, minus the negative consequences. He designed us to love each other as His Spirit leads so that our need for love is fulfilled without harming ourselves or others. The high that people experience on drugs was originally given to us through union with His Spirit, without any negative side effects. The beauty and creativity that produces amazing music and art was to be inspired by His presence flowing through another to us.
We did not begin as apes, we descended from perfect humans who manifested God. Therefore, we are being restored to our former glory through yielding to His Spirit. The point of everything that is going on is to become one with God again, allowing Him to rule and reign in our lives. Jesus Christ paid the price for our sins so that we could access His Father once again without fear or condemnation. What we call reformation is the process of being restored back to our former glory of the Garden of Eden.
The world around us is simply wrong. They are deceived and bound in darkness. Their understanding is opaque to the extent that they think darkness is light and light is darkness. They are asleep in the lap of the wicked one and, if they are not saved, will experience the punishment reserved for Satan and the demons.
Don’t be distracted
Most of life, as we now know it, is a distraction. We are constantly diverted from our Father’s business, and His kingdom isn’t being built in the way He desires. What needs to happen is for each one of us to decide to listen to His voice so that we can begin to flow together as one in Him. Barring the rapture, which I am hoping for, each one of us has a limited amount of time to live on this earth. What we do here, as God leads us, has eternal consequences. It is as we obey God that we lay up heavenly treasures which last. Let’s do all that God speaks to us daily, whether or not it makes sense to our natural minds, so that we may be counted as the children of God.
“You will hear of wars and rumors of wars, but see to it that you are not alarmed. Such things must happen, but the end is still to come. Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.”
Matthew 24:6-8 (NIV)
Right now, Israel is under attack and is waging war against Islam. Jacob and Esau are fighting. This worries many Christian believers, because they believe that we might be facing Armageddon and the end of the world. However, at the very most, what is happening now is the beginning of birth pains and not the actual birth.
Birth of what, you might ask? The birth of the Manchild,
God says,
“A great sign appeared in heaven: a woman clothed with the sun, with the moon under her feet and a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out in pain as she was about to give birth. Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on its heads. Its tail swept a third of the stars out of the sky and flung them to the earth. The dragon stood in front of the woman who was about to give birth, so that it might devour her child the moment he was born. She gave birth to a son, a male child, who “will rule all the nations with an iron scepter. ”And her child was snatched up to God and to his throne.”
Revelation 12: 1-6
First, understand our proper place
First of all, when interpreting prophecy, realize that first and foremost, all prophecy either refers to Jesus or Israel. God’s focus in scripture are His son and His covenant with Abraham regarding the children of Jacob, who’s name what later changed to Israel. However, due to the Jews rejecting and crucifying their Messiah, we, the Gentiles, being a wild olive branch, were grafted in to the place where the Jews use to be in the Olive tree. However, this is only for a time and a season and there will come a time when Israel is grafted back in and they will preeminent in God’s dealings again. Therefore, when you read prophecy in scripture, when they apply to us in this present age, it is in a secondary and spiritual sense and not in the original and literal sense that it applies to Israel.
When Jesus talks about wars and rumors of wars, He is speaking about the end of the Millennium when he returns to the Jews. At that time the temple will be rebuilt and he will come back and finally be received as the Jewish Messiah. However, during the church age (which is composed mainly of gentiles) there is also a spiritual fulfillment of these prophecies because we are standing in the place of Israel during this time.
The Antichrist and the False prophet do arise before the Millennium and are judge and thrown into the lake of fire before the 1000 years of peace. And there will be Armageddon before this time too. However, we are at the beginning of birth pains and the end is not yet.
Moreover, as Spirit led Christians we have a blessed hope, i.e. the rapture. During these time so trouble, God keeps us safe if we will trust His voice and do what He says, when He says to do it, with whomever He says to do it with. In this darkness, we shine ever brighter as we allow God to reveal Himself in us.
God says,
“For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.”
2 Thessalonians 2:7 (KJV)
“For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way.
2 Thessalonians 2:7 (NIV)
Right now, the Holy Spirit is restraining the spirit of antichrist in the world. I know, some days you might not think this is true, but believe me when I say that if the Holy Spirit wasn’t here, things would be much, much worse. That Holy Spirit dwells in us and does good to the world through our actions and we are a restraining force keeping a bay the wickedness that the Devil wants to reveal. However, when the Holy Spirit is removed from the world, we are taken up with Him to Heaven and only then is the Antichrist given power over the earth for a short season.
The long and short of it is that we who believe are not here from the worst of it. In the mean time, we don’t have to worry about what is going on so long as we do what God asks us to do in any given day. As we are about our fathers business, nothing will happen to us that He doesn’t allow. Even when we face difficulties, we know that He is with us and will help us because we are working for Him while it is yet day.
Positive thoughts in a negative news cycle
This is really important to remember is such a negative new cycle world. When everyone around you is thinking they are about to die, we can be of good cheer, because we know that God is with us even in the storm. Though we might walk through fire, there is one with us that protects and keeps us during persecution. Our focus need not be upon what is wrong with the world or it’s fate, but rather upon helping others see the light of Christ so that they, along with us, might be saved.
The truth is, this is an amazing time to be alive and be Christian. We are going to see miracles happen that amazing and confound the world. As the world sinks into darkness, it will just make the light that shine in and through us that much more evident. Witnessing for Jesus will not be chores because in their affliction, they will grab hold of your ankles and not let you go until you tell them about Jesus and how they to can be saved.
God says to us,
“And they that be wise shall shine as the brightness of the firmament; and they that turn many to righteousness as the stars for ever and ever.”
Daniel 12:3
Amen.
Shines Like Stars by Brett Younker, Kristian Stanfill, Cody Carnes, Kari Jobe
Passion, Landon Wolfe – The Lord Will Provide (Live From Passion 2024)
“And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lieand so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.” (NIV)
2 Thessalonians 2: 8-13
We live in a Post-Truth world. That is to say, while there is one, objective truth, it no longer matters to most people. Rather, the term truth has been recast to mean that whatever people believe “their own truth is,” equals reality.” This is of course ludicrous, but there you have it.
If you think about it, moving away from one, concrete reality started way back with impressionism and progressed through a can of Campbell’s soup being hailed as art, to the satanic worship at the last music awards.
The Reality Equation
Christ = reality.
Moving away from Christ = unreality.
Unreality = Antichrist
Antichrist = Satan
As Christians living in a Post-Truth world, we must come to understand that rational reason means little to those caught in the grips of Strong Delusion. At this point, when we speak of Jesus to others, in order to break through the demonic fog they live in, we must be led by His Spirit and speak the words He puts in our minds and hearts without trying to rely on what we know. Only Strong Revelation can counteract Strong Delusion.
What I am saying to you is this: Your doctrine, no matter how reasonable and theologically correct you may believe it is, will not make a dent in the demonic psychosis that prevails among the saved and unsaved. At this point, only God manifest through you will penetrate into their hearts. Their minds are so enslaved to you must bypass them through divine love. Moreover, if you, yourself, do not listen to the Holy Spirit and hold fast to Him as an anchor in this hurricane of unreality, this flood may very well sweep you away, too.
Jesus said, more than once,
“He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.” (KJV)
Matthew 11:15
Reality is this: When you walk in the Spirit, things just make sense because you see as God sees. Our Father’s perspective allows us to remain steady in an uncertain age where the world seems to be going crazy. This, in turn, allows us to become a rock upon which others can seek refuge as they feel the wind and waves of Strong Delusion buffet them. You can be a testimony simply by standing firm upon the rock of your salvation as a lighthouse of Strong Revelation to those caught up in the storm.
In conclusion, let us work together and stand steady in the Truth of the Holy Spirit. We do have a blessed hope and we will rise even when the world around us seems to be falling apart. This earth is not our home, for we are destined to stand on the shores of eternity in a world to come, a perfect place, a New Heavens and New Earth. We have been forewarned by Jesus that this world and all that is in it is passing away, therefore, do not be surprised when it does. Together, let’s work while it is yet day and allow God to lead and guide us in everything we do so that some may be saved.
I have been watching the downfall of the International House of Prayer Kansas City (IHOPKC) for some time. I do not wish to comment on whether or not the allegations against Mike Bickle are true or false. However, I will share a broader perspective of what this event may foreshadow for the Body of Christ during the coming move of Tabernacles.
First, during the return of Israel from Babylonian captivity, Israel decided to keep God’s law. After all, it was the neglect of His commandments that offended our Lord in the first place, resulting in their 70-year captivity. This desire to never give offense to YHWH again, though good and right at the beginning, gradually became something else entirely. In the end, the Jews’ quest to be righteous before God was perverted into an instrument used to persecute and kill their hoped-for Messiah. The Law of Moses, which they believed saved them, was used to destroy them and resulted in the terrible 70 AD slaughter.
Likewise, in our generation, a second law, i.e., New Testament codified into church doctrine, is now being used in like manner to destroy individual ministers and whole ministries of the Body of Christ. While Jesus said, “go and sin no more to a woman caught in the very act of adultery,” Christians are stoning an entire ministry for “indiscretions” as if they, themselves, have no sin.
A few things you need to know
What is happening at IHOPKC (International House of Prayer Kansas City) is strikingly parallel to what happened at CC&BTC (Community Chapel & Bible Training Center). I am amazed at how the message is similar and even how Mike Bickle presents similar to Donald Lee Barnett. I have also heard from those who have been involved in worship there, and they are experiencing similar things as spiritual connections in the move of Divine Love that took place at Chapel.
While I don’t know all the specifics, what you need to know is that the restoration of Tabernacles and the bringing of Divine Love to any established normative church will destroy its current church system. It is a misjudgement and a grave error to think that this new move of the Holy Spirit can be contained within the old wine skin of what constitutes established church doctrine.
God says,
“And there appeared a great wonder in heaven; a woman clothed with the sun, and the moon under her feet, and upon her head a crown of twelve stars: And she being with child cried, travailing in birth, and pained to be delivered. And there appeared another wonder in heaven; and behold a great red dragon, having seven heads and ten horns, and seven crowns upon his heads.”
Revelation 12: 1-13 (KJV)
Scriptures often have first, second, and even third interpretations depending on the time and context you apply them into. Always, since Christ is the focus of God’s plan, the first interpretation belongs to him, if applicable. Secondly, the interpretation belongs to the physical nation of Israel, since they are our Lord’s chosen people. Thirdly, and often in a spiritual sense, we can apply scriptures to the church, which is spiritual Israel (because we have been grafted in to the natural olive tree for a time in the natural branch’s absence).
What we may be seeing is “birth pangs” at IHOPKC. The church, which can no longer hold the moving of God’s Spirit is “pained” being delivered of it. Therefore, what it can no longer hold, it pushes out in a messy and unpleasant way. Those around what is going on naturally feel uncomfortable with it, hoping that it will be over as quickly as possible, wishing to cast out those they do not understand for His name’s sake, saying “let the Lord be glorified.”
Think it not strange when you are pushed out
For those being pushed out, it is equally traumatic. That which has concieved and nourished them no longer accepts them or wants them inside any longer and desires with all earnestness for them to be removed. When this happens to you as you are moved deeper into God’s Spirit, realize that what you are experiencing from your “brethren” is prophesied in the scriptures. Though unpleasant and uncomfortable, you must separate from the church at large to become the spiritual “man-child” of Revelation 12. It is you who must stand up to the devil, that old dragon, and protect those who have pushed you out. This is your calling and your destiny.
Church doctrine cannot abide true, Spirit-led intimacy
The reason for this is that we, as Christ’s body, are entering into a time of great intimacy with our Lord and Savior, Jesus. In this generation, we may fulfill the Song of Solomon and become the Bride of Christ. We will “Kiss Towards” God and dance as the Shunammite did before the son of David. Yet, in any church in our land, the very doctrine that they claim to believe cannot even allow for a “holy kiss,” much less the full expression of His love among His body. In fact, in most congregations, even frontal hugging is frowned upon between opposite sexes. In other words, the very intimacy that God is about to bring among His people is outlawed by the church and it’s clergy.
While Mike Bickle may be guilty of all the things he is accused of, it is also possible that, given his prophetic ministry, he may be a forerunner of Tabernacles and God’s Divine Love, just as Don Barnett was a forerunner of this same move of the Spirit 40 years ago.
Barnett was a gifted teacher and leader, but also a deeply flawed individual who took on a very powerful foe, namely the devil. While he did the best he could do, he did make mistakes and was unable to bring the move of God forward to where the Holy Spirit was leading it. However, he did try and was more faithful to God’s vision than most who participated.
Tabernacles is a radical and new move of God’s Spirit and as such, it’s birth into the established church is going to be messy. This is not because our Lord is wrong, but it is due to the fact that the church, as a whole, is very far from God, and breaking through the legalism within it is difficult. It will not be a clean or pleasant process by any means.
Thus, instead of sexual sin, Mike Bickle’s demonstrations of love toward women, like Donald Barnett’s attempts to bring about Tabernacles, may be, in the main, led of the Spirit. Though no one knows for sure what happened, what I do know is that during the coming move of Divine Love men and women will love each other in ways that are considered even more outrageous and sinful by the conventional church than anything that took place at IHOPKC.
Dare to love as God leads you
Doctrine, at this point, has become a tool of the devil meant to prevent the greatest move of love that the world has seen. This pseudo-law of the New Testament church teaching will be used as a bludgeon to beat the people of God who dare to love as God leads, by those who reject the intimate advances of the Holy Spirit.
I urge all to be slow to judge others, for things may be far different than we imagine. It is possible that what is going on at IHOPKC is a lot more profound and Holy Spirit led than those who are speaking against it assert. The leadership and pastor’s wife who stood against Don Barnett were dead wrong and these ungodly people brought down one of the most profound moves of the Holy Spirit of the last century through their fear, vindictiveness, and selfish desires.
Lastly, I speak this to those with ears to hear. I understand that the knee jerk reaction of most people is to run for the hills and criticize what they may not understand. However, at some point we must mature into the Bride of Christ and accept his intimacy. There is no other way forward.
Sometimes it seems easy to believe God – what He asks us to do, or what He says about us. But sometimes it is difficult. When we realize that it is our faith that pleases Him most, believing God becomes so important to our walk with Him. Listen as we discuss the idea of believing God – and the exciting ways our lives could change if we do!
Episode 129: Learning To Walk In God
Before our own babies learn to walk, we don’t force them to stay sitting down just because we know they will fall when they try to walk. So why do we hold ourselves – and others – back from learning to walk in God, being led by His Spirit, just because it is possible we might fail? Listen as we talk about the incredible love and grace that is waiting for us as we allow ourselves to learn to walk into the amazing adventures God has for us – even if we’re not perfect.
Episode 128: Simplify Your Life In Christ
Our lives are very often busy and complicated. When we add to that our seemingly constant attempt to live a righteous life in our own strength, life gets very complicated, indeed. But Jesus said His yoke was easy and His burden light – and that is how our lives should be, too. How do we simplify the Christian life? Listen as we discuss the peaceful, easy walk God has called us to. . .
Episode 127: What If They Don’t Follow God?
There is no greater joy than walking hand in hand with another as you both do the will of the Father. God created us to need each other and to be connected to others in His body. But what if those you are walking with decide to walk away? What happens when they decide to NOT follow God? Though this is heartbreaking, there is hope!
Episode 126: Luffing In God
‘Luffing’ is a sailing term that describes what happens to a vessel that is turned in such a way that the airflow changes over the sails and they begin to flap and flutter. Sometimes, when the wind of the Holy Spirit moves upon our hearts and lives we, too, go through a “luffing” period. But this is a good sign! Listen as we encourage you to hang on for the ride – because it only gets better!
Episode 125: What God Has Joined Together
Jesus gave instructions that when God has joined something together, man should not tear it apart. This applies to all of our relationships, but the key focus is what GOD has joined together. Listen as we discuss the importance of the sacred unions that God puts together. . . .
Episode 124: His Name Is Jesus
In a time when there are a lot of spiritual ideas coming at us from all directions, it is easy to think that there is a detached god, or source, or the universe as a whole, trying to guide us or show us truth. But that God is actually very personal. He knows you and loves you, and He goes by the name “Jesus”. Listen as we talk about the interesting influence modern spirituality has on our beliefs, and why it is so important to know His Name.
Episode 123: In All Your Ways Acknowledge Him
Proverbs 3:5-6 gives us the blueprint for our lives: Trust God with all our hearts, don’t lean on our own understanding, and acknowledge Him in all our ways. And the promise to us is that He will then direct our paths. How vital is this type of living for the times we are in? And what does it mean to “acknowledge Him”? Listen as we discuss this key concept. . .
Episode 122: The Door Is Open
Sometimes we live in a prison of our own making – one created by our minds or experiences that cause us to not expect more than what we are now. But what if the door to our self-made prison is actually unlocked? What if God has already opened the door for us to walk into the blessings and satisfaction available with Him? In this podcast we share the good news that God has opened the door to all things for us – and it is wide open!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
We are on a holiday break this week,
but we will be back with weekly podcasts next week!
Have a very blessed holiday season, and best wishes for a God-blessed 2022!
Michael and Christi
Episode 121: Simple Obedience
Obedience: That often sounds like a harsh word to some of us. But obeying God, who is not a harsh taskmaster, results in such blessing for the child of God, that there is nothing negative or harsh that we should expect at all! It’s all very simple. . .listen as we talk about how we can walk in simple obedience to God. . . .
Episode 120: A Nation Born In A Day
When God decides to move, He often appears to move quickly in our eyes – although His plans are never rushed. And in this current era, He is eager to grant us access to a foretaste of our inheritance: The fulfillment of all the ways He wants to connect to us and bless us. Listen as we discuss both the practical and spiritual aspects of a nation “being born in a day”. . .
Episode 119: Committed Independence
In this era, God is bringing a foretaste of the New Heavens and New Earth to His people. And part of this foretaste is God showing us a higher love in our partnerships, marriages, and friendships. How could this look? Listen as we discuss the Christ-like concept of “committed independence”. . .
Episode 118: :How Did Jesus Get So Much Done?
Jesus seemed to always have enough time; time to sit and speak with those who no one else wanted to talk to, time to eat, time to preach sermons to thousands, and even time for naps. How did He get everything done in a day that He seemed to do? Is His “secret” available to us? Listen as we discuss the beautiful way that Jesus got so much done – and how we can, too.
Episode 117: The Favor Of The King
Being in the favor of an earthly king gives us benefits, provision, and protection – at least as long as we stay in his kingdom. But what is being in the favor of the King of the Universe like? Is this possible for us? And how would life work for us if we increasingly lived in that place. Listen as we talk about the life lived in the Favor of the King. . . .
Episode 116: Enlarging The Tent Of Tabernacles
God is about many things on the earth today. One of the most beautiful works of our current age is the Tabernacle Experience – a foretaste of the New Heavens and New Earth that gives us a glimpse of what it means to experience the dwelling place of God with man. Listen as we talk about the amazing way God is enlarging the tent of Tabernacles today.
Episode 115: God’s River of Revelation
How important is the flow of God’s Spirit speaking to us personally? Is the revelation and insight He desires to give us for our own personal lives something that we should be pursuing? Or is this optional for us as believers? Listen as we discuss the powerful river of revelation that God is flowing to His people – and why He does it. . .
Episode 114: A Higher Love (remastered)
The Bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear. How can we live in that kind of love to the point that the uncertainty of the world no longer makes us afraid? Listen as we discuss the beautiful concept of a higher love – and how we can live in it. . .
Episode 113: All We Lack Is Connection
Sometimes it seems like we don’t have all we need to live the successful life in God He desires for us. Too often there seems to be not enough money or time or opportunities – or even love. But listen as we discuss the wonderful truth that all we truly lack in our lives is connection – with God and with the right people at the right time and in the right place. . . .
Episode 112: How God blesses Us
God’s blessings are abundant! And the many different ways He blesses us often go unseen. It’s not always earthly blessings that He showers on us to make us happy, but there are deeper and more rewarding blessings awaiting us too, when we align with His will. Listen as we discuss how God delights in blessing us!
Episode 111: Breathe God In, Breathe God Out
Sometimes we make our relationship with God such a hard work. However, Jesus said that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. How can loving and living for God be that easy? The truth is it can and it will be – listen as we discuss and show you how living for our Lord is actually as natural as breathing God in and breathing God out.
Episode 110: The Starlings Of God
Viewing little birds called starlings as they fly together in a flock is a beautiful thing. Though they are small, individual birds, together they move as one, in a fluid, synchronous motion that appears as one organism. This is a good analogy for how the body of Christ is moving on this earth in this season. Listen as we talk about the beautiful calling to be the starlings of God.
Episode 109: God Wills Us To Love For His Good Pleasure
God has given us free will; it’s one of his greatest blessings. However, too often we use that freedom to choose what we desire, not what He desires for us. Does it matter if we make wrong choices? Especially in who we love and mate with? Does God take any pleasure in us loving as He desires? Listen as we talk about loving as God wills. . .
Episode 108: Seriously
Seriously means to do or perceive something in a solemn and considered manner; not lightly or superficially. And seriously is how we need to see not only God, but the things He asks of us. God’s will for our lives, while being our free choice, is something that is very serious to Him, and should be taken seriously by us. Listen as we discuss what it means to take God seriously.
Episode 107: The Kingdom Of God Is Within You
Jesus taught us to not look “here or there” for the Kingdom of God, because once we accept Him as our Lord and Savior, the Kingdom of God is within us. How does this understanding affect our view of ourselves and our responsibility to His Kingdom? Listen as we discuss the exciting revelation that the kingdom of God is within you. . .
Episode 106: Be Flexible In God
Sometimes we are so set in our ways it is difficult for God to get a hold of us and redirect us. Our own desires, our limited understanding and, oftentimes, fear keep us stuck and prohibit us from really being usable to God. Being flexible means being able to be easily modified to respond to a change in circumstances or ideas. Listen as we discuss why flexibility is so vital in our relationship with God. . .
Episode 105: Wonderful Things
So much bad news is circulating in our world today. But God and His calling on our lives is full of wonderful things! Be encouraged as we discuss wonderful things we can expect with God, such as hope, love, connection, freedom, and more!
Episode 104: You Can Trust The Holy Spirit
God is good. Or so we have been told. But do we really believe that fully? Enough that we would give up everything to follow Him, because we know His plans for us will bring us the fullness of life we desire? Following the leading of the Holy Spirit is hard sometimes, especially when He leads us into things unknown. . .but listen as we discuss why it is not only okay – but why you should – trust the Holy Spirit.
Episode 103: More Will Be Given
We can’t out-give God. And when we are faithful with what He has given us – in every way – He promises to give us more. Sometimes we take upon ourselves a lot of work that we think we are doing for God, when He has not really given us that task. But when we listen closely and do what He has given us to do, it is an easy yoke, and He piles on even more responsibilities – and blessings! Listen as we talk about the mighty ways that He gives us more!
Episode 102: God’s Great Dance Floor
It is for freedom that Christ set us free. Freedom from sin, as well as freedom from the things that keep us from being fully ourselves. When we step into the fullness of all God has created us for, we also step into the freedom to give all of ourselves – even our bodies – to God; and dancing in freedom is one of the things that can result! Listen as we talk about the beautiful freedom that God wants to lead us into. . .
Jesus told us that where two or three of us are gathered in His name, there He is in the midst. What does this dynamic look like in the way we fellowship with other believers? What can we expect of Jesus when He says He is right there with us, when we gather in His name? Listen as we discuss the exciting dynamic of gathering with the people Jesus leads us to. . .
During the time of Solomon’s temple, God was present there. But when it was time for God to come in the form of His Son, Jesus Christ, He left the temple and dwelt in Jesus. People who wanted to follow God then needed to realign their lives and beliefs to meet Him where He was: In Jesus. Now, God lives on this earth by His Spirit, and His Spirit indwells His people. What things may God ask us to realign in order to walk with Him in the fullness of all He is doing on this earth today? Listen as we discuss the Great Realignment.
Episode 99: Spiritual Culture Shock
When a person moves from one culture to another that is drastically different from what they know, they often experience a phenomenon known as “culture shock”. Can we have the same type of experience spiritually? Is the Kingdom of God and the preparation for the new heavens and new earth so different from our earthly mindset and the ideas we have always held, that we could experience that same phenomenon? Listen as we discuss the concept of “spiritual culture shock”.
Episode 98: A Land Flowing With Milk And Honey
Only two of the twelve spies of Israel came back with a positive report about the promised land that God had told them they were to inherit. Just like them, we are called to grab hold of all God has promised us – especially in this move of God’s Divine Love that is coming upon the earth – and have faith that the things He has for us are better than we can imagine. Listen as we press in to have faith to receive a land flowing with milk and honey.
Episode 97: Don’t Give Up On Love
Love hurts. Or so we’ve been told, or we have experienced. But love is not meant to hurt, but to heal. The trouble with love is that we usually experience a human form of love – not God’s love. What would happen if we learned to love and be loved as God desires? Listen as we encourage you with many reasons to not give up on love. . .
Episode 96: Understanding God’s Sovereignty
Most Christians say they believe in God’s sovereignty: defined as “supreme power or authority”. But when God moves differently than the way we expect Him to, do we truly revere Him as our sovereign? What does it mean that God has supreme power and authority – in our lives and in the world? Listen as we discuss the dilemma we often run into when trying to understand God’s sovereignty. . . .
Episode 95: Lean Not On Your Own Understanding
**Note: We will be on vacation this coming week, so we are posting this podcast early. Be blessed! Christi.
Proverbs chapter 3 instructs us to not lean on our own understanding, but to trust in God with all our hearts. Jesus taught this truth also, in many ways, while He was on earth. However, we struggle to believe God over our earthly “mind-based” existence. Our Father desires that we not require understanding of all that He does, but rather just trust and obey – even if we DON’T understand Him. Listen as we discuss how powerful your life lived in this dynamic faith can be. . . .
Episode 94: A Successful Day In God’s Love
The goal for today is a successful day in God’s love! Worrying about the future or fretting over the past doesn’t gain us what we need to gain today. And the way we make this day successful is by living every moment – moment by moment – in God’s presence and His love. Listen as we discuss how to have a beautiful and successful day today. . .
Episode 93: More Good News!
Bad news and more bad news seems to permeate our world today. We know that gospel means “The Good News” – and the fullness of what God is calling His people into is even greater news! Listen as we sow seeds of hope, talking about what God wants us to know: There’s more good news!
Episode 92: Jesus With Skin On
Often, when we believe God is leading us, speaking to us, or loving us, our natural minds can convince us that what we are perceiving is “not real.”. But what if a person, who is sent to us by God, confirms to us, with words or actions, what God is communicating to us? God’s love is a wonderful gift, and God’s love through one of His children is the amplification we need to truly grasp who He is and how much He cares. Listen as we discuss the importance of becoming people who represent Jesus – with skin on.
Episode 91: Because You Have A Different Spirit
Ever feel like you don’t fit in? Feel like the ways God is leading you tend to “go against the grain”? You are in good company! Most of God’s faithful people throughout history have felt the same. And one of these, Caleb, who was one of only two spies who believed the Israelites could take the promised land – as God had said – was described by God as a man who “has a different spirit”. Listen as we discuss what it means to be like Caleb: To be different because you have a different spirit.
Episode 90: God Teaches Our Hands To Love
In Psalm 144, David praises God for teaching his hands to war. This was an important time in Israeli history, and this training was necessary. In the current end times we are now living, what God is teaching us to do is love; not just love with our minds and hearts, but love with our hands, our fingers, our eyes, and all of us. Listen as we discuss the important training we need to receive from God in these time: Teaching our hands to love.
Episode 89: As It Is In Heaven
Jesus asked us to pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven. This implies that God wants this world to look and feel increasingly more and more like the world to come. What would our perspective of this world be if we looked at it through the eyes of someone who recognizes what the beauty of the New Heavens and New Earth look like? This, indeed, is our hope: To know what we are to expect, and, as God’s ambassadors, to manifest on earth an example of life as it is in heaven.
Episode 88: Called To Love In Jesus Name
What the world needs now is love, sweet love, right? But how can we love in a way that actually impacts each of our little corners of the world? Human love can only go so far, but there is a love that Jesus had that we are called to be ambassadors of. Listen as we discuss what it really means to love in Jesus’ name.
Episode 87: Sarah Called Him Lord
Sarah was a woman who is revered in the Bible as someone others should emulate. What did she mean when she called Abraham “lord”? What bearing, if any, does this have on us in this time? Listen as we discuss the amazing revelation of Sarah calling her husband “lord.”
Episode 86: The Fullness of Christ
Scripture tells us that we are destined to be transformed into the fullness and stature of Christ. But what does that look like? Do we just get better at “being good”? Or is there more to the concept of walking in the fullness of Christ than we have understood? Listen as we discuss this amazing revelation of walking in the highest calling we can. . .
Episode 85: The War Against Divine Love
The Bible tells us that our battles are not against flesh and blood, but against spiritual darkness. And the greatest attack of spiritual darkness seems to be against the Love of God, flowing through His people. Are you called to be with a group or a person who you know God has connected you to, yet you feel there is a battle against your unity? Listen as we discuss the very real war against divine love.
Episode 84: The Former Things
There are many reasons why God instructs us to forget the former things. Sometimes its because difficult things have happened to us, and they are not what God intended. Sometimes its because we have made mistakes that we have a hard time forgiving ourselves for, and sometimes its because we have had incorrect perceptions of God that need to be let go of. Listen as we discuss the powerful freedom of forgetting the former things.
Episode 83: God’s Domain
In Him we live and move and have our being, according to the Bible. That “being” is what Jesus prayed for in the book of John: that we would be one, and He would be in us and God would be in Him. Together, as a symbiotic unit, we walk with God in His domain, moving as He moves, and going where He goes. Listen as we discuss this “radical” idea of how to live in God’s domain.
Episode 82: An Hour In God’s Love
Fear is at the core of so many of our struggles: Anxiety, depression, discouragement, jealousy. . .And there are many ways the world offers to relieve us of our fears. But the true remedy for fear is God’s love, because He IS love, and He says that perfect love casts out fear. Listen as we discuss the beauty of spending even one hour in God’s perfect love, and the benefits that result from it.
Episode 81: An Hour In God’s Presence
Often, as believers, we seek God in other people’s writings and in sitting under others’ teachings. But the way Jesus found God was to meet with Him one on one and be drawn into His presence. When He taught others, it was out of His personal experience with His Father, and He spoke profound truths that could not be taught Him by any man. As Jesus’ followers, who have His Spirit living in us, this is the way we learn the most about God, too: By sitting in His presence. Listen as we talk about what one hour in God’s presence can mean to us.
Episode 80: The Breath Of God
Sometimes God feels so far away – like we need a spaceship to the stars in order to reach Him and His kingdom. But Jesus taught us that when we receive Him and His Spirit, the kingdom of God is within us: As close as our very breath. God longs for us to know Him in that close, intimate way, and the fact that the very breath of God is within us is a powerful truth, the understanding of which can change our lives.
Episode 79: There’s No Place God Would Rather Be
A beautiful temple built just for Him, a church service full of worshiping saints, a lovely, serene forest of animals and plants that honor Him: Where would God most like to be? Listen as we discuss what may be a surprising discovery of just where the heart and Spirit of God desire to dwell the most.
Episode 78: Four Keys To A Firm Foundation In God
If a house is to stand firm, especially through difficulties, it needs to have a firm foundation. The same is true in our Christian faith and walk with God. What do we need to stand on in order to be sure we have a firm foundation as we walk with God through this life? Listen as we discuss the foundation of His Spirit and the four legs of faith we can rest on to hold us up – even in trying times.
Episode 77: The Gifts Of The Holy Spirit
The New Testament talks about the gifts of the Holy Spirit that God imparts to believers. Where do these gifts originate? What is their purpose? And is it important that we partake of them? Listen as we discuss exciting new revelation about the earnest of our inheritance that God has blessed us with. . .
Episode 76: Physical Expression Of Divine Love
We are the Body of Christ, the same Christ that touched the lepers to make them whole, rather than healing them from afar like so many people would have expected him to, and in the way He did heal many others. Are physical expressions of love necessary? Are they important to God? Listen as we discuss the beautiful truth about how God wants to love His people. . .
Episode 75: Sowing The Seeds Of Love
Sometimes the task of loving others as God desires seems overwhelming. What is our part, and how can we love the way He does? But since His yoke is easy and His burden is light, it follows that obeying Him in being vessels of His love would be that way, too. Listen as we discuss the beautiful task of sowing seeds of love.
Episode 74: How To Connect With God
Knowing ABOUT God is good. But knowing GOD is how we are designed to live. It isn’t enough to study about Him, we need to connect with Him in order to have the amazing, positive impact of His life merged with ours. But how do we do that? Is there a “secret formula” or some steps we need to go through to be able to connect with God in a very real way? It’s not as hard as you think. . .listen as we discuss how to connect to God.
Episode 73: God’s Divine Love Is This World’s Answer
What a crazy world we live in. What is the answer to the crises we face all over the earth? The answer to the world’s problems is not a political ruling or social activation activities – the hope and change we all seek is found in a spiritual experience of divine love, as it fills each of us and flows out of us to those around us. Listen as we discuss the beautiful gift God desperately desires to pour out on you and the whole world. . . .
Episode 72: God Lives Outside The Box
A God that is beyond our comprehension is intimidating to most of us. Consequently, the tendency is for us to create a “box” to put Him in that makes us feel comfortable, based on our understanding of how we think He moves. But God’s thoughts are above our thoughts, and His ways are above our ways, so is it possible for us to contain Him – even in our minds? Listen as we discuss the idea that God lives outside the box. . .
Episode 71: The Other Side of Obedience
What is it that makes it such a challenge for us to obey God sometimes? Is it not trusting Him? Wondering where obedience will lead us? Being unwilling to give up our own desires? It’s actually an amazing and fulfilling destination! Listen as we discuss the beautiful land that is available to us – but only when we cross over to the other side of obedience.
Episode 70: That Which Every Joint Supplies
Just like a human body can’t function very well if all its joints are not in working order, so, too, is the body of Christ. We can’t live very comfortably without our knee joint, nor can a knee survive on its own, so why do we feel that as members of Christ’s body, we are any different? What is our value to the whole picture Christ is painting in our world today, and how can we live to our fullest? Listen as we discuss this powerful truth: The Body of Christ is held together by all of us.
Episode 69: God Blesses What He Authors
What is our assurance that following God in what He leads us to will be worth it? Because He blesses what He authors! All that God plans for us and our lives will lead to blessing – even if there is a season of suffering involved. Watching for and expecting God’s blessings in our lives is one of the many ways we can rest in the peace and comfort He wants for us. His plans are always best. Listen as we discuss why. . .
Episode 68: Be The Object Of God’s Love
Everyone needs to feel loved. We all love to be the object of someone’s affection. But where do we draw that love and affection from in an imperfect world of imperfect love? Listen as we discuss how and why to be an object of God’s love in a world that is full of fear.
Episode 67: You’re My Kind of Church
God wants us to not forsake assembling together: The purpose of church is to gather with Him and other believers. But what kind of church is the best? Where can we find the place where we can really connect with God and His people? Listen as we discuss the amazing revelation of what kind of church is best. . . .
Episode 66: Why Direct Experience With God Is Important
God has made a way for us to come directly to Him and experience Him personally. Does this matter? Is it important to have a direct experience with Him, or can we just hear Him through other people? In these uncertain times, experiencing God directly is more important than ever . .. listen as we discuss why.
Episode 65: Let God Do What He Wants
In a world that seems full of chaos at times, the temptation to want to control our own lives is very high. But are we the best judges of how the things that affect us need to be handled? Are we equipped to make the best choices in a world where so much of what is happening goes beyond our understanding? In this podcast, we discuss the importance of God doing what He wants in our lives. . .and how to let Him do just that.
Episode 64: Breaking the Cycle of Bad Relationships
So many of us get stuck in repeating mistakes of the past. Often we leave a bad relationship just to fall into another one that ends up just like the one we left. Does it have to be this way? Is there a way out of this destructive and painful loop? Listen as we discuss the beauty of God’s plans for relationships and how He can guide us out of this cycle.
Episode 63: Living Beyond Reason
We are trained to make decisions about our lives by the logic of our natural reasoning. The “gut feelings” we rely on as children are not what we rely on when we “mature”. It seems there comes a point, even in our Christian lives, where reason and logic become the dominant forces. But is this how God intends us to live? Is the path to the higher life in Christ one of reason – or beyond it? Listen as we discuss the beautiful things that are within our reach when we live beyond reason. . .
Episode 62: Love One Another
The book of Romans tells us that when we love one another we fulfill all of the law. Jesus spoke similarly. It’s not just a recommendation, but it’s the way we are called to live. What kind of love is God calling us to? What does it look like and, more importantly, how can we possibly love people the way God wants us to – especially when some people seem so unlovable? In this podcast we discuss the kind of love we are called to share and the beautiful way God has created us to receive it and share it.
Episode 61: Dare To Be Different
To be “holy” is to be “called out” – we are meant to be different. But being different can mean a lot of things, including losing the favor of those around us, or pursuing things that are not standard. But does God want us to settle for being “standard” – a part of the generally accepted model? In what ways is God asking us to be different? Listen as we discuss the daring topic of being asked to be different.
Episode 60: What Is Your Calling?
Sometimes it seems hard to know exactly what God is calling us to. Is there a “ministry title” attached to what He is asking of me? Am I in His will in the choices I am making? Most of us what to be sure we are walking in all He has for us, but how easy is it to know what our calling is? Listen as we discuss the beautiful ways God makes it clear what He is calling us to.
Episode 59: You Don’t Have To be Perfect
It’s hard to serve a perfect God. We know He wants us to be “righteous”, but there is realistically no way we can do that on our own. And most of us feel we are too imperfect to even approach God. But how perfect do we need to be in order to to come to God? What level of goodness is He expecting us to achieve before we come to Him for salvation and help? Listen as we discuss the beautiful reality that, in order to come to God, He says we don’t have to be perfect.
Episode 58: When God Comes To Your Temple
Jesus performed a carefully planned cleansing of the Jewish Temple when He was on earth. It belonged to His Father and had become misaligned from its original intent. The Bible says we are now the Temple of God, and when we become misaligned from our Father’s will for us, will Jesus cleanse our temple, too? If so, what does that look or feel like? Is it something we can welcome into our spiritual journey? Listen as we discuss this life-changing concept. . .
Episode 57: Finish The Race Well
It’s easy to become weary in well doing when we are serving God. But that’s not His intention, nor is it necessary. God encourages us to finish the race with just as much vigor as when we started – but how do we do that? Listen as we share some secrets as to how we can finish the race well and not become weary!
Episode 56: For The Joy Set Before Us
All of us endure trials; some seasons of life are just plain difficult. How do we live through such times? What should our focus be as we await God’s deliverance – which WILL come? Listen as we discuss the beautiful promise and wonderful tool of doing what Jesus did as He faced the cross: Keeping our eyes on the joy set before us.
Episode 55: A Call To Be Prophets Of Love
A prophet is often someone who heralds a move of God or speaks God’s Word on His behalf. What is God’s most powerful Word to this generation? And who are those who are called to herald it on His behalf? Listen as we discuss the importance of the call to be a prophet of love, and how you may be able to answer this call yourself.
Episode 54: How To Receive A Hundredfold Blessing God’s Way
There are some things Jesus promised that, if sacrificed for Him, He would repay 100-fold. This is not just a one to one payback, but a 100-fold return in this life and the life to come. What does that repayment look like? How do we receive it? And is the return He promises worth what He may ask us to sacrifice? Listen as we discuss this beautiful promise of Jesus to us when we give Him our all.
Episode 53: Living By Revelation
Jesus said man was to live by every word that proceeded from the mouth of God. What is this revelation that God speaks to us, and how are we to live in the light of that revelation? Is this different than the way Christians typically walk with God? Listen as we discuss the ways we can experience the joys of living in the the revelation of God.
Episode 52: Efficiencies of the Holy Spirit
Wouldn’t it be great if we could know the future? If we could be in the best possible position for anything that comes our way? If we could focus on only what we knew we were supposed to be doing, trusting that someone will be taking care of everything else? How efficiently this world and our lives would operate if someone who had a 360-degree view of our lives and everything that affects us could direct us accordingly. This is exactly the efficiency of the Holy Spirit. Listen as we talk about this exciting aspect available in the believer’s life..
Episode 51: How God Speaks To Us
We all want to hear from God; the idea of the Creator of the universe speaking directly to us to encourage and guide us is something we are created to desire, because it was God’s idea first. And Jesus said His sheep will hear His voice. But how does God speak? What does His voice sound like? Is there more than one way we can hear from Him? Listen as we discuss the amazing adventure of discovering how God speaks to us.
Episode 50: Abundant Love For Christians
It seems we most often resonate on one end or the other of the concepts of abundance and scarcity. Scarcity or lack comes from a place of fear, whereas abundance comes from a place of love. When we experience oneness with God, there is always plenty of time, resources, energy, and especially love. Listen as we discuss what we can expect when living in the Divine Love of an Abundant God.
Episode 49: God Wants To Hug You
How does God feel about you? Sometimes we think He sits “up in the sky” with a stick in hand, ready to smack us when we mess up. Does He want to bring bad things upon us? Is He frustrated and angry about how much we sin? Or is His heart to draw us near to Him in compassion and grace? Listen as we discuss the beautiful truth that God wants to hug you. . .
Episode 48: Epic Christianity!
Most of us want to do and be something that makes an impact in our world. But sometimes it seems the Christian life is boring. Is that how God intends it to be? Or is there more than we imagine waiting for us as we step into the fullness of all we are called to do? Listen as we discuss the exciting idea of Epic Christianity.
Episode 47: A Safe Place To Love
Love can be scary. So many things keep us from getting close enough to people to allow them to love us or for us to love them. But what if there is a place of love that makes it easy to be vulnerable and open while knowing we will be protected and safe from harm? Listen as we discuss the safe place we can love.
Episode 46: Automatic Blessings
So often we seek after ways to earn God’s favor and blessings. But is there a way we can live – a place we can go – to receive God’s blessings automatically? Listen as we discuss this exciting idea. . .
Episode 45: Perfect Love
What makes love perfect? Is it never allowing our own imperfect love to mix with God’s? And how can a perfect love be received by those us who feel so unworthy because of our own imperfections? Listen as we discuss the beautiful truth of the perfect love available to us – and to others through us.
Episode 44: Hide Yourself In God’s Love
Description: In this uncertain time we live in, so few places really feel safe. But the one place that God promises casts out our fear is His perfect love. Listen as we discuss how to hide ourselves in the safety of God’s amazing love.
Episode 43: Why Not Ask God First?
Description: We often go through life consulting God on major issues, but taking the little things of our lives into our own hands. Do we allow room for God to interrupt or rewrite our daily to-do list? Do we earnestly desire to know what His will is in every detail of our lives? Do we think He even cares enough to give our lives that much attention? Listen as we answer these questions and more. . .
A Episode 42: A Better Way To Minister
Description: So many pastors and church leaders are suffering from stress and burnout. Too many people are going without personal ministry in the Body of Christ and in the world. Is there a better way to reach people? A better way to share the love of God? Listen as we discuss an idea of a better way to minister. . .
Episode 41: Higher Ground
Description: There is a place God wants to bring us up to – a place where we can see things from His perspective. It’s a place of resting in and viewing everyone and everything around us from His love. Listen as we discuss the amazing life that is available to us from this higher ground.
Episode 40: Who Is Your Real Family?
Description: Sometimes following God brings us in opposition to those we care about; our church family or biological family may not understand the work He is doing in and through us. Jesus experienced the same thing as He obeyed His Father’s voice. Knowing that God desires us to connect with people and that He cares about our relationships with others, who is the family He has chosen for us? Listen as we share insight and experience about this challenging topic. . .
Episode 39: Four Vital Aspects of the Tabernacle Blessing
Description: What is the Tabernacle Blessing? Why is it important to me? In this discussion, we highlight four vital aspects of this move of God and encourage you to not miss what God is doing! This can be such a blessing – to you!
Episode 38: A Baptism Of Love
Description: Most who have experienced salvation through Christ know the change in themselves after that experience. Likewise, most who have experienced an infilling of the Holy Spirit also have sensed a closer, more powerful walk since that time. But a third, just as vital experience is coming upon the church. It has been prophesied about through many, and it is a demonstration of God’s incredible love for us. Listen as we discuss the incredible baptism of love.
Episode 37: A Higher Love
Description: The Bible tells us that perfect love casts out fear. But we also know there are many types of love. What kind of love is it that can drive away the fear and darkness of so many of our lives right now? What is that perfect love? Listen as we discuss the beautiful concept of a higher love. . .
Episode 36: The Connected Church
Description: If we are the body of Christ, we are all connected to one another in some way. But what does Christ’s body look like now, and is that the way God intends it to look? Listen as we discuss the idea of being a connected church and what it should look like.
Episode 35: Being Christ Like In The Time Of Covid-19
Description: Everywhere we turn right now, there are those who are telling us how to best protect ourselves and others during this pandemic crisis. Listen as we offer advice on following the Holy Spirit, resisting the attacks of the enemy, and the abounding opportunities to be Christlike in this global crisis.
Episode 34: What Does A Functioning Body Of Christ Look Like?
Description: As believers, we are the Body of Christ. But how does that body function? What makes it different from the world and what makes it usable by God in today’s world? Listen as we discuss what the functioning Body of Christ should look like.
Episode 33: How God Really Wants To Love US
Description: God loves us. We hear that often. But how does He want to show that love to us? Are we free to receive His love in whatever way He chooses to demonstrate it to us? Listen as we discuss this idea and attempt to explain how God wants to love us.
Episode 32: The Last Eve
Description: We read in God’s Word that Adam brought sin into the world, and Jesus, as the “last Adam” set things right again. But Eve was an integral part of Adam and what he was called to do. So if Jesus is the last Adam, is it important to have a “last Eve”? If so, who might she be? Listen as we discuss this interesting concept. . . .
Episode 31:Lose Your Lunch!
Description: One day, a young boy shared his lunch with a visiting teacher. In that moment, he risked losing it and walking away hungry. But the person he had given his lunch to was sovereign over the universe, and He multiplied the boy’s lunch to feed over 5000 people – including the boy – with food left over! That same sovereign God can do the same with absolutely everything we give Him – we just need to be able to take that risk. Listen as we discuss the important concept of “losing your lunch”.
Episode 30: How To Overcome Sin
Description: Feeling like you’re stuck in cycles of sin that you just can’t overcome? You’re not alone, so don’t be discouraged! In this episode, we talk about how God views sin, and share the exciting provisions He has made to help us get past the areas that seem to constantly trip us up.
Episode 29: Confirmed
Description: At the times God speaks to you and encourages you to move in a direction that is uncharted territory, it’s easy to be trepidatious about moving forward, especially when you feel alone in what God is calling you to. If you’re in that boat today, listen as we provide some encouragement to you so that you may know that what you are hearing from God can be confirmed.
Episode 28: How To Get Close To God
Description: Are you feeling distant from God? Or more distant than you used to? Are you finding it hard to pray or clearly discern His voice? Listen as we discuss some possible reasons why you may be feeling far from Him, and what you can do to get close to God.
Episode 27: God’s Economy
Description: Once a young boy brought a lunch with him to hear a Rabbi speak. When the large crowds following this teacher needed food, the boy offered his own lunch to help feed people – even though he had brought it for only himself. What happened through his giving was a miracle – over 5000 people were fed, with the equivalent of 10 lunches left over – for him and others. This is God’s economy! Listen as we discuss the beautiful and often not recognized principles that God employs to meet our needs when we operate in His love.
Episode 26: It’s All About Your Belly
Description: Ever get a “gut feeling” about something? Ever follow that gut feeling instead of your natural minded thoughts and realized it was God speaking to you? That’s because your spirit, that connects with God’s spirit, resides in your belly. Listen as we discuss this important piece of information that can help us clearly discern when the Spirit of God may be communicating with us.
Episode 25: Divine Divorce For Christians, Part III – Unless The Lord Builds The House
Description: We all spend time building things in our lives that God doesn’t. And He says that when we do, whatever we are building is in vain – worth nothing. Can this apply to a marriage that He didn’t intend as well? Listen as we talk about the important of building only the things in our lives that God wants built.
Episode 24: The Original Morality
Description: The idea of morality is as warped as the rest of the world since the fall in the Garden. Is life meant to be a constant struggle to be the morally good people we think we should be, or is there a better way to line up with the perfection God wants for us – and what does that perfection look like? Listen as we discuss these questions and more and gain a clearer understanding of God’s original morality.
Episode 23: 2020 Vision
Description: This new year of 2020 is a perfect time to set our sights on things above and ask God to help give us clarity of vision! What He sees is not what we see, but gaining His perspective is the key to seeing clearly. Listen as we discuss how to gain clear vision – His vision – for this new year.
Episode 22: Why You Are Loved
Description: Feeling unlovable? We all do at times. Circumstances and people throughout our lifetimes can often make us feel like we are only worthy of love if we DO something or ARE something. This idea often affects our view of God’s love for us, too. But the truth is, you are passionately and unconditionally loved – just because you are YOU. Listen as we discuss why. . .
Episode 21: What Is Sound Doctrine?
Description: So many ideas in the spiritual world. . .and so many of us are so sure that what we believe is THE truth. But how do we know what is “sound” doctrine, when so many people end up on the opposite sides of an opinion – even while standing firmly on the Word of God? Listen as we discuss the pitfalls of doctrine, and the way we can be sure that we are in line with the work of His Spirit.
Episode 20: God Uncensored
Description: Can we hear God clearly, without censoring Him by our own expectations of what we think He would say? If we could, what would He speak into our lives and through us into the lives of others? Listen as we discuss the value of hearing God uncensored.
Episode 19: Encouraging Those Who Are Spirit Led
Description: One of the most difficult things to deal with is knowing you are being led by God’s Spirit and getting resistance from other people. Is that to be expected or not? Listen as we discuss how following the leading of the Spirit sometimes causes difficulty and how to be encouraged to be obedient in the face of opposition.
Episode 18: How To Find Your Divine Mate
Description: Everyone needs to be loved. And most of us long for that special someone to fill the voids in or lives and complete us. Does God have someone like that in store for you? And if so, how can you be sure to find him or her? Listen as we discuss the concept of divine mates and how we may be able to find them.
Episode 17: Stop Looking At The Rafters
Description: Where can God be found? Though seeking Him in nature or in a prayer closet is good, there’s a better place to find Him, and its not looking up into the rafters of a church building! Listen as we discuss where God has chosen to dwell in this season and how we can find Him in the greatest measure.
Episode 16: The Importance Of Being Led By The Holy Spirit
Description: Can our natural minds get in the way of where God may be leading? Listen as we discuss how, in our troubled times and uncertain future, it is more important than ever that we learn to be led by the Spirit of God.
Episode 15: Divine Divorce for Christians part 2
Description: God is sovereign. But is He always sovereign over our marriages, too? Listen as we continue our discussion about divine divorce, citing Sarah and Hagar’s story as one picture of God’s heart in this issue.
Episode 14: The Power Of Kindness
Description: It’s hard to be kind when we are treated poorly, and so often we equate being kind with being weak. It’s hard to see the merit of responding to someone in that way when they don’t seem to deserve it. But listen as we discuss how to walk in a Godly type of kindness that is not weak, but truly very powerful.
Episode 13: Why Does My Life Suck? (and what you can do about it)
Description: Sometimes life just sucks. We’ve all been there. And when it does, that should tell us something. Listen as we share about the importance of finding the root of our trials and turning our lives into an experience of joy and peace.
Description: Is spiritually connecting to one another important? What makes it something we need to not only take seriously, but something we need to pursue? Listen as we answer these questions and discuss the amazing calling to connect with each other.
Episode 11: The Coming Move Of God In Missoula, Montana
Description: God is moving. And the work of His hand so often looks different than what we expect. But when we follow the leading of His Spirit, He can work through us to create a picture of what He wants to accomplish. Listen as we testify of a personal experience of God working in such a way.
Episode 10: Unconditional Love
Description: We all long to be loved unconditionally. Is that kind of love really obtainable? God loves us with a love that knows no bounds, and He can cause that love to flow through us to each other. Listen as we discuss living in and expressing to others the unconditional love of God.
Episode 9: Divine Divorce For Christians Part 1
Description: God hates divorce. But is it ever His will that people separate from the one they are married to? Listen as we discuss this controversial issue and whether or not God would ever lead a person to divorce his or her spouse.
Episode 8: What Are Spiritual Connections?
Description: God’s love connects us to one another through His Spirit as He leads. But what do these connections look like? Listen and discover the exciting truth God wants us to know about loving Him by connecting with each other!
Episode 7: How Do You Know You Are Hearing God’s Voice?
Description: So many voices out there. . . which one is God’s? Is He really speaking to me? And can I know for sure it is Him? Listen as we talk about the reality of hearing His voice and how to know whether or not it is Him.
Episode 6: What Is The Tabernacle Blessing?
Description: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles: The three feasts the Jews were required to celebrate in Jerusalem each year. Passover and Pentecost have had their spiritual fulfillment in the history of the church, and we are now stepping into the spiritual fulfillment of Tabernacles. What is it? Why is it so amazing? And what does it have to do with you? Listen as we talk about this incredible blessing from God.
Episode 5: First Contact
Description: What happens when we encounter people who have a different world view than we do? Like aliens we meet for the first time, sometimes our prejudged opinions keep us separated from those God wants to connect us to. Listen as we discuss the way of love to employ when we meet those who differ from us.
God’s Love Club is a podcast about the Tabernacle Experience. The Tabernacle Experience, which we call the Tabernacle Blessing, is a follow on to Salvation and Spirit Baptism. In fact, it is the third experience that God wants to give Christians to aid them in becoming like His son, Jesus Christ.
The unity of the Body of Christ comes through the Tabernacle Experience. Coming to know one God is what helps us to all see eye to eye. Since we all experience the Holy Spirit as He truly is, our individual understandings tend toward consensus. Thus, there is no need for denominations, doctrine, or systematic theologies.
When you listen to God’s Love Club, take what makes sense to you and use it for your benefit. It is not necessary to agree with everything in order to realize some good out of what we say. Remember, your walk with God is ultimately between you and Him. Take what seems profitable and don’t worry about the rest.