National News story: Indianapolis Woman turns away robber through prayer
Watch here: http://cosmos.bcst.yahoo.com/up/player/popup/?cl=16228041
In August 2004, the Lord accosted me with a question out of Isaiah 66:1-"Heaven is my throne, the earth is my footstool.Where is the House you will build for me? Where will my resting place be?"
I remember answering..."YES LORD! I'll build your house!" Since I was in Nashville serving in a broken community on the east side, I assumed it would be there. I never thought that it would be a physical building and I always viewed the "resting place" as one found in human hearts and the homes in which they live.
In April 2007, I was invited to speak at the Sunday morning service of a church in North Carolina. As I was seeking the Lord's direction about what to say, His spirit gently whispered, "Look at the Star." As I responded to this direction, I began to look outside of the windows and up at the sky. The only "star" that I saw was the sun and I thought, "Well, I don't really see any stars but that one is big!?" Again I heard the whisper, "Look at the Star." In wonder, my eyes landed on a copy of our local newspaper "The Indianapolis Star." Suddenly, as if I had popped on some 3-D glasses and commenced to watching a three dimensional Disney creation, the words underneath the title of the Indy Star LEAPED to the forefront of my vision: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is Liberty." 2 Corinthians 3:17.
WOW!I grew up in the Bible belt and moved to Indy from a place known as "the Buckle of the Bible belt", but I have NEVER seen a scripture printed under the title of a local mainstream newspaper, much less the largest publication in the state! I was completely and utterly astounded. THEN the Lord said to me, "SEE, I have placed My Name on this city." He then began to show me many other signs and miraculous wonders that point to the reality of this fact. The newspaper heading is a literal sign that the Lord of Heaven and Earth has chosen this city (among others) to be known among the nations as a city where the Lord actually DWELLS.
Another sign was when the Indianapolis Colts played one of the most astounding playoff games in NFL history (or at least that I had ever witnessed) and orchestrated a miraculous win over the New England Patriots to advance to the Super Bowl in 2006. A close friend of mine who was on the field playing in that game, shared with our church that he could literally feel the prayers and the power of God on the field at a certain point. Is it possible that God would use a bunch of overpaid men in tights, who are worshiped and idolized by nations, to bring everlasting Glory to His Name? Upon accepting the prized Vince Lombardi trophy, Tony Dungy exalted the name of the Lord. Not only that, but the city of Indianapolis and the name of the Lord was used in the same sentence, on the stage of the world's largest sporting event. He has placed His name upon this city.
In 2008, I had another undeniable encounter with the King. In fact, I had one encounter that set forth a series of completely unexpected and humanly indescribable confrontations with the Eternal One. Encounters that would FOREVER change the lens through which I view life, ministry, and eternity. During one of these, Jesus asked me very clearly, "Jonathan, will you contend (fight,labor,spend oneself) for My Name in this city?" Moved to tears and gripped with His burning desire for a place, a whole city as a dwelling or "resting place", I responded with a groaning "YES"!
His voice then boomed through Jeremiah 29:7, challenging me to contend for His name -
"Seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper."
As I began to learn how to operate under this new command through an intense season of fasting and prayer, the Holy Spirit began to teach me innumerable mysteries.
He would lead me to certain areas of the city to share and proclaim the Gospel.He gave me blueprints to begin rebuilding the devastated places in our city, starting on the East Side. He would set up appointments for me to meet with prominent individuals, city, church, and business leaders. But in the midst of this season of intense biblical revelation,accelerated establishment, and unmerited favor; one thing began to resound clearly, GOD IS RAISING UP WHOLE CITIES UNTO HIMSELF and INDIANAPOLIS IS ONE OF THEM. While clarifying my mandate as a builder, He confirmed our corporate destiny even more by showing me what the name of this city will be called when it's all said and done: "And the name of the city shall be called, "The Lord is There". Ezekial 48:35
Just in the past four weeks I have witnessed incredible wonders. In Broad Ripple, I watched as an 18-year old boy came back from a drug induced "trip on acid" and into the urgent reality of his dire need for a Savior. My friends and I witnessed him fall to the ground and get set free under the sanctifying power of the Holy Spirit, vowing Himself to be a Son of God forever, and chucking every other entanglement that he had in his pockets, away and into the McDonald's parking lot in which we were standing. I saw him under the influence of Jesus, check himself into rehab the next morning.I also just witnessed him break up with his girlfriend, be reconciled with his mom, move back in with his family, and hear a clear Word directly from the Lord about what to do with the rest of his life.
I have witnessed a single mother of five girls, having played the role of both mother and father, walk one of her daughters down the aisle for the first time, and give her away in marriage to a true man of God. I could feel God's pleasure as the two openly shared the fact that they were celebrating their virginity and had chosen to let God be glorified in their bodies until marriage, so that He could be glorified in their union.
Finally, we have witnessed a robbery take place that turned into a moment of salvation for two individuals, that has now gone before the eyes of the nation. Again proclaiming the Glory of the Lord and announcing the placement of His NAME and His FAME upon this City. This is not a news story to be taken lightly or written off as another feel good, warm-fuzzy. Just like the story of a police officer who was shot in the head back in 2008, but survived miraculously, as the city held prayer vigils on the hospital lawn...this story is a clear wonder from the Lord and a clarion invitation to the body of Christ in Indianapolis to spend ourselves in the place of prayer. Never before has a city been so poised for a measurable move of God. This is happening, and it is real. God is raising up this city to be a light among the nations for what happens when God breaks in and chooses a whole city as a dwelling or "resting place".
This reality does not replace the fact that Jerusalem is the Holy City of the Lord, but these cities are to be a prophetic sign; foreshadowing the quickly approaching King and the Kingdom that is coming to be established eternally on the earth. As the Church at Indianapolis, we cannot continue to work without a clear understanding and agreement of what our work is unto. Therefore, let us pray and ask the Giver of Life for eyes to see, and ears to hear what the Spirit is saying to the Church in this hour. May the power of God loose the enemies hold on the hearts of the broken in this city and may His fame continue to spread throughout the land. Amen.
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Saturday, July 4, 2009
What Moves God
Recently during a large worship meeting, a series of interactions occurred between me and Holy Spirit that eventually led to a pastor who had been sitting in the row behind to ask me a powerful question. He simply asked me, “What moves God?”
At that particular moment, I was deeply under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Before I could really even pause and consider the question, what burst out of my mouth was: “LOVE!” The pastor, in a somewhat startled state of confusion, muttered: ”No..No…that’s not it. What REALLY moves God?” I replied, ”Faith? You’re expecting me to say faith? THAT’S IT.. he replied zealously.. FAITH MOVES GOD!”
Although this idea is popularly preached and extensively written about, it ultimately reflects our gross misunderstanding of the Father and the very foundation of His ways. Now don’t get me wrong, faith is essential. But the more important faith question that must be asked before we can determine what moves God is, “What do we have faith in and who or what does faith move?” Most everyone has heard the most quoted faith scripture in Christendom found in Matthew 17:20 about the mustard seed and moving mountains. If anything, this is referring to the Mt. Kilimanjaro of fear/unbelief that separates us from trusting in God’s zealous desire to move on our behalf. It’s not enough to believe that nothing is impossible for God to do. We have to crush the mountain of doubting that He actually delights in moving on our behalf! This is precisely why this verse instructs us that after you’ve spoken to that mountain...”nothing will be impossible for YOU!” We will then be compelled to walk daily with Jesus on top of the sea that the mountain was cast into.
Hebrews 11 is a powerful narrative of what faith has empowered man to do. But faith has never been described scripturally as the source of empowerment for God. The scripture that most clearly reveals the source of God the Father’s motivation in any action toward humanity is found in the first phrase of the most memorized verse of the Bible:
“For God so LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…” (John 3:16)
WOW! It’s the LOVE of God that moves Him to act on our behalf in times of trouble! We see this theme of immutable love established throughout the old testament (such as Psalm 44:26) and up through the book of Revelation, culminating in the beautiful marriage of the Bridegroom and His Bride! LOVE moves HIM while our FAITH in that unmatched and unfailing LOVE (Goodness, faithfulness, kindness, etc.) moves US!
6And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:16-18)
Passages of scripture such as Matthew 7:5-13 where Jesus heals the centurion’s servant and Luke 8:43-50 about the woman who was healed from twelve years of bleeding are all indications of faith in the goodness or LOVINGKINDNESS of God, not in any action or measure of faith that the human possessed. The centurion knew that if he could simply make Jesus aware of the situation at his home; He would be moved with compassion and could simply send a word of healing to his servant. The woman knew that if she touched him, the overwhelming supernatural force of God’s love would move on her behalf.
One of the places where this is most commonly misunderstood (and therefore preached in error) is in the areas of finances and physical healing. This errant preaching is often recognized by the emphasis of our ability to move God through our human actions, sacrifices, vows, seeds, etc. as opposed to the preaching of God’s unfailing and unconditional love towards us.
For example, the large meeting that I mentioned earlier was with a very well known “faith healer”. The message that he preached was out of Psalm 66, about making vows and bringing a “burnt offering” to the Lord in order to show your faith and initiate the move of God on your behalf. As he gave an altar call, he began to encourage the people to fulfill their vow by giving $10k, $5k, $1k, or $100 donations to his ministry. As I watched these people who were in desperate need of healing, move to the altar…I heard the Holy Spirit say, “the price has already been paid. Isaiah 53.” Righteous anger gripped me because I knew that faith in Jesus…the sacrificial lamb and the one who was sent from the Father because of love, and slain to become the last “burnt offering” on behalf of humanity, had not been preached. What HAD been preached, was that our act of faith is what would cause God to be moved to bring healing or deliverance on our behalf. The foul spirit of extortion had entered the meeting..the same one which turned the house of God into a den of thieves,and the same spirit that Jesus addressed in Matthew 21:12-14.
God in His great love has warned us that this type of misunderstanding and manipulation of biblical doctrine, would be commonplace in the last days and that men “would not suffer sound doctrine”(2 Timothy 4:3). Many would argue that this man must not be in error because people were still miraculously healed. But what we understand about God is that He uses mankind in spite of themselves, not BECAUSE of their greatness or how “anointed” a particular person may be. This is how a scripture like Matthew 7:21-22 can be fulfilled:
22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
God moves and heals because He is ravished with love and He answers those who call on Him regardless of man. This is why men like a Ted Haggard or a Todd Bentley, can be used of God mightily for years…being celebrated by the Church, and yet be living in unprecedented moral compromise. What would have happened if those with a check in their spirit would have prayed for the exposure of sin and for repentance to happen BEFORE they were completely fallen?
Therefore, we are to be vigilant and watchful….correcting, exhorting, rebuking, and giving opportunity for men to repent (or change their mind/actions) while there is still time. Futhermore, when we have repented and examined our ways (Matt. 7:1-3), we must not be afraid to call out sin and call others to repentance no matter what platform this person may have. 1 Corinthians 2:15 says, “He that is spiritual, judges ALL things…” .Therefore, we are commanded to judge or “discern” rightly and to pray earnestly for this man and for other spiritual leaders in the earth to be preserved in the way of truth. Pray for the purification of the Bride and for the fear of the Lord to be established in our hearts, lest the lampstand be removed. Finally pray for a generation who will be bold and without compromise, to rise up in the authority of Christ and to have roots that grow deep into the soil of God’s jealous love. Let He who has an ear, hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the Church.
At that particular moment, I was deeply under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Before I could really even pause and consider the question, what burst out of my mouth was: “LOVE!” The pastor, in a somewhat startled state of confusion, muttered: ”No..No…that’s not it. What REALLY moves God?” I replied, ”Faith? You’re expecting me to say faith? THAT’S IT.. he replied zealously.. FAITH MOVES GOD!”
Although this idea is popularly preached and extensively written about, it ultimately reflects our gross misunderstanding of the Father and the very foundation of His ways. Now don’t get me wrong, faith is essential. But the more important faith question that must be asked before we can determine what moves God is, “What do we have faith in and who or what does faith move?” Most everyone has heard the most quoted faith scripture in Christendom found in Matthew 17:20 about the mustard seed and moving mountains. If anything, this is referring to the Mt. Kilimanjaro of fear/unbelief that separates us from trusting in God’s zealous desire to move on our behalf. It’s not enough to believe that nothing is impossible for God to do. We have to crush the mountain of doubting that He actually delights in moving on our behalf! This is precisely why this verse instructs us that after you’ve spoken to that mountain...”nothing will be impossible for YOU!” We will then be compelled to walk daily with Jesus on top of the sea that the mountain was cast into.
Hebrews 11 is a powerful narrative of what faith has empowered man to do. But faith has never been described scripturally as the source of empowerment for God. The scripture that most clearly reveals the source of God the Father’s motivation in any action toward humanity is found in the first phrase of the most memorized verse of the Bible:
“For God so LOVED the world, that He gave His only begotten Son…” (John 3:16)
WOW! It’s the LOVE of God that moves Him to act on our behalf in times of trouble! We see this theme of immutable love established throughout the old testament (such as Psalm 44:26) and up through the book of Revelation, culminating in the beautiful marriage of the Bridegroom and His Bride! LOVE moves HIM while our FAITH in that unmatched and unfailing LOVE (Goodness, faithfulness, kindness, etc.) moves US!
6And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him. 17In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him. 18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:16-18)
Passages of scripture such as Matthew 7:5-13 where Jesus heals the centurion’s servant and Luke 8:43-50 about the woman who was healed from twelve years of bleeding are all indications of faith in the goodness or LOVINGKINDNESS of God, not in any action or measure of faith that the human possessed. The centurion knew that if he could simply make Jesus aware of the situation at his home; He would be moved with compassion and could simply send a word of healing to his servant. The woman knew that if she touched him, the overwhelming supernatural force of God’s love would move on her behalf.
One of the places where this is most commonly misunderstood (and therefore preached in error) is in the areas of finances and physical healing. This errant preaching is often recognized by the emphasis of our ability to move God through our human actions, sacrifices, vows, seeds, etc. as opposed to the preaching of God’s unfailing and unconditional love towards us.
For example, the large meeting that I mentioned earlier was with a very well known “faith healer”. The message that he preached was out of Psalm 66, about making vows and bringing a “burnt offering” to the Lord in order to show your faith and initiate the move of God on your behalf. As he gave an altar call, he began to encourage the people to fulfill their vow by giving $10k, $5k, $1k, or $100 donations to his ministry. As I watched these people who were in desperate need of healing, move to the altar…I heard the Holy Spirit say, “the price has already been paid. Isaiah 53.” Righteous anger gripped me because I knew that faith in Jesus…the sacrificial lamb and the one who was sent from the Father because of love, and slain to become the last “burnt offering” on behalf of humanity, had not been preached. What HAD been preached, was that our act of faith is what would cause God to be moved to bring healing or deliverance on our behalf. The foul spirit of extortion had entered the meeting..the same one which turned the house of God into a den of thieves,and the same spirit that Jesus addressed in Matthew 21:12-14.
God in His great love has warned us that this type of misunderstanding and manipulation of biblical doctrine, would be commonplace in the last days and that men “would not suffer sound doctrine”(2 Timothy 4:3). Many would argue that this man must not be in error because people were still miraculously healed. But what we understand about God is that He uses mankind in spite of themselves, not BECAUSE of their greatness or how “anointed” a particular person may be. This is how a scripture like Matthew 7:21-22 can be fulfilled:
22Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' 23Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'
God moves and heals because He is ravished with love and He answers those who call on Him regardless of man. This is why men like a Ted Haggard or a Todd Bentley, can be used of God mightily for years…being celebrated by the Church, and yet be living in unprecedented moral compromise. What would have happened if those with a check in their spirit would have prayed for the exposure of sin and for repentance to happen BEFORE they were completely fallen?
Therefore, we are to be vigilant and watchful….correcting, exhorting, rebuking, and giving opportunity for men to repent (or change their mind/actions) while there is still time. Futhermore, when we have repented and examined our ways (Matt. 7:1-3), we must not be afraid to call out sin and call others to repentance no matter what platform this person may have. 1 Corinthians 2:15 says, “He that is spiritual, judges ALL things…” .Therefore, we are commanded to judge or “discern” rightly and to pray earnestly for this man and for other spiritual leaders in the earth to be preserved in the way of truth. Pray for the purification of the Bride and for the fear of the Lord to be established in our hearts, lest the lampstand be removed. Finally pray for a generation who will be bold and without compromise, to rise up in the authority of Christ and to have roots that grow deep into the soil of God’s jealous love. Let He who has an ear, hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying to the Church.
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