To my family and friends,
I was filled with joy and excitement as I prepared to go to AZ with my parents and children. I could not wait to be with all my family again, and still I can't!
As I was praying about my future a school kept coming up, the Ramp School of Ministry, http://theramp.org/school/ . God has given me much to share with others, and as I heard this message of Awakening a Generation, I felt a pulling to be involved. As a whole people are looking for something more than what we have, and the young generation is the same. They are sick of people being fake and offering opinions. They want truth. The want something to hold on to that will not only change themselves but those around them. They want to make a difference and to change their future. How better to serve God, then to help a young and hungry generation find hope and healing? And in the very midst of it all, I have been changed, AWAKENED, summoned to do something for others, even as I pray God will do for my children. I decided to send in my application, and I was accepted! I am so very excited about this new path! I will be going to school from August to May (the boys with me as well) and then I still plan on coming to AZ to work with my parents.
In this new adventure we have raised about $700, and have a fundraiser planned next week. I need $3000 to cover the two semesters I will be attending. I will work a part-time job for living expenses. I would ask that each of you pray for me on this new journey. I am used to having family around me, but I do know I need to do this for this season.
God has promised He will meet all our needs and I am confident He will meet my needs as I enter this new adventure. These are hard times we live in, and money can be very tight. I want to ask each of you to pray for me, pray that I am able to walk with faith and integrity, with no fear as I enter this new area, both geographical and spiritual. If the Lord puts on your heart to send something to add to our fundraisers, well! And if not, please keep me in your prayers for the next nine months. I want to run this course with faith and need all of my family and friends praying for me and with me.
Lisa, Zack and Josh
Saturday, June 25, 2011
Thursday, June 23, 2011
From Paulette Reed
Another word not from me, but so important to our times and seasons. Let us prepare and fight!
Paulette Reed: Restore the Roar
Call Unto MeOne morning in early June I was taking my "glory walk" and passed by a cell phone that was partially hidden in the grass. Strongly prompted to pick it up, I saw that the front was labeled "Common Cents Mobile." The back had no covering and no power source.
Holy Spirit began to speak to me about how we must rise up out of hiddenness and call on HIS POWER. He reminded me that God must be our source in ALL things...not just some things. As I continued to walk in the cool of the day, the Spirit of the Lord showed me that since He is love, we must keep fervent in our love for one another, because it's the love of our Bridegroom that covers a multitude of sins, both ours and others. Bottom line? Since the mobile unit had no covering, the power source was disconnected and the unit had become useless.
The Lord also showed me that the transference of wealth has begun, so we must be good stewards with much "common cents" and be ready in season and out. We must be "mobile." And yes, in case you're wondering, the "send" button was intact. We must remember that when it's activated we're on the family plan and Father knows best. HE will supply all our needs according to His riches in glory. And, we must believe that "the wealth of the sinner [finds its way eventually] into the hands of the righteous, for whom it was laid up" (Proverbs 13:22 AMP).
Today, let's redial and press into Jeremiah 33:3 where it says, "Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand)" (AMP).
Lion and Lioness, Arise!
We might ask ourselves, How do we connect with the great and mighty things of God? Are we cooperating with the Power Supply?
While itinerating in Ireland this spring, I repeatedly heard in my spirit, "Restore the roar, restore the roar!" Later in the tour I drove by huge billboards that said, "Bring Back the Roar!" Jaw-dropping moments! The signs were referring to rugby, but were extremely prophetic in nature. Having received prophetic insight in January indicating that the lions and lionesses would arise this year, the mandate to restore the roar did not surprise me. And, having two powerful encounters with the Lord this year, I knew marching orders had been released to the Body of Christ to arise and fiercely protect the young.
Remember the cell phone I picked up out of hiddenness? Well, it also said, "Shift!" So, it's time. The Lord truly wants to restore the roar to His people so we stand free from fear, so the righteous can be as bold as a lion for the sake of the Gospel.
In Genesis 49:9 we see the roar of praise (Judah) and we see the lions/lionesses are strong and courageous, but not necessarily raging. They have grown from a lion's whelp, having a little power, to becoming older lions, calm and quiet yet formidable to the enemy. They know their sphere of influence and peaceably enjoy what was received through victories. They're wise and crouched down as if to say, "Be still and know that I am God."
Perhaps it's time to "Listen! Listen to the roar of HIS voice, to the rumbling that comes from His mouth. He unleashes His lightning beneath the whole Heaven and sends it to the ends of the earth. After that comes the sound of His ROAR; He thunders with His majestic voice. When His voice resounds, He holds nothing back" (Job 37:2-4).
Righteous Territory
Since we know the righteous are as bold as lions, we might ask ourselves if we're living as such. Or, did our roar become weak at some point during our Christian walk? Maybe we need to look back for a moment. Not too long, of course, or we could become stuck, frozen in time like a pillar of salt. But, just a glance so we recognize what happened, knowing the next time a muzzle tries to manifest we can say, "Oh no. No way! I'm not fellowshipping with that lying spirit. He's come to steal, kill and destroy my roar for the Lord."
Could it be that the roar once conquered our spiritual territory until we prayed with fervor about something near and dear to our heart, only to find that the end result proved that God's ways are not our ways? Or perhaps we backed off when our world got turned upside down and we forgot it is only the Lord who puts our feet upon a rock and makes our way certain. Or maybe our roar became a purr (synonymous with murmur) due to neglect, unmet expectations, offense, slander, gossip, lust, bitterness, confusion...any sin for that matter. But isn't it great to know that no matter what happened, it's easy to restore the roar with repentance and humility?
Commands
Okay, back to the treasure I found on my "glory walk." Another thing I noticed about the cell phone was that the "commands" were clearly visible but didn't do anyone any good if they weren't activated.
As we're living out the end-time prophecy of Isaiah, scribed in chapter 60, verses 1-3, let's read what our function is during its fulfillment: "Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising."
Wow, that doesn't sound like a suggestion from God. It sounds like a "command." ARISE, SHINE! Shine as the darkness covers the earth. Shine NOW, for the Creator commanded light to shine out of the darkness, which says to me we will get lighter and lighter as HIS glory appears on us. Isn't it wonderful to know that Christ's perfect love decimates fear? Therefore, Love Himself is asking us to be fearless in the midst of darkness.
Remember earlier I mentioned two encounters I had recently had with the Lord? Well, in both of them I witnessed darkness. During the second encounter I could see myself in a big house with a large group of people. I was watching a man and a boy. The boy was around seven or eight years old. The man was sneaky as he pulled the boy's button down shirt away from the boy's neck and flicked his hot cigarette ashes on the boy's chest. I watched in horror. Then, the boy moved to the other side of the room. The man followed him and did it again, this time with an ugly grin on his face. It was as if the boy had been brainwashed into believing he could not, should not, show any pain or emotion. He would quietly shake the hot ashes from his shirt and remain standing like a statue.
Having witnessed enough, righteous anger rose up within me. I yelled out, "Excuse me, sir. Could you help me understand why you're abusing that young boy?" People scattered as if to run from confrontation. A woman zoomed by me in a wheelchair. A second time, louder, I said, "Excuse me, sir. Could you please help me understand why you're abusing that boy?" There were silent stares around the room. I walked over to the man, now sitting. I got right in his face and said, "Excuse me. Why are you abusing that child?" The man looked at me. His eyes were as big as saucers, filled with the fear of God. He bowed his head and said, "You reign in Heaven and on earth."
Of course, I realized he was not speaking to my flesh but to the Spirit of God in me...the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead. I realized his sin had found him out, as the Scriptures promise. My assignment to arise like a mother cub and protect the child was complete. I realized my authority as a lioness in the Kingdom.
If you're still here on this planet, you're here for a reason. God created YOU in His own image, not to be passive but to roar and have dominion on earth (see Genesis 1). You were created in the image of Christ to be His hands and feet, to follow His commands with joy, and to rule and reign as His ambassadors.
The End
A great end-time story: The "end" button on the mobile unit seemed just fine. I believe it can help people stay focused on a glorious ending, a wedding that will someday occur, so we can all live happily ever after with Christ. For we know it started in a garden with a wonderful, marvelous King. He spoke the Word and ruled and reigned over His Kingdom. He ruled over His people with true justice and righteousness. He loved His people so greatly that He actually covered them in His robes and His righteousness. He was very gracious and gave them some commands to live by so they would be very, very prosperous. He even included what to eat and what not to eat so they would be protected.
When the King's followers obeyed His commands, the King loved showering them with favor and blessing. But, when the people disobeyed His commands, it made the King very sad because He was sinless and could not bless sin. He grieved because He knew there would be unpleasant consequences for His family's poor choices. He knew they would reap what they sowed...an undeniable Kingdom principle.
Strangely, the people actually grew more rebellious over time and even blamed their leader for their problems. The wonderful, marvelous King never forced His people to follow the commands of the Kingdom. No, He gave every single person free will. They could choose to be obedient or disobedient. They could choose light or dark, good or evil, which would open doors for blessings from the King or curses from the enemy.
When many of the King's people kept making poor choices, He knew something had to be done to save His people. Oh, how He longed to have His family back in unity...in love. He decided to send His only begotten Son to the earth as a Savior for the entire world! His name was Emmanuel, God with us. He would be the atonement for man's sin. God's Son would restore truth, hope and love. His love would draw people to freedom and life eternal.
Thousands began to see the light. They realized that a "King-dom" without a King was "dumb." So, they made a decision to follow the wonderful, marvelous King. The King was well-pleased and decided to send His followers out to the entire earth to carry His glory, His power, His signs, wonders and miracles – to rule and reign on His behalf and be His ambassadors, filling the earth with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord!
He spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in Heaven and on earth. GO therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age" (Matthew 28:18-20).
Paulette Reed
Prophetic Arrow Ministries
Email: info@propheticarrow.org
Thursday, June 16, 2011
A Great word from Bob Hartley
This post is not written by me, but it is meant to be shared with God's People. Jesus shows us His very heart and nature in this word.
Hope Craftsmen Equipped from the Book of Hope
I shared a series of prophetic encounters from the Lord regarding 2011 and beyond, where waves of challenge would come, but God had a "better than" solution for His people. The Lord is passionate about preparing and equipping "Hope Craftsmen" in this time, ones that are skilled in bringing hope and confidence in the goodness of God in all of life, equipped to meet the challenges coming in the years ahead with overcoming solutions from our hopeful God (Exodus 31:1-11).
The Lord has been laying out the building blocks of hope that will prepare us as "Hope Craftsmen" in these times. In a recent dream, the Lord was teaching "Hope Craftsmen" from the "Book of Hope" in the "Classroom of Useful Information." Our last article shared revelation regarding the first chapter of the "Book of Hope": the right "Hope Eyeglasses" that would restore vision to see God rightly in everyday life. To read more about the "Hope Eyeglasses" click here.
The Next Chapter in the Book of Hope: "Gaining New Hope Hearing Aids"
As I was with the Lord in the "Classroom of Useful Information," the Lord began to share from the second chapter of the "Book of Hope." This chapter taught about the right, hopeful "Hearing Aids" that would enable His Hope Craftsmen to hear His voice and become a company of hopeful Kingdom hearers. These hearing aids of hope were a golden key that would unlock the knowledge of the true nature of God and would enable Hope Craftsmen to become a force of hope for cities and nations.
The Encounter at the Counsel Table of the Lord
To be equipped with these new hearing aids, the Lord brought those in this classroom to His table of honor, which He called the "Counsel Table of the Lord." Everyone was invited! At His table they would begin to hear His heart in a right way. As I saw this glorious table laid out before me and the beauty and majesty of the King of Kings, feelings of unworthiness began to flood my emotions as I acknowledged how inwardly torn and flawed I was. I didn't feel worthy to sit at this table near to the King to listen to His heart and take part in this counsel of the nations.
It was like the story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9, who was a relative of the recently-deceased King Saul. He was part of the old regime and should have been killed as all other relatives of Saul were. However, David set his heart to show kindness to one of Jonathan's relatives, and Mephibosheth became the recipient of King David's mercy. He had not done anything to deserve this seat of honor at the king's table. In fact, by Jewish law, he should not have been allowed in the king's court because he was lame in both legs. But the king invited Mephibosheth to dine with him every day. I felt like Mephibosheth in this moment and I echoed his cry in 2 Samuel 9:8, "Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?"
The Lord looked at me with tenderness and compassion, and instead of answering my question, He began to ask me a series of questions that broke through the feelings of inadequacy and shame. He lifted my chin and looked into my eyes with such affection, then asked softly, "Bob, how do you feel about your wife?" I replied, as my heart swelled with affection toward my wife, "She's everything to me, she's perfect." The Lord continued with His questions, "Well, how do you feel about your children?" Quickly, I answered with joy, "They are all my heart, I couldn't imagine one single day without them."
The Lord continued, "How did your father feel about you?" I closed my eyes and remembered the way my father championed me even in the midst of my greatest struggles. I replied, "Even when I was at my lowest point and on drugs, I was his delight. He treated me as a friend and confided in me, looking past my brokenness, and he always believed in my future."
I rocked my head back as the warmth of my affection for my family began to wash over me. The Lord then came and grasped both my shoulders with great tenderness and looked deep into my eyes. The Lord spoke with such affection and strength that I felt the power of His words pierce through my doubt like a burning fire being kindled in every fiber of my being.
"If this is how you feel about your children and your wife, you being earthly and sinful, how much more do I feel about you? How much do I love all My children with an everlasting love? Though you are inwardly torn and flawed, you mean everything to Me. It's not a question of your worthiness; I gave it all so you could be with Me where I am. It is your inheritance to sit at My table and hear My voice. And it is MY inheritance to have a people that care for My heart."
Caring for His Heart
I was overwhelmed with emotion as I realized how much I had underestimated the mercy and the love of God over my life. My heart became gripped with a desire to love Him back as He deserves. Hearing my thoughts, the Lord responded, "My son, the greatest way to love someone is to listen to their heart. If you desire to love Me, then make it a priority to listen to Me and care about what I care about." I was stunned. This was totally opposite of what I had believed. I had always thought it was a great burden for the Lord to talk to me, but my heart melted as I began to understand the desire of the Lord for His children to hear His voice.
The Lord said, "How does it feel when your wife listens to your heart, and how does it feel to be understood by your children?" I answered the Lord, "I've never felt anything so wonderful, when my wife and my children don't just come to me for solutions or what they need from me, but when they come to listen to my heart and to understand me." The Lord smiled and said, "HOW MUCH MORE, ME? How do you think I feel when you understand and care for My heart? It means everything to Me! I am often ignored and the sound of My voice discarded, but how do you think I feel when My children look to Me?"
I was now determined to make hearing the Lord's heart a priority for the rest of my life. I was now ready to take my place at the table of honor, to care for the Lord's heart. As I took my place, I noticed that each seat at the Lord's table had a special golden plaque inscribed with the name of one of God's children.
The Lord said, "Each one of My children have their own seat at My Table that no one else can fill! How foolish that so many try to fill the seat of another. Each seat is uniquely equipped with new hope hearing aids that are specialized for each individual. I am fluent in every human language and I speak to you in your way of communicating. I speak in so many ways throughout Scripture; I am not even limited to human language! I speak through My Word, through other people, through your devotion with Me, through dreams and visions, through impressions, through songs and psalms, through My creation, through colors and numbers, and so many other ways, if you have ears to hear. 'My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me' (John 10:27)."
Hearing Aids of the Past
I now found myself back in the "Classroom of Useful Information." The Lord had taken each Hope Craftsmen to the "Counsel Table of the Lord" and had explained to them the importance of hearing His heart, as He had shown me. Now He was explaining the need to remove the old antiquated hearing aids that were distorting His voice in their minds.
The Lord said, "These old hearing aids have interpreted My voice as cold, distant and harsh. They represent an old way of hearing that is not based on seeing My true nature of hopefulness from a place of intimacy with Me."
The Lord was zealous to free them (and us) from this misrepresentation of His nature and heart, so He walked around and removed these old hearing aids from their ears, threw them down and they shattered to pieces on the floor.
The New Hope Hearing Aids
The Lord then gave each Hope Craftsmen new "Hope Hearing Aids" that were entirely different than the old antiquated hearing aids. The new hearing aids gave the Hope Craftsmen an ability to hear God rightly and for the right reasons. These new hearing aids helped them to perceive the joy and laughter in His voice versus the sadness and anger they had perceived from Him before.
The new hearing aids focused on life-giving solutions instead of the problems that drain life, peace and creativity. The new hearing aids showed Hope Craftsmen how to be content with the needs God had met in their life, rather than focusing on emptiness and unanswered questions. The Lord was giving them this supernatural tool of new hearing and He was opening their ears to listen.
The Sovereign LORD...wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears...I have not turned away. Isaiah 50:4-5
The Lord made clear that the Hope Craftsmen needed these new hopeful hearing aids in order to hear His voice and become a company of hopeful Kingdom hearers for the times and seasons that we are in. They needed these hearing aids to move forward with clarity in this hour, like the sons of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32, who understood the times with knowledge of what Israel should do.
Five Distinctives of the New Hope Hearing Aids
The Lord gave me these new hearing aids, and as I began to hear through them, I immediately noticed five distinct differences from the old antiquated hearing aids:
The First Distinctive: His Heart versus Information
First, I noticed that the "Hope Hearing Aids" cause Hope Craftsmen to focus on His heart rather than information. As my hearing was opened up in new ways, I heard the longing in the Lord's voice to be pursued as a friend, rather than pursued for information. Seeking His voice was never meant to be about information alone, but always to be primarily about His heart. He was asking the Hope Craftsmen, "Don't you know I tell My friends what I am about to do?" (Genesis 18:17).
I recalled times in the past, where I had participated in or observed prophetic hearing that was disconnected from God's true heart. These types of prophetic encounters felt like looking at a "crystal ball" for information instead of looking to a Person to understand His heart. I realized that the Person and the nature of Jesus is to be the ultimate focus and reward in hearing Him, not information alone.
The Second Distinctive: Confidence and Victory versus Uncertainty
Next, I noticed that the "Hope Hearing Aids" cause Hope Craftsmen to hear His heart of confidence and victory versus their own uncertainty. I began to realize the Lord's confidence in me, and through these new hearing aids I was able to hear who I had become in the Lord, instead of what I had not yet accomplished. I began to hear the Lord's confident perspective of others as well, and the circumstances they faced, hearing in His voice a settled confidence that believes the best about people and the future. I saw that every battle has already been won in Him.
I heard His voice as the Victorious One, as in Isaiah 42:13: "The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies."
The Third Distinctive: Nurture versus Cold Hard Facts
Third, as I heard through these new hearing aids, I felt the Lord's heart of nurture and His hope for His creation instead of the "cold hard facts" which imply that God is apathetic toward our challenges. Listening to God with the "Hopeful Hearing Aids" did not mean one would no longer hear of the giants or the challenges, but that they would also hear His voice with instructions and strategies to overcome them. They would hear how He was fighting for them. They would judge like John 7:24, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
The Fourth Distinctive: The Patriarchal Father versus a Disappointed Tutor
Next, I was able to hear the Lord's heart as a patriarchal father versus a "disappointed tutor." Many had expected to hear harshness and disappointment in His voice, but through these new hope hearing aids, they were able to hear His heart as a patriarchal father full of unending hope for His children! He is always full of hope, and always advancing in love! Read the story of the Prodigal Son and discover the love of the patriarchal father in Luke 15:11-24. Even in our weakness and failings, when we turn to Him, He runs and embraces us, and restores us to sonship.
The Fifth Distinctive: Hope and Love versus Fear and Failure
Fifth, I heard hope and love even in the midst of trials versus fear and failure. The Lord wanted His voice to be heard as the ultimate Comforter and Redeemer. The Lord said, "It is not time to duck and hide from the pain and challenges but to look to Me and My voice in the midst of them." Hearing Him in this new way allowed the Hope Craftsmen to carry peace in the midst of challenges and gain authority over the storms of life, as Jesus demonstrated in Matthew 8:23-27. While all of His disciples frantically worried about a storm that threatened to overturn their boat, Jesus slept peacefully in the midst of the storm. Not only was He at peace, He then "got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."
The hearing aids of the past had been focused on the immediate perceived problem without a favorable future and solutions in Him. Many with the old hearing aids would read headlines of war and famine and become filled with fear and doubt instead of looking to the true, hopeful intention of God's heart in the midst of challenges. Many had misinterpreted His intentions and thought He was pointing the finger of blame at them for current challenges and upcoming problems, when in reality, God had made available His hopeful solutions to those who had ears to hear.
Conclusion
The Lord shared with me that if the Hope Craftsmen change the "filter" of their hearing, they can change everything. As I discovered at the Counsel Table of the Lord, hearing His voice was never about a method or process, but the posture of the heart. I watched as the Hope Craftsmen drew near to listen to the Lord, and they experienced warmth and affection instead of accusation and punishment. They no longer perceived distant or harsh demands, ultimatums and fear from the Lord. They heard His voice of love and hope for them.
It is a Deuteronomy 8:3 time to live off of every word that comes from the mouth of God. As Jesus said in John 6:63, "...the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." No other word will do. God is longing to reveal His true heart to His people in 2011 and beyond.
Please join us as we look to the Lord to reveal more regarding the hope building blocks found in the "Book of Hope." The third chapter in the "Book of Hope" reveals God's desire for Hope Craftsmen to have the right "Hope Body Armor," which highlights the value and importance of marvelous comrades and community in this time.
We are committed to seeing you receiving the tools necessary to succeed as a Hope Craftsmen! Please contact us for more information.
Bob Hartley
Deeper Waters Ministry
Email: deeperwatersinc@gmail.com
Bob Hartley:
From the Counsel Table of the Lord: Receive Your Hope Hearing Aids
I shared a series of prophetic encounters from the Lord regarding 2011 and beyond, where waves of challenge would come, but God had a "better than" solution for His people. The Lord is passionate about preparing and equipping "Hope Craftsmen" in this time, ones that are skilled in bringing hope and confidence in the goodness of God in all of life, equipped to meet the challenges coming in the years ahead with overcoming solutions from our hopeful God (Exodus 31:1-11).
The Lord has been laying out the building blocks of hope that will prepare us as "Hope Craftsmen" in these times. In a recent dream, the Lord was teaching "Hope Craftsmen" from the "Book of Hope" in the "Classroom of Useful Information." Our last article shared revelation regarding the first chapter of the "Book of Hope": the right "Hope Eyeglasses" that would restore vision to see God rightly in everyday life. To read more about the "Hope Eyeglasses" click here.
The Next Chapter in the Book of Hope: "Gaining New Hope Hearing Aids"
As I was with the Lord in the "Classroom of Useful Information," the Lord began to share from the second chapter of the "Book of Hope." This chapter taught about the right, hopeful "Hearing Aids" that would enable His Hope Craftsmen to hear His voice and become a company of hopeful Kingdom hearers. These hearing aids of hope were a golden key that would unlock the knowledge of the true nature of God and would enable Hope Craftsmen to become a force of hope for cities and nations.
The Encounter at the Counsel Table of the Lord
To be equipped with these new hearing aids, the Lord brought those in this classroom to His table of honor, which He called the "Counsel Table of the Lord." Everyone was invited! At His table they would begin to hear His heart in a right way. As I saw this glorious table laid out before me and the beauty and majesty of the King of Kings, feelings of unworthiness began to flood my emotions as I acknowledged how inwardly torn and flawed I was. I didn't feel worthy to sit at this table near to the King to listen to His heart and take part in this counsel of the nations.
It was like the story of Mephibosheth in 2 Samuel 9, who was a relative of the recently-deceased King Saul. He was part of the old regime and should have been killed as all other relatives of Saul were. However, David set his heart to show kindness to one of Jonathan's relatives, and Mephibosheth became the recipient of King David's mercy. He had not done anything to deserve this seat of honor at the king's table. In fact, by Jewish law, he should not have been allowed in the king's court because he was lame in both legs. But the king invited Mephibosheth to dine with him every day. I felt like Mephibosheth in this moment and I echoed his cry in 2 Samuel 9:8, "Who is your servant, that you should show such kindness to a dead dog like me?"
The Lord looked at me with tenderness and compassion, and instead of answering my question, He began to ask me a series of questions that broke through the feelings of inadequacy and shame. He lifted my chin and looked into my eyes with such affection, then asked softly, "Bob, how do you feel about your wife?" I replied, as my heart swelled with affection toward my wife, "She's everything to me, she's perfect." The Lord continued with His questions, "Well, how do you feel about your children?" Quickly, I answered with joy, "They are all my heart, I couldn't imagine one single day without them."
The Lord continued, "How did your father feel about you?" I closed my eyes and remembered the way my father championed me even in the midst of my greatest struggles. I replied, "Even when I was at my lowest point and on drugs, I was his delight. He treated me as a friend and confided in me, looking past my brokenness, and he always believed in my future."
I rocked my head back as the warmth of my affection for my family began to wash over me. The Lord then came and grasped both my shoulders with great tenderness and looked deep into my eyes. The Lord spoke with such affection and strength that I felt the power of His words pierce through my doubt like a burning fire being kindled in every fiber of my being.
"If this is how you feel about your children and your wife, you being earthly and sinful, how much more do I feel about you? How much do I love all My children with an everlasting love? Though you are inwardly torn and flawed, you mean everything to Me. It's not a question of your worthiness; I gave it all so you could be with Me where I am. It is your inheritance to sit at My table and hear My voice. And it is MY inheritance to have a people that care for My heart."
Caring for His Heart
I was overwhelmed with emotion as I realized how much I had underestimated the mercy and the love of God over my life. My heart became gripped with a desire to love Him back as He deserves. Hearing my thoughts, the Lord responded, "My son, the greatest way to love someone is to listen to their heart. If you desire to love Me, then make it a priority to listen to Me and care about what I care about." I was stunned. This was totally opposite of what I had believed. I had always thought it was a great burden for the Lord to talk to me, but my heart melted as I began to understand the desire of the Lord for His children to hear His voice.
The Lord said, "How does it feel when your wife listens to your heart, and how does it feel to be understood by your children?" I answered the Lord, "I've never felt anything so wonderful, when my wife and my children don't just come to me for solutions or what they need from me, but when they come to listen to my heart and to understand me." The Lord smiled and said, "HOW MUCH MORE, ME? How do you think I feel when you understand and care for My heart? It means everything to Me! I am often ignored and the sound of My voice discarded, but how do you think I feel when My children look to Me?"
I was now determined to make hearing the Lord's heart a priority for the rest of my life. I was now ready to take my place at the table of honor, to care for the Lord's heart. As I took my place, I noticed that each seat at the Lord's table had a special golden plaque inscribed with the name of one of God's children.
The Lord said, "Each one of My children have their own seat at My Table that no one else can fill! How foolish that so many try to fill the seat of another. Each seat is uniquely equipped with new hope hearing aids that are specialized for each individual. I am fluent in every human language and I speak to you in your way of communicating. I speak in so many ways throughout Scripture; I am not even limited to human language! I speak through My Word, through other people, through your devotion with Me, through dreams and visions, through impressions, through songs and psalms, through My creation, through colors and numbers, and so many other ways, if you have ears to hear. 'My sheep hear My voice and I know them, and they follow Me' (John 10:27)."
Hearing Aids of the Past
I now found myself back in the "Classroom of Useful Information." The Lord had taken each Hope Craftsmen to the "Counsel Table of the Lord" and had explained to them the importance of hearing His heart, as He had shown me. Now He was explaining the need to remove the old antiquated hearing aids that were distorting His voice in their minds.
The Lord said, "These old hearing aids have interpreted My voice as cold, distant and harsh. They represent an old way of hearing that is not based on seeing My true nature of hopefulness from a place of intimacy with Me."
The Lord was zealous to free them (and us) from this misrepresentation of His nature and heart, so He walked around and removed these old hearing aids from their ears, threw them down and they shattered to pieces on the floor.
The New Hope Hearing Aids
The Lord then gave each Hope Craftsmen new "Hope Hearing Aids" that were entirely different than the old antiquated hearing aids. The new hearing aids gave the Hope Craftsmen an ability to hear God rightly and for the right reasons. These new hearing aids helped them to perceive the joy and laughter in His voice versus the sadness and anger they had perceived from Him before.
The new hearing aids focused on life-giving solutions instead of the problems that drain life, peace and creativity. The new hearing aids showed Hope Craftsmen how to be content with the needs God had met in their life, rather than focusing on emptiness and unanswered questions. The Lord was giving them this supernatural tool of new hearing and He was opening their ears to listen.
The Sovereign LORD...wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being instructed. The Sovereign LORD has opened my ears...I have not turned away. Isaiah 50:4-5
The Lord made clear that the Hope Craftsmen needed these new hopeful hearing aids in order to hear His voice and become a company of hopeful Kingdom hearers for the times and seasons that we are in. They needed these hearing aids to move forward with clarity in this hour, like the sons of Issachar in 1 Chronicles 12:32, who understood the times with knowledge of what Israel should do.
Five Distinctives of the New Hope Hearing Aids
The Lord gave me these new hearing aids, and as I began to hear through them, I immediately noticed five distinct differences from the old antiquated hearing aids:
The First Distinctive: His Heart versus Information
First, I noticed that the "Hope Hearing Aids" cause Hope Craftsmen to focus on His heart rather than information. As my hearing was opened up in new ways, I heard the longing in the Lord's voice to be pursued as a friend, rather than pursued for information. Seeking His voice was never meant to be about information alone, but always to be primarily about His heart. He was asking the Hope Craftsmen, "Don't you know I tell My friends what I am about to do?" (Genesis 18:17).
I recalled times in the past, where I had participated in or observed prophetic hearing that was disconnected from God's true heart. These types of prophetic encounters felt like looking at a "crystal ball" for information instead of looking to a Person to understand His heart. I realized that the Person and the nature of Jesus is to be the ultimate focus and reward in hearing Him, not information alone.
The Second Distinctive: Confidence and Victory versus Uncertainty
Next, I noticed that the "Hope Hearing Aids" cause Hope Craftsmen to hear His heart of confidence and victory versus their own uncertainty. I began to realize the Lord's confidence in me, and through these new hearing aids I was able to hear who I had become in the Lord, instead of what I had not yet accomplished. I began to hear the Lord's confident perspective of others as well, and the circumstances they faced, hearing in His voice a settled confidence that believes the best about people and the future. I saw that every battle has already been won in Him.
I heard His voice as the Victorious One, as in Isaiah 42:13: "The LORD will go forth like a warrior, He will arouse His zeal like a man of war. He will utter a shout, yes, He will raise a war cry. He will prevail against His enemies."
The Third Distinctive: Nurture versus Cold Hard Facts
Third, as I heard through these new hearing aids, I felt the Lord's heart of nurture and His hope for His creation instead of the "cold hard facts" which imply that God is apathetic toward our challenges. Listening to God with the "Hopeful Hearing Aids" did not mean one would no longer hear of the giants or the challenges, but that they would also hear His voice with instructions and strategies to overcome them. They would hear how He was fighting for them. They would judge like John 7:24, "Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment."
The Fourth Distinctive: The Patriarchal Father versus a Disappointed Tutor
Next, I was able to hear the Lord's heart as a patriarchal father versus a "disappointed tutor." Many had expected to hear harshness and disappointment in His voice, but through these new hope hearing aids, they were able to hear His heart as a patriarchal father full of unending hope for His children! He is always full of hope, and always advancing in love! Read the story of the Prodigal Son and discover the love of the patriarchal father in Luke 15:11-24. Even in our weakness and failings, when we turn to Him, He runs and embraces us, and restores us to sonship.
The Fifth Distinctive: Hope and Love versus Fear and Failure
Fifth, I heard hope and love even in the midst of trials versus fear and failure. The Lord wanted His voice to be heard as the ultimate Comforter and Redeemer. The Lord said, "It is not time to duck and hide from the pain and challenges but to look to Me and My voice in the midst of them." Hearing Him in this new way allowed the Hope Craftsmen to carry peace in the midst of challenges and gain authority over the storms of life, as Jesus demonstrated in Matthew 8:23-27. While all of His disciples frantically worried about a storm that threatened to overturn their boat, Jesus slept peacefully in the midst of the storm. Not only was He at peace, He then "got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm."
The hearing aids of the past had been focused on the immediate perceived problem without a favorable future and solutions in Him. Many with the old hearing aids would read headlines of war and famine and become filled with fear and doubt instead of looking to the true, hopeful intention of God's heart in the midst of challenges. Many had misinterpreted His intentions and thought He was pointing the finger of blame at them for current challenges and upcoming problems, when in reality, God had made available His hopeful solutions to those who had ears to hear.
Conclusion
The Lord shared with me that if the Hope Craftsmen change the "filter" of their hearing, they can change everything. As I discovered at the Counsel Table of the Lord, hearing His voice was never about a method or process, but the posture of the heart. I watched as the Hope Craftsmen drew near to listen to the Lord, and they experienced warmth and affection instead of accusation and punishment. They no longer perceived distant or harsh demands, ultimatums and fear from the Lord. They heard His voice of love and hope for them.
It is a Deuteronomy 8:3 time to live off of every word that comes from the mouth of God. As Jesus said in John 6:63, "...the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life." No other word will do. God is longing to reveal His true heart to His people in 2011 and beyond.
Please join us as we look to the Lord to reveal more regarding the hope building blocks found in the "Book of Hope." The third chapter in the "Book of Hope" reveals God's desire for Hope Craftsmen to have the right "Hope Body Armor," which highlights the value and importance of marvelous comrades and community in this time.
We are committed to seeing you receiving the tools necessary to succeed as a Hope Craftsmen! Please contact us for more information.
Bob Hartley
Deeper Waters Ministry
Email: deeperwatersinc@gmail.com
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