1. Abundant Life in the Midst of the Storm
By Ron McGatlin
The true value and significance of life is the breath of God within us. Abundance of righteousness, peace, and joy flows from Spirit God within. The living well of Spirit God flows rivers of living waters of Spirit love and life filling our souls and bodies to overflowing and out to the world around us. (John 4:13-14) (John 7:38). A scorched and thirsty world awaits the fresh breezes and soft rain of living water refreshing the earth.
The inner expression of God within us does not come from the world around us. The life in us is not driven by that which is outside us. The world around us is to be transformed to the love, power, and peace of God by the overflowing rivers of living water from Spirit God within us flowing out to the world.
The breath of God within us is expressed outward to bring God’s order to the world around us. Thus the world becomes the kingdom of God on earth. Our speech whether spoken or written has the power of God to change the atmosphere and the world around us. The family, tribe, or nation that flows the breath and the living water of Spirit God flows the life of transforming power and light to the world.
Natural human beings without Christ Jesus live from what they receive from the world around them. What they see, hear, or experience in the world around them becomes what and who they are.
Believing That God Exists Is Not Enough
The devil and his followers believe in God. They know He exists, but they exalt self or Satan above the one true God. All religionists hold fast to a belief in one God or another; usually they worship created things or the works of their own hands. Even atheists hate the God they don’t believe exists.
“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name.” John 1:12. Receiving and believing is the source of everlasting life and the RIGHT TO BECOME sons and daughters of God ruling and reigning on earth now in this life. The phrase “right to become” implies there is a process of more involved.
Believing is the first step in coming to God. Beyond believing is personally knowing God, and beyond knowing God is loving Him. Knowing the one true God and loving Him with our whole hearts in the real life of the Spirit and the way to life abundantly now and forever. The sweet and gentle but ALL POWERFUL love of God becomes who we are. The world around us is to be transformed by His love into the blessed reality of the kingdom of God on earth.
We are more than conquerors in Christ who loves us. (Rom 8:37). Yet many things change in the time of severe storms of life. Other people’s wars may come into our cities and wreak havoc among the people. Fire storms may leave the land bare and fine homes as ashes. Hurricanes or cyclones blow in from the sea and life does not go on as usual. There is threatening danger on all sides and many lose their lives.
Yet there is peace in those who not only believe in God but know Him and love Him with their whole hearts and lives.
Plainly speaking, our life in love with God does not consist of natural circumstances on earth but is seated, anchored, and consists in God in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit. We live and abide in Him at the throne of heaven in an everlasting love relationship. (Eph 2:6) Truly death is overcome in victory, and whether we live long on earth or die young in battle, we are the Lord’s and abide in Him forever. (Rom 14:8). Perfect love casts out fear, and peace prevails in the hearts and lives of the sons and daughters in love with the One True God. (1 John 4:18).
Natural Human Beings without God
In those pleasant times when the waves are gentle in soft warm breezes and the people are prospering in their way and all seems well, even the natural human beings could feel at peace. However, because of inner strife there is usually no real peace within them. Fear of a coming storm or worry of life situations and stress of striving for more than they already have often robs them of truly experiencing the existing good times.
The natural human being without the one true God within them are often overcome with fear and dread. They find no peace but crippling fear stealing their life while they yet live. Even after they live through the storm, they may live every day in fearful expectation of the next storm that might come. Even in the good times, they find no real peace and joy in life. Their only temporary satisfaction is seeking pleasure in satisfying carnal appetites and in competition always seeking to be number one over others. Some seek to create a false sense of pleasure by tricking their minds with chemicals and alcohol into a state of false ecstasy for a short time of feelings of peace.
A family, tribe, or nation cannot survive and prosper in a full measure of continuing life, without knowing and loving God. Without God, success is always temporary. There may be a rapid rise to wealth and good fortune, especially in those who have a bit of God or who attempt to borrow the concepts of God’s kingdom principles, but do not truly know and love God. However, there will always be a sudden fall of great failure. That which they have built and gathered will be given to another who will manage it for God or temporarily hold it for those who love God who He can trust to use the assets according to His will and plan. (Prov 13:22).
Western Nations of Today
In the past few centuries the western nations have done a good job of believing in God and also trusting in God as much as they knew how. However, they as nations have failed thus far to take the next steps of truly KNOWING and LOVING GOD.
The great prosperity of western nations in leading the world is already being tried in the storms of life and being found wanting. God in His love and desire for a people will do with His called nations as He has done with Israel throughout history. Israel has gone into captivity and been destroyed as a nation multiple times when the people have turned away from God and not moved on to their next step. Always a remnant is saved and purified to restart the nation again. So it will be for America and the western nations if there is not a last minute turning to God in truly knowing and loving Him which leads to obedience through love to His kingdom ways.
God will have a kingdom people who know Him intimately and love Him with their whole hearts and with all of their strength.
As the storms intensify, a people are being formed who are falling in love with God in Christ Jesus by the Holy Spirit in His manifest presence among and within His people. The light of the true gospel of the kingdom of God is coming forth in Christ within and upon His people. Heaven has come to earth in those who have truly come to know God and desperately love Him with a burning desire for Him and His presence.
It is not about the good things of this life that result from becoming one with Him. It is completely about a passion that consumes our hearts with love for our magnificent God who loves us and abides in us and us in Him. It is more than the natural being can endure to just be in the consuming flood of His passionate love. Truly this is beyond anything we could ask or think. All the world dims in the reality of His all-consuming love.
Yes, the storms will come, and the earth along with the first and second heavens will shake with the purging of all that lifts itself against God, the all-consuming fire of love. All of our past grievances or painful rejections by people along with all pain from the loss of that which we may have cared for on earth are washed away in the ecstasy of His magnificent beautiful love.
God is planting in many people now in this time an intense reality of His love. He is consuming us as He pours Himself and His explosive eternal power of pure holy love into us becoming who we are and who we shall ever be. We are in His hands.
His love endures forever,
Ron McGatlin
archive.openheaven.com
basileia@earthlink.net
2. The Shift Is Beginning
By Clay Sikes
The shift is beginning; first fruits are appearing as manifested sons awaken to the power and authority invested in them. I awakened this morning with clear words in my spirit, “The Shift is beginning, the shift is beginning, the shift is beginning.” Three times in succession I heard these words. Now, with my spiritual ear attuned, I hear additional words, “first fruits are appearing, first fruits are appearing, first fruits are appearing.” As I examine my own life, truly I see and sense the same – “The shift (from the past and all associated with it) IS BEGINNING); as FIRST FRUITS ARE APPEARING (newness of life, and it more abundantly).”
The enemy has feared the appearance of true manifested sons, fighting them to maintain his sphere of dominance in the world; robbing them of knowledge of their true authority. But now an ‘awakening’ is taking place, as these ‘sons’ recognize the appointed authority and power invested in them before the foundation of the earth. “Who is this uncircumcised giant taunting the army of the living God?” “Am I not sending you?” “You are appointed to reign and rule, not be ruled!” “Take your appointed position, recognizing the authority (in you) to rule over the circumstances of life.”
Yes, there is physical evidence in the form of first fruits (first the blade, then the ear, then the full corneal in the ear, then the harvest) for the Lord’s first fruits harvest of manifested sons upon this earth. Look around and see – we are moving beyond what ‘has been,’ to what was once beyond, to what now IS.
Awaken to His power within; come alive to the authority invested in you. Manifest O son of the Most High God!
Clay Sikes
www.lighthouseprophecy.com
3. News Headlines
Amid Persecution, Christianity is 'Exploding' in an Unlikely Place - 8/4/2016
"The Lord saves us, but the Gospel's also full of the power to redeem and the power to restore and to bring reconciliation. Christians in Iran face imprisonment, beatings, and even death. But the Church continues to grow at a rapid rate. Disillusionment with Islam in general is part of the shift, but the main reason is bold outreach by Christians inside the country.
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Outreach Turning to Revival in Reading, United Kingdom Salvations and Re-dedications to Jesus "Not Like Anything I Have Ever Seen... Before" - 8/4/2016
"It is not a church growth plan but something from the Lord." A mission outreach at the Gate Church in Reading, began on May 29th with evangelist Tommie Zito, and is reportedly still seeing an amazing harvest. At one point, over 1,200 people made first-time commitments or rededicated their lives to Christ in only three weeks. |
Dutch Sheets: America Will Choose Her Destiny With These 7 Ideals - 8/4/2016
"It is absolutely critical—that all USA Christians vote in this election ... We've 'principled' ourselves into irrelevance and, ironically, a national loss of Biblical principles. We must remember we are not electing a religious leader. And we will always be electing a flawed person to lead a flawed people. Unfortunately, the perfect candidate doesn't exist."
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Burlington Revival Comes to an End: More Than 1,250 Accepted Christ - 8/4/2016
"I've never seen anything like it; this meeting has changed my life. And I am so thankful and honored for what God has done and what God is doing—not just here in Burlington, but the aftershock that has literally shook across this nation." The Burlington Revival has come to an end after going strong for 11 weeks. The owner needed his tent back for another meeting.
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Annual Southern California Harvest Crusades Outreach Brings Message of Hope in Uncertain Times Beginning August 26, 2016 - 8/4/2016
In the midst of current events like the presidential runoff, racial tensions, and terrorist attacks on U.S. soil, many Americans are struggling to find hope in the midst of an uncertain future. Many people are asking questions like: “Will things get worse?” and “How can we find hope when life seems hopeless?” Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Aug. 26 – 28.
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Franklin Graham to Pope: "It Is Most Certainly a War on Religion" - 8/4/2016
"Let's not be afraid to say the truth. The world is at war because it's lost its peace. Radical Islamist are following the teachings of the Quran. We should call it what it is." Graham took the Pope to task over his comments that the world is at war, but it's not a war between religions. "Religion is behind the violence and jihad in Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and USA.
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News From British Isles, Ireland, Europe and Worldwide - 8/4/2016
British Isles: visions, prayers & doughnuts 24/7, South Korea: UPRISING UPDATE, - Join thousands of others pray for nation - Trafficking a hidden UK crime - Parents skip meals to feed children - Northern Ireland: Arson attack on church - British security - attack on UK is ‘very likely’ - Germany: Pegida - Rio: Terrorists plan attacking Olympic athletes - Trumpet Call 2016 ...
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Should the Church Take Up Arms Against Terrorism? - 8/4/2016
Amidst the wave of deadly Islamic terror attacks in Europe, the Church is divided over whether it should practice pacifism or take up arms. The recent murder of a Normandy priest at the hands ISIS jihadists sent shock waves throughout Europe. The country is still reeling from an earlier attack in Nice killing 84 people and injuring hundreds more.
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Muslim father killed daughter and threw her down a well, but Jesus caught her and restored her life - 8/4/2016
After graduation, Ramza’s father proposed that she marry an older, wealthy man, who already had three wives and several children. Ramza was sickened by the proposition, especially when she realized she was younger than his youngest child. Ramza told her father she would run away from home before the marriage. He suddenly grabbed a chair and hit her on the head with it.
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Airstrikes try to squelch Libyan ISIS strongholds - 8/4/2016
U.S. officials announced on Monday that they have begun increased airstrikes against ISIS in Libya. The airstrikes began at the request of the Libyan Government of National Accord, GNA, backed by the UN. GNA forces have been trying to reclaim territory that was taken over by ISIS fighters, and to keep Libya from becoming another Islamic State stronghold.
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One Year Later: Iran Nuclear Deal a Coordinated 'Deception' - 8/3/2016
Despite the praise by Obama some experts warn the flaws within the agreement could mean that it will lead to a nuclear Iran with potentially catastrophic results for the Middle East, Israel, and the United States. The agreement failed to address the nation's ballistic missile program. Their breakout capability was not destroyed, uranium enrichment made legitimate.
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Trump Blasts Obama over Apparent 'Cash for Hostages' Iran Deal Bombshell - 8/3/2016
The Obama administration secretly organized an airlift of $400 million worth of cash to Iran that coincided with the January release of four Americans detained in Tehran in direct opposition to official US policy to never pay ransom. Donald Trump is blasting Hillary Clinton and the Obama administration Wednesday for paying $400 million to Iran when it released hostages.
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More Top News Headlines »
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Topic: OpenHeaven.com Digest August 04, 2016
