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TERRY THOMPSON – ARTICLES

GOD IS EXTRAVAGANT – TERRY THOMPSON

GOD IS EXTRAVAGANT

Pastor Terry Thompson

 

Jesus did not just come to redeem your life; He came to equip you to fulfill your God given mission. 

In John 10:10 Jesus shares his two-part plan,

FIRST STAGE

 He came so that you could have life.

SECOND STAGE

 He came to activate you in a supernatural lifestyle, to be a sign and a wonder to the world.

John 10:10

 “10. The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I AM

COME THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE LIFE (VITALITY), AND THAT THEY MIGHT HAVE IT MORE ABUNDANTLY (EXTRAORDINARY).”

THE ESSENCE OF GOD’S POWER

 Throughout the scriptures, one word keeps popping up which has a remarkable power behind it! That word is ‘HUMILITY’. Without this energy to yield to God, we cannot come into line with the purposes of God and exercise Kingdom power. The world tends to interpret humility as being weak and feeble, but the truth of the matter is it brings us into line with our Commander and Chief who connects us to His supernatural power.

John 14:12

 “12. Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.”

PRIDE v HUMILITY

 Pride always looks at its own self achievements, closing its eyes to the greater.  On the other hand, Godly humility opens its eyes to see the will of God and yields which ultimately leads to greater understanding.

James 4:10 

(Strong’s Concordance)

“10. Humble yourselves (of one‘s soul bring down one‘s pride)  in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift (to raise to the very summit of opulence and prosperity) you  up.”

In the Old Testament, the word ‘humble’ is approached from a different angle which gives us a broader understanding of the word.

 

 II Chronicles 7:14

  (Strong’s Concordance).

“14. If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble (be brought into subjection) themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.”

GETTING IN LINE FOR THE POWER

 Matthew 18:4

 4. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

 Matthew 23:12

 “12. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.”

 HUMILITY brings opulence. ​ ​SUBJECTION or obedience brings promotion.    

 NICODEMUS

 One-night Jesus talked to Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. Nicodemus had seen Jesus at work doing miracles among the people at Passover (John 2:23) and it caught his attention. Nicodemus announces, no man can do these miracles that thou doest except God be with him (John 3:2b).

Jesus entered into dialogue with him and told him, except a man be born again he cannot see (precise) the Kingdom (power) of God. (John 3:3). Now the natural cannot comprehend the spiritual! It takes a spiritual mindset to understand a spiritual action. Nicodemus could only respond according to his spiritual comprehension and that was zero. Nicodemus needed the Holy Ghost to guide him!

John 16:13

 “13. Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come.”

QUESTION

 Will you let God lift your expectations into a higher spirit realm?

Before Jesus gave the keys of the Kingdom to Peter, He raised the bar and asked him, who do you say that I am?” Peter received a living word that brought him into a new authority. But then in Matthew 16:22, Peter is rebuking Jesus and pride shows its face. We are most vulnerable after a great victory. 

Matthew 16:22-26

 “21. From that time forth began Jesus to shew unto his disciples, how that he must go unto Jerusalem, and suffer many things of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and be raised again the third day.

  1. Then Peter took him, and began to rebuke him, saying, Be it far from thee,

Lord: this shall not be unto thee.

  1. But he turned, and said unto Peter, Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto me: for thou savourest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men.
  2. Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.
  3. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.”

I believe God is preparing His saints to move when He says move and stop when

He says stop. Paul said in Galatians 2:20​ 

 

“20. I am crucified (to put one’s will second) with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live I the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

 PHILLIP

 Phillip is a classic example of the crucified lifestyle, submitting himself under the will of the Father. He was sensitive to God’s instruction. Samaria was on fire with a powerful move of God because of Phillip’s sensitivity to God’s will. Yet just when things were doing so well the angel of the Lord instructed him to go to the Desert.

Acts 8:26

“26. And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.”

 He had no details! Just step by step instruction. Then the Holy Ghost told him to go near and join thyself to this chariot. (v29)

After Phillip instructed the Ethiopian and baptized him the Spirit of the Lord took him about 32 miles to a place called Azotus (a stronghold). Yes God placed him in a stronghold.

CONCLUSION

 We are in the last days.  God is about to display His Kingdom power in an extravagant way. He is activating His harvesters with miracles, signs, and wonders. As they work alongside the heavenly hosts great victories will be gained. Their submission to the Lord will determine the depth of ministry they will minister in.

 Love Y’all.

Keep under the spout where the glory runs out!!!

 

 

THE HIGH CALLING – TERRY THOMPSON

THE HIGH CALLING

Pastor Terry Thompson

Sometimes life can throw a real curveball at you when you least expect it, and it is generally at a time when you are at your most vulnerable. Nobody likes the idea of being rejected yet it happens to us all.  

ZACCHAEUS  

Can you remember Zacchaeus climbing up that sycamore tree? He scampered up the tree just to get a bird’s eye view of Jesus.  As soon as Jesus passed under him, He looked up and said, “Zacchaeus make haste come down, for today I must abide at thy house.” (Luke 19:5) Zacchaeus is a living example of the grace of God.  He was a man that was openly accepted by the Lord in front of all the people despite his past. Zacchaeus quickly responded and gave half of his goods to the poor, and he said if I have taken anything from any man by false accusation, I will restore him fourfold. Yet what was the crowd’s reaction?  They all murmured (complained) Luke 19:7. Yet Jesus openly accepted him.  When Zacchaeus heard about Jesus nothing could hinder him from his goal, he was a man on a mission and public opinion could not stop him!   

Luke 19:9   – And Jesus said unto him, this day is salvation come to this house, forsomuch as he also is a son of Abraham. For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.”   

 

 BARTIMAEUS

 BE QUIET! 

In the book of Mark, it is recorded of a man called Bartimaeus who was blind.  He begged at the side of the road coming out of Jericho. When Bartimaeus found out who Jesus was he cried out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me.” Now the word cry in the Greek is not just a loud noise, it actually means scream. Jesus was teaching as he walked, and the people were intent with the truths that He was giving. But when they got to where Bartimaeus was crying the people reacted and told him to be quiet. 

Mark 10:48a – “And many charged him that he should hold his peace (be quiet):”   

But Bartimaeus knew what he needed, and he pushed into his breakthrough.     

 

 THE WOMAN WITH THE ALABASTER BOX 

Even our closest friends can be a hindrance to our vision when they do not see what you are trying to achieve. 

Matthew 26:7-13 

 

  1. There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.  

 

  1. But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, to what purpose is this waste?  

 

  1. For this ointment might have been sold for much and given to the poor.  

 

  1. When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman?  for she hath wrought a good work upon me.  

 

  1. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. 

 

  1. For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. 

 

  1. Verily I say unto you, wheresoever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, that this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.”   

What I am trying to show you is, there is always opposition with every commission the Lord gives us. Whether it is spirit v flesh fight within us or an external fight with the people around us. The struggle always creates growth and maturity if you push through.   

Love Y ‘all!  Keep under the spout where the glory runs out!!! 

OFFENSE – TERRY THOMPSON

OFFENSE

By Pastor Terry Thompson

 

Ever been offended? Did you know you can choose not to be offended! When you take offense, you are allowing someone other than yourself to shape your response.  Offense comes when a breach of your territory takes place and your heart gets crushed. Learning to yield to God is the only way you will get the victory.

JAMES 4:7 – 8

 7  – Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

 8 – Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”

 SPIRIT CONTROLLED RESPONSE

Your feelings are part of your soul, taking control of a runaway feeling takes an act of your spirit. Living a spiritual life is not just learning to yield to the Holy Ghost! We have to learn to give the reigns to our spirit instead of our soul. Jesus was constantly having accusations thrown at him but he knew how to address each occasion. Let us turn to the scriptures for help on this topic. Solomon was a very wise man and he gave this instruction.

DISCRETION

Proverbs 19:11 – The discretion (wisdom) of a man deferreth his anger; and it is his glory to pass over a transgression.”

Ever been in a hard place and it felt like the sky tumbled down upon you? Can you remember what you said to yourself, Never again! That is the beginning of wisdom or discretion. Welcome to the school of hard knocks. If you listen and learn then you are growing.

EXASPERATION

The apostle Paul says,

Ephesians 4:26 – 27  

 26 – Be ye angry (exasperated), and sin (to miss the mark) not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath (exasperation):

 27 – Neither give place to the devil (the slanderer).

Even as Christians we get exasperated with each other but let us not forget we reap what we sow. Your attitude will determine your altitude.

Ephesians 4:32 – And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ‘s sake hath forgiven you.”

If we want to be a witness to others, we need to show an example.

Matthew 7:12 – Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.”

ADDRESSING OFFENSE

If somebody repeatedly abuses our friendship, we need to address the problem.

Luke 17:3 – Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke (charge sharply) him; and if he repent, forgive him.”

DEALING WITH PRIDE

Do not let pride destroy relationships.

Proverbs 13:10 – Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.

Proverbs 18:19 – A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle.

 You do not need to win every argument. Pick where your values are.

 Matthew 11:6. Luke 7:23 – And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me.

CONCLUSION

 When a negative action is directed at you don’t let your soul (feelings) take control. Open up your spirit and yield to God. When peace comes, direction will come with it to tell you what to say, or what not to say to your aggressor. The right words and the right attitude will diffuse the worst attitude.

 

 

Psalms 19:14 – Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.”

 

Love Y’all!

 

Keep under the spout where the glory runs out!!!

 

 

 

AUTHORITY – TERRY THOMPSON

AUTHORITY

By Pastor Terry Thompson

 

I want you to just close your eyes for a brief moment and let your mind’s eye look back into your school days. Now, let me ask you a question, which teacher did you learn from the most? I know in my case it was Miss Ward.  She was a great motivator and showed so much enthusiasm and joy.  Everyone in the class wanted to hear what she had to say. Some teachers have that gift.  This is just what I want to draw your attention to with Jesus’s teaching. In the first book of Mark, we see in verse 17 Jesus enlisted Simon and Andrew.  Then in verse 20 He saw James and John, the sons of Zebedee, and called them to follow Him and they followed. The next day they were in Capernaum and it was the Sabbath day. They went into the synagogue (church) and Jesus taught.  I would have loved to of seen the expressions on the faces of the four new disciples as Jesus taught in the synagogue. Let us just look at verse 22. 

 

Mark 1:22 – “And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

 

THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

When Mark wrote his gospel, he showed the difference between a good teacher and a bad teacher.  It is quite obvious that the people thought the scribes were quite dry in their application, yet they said Jesus spoke with such authority.   

Mark 1:23-27

23 – And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 

24 – Saying, let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.  

25 – And Jesus rebuked him, saying, hold thy peace, and come out of him.  

26 – And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.  

27 – And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, what thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

The authority Jesus showed created motivation and when motivation was  stirred activation was manifested.   

 

Dictionary 

AUTHORITY 

 /əˈTHôrədē/ 

noun 

The power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.   

Matthew 7:29 

29 – For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”   

The chief priests and the elders were always challenging Jesus’s authority.   

 

Matthew 21:23 

23 – And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, by what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?”   

Do you remember how the dictionary expressed what ‘AUTHORITY’ was?  ‘the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience.’   

The dictionary breaks up the word into two categories. 

  1. The power. 
  2. The right.   

Jesus exercised spiritual power. The chief priests and the elders exercised religious rights. Both had authority, the spiritual enables people to do and religion forbids people to do.    The authority Jesus showed created motivation among the people, when people are motivated it stirs them into activation and miracles manifest. 

The authority Jesus gave to His disciples was a power that sets people free and motivates them into service.    

 

MAN LIKES TO MONOPOLIZE  

John told Jesus that he forbid someone using his name to cast out devil’s because he did not belong to their group. Jesus responded by saying, “Forbid him not.”  When we try to monopolize the work of God, we take away it’s natural ability to ignite an area like a bushfire. On the day of Pentecost, the 120 believers saw 3000 saved in just one day.   

Luke 9:49-50

49 – And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name; and we forbad him, because he followeth not with us. 

50 – And Jesus said unto him, forbid him not: for he that is not against us is for us.”   

We need to remember that God gave us the power to set the captives free.  Jesus said, 

Luke 4:18 

18 – The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach  the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach  deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at  liberty them that are bruised, 

19 – To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

 

THE SOURCE OF SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY 

The Holy Spirit is the activator of our authority and when we yield to His leading, we become a force to be reckoned with. When we are baptized in the Holy Spirit, we have been given access to activate the accessories that He gives to us. 

The Bible calls them gifts in 1 Corinthians 12.8-10.   

CONCLUSION 

The word AUTHORITY describes an action, to bind or loose. Jesus gave this ability to His disciples one day when He was asking them who do you say that I am.    

Matthew 18:18 

18 – Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”   

The source of our Authority is based in Christ! And manifestation comes through the Holy Spirit.  When we align ourselves with the new commandment Christ gave us in John 13 we implement our authority with the attitude of love. 

John 13:34-35

34 – A new commandment I give unto you, that ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another.  

35 – By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.”   

 

Love Y’all!   

Keep under the spout where the glory runs out!!! 

DARKNESS AND LIGHT – TERRY THOMPSON

DARKNESS AND LIGHT

Terry Thompson

 

 

I was going through a note pad just the other day from August 2008, and I found something the Lord revealed to me about darkness and light.  As I was reading, I was compelled to share it publicly.  This is what was written:

Out of darkness came forth creation. ​ Out of light came forth revelation.”

 

DARKNESS = CREATION​        

LIGHT = REVELATION​

Before I go any further with this article, I want to reveal to you that all

darkness is not evil. In the book of Genesis, we read that darkness was upon the face of the deep. While it was still dark, God spoke forth light into existence on the first day. Then on the fourth day, He spoke, the sun, and the moon into existence.

GENESIS 1: 1- 5

1 – In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

2 – And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

3 – And God said, let there be light: and there was light.

4 – And God saw the light, that it was good: and God divided the light from the darkness.

5 – And God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And the evening and the morning were the first day.

God used this format of creating in the dark and revealing in the light several times in the scriptures.

 

ADAM & EVE

When God made Eve, he placed Adam in a deep sleep. While Adam was in the dark God made a partner for him. Adam had named all the animals God had made.  When he saw his partner, he recognized she was part of him and named her woman. How did he know? He got a revelation.

Genesis 2:21-23

21 – And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh instead thereof;

22 – And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man.

23 – And Adam said, this is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man.

 

ABRAMS COVENANT

Abram had a dark and light experience in his lifetime. Do you remember the time when Abram rescues Lot recorded in Genesis 14?  Abram never took a penny for himself from the money that was recovered. In chapter 15 it says;

Genesis 15:1

1 – The word of the Lord came unto Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I am thy shield, and thy exceeding great reward.

Abram had just won a battle and God said, fear not. Why?  When you read the text more closely, you get to see how Abram is concerned about an heir. Abram literally has a dialogue with God about this subject. In Genesis 12 the Lord took Abram out of Ur of the Chaldees and gave him a promise.

GENESIS 12:2-3

2 – And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and make thy name great; and thou shalt be a blessing:

3 – And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.”

This was the thing that Abram was concerned about, he still did not have an offspring and he reminded God of his promise. But God asked him to go a step deeper into a relationship with him by cutting a covenant. Covenants demand commitment and trust. He had to pay a sacrifice; a horror of great darkness fell upon Abram. 

GENESIS 15:12

12 – And when the sun was going down, a deep sleep fell upon Abram; and, lo, an horror of great darkness fell upon him.”

When Abram was in this trance-like state God revealed 400 years of captivity of the children of Israel.

 

PETER’S TRANCE

Peter fell into a trance on top of Simon’s house, where the Lord showed Peter a series of pictorial instructions.

Acts 10:9b-10

9b – Peter, went up upon the housetop to pray about the sixth hour: 

10 – And he became very hungry, and would have eaten: but while they made ready, he fell into a trance,”

The Lord had to change Peter’s understanding of the Gentiles. It was absolutely forbidden for Gentiles to eat with the Jews.

Acts 11:3

3 – Saying, thou wentest into men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

Yet after Peter’s trance he and six other Jewish men accompanied the three men back to Cornelius’s house (Acts 11:12). Peter reveals the plan of salvation and the household was baptized in the Holy Ghost. (Acts 11:15-17.)

CONCLUSION

Each one of these characters came to the threshold of change in their lives.

God took them into the dark and it changed them. Then He enlightened them (revelation).

 

OUT OF DARKNESS CAME FORTH CREATION

 

OUT OF LIGHT CAME FORTH REVELATION

 

Love Y’all!!

 

Keep under the spout where the glory runs out!!!

 

IN SEASON & OUT – TERRY THOMPSON – 12/16/19

IN SEASON AND OUT!!

By Pastor Terry Thompson

 

The pulpit was not the only place Jesus preach from. One time He went up into a mountain to teach the people about their attitude (The beatitudes, Matthew 5). He also preached from the stern of Peter’s boat sharing about the condition of their hearts (the sower and the seed, Matthew 13).

 

 

Jesus was a Master of Communications, whether He was talking to thousands, our just one person. Jesus loved talking about the Father and the Kingdom of God, in fact, it was the very air that He breathed. God loved Jesus so much that He would back His words by signs and wonders. Whether it was walking on the water, encouraging Peter to step out into the unknown, or encouraging the disciples to believe that five loaves and two fish could feed 5000, Jesus had an ability to make you believe for greater things.

 

STRETCH

Stretch was the name of the game! Yes, Jesus was always causing the disciples to rise to higher levels. I believe when we preach, our goal should be to cause the people to believe beyond their present circumstances, which will cause them to reach into new territory and receive their miracles.

 

TESTIMONIES

The book of Revelation declares that the blood of Jesus and your testimony has an overcoming influence.

Revelation 12:11a

“11. And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony;”

The power of your testimony is far more powerful than you realize! It is so powerful that it stops satan in his tracks.

1 Peter 3:15

“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”

 

Testimony

I can remember a time when the Lord told me to always be ready with a word every time I went to a meeting. Not long after that every time I visited different churches the pastor or leader would ask me to come up to the platform and greet the people and give a short word.

II Timothy 4:2

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

 

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DIRECTION

Remember, whichever way you turn your head will be the direction you will go. Stop looking behind at your past failures. Look forward unto Jesus for he has paid the price for your forgiveness over 2000 years ago! The pit that satan tried to bury you in is the same pit Jesus has rescued you from and will use as a wonderful testimony to give somebody hope! Remember what Paul told Timothy,

II Timothy 4:2

Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.”

 

Love Y’all!! Keep under the spout where the glory runs out!!!

CREATING A GOD ZONE – TERRY THOMPSON

CREATING A GOD ZONE

By Pastor Terry Thompson

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Prayer is the most important element in our spiritual walk.  When our communication with the Father ceases to exist our development in our spirit man becomes stunted.

PRAYER is like breathing the breath of Heaven.

READING the scriptures is like eating the Bread of Life.

I always find that if I am ever pressed for time and try to read my Bible without praying first, it is just dry and mechanical. The Bible is a Spiritual book and it takes the breath of God to bring it to life.

John G. Lake was asked one day, “How do you preach with such inspiration?” He replied, “I always read my Bible in an attitude of Prayer.”

Just this week I was awakened from my sleep with a revelation about the process of prayer.

THE PROCESS OF PRAYER

The whole body takes part in the process of prayer, but it is the spirit man that takes the lead.  Every time you pray from your heart (spirit) you attract the presence of God.

Paul taught the church at Roman, 

Romans 10: 8 – 10

8 – But what saith it? The (spoken = [rhēma]) word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart (the center and seat of spiritual life): that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

9 – That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10 – For with the heart (spirit) man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

On November 30, 2019, early in the morning as I was in a dreamlike state when the process of prayer was shown to me in a very basic way.  Romans 10:10 was placed before me.  Two words stuck out

  1. BELIEVE =(ACCEPT)
  1. CONFESS=(DECLARE)

Then these words were dropped into my being, ‘SPIRIT TO SOUL’.

I was told, your spirit receives or inhales God’s Word. When your spirit receives (believes in) God’s living Word, it exhales (breaths) upon your soul. When your soul is inspired with the revelation of God in your spirit it exhales a declaration (confession) with your tongue, thereby speaking a Living Word of God to the world!

PRAYER

Every move of God started with one thing in common, PRAYER. ​Basic prayer is​ as simple as having a conversation, whether this conversation takes place on your knees in your secret place or walking down a busy street facing the challenges of life.

Prayer Creates an Atmosphere!

Conversations in the natural and in the spiritual create a positive or a negative atmosphere in the air around you. When we are in agreement as saints, God places the commanded blessing upon us. (Psalms 133)

Testimony

I remember going to visit a couple on one of my pastoral visits. I rang the doorbell and as I was going into the house I was warmly welcomed into the house, yet I could sense the tension in the air. (I found out later the couple were just in the middle of a heated discussion when I rang the doorbell and they called a truce until I left.)  Even though they had agreed to be nice to me, there was still an unresolved matter which created a negative atmosphere in the house. Things are not always what they appear.

Have you ever noticed how babies pick up on positive or negative atmospheres? When Daddy and Mommy start arguing the baby starts crying yet the baby does not understand a word they are saying.  Why? They sense the atmosphere.

Now I said all that to show you that prayer sets a tone and creates an atmosphere that changes the environment. When you have changed your environment, Heaven intervenes, and the Kingdom interacts by coming down.

 

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THE WELSH REVIVAL

Evan Roberts was a miner in his early days, to the general public, he was a nobody.  He prayed from the beginning of his Christian life for a revival and for the next 13 years his constant prayer was “Revive this land”.  Many times, he prayed right through the night and then went to work early in the morning. 

Then one morning at 1:00 AM he was awakened and was aware of the presence of Jesus and they talked together until 5:00 in the morning.  This meeting with Jesus continued nightly for three or four months.   In Roberts’s own words he said, “For hours each night I would enjoy the wonderful communion with God.  It changed my very nature and I felt that God was going to revive the church not just in Wales but in all the world.”

AZUSA STREET REVIVAL

William Seymour, the Pastor of the Azusa Street Revival, used to pray five hours a day. He was asked to take a church in Los Angeles. When he got there, he preached on ‘The baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.  Seymour had not yet received the experience himself, so he was locked out of the church by the elders. He asked the Lord what should I do?  The Holy Ghost told him to pray more so he increased his prayer time to seven hours a day. A family had taken him in as a lodger and after a while, they asked Seymour to start a prayer meeting.  After five weeks of intense praying, the revival broke out with the baptism of the Holy Ghost with the evidence of speaking in tongues.

BROWNSVILLE REVIVAL

Led by Pastor John Kilpatrick a two-year prayer initiative for revival began in 1993, culminating in 1995, in what is now called the Pensacola Outpouring or the Brownsville Revival.

The Revival epitomized the core beliefs of Full Gospel teaching with a strong focus on the salvation of souls and baptism in the Holy Spirit.

REVIVAL IN NORTHERN IRELAND

In the 1920s Northern Ireland was disheartened by serious unemployment and mass emigration. A reign of terror brought fear and a sense of hopelessness to the land. Politicians had no answers, but God in His mercy delivered Northern Ireland in an unexpected way. A time of revival swept away much of the terror and brought peace back to a stricken land.

A Presbyterian evangelist called William P. Nicholson introduced a change to Belfast in the 1920s with the Gospel of Christ. Thousands became Christians under his ministry.  His nickname was “Tornado of the Pulpit”.  He had this saying, “True passionate preaching is the flower and fruit of passionate praying”. 

Thousands came to Christ and the moral compass of the land was changed. There are many stories that are told about how the Belfast shipyard called Harland & Wolff (where the Titanic was built) had a shed named ‘The Nicholson shed’. They erected it to house all the stolen tools the newly converted workers had returned as a result of the revival. The steady flow of stolen goods that was returned was so great Harland and Wolff had to declare an amnesty. They forgave all who had stolen tools and materials and ask them to keep the items because they had no more room to store them all.

When God revived Northern Ireland, He did not just open their spiritual eyes He reached down into the depths of their soul and changed the moral fiber of the land.

Prayer really is the key to heaven.  I have a friend that says, “Why worry when you can pray?”  Why indeed!!! 

Do you remember the old song, “When the Praises go up the Glory comes down”?

The only way we are going to make an impression in this world is by creating A God Zone! 

 

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REVIVAL

I do not believe God’s design for revival is for it to have this stop-start element. We have a strange way of always wanting to build a tabernacle in remembrance of an achievement that has not been completed. Peter on the mount of Transfiguration had this same problem.  All Jesus wanted to do was to let Peter, James, and John experience the Shekinah Glory of God. Yet Peter wanted to immortalize the Patriarchs and Jesus. God is taking us from glory to glory. Each revival is a progression of a spiritual encounter with God. Elevation should bring us into a place where we will be finally fit together as the Bride of Christ. Only prayer can achieve this constant flow of the presence of God.

John Kilpatrick has said that he believes another revival is on the way in America, but God’s people must pray.

Let us humble ourselves and pray!!! 

Love Y ‘ALL!

Keep under the spout where the glory runs out!!! 

The Keys to the Kingdom – Terry Thompson

THE KEYS OF THE KINGDOM

Pastor Terry Thompson

 

 

Have you ever locked your keys in your car? Haven’t we all? How many hours did it take out of your day? When you finally get your keys back it gave you a new appreciation for such a small thing like a key.

It amazes me to think that a two-ounce key can move a two and a half tons car. Let me enlarge your thinking for a moment, the same size key can move a 40-ton semitruck.  Without the key you are powerless to start the vehicle.  After you turn the key all kinds of power is released, whether it is for a car or a big truck it does not matter.  Sometimes it is the small things in life that make the biggest difference.

 

SPIRITUAL KEYS

Jesus told Peter that He was going to give him the keys of the kingdom of heaven in Matthew 16.

The keys of the kingdom have been a great mystery to many in the church.  As a whole, people have just neglected to find the hidden value of what Jesus promised Peter.

JESUS SAID, “WHO DO MEN SAY THAT I AM?” 

MATTHEW 16:14-20

  1. And they said, Some say that thou art John the Baptist: some, Elias; and others, Jeremias, or one of the prophets.
  1. He saith unto them, But whom say ye that I am?
  1. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
  1. And Jesus answered and said unto him, blessed ( supremely blest) art thou, Simon (stone) Barjona: (son of a dove= [peace, success, victory]) for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
  1. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock (revelation that Jesus is the Christ) I will build my church (ekklēsía= a gathering of the Saints); and the gates ( Doors) of hell shall not prevail against it.
  1. AND I WILL GIVE UNTO THEE THE KEYS (Authority) OF THE KINGDOM (power) OF HEAVEN: and whatsoever thou shalt bind (lock) on earth shall be bound (locked) in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose (unlock) on earth shall be loosed (unlocked) in heaven.
  1. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.”

When Jesus asked his disciples, “Who do men say that I am?” It opened up their minds and made them think. But when Jesus asked, “Who do you say that I am?” Peter was inspired by Father GOD and revealed what his spirit had received, “Thou Art the Christ the son of the Living God.” This started a process that triggered off enlargement. As soon as Peter used the revelation God had given him it opened up a whole new level of authority.  Peter’s brother Andrew had already revealed to Peter that Jesus was the Messiah and this was before Peter became one of Jesus’s disciples. Yet obviously it was just passive information (head knowledge that laid dormant).

JOHN 1:41

  1.  He (Andrew) first findeth his own brother Simon, and saith unto him, We have found the Messias, which is, being interpreted, the Christ.”

KEYS

When you read the text, you will notice that Jesus gave Peter a promise of the keys of heaven.  Yet we do not read that he received them at this time. Also, notice he did not say key but keys. Jesus gave these keys for the establishing and defending of the church. Let me open your thinking for a moment.  We think of keys that opens a door but have you ever thought of keys that a mechanic uses?  An alternative name for a mechanic’s key is a wrench or a tool.

TESTIMONY

In 2004, I had a God given task to take a revelation of encouragement to the pastors in the Bellarine Peninsula area of Victoria, Australia. As I was there, I taught a course on the fivefold ministry. The Holy Spirit told me that night to cover the meeting with the blood of Jesus and to bind all acts of witchcraft. The meeting went well and when it came to the ministry time the Spirit of the Lord moved powerfully. In the corner of my eye I could see the ministry team ministering to a lady who was crying. I did not get a witness with the lady; it was as though she was anchoring for all the attention. One of the  team members came over for me to minister to her for they could not help her. When I got in front of the lady my spirit immediately went on guard. Her tears dried up instantly and her finger was  pointed in my face. She started to swear like a sailor telling me that I was a B___ B____ and that I had bound her and her two friends from doing their mission. Yes, she was a witch and she had two other witches outside  triangulating the place where the meeting was being held.  They tried to bind the moving of the Holy Spirit, but they failed drastically.

 

THE RIGHT TOOLS FOR THE JOB

I guess you could say I put a wrench in the works of those three witches. (pardon the pun a key) The Holy Spirit gave me a revelation of what to do (a word of knowledge). I claimed the Blood of Jesus and bound the acts of witchcraft in the meeting.

DREAM

As I was studying this topic one night I prayed to the Lord for an insight. In my dream I saw three different people; Joseph, Peter and Paul. Joseph had a dream about his family. Peter had a dream about a sheet with all kinds of animals on it, and Paul had a vision of the night of a man from Macedonia saying come over into Macedonia and help us.

 

They all had one thing in common! They saw in the spirit and with the revelation they applied the information and brought salvation to the situation. This was a practical outworking of how the keys work.

 9 KEYS

 Nine keys or tools of the kingdom of heaven were freely given in the upper room on the day of Pentecost, and the gates of hell are being pushed back every day because of them. Paul talked about them in.

 1​ Corinthians 12:8-10

  1. For to one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom; to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit;
  1. Another faith by the same Spirit; to another the gifts of healing by the same Spirit; 
  1. To another the working of miracles; to another prophecy; to another discerning of spirits; to another divers kinds of tongues; to another the interpretation of tongues:”

The church calls them gifts of the Spirit because they come freely, but a better name to describe them are tools or keys and they come hand in hand with the fruit of the Spirit. Sometimes it takes different tools or keys for different jobs. We may have to use the gifts of healing for a situation and gift of prophecy another time. We have been given different keys for different jobs.  When we use these tools, they unlock the whole of heaven to move on earth.

Do you remember what we said about how a two-ounce key could move a two and a half ton car?  The keys are just a token but when we use them the whole of heaven is unleashed on our behalf. This is an amazing truth, when God reveals His blueprint (revelation) to us we have the keys at our disposal to complete the job! Remember the keys of the Kingdom release the power of heaven on earth and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them!

Love Y’all!!

Keep under the spout where the glory runs out!!!​