“I prayed for faith and thought that someday faith would come down and strike me like lightning. But faith did not seem to come. One day I read in the 10th chapter of Romans ‘Now faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God’. I had closed my Bible and prayed for faith, I now opened my Bible, and began to study, and faith has been growing ever since”. – D L Moody
We are told in Daniel 2:17-23, that Daniel prayed to God about the mystery of Nebuchadnezzar’s dream. We are also told that mystery was revealed to Daniel in a vision in the night, and that Daniel then blessed the God of Heaven. Verse 21- 22 says “He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding; He reveals deep and hidden things; He knows what is in the darkness, and the light dwells with Him” (ESV). In Psalm 139:12 we are told “…even the darkness is not dark to You, for darkness is as light to You”.
Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account”.
Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight, all things, whether it be the thoughts or intents of our hearts, mysterious dreams in the night or all the mysteries of creation. All things are laid bare; He has all knowledge. But for us there are still many things hidden. We must seek the Lord to learn His ways, like Daniel, we must seek Him to discover and understand the things that are hidden from us.
There is a hidden manna, that God will give to those who overcome. Revelation 2:17 says “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To him who overcomes, to him I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, and a new name written on the stone which no one knows but he who receives it”. Barnes Commentary – Will I give to eat of the hidden manna – The true spiritual food; the food that nourishes the soul. The idea is, that the souls of those who “overcame,” or who gained the victory in their conflict with sin, and in the persecutions and trials of the world, would be permitted to partake of that spiritual food which is laid up for the people of God, and by which they will be nourished forever.
There is a hidden wisdom that Paul speaks of that will be given to those who are mature in the Lord. “Yet among the mature we do impart wisdom, although it is not a wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are doomed to pass away. But we impart a secret and hidden wisdom of God, which God decreed before the ages for our glory. None of the rulers of this age understood this, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory” (1 Corinthians 2:6-10).
In the New Testament, Jesus spoke in parables and many who did not accept Him did not understand the parables. Even the disciples at times did not understand the parables. The disciples were not ready for meat. We must mature in the Lord to be able to find the things that are a mystery. In our own lives before the Lord, we must be mature and we must be overcomers. God does not give that hidden wisdom to those who have not sought the Lord and matured in the Lord. We are to be seekers, and that means we must set aside time with the Lord. Jamieson Commentary- Those matured in Christian experience and knowledge alone can understand the true superiority of the Christian wisdom which Paul preached. Distinguished not only from worldly and natural men, but also from babes, who though “in Christ” retain much that is “carnal” (1Co 3:1, 2)
Hebrews 5:12-14 “For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you again the basic principles of the oracles of God. You need milk, not solid food, for everyone who lives on milk is unskilled in the word of righteousness, since he is a child. But solid food is for the mature, for those who have their powers of discernment trained by constant practice to distinguish good from evil”.
Let us press onward and inward, into a deeper walk with the Lord. As we endure trials and temptations in this world, let us be steadfast in the Lord and allow the Lord to “train” us. Let us continue to pray, “deliver us from evil”. “But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you”.
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I have a paper here that was composed and was stimulated by a brother on the subject of anointing in which his principle theme is that anointing is not some fixed phenomenon that God confers on individuals as if it were an office, an ecclesiastical office in the church, but something proportionate to one’s actual authentic relationship with God in moment by moment obedience to the thing which He requires. And in it and with it comes the spirit of revelation and he gives the example of Peter recognizing that Jesus is the Christ the Son of God and upon which He says “upon this rock I will build My church” and the rock was not Peter himself but rather the revelation that had come through the Spirit in a moment given, which is to be the foundation itself, the operation of God’s Spirit in them who are in true union with Him. Art Katz- Truth Reality and the Anointing
https://nielsprip.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/truth-reality-and-the-anointing-art-katz.pdf
Posted in Deeper Life, False Prophets, Prophetic Mixture | Tagged anointing, Art Katz | Leave a Comment »
Rex B Andrews, in his writing, Meditations in the Revelation, describes the trap that the world is caught in. Imagine how he would feel today, since those writings are from 1955. We have no escape except in into God.
“The most fearful of all times has come upon the world. We are in it. Trapped. And no way out except into God. The very word peace, in the world’s mouth is a lie. But so great are the advantages and wonders of science even now, that it is hard for the children of light to break away from it. We must look straight at the fact. The time has come when the fate of the world, humanly speaking, rests in the hands of a narrowing circle of men. They are imbued with the love of the wisdom of the world. And that love is a fusion into a One Mind. That love is a fusion into a One Mind because it is a spirit. And that spirit and the love of the world is a false love, false God, fallen mind working destruction through the most towering exultations of the wonderful works and the wisdom of man ever conceived. The world has passed the point of possibility of return. It has come to the time when the power to produce the fear of death is within the reach of a group or a man, by which to shackle the mind of mankind and rule the world.”
Rex B Andrews 1955
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Never in the history of the world has there been the level of deception that we are now experiencing. Never has there been so much power available to governments, corporations and political parties. The spreading of lies and deception through media outlets and the internet should awaken us to the fact that we are racing toward the end of all things.
Is this just some sort of societal advancement? Is this just the natural progression of humanity, the advancement of technology? Or is it God removing his restraining hand? We are told in the story of the tower of Babel, that God confused their languages because he basically wanted to restrain the people from being able to accomplish whatever they put their mind to. Genesis 11:6-7 The Lord said, “If as one people speaking the same language, they have begun to do this, then nothing they plan to do will be impossible for them. Come, let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other”. I clearly see that as God restraining them. But the advancements in all areas of our lives, it seems that man can accomplish anything he puts his mind to, His restraining hand is being removed!
We see from 2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 that Paul acknowledges that even in those days, there was a “secret power of lawlessness at work” and that there was someone “restraining the lawlessness”, I believe that it was God who was doing the restraining, by whatever means He chose.
In these days, with the advancements in technology and the increasing deception that is coming with it, is God removing His restraining hand? I believe that He is! We also know from 2 Thessalonians that God Himself will send a strong delusion on the earth. That is frightening.
The “mystery of lawlessness” is ever increasing in our modern world. Are we aware of it? Do we see it? Or are we just enamored by the ever-increasing technology and the possibilities of AI? Do we see the danger of these new technologies? Do we see that governments, corporations and political parties will control all of these technologies? Do we see that these tools can and will deceive us if we are not wholly walking by the Spirit? Lord help us!
We have to realize that God does control all of what is happening these days. He warned us about it and there is great comfort in that! Knowing that all things are in His hand. He chooses when to restrain and when to remove His restraining hand! We know from scripture that He will send a delusion, let us not be surprised by that. We have to believe that we can avoid the delusion and avoid the deception. We have to be discerning and study our Bibles that we may have insight into these days. I urge you, spend more time in your Bible! Pray the Lord’s prayer, “lead us not into temptation and deliver us from evil”. As the Lord for more of His Spirit!
2 Thessalonians 2:7-12 “For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. And then that lawless one will be revealed whom the Lord will slay with the breath of His mouth and bring to an end by the appearance of His coming; that is, the one whose coming is in accord with the activity of Satan, with all power and signs and false wonders, and with all the deception of wickedness for those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth so as to be saved. And for this reason, God will send upon them a deluding influence so that they might believe what is false, in order that they all may be judged who did not believe the truth but took pleasure in wickedness”.
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I am looking for the fellowship of the burning heart—for men and women of all generations everywhere who love the Savior until adoration becomes the music of their soul until they don’t have to be fooled with and entertained and amused. Jesus Christ is everything, all-in-all. (Sermon, “Dead Words,” General Council)—Tozer on Worship and Entertainment
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Play songs that the congregation knows. As worship leader you are there to lead them. You are there to get help them engage praise and worship. I can not stress this enough. You are not there to perform a song because you think it is cool. There are high energy songs that are heavily produced that the congregation is just not able to sing. Make sure to sing songs that are singable by the congregation. You are to lead the congregation.
Make sure the lyrics of the songs that you are playing are doctrinally sound, lyrics focusing more on God and His greatness, and less on lyrics that focus on “me”. Also, there are many songs that are overly emotional, and that emotion can be confused for the Spirit. You need to be careful. We are told in Acts that God will send “times of refreshing from the presence of the Lord”. Acts 3:20.
Make sure the key you are playing in is suitable for the congregation. I personally try not to have key changes, but I know that is not always possible. I may have a set of songs in the key of G so that the transition between the songs flow better, allowing for more spontaneity during times of “free praise and worship”. Again, the congregation is part of the reason that I do that. You must remember that there are a lot of people who have no musical talent or even have an ear for music. There are many who can’t sing very well at all. Avoiding key changes makes it easier for the congregation. I may start the service with a couple of faster songs in the same key and then switch to a longer set of songs in the same key. For me, I try to make it flow better between songs.
If there is a “free time of worship and praise”, I do not play a chord progression. If I am playing a set of songs in E, I will just simply play full measures of E to Esus, back to E to Esus, etc. Stay in that simple mode. If you play a progression of chords, again you will lose the congregation. Doing a simple E to Esus repeatedly will keep it simple for the congregation. Again, you are there for the congregation to help make it easy for them to engage in “worship and Praise”.
Modern churches have created a huge problem; they have brought in musicians just because they can sing and play an instrument and they just end up performing. Many churches are satisfied because they have a really good worship team, even though they are devoid of the spirit. I have seen it repeatedly, congregations just standing not engaged because they don’t know the songs or the songs are hard to sing.
Again, this is all about the congregation. What can I do to help encourage the congregation to be engaged in praise and worship. I hope a few of these tips will help.
Posted in Worship in Cirisis, Worship, Praise and Music | Tagged bible, faith, jesus, music, Worship, worship-leader-advice | 1 Comment »
Here is a great series by David Ravenhill, worth a listen. This is part one.
Posted in Church in Crisis, Deeper Life | Tagged David Ravenhill, Leonard Ravenhill, surviving the anointing, the anointing | Leave a Comment »
Romans 11:22 Behold then the kindness and severity of God; to those who fell, severity, but to you, God’s kindness, if you continue in His kindness; otherwise, you also will be cut off.
The Visitation and Kindness of God
The days of Jesus were days of extreme mercy and kindness to those who received Him. Oh the blessing to those who received Him. He brought miracles, healing to the sick, hope for the downtrodden and forgiveness of sins. When John the Baptist’s disciples asked Jesus if He was the One, His response in Luke 7:22 was “Go and report to John what you have seen and heard: the BLIND RECEIVE SIGHT, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, the POOR HAVE THE GOSPEL PREACHED TO THEM. And blessed is he who keeps from stumbling over Me”. We are told in Luke 11:44 that many “did not recognize the time of His visitation”. His coming was going to usher in a New Covenant, and they would not have it. Matthew 27:20 “But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death.”
That time had been predicted, and invaluable blessings were promised as the result of His advent; but they would not know it. They rejected him, they put him to death, and it was just that they should be destroyed. (Barnes Commentary)
The Vengeance and Severity of God
Those days of extreme mercy were going to be followed by days of extreme vengeance. We are told in Luke 21, that Jesus foretells of the destruction of those who did not believe and the destruction of Jerusalem. Luke 21:20-24 “But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then recognize that her desolation is at hand. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains and let those who are in the midst of the city depart and let not those who are in the country enter the city; because these are days of vengeance, in order that all things which are written may be fulfilled”.
The severity of this judgment is told in Matthew 23:23-36. Verse 34-36 says. “Therefore, take notice, I am sending you prophets and wise men [interpreters, teachers] and scribes [men educated in the Mosaic Law and the writings of the prophets]; some of them you will kill and even crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues, and pursue and persecute from city to city, so that on you will come the guilt of all the blood of the righteous shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah [the priest], the son of Berechiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the altar. I assure you and most solemnly say to you, [the judgment for] all these things [these vile and murderous deeds] will come on this generation” (Amplified).
To me it is staggering! The blood of Jesus, the blood of the prophets and the blood of the martyrs were going to be laid at the feet of that generation. The killing of Jesus would bring the day of vengeance that would culminate in the utter destruction of Jerusalem and the utter destruction of the Temple. Jesus not only told them that they were going to be held accountable for His blood and the blood of the prophets and martyrs, but they were also so blind to the truth that they themselves called out and said, “His blood be on us and on our children”. Matthew 27:20-25 In their passion of hate, they uttered these words, they cursed themselves. It is interesting in Acts 5:28 that the high priest and elders were complaining that the Apostles were trying to lay the blood of Jesus at their feet. “We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and behold, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man’s blood upon us”. Their hate was so strong that they themselves wanted Jesus’ blood to be upon them and their children, but now they complained that the Apostles were doing just that. It was too late for the high priest and leaders and all of Jerusalem that did not accept Jesus, their destruction eminent, About forty years later, the Romans brought a severance vengeance and destroyed Jerusalem and the Temple. Josephus also tells us that one million Jews died in the siege of Jerusalem in 70 AD. The severity of God.
Hebrews 3:7-11 “Today, if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts, as you did in the rebellion, in the day of testing in the wilderness, where your fathers tested and tried Me, and for forty years saw My works. Therefore, I was angry with that generation, and I said, ‘Their hearts are always going astray, and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore on oath in My anger, ‘They shall never enter My rest’”.
We ourselves have the opportunity to accept Jesus; His kindness is still towards all who are needy. His compassion and mercies are new every morning. We all can behold the the kindness and severity of God; to those who reject Him, severity, but to you who accept Him, God’s kindness, and we must continue in His kindness; otherwise, we also will be cut off.
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Isaiah 32:1-2 “Behold, a king will reign righteously, and princes will rule justly. And each will be like a refuge from the wind, and a shelter from the storm, like streams of water in a dry country, like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land”.
Isaiah 25:4 “For Thou hast been a defense for the helpless, defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat”.
Many years ago, while I was in a very severe testing in my life, a dear friend/mentor told me that one day I would be “like the shade of a huge rock in a parched land”. He told me to meditate on those verses in Isaiah. Now years later, as I look at these verses, I see that the testing of the Lord is what forms us. We become conformed to His image and learn obedience through testing and suffering. Even Jesus “learned obedience through the things that He suffered (Heb 5:8)”.
Isaiah 50:4 says, “The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple”.
Oh, to be such a disciple! To have learned of the Lord how to be like Jesus, “to sustain the weary with one word”! To be a refuge and shelter from the storms of this life! To have rivers of water “flowing from our innermost being” (John 7:38). To be like a “shade of a huge rock in a dry and parched land”!
We can be these things to those around us. In our churches, in our lives outside the church and in our families. We have something in us that the world does not have. We have the Spirit, and it can flow out of us to show mercy to all around us. Lord help us to be more like You!
Posted in Worship in Cirisis, Worship, Praise and Music | Tagged bible, christianity, conformed to His image, faith, god, jesus | Leave a Comment »
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