Delivering my Sock Puppet Speech to the Needy...

I was having breakfast with a pastor when he began telling me what "true" men of God looked like. He named revivalists of times past, fiery preachers whose presence brought people under the conviction of sin. They truly were mightily used of God and I knew it. He spoke for a while about this and then stopped and smiled a smug smile at me. "That's what true men of God look like."

I knew what he was doing as I have encountered this many times now. I very calmly gave him my "sock puppet" speech.

Everyone has a different part to play in the kingdom. The woman with sock puppets leading children to Christ in her Sunday school class is every bit as important as the fiery, angry preacher that seems so serious about God. Maybe even more so.

There are many people out there who will judge the work God has given you as frivolous and unimportant. Just remember we have but one to please and it isn't the one whose ministry it is to denigrate others. Stay true to the course! God is using you.
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And by the way... enjoy the journey!

​Just when you think you've seen it all...
An angel came and ministered to me. I couldn't hardly see him at first. I looked at him very closely and realized that the reason I couldn't see him so well was because he was covered in almost pitch black armor. When he moved however, I saw a blinding white light where the armor joined together. He didn't call it this but I would call it stealth mode. There is so much I have yet to learn....
Did I understand why he chose to let me see? No. Did I understand everything he told me? No. Why then all of this?
In the early days I told the Lord. "If I don't understand, I may as well not see." One of the stupidest things I have ever said. Allow the Lord to teach you the way He chooses. Don't think we get to direct our own education. Sometimes the Lord will give you an experience and unpack the revelation slowly. It's OK. He knows what He's doing.
Thank you Lord for the visitation...

I have hated gossip and slander and mocking for as long as I can remember. I always thought it unfair to judge someone on some perceived flaw when you don't even know them or their life. Once I got a peek into the realm of the spirit and saw the spiritual dynamic, I was even more galvanized in my position. I used to think it was just the evangelicals that did those things because that was the group I was from, but realized eventually it goes across all denominations even unto the most well-known in the Christian world.

And in case you are wondering, Yes, I have been guilty myself. When I was a child we used to mock those people who lifted their hands to pray, spoke in funny languages and believed God still did miracles. But do you know what? I grew up. I finally got to the point where I would strongly let people know that I didn't want to hear what they were saying about people if it wasn't nice and there was no point in the telling. I remember that more than once someone started talking about a character flaw someone had and rather than join in, I would with a most serious expression say something like "I want to thank you for letting me know about this. This is serious. We should pray for them now." Then, I would get on my knees and close my eyes and pray without ceasing until some of them literally left. It only took a couple times before people learned I didn't want to be a party to it.

​Fast forward several years... I had been thinking about a few evangelists out there who seemed to be winding down, maybe getting off track in their focus or direction, and I was thinking about how sad it was. One day I suddenly found myself sitting next to one of those men. Millions of people know his name and probably millions have been saved through his preaching of the gospel. In the hour and a half I was there with him I couldn't help but think "Where is that anointing? Where is that power he carried? I don't feel anything from him except tired and a little testy." In my mind I had already judged him and written him off. (just being honest with you, not that I am proud of it by any means)

As I weighed these things in my mind suddenly the Lord spoke to me. "Where are the intercessors?" That was all he said. He really didn't have to say anything else. I suddenly realized that what I "said" in my mind, I would have dropped to my knees to pray if I had heard someone else say those things in the past. "Where are the intercessors?"  Yes Lord, you are right. I don't pray for him anything like the way I used to. This brother was just weary. He spent his entire life from youth serving God and I was not looking at that. I was looking at him in the wrong light. "Where are the intercessors?" Where are the Aarons and the Hurs to hold up the arms of the generals of the faith. There is no reason a 65 year old man or woman should be diminishing in strength as they serve the Lord, at least not if they have people willing to lift them up in prayer.

And Moses was an hundred and twenty years old when he died: his eye was not dim, nor his natural force abated. (Deut. 34:7 KJV)

Those whom we have admired in the past, those we have learned from, those whose meetings we have attended, lets keep them lifted up in prayer. Supernatural strength should be their portion. Let their gifts and annointings only increase. Lord help us to pray... and help them to finish well.

* Just a clarification... I believe that God's presence was still powerfully upon this brother but I was not allowed to sense it as God was doing something in my heart that day.

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​I have a strong and passionate desire to see people “walk” in the things of the spirit. What things am I talking about? Basically, everything talked about in the word of God that has to do with the power of the Holy Spirit being on display. This would include miraculous salvations, supernatural conviction of sin, healings and miracles of every type, signs and wonders and other miracles that one can not explain away by natural means

I get asked all the time by charismatics, “Why is it important to have all this supernatural stuff as part of your Christian life?” Many are looking at what they perceive the “supernatural Christian life” to be and wonder where the discipleship went. Where is the talk about the cross and the blood and dying to self?  What happened to holiness and purity? Where did humility go? I understand, I really do. Many have asked me how seeing in the spirit or having a life of God’s power manifested helps them be a better Christian. Does it help me in some way?

The short answer is that having a life where you see what the Father is doing and hear what He is saying will bring you into the walk you were destined for. Looking at Jesus as our example and emulating His life will cause us to fulfill our purpose. Jesus Himself said “The works I do, you will do, and greater works than these because I go to my Father.” Paul said “I come to you not with excellency of speech but with a demonstration of power.” Why would Jesus make such a blanket statement such as this? He didn’t say “The works that I do a few of you will do.”

One of the biggest complaints I hear is that I am trying to “push” this supernatural stuff on everybody. There it is… You see what I have found is that even in the camp of those who believe God still does the miraculous, many don’t want to believe that this is normal Christian life. The power of God thing is rare and special, precious few have attained that level, etc., etc.  We don’t all walk in those things and neither are we meant to do so. Yes we have our Benny Hinns but we can’t all be Benny Hinn can we? I mean, that is why millions of people from all over the world
go to Benny Hinn, because we don’t all carry that kind of Holy Ghost power right?

(I’m not picking on Benny Hinn, he is just known by everyone)

I’m as guilty as anyone. There is something about believing there is someone extra special who can talk to God for us… a prophet… a Moses.

The thing is that Matthew 10:8 is very inclusive to all believers. The word obligates us to walk in supernatural power.
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give. (Matthew 10:8 NKJV)
If we are not walking in this, it isn’t because God has a different set of instructions somewhere. This is for all believers.
And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
They shall take up serpents; and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall not hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover. (Mark 16:17-18 KJV)

Other Stuff

What about seeing in the spirit? How is that normal? If God wants you to see He will open your eyes, right? What is your biblical reference for that belief?  How are we so sure events in the scriptures that define our beliefs were sovereign acts of God? The bible talks about eyes that see.

But blessed are your eyes, for they see: and your ears, for they hear.
For verily I say unto you, that many prophets and righteous men have desired to see those things which ye see, and have not seen them; and to hear those things which ye hear, and have not heard them. (Matthew 13:16-17 KJV)
Also…

I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye-salve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:18 KJV)

Developing Sight

My own spiritual sight began to open and develop without me having an understanding role in seeing it come to pass. I wasn’t trying to “see” and I wasn’t trying to “walk in miracles” in the early days of my adventure in God. The things I did, I did because I had a passion to see people set free. I had a burden upon me that was like an anguish in my soul that grieved for those in torment and bondage and so I would pray. Two important things began to happen. After 8 or 10 hours of being in prayer, my spiritual eyes would open and very often I would see those things I was praying against in someone’s life. Also, miracles, deliverances and healings would happen. It didn’t take long to realize that there was a connection. I realized that I may not be Benny Hinn but it seems like if I persevere in prayer, the Lord shows up in power.

I also learned at that time that not everyone wants to pray that way. It isn’t that they can’t, they just don’t want to. Many times, I have asked people who are desperate for miracles to spend a day with me agreeing in prayer for their situations and have only had a couple people ever agree to do so. The others did not have the time. They would however go to meetings with special healing evangelists in the area. I’m not judging them but they clearly had been led to believe somewhere along the way that only the special few could pray and expect God to move. They did not see themselves as being someone who could and thus felt that they were wasting their time by trying to pray for miracles. Again, believing that only a special few operate in the “supernatural” while us normal folk limp along until we can get to the man or woman of God.  If you teach people this you are doing them no favors.

The High Price Jesus Paid

One of the reasons I give that people should embrace everything given in the word is that Jesus paid a dear price for us. I feel we have a responsibility not to get by but to thrive in our spiritual life in God. I was listening to a well-known evangelist and writer say that Jesus did not pay the price for us to walk in the supernatural, but rather just for salvation and healings. I don’t believe he is right. I believe Jesus paid for every good thing we have or have access to in this life and in the life to come. Everything.

Did Jesus redeem us so that we could have a life like John or Peter or Paul, or so that we could hold on until we make it to Heaven? I think you may know where I stand on this question. Many have said that the miracles in the bible were all sovereign by God and that those who performed these miracles were not looking for them or asking for them to happen. Philip being transported for example only happened once to Philip and he didn’t ask for it or desire it. I don’t think we can make statement like that without some special knowledge about or from Philip.

Like believers today, I think there were some, like Philip and others who desired to be used of God in any way He chose to use them. I believe Enoch, Elijah, Moses and those like them chose the life they lived. They chose just like we can choose. Yes, we CAN all be like Benny Hinn. Absolutely we can. No one excluded. But…

Remember when the Lord told 500 or so people to tarry in Jerusalem for the Holy Ghost? How many were willing to go and tarry? Less than half went, about a hundred and twenty. That was their choice. They waited and received the gift of the Holy Ghost and tongues of fire sat upon each one. That sounds rather powerful and supernatural to me. They chose to be there. Do you desire to walk in the supernatural power of God? It’s a choice.

​Go and tarry… make the choice.

The Emperor’s New Clothes  (or…Becoming Spiritually Elite)

Come on! Don’t get so offended! But read on…

I know you love the Lord and only desire to get closer and more intimate with Him. If your passion is Jesus then it only makes sense that you embrace all He has provided and learn to walk in those things and not just have a history lesson about His life and a religious tradition to observe once a week. I get it.

I mean I so get it that it is my passion to lead people into the deepest end and trust the Lord that they will learn to swim as He teaches them about the Kingdom Realm.  It is my passion that those who desire it will learn to see the unseen to such a degree that they don’t wonder “Is this it?” My desire is that the angels around your life are not wispy images that you barely hold on to but rather are so overwhelmingly present that you fall over like Daniel or John, wondering desperately “Can I even handle this?” It is my desire that the things of Heaven so manifest in your life that it rains inside your house when you worship, complete with lightening storms and that angels literally turn the pages in your bible to something the Lord wants you to read. I could go on and on.
I am not anti-supernatural and I want to start out by telling you that. I believe in walking in the supernatural of God.

When God Doesn’t Measure up to Our Brilliance

I was sharing Christ with a young man who was into the New Age and telling him about the love of Jesus. H


may want to pray about it.

If you make Jesus your everything, you will walk in the supernatural.
 

It was about 5 am that I moved from my prayer chair to the bed. “Ok Lord, time for me to get a little sleep now.”  Or maybe not… It seems that these times tend to be when the Lord visits us. It seems that it’s those times when you have prayed and waited and prayed and waited and finally “given up” for the night that the Lord says “Here I am.” I laid down on my bed and was caught into a dream that unfolded before me with someone narrating the dream to me as it went. 

There were hundreds of people and even more angels standing at a transfer station on a river bank, next to a river that was quite wide, deep and flowing with a powerful current. I had a knowing that this river would take each person to their unique destination.. The voice was explaining that this was a new season, a new direction with a more powerful manifestation of God’s presence. The people were being directed into the flow and the angels were going in also. The power of the current meant that all we had to do was allow the current to take us.

​I heard the voice say “This is a new move and you will need to pray new prayers. I had a sense that we had to pray “bigger” prayers that matched up with the flow we were in.

​6 Just make sure you ask empowered by confident faith without doubting that you will receive. For the ambivalent person believes one minute and doubts the next. Being undecided makes you become like the rough seas driven and tossed by the wind. You’re up one minute and tossed down the next. 7–8 When you are half-hearted and wavering it leaves you unstable. Can you really expect to receive anything from the Lord when you’re in that condition? (James 1:6-8 TPT)

I knew the powerful current was the Holy Spirit. He was empowering this journey and the Heavenly host were encamped around us even as they flowed with us.

…'Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,' says the Lord of Hosts." (Zechariah 4:6 NKJV)

One thing that stood out was that everyone was there for a purpose. No one had to be prompted to get into the river. They all knew what they were there for. This was a confirmation that those who had been given words from the Lord were ready to go. People were launching into the deep without hesitation.

Did I know where everyone was going? No, I did not. I knew that this was not an issue as long as we stayed in the flow of His spirit. His power would move us even as we yielded to it.

Are you ready? Let’s all step in!

Recently I had the great honor to spend a few days with a friend who is known for having powerful visitations from God. Just before retiring one night he encouraged me to go spend some time in his prayer chair. There was something about the way he said it that made me think that he knew something and I was about to find out
I finally made it to the chair about 12:20 am and spent some time talking to the Lord and expressing needs, and lifting up prayer requests, then I just sat silently waiting for the Lord to speak.

I’m not sure when exactly it happened but it wasn’t too long before I felt a powerful presence enter the room. It was an angel of the Lord and he was standing not more than seven or eight feet away. As he stood there before me I could feel his presence to the point where it was a little hard to take. In my mind I remembered a visitation I’d had once where I had literally crawled out of my prayer chair and ran from the room. I wasn’t really condemned over it but I felt sorry that I had not trusted the Lord more in that moment, and now, I was in a similar circumstance.

The power that was coming off of him increased and I heard the Lord speak to my spirit. “Are you going to run or will you stay and see what I have for you?” In my mind I answered the Lord that I would stay. As soon as I made that decision the power which felt very much like some kind of intense electrical field covered me. Again I heard “Do you want to run or will you stay?” In my heart I made my decision. Over the next several minutes the Lord pushed out the boundaries in various ways even more that would be hard for me to describe. With each and every increase of power released upon me I heard those words “Do you want to run or will you stay?”

I finally got to the point where I just told the Lord “I’m staying no matter what.” As soon as I had made that declaration the Lord caught me up into the Heavens and released revelation to me.

The Revelation

I was shown and taken into a map that seemed to be as big as the solar system. There was writing and notation hanging in the air kind of like what you might see in the movies where they have maps on glass with writing on them. I traveled through this map back down to a place on the earth where another angel of the Lord told me about a specific place upon the Earth that was a part of my destiny. After that angel had spoken, there was an explosion and another angel shielded the explosion with his body so there was no harm to anyone. I stood there waiting to see what was next or would be taken back to the chair.

As I stood there waiting, snow began to fall and I just enjoyed watching it. I have always loved snowfall as it reminds me of cleansing and a new start, I told the Lord “I’m here for anything you want to show me.” At that point I fell into the snow and lay there for at least five minutes. This was not overwhelming but was indeed strange to me and I wondered why the Lord is allowing me to just lay here in the snow. Suddenly however I began moving and within seconds was back in the chair and trying to process the whole experience.

The Meaning

The Lord told me that in this hour, I, as well as many others are going to be in that valley of decision. Will we run from the presence of the Lord or stay in His presence? He said because of the day we are in there will be an increase of power working in us, through us and with us. It may be more than uncomfortable in many different ways. I’m reminded of Daniel’s visitation from the angel of the Lord. The men with him ran away and Daniel fell down.

7 And I Daniel alone saw the vision: for the men that were with me saw not the vision; but a great quaking fell upon them, so that they fled to hide themselves.
8 Therefore I was left alone, and saw this great vision, and there remained no strength in me: for my comeliness was turned in me into corruption, and I retained no strength. (Daniel 10:7-8 KJV)

There are decisions to be made in this hour and not just whether you can stand in God’s presence but are you willing to accept what that means in your life?  The Lord said that being taken up into Heaven was a revelation that we must live and move from our Heavenly position in Christ. The map signified strategies from Heaven that will direct us where to go and what to do as we yield to His plan. The explosion and the angel who shielded it with his body signified that perilous times will increase but we have divine protection as He has given His angels charge over us. (Psalm 91:11) The last part where I was laying in the snow I did not immediately understand but my friend told me “It’s sanctification. Greater power requires greater sanctification.”

In my own heart I am reminded of Joshua when he asked the angel of the Lord “Are you for us or against us?” The answer was “neither”

13 And it came to pass, when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and, behold, there stood a man over against him with his sword drawn in his hand: and Joshua went unto him, and said unto him, Art thou for us, or for our adversaries?
14 And he said, Nay; but as captain of the host of the LORD am I now come. And Joshua fell on his face to the earth, and did worship, and said unto him, What saith my lord unto his servant? (Joshua 5:13-14 KJV)

This is a time where we must be about His business for His Kingdom and His purposes. The latter will be greater than the former and it’s happening now.

God bless you!
Mike
 
 
                                                                                            

You are a seer. Or a seer in training. (as most are) It is an amazing thing to see the unseen realm. Never felt this alive before have you? It takes life and our life in Christ to a completely new place. That which was formerly known completely by faith, you actually see right before your eyes. It's one thing to know angels exist but something else entirely to have one stand before you and deliver a message. And then what happens? Someone wants to debate with you on whether angels exist. What? Which is kind of what this post is about.

The Luxury of  Opinion

Consider this scenario. You have two people standing next to a car and one has their eyes opened and the other has their eyes closed, and they are disagreeing about the color of the car. The person with their eyes closed insists the car is yellow but the one with open eyes says it is blue. The person with closed eyes tells the other "You are closed minded! Why is your opinion more valid than mine!?" The person with open eyes says. "Opinion? I am looking right at the car and I can SEE that it is blue." This is your dilemma. For better or worse, as someone who sees, you have much less "opinion" to put forth. You see what it really is and that is that. Sure, sometimes there is interpretation but to those operating in this it isn't rocket science. They know. 

On the plus side, you know what is going on around you. You see what spirits are at work, you know what kind of anointing someone is working under and you know the root causes of things going on in your life as well as the lives of others. Also, you don't have to wonder so much about what is or isn't the work of the enemy anymore. (to some this might be a negative) This seer thing brings a great deal of clarity about things on many levels.

On the negative side, because you actually see what is happening, people think you are closed-minded. Some will want to debate with you about what you see and whether it is real or not. They have liberty to have an opinion about certain things but you no longer do. It makes people angry. Even close friends get angry. "How dare you judge me?!" I'm not trying to judge you I'm trying to give you the inside scoop... to help you. 

​Seer and Prophet Bob Jones

One thing I have always loved about Bob Jones is that with great love, he always delivered the truth, very matter of fact, about what was or wasn't the enemy, how they operate and what it all looked like in the realm of the spirit. To me, he never sounded like he was trying to convince anyone, he was just telling it the way it was. Those who don't believe it? Then it's on them, but at least they were told. 

This ability can really set you at odds with people at times... "Isn't that message straight from the Father?" "No, it isn't. There was an evil spirit speaking to him as he delivered it." Ouch! Sometimes you can be pleasantly surprised though. Once we sat in a service and watched as columns of angelic warriors that were clothed in fire entered the sanctuary. Gordana and I looked at each other with excitement at what God was doing. About ten minutes later, the pastor who wasn't someone who talked much about spiritual gifts stood up and told everyone about all the fire angels that just entered the place. That was a nice surprise! You don't always know which way things are going to go but I will say that there is seldom a dull moment.

If you see my Facebook page much you may have noticed that I almost never post about the topics people argue about. Politics, liberty to sin, morality and immorality , what is or isn't sin, etc. Why is this? Because there is very little gray area anymore. Most people will believe those things they want to believe and it doesn't matter that you see if they don't. I was once explaining to someone why a certain behavior was sin. When I told them an angel had explained it to me and shared what he had said, they responded "That's just his opinion." See what I mean? (no pun intended)

What can you do? This, as some of you know, is just something you are going to deal with from time to time. I don't argue anymore or spend countless hours trying to convince anyone. . I just spend a lot of time praying for their eyes to be opened. Once people can see, the truth is right there in front of them.

Should I obey God or disobey God so that people will approve of me? Well... when you put it like that it is a no-brainer. However we seldom if ever process things that way especially in the moment of decision. It's not like I have a desire to disobey God and I'm not overly concerned with what most people think about me. But then again, there are times...

Several years ago while at work, the Lord gave me a simple instruction to obey. I was standing in the middle of our shop with lots of people around, talking to a coworker about his foot injury. The Lord said "I want you to pray for his foot." I told the Lord I would and then began thinking of a time, perhaps lunch hour, where we could get by ourselves and I could pray for him. The Lord said "Do it now." The Lord then showed me a picture (in my imagination) of me kneeling down in the middle of the shop in front of everyone and praying for the man. The thought of being labeled a weirdo ran through my mind, but then again this group already thought I was a weirdo. (because of the extra large family bible on my workbench and the worship music I played all the time)  I knelt down and prayed and the Lord healed him. Fear of the group was not much of an issue because I was already semi-rejected by them. No, they were not nasty to me but I was not one of them. 

A couple of years later I had another situation come up where I had a similar decision to make. I heard through "the grapevine" there was a famous psychic who was saying good things about me and my teaching. He was placing his stamp of approval as it were upon me. I really did not like the idea of that at all. I thought "what do I do with this?" The things I talk about already challenge people about whether it's God, and now I'm getting endorsements from a psychic? You who are reading this probably already know this, but the majority of churches reject completely the things I talk about. Some churches are looking but skeptical, and others (a few) are already walking in the supernatural things of God. Unfortunately I began to think about my "credibility" with the church folks. 

What made things even worse was the fact that the Lord told me one day "I want you to call him and tell him thank you for the kindness he has shown you." First off, I even questioned if it was the Lord's voice. Why in the world would the Lord tell me that?! But the thing is, I know His voice and it was Him. Did I obey? No, I reasoned. I reasoned every possible reason why I should not do that. "Lord I don't want to be connected to some guy who is from the other side!" It wouldn't be good for my testimony. I argued with the Lord every time He told me and guess what? He stopped asking me to do it. What was my real resistance? Fear of man. Fear of rejection from people who don't even know me. It is a sad time in my life looking back. Why?

A couple years later, after I had grown up a bit,  I was asking the Lord about it (which is what I should have done to start with) and He sent me the answer. The man reaching out to me two years earlier was led of the Lord. He was going through a time in his life where he needed a miracle. He needed the power of God displayed and the Lord was answering his prayer. He did not need those who already surrounded him, he needed someone who could introduce him to the one true God who could give him his miracle.  I found out the whole story later and the very sad truth is that he never did receive the miracle he needed.

I realized that I had been more afraid of the church people than the world's people. What I have come to see with more clarity is that you and I, especially those who really believe, are going to have to make these kinds of choices all the time. The religious hated Jesus, but we want them to love and accept us? It's not going to happen. The Lord has taught me through numerous examples I could share, that when He speaks, we must just obey. We can't reason and try to understand first or ask for a hundred confirmations. If we know it is the Lord, we must just obey. 

Many times it's a matter of someone's salvation or healing or life and death. We must be free of fear in all it's forms. Love, perfect love, will act to save regardless of what the crowd says. 

Stand apart from the crowd.