Month: January 2017

Is the Church Helping or Hurting the Spread of the Gospel? 

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Sweet friends, I am going to dig into some issues tonight because I want us to think about them, pray about them, and examine the question, “Are we representing God (Yahweh), the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, or trying to bully the world into thinking our way? Do we only love some people or everyone?”
Addressing the spirit of religion…

Sometimes the “Christian” way of thinking is not God at all. It is the spirit of religion which is oppressive, demeaning to women, hateful to those who are different or do not agree, full of control, legalism, pride, bullying, self righteousness, and manipulation. It is more concerned about being “right in it’s own eyes,” than loving thy neighbor. It’s void of agape love (unconditional, sacrificial, unselfish love). It is void of Jesus. It is antichrist. It is brutal. If you stand against the spirit of religion, or the idols behind it you may receive a tongue lashing or beating. 

If you do not live in America or do not know Jesus, please do not use the American church as the standard for what God is like. Look to Jesus. He perfectly represents the Father. Please open your bible and examine Jesus. He is still working on His Church so she loves like Him and follows Him. God loves you. 

Please do not allow the behavior of some unloving/misbehaving “Christians” to run you away from God. There are some incredible people who love Jesus and represent Him well in the western church, there is still room for improvement in the body of Christ overall. We are growing in maturity, hopefully. 🙂 

The aftermath of Election 2016…

Some of the evangelical church and charismatic church seemed to back one candidate and demonize the other and anyone who did not agree. It was okay to hurl insults, slander, gossip, dishonor, break friendships, verbally lash people, have a nasty attitude, and act like a crazy person all in the name of God. 

I want you to know God is not a manipulator or control freak. God is also not rude or spiteful. He is not the author of confusion or a lunatic. 

I have yet to see God try to guilt or bully me into doing something. He comes in love then allows me to choose. The devil is pushy, controlling, manipulative, arrogant, selfish, and gets very angry when he does not get his way. There were people who told me, “You need to vote for this person because this person had a prophesy. If you vote for that person, well you are going to hell.” No, I test all prophecies, and I need to pray and seek the Lord for myself. 

I am not a part of group think. I am following Jesus. People are not God. If we truly trusted God, bullying and manipulation would not be needed. Also regardless of the candidates positions, we are called to imitate Jesus. The nastiness that has been spewed out by some believers has been just as bad as the world. We are called to be salt and light. 

God is not a bully… 

We see in the Garden of Eden God gave Adam and Eve a choice. He told Adam not to eat from the tree of good and evil, yet Adam and Eve could still choose evil. 

I have been floored by the lack of God love from some believers during and after this election. I even went to God, “How do you feel about women, brown/yellow/dark brown people, foreigners…because some of Your children make it seem as though You only love some people. Please help me to understand. Please help.” My entire life I was taught God loves everyone. This election, some of the church sent the message, “God loves certain people. If you agree with us then He loves you. If you don’t, then you are not loved.” My views are attatched to the Gospel, to Jesus. Yet I did not feel the need to demonize anyone. Neither candidate stood as Jesus, nor represented fully His heart for the world in my opinion. And it’s not just over political views. This election brought out the inner bigot/racist in some people. What was hidden under praise the Lord surfaced in, “Those people.” 

I am being quite sincere in sharing my thoughts. At first I thought internally, “Do not put your thoughts out there.” It has gotten me pretty beat up by Christians in the past. Then I thought, ” Let them beat me because someone needs to say it loudly, ‘Refusing to love is sin. If you hate anyone, you can not claim to love God (1 John 4:8).’” Withholding love and apathy is a form of hatred. If we can watch another suffer and say, “That’s not my problem,” our love tank is running low or empty. Jesus loves everyone. If we lack love or compassion, we can not put that on God. 

You may be thinking, “How could you think this way, America just had 8 years under Obama. Hidden Figures is bringing in the money at the box office. Women are empowered. A woman ran for President. We are all one big happy family.”  I can say this as someone who walks around with tan/light brown skin and as a female; racism and sexism are still a problem in the world and it is still an issue in the global church. Not just racism or sexism, but the lack of love or honor for anyone who votes differently or has a varying opinion. If you do not believe me, scroll through some Facebook or Social Media or even church tv programs, look at the comments. I dare you to disagree with someone on an issue. 

“Let me take out my bible and slap you senseless with it. I bet you feel stupid now.” And the Christian who proved to the internet or world how much Bible they know, just wounded a bunch of people and made God look like a unloving bully. Not sure how that makes people want to know Jesus, but it happens. I have encountered it over and over. 

I have athiest and agnostic associates who were driven away from God and the church by an unloving church and unloving Christians. I have had seasons in my own life where I have said,”God I love You, yet some of Your children are so very mean or unloving. Can I please have a pass not to fellowship today?”

Hateful, unloving, apathetic Christians affect the spreading of the Gospel. The “I am saved. I can treat people how I want. You can’t judge me, there’s no condemnation for me,” is impacting the lost. Why seek a God with followers who are hateful and unloving when you can find some acceptance in the world? 

God is love…

Are we loving the world? Are we drawing people to Christ by our actions or repelling them? 

I have heard people say, “I have not seen any issues,” so that means the issue does not exist. Well, sweet friends, America and the entire world has a long way to go to represent Jesus as He is. I am sure He is not enjoying the fighting, offense, slander, judging, racism, sexism, I hate liberals, gossip, self righteousness, I’ve had enough of “those” people, beating people with the bible, lack of love, celebrating the suffering of another person, etc…He said very plainly, “As I have loved you, love one another. The world will know My disciples by their love. Love your enemies.” 

Jesus did not say you will know My followers by their opinions or political views, or their denomination or country of origin, or their skin color, nor by their church attendance or tithing. You can go to church and still go to hell. 

A country and world in need of an agape love revolution…

This election brought out the boil on the bottom of America we refused to acknowledge. We have some deep spiritual problems that need addressed in the church. While pointing a finger at the world, we have three pointed back at us. Do we know Jesus? We need Jesus. Are we representing Jesus?  We have some idols that need cast down. Some of them being politics, politicians, self, patriotism, and church leaders. Loving people and sharing the Gospel is far more important than who they voted for. 

We have some heart issues that need healed and mended. There is no amount of legislation that can fix heart issues. We need Jesus. There is still a void of agape love from the church for the world. There is still a void of receiving God’s love. We can only give away the love we have received. 

Ditching those people need Jesus…we all need Jesus. 

“Oh those people, they just need Jesus!” We all need Jesus. Did you (we) love “those” people? “Well ‘those’ people are hurting our country or they are reprobate.” Are we sinless? Did we perfectly represent Jesus today? If not, we can put down our bible billy club and thank the good Lord for mercy. 

Not sure why, yet sometimes being saved leads to abounding self righteousness and pride. It is “us” vs. “them”. Do we forget no person was born saved? Do we (the global church) care about the spreading of the Gospel and loving our neighbor or just promoting our ideals and political agenda?

America the Melting Pot…

 “Those people need to go back to their country.” Well, America had inhabitants before European settlers arrived here. They were Natives, Mexicans, and some Africans. Some of my ancestors were on this land before it was “discovered.” 

America is a melting pot of immigrants. If you are not Native, slamming other ethnic groups and telling them they do not belong is childish. I believe in due process of citizenship, yet many ethnic groups including Europeans migrated to America. So if everyone has to go back to their country that leaves some Natives, some Mexicans, and a few Africans to stay. 

Are we loving the ones God sends…

“Please come to our church, pay tithes, serve, and if you get out of line we are going to beat you senseless with the Bible and withhold love. Oh, and you need to think like us and vote like us or you’re going to hell.” Sounds harsh right. Yet I have seen it. I have experienced some of my worst verbal assaults, betrayals, heartaches from “Christians.” Singing and clapping on Sunday, cussing me out or talking crazy on Monday. On a positive note,  I thank God for the loving Christians there are in the world and this country. I pray we all have deep encounters with God’s love. May the global church be known by the agape love of God. 

Ditch us vs them…

In our world there are so many categories of them. Do we care about “them” or is it, “That’s their problem. Give me my Starbucks and leave me alone. I will pray for ‘them.’“Yet that is not the love Jesus showed the world. He did not say to the Father, “Forget them. They sinned. That’s their problem.” Jesus died for all even the most wicked of sinners. There was no “them” to be left behind or cast aside or ignored. What if God treated us the way we treat the world?

Is the church ignoring or mistreating the very people Jesus came to die for? How would Jesus treat “them”. 

I prefer we are all one race of people, human. Men and women have equal value to God. The foreigner and the native born are uniquely and passionately loved.

I stand with Jesus! 

God SO loved the world…

It is not enough for the church to love the unborn. We need to love the person right in front of us. We need to love the Native, the African, the Mexican, the South American, the Canadian, the Chinese, the Japanese, the Middle Easterner, the Indian, the Greek, the Norwegian, the Russian, the Australian, the British, the whole world! 

It is not God bless America and no place else! It is God bless the world! The entire world!! 

The Gospel of Jesus Christ is everyone but Jesus has sinned and is in need of a Savior. Jesus gave His life for ALL. Repent (change your mind about sin), confess your sins to God, believe Jesus is the Son of God, ask Him to be Lord of your life. Do not stop there, follow Jesus! Do what you see Him doing. He loved the least, last, lost! 

God loves the whole world! 

May born again believers not only know the Gospel, but abide in Jesus to live the Gospel. Jesus loves the world! John 3:16. The lost need to see Jesus in us the hope of glory. 

Bless you, 

Erin Lamb 

God Created One Race, Human 

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Morning Devotion: God created one race, human. Cleansing from the sin of racism. 

In Genesis it does not say, “Then God created asian people, latino people, jewish people, native people, white people, and black people.” It said God created Adam and Eve. We humans came up with different races of people. God created one human race that has different expressions of His beauty and creativity. 

It amuses me how people cling to labels that were created to promote division and racism. Part of the US census was to keep “white” people from mingling with anyone with brown DNA. Brown DNA, especially African DNA is dominant. 

All of life began on the continent of Africa. Science has proven African is the oldest DNA. If you combine African, Asian, Native, etc…DNA with non brown DNA it is prone to be dominant. There was also a belief that those with brown skin were inferior and their culture was a threat to all things “white”. 

Boxes and labels were created to keep people segregated due to fear, pride, insecurity, and in many cases greed. If you want someone’s land or to exploit them, to ease your conscious you make them less than you. If your neighbor is not human, or an inferior human it does not feel as bad to kill them, rape them, steal their land, or abuse/enslave them. 

The Jews thrown in concentration camps were not considered human. The Africans enslaved were not human, or less than. The Natives raped, killed, and forced off their land were considered savages. The other brown people groups bombed, killed were considered less than. 

The point I am trying to make is racism is sin. It is a sin that greatly grieves the heart of God. It is void of agape love, God love. Those who do not love, do not know God because God is love (1 John 4:8). 

God created one race of people, humans. The labels we cling to were created by humans to promote division. White people are not really white (void of all pigment). White is a crayon color; It is not a people group. Africans can have pink/pale children with blond hair and blue eyes. Black is a crayon color, it does not encompass all the different ethnic groups that emerged from the continent (Africa is not a country, it is a continent) of Africa. There are people all over the world with brown to dark brown skin. 

The pride people take in things that have zero relevance to God astounds me. He sees people He loves. He’s not in heaven taking a census, “Oh wait, did you check the box latino for this one. Great. I need to make sure heaven is diverse, we meet our quota.” 

Father God is not like us, our ethnic group of choice. He is Spirit. Those who worship Him must worship Him in Spirit and in truth. He is not our preferred ethnic group. He also created both male and female in His image. Every human being was God’s idea. God is not like an earthly male. Females were made in His image as well. I will touch on gender and sexism in a different post. 

When He sent His Son He sent Him through the lineage of the Jews; He made a covenant with Abraham. The Jews in the times of Jesus were olive skinned to brown/dark brown, had wool like/curly hair. Jesus would not be welcome today in many churches that claim Him. He would not be considered European or “white”. The portraits of Jesus with blond hair and blue eyes are artists reflections. Some of the earliest paintings of Him and Mary they were both brown. 

My prayer is we examine the labels we cling to. We examine how humanity birthed racism out of sin. The root being insecurity and pride, “Someone must be inferior to feel superior.” 

Racism is also a fruit of fractured identity and a soul void of God love. When we know our value in the eyes of God we can love and appreciate others. There are no inferior people groups in God’s eyes. We humans came up with putting others down to feel good about ourselves. 

Lord forgive us for the sins of insecurity, pride, and racism. You created one race, human. You love every single person on this planet. Oh how you love us. Help us to strip off labels given by man and be clothed in the labels given by You. Help us to view others from Your perspective. Help us to receive Your love and love our neighbor as we love ourselves. Break the bondages of pride, insecurity, and fractured identity off our country and world. Heal fractured identities and souls. The world needs Your agape love. Come Lord Jesus! Eradicate the deep roots of fear, insecurity, pride, racism, and sexism in our world. Please forgive our country and our world for our sins. Cleanse us of our iniquity. Heal our land. Let heaven come here. In Jesus powerful name. Amen.

Why Love? (Listening to Papa God)

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Morning Devotion: Why Love? 

When I first started blogging/writing about the love of God it upset some people online. I have had people I care for deeply offline say, “The problem is not God, it’s people. People need to hear about the wrath and severity of God. They need to repent.” 

There is a severity to God, repentance is required and needed. I do not negate the holiness of God. No one comes to the Father except through the Son. He is not a cuddly, mushy, people pleaser. He is a Consuming Fire. He is also 100% agape love. Our view of love is sometimes different from His. Everything God does is motivated by love, even correction. 

I talked to God; He is the One who inspired me to write about His love. This was His reply. 

“Many of My children know of Me, they do not know Me. They know of My love, what was taught to them, yet so many lack reception of My love and true understanding of My heart and character. They have created Me in their own image. Love has not been received or it has been perverted. One can only give away the love that has been received. One can only represent who and what they know. 

My heart greatly desires for My children to know Me. Everything I do is motivated by love, even the things they can not see or understand. I love them. Oh how I love them. Once they know My heart, the words written on the pages of their bibles will come alive in a new way. They will have more confidence. They will walk in My Son’s authority with love, grace, mercy, and power. They will live and love above their circumstances. They will not worry or fear, knowing that I love them. Oh how I love them. 

The world is suffering from a love deficit. The deficit is not because I do not love the world. The deficit is because the world has not fully received all My Son paid for on the cross. He paid for abundant life. 

Abide in My love. Demonstrate My love. Teach and model My love. My love is a love that is both pure and holy. My love does not enable sin or wink at unrighteousness. My love stands to empower righteousness, justice, and purity. 

I want My children, the whole world, to know what My love is and then give that love away. My love is a love that is concerned about the outcasts, poor, widows, orphans, invisible people, and downtrodden in society. 

I love the ENTIRE world, not simply one country, people group, or ethnic group. There is no bias or preferential treatment in My love. I love them all. I created one race of people, My people. My Son gave His life so any person could be redeemed through relationship with Him. He came to save the entire world. I love every tribe, every nation. I love both male and female. All have 100% of My love. 

My love is not divided up into portions. It is given out in whole pieces. It is possible because I AM. I am the all sufficient One. I can give all of Me to each one and never be depleted. They do not have to compete for My love, receive My love. Believe. Receive! 

How I long to see creation redeemed and living/loving from their renewed estate. My Son paid for restoration and redemption so each person who follows Him can stand in their heavenly identity. Love, My love, is the most powerful force in the Universe. They desperately need to know in their hearts, My unfailing love.” 

So…love it is. I have met people who have been Christians longer than I have been alive who do not know nor recognize God’s love. They know scripture. They know how to go to church and pay tithes and serve. They do not know the unfailing, uncompromising love of God. Therefore, they can not give agape to anyone else. 

Agape is God love; unconditional, unselfish, sacrificial love. We can only give what has first been received and release what we carry. I am still learning His love. My heart cries out, “More Lord. Deeper intimacy with You!” 

Papa God, anything hindering reception of Your love, I ask it is removed. Any views of You tainted by experiences with Christians, parents, or the spirit of religion I ask it be bound, healed, and removed. Help us to know You intimately. You are love. Redefine love from Your perspective, from Your vantage point, from Your heart. God may we know the height, depth, width, and vast expanse of Your great love! Thank You for loving us. In Jesus mighty name, amen.

Love Corrects to Restore

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Morning Devotion: Love corrects to restore. 

Whosoever loves instruction loves knowledge: but he that hates reproof is senseless (brutish),~Proverbs 12:1. 

Love is not about people pleasing, agreeing with what is wrong, forsaking accountability, and being reckless with the hearts/resources/lives of people, etc…love does not enable sin, unrighteousness, or poor behavior. 

Love comes to restore the broken pieces so there is more fruit; we begin to resemble the One we worship. Grace empowers righteousness. His kindness and love lead us to repentance. 

Repentance is a gift from God to lead us into greater fruitfulness. God corrects (provides instruction) and sometimes reproof/rebuke of those who are His children. See Proverbs 3:12. The purpose of His correction is restoration and growth. He is a very good Father. 

I prefer to be corrected than to live in error. Even the people who execute it very poorly, I have been able to take their statements to God, “Is this truth, if so, please help me to walk in Your truth, love, and life.” If God says, “Nope toss this. Here are My thoughts,” I listen to God and His Word. 

Pride says, “I know it all. No one can correct me.” Pride is constantly looking and seeing the error and faults in everyone else. Humility says, “There is always room to grow, learn, and I should listen.” Even if the person is wrong, we can learn from correction. 

What can be learned? 

1. How to hear from God for ourselves. 

God knows the heart. People judge by what they see. They see in part and know in part. Perception can sometimes become a tainted reality. If someone comes to us in the wrong spirit, with a word of correction…we have the chance to take that to God. “God is there any truth in what they said? What is Your truth?” God is the Master Heart Surgeon. He knows what to dig out and how to do it so we are not traumatized. 

2. Humility

Pride wants to lash out, act nasty, be defensive, and prove something. I have been misunderstood oh so many times and called many things that are not my name. I had a lady from a church once call me the B word to my face in front of a table of other believers. Her basis was the gossip and lies she was listening to from a lady who was offended by my lack of reception to her misguided and controlling spirit. I sat there without responding to her insult. That is not my name.

It does not matter what people call you. It’s what you answer to that matters. I did not try to defend myself. I did not engage. I left her in the hands of Jesus. I am not stating I am the most humble person. I ask God to deal with me daily to grow to be like Jesus. I am (we are) works in progress. Only God knows who I truly am. I am saying pride says, “I will show you.” Humility says, “I know who I am and who I am not. God defends me. His opinion of me is what matters most.” 

3. Love 

Okay so we love correction done in love. You leave convicted yet not destroyed. You are happy someone told you there was room to grow. I am so thankful for an old coworker who corrected me one day for complaining about my job. She said, “God wants us to give thanks.” I thanked her for correcting me. 

I had a mentor tell me, “You invest so much in these people are you assessing what they are doing with that investment? Are you wasting time?” She also told me, “Wisdom is knowing proper timing.” Both invited me to grow. So I took those words and asked God to help me. I still pray God helps me to walk in wisdom and love. These ladies showed me love. God love. 

People who go along with whatever we do even if it’s dead wrong do not truly love us. I am not saying we become the sin police. No no no…I am saying love wants what is right in the eyes of God. Love protects. Love is righteous. Love does not enable poor behavior or treatment. Love seeks to correct to restore and produce optimal growth. 

I have lost some friends and connections along the way for saying no to things that hurt me, hurt others, and were wrong. Yet almost every time the person came back later to say thanks. Correction does not always feel good, yet it is a blessing if we allow it to be. 

In a world that says, “Anything goes,” may we be people who say, “What is loving in the eyes of God? What is His standard? What is His truth in love?” May we correct people with the heart to love them, treat them the way we would want to be treated, and see the greatest restoration/growth. It is not about punishment or humiliating people or proving we are right. It’s about loving them into maturity and fruitfulness.

Without love and God’s truth, we are missing the heart of God! 

Papa God I ask You would search our hearts. Anything not like You or of You, please reveal it so we can repent, be cleansed, and be restored. Help us to renounce wrong thinking, perceptions, pride, offense, deception, unforgiveness, a critical spirit, unloving ways. Deepen our reception of Your agape love. Only when we receive can we freely give. Bathe our hearts in Your love, purity, and fire. Reduce us to agape love. Fill us to overflowing with Your truth. Radiate Your glory through us. May the world see Jesus in us. In Jesus mighty name. Amen! 
God bless you today and every day. You are in my thoughts and prayers. 

Love in Christ, 

Erin Lamb 

Encouraging Words for 2017! 

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Happy New Year Beautiful People! I know it’s later in the day, yet wanted to share some hopefully encouraging words for 2017! You are so deeply loved! 

Behold I do a new thing! 

Watch for the new thing I am going to do. It is happening already – you can see it now! I will make a road through the wilderness and give you streams of water there,~Isaiah 43:19.

I love listening to God’s heart about new seasons. The Jewish New Year began in Autumn of 2016. We entered 5777. Now we are crossing over into 2017. 

Thank You God for another year. Thank You for seeing us through it all. For those who faced so many challenges or loss in 2016, I ask for a breathing of new life. I ask for healing, comfort, wisdom, fresh perspective, restoration, and expectation for even GREATER awareness of Your goodness in 2017. 

These are some notes from time with God. Certainly pray over them, ask God for confirmation, and test the words typed here. 

Expectation. Raise the bar on what you are expecting from God:

Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen,~Ephesians 3:20-21 (KJV). 

Faith is the currency of heaven. I see the Lord moving even moreso in mountains being cast in the sea, parting of Red Seas, strategically moving people into places of greater territory for His glory. There will be more reports of miracles and creative miracles. No man or woman will be able to glory. He will get the glory due Him. 

Those who have been contending for a long time, I see them being renewed in the realm of their faith. As they stand in a place of GREATER expectation, God is moving towards them with answers. My encouragement is to speak life even to the dead places, dry places, and difficult places. 

New Eyes to See: 

There will be greater understanding and revelation for the spiritually hungry. Jesus is the way, truth, and life. Those who seek Him will experience greater heavenly perspective, more profound understanding of His word, and they will see with His purified vision. 

New Mantles: 

Mantles (anointing/ability in the Holy Spirit) will be placed on those who have stated they are not qualified or equipped. I see those saying, “This isn’t my gifting or calling,” being blessed by God, commissioned by God, and sent just as He sent Moses (Exodus 3). 

Many will sense new passions and desires they had not before. There will be a launching into new territory and uncharted waters. He will speak His assignment and confirm His calling. So there is no need to worry about, “Is this for me?” 

Those who have felt disqualified or as though there is no hope to be a partner with God will have refreshing of their minds to see all that Jesus paid for on the cross. The old man was crucified on the cross. The new has come. God is the Qualifier. 

Lost Coins Found/Season of Restoration: 

Prodigals are being pursued by the Holy Spirit and called by name. I see the Holy Spirit hovering and moving around them. Do not stop praying for your lost loved ones. Even if they seem to reject you or God, keep declaring His life giving words over them. 

“So I will restore to you the years that the 

swarming locust has eaten,

The crawling locust,

The consuming locust,

And the chewing locust,

My great army which I sent among you.

You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,

And praise the name of the Lord your God,

Who has dealt wondrously with you;

And My people shall never be put to shame.

Then you shall know that I am in the midst of Israel:

I am the Lord your God

And there is no other.

My people shall never be put to shame,”~Joel 2:25-27. 

I see Jesus walking through devastated fields and crops. They have been damaged. Yet with one move of His hand over the fields the dead crops come to life. I hear the words, “I will restore what the locusts have eaten. I will shift the season.” 

Unleashing the Lions and Lionessess: 

…God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind,~2 Timothy 1:7. 

This will be a season for many of the timid to rise up out of the ashes and into their destiny with Jesus. Some have been beat up by rejection or persecution. Some have been battling a spirit of fear. I see the Lord releasing His Spirit of truth to break lies of agreement with the enemy. Those individuals need to renounce their agreement with the spirit of fear and timidity. As they do, they move beyond self focus and their eyes are planted on Jesus, the Deliverer. They go from cowering to roaring!

Deeper Revelation of the Love and Power of Jesus: 

God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life,~John 3:16. 

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another,~John 13:34-35. 

There will be a rise in reception and demonstrations of God’s love and power on the earth. There will be such a heart transplant to love the unloveable and walk in the Spirit instead of the flesh. 

Those who are hungry and desperate for God will be filled (Matthew 5:6). 

Many in the Body of Christ will begin to move beyond bench dwelling at weekend services to partnership with God for the least, last, and lost outside the worship service gatherings. The great commission will take on greater meaning, it’s not for certain people-it is for every believer. 

Freedom from Affliction/Torment: 

You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him,~Acts 20:38 (NASB)

There are so many people tormented and afflicted by spirits that are not the Holy Spirit. I see the Lord pulling people out of ashes, unlocking spiritual cages, and healing even more tormented souls. Deliverance will become a more important part of ministries. 

Appearing Before the Bride: 

I have continued to hear Jesus talk of cleaning, purifying, and preparing His true Bride. During this season I see the Lord appearing before His Bride and asking her to exchange her idols and view Him as He is. He is appearing in such love and grace. He is restoring true worship. 

Programs of man will be interrupted by the flow of the Holy Spirit. People will encounter God, not the god made in man’s image. 

The Bride will rise and reflect Him in better ways as her intimacy with Him increases. The world will see a Bride more similar to her groom. I see Him lifting the Bride in His arms and loving her to greater life. 

Community/Unity/Families: 

There has been such a spirit of division, offense, and misunderstanding unleashed on people. I see the Lord bringing people together across the racial divide, the political divide, the relational divide, denominational divide, and knitting things together that build His Kingdom. 

Misunderstandings will be cleared up and some key bridges built. 

Glory on Earth:

I could see the earth in the hands of God, there was darkness, yet with His breath the darkness was pushed back and the glory of the Lord covered the earth. 

May this upcoming year be flooded with glory, unity, freedom, breakthrough, and profound encounters with Jesus! God is good and He will have the last say.