Daily Devotions

Posts tagged “christianity

The Contender Has Met Darkness Head-On

 

MARTY GABLER–The Contender Has Met Darkness Head-On.   The soaking-worship began at 6:30p.m. last Wednesday night. Melissa stepped up to the mic as the instruments began playing and she began to spontaneously worship Jesus. Pastor Bill, who was scheduled to teach on healing that night just laid down on the floor. About 6:55p.m. Kathy and I walked into the auditorium. We walked down to the third row under a heavy presence of the Holy Spirit.

I began walking, worshipping and interceding along the right wall. After a while I was leaning on the wall. A few minutes later, I was holding myself up with one hand on the wall and the other hand on a chair back. That wasn’t working so I knelt at the chair.

About half-way through the evening I and several others began intermittently releasing a yell as we were stirred and touched by the Holy Spirit in the midst of holy worship. It was at this point that Melissa stepped back from the mic and the instruments began to play a new song.

The music began to gently swell and recede in a most beautiful way. (As we compared notes after the meeting, we discovered that several of us had heard a keyboard though no one was at the keyboard.) As the music began to swell I had a vision like I have never had. I saw gently-rolling hills that seemed to be alive. Over the closest hill came a great hoard of powerful horses with flaring nostrils and great flowing manes. On their backs were fierce warriors who stood in the stirrups with hands fast upon their reins and leaning forward, alongside the horses necks. They seemed to be speaking to the horses. The warriors’ long hair flowed in the wind as did the horses’ manes. While they listened, the horses eyes were focused intently upon what was ahead.

The view was panoramic. On the far right were the horses and riders. There didn’t seem to be any ground that was not being covered with horses hooves. There didn’t seem to be any spaces between the horses. Their great strides were covering an amazing amount of ground with each gallop.

Suddenly, my attention was drawn to the left side of the panorama. Up from behind a rock a dark, startled creature popped up and began staring at the flowing tide coming down upon him. A ways over from this creature, another popped up from behind a bush and yet another popped up from behind a small knoll, all terrified at what was soon and inevitably going to happen. At this point, 2K 6:16 “more are those who are with us than those who are with them” came to mind. Then, the advancing tide of horses and warriors rolled over the creatures as though they were nothing before their fierce and focused momentum.

Just moments after I had seen the vision Melissa, without knowing what I had seen, stepped back to the mic and began to sing, “He is The Great Contender and He has met darkness head-on tonight.” Jehovah-Sabaoth, Lord of Hosts, is contending with those who oppose His purposes.

Psa 2:1  Why the big noise, nations? Why the mean plots, peoples? 2  Earth-leaders push for position, Demagogues and delegates meet for summit talks, The God-deniers, the Messiah-defiers: 3  “Let’s get free of God! Cast loose from Messiah!” 4  Heaven-throned God breaks out laughing. At first he’s amused at their presumption; 5  Then he gets good and angry. Furiously, he shuts them up: 6  “Don’t you know there’s a King in Zion? A coronation banquet Is spread for him on the holy summit.” 7  Let me tell you what GOD said next. He said, “You’re my son, And today is your birthday. 8  What do you want? Name it: Nations as a present? continents as a prize? 9  You can command them all to dance for you, Or throw them out with tomorrow’s trash.” 10  So, rebel-kings, use your heads; Upstart-judges, learn your lesson: 11  Worship GOD in adoring embrace, Celebrate in trembling awe. 12  Kiss Messiah! Your very lives are in danger, you know; His anger is about to explode, But if you make a run for God–you won’t regret it! (Msg)

We are not helpless and ineffective before the opposition of darkness. Darkness is not the insurmountable, indefatigable force its propaganda is meant to conjure up.   ( > This is a post I found in my notes from sometime back. I felt I should post it again today.)

(martygabler.com)


A Strategic Dream

KATHY GABLER — A friend called with a strategic dream that was an answer to her prayer. She has been in a on-going trial at work and is weary of the situation. She asked God if she could leave the situation. In her dream she was a nurse in an emergency room and she was tending to three patients. A doctor walked in and she was relieved to see him because she knew he was a trustworthy doctor. He told her to go get something and she was walking quickly down a long hall. A door opened in the hall and a lady walked out. In the dream she realized it was angel. The angel beckoned her to come with her. But she knew the care for the three patients must be finished first, so she asked the angel if she could check with her tomorrow. The angel answered yes and walked back through a door which disappeared as it closed.

The trustworthy doctor was the Great Physician coming on the scene to intervene. That is why she knew Him and was so glad to see Him. Often, as in this case, a hall represents transition or moving from one place to another, one opportunity to another. She was encouraged to realize that He had given her instructions to enter a transition time, and allowed her to glimpse a new door, an opportunity divinely provided. Her sense of integrity kept her there to finish with the three patients. The three patients symbolized the three years of trial of her “patience” with her co-worker. She actually passed a test of character when she chose not to go through the door and to stay until finished because “three” also is significant of completing a divine process and purpose. And as the angel said, there will be another divine opportunity when the time is right.

Kathy will be speaking at DREAMS VISIONS AND PROPHECY 2025. It is Sept.12-14 at Grace Church Willis,TX just north of Houston off I-45. There is No Fee to attend.  ? Questions about DVP2025 ? Click on this link:  martygabler.com/dvp2025/


Three Victories With Un-carnal Weapons

KATHY GABLER—Following are three victories won with un-carnal weapons that were received in dreams and visions: Vicarious Insights (Walking in someone else’s shoes so we can swing an un-carnal weapon in their behalf!): Recently a doctor and his wife told me of a dream and a vision they had on the same night. The experience brought the two warriors into agreement that literally set the enemy to flight. The doctor had a patient who was a satan-worshipper and the patient had a tag-along demonic force to be dealt with during his visits. The doctor asked his wife to pray with him concerning the situation.
That night the doctor’s wife dreamed she was trying to feed some needy people and one man in a demonic outburst started to bite her. She was frustrated that there seemed to be no one to help her get him to deliverance. In her frustration she turned to look for assistance and blurted out, “For the love of God . . .”
Suddenly her husband awoke, “Did you hear that?” She was grateful to be awakened from the dream, but admitted she had not heard anything. He had awakened to the sound of their back door slamming. When he went to check the door, he found it unlocked but shut. In that same moment he knew by the Spirit that a dark spirit had just fled from his house.
In the dream, the wife was experiencing “biting the hand that feeds you.” The demonized man was attacking her as she tried to help him. This was an intercessory picture for her of what her husband was going through. A patient, that he obviously was trying to help, was a bearer of a dark spirit that opposed anything good or positive and was running interference and trying to harass the doctor. The wife’s outcry in the dream, “For the love of God!” was an un-carnal weapon, a declaration of the purpose and plan of God in intercessory warfare.
Let me lay some groundwork. A man we know went to India to minister. Soon after he arrived, a shaman came to his hotel room. He obviously came to harass and intimidate him because he did not use the door. The shaman came right through the wall and backed the man onto his bed where he towered over him menacingly. The shaman demanded, “What are you doing here?” The minister hesitated and then spoke wisely from his spirit, “I am here because of the compassion of Christ.” If the minister had argued his rights and his cause rather than the cause of Christ, he would have been limited to self-protection; and self would not have been a match for the experienced power of darkness confronting him. There was no arguing with the wise answer however, and the shaman disappeared as quickly as he’d come without another word.
The “love of God” and “the compassion of Christ” are un-carnal weapons, mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds! That outcry in the wife’s dream was intercessory for her husband’s situation. That power point of agreement with her husband literally set the enemy to flight. Her husband witnessed the flight in a night vision as he heard the door slam. (In visions we can experience the spirit realm, meaning we can see, hear, taste, smell or touch things in the spirit realm around us.) Their agreement, a powerful un-carnal weapon, had set darkness to flight! Two days later the patient was gone also.
KATHY will be speaking at DREAMS VISIONS PROPHECY 2025. Location: Grace Church Willis TX. NO FEE. Sept.12-14. Click on this link for all information: martygabler.com/dvp2025/


Seeking to Separate

KATHY GABLER—Ultimately a spirit of division seeks to separate God’s creation from God’s Original Intent so that the plans of God fall in history and fail to come to pass. This spirit is stupid enough to set itself against Almighty God and tenacious enough to try anything.  Besides working to separate people and make relationships dysfunctional, it is working against our foundational values and beliefs.  One blatant example is how this spirit is actively attempting to divide freedom from truth.  John 8:32 tells us, “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”  There is an undeniable link between truth and freedom.  It’s not that truth automatically sets everyone free, it is when we KNOW the truth.  That means when we are aware of the truth, it will make us free.  Truth that we KNOW will liberate or deliver or exempt us from liability.  If people are unaware of truth they can live in total ignorance and live as captives of lies and erroneous beliefs and cunning deceit.  In recent times we have watched deluded people project freedom to be extremes of entitlement and destructive chaos.  Only a self-absorbed and warped mind believes freedom to be totally unrestrained, unaccountable and anything-goes behavior.  Only darkened minds believe they are free when they are captives to misbeliefs and lies. (Isa 44:20 says that a deluded mind cannot even question the lie in his own hand.) When the United States of America declared its independence, our forefathers declared we were no longer subject to the influence or control of another government’s tyranny or its oppressive injustice or its single ruler with absolute power.  The success of this nation’s launching was in the first four words of the Declaration of Independence:  “We hold these truths . . .”   They knew truth to be essential for genuine freedom, and we likewise know freedom  must be in continual covenant with truth.

(KATHY will be teaching at DVP2025 Sept.12-13,2025. Go to this link for all information: martygabler.com/dvp2025 )

 


Don’t Get out of Bounds to get What you Want

Kathy Gabler—The third thing the devil did was offer Jesus a way to get what He came after by getting out of bounds on a shortcut.  Satan offered to not oppose Him and give Him the kingdoms of this world (Rev. 11:15).  Jesus knew the kingdoms of the world were to be His, but He knew better than to worship Satan to get them.  Jesus was a mature son of strong character, and He was so intent upon obedience and self-government, that He couldn’t be tempted by success any other way.  Adam and Eve did fall for the temptation to get out of bounds and reach beyond the will of God.  Then, evidently, they did not truly repent because they passed on the “thinking of their heart” to the next generation.  Cain cracked his own mirror also by reaching outside God’s boundaries with a sacrifice that wasn’t acceptable.  Then his self-worth plummeted and his self-government completely toppled when he murdered his brother.


New Opportunities and New Adjustments

MARTY GABLER–Going into the new year or new season or new opportunities requires adjustments, decisions and determination on our part. When Israel left old Egypt for the new promised land, they increased the difficulty of the transition by taking old issues, and resultant attitudes, with them. It is OK to take a wilderness experience into promise. We all have some kind of wilderness experience at some point in life, if not several of them. Having gone through the not-so-fun wilderness events, we tend to come out on the other end with negative residue on us. Not “washing off” (Eph.5:26) the residue of the past will taint the tomorrow of promise. It is OK to go into promise with a wilderness experience, but it is destructive to go into promise with a wilderness heart. What we don’t leave in the wilderness, trips us up in the promised land. Achan’s family, as well as himself, suffered the consequences of a wilderness heart in the promised land (Josh. 7). What we don’t get over today, overcomes us tomorrow. (consider Akin)


In Process and Not Yet Reachable

Kathy Gabler—I encourage you not to get frustrated if a dream has to wait and open over time. There may be elements in it that are in process and not yet reachable, but the dream can still be a landmark or confirmation later.  One dream I had over 25 years ago just opened to me the first week of September this year.  In the dream, Marty and I turned off a major four-lane road onto a dirt road.  It led to an old country house.  There was an elderly lady sitting in a rocker on the porch.  No words were spoken but we knew the old home place was ours and that she had been overseeing it and waiting for us to get there.  She was a watchman (angel) guarding our destiny and heritage.
     When I got out of the car, there was a wooden fence a few feet from me and a huge bull was standing on the other side of it.  He came as close to me as he could get with only two boards separating him and me.  He lowered his head and glared at me.  My legs felt weak as water.  I sensed the bull and I were facing off and I could not cower to his silent bullying.  I took a deep breath, crossed my arms to stop the trembling, and I stared into his eyes and said, “I’m not afraid of you.”  I turned my back on him, let my breath out slowly and walked away.
     There was a bag that was full of seed when we got up to the house.  The bag seemed to be moving as though the seeds were active and alive within it.  Marty was suddenly urgent to get the seed planted, and I felt compelled to help him.  There was a tangible sense of sowing for a specific harvest that would be fruitful and have powerful impact in the future.  As the sun set, we ended up in the house, sleeping in a small room, like a parlor off the living room (where the lady now sat).  Melissa was also there with us then.  I remember thinking she must be part of the ministry call we were realizing in this destined time and place.
     The whole dream was an allegory about our family and how our calling and purpose  and heritage is pre-destined by God and already in place.  However, the dream was a loud message for me personally to keep in mind the potential danger of my strong will (the bull).  While I am not to yield in fear of its strength, neither can I ignore it.  The bull didn’t just lie down or go away because of that face-off, but neither did it break out of bounds.  I’m sure the Lord intended my will to be an asset and would not want it weak or useless, but neither should it be allowed to do damage or dominate my life if I am to walk out the destiny God has planned.
     I had never forgotten the dream and often wondered why it did not open in my understanding for so many years.  Now I see that timing was the key.  Had I squared off with my will at the time of the dream, I would have been determined to conquer it in my own strength. Ironically, that would have built more muscle in the “bull” and beefed-up the problem in the process.  Instead, the Holy Spirit has been saving and sanctifying my soul (and that strong) will for 25 years, and that was the wise way to keep it within necessary boundaries.  I am grateful for this understanding now and so very grateful for His faithful tending of my soul.
     I pray 2025 becomes the year of clarity and courage to walk into God intersections and see His Kingdom come on earth as in heaven.
(There are 402 videos of Marty, Kathy and Melissa available to watch on Marty’s YouTube Channel at this link: https://www.youtube.com/@martygabler3772 )


Responsibility for the Prophetic

MELISSA GABLER—Personal Responsibility for the Prophetic Lifestyle: (1.) Read the Bible.  Reading the Bible keeps you familiar with God’s ways. God highlights and pinpoints scriptures for wisdom, action, prayer, declaration, etc.  (2.) Pray… specifically in tongues. It keeps your eyes and ears open.  Ephesians 3:16, 20-21- “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”  Praying in tongues charges our spirit man.  The spirit (inner man) needs to be charged way more than the soul does.  Praying in tongues brings that charge which in turn brings clarity. “Your soul drinks in what your ears and eyes and emotions are exposed to all day.  The only way you can renew your mind and take dominion over the demonic assault on your feelings and thoughts is to be filled with the Spirit!” (Lance Wallnau).


Thankful for God Almighty’s Intentions

Kathy Gabler — On the day of disobedience in the garden, Adam and Eve knew their behavior contradicted their relationship and their righteousness, so they hid. Nothing was neutral or innocent anymore. From that day on everything fell short of God’s intentions. Thousands of years later Jesus came to restore and made it possible to reach God’s intentions again. (1Co.15:22)   And so, on this special day of the year, our hearts are turned to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, in THANKSGIVING for His sacrificial and redemptive acts of love in our behalf. We receive them and what He has procured through them that we may gratefully bring glory to His Wonderful Name.   “And let the peace from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And BE THANKFUL (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].” (Col.3:15, Amp)


One Mediator

Marty Gabler—Today, the people of God are celebrating Reformation Day! On October 31,1517 Martin Luther nailed his Ninety-five Theses to the Wittenberg Church door in Germany (350mi. from my family’s home in Oberlenningen). What had been covered over by centuries of profitable and manipulative tradition, was exposed and the truth of God’s Word, the Gospel of salvation by grace (Eph.2:8), was made known. There is ONE Mediator between God and man, not a Mediator plus someone or some religious/ecclesiastical system (Heb.10:10). That Mediator, JESUS, alone was appointed by God to make atonement for the sins of men by His death. His atonement alone gives only HIM authorization to be our Intercessor with God in our behalf. All persons (no matter race or creed) are to go directly to that Intercessor JESUS (Heb.7:25) and trust only in this Mediator alone. “For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus (1Tim.2:5).


To be Strengthened by Might by His Spirit

Melissa Gabler — Personal Responsibility for the Prophetic Lifestyle: 1.) Read the Bible.  Reading the Bible keeps you familiar with God’s ways. God highlights and pinpoints scriptures for wisdom, action, prayer, declaration, etc.  2.) Pray… specifically in tongues. It keeps your eyes and ears open.  Ephesians 3:16, 20-21- “That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;  Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.”  Praying in tongues charges our spirit man.  The spirit (inner man) needs to be charged way more than the soul does.  Praying in tongues brings that charge which in turn brings clarity. “Your soul drinks in what your ears and eyes and emotions are exposed to all day.  The only way you can renew your mind and take dominion over the demonic assault on your feelings and thoughts is to be filled with the Spirit!” (Lance Wallnau).


October is for Putting Things Behind Us

Marty—October is for putting things behind us. Just like we are in the tenth month of the year and the winter of this year is already behind us and the spring of this year is already behind us and the summer of this year is already behind us, we are putting disappointments, failures and lost opportunities behind us. We are not going to continue looking back at the past but turn around and face the future with its possibilities and its hopes.  Isaiah 43:18-19,GW—Forget what happened in the past, and do not dwell on events from long ago.  19   I am going to do something new.  It is already happening. Don’t you recognize it? I will clear a way in the desert. I will make rivers on dry land.”   Isa.14:27—“The LORD of Hosts has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is outstretched, so who can turn it back?”   Isa.46:10—“Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:”


A Vision of God Massaging a Heart

MELISSA—In one part of a vision God gave me (posted 9-23-22) I saw God’s hand began to massage a heart. In another part I saw 2 rows of white Roman columns as far as the eye could see. The columns I saw in the vision represented the church as we’ve known it, and this scene was looking to the West where the sun sets. The sun is setting on old traditional structures of the church. After the columns fell I began to hear a heartbeat.  It got so loud that the earth shook.  I looked back at the hole where the heart transplant was taking place, and with every beat of this new heart horrible black creatures began frantically crawling out of the hole.  Every beat drove more hordes out only for them to disintegrate as they tried to run.  A white light began filling the space that was once full of black slime and I heard “Ruach”.  Ruach means: spirit, wind, breathe (ex. Isaiah 11:2) and it was filling the pitch-black core of this nation. Once more I looked back toward the West where the columns had fallen and they were no longer there. In their place was lush greenery that was growing and I heard, Isa. 43:18-19 “Remember not the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I am doing a new thing; now it springs forth, do you not perceive it? I will make a way in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.”


Bad Words-Bad Atmosphere

KATHY GABLER—Do we set a bad atmosphere with our thoughts or emotions or words, or does the atmosphere hunt us down to dictate our thoughts or emotions or words?  I believe the answer is both.  We certainly have the ability to create an atmosphere for ourselves and everyone around us.  One person’s impatience in a waiting room can have everyone tense and walking on eggshells in a matter of seconds.  One person’s panic can clear a room.  Our expectations, meditations, fears or our mouthing against self can fill the air until it is lethal.  However, not only people are able to condition an atmosphere.  The devil is called “the prince of the power of the air” (Eph.2:2) for a reason.  He is skilled at blowing in a foul wind to influence people and situations.  The Old Testament word “ruach” is translated “spirit” most often, but it means “wind” or “breath”.  In the New Testament, the same word is “pneuma”.  A spirit or wind can carry a contradiction to the will of God into an atmosphere by blowing in a lie or fear or threat or opinion or accusation, etc.   The air becomes its infected storage place so that it can affect and influence thoughts and feelings when it finds an advantage, an open window.   Just as we breathe in air unconsciously, we can also come under the influence of what’s in the air  unconsciously.   It can become an influence over our emotions and thoughts and decisions. Prov.12:18,TPT—Reckless words are like the thrusts of a sword, cutting remarks meant to stab and to hurt. But the words of the wise soothe and heal.”


Press Through Distractions

Martin P Gabler—We will make it through the coming weeks and months but we must press through. We won’t just have to press through national difficulties, political situations, various entities pushing their agendas. We are going to have to press through diversions, distractions, false flags and misinformation. We can’t believe everything we hear or everything we see coming across a TV screen or computer screen. We might be wise to ask ourselves, “What gives that person/persons credibility with us or credentials with us that they can tell us a certain thing and we’re supposed to just take it at face value?”. We are really needing the Holy Spirit and the principals of the Word of God to stand on to help us press through stuff that we are hearing and not operate out of fear. We must get out of operating in fear and get back on God’s Word (the Bible). Jesus said that there was one house built on a rock and there was one built on the sand. When storms, winds, waves assailed the house built on the sand, it was washed away. But, the house built on the rock was assailed by the same winds, the same storm yet, the house on the Rock stood against all the opposition and remained firm. It didn’t escape the storm and its effects but it survived. There is only one Rock in the Bible — JESUS.


Prophetic Lifestyle for All Believers

Melissa Gabler—The prophetic lifestyle opens opportunities, timing, and connections. Opportunities: having the ears to hear to be at the right place at the right time for yourself and others. Timing: none of us understand the timing of God because He is working on so many levels. It takes a prophetic lifestyle to see beyond the limited vision of our normal dimensions. It can keep you sane where timing is concerned. Connection: Brings lives together for God team-ups, projects, events, etc. We were never meant to do life alone (1 Corinthians 12:20-21). In this day and age, this way of life is a total necessity for the body of Christ.
MELISSA will be speaking tonight on “The Prophetic Lifestyle for All Believers” at DREAMS VISIONS PROPHECY 2024. Location: Grace Church Willis (gracewillis.org) which is just north of Houston off I-45N. She will also be leading us in a Worship Encounter at 7:00pm. Nursery available Friday night only, ages 0-4. NO FEE. There will not be any livestream of the sessions but they will be available on Flashdrive. All information for DVP2024: martygabler.com/dvp2024/


Preparation for the Future

Marty Gabler—The future doesn’t simply happen, it is built by preparation in the now (and manipulating powers of darkness realize that just as well as the people of God—ready-or-not, awake or sleeping, eyes wide open or eyes closed). The predominant ideal of any time period in history has impact that reaches into the future affecting who and what future generations act out. In our time there is a desperate struggle for security and domination of the future. Some are trying to secure economics, secure political policies, secure real estate and secure borders for the future but we must secure a generation. Our children are a message that we send into the future. The future will not be secured by videos and pizzas. While many are crying out that the church is only one generation away from extinction, I would cry out that the church is only one generation away from dominion over the powers of darkness in the earth. (Jesus said that He would build the Church and that what He built would not see the gates or authorities of hell prevail against it – Matt.16:18. The Church is not at the point of extinction if Jesus spoke truth.) If we have no faith that we are going to be able to draw out anything from our bank account, it is because we know that we have not put anything into it. If we have no faith in the coming generation it is because we have either neglected to impart to them or we have not had anything to impart to them. We’d best get ahold of Something/Someone worth imparting. (Ps.71:18;Ps.78:1-4;Ps.112:1-3) Failure to impart to a generation results in loss that can only be calculated on an incalculable, exponential scale. We don’t want them to have to dig themselves out of a hole before they can go forward, especially when they should be starting out on the shoulders of the generation that is going before them. 
Marty is speaking at DREAMS VISIONS PROPHECY 2024 — SEPTEMBER 14 — Info: martygabler.com/dvp2024/
Location: Grace Church Willis (gracewillis.org) which is just north of Houston off I-45N. Melissa will be leading us in a Worship Encounter at 7:00pm Sept.13. Nursery available Friday night only, ages 0-4. NO FEE. There will not be any livestream of the sessions but they will be available on Flashdrive. Schedule and hotel info for DVP2024: martygabler.com/dvp2024/   (The Schedule is subject to Adjustments.)


Bloodline Iniquities

MELISSA—The Kingdom is within our grasp but there is something that can hinder us from grasping it fully and that is bloodline iniquity. Our bloodline affects our lives and our future and we need to purify it so that we can grasp the Kingdom and be the increase of it in the days ahead. I heard it put this way, ”Iniquity is not just a sin that we ask forgiveness for and that solves the problem. Iniquity is an entire body of sin and evil that gets rooted. Iniquity corrupts the whole structure of our thoughts and behaviors and it infiltrates bones and organs.” Sin and evil really stuck out to me in this quote and helped me understand the depths of iniquity. It‘s not just sin because not all sin is wicked. It‘s sin and evil compounded with intention. We are talking about decisions, actions and agreements in our lineage, in our family history that gave the enemy a foothold in our lives.


Once and For All

MPG–Shouldn’t we make up our minds once and for all? If we are having to make up our minds every morning or every time we pay bills or every time we watch the news or some religious prophecy show, then our minds are not made up. 

Let’s make up our minds about God and stand and having stood continue to stand (Eph.6:13). Is He the God who kept Noah and his family in an ark of safety? Is He the God who opened the Red Sea, rained down manna from heaven and made bitter water sweet? God is just waiting on somebody to make up their mind today! 

Is He the One who provided for Hagar in the wilderness and supplied food for a widow and her household in the middle of a famine? And weren’t they provided for throughout the entire famine? Is He the One who returned sons to bereaved mothers and shut the mouths of lions and quenched fiery flames? 

Has He changed? (James 1:17) Has He changed His Name? His address? Has He changed His mind about covenant or redemption? Has someone usurped His throne? Will that ever happen? Then why would God’s people wallow in perplexity or anguish? 

If God is the God of the Word then why are churches, church people and ministries filled with stress? Why are so many homes broken? Why are so many lives broken, so many hearts, so many bodies? Maybe it is because too many people have not made up their minds about God, about His Word and about being determined to stand on the Word of God no matter what their emotions are telling them. 

We must be the people of the Word – not the people of the latest news broadcast, not the people of the latest twist to end-time prophecy. We must get back to the Word (not talk programs), not to prophecy magazines, not to curiosity inspiring personalities with predictions and the latest statistics. 



Discernment

KATHY—There are five different words translated “discern or discernment” in the Old Testament. Their meanings include “to scrutinize or look intently at so as to recognize what is going on, an experienced gaze, to hear intelligently, to separate mentally (or distinguish), to be cunning, to diligently direct, to feel, to know by seeing, to perceive or to discover.”  Discernment by dictionary definition means to separate or distinguish, to see or understand the difference or to make a distinction.  In 1 Cor 12, another dimension is added to the meaning of discernment.  In this setting, discernment means “to judge the purity of something, as in to detect any mixture in its source or motive.”  When discernment comes as a gift from God, as in I Cor 12:10, it is God enabling us to separate or distinguish the difference between the human soul and the supernatural at work.  This discernment gift includes understanding the mental disposition of someone.  It also enables us to see the distinct differences between the Holy Spirit and angels or demons at work in a situation.  Discernment, whether it is a keenness developed through experience or a gift of the Spirit of God, is an awesome weapon that is both a beneficial and essential resource for the days ahead.  


Thoughts on Prayer

MELISSA–Here are some thoughts on prayer during times of war, such as we are dealing with at this time.  In Matthew 6:7 Jesus gives insight on prayer, “But when ye pray, use not vain repetitions, as the heathen do: for they think that they shall be heard for their much speaking.”  Vain repetitions here means: “To chatter, be long-winded, utter empty words, stammer, repeat”.  In times like these there is a tendency to just rattle off every fear and concern we have.  Jesus gave good advice here as he explained in verse 8, “Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him.”  We need to come to God prepared to hear an answer and not just to throw up our worries all over Him.  This really came to life for me recently when I had just had one of those days where my concern list got filled up.  That evening I sat down to be quiet and listen when, all of a sudden, I was standing in this beautiful garden.  The trees caught my attention because they seemed lively and animated.  As I was taking in their beauty they all turned in one direction and I realized they were responding to the Lord walking through the garden.  I saw Him walking toward me when this thought hit me, “He knows”. In that moment I literally felt my shoulders and body relax.  I knew He knew about all of those things on my list.  Not only did He know, He already had an answer for each of them and my part was to simply trust.  As we navigate this time of war we don’t have to rattle off our fears to God.  He knows not only what’s manifesting but what is behind each manifestation.


Old Wickedness Vs. God

MELISSA GABLER—Is this the end? It is for some very old wickedness.  It has mocked God and is getting crushed to oblivion.  We have to remember this when the battle is this intense.  Hey, if those who have sown to the flesh are reaping destruction, then the other side of that coin is heaven on earth! “But the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not grow weary or become discouraged in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap, if we do not give in.” (Gal. 6:8-9 AMP) Don’t push this promise off to someday when you die. God’s original intent is for us to be heaven-on-earth during our lifetime. Heaven is invading earth right now.  This harvest is here for both sides of this coin! While the corrupt are meeting their corruption the just are receiving their promises. This is a beautiful time to be alive.  We get to see the justice and goodness of a God that will never be mocked.  You can be assured of that!  Angels, attend to the harvest!


The Ever-Unstoppable

Kathy Gabler—I can’t help but think that there has to be a greater degree of the will of God activated in this current generation than any previous just because the Kingdom is ever-increasing (Isa. 9:7).  An increase in the intensity and extremes of evil do not change that truth, in fact they testify to darkness getting more obvious because of the Light.  When we consider the hugeness of matters such as the Kingdom coming and God’s will being done in the earth and the ever unstoppable, increasing government of God, we may be tempted to step back and think that all sounds out of reach for little ole me. Yet, if a tiny glimpse of what God wants to do in the life of a cashier in Walmart or a piece of understanding concerning God’s will about the President of the United States brings me to a prayer of agreement, that moment is a touch-point between heaven and earth.


A Personal For-Instance

MELISSA—Here’s how God started breaking down a personal matter for me.  I’m going to give a very recent and personal “for instance”.  I’ve been dealing with a physical matter, not life or death, but an irritating battle that has almost caused a lock down due to the “WHAT IF this gets worse” record playing in my head… on repeat.  It’s that kind of battle that sent my emotions from one side of the spectrum to another.  After all, I’m not the only person to have dealt with this issue.  There are plenty of others living with it.  BUT I don’t see why I HAVE to live with it. So, I have been seeking God on the matter, and He has so beautifully and faithfully been giving me revelation regarding my healing all along this journey.   Throughout this journey I have known in my core that this physical issue is a done-deal.  In fact, at the beginning of this year I heard someone say that this is going to be a year of reversal! WELL, COME ON NOW (go ahead and take that for you and yours right now!).  Just another confirmation that not only am I being healed, but this thing is going to be reversed!