The Winds of Change Are Blowing

The Lord gave me this word recently to minister at church. It is a fresh word, so I thought I would share it on my blog also. You may have heard this same prophetic word given by others, especially if you subscribe to Elijah List or Spirit Fuel or even on Facebook. Nevertheless, the Lord is apparently still saying it. Usually, the same word comes out through several people, just because He wants to confirm what He is saying. I'm learning more to listen to what He is saying so that I can agree with Him and see those words come to pass.

The word "wind" in Hebrew is ruach, which means wind, spirit, or breath. The Lord said to me, "The Winds of Change are supernatural." Well, when He said that, it got my attention, because we always think in natural terms. I'm thinking about the natural winds that blow around the earth, but He's referring to His "wind, breath, or spirit." 

Acts 2:1-2 reads, "When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting."

Notice that the wind came from heaven; it was supernatural! It was His breath or His Spirit being poured out upon those that were waiting in anticipation for it.

John 3:1-8 tells the story about Nicodemus, the Jewish ruler, coming to Jesus in the night. Jesus simply explains to Nicodemus that he must be born again to enter the Kingdom of God. He then goes on to compare the new birth experience to the wind blowing, that you can not see the wind but you can see the effects of it. It blows where it desires to blow. 

II Kings 2:9-14 gives the account of Elisha asking Elijah for a double portion of his mantle when he is taken up to heaven. In verse 11 it reads, "As they were walking along and talking together, suddenly a chariot of fire and horses of fire appeared and separated the two of them, and Elijah went up to heaven in a whirlwind." That whirlwind was supernatural, and Elisha saw it! He also experienced the effects of it by seeing his mentor taken up into it and probably felt it!

The Lord wants us to step into His wind (breath, wind, Spirit). We may or may not feel the wind, but we will certainly see the effects of it because He is blowing His winds of change in our direction!

Let's be bold and step forward into those winds of change. They are forever blowing. They will propel us forward into what He has for us. Those winds are moving in a forward motion as well as circular just like the whirlwinds. He has great things for us. Let's move forward!

Framing Our Destiny

"Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear."  Hebrews 11:3 KJV

The "idea" is that the world that we see has been "framed" (Greek: Katartizó - put in order, arrange, adjusted, prepare, to fit, frame for oneself, complete, mend, to strengthen, perfect, or make one what he ought to be), by the Word of God. There is a "Life Force" holding all things together and that Life Force is His Word that comes out of His mouth.

This morning, while in prayer, the Lord took me back to the seashore of Galilee where I frequently meet with Him. There is a certain place on the shore where you can walk up on the hill. There is a large tree with a small but beautiful grassy meadow. I climbed the hill and to my surprise there He was waiting for me. The Lord was wearing His white robe and had long dark hair. As He stood beside me, He pointed towards the sea below. It was picturesque. It was so beautiful to behold the blue sky upon the blue sea with the land cascading around its edges. There were sea gulls flying above the water, I'm sure in search of their breakfast. The sun was already creeping up and glistening brightly upon the water's surface.

Then He said to me, "I brought you up here because I want you to see this."  He was referring to the breathtaking scene which I just described. He continued, "Everything you see is being upheld by My Word." I thought about what the Lord just said as I scanned the scene. All of this was formed or "framed" from His spoken Words. They are being held together even by that same "Life Force" that created everything. His Words are that Life Force. I knew that He was also reminding me that nothing is impossible with Him. He still creates. He is well able to create a way out of nothing on my behalf. He is able and will "frame, put in order, adjust, prepare, mend, and make one what he ought to be" by the same Life Force, His spoken or written Word. Whenever we hear His voice speaking to us, that is His Word, His Rhema Words to us. We can stand on His spoken or prophetic words to us because they are filled with His life and they are framing or creating our destiny and bringing it into manifestation from the unseen into what we see. Hallelujah!!!

I have a box filled with cassette tapes and cds of prophetic words spoken to me over the last 20 plus years. A few of them have come to pass. Many are manifesting at this time. I had to stand on those Life Force words and agree with them over the years and be careful not to doubt what He had said. I failed many times, but I repented, got right back up and kept believing His Words to me because they were framing my destiny.

His Words are the Life Force that create and hold all things together. The written and spoken Word of God to us individually is framing our destinies and bringing them into order. So, don't give up. Continue to stand on His Word to you because it is "making you and I into what we are called to be."

Prayer:  Father, we repent of all doubt and unbelief that we have spoken because of weariness. Please help us to believe. We believe and receive every Word given to us through Your written and prophetic gifts. We hang onto to them because You, Lord, are framing us and bringing us into our destinies. We love you so much Lord and we say, Yes Lord, Yes! Have Your way. We believe!

Doors and Gateways

There has been much written lately about doors and gates.  I thought I would jump right in and add my thoughts on them also.

When I think about a door or gate, the first thing I conclude is that both are points of entrances and exits into or out of a place.  Usually if you're entering into a new place the door has a handle on the outside in which you have to pull open and if you're exiting you usually have to push on a bar across the middle of the door in which to push the door open.  Either way it requires action on the part of the one moving through the point of entrance or exit.  There is most of the time some kind of lock on the door which requires its own specific key to unlock it.  Gates have latches in which you lift a handle and it opens the gate.  They too can have locks on them.  Usually padlocks or if the gateway has a door, then it will also require a key to unlock the door.  Doors have thresholds.  Thresholds are simply a board that runs across the entranceway at the bottom.  It helps seal the door from air coming in or escaping from inside.  It also establishes a place of entrance from outside to inside or vice versa.  You have to cross over the threshold in other words to get to the other side.

I believe that there are spiritual doors and gates in the Spirit in which we can go in and out of.  Jesus said in John 10:9 KJV, "I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture."  This is the most important door in which all of us must enter first of all.  In order to be saved and part of the Kingdom, God has established His Son as the Door or Gateway in which we must enter in order to be saved.

As we grow in our relationship with the Lord, He will certainly bring us to other spiritual doors and gateways in which to enter and sometimes exit.  The Lord has told me many times in my walk with Him that there is a new door in front of me.  It is time to transition in the spirit or move to a higher place in Him.  As we go through these doors and gateways, you will notice how things in the natural change also.  A few months ago, I knew that I transitioned or moved through a spiritual doorway into a much larger place in Him.  This has been a long time coming.  After I stepped over that thresh hold, then things in the natural started to change for me.  First of all, I got to minister again.  Then I got registered as a non-profit ministry and this blog set up for the ministry.  The Lord had me trade in my small car for a SUV in which the insurance for it was less than the car.  Amazing!

A few years ago the Lord sent me to a church in southern Alabama.  As I was talking with the pastor and his wife, I saw in the spirit outside in front of the church a very large gate.  It was closed.  I knew that it was there because at some time in the future the whole church is going to pass through the gateway to a place of elevation and abundance in Him.  This is about His manifested presence or Glory along with the provisions needed in the natural.

I want to challenge you.  If the Lord has told you that He has placed a door or gateway in front of you, then wait for Him to tell you when to move through it.  Because when you do, then you will begin to see Him manifest provisions and answers for this new place that you will transition into.

There isn't any stopping in the Kingdom of God as far as growth, only progression.  Let's continue to keep our ears to His heart and move with Him and cross over those thresholds as He brings us to them.

                                                                                                         
                           

Janet L. Byrd Ministries Statement of Faith

We believe:

1. The Bible is the inspired and infallible Word of God.
2. The Godhead exist as three individual personalities; God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, and yet they are one at the same time.
3. Our Lord Jesus Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin.  He was the Son of God and Son of man while on the earth.  He was sinless while living in the form of human flesh.  He came from the Father in heaven to die for lost mankind in order to redeem us back to God through His atoning blood that was shed on the Cross.  After His burial, God raised Him from the dead, then He ascended back to be with the Father and is seated at the Father’s right hand in heaven.  He will soon return to the earth in His second coming to rule and reign with the redeemed for a thousand years.
4. Mankind can only receive salvation through personally receiving and believing in the atoning death and resurrection of what Jesus did on the cross.  There is no other way to God or heaven other than through His Son, Jesus Christ, and His shed blood.
5. Divine healing is available for every person because of the stripes that where laid on His back.
6. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit is an experience in which the Holy Spirit comes upon the believer with power to be witnesses of the Gospel.  When a person is baptized in the Holy Spirit they will have the evidence of speaking in tongues, a heavenly language. 
7. There is a final resurrection of the dead; the saved to everlasting life to be with the Lord forever, and the unsaved to eternal damnation in the lake of fire that was created for Satan and his followers.  There will be a final judgement in which all the living and the dead will stand before God.
8. After the final judgement, a new heaven and the celestial City of God will descend upon the new earth where all will live under the rule and reign of our God and His Son Jesus Christ.
9. Marriage between man and woman is a covenant relationship designed by God to represent the relationship between our Lord Jesus Christ and His bride, the Church, every true believer in Him.
10. Baptism by immersion in water is to be after a person’s salvation experience to represent following the Lord in His death of self and resurrection to new life in Christ.
11. The taking of communion or the Lord’s supper is symbolic of Jesus' broken body and shed blood on the cross.  We can receive by faith our healing in any area of our lives because of the stripes that where laid on His back, and also forgiveness of sins through His atoning blood.
12. The five-fold ministry gifts are the apostle, prophet, pastor, evangelist, and teacher.  These where given to the church by Jesus for the equipping of the saints as stated by Paul in Ephesians 4:11-13.
13. There are nine gifts of the Spirit, which are: the gift of faith, working of miracles, gifts of healing, word of knowledge, word of wisdom, tongues, interpretation of tongues, prophecy, and discerning of spirits.  All these gifts can operate by the Spirit through born again Spirit-filled believers at any given time.  I Corinthians 12:7-11.
14. We are in the last days and the Kingdom of God is manifesting more and more in the earth through His true dedicated believers.  We are beginning to see more signs on the earth and in the sky, such as the blood moons.  The Spirit of God is moving in supernatural signs and manifestations and these will increase.  His power is being poured out onto the earth and we will see everything the Old Testament, New Testament and even those in recent years have prophesied.  Joel, Isaiah, William Seymore of the Azusa Street revival, Smith Wigglesworth and William Brannon are just a few that come to mind that have prophesied of the great out-pouring of the Spirit of God and the massive revival that will soon take place.

Are You Ready To Get Out Of Your Boat?

Recently, I had a vision that came in three different times about a week or two apart from one another.  In the first part, I was walking along the seashore of Galilee.  I saw the Lord standing at the edge of the water and He pointed out to the open sea and said to me, "It's time to launch out into the deep."  When He said that, I was overwhelmed with emotions.  I just crumbled at His feet and held onto Him.  I don't know why I responded that way.  I guess I just didn't expect Him to say that.  That ended the first of the vision.

The second time came about two weeks later.  On that particular day, I was feeling a little discouraged over some things.  When I started to pray, I went right back to the seashore of Galilee.  The Lord was standing in the water with a small fishing boat in front of Him.  He didn't say anything but I knew that He wanted me to get into the boat.  I sat down and then He sat beside me.  I asked Him if He would just hold me because I was somewhat down.  He did and He also began to stroke the back of my hair.  How comforting!.  Before I knew it, we were out in very calm but deep waters.  Just then, Jesus stood up and turned Himself around.  He looked straight at me and held out His hand towards me and asked, "Are you ready to get out of the boat?"  Well, I know that I slightly hesitated to answer, but then I said, "Yes, Lord, I am ready."  That was the end of the second part.

Another week went by and on a Sunday morning while I was praying, for a third time I went back to the Sea of Galilee into the little fishing boat picking up where the second part of the vision ended.  As Jesus took my hand, I stood up and stepped out onto the water.  He stayed in the boat.  I was no longer afraid but I felt a real sense of freedom that came upon me.  It was really very easy to stand there on top of the water as if it were solid ground.  Jesus said to me that it was by faith, His and mine, that I was standing on the water.  As I looked up at the Lord, He was now wearing a long cape with a hood over His head.  I wondered why He had it on but I wanted to just turn around and enjoy the new freedom that I was experiencing.  So as I turned back towards Him, I noticed that he wasn't wearing the cape any longer but now I had it on me.  I've been around the prophetic and apostolic long enough to know that the cape represented a special mantle or anointing.  

The Lord had taken me out into the deep because it was time to step out into what He has called me to do.  He has been preparing and equipping me for years for this moment in time.  Like Peter, it's time to move forward by faith and step into what He has called you and I to do.  It's not about our abilities and how great we are.  He clothes us with His mantle or anointing and asks us to move forward by faith.  So when we are obedient to do so, we see Him supernaturally provide and make a way for us when we just could not on our own.

Since I've stepped out onto the water, I have experienced some really awesome supernatural provisions come to me one after another.  These things I have tried to make happen on my own for several years now but just couldn't.  They came within a matter of just a few weeks time and are still coming.

So now, are you ready by faith to step out of your boat and onto the water?

Prayer:  Lord, for all of those that you are speaking specifically with about moving forward and stepping out of their own personal boats and onto the water, I release the anointing of the Holy Spirit to move forward in faith now.  Holy Spirit, let Your anointing or mantle come upon them to give them the ability to move forward and to keep moving forward by faith. Thank You Lord that they too will see how You supernaturally provide for them.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen!

   

Meeting Generals of the Faith

Meet Dr. Dale Fife

Two years ago I found out about Dr. Dale Fife and his books from my close friend, Tammi. She was reading his books at the time. They sounded so interesting that I decided to buy some of them. She was right. What he was describing in his books where some of the same experiences that I have had recently with the Lord. I was so amazed. He is an apostolic father to many people.

This past Saturday, I learned that he was at a church speaking not far from where I live. It didn't take me long to decide that I was going to hear him. Not only did I hear him, I got to meet him and take a picture. How awesome is God!!! He really does give us surprises!

If you'd like to read any of his books, you can purchase them online. Here are the ones I recommend:

The Secret Place
The Hidden Kingdom
Spirit Wind
The Light Giver

Forgiving

Remit - To dismiss; set free.

"Then said Jesus to them again, Peace be unto you: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you. And when he had said this, he breathed on them, and saith unto them, Receive ye the Holy Ghost: whose soever sins ye REMIT, they are REMITTED unto them; and whose soever sins ye retain, they are retained." (John 20:21-23 emphasis added)

I want to share a very powerful word with you: FORGIVING or FORGIVE. I know you probably thought, well, why didn't she say, forgiveness instead. We have all heard plenty of messages on forgiveness, but have you ever heard one on "forgiving?" To begin with, forgiving is a verb and forgiveness is a noun. Forgiveness is a thing and forgiving requires action.

In John 20:23, Jesus is talking to His disciples before returning to His Father. He tells them, "If you forgive anyone's sins, their sins are forgiven; if you do not forgive them, they are not forgiven." (NIV)

I believe the Lord is teaching us a very important lesson here. It's not that we have the power to remove someone's sins from them, but we all have the power personally to forgive them of their sins against us personally. 

The word "remit" is used in the King James Version. As it reads above, it means to DISMISS; SET FREE! If I heard this once, I've heard it at least 30 times in my life:  "Forgiving someone isn't for their sake, but for yours."  I beg to differ. That never did set well with me, even though I sure needed the benefits of forgiving. We all have a choice, every time someone says or does something that hurts or offends us. Are we going to hold onto that grudge or are we going to remit or forgive them, no matter how small or how big the offense? Before you say, "But you just don't know what was done to me," please remember what Jesus did for us. Also, I am speaking from experience. I had to walk through this before I could share this with you all. My scars where very deep, before the Lord began to pour His healing balm into them.

Forgiving others does three things:

1.  Forgiving is a spiritual key or force that unlocks you and the offender from a prison.

When we refuse to forgive it holds us and others in a place where we can't move forward. We stay in that time and place of the offense. It's becomes our prison and theirs also. We keep rehearsing the offense over and over through the years until we decide to remit or "set free" the offender and ourselves.

Paul and Silas were accused of destroying someone's livelihood when they cast out the demon spirits from a woman who was a fortune teller. They were beaten and thrown into prison. Instead of complaining and being bitter against the people or God, they began to praise God. God literally sent an earthquake and the doors of the PRISON flew open! They were able to minister to the jailor that kept watch over them. He and his family were saved! Forgiving others releases them and ourselves from spiritual prisons that hold us in chains of bitterness and torment.

2.  Forgiving others begins the healing process.

Until we are willing to let go, we cannot heal from past emotional wounds. I have to say that holding grudges is not only damaging to our emotional well being but also can easily be the cause of physical illnesses as well. This is medically documented. It causes imbalance to our whole system. Jesus said in John 10:10, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Remitting or releasing those offenses and the offender opens the doors for the Lord to bring His wonderful LIFE into those wounds and resurrect us in every area.

3. Forgiving others stops the unforgiveness and especially the effects of it from cycling into our next generations. 

 If you don't understand what I'm saying here, just take a look at your family tree or someone else's that seems to be always in some kind of sickness or dysfunction. Ask the Lord to show you some root causes. You don't have to point an accusing finger at anyone. Just pray, forgive, and move forward! This area is really dealing with any generational curses, so that freedom and blessings can come forth.

Forgiving others is so powerful! No wonder why it's mentioned so often in Scripture. Ephesians 4:32 reads, "Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you."


Prayer:  Lord I ask You to forgive me of holding any unforgiveness towards __________." I release them from the offense of __________, and forgive them from the bottom of my heart. Also, I ask that You would release me and them from any of the effects from of my unforgiveness towards them. You are a kind and forgiving Father and Lord. Thank you for Your mercy, In Jesus' name. Amen.

Booking Janet for Ministry

Janet Byrd is ordained, licensed, and commissioned as an apostle and teacher in the ministry of the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.

She has a strong desire to minister to God’s generals or ministers in bringing encouragement and healing to their lives. The Holy Spirit has used her to minister to many leaders under the anointing to release prophetic words and impartations. 

If you would like to invite Janet to come to your church or group, please contact her at: janetlbyrdministries@gmail.com

Endurance

The definition for the word "endurance" is:

1. The fact or power of enduring or bearing pain, hardships, etc.
2. The ability or strength to continue to last, especially despite fatigue, stress or other adverse conditions; stamina.
3. Lasting quality, duration, “goes the distance.”
4. Something endured as a hardship, trial. 

When I read these definitions, I thought of a marathon runner. Can a person run a marathon if he has never ran before? Of course not! Why? They are not in shape. They couldn't last the whole distance of the race. It takes months of training your body; building your muscles, heart and lungs to be able to endure that kind of a race.

Just like a runner needs physical endurance to run a race, so likewise we need spiritual and emotional stamina or endurance to go through any trial or hardship. We can build our spiritual and emotional muscles through standing and contending for the promises of God while we are going through the trials. The Lord can surely deliver us but most of the time He allows us to go through them. This is where endurance is developed in our character. We become stronger while we are using our faith in His promises, and also, that purification process is at work taking away those things in us that no longer need to be there.

Hupmone is Greek for endurance. It means steadfastness, and constant endurance. It’s the characteristic of a man who is not swerved from his deliberate purpose or destiny and his loyalty to faith and piety by even the greatest trials and sufferings; to have perseverance.

If I had never experienced the hardships in my life that I experienced, then I would not have had the opportunity to build the steadfastness or endurance within my character. The Lord allowed me to go through many years of trying times. I thought I would have lost my mind at times, but I held onto Him and was determined not to let go. As a result, I am now beginning to reap the long awaited promises that were given to me over the years. I had to go the distance.

We don’t just start out this way. It takes exercising your spiritual muscles through the “trying of your faith” experiences that build these muscles and produces the endurance that we need to keep us moving to even greater heights that the Lord wants to take each one of us to in Him.

Now in comparison with spiritual endurance, I thought about muscular endurance.

Muscular endurance is the ability of a muscle or group of muscles to sustain repeated contractions against a resistance (trial or suffering) for an extended period. +

To improve muscular endurance you have to add more muscle mass to your body. We grow muscles by exercising certain muscle groups and eating junk food. No! We have to eat foods that are high in nutrients. For example, a boxer or a runner has to prepare before a fight or a race by rigorously putting his body through special training and nutrition programs. He has to endure the pain and suffering to be able to win the prize; the fight or the race.

Whenever you put your hands together and push you can feel the resistance of your hands pushing against each other. You also begin to feel the discomfort of the contractions of the muscles in your arms and chest areas. When you continue to push against your hands for a while, you are actually causing the muscles to grow stronger and build muscle mass in those areas. How will this help you physically? You should be able to pick up heavier objects or perform other tasks that you were not able to do with the use of your arms and upper body. You have gained muscular endurance.

Spiritual endurance is the same. We have to exercise those spiritual muscles to be able to stand against anything that the enemy may throw at us. If you don’t exercise your spiritual muscles, then when you are in the middle of a trial, you’ll give out and give in. You will lack the strength or endurance to get past that point. This is why you (I mean me too!) must continue to apply resistance against the hardships that come your way. This actually builds the stamina or endurance within our character. It changes us for the better! It prepares us to go through even harder circumstances that come with the next level in our walk with the Lord.

Here are some great Scripture verses where the word “endure” or “endurance” is used.

Romans 15:4-5 "…so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity…"

II Corinthians 6: 4-10 reads, "Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything."

I can clearly see after reading these scriptures that Paul endured much more than what I have ever gone through. I’ve been through some horrific times, but I’ve never been beaten or shipwrecked or put into prison for my faith. Through all of these hardships, Paul still came out saying, “that he is always rejoicing and yet poor he possesses everything.” Paul didn’t just go through all of those experiences at once, but over a period of several years. He learned to rely on the Lord and not give up. He continued to exercise his spiritual muscles which increased his stamina or endurance every time he had to stand against those difficult situations.

Colossians 1:11-12 "…being strengthened with all power according to His glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."

We are never alone no matter what we face or have to walk through. Remember, the Lord told Paul, “My grace is sufficient, for My power or strength is made perfect in your weakness.” II Corinthians 12:9

Just like Paul, He gives us His grace to endure the difficult times that we face in our lives also.

I was amazed to find many more references just in the New Testament alone that talk about endurance. The Lord wants us to become stronger by allowing endurance to grow in our character as we stand against whatever resistance or trail we are going through.

Endurance is a vital part in winning our ultimate race!



Excerpt from from the book, The Training of a General: Kingdom Strategies for End-Time Generals.

An Encounter with the Holy Ghost!

On January 19th Bo Walker, my pastor, texted me and asked,

• “Why can’t you preach on Feb 8th?” @ 1:06 pm
• “It sounds good to me. Thanks." 1:09
• “Great. I’ll put you down for Feb 8th.” 1:10
• "Ya! Ty." 1:11

Then I realized what date it was and also the time of my last post. I was ministering for the first time in many years on Feb. 8th. Even though called, the Lord didn't allow me to publicly speak again until now. I wanted to but no one asked and it was for a reason. Last year the Lord showed me that I was in a small room and that the door was in front of me and I would be going through it. Well, I acting it out, but it wasn't until Feb. 8th when I was let go from my one job all of a sudden without any explanation. I was shocked, but at the same time I felt that it was of the Lord because it happened on Feb. 8th and I walked out of the room and onto the road or hallway. The door closed behind me. The Lord then told me that there was another door only much bigger and the room was humongous that I was going into. Again I acted it out and went through the door, but nothing happened. Lesson, He will show you when to walk through the doors. There is a timing involved even in transitioning. OK, so I get another job and am working, then get my knee operated on. Then, go back to the same job with the same person. Waiting! On Jan. 19th, when I had that texted conversation with Bo at 1:11 and I was ministering again on Feb. 8th, I realized that the big door just opened and I felt by the Holy Spirit to get up and walk through the Big Door and it closed behind me!!! I transitioned that day!!! 8 – New Beginnings along with 111 – Genesis a new thing! Glory to God!!! I had an encounter with the Holy Spirit that day!

When I began to wait on the Lord and ask Him what He wanted me to teach on, I clearly heard, “An Encounter with the Holy Ghost.” I wrote it down. Close to a week later, when asking again what exactly do you want me to teach about the Holy Spirit, the Lord said, “I want them to know Him as a person, not just as something floating somewhere out there. He is a person. That way they can relate to Him.

The meaning of the word “encounter” is, “an unexpected or casual meeting with someone or something.”

When I was first saved in 1971, they asked me if I had the Holy Spirit. I said yes, because I wasn’t sure what to say and I didn’t know anything about the Holy Spirit. Then they asked me, do you speak in tongues? Well, of course I said no because I didn’t know what tongues where or even heard the term. So they had me sit in the “hot seat,” gathered around me and began to pray for me to receive the “baptism of the Holy Spirit.” That day, I had a glorious encounter with the person of the Holy Spirit. I began to speak in tongues and become drunk. They laid me on the floor and I laid there speaking in tongues for what seemed to be an hour to two. When I got up I was so drunk and overwhelmed with His presence. I was on Fire!!!

Christian tv back in the early 70’s consisted of some local and national programs on Sunday mornings, such as Full Gospel Business Men with Demos Shekarian , Oral and Richard Roberts, and Kathryn Kulhman. Well, thank God I watched them because it exposed me to the person of the Holy Spirit. That exposure has greatly influenced my life and continues to do so. Being raised around St. Louis area gave me the opportunity to see Kathryn Kulhman several times, because she came there a lot. I saw how she knew the Holy Spirit personally and how she reverenced His presence. She knew at what point His presence would manifest in the room. She would be talking and then all of a sudden, she’d get quiet and then say, “Shhhh, there He is. He’s here.” Then she would tell the people to not move around but to listen.” I was so impressed, because she reverenced His Holy presence. We have to know that He is a person in order to have a relationship with Him.

Two Scriptures came to mind: 

First Ephesians 4:30 – "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom were sealed for that day of redemption."

In my footnote for this verse it reads: 4:30 grieve. By sin, such as “unwholesome talk” (v.29) and the sins mentioned in v.31. The verb also demonstrates that the Holy Spirit is a person, not just an influence, for only a person can be grieved.

In v.29 it continues to read "…but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen." And then in v. 31 it says, “…Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.”

So our actions and our words will grieve the Holy Spirit. He is a person.

Secondly, 1Thess. 5:19 – "Do not quench the Spirit." Quench simply means to extinguish or put out, such as a fire by drowning it in water.

Why do you think that most true revivals ended? Most of the time, the Fire of the Holy Ghost was quenched. Why do you think Kathryn Kuhlman wanted the people to be still and not go to moving around, so that the Holy Spirit would not be quenched or His Presence. I remember hearing a story about Kenneth Hagin. He was invited to preach at a Full Gospel Businessmen’s convention one time. They were in the middle of the worship and the presence of the Holy Spirit was very strong. All of a sudden, one of the men on the platform got up and began to take up an offering. Afterwards, they introduced Bro. Hagin to come minister. He looked around at them, and declared, “You guys wouldn’t know the Holy Spirit if He came in here with a red hat on!” He was telling them that they quenched or put out the fire by not recognizing the presence of the Holy Spirit and what He wanted to do. They quenched His presence by stopping Him and taking up an offering at the wrong time.

And of course many churches now have their own agendas. Many have become “seeker friendly,” which means that they care more about not offending the people instead of the Holy Spirit. I’ve been in Pentecostal churches where they used to flow freely in the gifts of the Holy Ghost, but now they flow freely in “programs.” And they wonder why there isn’t a true revival. Revival to them means having an evangelist come in and do a few meetings and get all emotionally pumped up. True revival begins on the knees, repenting of our ways, and letting God have His way in our lives individually and as a church body.

Jesus spoke about the purpose of sending the Holy Spirit to the earth in John 14:16-17, 25.

“And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever- the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept Him, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him. But you know Him, for He lives with you and will be in you.” V.25 “All this I have spoken while still with you. But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.”

The Father sent Holy Spirit to earth after Jesus ascended. He came to convict the sinner of his sins, to be our advocate or our defense attorney against the accusations of the enemy, our teacher who reveals the ways of our Father to us, Comforter, Spirit of truth who brings to light those hidden things, anoints us with His special abilities or anointing, baptizes us with a powerful endowment of Himself and gives us a prayer language, and so much more.

How can we walk as an effective powerful Christian if we don’t know or have a close relationship with the third person of the Godhead? He’s the One that is sent to be with us here on the earth. We must come to know not only who He is but we must come to know Him personally. How can we come to have this kind of relationship with the Holy Spirit? Firstly, by learning about what the Word says about Him. Then by doing what the Word says about Him. Get saved, get filled and speak in tongues. Ask Him to reveal Himself to you. Become aware of His presence and invite Him to come into the place that you’re at. Look for Him. Talk with Him. Rely upon Him. Trust Him. Listen to Him. He has a voice, just like Jesus and the Father do. Begin to ask Him to talk to you. Listen. When you lose something in the house and you ask, Holy Spirit where should I look and you hear, “Look under the couch.” Well guess what, the Holy Spirit just talked to you! How do we have a close relationship with anyone? We get to know them and spend time with them.

The Holy Spirit will come in different ways or manifestations. In Matthew 3:16 it says, “As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water, At that moment heaven was opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighted on Him." So He came as a dove upon our Lord.

The Holy Spirit comes as fire and wind. Acts 2:2-4: “Suddenly a sound like the blowing of a violent wind came from heaven and filled the whole house where they were sitting. They saw what seemed to be tongues of fire that separated and come to rest on each of them.”

He manifests as water. Jesus says in John 7:38: “Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as Scripture has said, rivers of living water will flow from within them."

How many of you want to have a special encounter with the Holy Ghost? All we have to do is truly desire Him and ask. Be open and receptive before Him. Also, we have to learn to wait on Him and listen to what He is saying.

I hope this message has helped and blessed you. If so, please, don’t be shy, leave me a comment.

Blessings,
Janet


Prayer: Come Holy Spirit. Come upon all those who desire to know you in a more intimate and personal way. That they may recognize and reverence Your presence. In the name of Jesus.

Overwhelmed

I shared the following on my FB ministry page, but I want to include it on the blog also:

Looking back over the past years, I'm feeling very overwhelmed. I see how the Lord has taken care of me and provided, even though it hasn't been exactly easy at times, but when you look at the bigger picture, I am amazed! I've lived with friends rent free for the past 4 years while working and growing in ministry. I've had 3 replacement surgeries in the past 5 years and here is the amazing thing about this, I didn't pay a dime! This past year up till now, I've been ordain...ed and commissioned as an apostle, ministered for the first time in years, got set up officially as a non-profit Inc. ministry, got the blog set up which is linked to the main social medias and of yes did I mention I got the book written and published. All of these things have been prophesied many times over the years. I just couldn't see how any of it was going to come to pass. Silly me! I'm not suppose to figure it out! That's God's business to do that. I'm just suppose to believe and obey. There is much more to come. If you knew me 25 years ago - and some of you did - you would agree with me and say, "Who is this new person?" because this isn't the Janet we knew. Thank God!!! He makes all things and people new!!! Hallelujah! So if you have promises, He is faithful. Just hold onto them and trust Him.

Blessings,
Janet

Are You Dysfunctional?

     I was thinking about the word "dysfunctional" today.  This word I am very much familiar with.  First of all, I looked the word up on an online dictionary.  It was pretty much what I was thinking.  Here is a clear definition of the word:  abnormal or unhealthy interpersonal behavior or interaction within a group."  Abnormal is anything that is not considered normal mores or "ways of behavior" of a group.  So for example if you have a family that fights a lot with one other and drinks to the point where it affects the relationships,  I would say that this family has a lot of dysfunctional behaviors.

     I bring this up because a lot of people come from dysfunctional families.  Dysfunction causes guilt and shame.  Satan doesn't play fair.  He goes for the families because he knows that's where Kingdom leaders come from.  Just take a look at Moses.  Didn't Pharaoh want to destroy all of the first born baby boys.  The same with Herod.  Both times, God provided an ark of protection for His leaders.

     I was raised in a dysfunctional family.  My dad was hard working and loved his family in his own way, but never the less did not know how to really function well in relationships.  He was raised that way.  So then the cycle continues.  There was a lot of anger, cussing, hitting, and alcohol when I was little.  Guess what it produced in me.  Shame, embarrassment, lack of value and self-worth.  Children and spouses are often the victims of those that are dysfunctional. 

     The good news is that we don't have to continue to carry those dysfunctional patterns and all their ugly symptoms with us.  We don't have to be the victims that carry the shame and guilt.  Jesus said, "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." Jn 10:10.  Jesus' blood and power can break every demonic dysfunctional stronghold that we struggle with.  His life that He wants to give us is that same life that raised Him from the dead and Rms 8:11 says that it will also "quicken or make alive our mortal bodies" and brings healing to our emotions and hearts as well.  That's the Good News, we don't have to stay in the cycle of dysfunction, but we can be set free by His blood and stripes that were on His back!

Prayer:  Father, I repent for believing all of the lies of the enemy.  I accept Your love for me.  I bring every sin, every emotional hurt and pain to the cross and leave it there.  I ask that You would pour Your healing balm into my heart and body and bring complete healing and freedom.  I forgive all those that have wounded and mistreated me.  Father, bring freedom to their lives also.  I break every chain that the enemy has held me with and command them to be broken from me now.  I love you Father and will serve you only with my whole heart.  In Jesus' Name.  Amen!

My Book

The Training of a General: Kingdom Strategies for End-Time Generals

The Training of a General is a training guide that gives real life strategies or lessons to those that are called to be generals in God's end-time army. These lessons are to equip the Lord's called out leaders for the work of the ministry during these last days. Also, at the end of each lesson there are spiritual impartations that the Lord gave to the author to be ministered to the leaders.

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The Training of a General: Kingdom Strategies for End-Time Generals