Brads Blog

The Best and the Brightest

2011-09-12T17:17:00.000-07:00

This blog is from The Student Revival Movement:

“Has any such offering of living men and women been presented in this age–in this country–in any age, or any country, since the days of Pentecost?” – President McCosh, President of Princeton College (now University) in May 1887, referring to the Student Volunteer Movement

In 1886, 251 young men from nearly 90 colleges gathered together in Northfield, Massachusetts for a month-long Bible conference with famed revivalists D.L. Moody, A.T. Pierson, and others. The students would daily gather together with Moody for 6am prayer meetings, a morning Bible study on the subject of the Second Coming of Christ, and games and sports in the afternoon. Despite Moody’s lack of any formal education, he captivated the hearts and minds of some of the best and the brightest college students with a vision of a great awakening in the hearts of college students to the revelation and beauty of Jesus.

In the midst of this month-long conference, a young radical named Robert Wilder, a recent graduate of Princeton, began to envision his fellow students with a dream to evangelize the world in their generation. Though missions was not the purpose of the month-long conference, it became the dominant theme in the minds of the students as Wilder spread his passion for a collegiate missions movement among the other students. John R. Mott, the future leader of the Student Volunteer Movement, remembered, “You could hardly go anywhere without somebody crossing your path and presenting this great missionary message.”

Robert Wilder’s sister, Grace, had prophesied to her brother that 100 college students would be set apart for missionary work at the summer Bible conference. On one of the final nights of the conference, students gathered together who had consecrated themselves to the finishing of the task of world evangelization in their generation. One by one they explained their reasons for their commitment to this great undertaking. Many remembered the power and effect of this meeting for years to come.

Then, on the night before the conference would end, those who had committed themselves to the missionary cause gathered together for one final prayer meeting to present themselves to the Lord and consecrate their lives as foreign missionaries. There, 99 students gathered together, and as they began to kneel together before the Lord, one final student slipped through the back door and joined his fellow students. These initial 100 student volunteers would come to be known as “the Mt. Hermon 100.”

In a breathtaking moment, just as had been prophesied earlier by Grace Wilder, exactly 100 students who would come to be known as “the Mt. Hermon 100” launched the Student Volunteer Movement for Foreign Missions. Within one generation, these Student Volunteers would explode from 100 college students to over 20,000 young men and women who became foreign missionaries preaching the gospel in every nation of the earth.

Could it happen again?

The students that were volunteering as foreign missionaries had the best minds and the brightest futures of their generation. Upon graduation, if they desired it, they were all but assured of high-paying jobs in the highest echelons of society and promised lives of prestige and honor. Yet, these student volunteers were captured with a different vision than the so-called American Dream. These students had been swept up into the grand vision of “the evangelization of the world in this generation” and to these student volunteers, anything less than the accomplishment of this vision would have been failure.

In fact, in his later years, John R. Mott, the missionary statesman and primary leader of the Student Volunteer Movement, was asked by President Woodrow Wilson, an earnest and early supporter of the student volunteers, to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to China, a post that promised wealth and prestige. John R. Mott responded by telling Wilson that though he was profoundly honored by the offer, he had to decline. Upon further persuasion with promises from the White House, as legend goes, Mott firmly responded that the problem in accepting was not that the job was too big, but that the job was too small for him as he was already an ambassador of the King of kings and Lord of lords. Wilson later told reporters that Mott was “one of the most nobly useful men in the world.” President Taft had earlier referred to Mott as “one of the great men of this generation.”

The Holy Spirit had directed these young men and women–the cream of the crop–like the daughter of Psalm 45 to “forget your own people…and your father’s house…So the King will greatly desire your beauty.” These student volunteers were consumed not by the things of this world, but by the vision of finishing the task of world evangelization and bringing back the King.

Are there young men and women like that today?

Honor

2011-08-21T11:56:00.000-07:00

Luke 14:8-11 is a great parable from Jesus, showing us a dimension of how the kingdom works. It speaks of honor, which is a lost art in the church, but an art that will return to the church with a comeback like no other. This verse shows us the fruit that comes if we hold true to its teaching and the curse that comes if we neglect it.

Luke 14:8-11

8.When you are invited by anyone to a marriage feast, do not recline on the chief seat [in the place of honor], lest a more distinguished person than you has been invited by him 9. And he who invited both of you will come to you and say, Let this man have the place [you have taken]. Then, with humiliation and a guilty sense of impropriety, you will begin to take the lowest place. 10. But when you are invited go and recline in the lowest place, so that when your host comes in, he may say to you, Friend, go up higher! Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit [at the table] with you. 11. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled (ranked below others who are honored or rewarded), and he who humbles himself (keeps a modest opinion of himself and behaves accordingly) will be exalted (elevated in rank).

Honor is truly an art that has been lost in the modern church of the west. This parable speaks of the upside-down kingdom. A kingdom worth trusting. Not because our intelligence says that it's wisdom to trust, but because our Christ has spoken that IT IS wisdom to trust. It is foolishness to the world, but it is the wisdom of God to his children. Many would say "You have to fight for your place in this life," but Jesus, proposes a different approach to gaining the seat of honor in this life. He tells us to humble ourselves rather than being humbled by others. The first is always more fruitful. This goes in any arena in life. If you are a son or daughter of God it is your inheritance to be exalted in this manner. We must always take the low road if we want the favor and blessing of God on our life. There is no other road that will offer such an inheritance as this road offers. God calls this road "the Highway of Holiness" (Isaiah 35).

One thing that has to happen in the church before Jesus returns is that the people of God have to be made pure and spotless. Jesus is coming to marry a harlot that has been washed in the blood of the Lamb. She must not have any blemish on her, for who is worthy to partner with this Man? She must be purified and sanctified. In Malachi 3:1-3 God speaks of the Day of the Lord (the same day He sends the Spirit of Elijah) that 'He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; and purge them (the church) as gold and silver.' He is speaking of his church being prepared for His coming.

Honor is one of the main issues, especially in the western church, that needs to be restored in order for the bride to be purified.

Ephesians 4:11-13

11. And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. (The 5 Fold Ministry)

12. His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church),

13. [That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.

I believe God is restoring honor to us so that when we hear a man of God speak the words of God, our hearts and minds would truly be edified and we would draw closer to Christ. The church was originally set up in a culture of honor. 1 Corinthians 12:28 Paul speaks of the Gods appointed order in the church. If we begin to honor Gods order we will be a healthy church.

We need to be an honorable people. Daniel honored Nebuchadnezzar not because Neb was worthy of the honor but because Daniel was an honorable man. We can be honorable people to unbelievers because we have an honorable inheritance. But like Daniel we should never compromise our faith in God for the sake of honoring an crooked man, for we have a Father who is much more honorable. It's a heart posture. Its a lifestyle. Its a culture. Its an art.

Honor will return to the church with a comeback like no other! You will hear more and more preaching and teaching on honor before Jesus comes back. Why, you ask? Because it is part of the culture of Gods Kingdom. If we want to live and dwell with him in the next age, we must begin to go after honoring our fathers, elders, brothers and sisters above ourselves. We must honor the way our Father in heaven ordained the church to function. God spoke of a day that would take place before the great and dreadful day of the Lord when the Spirit of Elijah would again "turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers" (Malachi 4:5-6) The spirit of Elijah is the restoration of God's children. The the fullness of the Spirit of Elijah is not limited to honor being restored, but honor is its foundation, unto a church being made ready for a coming King.

The Spirit of Elijah looks like an honorable people, where the fathers honor the children and encourage them to run farther than they ever did. And where the children honor and respect the the fathers, and the grandfathers, and the elders, where they sit and listen to there words with attentive hearing ears. We must understand that we are not sitting at a round table, but we are sitting at a rectangular one. Don't put yourself in a position to be brought low. Posture your heart low to be brought high at the day of the resurrection.

Run To The Cry

2011-08-16T20:09:00.000-07:00

Its good to write out the scripture. Hope this read benefits you.

Hebrews 2 (AMP). 1. Since all this is true, we ought to pay much closer attention than ever to the truths that we have heard, lest in any way we drift past [them] and slip away. 2. For if the message given through angels [the Law spoken by them to Moses] was authentic and proved sure, and every violation and disobedience received an appropriate (just and adequate) penalty, 3. How shall we escape [appropriate retribution] if we neglect and refuse to pay attention to such a great salvation [as is now offered to us, letting it drift past us forever]? For it was declared at first by Lord [Himself], and it was confirmed to us and proved to be real and genuine by those who personally heard [Him speak]. 4. [Besides this evidence] it was also established and plainly endorsed by God, Who showed His approval of it by signs and wonders and various miraculous manifestations of [His] power and by imparting the gifts of the Holy Spirit [to the believers] according to His own will. 5. For it was not to angels that God subjected the habitable world of the future, of which we are speaking. 6. It has been solemnly and earnestly said in a certain place, What is man that You are mindful of him, or the son of man that You graciously and helpfully care for and visit and look after him? 7. For some little time You have ranked him lower than and inferior to the angels; You have crowned him with glory and hour and set him over the works of Your hands, 8. For You have put everything in subjection under his feet. Now in putting everything in subjection to man, He left nothing outside of man's control. But at present we do not yet see all things subjected to him [man]. 9. But we are able to see Jesus, Who was ranked lower than the angels for a little while, crowned with glory and honor because of His having suffered death, in order that by grace (unmerited favor) of God [to us sinners] He might experience death for every individual person. 10. For it was an act worthy [of God] and fitting [to the divine nature] that He, for Whose sake and by Whom all things have their existence, in bringing many sons into glory, should make the Pioneer of their salvation perfect [should bring to maturity the human experience necessary to be perfectly equipped for His office as High Priest] through suffering. 11. For both He Who sanctifies [making men holy] and those who are sanctified all have one [Father]. For this reason He is not ashamed to call them brethren; 12. For He says, I will declare Your [the Father's] name to My brethren; in the midst of the the [worshiping] congregation I will sing hymns of praise to You. 13. And again He says, My trust and assured reliance and confident hope shall be fixed in Him. And yet again, Here I am, I and the children whom God has given Me. 14. Since, therefore, [these His] children share in flesh and blood [in the physical nature of human beings], He [Himself] in a similar manner partook of the same [nature], that by [going through] death He might bring to nought and make of no effect him who had the power of death -- that is, the devil -- 15. And also that He might deliver and completely set free all those who through the [haunting] fear of death were held in bondage throughout the whole course of their lives. 16. For, as we all know, He [Christ] did not take hold of angels [the fallen angels, to give them a helping and delivering hand], but He did take hold of [the fallen] descendants of Abraham [to reach out to them a helping and delivering hand]. 17. So it is evident that it was essential that He be made like His brethren in every respect, in order that He might become a merciful (sympathetic) an faithful High Priest in the things related to God, to make atonement and propitiation for the people's sins. 18. For because He Himself [in His humanity] has suffered in being tempted (tested and tried), He is able [immediately] to run to the cry of (assist, relieve) those who are being tempted and tested and tried [and who therefore are being exposed to suffering].

You, Jesus, have defeated death, Hell, and the grave.

The Great Confusion Of the Times (Study on Eschatology)

2011-04-25T09:19:00.000-07:00

The message found in the book of Revelation has recently been a serious topic on my heart to the point of catapulting me into figuring out why such chaos has spawned in the church over the subject of the last days, particularly the controversy arising over the book itself. I call this chaos, "The Great Confusion of the Times." Why has so much confusion come forth in the church? I believe that there is an answer to this question and a solution to it.

Through my studies I have found there to be four major schools of thought throughout the church, concerning the books interpretation and how to approach it. These different schools are the Preterists, Historicists, Futurists, and Idealists. Aside from these, which we will look into, I have found that a love for Jesus Christ should be the main catalyst into the books study. My hope in writing this paper is not to simply give my interpretation of the book as if I have arrived to the full understanding of it, which I have not, but to give the clearest possible breakdown of interpreting the book by using scripture references at face value and common sense. Before I go into detail of these different schools of thought found throughout Christian culture and the breakdown of interpretation, I would like to express where I come from and why this book is on my heart.

During the past few years I began getting involved at a place called the International House of Prayer of Jacksonville (IHOP Jax). Inside IHOP Jax is the Prayer Room (PR), a place I love to come to worship and pray to Jesus. In the PR, currently, I spend a volunteered 20 hours a week praying the Word and meditating on the Word as an Intercessory Missionary. I came to this place with pure motives to do the Psalms 27:4 verse, that God would really be the "One thing I have desired" and that I would "gaze upon the beauty of the Lord...all the days of my life." As I look back on these young years of my prayer life I find that the greatest ministry I have in this life is to be a minister to God. I would not ever change this ministry for a large church building or a great following. I know that my devotion to Christ is worth more than all the riches and fame that this world has to offer. I believe that He alone is my exceedingly great reward in this life and the age to come. Knowing that Jesus approves me to spend ridiculous amounts of time before Him in meditation and proclamation of who He is, my heart is stirred to do two things: To find out more about Him through intimacy with Him, and to be a voice of truth to a generation. From this journey of seeking the Lord, there has risen inside of me a desire to know the plans that Jesus has for the earth, as times seem to be growing darker and darker. What does Jesus say about the darkest days of history and how do those who believe prepare for the coming storm? How can believers be ready for these great and terrible events that are mentioned in the book of Revelation and various other places throughout scripture? Is this book even relevant to our generation, that we would need to read it and prepare for it? These are the questions that have been a propeller in my study of the last days and the book of Revelation. Although the main thrust that has caused me to do this study is the first five words mentioned in the book, which are, “The Revelation Of Jesus Christ.” He has found the preeminence in my heart and I desire to be as close to Him has possible. In John 15:15, Jesus says, "No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from my father I have made known to you." I want to be God’s friend. That is the primary reason why I have chosen to seek out the revelation found in this book; the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Even so, many have done graphs and charts over the book and tried all the symbolism as if to somehow satisfy that curiosity deep inside. Yet, they have often been left confused and most likely build walls of resistance toward ever going back to the book. I'm not saying that the graphs and charts are not helpful in this study. I'm proposing that a desire to be a friend of Jesus should always be the centerpiece to the pursuit of understanding the message behind the book or else we will find our selves walking down a strange and cumbersome road of study. If we are friends with Him we will know His plans. In fact, if we are truly His friends we will desire to eat the scroll (read the bible), yes I mean all of it, and not simply for head knowledge, but for heart revelation.

Now that I have shared a little bit about what, I believe, is the best way to start studying the book, lets talk a bit about the book itself. I am not going to go into every last detail about it but rather, try to pave a launch pad for the reader to start this study with clarity and without confusion. In David Pawsons book, Unlocking the Bible, (pg.1253-1257), he gives his commentary on the book of Revelation’s interpretation from a very unique point of view, using the strengths of the four major schools I mentioned earlier and dismissing the weakness of each school. I like his commentary because he is open-minded towards every view found through out the church and uses common sense to take the strengths and to dismiss the weaknesses. For the sake of understanding, I will briefly talk about each school and how to apply them to the book Revelation.

The first on the list is the Preterists and this group believes that the book was written as a prophecy concerning the people the first century A.D. near the fall of the Roman Empire and has little relevance to us in our generation. They say that the main relevance it has to us is that we can learn how to live here and now from what has happened then and there. The strength of this view is that it pushes us to understand how people in that day would receive the writings. The main weakness of this view, while many can be found, is that there are almost no events, in that time period, that have obviously taken place with the accuracy of the events that Revelation reveals.

The next group is the Historicists and they believe that the events prophesied are talking about all of church history between the First and Second Comings of Jesus. Pawson explains in his book that this school is “past, present and future to us” (Pawson, pg.1254). Most Historicists agree that we can find ourselves somewhere in chapter 16 or 17. This view makes the book of Revelation relevant to every generation, which is an up side. A down side to this view is that when you line up the events from history to the events in the book, they don’t just fall into place. They are unconvincingly and unnaturally lined up. Another type of Historicist is the view that all the events of church history seem to repeat over and over through out time. Just like the linear version of the Historicist, the repeating version has the same problems and things just don’t line up.

Third on the agenda is the Futurist and this group believes that the book prophesies the last three and a half year of the world that will usher in the Second Coming of Jesus and His Millennial Reign. They believe that world will gradually get worse and worse until the greatest climax of evil and then Jesus comes to make wrong things right. There are different opinions in this view concerning when the rapture takes place, whether before the tribulation or after the tribulation. This view is interpreted more literally than the others. This makes the book relevant only to the last generation and it also causes people to use the book focusing more on the charts and graphs rather than being close to Jesus.

The forth view is the Idealist and this group believes that the book is more about an eternal and spiritual perspective of the on going battle between good and evil rather than actual events taking place. This group proclaims that “in the end love wins.” Most of the Bible is considered myth to this group and they have summed up that the book of Revelation is more about symbolism rather than a future reality. Its can be relevant to any generation because it is primarily about teaching spiritual truths. Dawson points out, “this has serious consequences for ‘eschatology’ (the study of ‘the last things’, from the Greek word eschatos = ‘end’ or ‘last’)” (Pawson, pg.1257) Through many studies done by scholars, Pawson included in his book When Jesus Returns, (pg.2), we find out the accuracy rate of the prophetic scripture. Not only does the scripture have over a quarter of prophetic words about the future that can easily be approved with its own detailed descriptions, but also over 80% of them have already happened. Up to this point in time the bible has a perfect prophetic declaration rating of 100%. The rest of the prophetic words are still future to us and are expected by most Christians to happen in the end times. Besides my own faith in believing the bible literally, this would be an important reason to interpret the bible with a literal face-value point of view. I also believe that taking the spiritual truths is necessary as well as the Idealists do, but that we should not dismiss the reality of content mentioned in the text. My conclusion is that the content should be seriously considered as well the spiritual truth.

The approach I found to be most precise in interpreting the book of Revelation is to take only the strengths of each view and apply them to the sections where they are required in the book. For an example, lets take look at the book in sections and skip to chapters 4-18 since these chapters, relating to the judgments, are more controversial than the other parts. Preterists won’t work, since their speculations of how things play out all happened in the past and yet, the specifics of tribulation judgments never happened as the book describes them. A Historicist view doesn’t work either, since it is in the same boat of things not falling into sync. Futurist is helpful because they believe what Jesus said in Matthew 24:21 that “there will be great tribulation, such as has not been since the beginning of the world until this time, no, nor ever shall be.” This lines up with the growing intensity of the tribulations found in the book of Revelation as the time line moves towards those days. Idealists should not completely make this book out to be simply myths and symbolism since that would separate this book from other books in the bible that have clear prophetic words, which have come to pass, and are not merely spiritual jargon. It is smart, however, that the spiritual message of the book be for every generation in every time period. So from this we summarize that, to interpret chapters 4-18, the best option would be to use a Futurists point of view with a hint of the Idealists. The other sections of this book have different mixtures of approaches depending on the time frame to which they belong, but now we can see how to clearly break down this book using the strengths of different views mixed together.

I would like to say that, in my opinion, the best option in interpreting the bible is to always take it at face value unless the bible specifically tells us that it is a symbol for something else. The Bible has simplicity in explaining things by itself and doesn’t need mans highly sophisticated intellect to figure it out. The Bible was written so that ordinary people could simply understand it, and yet, the mystery behind the simplicity is the depth of revelation that can come out of it. Where many have strained their intellect to over analyze, and so forth, confuse many the bible, all along, was meant to mean what is says and say what it means. One of many examples in the book of Revelation that shows us where to specifically symbolize something is found in Revelation 1:20. “ The mystery of the seven stars which you saw in My right hand, and the seven golden lampstand: The seven stars are the angels of the seven churches, and the seven lampstands which you saw are the seven churches.” An example of something that was meant to be taken literally is the scene around the throne in Revelation 4. When it says that there are 24 elders, it means there are 24 elders. When it says there are 4 living creatures, it means there are 4 living creatures. Then you have the scripture that are obviously symbolic, like Revelation 1:10b where it says “…I heard behind me a loud voice as of a trumpet” That is obvious symbolism for a voice speaking with urgency and volume. To say that something is symbolism without the scriptures own commentary is doing what Jesus talks about in Revelation 22:18-19. This scripture clearly states the importance of keeping the words of the prophecy where Jesus says “if anyone adds to these things, God will addto him the plagues that are written in this book; ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take awayhis part from the Bookof Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.” That’s quite an intense statement for the Idealist who thinks that this book is purely myth. It would be greatly considered for him to think about the possibility of it having literal application lest he find out later.

Revelation is not only a book about the literal events that Jesus allows to take place in this dark, yet, glorious time coming upon history. It also has spiritual truths to be considered. The seven letters to the Churches in chapters 2-3 are perfect examples of truths we should apply in our lives. We should strongly consider taking the spiritual truths offered in it vs. taking it strictly literal, ending up in sense like Radical Islam or the crusaders of the Middle Ages, seeking selfish desires of dominion like animals do. One of my favorite verses concerning Jesus coming again is Ezekiel 43:5-7 where Jesus comes into the temple with all of His glory and Jesus, in verse 7, says, “…Son of man, this is the place of my throne and the place of the soles of My feet, where I will dwell in the midst of the children of Israel forever.” How can we get away from this reality to come? I don’t see much of a chance. If you didn’t catch it, I will reiterate that He will dwell with His children. If we are His children or his friends we will need to apply the spiritual truths as well as the reality of things to come. I believe they go hand in hand.

This subject for me is not something that I can use to hold up over anyone’s head as if to say I have it all figure out. It is, however, that I simply want to know Him more closely. Also, as I stated previously, it is for me to be a voice of truth to generation for the sake of a generation and for the sake of Jesus receiving them as the reward that He suffered for. I want those who are coming up after me to have clear picture of the last days events so that they would be prepared as his children and be the overcoming church. This is the theme of the book of Revelation. It’s about a people overcoming by the blood of the lamb and the word of their testimony (Rev 12:11) unto Jesus receiving all the glory. The question that sparks the naysayers is why God allows such pain and chaos to take place? Isn’t He loving and merciful? He should not hurt people. I believe Jesus is loving and merciful, in fact he is so merciful that he allowed us to choose Him in love under His blood for 2000 years. Along with His love and mercy is His justice and the fact that many men and women do not desire to change their heart to follow Him. Jesus gives us the desires of our hearts. He is a jealous bridegroom, king, and judge and His ways are justice and righteousness. He wants a people who will volunteer to be His lovers even in the midst of the greatest persecution and even in the midst of the greatest shakings on the earth that will take place. The book of revelation is Jesus allowing the greatest shakings in history to shake the hearts of men to turn from evil and to loving Him. Some will hate Him for it and some will love Him and give Him their whole lives. It will be the clearest line we will ever see drawn when He shakes the earth and there will be very few who have not made a decision. To love him or to hate him, that is the choice. To make no decision is to make the wrong decision.

He wants His people to not only have head knowledge as if to satisfy the curiosity inside of them but to be prepared through intimacy and love for the storm coming in the distance. We think the Antichrist is extreme but I propose that he is exactly what is needed to make right what is in wrong in our hearts of man. Just as the Lord orchestrated Saul to chastise David, so, He will raise up the Antichrist to chastise the earth and the believers. It is His divine leadership, and it is completely different from how men would orchestrate it, but the good news is that it works. Just as Jesus went to the cross, will we be prepared to pick up our crosses and follow Him if all these things come down like the book of Revelation says they will? In the end it is a question plain old faith. It is to believe the scripture or not. As times get darker “some will depart because of deceiving spirits” (1 Tim 4:1). Who will actually have faith when He returns (Lk 18:8)? There are dozens of verses that flesh out what the days will look like and how we can know that the time is near. More importantly there are much more scriptures concerning how to get as close as possible to Jesus in this life. “When the Son of Man returns, will He find faith on the earth” (Lk 18:8)?

Bibliography

Pawson, David. Unlocking The Bible Omnibus. Great Britain by Clays Ltd, St Ives, plc.

Pawson, David. When Jesus Returns. 1995, David Pawson, Hodder & Stoughton Religious

Others references came from the New King James Version of the Bible.

Think Fast

2010-11-01T19:03:00.000-07:00

Its not just a coincidence that your mom makes your favorite meal and strawberry shortcake for desert on the day you start a fast. Push through by asking God for strength. Its going to be worth it. How much do you desire God?

Where your treasure is there your heart will be also.

BTW - Mom, you make the best strawberry shortcake dessert. Love ya!

Brad

Intercessory Missionary @IHOP JAX

2010-10-28T19:03:00.000-07:00

Just wanted to post this blog as an UPDATE of what the Lord has been doing in my life, and i'm excited to share it and the Vision He has given to me.

Over the summer i decided to go on a spare of the moment trip to IHOP KC with my new friend Ami and my friend Josh who blessed me with a plane ticket. I spent a good week out there while the Lord did some real work in my heart. He brought to remembrance a lot of things that i had honestly lost a zeal for, just some heart stuff that need to be revealed in me and brought back to life. And He really did reawaken a cry for more of Him. The groan of intercession that i forgot about was given back to me.

If you haven't been to IHOP KC, i encourage you to take a week off of work/school/whatever and go spend time in prayer room. That place is a seasoned prayer hub, 10+years of non-stop worship and intercession brought to the Lord, theres grace to pray there and you will enjoy it if you seek Gods face. - side note

Anyhow. I got back to Jacksonville with a lot of things on my heart. I wanted to do them all at once but it just seemed overwhelming and so i just decided i was going to pray and just enjoy God. So for the past two months the Lord has been dealing with my heart about how much time i am willing to literally stand before God and just talk to him. Its a tough question if the devil knows your thinking it because of all the shame he throws at you of "I'm a bad Christian, I don't pray enough." SO i just fought through the lies with grace and the Lord keeps on reminding me of how much He enjoys being around me.

After seeking the Lord on the issue of my jumbled heart He led me to begin a 6 month Internship at the International House of Prayer in Jacksonville (IHOPJax) where He will begin a work of organizing! I will be an Intercessory Missionary starting November 1st 2010 for the next 6 months. Now i know what your thinking. How is being a missionary going to help me be before the Lord and organize my heart?....you might not have asked that and thats OKAY! But i will answer it. I will not be going over seas to help orphans or even required to minister on the streets to the lost. I will be required to spend 16 hours in the PR standing before our God and 4 hours serving/office work every week! Thus, equaling 20 hours of week. Jesus Christ will certainly be my focus for the next months ahead. As i seek the Lord He will be redefining my life and really emphasizing my biggest Vision of all: To seek the Lords face and never stop...EVER!

I am not ditching my dream to be a film maker. As i do this prayer internship i will also be carrying two other priorities in my heart. I have recently received a new job working as a cinematographer and editor. The Lord blessed me with the job in a very powerful way and i don't want to despise his gifts, i really enjoy the job too. I will also be taking classes at FSCJ working on getting my AA to eventually transfer to a film college out in Savannah GA. called SCAD to get my BFA in Film Studies. It has always been my dream to make films inspired by the Holy Spirit to bring many to salvation through Jesus. I wont give that dream up lightly. This internship in prayer will only grow my passion in loving the Lord and push that dream to eventually become reality.

I would be honored if you guys would keep me in your prayers as i take this next step in life. I feel like its a big one. It's one i've always wanted to make and here i Go!

Pray that the Lord would keep me faithful to my commitment and that the Lord would pour out the Unspeakable Joy he has for me while He gives me a heart to Stand before him.

__________________________________________________________________

Psalms 24:3 ~ Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may STAND in His holy place?

Malachi 3:2 ~ But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can STAND when He appears? For He is like a refiner's fire...

2 Chronicles 29:11 ~My sons, do not be negligent now, for the LORD has chosen you to STAND before Him, to SERVE Him, and that you should MINISTER to Him and BURN incense.

STAND|SERVE|MINISTER|BURN

~BRADLEY HAYES

I'm back in Jax

2010-07-21T22:20:00.000-07:00

Just sitting up late on my bed. Work in the morning. Oh well. Gods worthy. Everytime. So just an update. The last night in Kansas City was a monday. We had "Monday Night Prayer Meeting!!!!!" It was one of those nights that happens a few times a year. Where your heart experiences God in power. I cried. I wept as the love of the Lord came over me and He gave me new eyes. His hands touched my hands. He came and he delivered me. He pulled out the sickle that was stuck in my heart and he replaced it with His Love! He loves me. He delights in me. Wow!

The lord is teaching me still. because i didn't make it to a place to stay. I've always been on a journey and ill always be on a journey. Jesus is a shoreless ocean. And i was made to seek him out forever.

on a side note. I am back in Jacksonville Florida. I get to go surfing with my brother Leo! I am happy to be in this place. Its awesome to know that theres waves to ahah!

Surfing! Hopefully Leo teach me how to elbow drop a tiger shark?! Jesus!

Jesus has also been putting on my heart the desire for Godly kids. Even though i have no relationship with any women right now that could lead to marriage, the Lord is just making me joyful as i think about and pray for my children. Right now there a dream in the Lords heart and he is placing his dream in my heart. (Ps 126. and Ps 127. and Ps 128. over my family)

Jesus teach me to pray. I wana be like those who dream.

Brad

Healing at the Awakening

2010-07-15T09:51:00.001-07:00

As i was getting ministry at the IHOPU Awakening meetings, someone went up on stage to give a testimony of a back healing. Wes Hall felt strongly that the Lord wanted to heal more backs in the room that night. He asked all those that had back problems to raise their hands and that everyone else would see those hands and go pray for them using faith that they would be healed. So i thought, "why not". The last time i prayed for someone and they got completely healed was, well i cant remember, its been a while. I went to up a lady who had a hand raised and I laid a hand on her with a couple others gathered around as well and we all started releasing the Kingdom over her. "I release the power of the Kingdom over you" "By the blood of Jesus, be healed." I also said "Fire" a few times! haha! And this lady also began praying for herself out loud believing for her healing. So then very happily she asked if she could lay on the ground to see if her legs were even. She went down, we lined her feet up as straight as possible and her feet were even. When we told her she flipped out! She was in so much awe. Apparently she was recently in car accident which caused her back to be twisted in a weird way and that caused her feet to come out of alignment about 1 inch and a half, is what she said. But those feet were the same length when we got done praying for her! WOOOO Praise God! The Lord really likes his children!

More stepping out in faith for the sake of the Lord! Shaba!

Like Him who dreams!

Bradley Hayes

IHOPU Awakening

2010-07-14T22:23:00.000-07:00

Recently, a few friends and I flew up to Kansas City to go to the awakening meetings and spend time in the Prayer Room. Its been about 2 days so far and we have about 5 days left. People keep asking me what the Lords doing in my heart while in the PR. Honestly, the only reason i came was to stretch my heart to Love God more. That's exactly whats He has been doing. Wrecking my heart on His worthiness, on His holiness. I believe a lot more is going on in my spirit than i can see being made manifest in the flesh. Its tough at times to sit before God. The hardest thing for me is not falling asleep while meditating on Him. And so even through this lack of fascination for the Lord, the Lord is delighting in my soul and allowing me the grace to keep pressing in. I'm believing for more fascination than i have yet to receive from my Abba Father! There is an eternal well spring of glory and Love that i have yet to touch its depths. I am asking that the lord teach me how to swim on this trip, so that i can go deep in his heart and be fascinated by Him alone.

At the 1st awakening service, i received prayer for the stirring of revival in my city. That through Jesus, my college and city would be transformed and that i would simply be a hungry vessel. A lot of people came by, laid hands on my speaking "Fire" or "More Lord" or "Wine" and the Lord touch my heart. I was laid out a couple times quite violently by the intense influence of the Holy Spirit.

The Lord spoke these words to me. "All I need is one man"

Lord, rest in my heart. Have a place that You can dwell in all the time. Give me the gift of weepings and the heart to comfort your heart on the future salvation of Israel, for a revival in Jacksonville Florida and all through out the nations. Lord i want to be like those who dream.

Make me like those who dream!

Brad

FIRE

2010-07-06T13:00:00.005-07:00

The fire in His eyes reveals His desire for us and tenderizes us to love Him. His eyes see our failures causing us to walk in the fear of God. He sees our immature longings to love Him, giving us confidence. He sees, remembers and rewards all that we do in serving Him, giving relevance to each day. His sees our burdens and walks with us in an intimate way. He knows our future, giving us direction and hope and knows all our enemies causing us to have great security.

3 The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on…evil and the good. (Prov. 15:3)

2010-07-06T13:00:00.003-07:00

Woops

I never talked about why i titled that last one Buy in the Currency of Time. Just read isaiah 55. and spend a good amount of time just meditating there and i bet you’ll get somethin!

Mediation: (go deep) Encounter Jesus through this word!

Read it!

Write it!

Sing it!

Say it!

Pray it!

2010-07-06T13:00:00.001-07:00

Buy in the currency of time.

Man oh man! What an awesome day. God has been wrecking me by how much he loves me. Everyone knows that Jesus “loves the little children” but the revelation of it is so much better than head knowledge. Or at least receiving the revelation and then receiving depths of knowledge of His love. Its a wonderful thing. Its better to taste with the heart and then understand in the head in that order. Gods love doesn’t make sense to our head until our hearts encounter his and he transforms our minds.

Most christians know Jesus has love for them. But do they know that he likes them?

My worship team and I were going after the Lord today on our 2oclock worship set at IHOP Jax. I just want to say how much my singers are growing in their hearing from the Lord and singing it back to him. Prophecy is flowing! The flow of the sets have become so smooth these past few times. Even today my voice was all messed up from singing the night before and my fingers from playing to much were killing me. The Lord lead us through a very powerful presence and we didn’t stop. So anyways, while we were starting the set we go into a time prophetic worship. Right when Erika started singing about the joy and peace of God it came sooooo much and fast to. It made me happy. Something is on that girl when she sings.

So then a bit later on we go into a focus time of reading and singing Isaiah 55:1-3! Great verses to sing about btw. The lord will come!

Anyways we went after that for a while and then Erika starts singing about the rain and that God would pour out the rain in the spirit.

(((Just so you can have a little picture, our IHOP is right on the St Johns River and the stage looks out over the river through the back window over looking the whole city of Jacksonville.)))) and it was sunny outside today.

She starts singing about the rain and it starts to rain. And it rained hard. Haha. So i just want to say that its proof that Jesus likes her. And he likes me and my whole team. He likes you to. but he delights in those who put their trust and fear in Him.

Be blessed and ask for the rain. He will pour it out!

Brad Hayes

2010-07-06T12:59:00.001-07:00

Divided Flames

Two places in scripture where flames of fire are divided! Psalms 29 and Acts 2. Psalms 29 is know as the Seven Thunders of God or the Seven Voices of God. If one of these voices were released on the day of pentecost, how much more is the Lord wanting to pour in the these last days?

In the last days I will POUR out my Spirit on ALL flesh! There is a great blessing coming to those who minister to the Lord, Glory and Strength. Everyone in the temple cry Glory!

2010-07-06T12:58:00.003-07:00

Filming w/ the HS.

Today, i went out to film an interview for the Jacksonville House of Prayer Promotional Video. We get to the interviewees house and begin setting up lights and the camera and everything else. Before we get going with the film we decide to go into a time of just worshiping the Lord and asking for his presence to come as we film the video. Sure enough the HS came and wrecked us. Tears and prophetic words along with a real since of peace in the room. Jesus was in our midst.

I’ve always wanted to film and invite the holy spirit to be creative with us. And today we did for the first time ever! Praise God! He came and touched us deeply. Afterwords we filmed the interview and it went so smoothly. Usually there is so much tension and warfare, but all we had to do was invite the lord in. He tears down all the un-creativity and brings in fresh joy and creative ingenuity. It was awesome!

The best part was hearing what our interviewee had to say. Not knowing what he was going to talk about before hand he sat down and just unloaded what the Lord had given him in such clarity and power it was unreal. His words weren’t being anointed by the Lord one by one as the came out.

Can’t wait to see what else the lord is going to do with this film and the many more to come.

Pray if you would that Jesus would be lifted up and that this film would be anointed to bring people to know Jesus in a deeper way! Pray that the creativity of HS would fall on us as we make this film.

Blessings!
-Brad

2010-07-06T12:58:00.001-07:00

(pre)Face In The Sand.

Tomorrow night (May 23, 2010), Pentecost! A group of us will be going to the beach at 8pm to worship the Jesus and invite the HS to change the atmosphere. I am believing for a great awakening in my city. I know Jesus wants to touch so many hearts with his love. I want to see salvation tomorrow and i will provoke God to shift the atmosphere that many would come to know him as their Father.

Should be cool to see the fruit of this journey.

Every Sunday night at 8 we will be on the beach worshiping Jesus. Pray for us as we venture into this. Come with us if your free!

“In the latter days I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh” …Lord, like you did Act’s, show us your glory and awaken our city! Set watchman on the wall! Raise up those burning ones who will worship you Spirit and in Truth…AMEN!

Adopted Sons

2010-07-06T12:57:00.003-07:00

I please my Father every time i consider him. He desires my love. He Judges my heart in righteousness and it is Just. He is a Just Judge! He is faithful to my heart. Every single time there is doubt in my mind i am graciously stirred by His judgments and his lovingkindness. and his mercy. He puts me in the wilderness, only to find rivers.

He’s teaching me that jealousy isn’t a bad thing as long as its righteous. That breaks so many false teachings. He created me to be beautiful. So many times we are worried about being genuine with Christ…or with others. We teach our brothers not to be prideful in their holiness. The problem is that holiness is something completely other than pride. In other words if your truly beautiful, then you cant be prideful. Its impossible to be prideful if your beautiful. And I’m not talking beauty in the eyes of man. Our perception of beauty and holiness is so tainted. Gods perception is the only truth we should allow in our hearts. Gods prescription is beauty. His whole plan is that Christ would be glorified by the presentation and manifestation of His beautiful, holy children.

How do you become beautiful?

Gaze on his beauty until you understand that you were made in his likeness. Meditate and revelate. There’s an endless ocean of attributes in this mans heart and you can easily marvel over just one of them for eternity. The point is…Start. Set yourself apart as beautiful. Let the word wash your heart of its filth. There’s a cleansing that will take place if you sit and just meditate on Him. The highest calling a man can get is to wait before the lord. When we wait, He moves. He will give you strength to wait because we all know how much not doing anything is the hardest thing to do.

Its cool that we can be beautiful even when we seem to be the scum of the earth in the eyes of man. I want a heart like David. Even though his own family thought he was a wretch he knew that he was the beloved of God.

Even the angles look at us marvel over us. Why? Because God chose us to be his best creation. Because we get to fight! The last battle is gonna be the most epic because the sons and daughters of the living God are fighting in it. Jesus Christ will have the reward of his suffering. We owe it to Christ to offer ourselves even unto death as His alone. As sloppy as it may look to us, Gods Heart is undone by our gazing.

Burn for this man! Set your heart ablaze for the Christ. Its going to be sloppy!

I used to not be apart of his family…i was an orphan without a father. And then PAPA called me by name and i entered into his house with great Joy. My old man died and my new man is alive forever.

Daniel 12:3 Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars for ever and ever.

LIFE

2010-07-06T12:57:00.001-07:00

Heres to the God who makes me die to myself so that he can live in me. I love him so. I want to love him like a child again. Like a kid loves his dad. Recently i drove to Kansas City to visit some friend’s and go to the prayer room. I met some awesome people. I also met up with the Lord and he brought me back to the calling he set on my life. I was reminded of how i used to go after him. It was over all an awesome trip. I had so much encouragement coming at me everyday up there. I felt refreshed, almost like a new person. I get on the plane to go home and see my family in Jacksonville. I was stoked to see them but it was different than KC for sure. It felt like a shifted environment. All that encouragement i felt in KC was just not the same in Jax. Almost as if it wasn’t there. Im working and going to school and doing the routine again, but i want to fight through all the darkness and bring light to Jax. Im going to get my life in a schedule because i know that what Mike Bickle would say. I need to give my time to the lord and focus on his mercy. And not just that but also keep my self occupied doing things, like reading working out, jogging, leading worship at the hop, and also treasure hunts and start revivals in Jax! Those are the top things on my list right i want to do. I believe if my schedule is set up then i can do all these things including school and work ad still have time for the lord. I also need to set how much free time i spend on the internet. Its almost become an idol for me. any ways i could go on but i just wanted to share some of my heart. Gods really blessing me with favor.

If i could give any encouragement it would be this. Never stop learning about God. be in his presence often. Pray with out ceasing( always in mind ) you will learn about his continual grace that he pours out to his children. He is asking the question right now, Who do you say that I AM? The more you consider him the better you can answer that question. Your destiny in him is to huge for you to give up hope. Take heart and fight the fight of perfect love.

I'm one of those...

2010-07-06T12:56:00.001-07:00

i will go fishing and then go make a fire.

i will go sleep well and be awake without sleep!
i don’t want to be wanting but i will will will!

here is the open wounds of brad.
his beard is slow to grow #hope
his heart is fast to think
his mind is usually sane but unusually insane.
his love is driven by a man!
his emotions swell like the ocean tides!
his inner man is like a lion. duh
his joy is almost there but thankful for the almost. just wants more.
his patience is lacking
his god is patient
his god is fire
his god is in the fishing and in the fire
his god is in the dreams and in the eyes of his heart
his god is in the wounds of his soul
his god is in the sane and in the insane
his god is in the love with him
his god thinks his darkness is lovely
his god thinks his poverty is beautiful

im broken but being helped! i live by the flesh by my sprit groans in me to live by the spirit!
pray i will gaze on the son has he shines from zion!

Stop asking questions and be a good christian!

2010-07-06T12:55:00.001-07:00

no thanks. where is the wonder?

i need wonder! i really need it to survive till the end of the age!
My heart has to be ready with the wooin of the spirit! It has to be alive in yearning to know the great things i dont know #jer 33:3

i wonder, i wonder!
to be a sign and a wonder!

im the wonderful thing god made
to be made makes me wonder,…why

to wonder the awesomeness of the creator! to love the endless the perfect the power of god!

i wonder becuase i come alive!

i was flesh and he was god and now im sprirt and he is still god!
i wonder what my glorious body will be like
i wonder what the swelling of my joy will be like when he pours out his joel 2

i wonder how much more wonderful the kings garden will be comapred to the nature around the world as we know it…i dont know but my heart gets excited to wonder about that.

Jesus is still a man and still god 100 percent!

Jesus came to die!
i wonder what he was feeling and how close he was to the heart of the father when he came so low. i want to know

Never tell someone they should just accept christianity. then the point of the fathers heart has been taken away and chritiantiy is no longer what it was supposed to be. he said ask. ask ask, you will recieve…call unto me and i will show great and mysterious things which you dont know. what have the 4 living creature been crying out around gods throne for eternity? crying out HOLY HOLY HOLY…having eyes all over there bodys to see god and nothing else…they still cry the phrase, i still dont under stand you i still dont understand you i stilll dont understand…and they dont stop becuase there wonder is full.

we should model this since we are christs prize posesion.. and will contiually cry out becuase he is holy! he is so beyond our thoughts. without this wonder of “Who do you say I am” our hearts will die.

without the revalation of the HOLY GOD we will be dull.

RAISE UP! AND BURN WITH THE FATHERS HEART! HE loves for us to gaze on his beauty and loves to provoke his bride to come closer. He longs for the intensity of fellowship between us and him. No longer shall we cry out less of us and more of him less we be swept away with the wicked…he wants all of us to be consummed by all of him. he had less of us before and then he created us…i believe he had a purpose.

So Chirst raise up the nazerites! Raise up the levites! Raise up the wariors! raise up your sons! raise up your bride!

Sound of War

2010-07-06T12:54:00.000-07:00

What is that rumbling?

What is the noise? They cry.

The sound of the underground

Coming forth from on high.

This is the sound of war.

They march forward,

No one is out of line,

Born from above,

Singing their war songs,

Holy, Holy, Holy.

Waves of men give waves of glory

To a King who is worthy.

They fight with victory in their hearts

For the battle is already won

Death has already been conquered.

They fight for innocent and free the oppressed.

To the poor and the needy

They give more than silver and gold.

They would lay down their lives for the sake of the weary and broken

At any minute and at any cost.

They are sons and daughters,

Kings and Priests,

Nasserites and Levites,

Yet they have no names,

Except what their King says of them.

Their King is like no other.

Some say that his voice is like many rushing waters

Or like the sky’s as they groan with thunder.

He judges and makes war along side His warriors,

For His Bride and for His glory

He marches forth with His sword upon His thigh.

His garments have been dipped in the streams of blood.

He loves His mercy and does His justice

And of His faithfulness He cannot change,

Of His righteousness He can only be faithful.

Whom shall we fear, but Him,

The one who comes on the clouds.

Don’t look in those jealous eyes of fire,

Less you be swept into the ocean of His love.

For who can stand when this man comes?

We do our best to stand our ground,

To fight with this man,

But when His glory comes near

We fall to our faces.

This is how we fight!

This is how we fight,

Faces in the sand.

We train in weakness,

To be strong in righteousness.

Beholding the one thing needed.

Who is this man,

First born from the dead?

He did not come to live,

But He came to die,

To be raised in the fullness of Life.

Just as he died and just as he lives,

We will take up our cross as he once did,

To enter in to this momentary light affliction,

To come out on the other side

With the omnipotent God.

Surly He has born the deepest grief.

He is acquainted with sorrows.

He is familiar with sufferings,

Despised and rejected among the people.

They esteemed Him not.

He is the One who conquered death,

The One who gave us victory and life.

Intercession proceeds from his throne for his bride

Until the day they see Him in his glory,

The day splits the sky.

In that day the beloved will stand

And look into those fiery eyes.

Face to face and they will sing

All glory and honor and praise

Be unto You, The Lamb that was slain.

So Here's an Update

2010-07-06T12:53:00.001-07:00

So here’s an update. I feel like testifying what Jesus has been doing to me lately! He is so good! I’m in this place where I’ve been hungry and thirsty for more of Him. Thankfully He gives himself to me in small portions. I’ve, pretty much, set in my heart that I wont stop until I see all of Him when He returns. It’s the glory of my life to glorify Jesus. One of what I think is a biggest struggle in my life is being a burnt stone. I have had so much doubt that I don’t think God can do certain things for me or through me. I so badly want Jesus to help me be like a child again. In my times of worship by myself iv been feeling this eternal feeling if you will, like I’m breaking through to new realms in heaven. As I just think of Jesus and pray to him I feel him pushing through my spirit with his holy spirit. This I believe is the way to that childlike faith that I badly want. So, I’m definitely not going to stop going after this eternal God.

He’s also been telling me how proud He is of me, which really lightens up my heart. I am the kind of guy that wants to hear kind and encouraging words especially when they are from God. So it was Wednesday and I was leading worship at the house of prayer. I felt like that wasn’t my best set vocally. My voice couldn’t do anything that day and I felt like I didn’t quite touch Gods heart. After the set I was about to leave and a girl stopped me and told me the she heard Jesus say “ I’m so proud of my boy” over and over again. Just hearing those words spoken and knowing they were from God made me soooooo happy. So that phrase has really been lightening up my days lately, when I have so much to do, so much on my plate, make sure I get good grades, get a good job, make the parents happy. Its good to get away and hear God say, “I’m so proud of my boy”…. meditating on how God delights in me has filled me with a joy I have never experienced.

I encourage you to meditate on it. Jesus loves you and he is so proud of you. There’s a lie going around that God is disappointed in some of you. I’m a living testimony, that God is not mostly angry. He doesn’t look down at you and frown. He looks at you and says “This is my Beloved Son in whom I am well pleased” He is such a happy God and awesome to talk to. When is the last time you really fellowshipped with God. Jesus says “I remember you, the kindness of your youth, the love of your betrothal, the way you went after me in the wilderness” and he is calling you back to this intense relationship, instead of boring, dry, it’s a burden to do type prayer. I’m telling you from an honest heart. If you think prayer is boring, you are so wrong. God is not boring, you are. You don’t know what true pleasure is yet. And God is calling us all into it with so much joy! If you haven’t tried it or haven’t fellowshipped with Holy Spirit before, even if its been a long time, I encourage you, ASK! Jesus said, “If you being an evil man know how to give good gifts to your children, how much MORE will your Heavenly Father Give the HOLY SPIRIT to those who ASK?” I’m telling you, this is the season in our lives that we need to start asking for Holy Spirit to fill us. Its something we desperately need to enter into.

Jesus wants to set you free from the enemy tricking you into thinking your worthless and you will never amount to anything. Its time realize and stop praying prayers like “God less of me and more of You” God had less of you at one point in eternity and He didn’t like it, so He created you! Don’t you know that He wants to partner with you? You my friend are a saint a high priest, a king! Let the saints be joyful in glory as we fellowship with the Father! There’s nothing better than ALL of you being covered by ALL of God. That’s what God wants for you. You are his inheritance and He is yours! So come to the table and eat what He sets before you. Drink the new wine that he pours into the new wineskins. Your mind will blow up and your heart will be enlarged and swollen with every gift of the spirit you can think of, but most of all His beautiful love for you as you fall madly in love with Him! He’s madly in love with you!

Mighty Men Of Valor

2010-07-06T12:49:00.000-07:00

http://etpv.org/2010/mmov.html

2009-08-10T20:31:00.000-07:00

I will find my delight in the lord. I desire you and you alone. there has to be more to you in my life. I want to see you in a new uncomprehendable way. you have to show your self to me father. there are to many distraction in this world that keep trying to steel my attention. You cant leave me with out you. Do not forsake me father. I need you. i want to get to you core. i want to find out everything about you. the bottom line is i'm going to love you. i have to have you. Only you satisfy my soul. iv met you in the deep places lord but something tells me that you go deeper. something keeps pushing my hunger for more of you. i cant stop this satisfaction. i cant stop blessing your holy name. for you are worth all of my affections. you are worth all of my heart. i am willing to die to myself...i am willing to die, unto blessing your name. Death cannot pry my love from you heart. this is what i was made for. anything less than i have lost it all. you are the one. you are the only one. there is no other. i have to know you. i have to fellowship with you. i have to worship you. i have to bless you. i have to need you. I want god. i want you god. there has to me more so show me yourself . come to me. all that you are. how long do i have to wait to for you to receive your reward. and moreover, how long do you have to wait to receive your reward. you have to have it lord. i want to see your heart lord. i want to see your ways lord. i want to see your plans lord. what do you have up your sleeve for the variety of justice you will pour out. i want to be in this plan. mark my heart with yourself. i want you to mark me even more. not a mark that wears off. but a permanent mark that never leaves or fades away. something im sold on. give me faith and cast out doubt to believe and not be offended by who you are and what your going to do. Come god. come in all of who your. come father. all of creation is waiting and groaning for you to split the sky. so come and be who you are, father.

come lord jesus come.

Brad

IHOP KC

2009-07-21T08:02:00.000-07:00

Im leaving tonight at 12. (midnight) IHOP KC! Im so stoked. Leo taken me up for free and letting me stay for two whole weeks at his place. On the way up we will be hitting IHOP ATL to meet up with some of old friends and also hit the prayer room. I'm stoked about that. But we're going to spend a couple hours there and then off to Memphis to stir up the spirit of revival and visit Leos brother. I will add more when i get IHOP ATL as to how awesome the trip is going. Two week Jesus vacation here i come!

What's on Your Heart God?

2009-06-29T13:27:00.000-07:00

I dont know if thinking about things deep makes me weird or out of the norm...but i wanted to write about something thats been on my heart..something that will never leave my heart. this isn't me complaining but more so me crying out back to the dood greater than i am who cried out before me.

im gonna start this off by yelling to get across how big an issue this really is.....Gahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

MY GOD! YOU...ARE...INCREDIBLE! no words known to this very articulate world could ever describe you god, because you have made everything...even the words that we speak. God you have given it all and i really, strongly wish i could return the favor....but couldn't..i can't and never will. but thats not going to stop me from trying. god give me the opportunities to show people how awesome and insane you are. And how boring and religious your not. God all this generation has seen is the bores of religion and there not seeing the whole picture. god i am asking you right now to show an embracement to this generation. touch our hearts deeply so that we can know you and have that intimate relationship with you as something daily and NOT just something that happens when we go to church! God humble my life so that i shorten the line for you.. and only for you. im tired of seeing lives being literally destroyed over stupid things that mean NOTHING...god send that joel 2 army and break down the walls that our enemy has built. God send revival over our hearts and over our nation. Don't let us get caught up in our own routines again but GOD let us get caught up YOU...inside and out. Let us come back you! OUR FIRST LOVE. God let there be a mighty generation of warriors set out for one purpose...To worship and give you our lives freely and forever!

i can't stop praying till these things happens god. i cant ever stop!

YOUR BRIDE