ENDORSEMENTS

I’ve personally known and worked alongside Venetia Carpenter for the past five years at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri. During that time I’ve witnessed a mighty woman of faith who carries a heart of deep compassion; and at the same time, a living awareness of her authority in Christ. Her number one passion is ministering to God in the place of prayer and worship; and out of that place, she selflessly pours herself into others, imparting what she has received from the Lord. Life Outside the Matrix is such a timely word for our generation. We are moving into an unprecedented time of glory and crisis in the earth, and this is one of those books that contains keys for us to not only survive the coming hour, but to actually thrive in the midst of it all.

COREY RUSSELL

International Speaker/Author

Senior Leadership, International House of Prayer

Kansas City

In this book, which takes on the tone of a diary of Venetia’s own experience, she invites readers on a journey of faith. Venetia shares how she learned to depend on the Lord at new levels, going beyond circumstances to look into the eyes of Jesus for her next steps. I respect Venetia’s journey and am eager to learn from her experiences.

LINDA FIELDS

Director, The Joseph Company

International House of Prayer Kansas City

As I read through the pages of chosen chapters of this life-changing and mind-altering book, I came to realize that this is a must-read for every Christ follower. Venetia focuses on having a supernatural faith in Jesus who is the Author and Finisher of our faith. The information that she shares is so needed in this world where the Body of Christ is shrinking in their faith and are in need of a resurge of “supernatural faith.” I recommend this book to all, whether a babe in Christ or those mature in their faith walk.

BARBARA JEWELL BANKS

Director, Celebrate Jesus Ministries

This work represents instruction for the born-again believer to be invited into new and next-realm thinking. Most who are seeking the next steps in Christ will find the rigor of religion is not at all enough. Living Outside the Matrix calls for the soul’s surrender unto the supernatural. It is derived from intimacy with Father God driven by the inner urgency (the draw of the Holy Spirit) to hear and listen. What the reader will receive will be honest, influential, and impactful. Come to know the deeper things of God not as an underground tunnel but as an overhead passageway: accept this invitation to walk in newness.

Gina S. Houston, Evangelist

Regional Coordinator, Kansas City Purpose and Destiny

In her latest book, Life Outside the Matrix, Venetia introduces and exhorts the reader to begin a divine journey. As our world grows darker, absolute trust in Jesus will be our only option as we see “life as normal” change all around us. Venetia takes the reader along on her own journey in the realms of supernatural faith and invites readers to pursue their own journey with Christ. A timely book for all believers to read and apply in their own lives in these uncertain days.

Lenny LaGuardia, Senior Vice President

Ministries and Justice, International House of Prayer

Venetia Carpenter is a long-time friend whom I know as a committed follower of Jesus. This book is not about theology or doctrine, but about her journey of faith in which she has faced devastating circumstances. Instead of folding, she has found a deeper and more satisfying faith walk with her Lord. You will be blessed and helped in your journey of faith as you prayerfully read Venetia’s latest book, Life Outside the Matrix.

Dr. Eddie L. Hyatt, Author

President, Hyatt International Ministries

© Copyright 2013–Venetia Carpenter

All rights reserved. This book is protected by the copyright laws of the United States of America. This book may not be copied or reprinted for commercial gain or profit. The use of short quotations or occasional page copying for personal or group study is permitted and encouraged. Permission will be granted upon request. Unless otherwise identified, Scripture quotations are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All emphasis within Scripture quotations is the author’s own.

DESTINY IMAGE® PUBLISHERS, INC.

P.O. Box 310, Shippensburg, PA 17257-0310

“Promoting Inspired Lives.”

This book and all other Destiny Image, Revival Press, MercyPlace, Fresh Bread, Destiny Image Fiction, and Treasure House books are available at Christian bookstores and distributors worldwide.

For a U.S. bookstore nearest you, call 1-800-722-6774.

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ISBN 13 TP: 978-0-7684-0359-6

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For Worldwide Distribution, Printed in the U.S.A.

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 / 17 16 15 14 13

DEDICATION

Dedicated to those who are ready to move into the normal Christian life of supernatural living.

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Jesus Christ, You are the real author of this book. You are everything to me. I love Your leadership and Your constant care of me. I truly belong to You.

My wonderful children: Nick and Mari Carpenter, Stephen and Sammi Bennett, I love you all. I will always be mom, but so grateful that we are also friends and enjoy hanging out with each other. I am blessed.

Jonathan Reed Bennett, the most wonderful grandson in the world! May my ceiling be your floor in the spirit realm.

Stephanie Farebrother, thanks for your “prophetic eye” and expertise in the editing of this work. I love when we work together!

Michelle McKirahan, my sabbatical prayer partner—so glad Jesus put us together!

Ana Hersma, your ministry to me has always come when I most needed it. Thanks for encouraging me to “step out of the boat” when I was struggling with taking the first step. I am so grateful for our friendship and your obedience to the leading of Jesus.

Texas Girls: Katherine Gordon-Rice, Sabrina Sparkman, and Staci Hubert, each one of you is a gift to me. Thank you for your constant friendship and support. We will continue to partner together in spirit and in truth.

Ron Bryant, my pal! Thanks for your practical wisdom and constant support in many areas of my life. I so much appreciate you!

Linda King, faithful, wise, and a constant blessing. Our friendship was a “bonus” during this sabbatical season. You are a treasure!

The intercessors and staff of the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, this book was birthed and created in the atmosphere of the many lovesick worshipers who give themselves to night and day prayer. It is my great joy to be counted among you all!

CONTENTS

Introduction

Chapter 1

Another Reality

Chapter 2

Partnering with Christ

Chapter 3

What it Means to Rest

Chapter 4

Through Intercession

Chapter 5

Supernatural Faith for Heart Issues

Chapter 6

Choosing to Stand and Believe

Chapter 7

Provision of the King

Chapter 8

Watched by the Courts of Heaven

INTRODUCTION

Living a Lifestyle of Supernatural Faith

(Hebrews 11:1-3)

WHEN THE “PROPS” (PROPS ARE THOSE THINGS we have learned to depend on in the United States: jobs, nice place to live, gasoline for our autos, shopping at the neighborhood store, being able to travel anywhere in the country freely, etc.) begin to go away, then we, the Body of Christ, must know and understand how to walk in supernatural faith in order to survive. We must learn how to trust only in Jesus as He will be the only option available in order to live day to day as darkness continues to increase.

We must be confident in His love and His care for us. We must know and understand how to hear from Him in new ways—to be able to perceive what He is telling us to do and be willing to make whatever adjustments necessary to our daily schedules to accommodate where He desires to place us. It is an entirely new way to live!

I’m referring to a life not based on sight or any other natural sense but based on hearing, seeing, perceiving, and responding in the spirit realm. Looking with eyes of faith and walking out what is seen there will be our keys to survival in the days ahead. Learning to take our refuge in Christ, ceasing from our works, thoughts, and plans concerning how life should look, will require faith that the One leading can be fully trusted. This type of faith is not walked into overnight but is a learned, step-by-step process based with Jesus leading the way. These steps are what I call faith encounters. I gained the strength to continue on the journey of walking into this unknown territory from each previous faith encounter.

This type of faith is won through resting in Christ’s works while ceasing from our own works. If we are to train, guide, and lead others in the days ahead, we must first learn these truths ourselves (see Heb. 4:8-10). That is what this book is about—a journey to the unknown with the One who intimately knows me, as well as all who belong to Him.

This is one woman’s account of living life in an entirely different way. What was supposed to be a three month journey turned into a lifestyle of living according to the instructions of Christ on a daily basis. I was asked by Jesus to quit my job, spend extended time in prayer, journal all I learned, rest, and trust Christ for all my finances.

Of course, this is with all the bills still coming in each month and very little money in my bank account. I must say I was not excited about this request at first. With no other major source of income coming in, and having struggled to keep my emotional and financial footing since suddenly being single again some years ago, the idea of quitting my job filled my heart with fear and dread. My mind was not comfortable not knowing where my monthly provision was coming from; this in turn affected my heart posture causing it to become anxious about how I would survive.

Patiently, through over a four-month process of Jesus leading me through Hebrews 11 and other faith Scriptures, I came to see this as His invitation to me for something awesome and timely. He confirmed His desire for me to take this journey with Him by having several friends give me prophetic confirmations concerning stepping out in faith and divinely gave me an answer and direction as to how to leave my job.

The journey has been and still is both terrifying and glorious. I have come to realize I really knew very little, if anything, about truly walking in faith. Jesus extended His hand in an invitation to take a divine journey with Him into learning to live the supernatural lifestyle; and I, like a timid child, took His hand in acceptance of the invitation. These past four and a half months have been a crash course on what it means to begin to live by supernatural faith, which has both challenged me and strengthened me like few things in my life have ever done before.

This book details the beginning of living a lifestyle of faith that refuses to look at the circumstances of life but instead looks in the spirit realm and lives life from this place based on the word of Jesus alone. This is a lifestyle that will not allow the mind to dictate the posture of the heart causing it to fear but instead looks to previous faith encounters and proceeds with the assurance that Jesus was and still is the provision for every need. This is my account of obedience, trusting, and learning to walk in supernatural realms of faith I never really understood nor knew existed.

VENETIA CARPENTER, President/Founder

Ecclesia International Ministries

CHAPTER 1

ANOTHER REALITY

Unplugged from “Everyday Life”

(John 15:19 and Hebrews 11:1-7)

I AM NOT SURE IF I AM ALONE IN THIS, BUT MANY times I have pondered if there could be a different way to live life on this earth. Is it possible to live the day-to-day routine of life as an exciting adventure? Recently I have come to realize that there is. If you, like me, have wondered if there is another realm of life…the answer is Yes. There is another way to live. There is another dimension to encounter. There is another realm that we can explore and live in.

This is the supernatural realm that is available to us through Jesus and Holy Spirit. Each person on the face of earth has been invited to come live in this realm of divine encounters, new understanding, and unlimited provision. The supernatural life of faith is provided to us by Jesus Christ. God the Father wants each of us to live in this realm, so He provided a way to do this through His Son, Jesus Christ.

I, like many believers, had heard about this realm and believed in this realm but had never actually experienced this realm for myself. My invitation to begin experiencing this realm came as a complete surprise to me. It came through a process of several months that I can now look back on and see were divinely set up by the Lord. In the beginning of 2013, Jesus began to speak to me concerning faith. During my times with Him I kept hearing how important it was for me to walk in total trust to Him—to walk out a life of faith in order to encounter all He has for me, for all who believe. In addition, He kept impressing on me the Bible verse in Habakkuk 2:4 that says, “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.”

At this point in my life I really felt I was living a faith life. I had accepted Jesus as my Lord almost thirty years prior and had received the baptism of the Holy Spirit several years later. I knew Jesus was my Keeper, I knew He loved and provided for me and I had determined to live my life according to His leading, as my great desire was and is to have Him pleased with my life. I thought all of this was living by faith; and for me at that point in my life, it was, but He was calling me to something higher.

Jesus is always calling us up higher—to deeper places in the spirit, to deeper realms with Him. He was calling me to a different way to live my life on a daily basis. I realize now that He was challenging me to rethink what faith really meant while also making me hungry for a deeper understanding as to what it really meant to live this way.

During this same time frame, I also felt led to read Hebrews 11 during my normal devotional and prayer times. I began to memorize some of the passages as I really felt the need to get this Scripture inside me. At that point I had no idea that I was actually getting prepared to begin a journey. As the months went by, I began to feel Jesus telling me I would need to take some time off from my full time marketplace job in order to rest and get ready for what He had for me in the next season. At the time I thought I would take off a few days or a week, but surely no more than that. I didn’t have much vacation time at work, and besides…I surely could be rested up in a few days.

As time went by, I realized that this was to be more than a few days or even a week. Jesus was actually asking me to quit my full-time job, sit in prayer before Him for extended hours, journal what He was showing me, and trust Him for all my provision. I was to do this for a period of at least three months. Wow! I was being called into what I now call my sabbatical season. For some reason I didn’t see that coming. I couldn’t understand why Jesus would be asking me to quit my primary means of support to sit, pray, journal, and rest!

AN INVITATION TO ENTER IN

I have come to see that I was being given an invitation to actually step outside of my world of everyday living, which was based mainly on what I could see take place in the physical, in order to be able to encounter the supernatural Kingdom life that is based on looking in the spirit and calling those things that are not yet manifested in the physical into being. This is the life I was meant to live.

Up to this point I had not thought of living in the supernatural realm as a daily function of life. I have always been open to the supernatural realm of God and had experienced some encounters with Him in this realm, but had thought of the supernatural as something that primarily took place in church or ministry settings. I had never thought of living in the supernatural realm as a lifestyle and never considered it was open to me. I was open to it and thought it was possible, but the thought had just never entered my mind in a real sense. I knew and believed that believers are spirit beings in human bodies, but was not living or experiencing the full truth of what that meant in my own life.

Actually this really makes perfect sense when we consider that we serve and love a supernatural God whose Kingdom is not physical but is spiritual. He continually moves in the supernatural, and moving in faith is the only way to please Him.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

The more I pondered this verse, I came to realize that the supernatural realm is really our birthright as believers. Through the supernatural realm we live, move, and have our being. Acts 17:28 says, “for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’” I felt Jesus continually confirming to me that the supernatural realm is actually the normal life of the believer.

Even though I didn’t realize it at the time, Jesus was calling me into a journey that would take me out of the daily grind of what I thought would be the only way for me to be able to have the money I needed to provide for myself, to a place of trusting Jesus to be my provision for all my needs. He was about to change my thought process of what was “normal living.”

During this journey I feel Jesus has been both showing me and speaking to me as to the reality that as believers we are called to obey an invisible God and allow Him to manifest Himself to us and others in a visible world—but there is a process involved in learning how to do this in a way that both ministers and blesses. We minister to those around us by our example, bless His heart, and receive blessings as well. To me it really feels like living in two dimensions while remaining on earth. This requires us to respond to life with the focus on the One who created all realms and dimensions, in order to walk the life He has called us to live well.

I came to recognize that it is only by choosing to live life in His realm, the supernatural faith realm that I can truly begin to live the life I was designed to live. I have been able to pray from a position of having seen and heard from Jesus in a more direct way, then see the results come to pass on earth daily in very tangible ways. One way this has taken place in my life is through daily provision for living.

As I mentioned, I was not to work in the marketplace during this time, which had always been my primary means of support, but to trust Jesus for all my needs including all monthly expenses. When I received my last paycheck, I immediately began to inquire as to how I was to live going forward. Jesus instructed me to simply come to Him, tell Him what I needed and He would instruct me how to get what I needed. As I began to do this I was led to food and household provision through friends who actually provided me with these things free of charge! I was directed to awesome sales for items I needed, such as a new blender to replace the one that broke one day while I was using it. The Lord told me the store to go to, and on the day I went I bought a $40 blender for only $15! These are just two examples of His provision during this time. I will share more on this later.

The supernatural life of faith sees in the spirit realm and then calls those things that are invisible to the natural eye on earth through prayer. The supernatural life looks in the realm of the spirit to see what Jesus is saying and doing, then lives life on earth according to that realm. The supernatural, or spirit, realm is the true realm. The spirit realm is where we will spend eternity. Our spirit is the only part of us that will live forever. Everything we can see, touch, feel, and sense in this present, natural world will go away; therefore the natural world is very temporary.

It is the spirit world that will go on forever; therefore, it is the permanent, real world. This is a vital truth that requires a readjusting of the mind and heart to fully grasp. At least this is what I have found to be true in my journey.

To illustrate this reality Jesus gave me a visual picture. The Matrix is a movie that was released in the late 1990s. It is a story about a small group of warriors who live and war between two worlds. This group’s war in the perceived world is a hoax. In this perceived world machines have actually taken over. The warriors live in the real world, which is where they are able to be trained and equipped and take back the world the machines have stolen in order to bring restoration and wholeness to the earth again. The people who live in this false or perceived world, The Matrix, are all being controlled and manipulated, but have no idea this is happening until they are “unplugged” like the small group of people about whom the story is based.

This may seem strange to some but I often see spiritual parallels in some secular movies. Sometimes when the Lord is teaching me something, He will have me watch a movie that carries some of that revelation. I am primarily a visual learner, so this approach really has helped me over the years. It is also pretty cool to watch a movie with Jesus in this way.

Similar to the movie, this present world we all live in is a type of Matrix. There is the perception of the real (the physical world that we live and work in) and then there is the actual real world, which is the world of the spirit where the supernatural realm reigns. The perceived world is what is all around us. We live in it. It is where we work, eat, raise our families, socialize, and live out life as we know it. It is the place we call everyday life. We tend to forget that this world will pass away; it says so in God’s Word to us.

Of old You laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of Your hands. They will perish, but You will endure; yes, they will all grow old like a garment; like a cloak You will change them, and they will be changed. But You are the same, and Your years will have no end (Psalm 102:25-27).

Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look on the earth beneath. For the heavens will vanish away like smoke, the earth will grow old like a garment, and those who dwell in it will die in like manner; but My salvation will be forever, and My righteousness will not be abolished (Isaiah 51:6).

Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away (Matthew 24:35).

We must remember that all that is around us and seems so permanent will eventually pass away. We see evidence of this every day. Major corporations and employment opportunities are crumbling, the world economy is becoming increasingly more unstable, long-term relationships fail, and people die. We see evidence of increasing unstable conditions in every part of the globe, and the full story of where all this is going has yet to be seen.

All that we see around us is telling us something. It is an invitation for each person on earth to get ready. Prepare. It is a warning that we should not hold too tightly to the things of this earth but to prepare and get ready to live in a realm that is much more stable, in fact this realm will never end.

Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this (Isaiah 9:7).

This fact is confirmed again in Scripture with the announcement of Jesus birth to Mary, His mother (see Luke 1:26-33).

It is through the supernatural realm of faith, which Jesus has made available to each of us, that we can begin to live in that place where all things are according to His design. All that we see around us is our invitation, our signal that we are to look to live in a realm that nothing can be stolen from, nothing is destroyed, and things don’t pass away. We can prepare to live in that realm today. We can still operate in this realm of the temporary while knowing and functioning in the eternal, supernatural realm of faith in Christ. This is not only possible but will be necessary for the days ahead.

In these pages we will explore how to live a life that is separate from what we currently know. A life lived connected to the One who created Heaven and earth—the One who made everything and is the First and the Last. He has already made provision for us to live this life through our prayers and communion with Him and has even gone before us to prepare a place for us to live in eternity with Him, so that when our assignment on this earth is done we will have an eternal home.

LIVING WITH CHRIST UNPLUGGED

So how do we take the first step out of the temporary way of living into the real life found in Christ? How do we become unplugged from this world system’s way of living and find a new way of living while still residing here on earth? The first step is to make the choice. We choose where we live out our lives—in the natural realm or the spiritual realm. For those who have already made the choice to follow Christ and live life for Him, the next step will be to ask Him to lead you into more of Him in this area. Begin to ask Him to allow you to see, hear, and experience Him and lead you in this way—then stay open for Him to do so. As believers we know that all good and perfect things come from Jesus. He is the One who gives us spiritual gifts in this life to use in activation and according to faith (see Romans 12:3-8).

For those who have not yet accepted Christ as your Savior and the One to lead you in life, your next step is to ask Him to do so. He will then provide gifts or tools for you to use on earth in order to help you on the journey, as well as to bless others both inside and outside the church.

Each person must make that critical choice to decide we want to live life differently. Once that choice is made, then we are in position to take the steps that will allow Him to unplug us from this current world system and its way of doing things.

The decision is verbalized by making known to Christ you have accepted His invitation:

Jesus, I accept Your invitation. I want to live life differently. I want to live a life plugged into You and let You lead and direct my paths. I want to live this supernatural life of faith that You have made available to me. I realize there will be difficult things I will need to face, but I want to face them with You guiding the way and providing the solutions. I am asking that You please come into my life and begin to show me how to walk out the supernatural life of faith. Come to me now, Jesus. Amen.

If you believe this and have said this to Jesus, you have now taken the first step into living a life unplugged from what is temporary and have plugged into all He offers for you to live life more fulfilled than you have ever experienced. You now have access to all that Jesus offers, which is more than you will ever need. There will still be circumstances and situations that you will face and have to deal with, but He will be with you through each one.

I mentioned The Matrix movie earlier. One of the main characters was Neo. He was “the one” who was to lead the final fight to finally bring an end to the war between the small band of warriors and the machines. Life was not simple or easy for Neo when he was unplugged from the Matrix; actually, in many ways, it became more complicated, but by being unplugged he had access to real power and was on a team that supported him and encouraged him. Your journey will be no different. Once you make the decision to walk with Jesus, there will be those who will be placed to come alongside you to be a support, encouragement, and help in guiding you in this new life you have chosen.

In the movie when Neo was unplugged from the Matrix, he had to learn to live in the new world of the “real.” The same applies to us. Once we make the choice to follow Christ into the supernatural way of living life in Him, the rules change. Life as normal will be very different, and we need to be trained how to function in this new life we have moved into.

The team Jesus will place you with will teach you how to follow and “flow” in the Holy Spirit. This is the Helper Jesus makes available to all who come to Him, and He will be your closest friend. He guides and leads you on this journey of supernatural faith.

And I will pray the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may abide with you forever—the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees Him nor knows Him; but you know Him, for He dwells with you and will be in you (John 14:16-17).

I have found that Holy Spirit is my closest friend. He is the very Spirit of Jesus and loves to move through us. Through Him we are now able to move in the realms of faith that will be needed to complete our journey on earth. Prophetic ministry in its many forms—healing, various creative gifts, teaching, and more—are all examples of the ways Holy Spirit will move through us so that we can bless and edify others in the Body of Christ. Even though it will look different in each one of us, we are all on this journey of faith together and Jesus uses every believer to encourage and strengthen each other (see Eph. 4:11-16).

Now you are set to begin the new life of walking out life in an entirely new realm. In the upcoming chapters we will explore some key ways of what it means to live a life unplugged from the temporal and connected to the real. This book is not designed to explain how living outside the Matrix will affect every single aspect of life; it is designed to give some understanding about this spiritual journey as well as provide some answers as to what to expect as you begin the journey in your own life.

Prayerfully, you will find encouragement to begin to see the supernatural faith life as a clear and viable lifestyle that is open to you right now.

CHAPTER 2

PARTNERING

WITH CHRIST

Eyes to See the Reality of the Supernatural

(2 Corinthians 5:7)

AS I MENTIONED IN THE INTRODUCTION, THIS book is the result of a journey Jesus invited me to take with Him. When I was just beginning the journey, He spoke to my heart and downloaded to me some very key revelation. I was in prayer one day and was inquiring of the Lord as to how my life would look for the next ninety-plus days. I was still trying to get my mind around how everything would work out based on what I could see in the natural concerning the circumstances of my life. As I continued to talk to Jesus about these things, He spoke to me these words:

Looking at the circumstances is a trap. Divine strategies come from looking past the circumstances straight into the eyes of faith. Living by faith is refusing to believe that your five senses contain the whole story, it’s through coming to the realization that the invisible world of eternity holds more truth and is more real than the physical world that you presently live in. This is the key to unlocking the door and walking into the Kingdom realms of faith.

It takes new eyes to live life differently. It requires eyes of faith to live a life that is not dependent on what the physical eyes can see but is able to look into the realm of the spirit to see what is taking place there and living life from that point. I saw this in the book of Habakkuk. In the first chapter the prophet is obviously troubled: “O Lord, how long shall I cry, and You will not hear? Even cry out to You, “Violence!” and You will not save” (Hab. 1:2). God showed Habakkuk something in the second chapter of the book that changes his entire perspective:

Write the vision and make it plain on tablets, that he may run who reads it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time; but at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry (Habakkuk 2:2-3).

God tells him to “write the vision,” so Habakkuk is writing about something he saw. Whether he actually saw it as an open vision or as a spirit picture is not said, but he wrote based on what he was allowed to see in the spirit realm. Then God goes on to answer his questions through the vision He gave to him. He is told that even though the vision is not going to happen for a while, it will surely come at the appointed time and will not tarry. What Habakkuk saw gave him such encouragement that in the third chapter we see him not only asking God for mercy on those committing wickedness, but now is actually rejoicing!

O Lord, I have heard Your speech and was afraid; O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years! In the midst of the years make it known; in wrath remember mercy. Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation (Habakkuk 3:2,18).

I began to realize that to walk in the supernatural realms of faith I could not be looking for confirmations to begin in the natural realm. Supernatural living requires supernatural eyes to see those things that aren’t, as though they are: “By faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible” (Heb. 11:3). I could look for confirmations to take place in the natural realm after I had first seen in the spirit then partnered with Jesus through prayer and intercession. After these things had taken place in the spirit realm then I could begin to look for them to happen and take place in the natural. I began to understand this revelation more in this season during my usual prayer and fellowship times with the Lord.

In his book, The Seer, Jim Goll, a seasoned, powerful, inspiring prophetic voice to the nations, explains this truth perfectly:

What makes us uniquely the people of God is that we are called to be people of the Spirit. Immersed in that Spirit our speech changes because our eyes, ears, and hearts have been opened to see beyond the world in front of our eyes to the world that lies behind what our eyes can see.[1]

This has continued to the present, as even now many times the Lord will show me pictures of things I am praying for so I can come into agreement with what He is showing me. Being a visual learner, this is very helpful for me. If I can see a thing or get a visual picture of a task, it then it is easier for me to complete the task.

“SPIRIT PICTURES”

Obviously the Creator knows this so He gives me what I call “spirit pictures” to see while we are communing with each other. Spirit pictures are either snapshots or a series of snapshots I see through the Holy Spirit. I see these either with my eyes open or closed. They are like seeing strong mental pictures that are placed over what I see in the natural realm. I don’t see them with my natural eyes but the images are very vivid. For me, the picture is sometimes accompanied with a word I hear in my spirit to give clarity as to what I am seeing.

I truly believe that Jesus allows those who partner with Him to see in the realms of the spirit in order to call those things that are not, into being in the natural realm. As a people who have accepted Christ and live to serve Him, it stands to reason that we are all invited into this place of partnering with Him. The choice to see into the supernatural realm rests with each believer. He may reveal the invitation differently in each person, but I believe He truly desires and invites each one who is His into this place of partnering with Him to move things on earth.

Partnering with Him to see His Kingdom come and will done on earth is the one of the main reasons for our remaining on this earth. Jesus confirmed this when He gave this excellent example of prayer in response to the disciples’ request:

So He said to them, “When you pray, say: Our Father, in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.” (Luke 11:2).

I am reminded that in Heaven there is nothing out of order. Everything the Father desires is manifested immediately, for no sin can dwell there. I AM being allowed to see in the spirit realm and invited in, in order to see this same thing happen on earth when I partner with Jesus. He desires to restore all things and bring our lives, as well as the lives and issues around us, into order with the divine order of Heaven—to really bring Heaven to earth in each sphere He places us in.

“If you can see it, you can have it” was something else the Lord impressed on my Spirit while I was in prayer during this sabbatical season. For me, this is not seeing in the natural realm but looking into the supernatural realm of the spirit and seeing from that point in order to pray from a true perspective. A friend once said, “History belongs to the intercessor.” This is brings home both the importance of our partnership with Jesus as well as the far-reaching significance our prayers have.

This revelation applies to not only the matter of personal provision, but in any area or any issue we pray and partner with Christ about. He is very concerned with our daily needs and delights when we include Him in all the important aspects of our lives.

In my experience, partnership with Christ involves Him inviting us up to see from His perspective and vantage point. He often puts an issue or situation on our hearts for us to pray about, and then as we pray He reveals His heart in seeing this same situation being turned around for His glory. We see from a heavenly position based on our position with Christ in the spirit realm:

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:4-6).

From this position of partnership or intercession, we are seeing according to His will and better able to see how to pray for the things He wants to happen on earth. This is a divine invitation, a divine appointment birthed by Jesus. Jesus wants to use us to bring His Kingdom purposes to this earth, so He invites us to come up to see and believe.

For example, if we accept the invitation of Christ to look in the spirit realm and see by faith the salvation of friends and loved ones, we can then partner with Jesus to see it accomplished. It may not happen right away in the natural realm, but we are looking from a higher perspective. We are looking into the realm of the spirit, the place of truth, and calling into the natural those things that are not yet seen with the natural eye.

If I can look into the realm of the spirit and see the provision Jesus has for me to meet every need, I can have it! I feel Jesus is constantly looking for those who will look past the outward circumstances of what may seem impossible and look with eyes of the spirit by faith. Our partnership with Him calls things into being on this earth even though our physical eyes can’t see them right away.

Jesus moves in response to our faith, so as I pray and call those things He shows me, I will then see them manifest in the physical—but only as I pray in faith or with faith eyes. In the realms of the Spirit there is no such thing as impossible. All things are available and possible in Christ. Anything He is inviting us to partner with Him about is not to be accomplished in our human efforts, which are so very limited anyway, but to be accomplished first in the place of prayer and intercession, which will then bring forth the full manifestation in the physical realm.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

In my personal experience, I found that by looking through eyes of faith I was made aware of an entirely new world. I remember when I began to see life’s challenges as opportunities for Jesus and me to partner with each other to see change come about—a chance for me to find out how Jesus saw things while asking Him to let me see my situation from His point of view. He is always so willing to do this! He shows me what He wants to happen, then fills me with His Spirit to proceed in faith. I am then so aware of His presence that the issue causing me such concern doesn’t seem nearly as challenging to me as before.

I am not waiting to see things change in the physical before I go to Jesus—I take my cues from what He shows me in the Spirit. A key way He does this is to make life look smaller compared to His glory.

I remember talking to Jesus about some situations in life that seemed very large to me at the time. I was sitting in a room just talking to Him when the room became “cloudy” with His presence. It actually looked like a thick fog had settled in the room as His presence filled up the place where I was. It was so thick I was actually shaking under His presence. As I sat there, the issues I was so concerned about became so very small that I remember smiling…actually laughing as I thought of them. It was Jesus letting me know that everything was totally under His control, and then he showed me how my issues looked to Him—very small and insignificant.

He was and is in control of everything that concerns me; so even though I didn’t have the answers to the issues at that moment, I knew that He did. All I was required to do was trust Him, follow His instructions each day, and allow Him to lead me to the solutions. I was being taught how to not let my emotions take over but rather to stop and take these issues to Jesus and ask Him what His solution was for each situation. Suddenly things that I may have had concerns about for weeks, months, or years in the natural, now looked totally different.

Recently, I was very concerned about some debt I had incurred because of a business venture several years prior. Even though I had been paying on the debt, it was still larger than I thought it should be, and I had to make a decision about what to do. It was on a charge option that allowed me to pay no interest for a predetermined amount of time, and the time to pay off the debt was coming due. I went to Jesus about this issue as I didn’t have the remainder of the money to pay it off before the deadline. He showed me a way to extend the time frame that I had not previously considered before. This allowed me much more time to pay off the debt without incurring additional interest and keep my credit rating intact!

This example may not be a big deal to some, but was a big deal to someone who had not worked in several months and was still learning how to walk out the practical aspects of living in the supernatural realms of faith.

Sometimes Jesus shows me exactly what to do, and other times He simply gives me the assurance that I can trust Him to work out the situation by giving me a spirit picture of how He will work it out. I have learned that when He does this, I am to watch Him work it out as He shows me. I can remember several times He did this, and it happened just as He showed me. This happened once with a friend I was concerned about but hadn’t seen in several days. The Lord showed me that my friend would be at a certain church service and exactly where he would be standing. Sure enough, the day of the church service came and my friend showed up and stood in the exact spot Jesus showed me! Faith eyes look beyond, they look ahead, they see past what presently is to discover what is to come, and how things look according to God’s perspective.

Suddenly all the circumstances of the physical world take a backseat in how you relate and process life. The realization that all things are possible becomes very real to you. In some cases I have even felt encouraged about a situation that was bothering me as I knew I would get a chance to partner with Jesus and He would show me things I had not seen before. I know that may sound strange, but looking at life this way sure beats being upset and worried about the challenges of life, and it allows me to position myself with Jesus in many areas.

When was the last time you were actually glad to have an issue to take to Jesus? Faith looks at life with a totally different lens, and the view is always glorious victory! Now things that you once thought to be impossible are not only possible but are actual areas of gaining new heavenly perspective for future challenges. In this place strategies are given as to how to walk out the Kingdom purposes of Heaven. Suddenly the countless issues and challenges of life don’t seem so overwhelming.

CHANGING OUR PERSPECTIVE

We may still have to walk out the circumstance, but we are now doing it from an entirely different viewpoint and perspective. We can see better how to tackle these things that threaten to overwhelm us, because we are looking from the perspective of Jesus—and He has victory over everything! We now have eagle-eye vision to spy out how best to proceed while being assured of the outcome because of our place with Jesus.

Walking out what we see happening in the spirit realm of Christ is a vital step in walking in the supernatural realms of faith that will be needed for the days ahead. This is the type of life that each believer has been called to live. This is the life that we must live in order to fully join with Him in bringing forth His plan for the restoration of all things on earth. As sin and darkness increases in, the world we live, in we will see many things take place in the natural that may try to strike fear in our hearts.

As we learn to live life looking through His eyes, we will see clearly how to proceed in victory. We will be able to assist those who are still in the darkness to find their way because we are looking from the vantage point of faith in Jesus. We will not be blind attempting to lead the blind—we will be the ones who carry the true light allowing others to see their way clearly through the increasing darkness. This is the perspective every believer is invited to view all of life from and will be the only vantage point we will be able to trust as we move closer to the second coming of Christ.

EYES OF FAITH

I have also found that even though I am to live my life looking through the eyes of faith, I am not to allow my physical senses to take front seat in determining my daily choices and decisions. Something else Jesus told me at the beginning of this journey was that “Divine strategies come from looking past the circumstances straight into the eyes of faith.” By refusing to believe that our five senses contain the whole story, by coming to the realization that the invisible world of eternity holds more truth and is more real than the physical world that I presently live in, I am able to gain insight into strategies that affect business, ministry, and personal choices.

We use our physical eyes to see things in the physical realm. We use eyes of faith to see things in the spirit. Remember, the spirit realm is from where all that happens in the natural realm originates. Eyes of faith allow us to see and pray from the place of true reality, then we use our physical eyes to confirm what has been shown in the spirit has actually come to pass on earth. It is through our daily communion with Jesus that our faith eyes are kept sharp and clear. May we always see not only the necessity of our intimate fellowship with Christ but the glory in living life according to what is seen in the realm of the spirit.

ENDNOTE

1.

Jim Goll, The Seer (Shippensburg, PA: Destiny Image Publishers, 2004), 12.

CHAPTER 3

WHAT IT MEANS

TO REST

Resting—Progressing in the Spirit

(Acts 17:28a)

AS WE LISTEN AND OBEY THE INSTRUCTIONS OF the Lord, this brings us into a ceasing from our works, our striving, our acts of the flesh, and into a beginning or ability to rest in the Sabbath rest of God. The Sabbath rest is not a ceasing from all physical labor, but involves an ability to flow in the works of Holy Spirit.

We die to our works and “rest” in the works of Holy Spirit. Out of this appointed rest of flows the Kingdom works of Christ—the type of works that move Heaven on earth. These are not works of human striving but works of resting in Christ. There are many benefits to choosing to walk in the rest of Christ, and many blessings that will never be realized unless you choose to walk out the invitation to rest in Him.

One tangible benefit could be our physical health. I sometimes wonder how many current health problems result from our disobedience to Christ; therefore, our bodies are stressed by pressures we were never meant to carry. Stress, anxiousness, anxiety, high blood pressure, and other physical manifestations can usually be clues that there is something wrong with people’s lifestyles; but these symptoms are usually overlooked as they continue with life as usual.

Even though these health problems are rampant in the lives of many believers, the connections to the source of the problem are often not made. As I look back at my life before I began this journey of living by every word of Christ in faith, I can see how much I lived in stress and anxiety but thought it was normal. These pressures affect our spirit person as well as our physical bodies. It is very possible that as we learn to enter into the rest of the Lord and cease from our own efforts, health issues such as high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety disorders, and other stress-related illnesses will not find any place in us.

It really does take revelation from Jesus to make us aware that we have stopped moving in what He would have us doing and have crossed the line into our own works. It is so easy to get comfortable with living day-to-day life that we can easily lose sight of the shift in our hearts. What I am referring to is not a willful living outside the will of Christ but more of a posturing of the heart to reflect and move out in His perfect will on a consistent basis. It is not so much what our physical bodies are engaged in as it is the position our inner selves have taken. I can be very busy with tasks in the natural but still have my inner self at rest in Christ because I am working out of His direction and leading, not out of my own.

My physical body can be completely at rest, but my inner self can be anxious and not in a position of rest. It all has to do with the position the heart has taken. I had to allow Jesus to “recalibrate” my inner self so that I could actually see that I needed this. In order to be able to rest in this place of faith, there must be a realization that this is something needed and that it is not currently taking place in my life. It took revelation to see that I was currently moving in striving so that I could begin to rest myself in Jesus.

On the supernatural faith journey, the way to achieve anything in Jesus is to rest ourselves in Him while allowing Him to flow through us to bring real results on earth. He desires to partner with us and will do so as long as we let Him take the lead on the journey. We must never forget that He knows the way of this journey and has provided all we will need to complete it; so the best thing we can do is rest ourselves in Him to get us where we need to go.

As I mentioned in a previous chapter, when Jesus led me to quit my full-time job in the marketplace, one of the things He instructed me to do while I was in this sabbatical season was to rest. Actually this was not the first time Jesus had instructed me to take time off and rest. There were several times in the previous year that I was laid off from marketplace positions due to either company downsizing or other internal changes. Both times I was told by Jesus to use the time away from work to rest, but looking back I don’t think I did this very well either time. I really had a hard time seeing the worth in not working to earn an income so I struggled emotionally both times. I look back and see my heart was just not ready to walk the journey Jesus was presenting to me. I am a high-energy person who lives to stay busy. I had to learn to see the worth in not being busy all the time as well as take hold of the revelation that Jesus is the One to set the pace in my daily life. In short, Jesus had to show me my need to rest.

As a person who lived to get things done, I had to see I could easily cause my body to get overtired and not be fully aware of it. The Lord was telling me to get some rest, to get refreshed, and allow Him to renew me for the season that was to come. I was also learning how to flow in Holy Spirit on a different level in the daily process of life.

SABBATH REST

For me to rest and flow meant for me to stop trusting in what I’ve always done, get still, and listen to the voice of Holy Spirit so He could give me instructions for the next step. It meant asking Him to lead in every situation and trusting those small impressions that He gave in my spirit, which confirmed that He was doing so. It meant reading God’s Word (the Bible) and asking Holy Spirit to guide me as I walked out life each day. Jesus is so very faithful!

As I continue this journey, I am learning that when I really start to trust Jesus for all my ways as He instructs me, life becomes exciting!

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Each day is a new adventure instead of living the “same old, same old” existence we call normal life. Each believer can choose to live a life that is a day-to-day adventurous journey with the very Creator of the universe, while knowing that His plans for us are for our good as He leads us into places of victory. This involves spending quality, focused time with Him. It is impossible to follow someone you don’t know or trust, so our aim is to know Him well. Trusting Jesus completely is vital in walking out the supernatural faith life. The journey cannot take place without full trust in His leadership. The consequences of not trusting can be great.

In Hebrews we see the consequences of unbelief and lack of trust in connection with the Sabbath rest of the Lord.

Therefore as the Holy Spirit says: “Today, if you will hear His voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, in the day of trial in the wilderness, where your fathers tested Me, tried Me, and saw My works forty years. Therefore I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’ So I swore in My wrath, ‘They shall not enter My rest’” (Hebrews 3:7-11).

I think it is important to note that the Lord sees unbelief and lack of trust as rebellion. The matter of trusting Him affects not just our faith walk in the supernatural realms but also cuts into the core of if we really trust Him to keep us in this life or in the one to come.

The Sabbath rest is not a ceasing from all physical labor; it can involve that, but is more of a position of your heart. It also requires making choices. Choices to not allow the circumstances or situations around you to dictate your responses, but to know that Jesus is the director of your journey. It is remembering and living the truth—the truth that Jesus has the answer and solution to any problem we will encounter on this earth and will reveal these solutions when we come to Him with hearts of faith. It is this trusting and resting that we call faith. Not faith that things will work out somehow but a knowing that you belong to the One who created all that is around you and will, Himself, be faithful to those who belong to Him.

ENTERING THE SPIRIT OF GRACE

Those whom Jesus puts us in fellowship with on earth can also be helpful in the process of learning to move and flow in Holy Spirit, as well as providing us with godly teaching. Both of these have been very instrumental in my life as well as the lives of other believers I know. Learning, encouraging, and ministering to other members of the Body are all part of the journey. Jesus partners us with others on the journey through His Spirit. Some will be long-term partnerships like a spouse, close friends, or relatives, but other partnerships may be for a short season of time. By a season I mean a set period of time determined by Jesus—a few weeks, a few months, or years. In my life a short-term season is usually no longer than a year.

There is also great provision in the rest of the Lord. When we are still and cease from our own efforts, then He can move mightily on our behalf. The Lord showed me a picture of what this looks like in the spirit one day while I was spending time with Him.

Picture: I am sitting before the Lord in prayer as I normally do, my Bible on my lap, praying. As I pray and focus on Jesus, He sends angels to accomplish the things I am praying for. So as I hear from Jesus and understand what is on His heart, I pray this, which dispatches the angels. Jesus and I are in partnership together with the angels. He tells me what He wants to hear me pray in the natural; I voice it, then watch His angels accomplish it.

In the realms of the spirit, seen through the eyes of faith, truly less human effort produces more. Less is more. The more I quiet myself before Christ, the more He can accomplish through me and in me.

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing (John 15:4-5).

We gain as we quiet ourselves before Christ while focusing on Him and who He is. For me, the more I focus my heart on Him, the more I am able to block other things out and allow my heart to quiet itself. From this position I am best able to receive revelation, hear Him speak to me, and gain insight in how to pray.

Zechariah 4:6 says, “‘not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit’ says the Lord of hosts.” It’s not in our striving, nor in what we can accomplish, nor how many hours we put in. If one of God’s righteous ones did nothing but sit before Him in quiet confidence, that is all that is needed to meet every need! Truly, it is in the work we accomplish by, through, and for Jesus that matters. All other tasks and endeavors will fall away. We are most productive when we choose to be like Mary, the sister of Lazarus.

Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her” (Luke 10:41-42).

HOLY SPIRIT’S GUIDANCE

When we follow Mary’s example, we will find, like she did, that sitting before Jesus waiting for His teaching, direction, and instructions is where true purpose and productivity flow from. It is the place where the supernatural faith realm comes into being in our inner self. Mary really was accomplishing much and Jesus told Martha so. It is the same with us today. It would be most wise for each of us to take our present schedules to Jesus and ask Him how much of what we currently do is of Him and how much are activities we have gathered to ourselves that He never asked us to do or activities that He is no longer moving in us to do.

Remember, any and all activity done outside His direction are done in the flesh, which lead to anxiousness, stress, and other negative results. These include everything we are presently doing on a daily basis: church activities, jobs, volunteer work, and all “free time” activities.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7).

I believe Jesus designed our lives to live life this way in order to free us—to fulfill only the tasks He has given us and nothing more. I feel this is especially true in the area of our daily marketplace jobs, since many of us spend most of our day in these roles. We must be willing to take a hard look at our present work vocations and ask ourselves, “Did the Lord call me into this job? Is He still in this or does He want me to move into something else in this season?”

EMPLOYMENT

I have found that when I choose to quiet myself before the Lord in this way, His instructions and guidance to me are so much clearer. He is our Shepherd and desires to guide us in every area of our lives—especially where we spend the majority of our day such as in a marketplace job.

Honestly, if you are a follower of Christ, there really should be very limited times when you are working in a job because you “need the money.” That is like telling Jesus, “I need provision; but You are not able to provide this for me, so I am working in this job because it provides for me better than You do!” Or “I need provision, but would rather work in a job just for the money instead of trusting You for the provision You promised me.”

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:19).

If we can’t say the present job we currently occupy is of God, I would encourage you to begin seeking Jesus for direction as to how He wants to provide for you in the days ahead. His answer may surprise you. I was certainly surprised when I started on this journey and Jesus started to show me different vehicles of provision that I had not previously thought of.

Spirit picture: There is a huge car lot, and Jesus owns it. There are many vehicles on this lot: SUVs compacts, sport cars, trucks, and others I didn’t recognize. All makes, models, and colors. Each vehicle is a form of provision. Jesus is there providing the correct vehicle for each request made for each need presented to Him.

Jesus was showing me that He will assign the correct vehicle to each need, but I have to come to Him, trust Him to choose the correct vehicle, and be willing to use the vehicle He assigns, while believing for the result. Jesus is the provision, so we need to seek Him about how He wants to provide for us. He may very well send you into the marketplace—I was there for years—but He may have another vehicle He wants you to get into to access the provision you need. The key to finding out what vehicle He wants to give you is through the process of resting in Him. Get still before Him, focus on Him as the Source, and allow Him to give you instructions about how He wants to provide to meet the need.

DIVINE PROVISION

Provision is more than money. It is more than the tangible things of earth. There is provision for healing and miracles, emotional provision, as well as provision for favor in our daily dealings with people, just to name a few. While praying recently, the Lord told me that all provision is created in the spirit realm of Christ and then manifested on earth. I had never thought of that before but it makes perfect sense when you think that everything that is on earth came from the Creator.

God created the earth and all its fullness so everything we can see, feel, touch, and possess comes from Him. He created it out of what is invisible, so He is the true source of everything. Since we can’t evaluate spiritual realities with our earthly five senses, there is a tendency to think nothing is happening when we sit before Jesus in a posture of focused prayer before Him. The truth is, anything of worth is first birthed in the supernatural spirit realm before it is then manifested here on earth.

Learning to listen to the instructions of Jesus through His word as well as learning to rest and trust Him when He speaks to our spirit are vital in our journey with Jesus. People cannot be led if they don’t know the instructions and voice of the one leading. Like loved ones or good friends, we know their voices because of the time we spend with them.

The same is true of our Lord; we come to know His leading as well as become more familiar with His voice as we choose to rest ourselves in Him. Once we know His voice and leading, then we are in a position to follow. Obedience to His instructions is another vital area of the one who follows Him in faith.

We rest in Him so we can gain better insight about how to walk the journey of faith. We then hear and obey. This is our function in the life of faith. These are all powerful keys as well as areas in which we will always be advancing. It is part of the journey.

CHAPTER 4

THROUGH

INTERCESSION

Partnering with Jesus in the Journey

(Ezekiel 22:30)

JESUS DELIGHTS IN OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH HIM. Deep calls unto deep and everyone who has made Christ their Savior has been called to this place. Deep, intimate intercession, like a love relationship in the natural, requires another to share in it for the love to grow and life to flow out of the relationship. This is what true partnership with Him is about.

Because Jesus loves to have intimate fellowship with us, He invites us to partner with Him in the affairs on earth. This is our divine invitation to come up and see what He is doing in the spirit, then partner with Him in intercession; from this vantage point of authority, we can then watch in faith to see His plans come forth on earth.

The plans of God always come forth in Heaven because in that place everything is in perfect agreement with Him. Obviously, this is not always the case on earth. Due to the present sinful condition of the world, many things on earth are not in agreement with the desires of Christ. This is where our partnership with Him comes in. We are invited to partner with Him to see His desires, His plans, His timing, as well as His will come forth on earth even as all His desires are fulfilled in Heaven. Luke 11:2 says, “So He said to them, ‘When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done. On earth as it is in heaven.” This partnership can involve both community and world events as well as issues and plans that directly involve us and our families.

THROUGH SIGNS AND WONDERS

This partnership directly involves moving in the supernatural realm through signs and wonders. We see this in the book of Matthew when Jesus, having partnered with the apostles, sends them out with the commission to push back the works of darkness while ministering the gospel.

And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease. Now the names of the twelve apostles are these: first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother; Phillip and Bartholomew; Thomas and Matthew the tax collector; James the son of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddeus; Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed Him. These twelve Jesus sent out and commanded them, saying: “Do not go into the way of the Gentiles, and do not enter a city of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And as you go, preach, saying, ‘The kingdom of heaven is at hand.’ Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. Freely you have received, freely give (Matthew 10:1-8).

I am coming to see and understand, more and more, that moving in supernatural faith also involves seeing supernatural things take place here in the natural realm on a consistent basis. I had not expected to encounter this, but came to realize that living in this new realm would require some mental and emotional adjustment. The best way I can describe it is to say I felt like I was living between two worlds. The supernatural faith realm in partnering with Christ and praying from that place of the spirit while remaining on earth in the natural to live and watch in faith to see those things prayed for accomplished on earth.

As glorious as this may sound, and is, it is a different place to live emotionally, so it required some adjustment for me to get my bearings in feeling secure in this new place. As a three dimensional being—we are spirit beings who live in a human body that has emotions—every part of us is affected by a change in either one of the three dimensions. I had to learn how to truly release myself to Jesus as I partnered with Him.

When I first started this journey, this releasing felt like being suspended and flying but not being able to see what was holding me up. I had to become familiar with being kept and held by His Spirit in this way. It was not a comfortable place in the beginning, and even now I still struggle with it. I have always loved the supernatural workings of God, but just didn’t expect the struggle that my mind and emotions encountered. Having visited places like the Toronto Airport Church, the revival in Pensacola, Florida, as well as being on staff at the International House of Prayer, I have seen, ministered into, and been blessed by this reality of the supernatural in the Christian life.

Even though I knew Jesus definitely worked in the supernatural and loved to be involved in it, this realm was different. I was walking this out primarily alone and not in a ministry setting but in my day-to-day life as a lifestyle. I had never encountered or thought of the supernatural life of faith in this way or to this degree.

Since being on this journey and being taught by Jesus in the area of what it really means to live by faith, I have come to see that Jesus moved in the supernatural realm as a lifestyle. It wasn’t a “sometime thing” He took off and put on for ministry times or during certain events—it was the way He lived and how He expects those who follow Him to live.

I have come to realize that living the supernatural lifestyle is our birthright as believers! The ways it is lived out is different for each believer. It can manifest in various ways: songs that minister healing, revelatory teaching, all forms of prophetic ministry, creative miracles, as well as the many different signs and wonders. These are just a few examples of what our walking in faith and partnership with Christ will produce.

Supernatural faith will produce supernatural results! We partner with Jesus in many areas: seeing social injustices brought to justice, having generational curses in our families brought down, praying for others to see them set free from hindrances that keep them from all Jesus has for them, as well as receiving answers to the issues that concern our personal lives.

I have known I was a prophetic intercessor for some years; but since coming into this new realm of the supernatural and partnership with Christ, I have seen my prayers completely different. I am partnering with the very God of Heaven to see His will brought forth in all areas that are currently out of sync with His will. To think that He uses me and all those who will enter into this partnership with Him in this way is truly awesome! All who have placed their trust in Him as Savior and Lord will both live with Him now and with Him forever.

They shall see His face and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: they need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever (Revelation 22:4-5).

Partnering with Jesus while on earth is really training us for what we will be doing with Him for all eternity. This is both grand and glorious! As we walk out in the supernatural faith realms at His invitation, we should never look at prayer as something boring or lacking power. Truly in light of what we are accomplishing, it is the most powerful thing we can ever do in this life.

As previously stated, our partnership with Jesus is to pray forth those things that are taking place in the spirit in order to see them brought forth on earth by faith. Our role as believers is to partner with Jesus while here on earth, fully expecting to see the fruit of our partnership change events, circumstances, and lives in the natural realm.

Another aspect of partnering with Jesus is the things He shares with those who fellowship with Him in this way. For me this has been a bit different. My faith level in operating in the prophetic realm has also increased. Even though Jesus has used me to be a prophetic voice of encouragement and ministry to others, I find I am hearing from Him in a different level. I didn’t recognize the difference at first as it was gradual, but came to see that I was hearing clearer revelation and more details. This is so helpful when giving a personal word to someone who is being encouraged by something the Lord is telling me. Those I have ministered to in this area have commented that they are blessed by the clarity of the words and revelation I give to them when Jesus has me share what He is showing me about someone.

EXERCISING OUR FAITH MUSCLE

Like many people, I like to exercise to keep my physical body fit and healthy. I see a similarity in exercising our faith muscle to keep it healthy as well as to develop it. I exercise my faith as I partner with Jesus with the expectancy of seeing results take place. Even when I don’t see immediate results, I can stand in faith knowing that every prayer I partner with Him for will come back with a result. Partnership with Jesus in faith produces fruit that we can stand on in faith—whether it is immediate confirmation in the natural or not.

I also began to get prophetic insight concerning cities and regions on earth. The most recent time this occurred was when I was in another city visiting with friends. What I thought was just a time of relaxing with dear friends turned out instead to be mostly ministry time with the Lord, who was downloading significant insight to me about His plans for that city.

He woke me up early one morning and began to pour out His heart to me for this city and naming key people who He was going to use to bring restoration and revival in the city. I shared this revelation with my friends who lived there and found it was confirmation to many things that were already taking place. I had only been in the city several days when I received this and had no idea these things were taking place. It was such a great time of encouragement for my friends as well as some key leaders in that city with whom I shared the insight.

Jesus delights in sharing His secrets with those He can trust. This is confirmed in both Old and New Testament Scriptures:

Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets (Amos 3:7).

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 I heard from My Father I have made known to you (John 15:15).

Just like in a natural partnership, partners share secrets. Partnering with Jesus is the same but involves so much more. We are now privy to secrets that can shape cities, regions, countries, and continents. I am finding that as I continue on this journey with Christ, the partnership topics and secrets are becoming deeper and carry more weight both in the spiritual and the natural realms.

This partnership is open to all who love Him. He is always available. I have found that as I have stepped out more in different areas of partnering with Jesus, I am strengthened to move out even more. My faith has been strengthened to pray and expect to see results. One area that this has happened is in the area of praying for the sick to be healed. I am finding that as I pray, more immediate results are taking place in my own life as well as the lives of others.

This took place in a church service recently when the call to pray for the sick was given. I felt led to pray for a lady who was standing in the front, so I went up front. As I stood praying for her, I stopped and asked her what she needed prayer for. She shared that she was suffering from oppression and mental issues that were causing physical problems due to lack of sleep at night. As I continued to pray for the lady, I could feel the presence of Jesus coming over her. I could see she was feeling it also as she started to weep and tremble. I began to speak revelation about Jesus’ heart for her, and I could tell she was receiving it. After praying for specific things that the Lord was telling me to pray for over this lady, I felt the healing was done, so I asked her what she was feeling. She said she felt something was removed from her while I was praying, and she actually felt no more oppression. I could see that her countenance looked much lighter than it did before I started to pray. She returned to her seat smiling and free!

STRATEGIC POSITIONING

In partnership with Christ there is the aspect of positioning ourselves both in the spirit realm as well as in the physical realm. Just like in natural life situations, being in the right place at the right time can sometimes be very crucial in the life of someone who is walking in supernatural faith. Living life to partner with Jesus can mean Him needing to place us in a certain place in the natural in order to pray. To me this shows how important our lives of faith are in both the physical and spiritual realms. Our actions count for so much more than we can see while here on earth. Sometimes Jesus will give us insight into the significance of actually being in a certain place physically, while partnering with Him to see His will done.

I have a good friend whom the Lord uses to travel to other countries to pray and take part in prophetic dance to see strongholds broken over a certain area. She has told me that the Lord will often show her a picture of what actions to perform in the dance in order to accomplish what is needed in the spirit. At the Lord’s leading, I have “prayer walked” certain parts of my neighborhood. This is a common practice for many intercessors and is a picture of walking in specific areas to take these places for Christ.

Jesus can and will place us where we need to be in order to make divine connections with others He desires us to partner with. As a people who partner with Jesus in faith, we must be willing to allow Jesus to place us strategically. This includes moving when He says move, keeping our schedules flexible, and allowing Him to fine tune our lives to get us into the right place. I find this is not always convenient to my way of thinking, but very necessary if I am going live a life of faith partnership with Him.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9).

This has really changed how I live life day to day. I have learned to confer with Jesus as to how I am to conduct my day each morning when I wake up, as well as giving way to His adjustment of my schedule throughout the day as needed. Living this way has changed my perspective on what normal life looks like. It looks different each day but it is not boring, and I see Jesus moving in many areas of my life as I live this lifestyle.

All this is part of partnering with Him. He wants our involvement in a very tangible, real way. Our partnering with Jesus involves so much more than prayers we pray back to Him. We become His representatives on earth fulfilling His desires by righteous acts, prophetic proclamations, strategic placing, and divine appointments.

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God (2 Corinthians 5:20).

All these things are vital parts of our partnership with Him in intercession. Far from being merely an echo of what we hear Him saying, we get to partner with Him to bless others with things He gives us to say to them (prophetic), to change the atmosphere in a place in allowing Him to place us where He wants us (strategic positioning), by being His hands and feet on earth (righteous acts), and through meeting and connecting with others in the Body of Christ by His leading (divine appointments).

We are invited to be His mouthpiece, His hands, and His feet while He uses our hearts, minds, and emotions here on earth to say, pray, touch, and walk out divine plans and purposes on earth. Many times when I am partnering with Jesus in this way, He allows me to feel some of what He is feeling concerning the situation we are praying about. I have felt His heart concerning the pain of others and wept with compassion as He does. I have felt His joy over a victory in someone’s life and felt His anger concerning an injustice.

Feeling His heart is only one way Jesus communicates to us His emotions concerning a matter about which we may be partnering with Him. He may choose to use any of our physical or spiritual senses to communicate to us something we need to know as we fellowship in this way. Sometimes when Holy Spirit’s presence is really moving in a service or ministry setting, the room becomes very foggy with His presence, and I can see areas where the fog is very thick. This is always confirmation to me from Jesus that His presence is there in great power. This is confirmed as others in the room are worshiping passionately while people are being healed, getting set free from oppression, and being filled with Holy Spirit.

He calls us to participate in full partnership involving our full participation. The journey continues!

CHAPTER 5

SUPERNATURAL

FAITH FOR

HEART ISSUES

Hope for Wicked Hearts

(Jeremiah 17:9)

IT REQUIRES LOOKING THROUGH THE SUPERNATURAL eyes of faith to see and deal with the unresolved issues of our own hearts. This especially applies to those whom the Lord uses to minister healing to the hearts of others through different levels of deliverance ministry. Just like the other blessings Jesus has for us, this too is part of the provision He has made available to those who will trust and obey Him.

Even though there may be many unresolved issues in our hearts due to living in a fallen body on a fallen earth, many times we are not able to see these things that keep us back from all the Lord has for us. It takes trusting and obeying the One who created the heart in order to be able to see these things the way He does, so that they can be dislodged and dealt with. The need to be set free from those hindrances in our hearts can manifest in various ways.

FAITH WHEN WE FEEL OUT OF SORTS

In my own life, I usually begin to feel that something is wrong with me, or I start to feel sad or really irritated, but can’t identify why I am feeling this way. I’ve come to learn that these are signals that I need to pay attention to. In the past I have not been very quick to identify these signals, which has caused much unneeded conflict to rise within my heart and emotions. The Lord is so faithful. He wants us to move forward in experiencing all He has for us, so He will allow these things to actually make us very uncomfortable until we start to seek the reason behind what is causing us to feel this way.

After I came to this realization, I have learned to stop what I am doing and inquire of Jesus about what is going on with me. First, I check to see if I am feeling this way due to something Jesus wants to bring to my attention in order to partner with Him. There are times I can be picking up something that is happening in the spiritual atmosphere that I sense in the spirit. Sometimes I need to pray concerning this and sometimes I am just being made aware of it, similar to when someone walks into a room and sees something out of place. There are times I am just being made aware of what is in the atmosphere.

When I find that what I am feeling is not due to something outside me, I then begin to pray and ask Jesus to help me see what is taking place within me. I have also learned to take inventory of my heart concerning issues that could be rising up. I envision myself before Jesus and bringing possible issues to Him one at a time to see if this is the cause. It only takes a matter of minutes to do this. Things such as feeling rejected, abandoned, anger, and other things that have been issues for me in the past are quickly brought before Jesus to see if further work needs to be done in those areas.

As I write this, I am reminded of a Scripture. In First Samuel 16:7, God speaks of how He views man in comparison to how we view man. He tells the prophet, “For the Lord does not see as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” Many times we simply cannot see what is taking place within our own hearts. I have come to the realization that there is so much about me that I simply don’t understand or know. Many times when I am feeling irritated or upset about something but not really sure what it is, I will say, “Jesus, what is wrong with me? I am acknowledging my total lack of knowledge to my own heart issues, so I am coming to the One who has created my heart and knows it well.”

I believe Jesus has shown me that the thing that keeps many of us from coming to Jesus right away to sort out the issues of our hearts is pride. Like many, I can sometimes fall into the trap of feeling I can figure out what is going on in me on my own. I quickly find I am wrong, so I repent and come to the One who has the answers for all that concerns me. It really takes the light of Jesus to expose these issues and bring them to the forefront, so then they can be dealt with and we can move forward unhindered. God has so much for us. Personally, I don’t ever want to be slowed down or pushed back due to the common issues that come up with just living life on earth or by possible attacks from the enemy.

We are designed to move from glory to glory. Second Corinthians 3:18 says, “But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.” We were created to live strength to strength and faith to faith; this is the normal Christian life that all who will walk in supernatural faith can embrace and push forward into.

Blessed is the man whose strength is in You, whose heart is set on pilgrimage. As they pass through the Valley of Baca, they make it a spring; the rain also covers it with pools, they go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion (Psalm 84:5-7).

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith” (Romans 1:17).

I would be easy for me to simply dismiss my feelings as moods or other outward things, but I am learning to look at the spiritual realm first to see what is going on, so I can accurately deal with the root problem. It takes faith to do this, as I have to trust that Jesus is allowing this to bring me to a deeper place of freedom in order to be able to draw closer to Him. It would be so easy to dismiss these feelings as something other than an invitation to know Jesus in a deeper way.

JESUS LONGS TO HEAL HEARTS

I have found that each time I come to Jesus this way, He has faithfully exposed to me what the real cause of my frustrated feelings are. He is so loving and kind. He so longs to heal and restore us while also opening up new revelation to us in the process. Usually He will remind me of a past incident or situation giving me a spirit picture, which helps me recall something that was said to me in a conversation or perhaps something I said to someone else. This allows me to then bring those issues to Him in repentance and prayer and have them truly resolved. This has resulted in a true deliverance for my heart, not just surface healing that comes from dealing with only the outward symptoms I am experiencing. I have found that just as with our physical bodies, our spirit selves have symptoms that alert us that something is not right and needs attention.

If we choose to ignore the symptoms, the condition will only get worse. Feelings and emotions are in place for a purpose; and as we choose to move in deeper levels of faith, Jesus will use them to alert us, teach us, and encourage us. Everyone delights in the positive emotions we feel from the Lord’s presence, but we have a tendency to dismiss the negative ones. I feel that many times Jesus allows us to feel negative emotions so that more of who we are can be released in order to have more of Him fill us; but if we don’t recognize the signals or pay attention to the symptoms, we will miss the opportunity.

There is a familiar song that is sung in many Christian circles, part of which says, “More of You and less of me, more of You and less of me… more of You, Lord.” The words of that song perfectly explain what is being offered when we have to deal with those heart issues. How do we go through the process of having more of us removed, in order to be able to contain more of Christ? As stated earlier, most of the time we are unaware of the things that are lurking in our hearts; so Jesus, in His faithfulness, uses our emotions to bring these things to our attention.

This process requires supernatural faith to believe that our negative emotions may be an invitation from Jesus, to see more when we are feeling out of sorts for some unknown reason, and to see more when we are feeling hurt by someone else’s words or actions. This last point is more difficult as many times others can cause us pain, either intentional or unintentional. Our hearts can take a hit due to misunderstandings, negative confrontations, or other relationship issues. It requires faith to allow Jesus to use even those things that are done against us to open up more of us for Him to contain and fill. Jesus can and will use any situation or issue for our good, if we will come to Him in trust, believing He has allowed the negative situation and will use it to show Himself mighty.

To rest in this truth requires supernatural faith.

JESUS WANTS ACCESS TO OUR BROKENNESS

Supernatural faith is needed to trust Jesus to reveal the problem, faith to then allow Him to take us through the process to deal with the issue, and finally faith to trust that even if the process to be free of the issue is painful, this is all for our good. I have found that dealing with heart issues can be very painful to confront and deal with depending on the level. Dealing with an anger issue caused by someone who unintentionally hurt our feelings is much different from having to deal with an anger issue caused by someone who intentionally harmed us or a member of our family. There are two different levels due to the degree of the offense or perceived offense.

I recently said to a friend, at a time when I was going through some very intense and personal heart issues, that I would almost rather do hard duty in the military and personal deal with some of the things that were coming up that Jesus wanted me to deal with. I have prior military experience, so I know a little about what hard labor in the military is like. At the time I made that statement, it seemed that pulling hard labor in military boot camp would have been preferable to what I was experiencing!

On a more personal note, I have gone through some intensely painful things due to a separation and divorce that had taken place in my life, and I honestly thought I had dealt with many if not all those issues already. I just didn’t realize how deeply my heart and emotions had been wounded. Jesus was allowing these things to surface in order to prepare me for His plans for my future. Even though the process of getting free from these issues felt very intense at the time, I am reminded that the pain of keeping them would be much more difficult. I have found that when not dealt with, these same issues that can lie so quiet within the heart, suddenly can come to the surface at the most unwanted times. When this happens, the damage and pain can result in an even greater need for deliverance. The visual picture is that of keeping a baby tiger in your house; not a big problem at first, but as it grows, the danger increases until it is big enough to destroy you, your house, and anyone who gets close.

It requires faith in Christ to believe that He is allowing us to feel negative emotions for our good. Even if the confrontation, repentance, and choice to walk on a different path of the healing process becomes very uncomfortable, if we follow Jesus through the healing of our hearts, He will open us up to an entirely new place in Him. Those who minister to others in deliverance ministry have probably seen radical confirmations of this, when those they are praying for have been set free so that the Holy Spirit can fill the person in a fresh, new way.

You may have heard that heart issues and brokenness limit our ability to walk forth in all God has for us if left unchecked and unchallenged, but do we recognize that Jesus is always looking to have more of us. He is always looking to have more access to us. This is part of moving forward in Him. Having Him continue to expose heart issues in us is not a onetime process, it continues throughout our lives on earth as there will be countless opportunities to have more of us removed so more of Him can reign in us.

These issues must be brought to Jesus for healing and full restoration of the heart. Trouble is, most of the time we are not aware of these deep heart issues, as many times they have been pushed down and repressed. Faith will allow us to see and believe Jesus for the healing. Again, it takes the Lord to “unearth” these issues. In His mercy, He allows the things of life to trigger unresolved fears, rejection issues, anger, unforgiveness, and other forms of brokenness in order to bring them to the surface of our lives. He is the Light, so He is best at exposing the darkness in our lives so we can come out of agreement with it and have more of His light shining through us.

Usually there are what I call triggers that begin to bring these issues to the surface. These triggers can be any number of things: losing a job, unexpected death of a loved one, broken marriage, or having a wrong done against us. Any of these unexpected life challenges can be the trigger that opens up those hidden, unresolved issues of the heart. Once they have been exposed, they must be brought to Christ. Once they have been exposed, there are only two options at that point: 1) bring them to Christ for healing and closure, or 2) allow them to remain where they will grow bigger until they take over vast areas of our hearts, while closing us off to the many blessings and opportunities Christ has for us. If the second option is chosen, it will be quickly learned that it is impossible to walk in the realms of faith Jesus has for us with hearts darkened by unresolved issues that block us from seeing with faith eyes.

FAITH IS BELIEVING JESUS HEALS

Supernatural faith requires supernatural eyes to see. Our faith eyes are obscured when our hearts are clouded with sin issues. We are not aware of our true heart condition. We are not able to discern our true spiritual state. Only Jesus can see this, which is why it is vital that we keep our hearts open toward Him. When our hearts are postured correctly before Him, He is able to highlight our true heart condition. We cannot repent unless we can see the problem; we cannot see the problem without Jesus showing it to us. Jesus cannot show us issues about ourselves unless we trust Him in faith by staying open to His Spirit.

Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil…. “Come now, and let us reason together,” says the Lord, “though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool” (Isaiah 1:16,18).

I believe the Lord has shown me that once hidden issues are exposed and we do not take steps to get them resolved, we are actually saying “yes” to the darkness and “no” to the healing that Christ offers. I think most will agree that is pretty serious! As believers we gave ourselves to Him for salvation, so we must trust the One who sees all and constantly searches our hearts to reveal those heart issues that will not only trip us up, but ultimately destroy us if left unchecked.

If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar and His word is not in us (1 John 1:8-10).

It is also in this place of supernatural faith that we have the emotional stamina needed to not only face those things lodged deep in our hearts, but also the emotional stamina needed to allow Jesus to extract them, so He can then throw them as far as the east is from the west.

For as the heavens are high above the earth, so great is His mercy toward those who fear Him; as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us (Psalm 103:11-12).

A shut-down heart is like a closed door. It shuts out restoration and wholeness from Jesus while keeping the sinful issues inside. Once Jesus exposes an issue in our hearts, we are responsible to give a response. There is no grey area in this—we are either saying “yes” and going forward into deeper realms of faith in Christ, or saying “no” to Him, which keeps us stuck where we are, while giving permission to the issues plaguing our hearts to continue unchecked.

Just like walking in the realms of supernatural faith, the continuing work of Jesus on our hearts is a journey. A journey into more of Him. We find that as we release more of ourselves to Him, He is then able to fill us with more of Himself. More of Jesus releases us to walk in more of our authority, opens us up to move in more wisdom, and provides more understanding into the things of Heaven and earth as we gain more revelation for all we need answers for. I have found that the more I release myself into Him, the more I gain. I gain in all these things I mentioned and much more. I gain a deeper partnership with Him. In short, I gain more of Him—and that is everything.

You have the same opportunity!

CHAPTER 6

CHOOSING TO STAND

AND BELIEVE

Putting on the Whole Armor of God

(Ephesians 6:10-13)

THERE IS A PLACE IN THE SPIRIT WHERE THE heart of faith must take refuge and stand. In the final chapter of Ephesians, Paul exhorts us to take our place of authority. He then gives us our marching orders toward realizing that Jesus has already won victory for us. We are encouraged to stand after first putting on our spiritual armor in prayer. This is to be our continual place of conquering, for the decision to walk in supernatural faith will be challenged on many fronts.

For example, I have found that I am tempted, or tested, to fall back into my previous lifestyle of living due to what my physical eyes present to me. One major front where I am challenged is in my own heart and emotions. Just like most people, I want to feel a sense of security in my life. I think we are taught to draw our security from tangible things that we can actually touch and see, but living a life of faith is based on what takes place in the spirit, not on tangibles in the physical realm. Because of this place Jesus has called me into, I find that I must take my stand in this area of wanting to lean into the physical realm for security. I must determine to look into the eyes of Jesus for my security—and I must do this daily.

There are specific prayers I pray over myself each morning, and I pray them out loud. I do this in order to remind my heart not to fear, to let my emotions know they will not dictate the choices I make, and to confirm to Jesus that I am choosing to partner with Him for the day’s events. Scripture tells us that His mercy is new every morning.

Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).

Jesus pours new mercies and compassion on us all each day, and I have found it sets my day in right order when I make verbal declarations into the spirit realm. Supernatural faith is required to verbalize and believe these declarations are being heard, that they will accomplish great things in the spirit realm, and that the results will be confirmed in the physical realm. This is one way I take my stand.

Another front I must face down is in the area of unexpected circumstances that come with just living daily life. The great majority of the time I can usually move through these things due to the verbal declarations I make each day, but sometimes I am confronted with something that seems a bit overwhelming. When this happens I know I can turn to Jesus and ask for specific revelation as to what to do.

Partnering with Jesus, looking into the spirit realm as He gives revelation, and acting in obedience are my safe places when unexpected bumps and hurdles in the road come. I have found that it requires standing in a place of supernatural believing when I am confronted with life’s circumstances and challenges. This is a place of standing even when everything around me is shaking. It is another way to stand.

I believe that even as everything around me is shaking, I can choose to walk in peace while believing what Jesus tells me to do in each circumstance and issue of life, as I stand in this place of supernatural faith. Please understand, this is not a place of refusing to acknowledge the physical circumstances and situations around me—but rather choosing to look higher. Choosing to look instead into the spirit realm while believing in the One who has all power to change any circumstance.

HIS POWER TO CHANGE CIRCUMSTANCES

I have found that just living life on earth presents many opportunities to stand in faith and trust. As believers, these are actually growing points for us in the spirit. The most recent one for me occurred in the area of my finances. One day while preparing for a meeting, I kept feeling the Lord was prompting me to check several of my bank accounts online. I was getting ready to leave the house for the meeting so I didn’t have much time. I decided to put it off until later in the day, since I was sure I had enough in the bank to cover any expenses I would need for that day.

I kept feeling prompted, however, so I took the few minutes required to go to my computer and check the accounts. When I finally pulled up my accounts on the screen I saw, to my amazement, that I had less than two dollars in the main account I used each day. I was shocked! I couldn’t understand how this could have happened and immediately began to wonder if the bank had made an error or if the online accounts had not been updated. By my calculations, I should have had much more money in this account. Immediately the realization came to me that if I had actually used that account for several purchases, as I had planned, I would have not only overdrawn my account but also incurred significant fees per the bank’s policy.

I must say I was shaken by this and in the shock of the moment, I began to wonder why Jesus had allowed this to happen. I started to question Him as to what to do for the day’s events, since I now had no money to use for anything. I felt disappointed as the thoughts entered my mind that Jesus had somehow let me down. I didn’t have time the research what had happened, so I continued to get ready for the meeting.

I went to my meeting as planned and during this time I explained to my friend what had taken place. As we prayed and shared with each other, I was reminded that it is in the place of peace in Christ that we gain insight and revelation about any challenge we encounter. It is in that place of standing in faith that victory comes. It was a very timely reminder for me.

My friend told me about a time when she had encountered a similar challenging time in her life and had immediately declared that the situation was going to work out for her good. Even though she didn’t feel victorious at the time the situation first came to light in her life, she verbalized the declaration of truth out loud to herself anyway. She went on to explain how the situation did turn out for her good and felt it was due to making that declaration of faith right away, instead of yielding to doubt and unbelief.

I realized that I had not made a similar declaration, so I did while we were still meeting. Immediately, I was filled with His peace again, even though I still didn’t know how I had come to have so little money in my bank account. I look back at that time and realize that in making those declarations, I was actually reminding my heart that no matter what it looked like in the natural realm, Jesus loved me and uses everything for my good. I was actually reminding my heart to trust and believe!

Later that day when I went back to research where the error had come from in my bank account, I found out exactly where the mistake was and soon realized that I had made the mistake. I had actually forgotten to subtract several transactions in my personal register earlier that month. Due to my own error, my account should have been overdrawn by at least $50, but all transactions had cleared just fine—an example of divine provision.

It was divine provision because Jesus had not only covered me for the $50-plus error I had made, but He had also prompted me to check my account so I would be aware of how little money was in the account and not use it. His faithful actions toward me had actually kept me from overdrawing on the account that day. Wow! What a picture of redemption. He had already gone before me and made provision even before I was aware that I needed it. Instead of Him letting me down, He had actually covered me several times in this one incident. He had covered me for two different transactions on two different days! Choosing to stand in supernatural, in spite of what the natural circumstances say or look like, produces supernatural results!

BATTLING IN THE SPIRIT

I really feel that Jesus doesn’t always want us to look for ways to run or get out of some of the situations that threaten our peace; instead, He desires that we use those circumstances as opportunities for us to stand in faith with Him.

Having served in the U.S. military for a little over five years, I know that one of the things taught very early on is that if you find yourself in a battle situation and you are all alone with the enemy coming, you must know how to fight if there is no escape. We were taught how to shoot a M16 rifle while still in boot camp. Military leaders know that in combat situations, there are not many options, you must either be ready to take up your gun and do battle or become a casualty. By learning the tools of warfare, all members of the military stay “combat ready.” More on this point later in this chapter.

In the area of spirit we stay “combat ready” by walking in supernatural faith, trusting that Jesus has the answers, then choosing to make declarations as to the goodness of God toward us, which result in seeing the situations of life turn around because we chose to stand in faith.

Another place of standing involves the people we choose to surround ourselves with during challenging times. I have many people I enjoy spending time with, but I choose to put myself with those who see with eyes of faith during times when my own faith is being challenged.

By making declarations and choosing to remain in faith, I am victorious over the situation at hand, not pulled into it or under it. This vantage point is open to all who put active faith in Jesus. It will not always change the situation right away, but will give you the strength to stand in belief until the victory comes forth in the natural.

FAITH CHALLENGES

To stand in supernatural faith is simply choosing to take that place of remembering who Jesus is, making declarations to confirm this, and believe His promises and goodness while walking out any instructions He may give.

It is choosing to not allow the negative reports of life to dictate how your life is lived or perceived. I’ve found that my perception will dictate how I respond and what results I will get in any situation. As people who are encouraged to walk in the light, we can choose to walk in the supernatural light of faith so, for example, that doctor’s report will not have the power to touch and change your heart. Isaiah 2:5 says, “O house of Jacob, come and let us walk in the light of the Lord.” Walking in the light of the Lord is only possible due to true revelation of Christ as the One who created your body, soul, and spirit, and has all power to heal.

It is from this place of standing that you find strength to go forth in victory, when your spouse suddenly walks away from the marriage and you find yourself alone. It is the place of choosing to believe that your child or children will come back to Christ when they have just told you they want nothing to do with your God, and then leave your home. So choose to stand in faith with Christ for any and all seemingly impossible circumstances that want to rob you of peace and the opportunity to move closer into Jesus. In those times when it seems we are losing everything, choose to stand and gain even more in the supernatural faith realm.

In living the life of supernatural faith we must realize that each day presents opportunities. Opportunities to believe that Jesus is still good, as well as opportunities to allow the circumstances of challenges to lead us into unbelief, allowing our emotions to dictate how we govern as well as what stand we take on common, daily situations.

Life happens to us all. Challenges will come; there is no escaping them. I have found that instead of allowing these things to cause my heart to fear, I use them as opportunities to grow stronger in courage as I continue to stand in the provision of the faith Jesus has already made possible to me—to us.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you may be able to bear it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

The choice to stand in supernatural faith allows me to see above where I am currently living in the physical. I am able to actually look above and see what Jesus wants to do in these difficult situations; then choosing to not only pray for His will to be done to bring change, healing, restoration, and clarity but also have the faith to stand as if it is already a reality in the physical. I choose to stand in faith even before the change or solution is actually seen in the physical realm.

Many times I have had to take this stand while standing inside the negative emotions of the moment. This too is an opportunity to grow in my faith of who Jesus is in me, even though the emotions I am experiencing are not enjoyable at the moment. I have found that the joyful feelings come later. They manifest in my heart and spirit when the truth of victory has been made known to my heart.

To cite a previous example, the emotions I was feeling when I first looked at my bank account and saw I didn’t even have enough money to buy a cheap breakfast at the local fast food place, were anything but positive. Later, however, I was filled with joyful thanksgiving and humble gratitude and amazement at how Jesus had not only covered my account with supernatural provision—when I had made the mistake in my bank records—but He had also alerted me to stop what I was doing and look at the account. His actions actually kept me from experiencing a minor disaster in my personal finances.

It would be easy to wonder what would have happened if I hadn’t taken the time to check to see exactly how much money I had in my account that day. Of course there is no true way of knowing. Jesus could certainly have continued to put money in the account to cover the expenses, or He could have chosen to allow my account to actually overdraw; but either way, I am convinced He would have used the situation for my good. His heart toward those who love and serve Him is to see them prosper.

Let them shout for joy and be glad, who favor my righteous cause; and let them say continually, “Let the Lord be magnified, who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant” (Psalm 35:27).

THE BELIEVER’S EXPECTATIONS

I feel it is healthy and beneficial to us as believers to expect that there will always be challenges to our faith. As unpleasant as it is, it really is just part of life on this earth. As the world we live in continues to get darker and sin increases, there will be more challenges. As a faithful Shepherd, Jesus allows us to face confrontations that challenge us to train us and equip us for the things to come. Second Samuel 22:35 says, “He teaches my hands to make war, so that my arms can bend a bow of bronze.”

We will not experience the satisfaction of all things being right until we enter the perfect Kingdom of Christ through death or we all come to the end of the age. Revelation 21:1 says, “Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.”

Those who will live in the supernatural realms will be challenged by life as well as the kingdom of the enemy. Living in the realms of supernatural faith is a place of war; however, we are called and equipped to stand firm on His promises of victory. Matthew 11:12 says, “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force.” We are of the company of those who stand, not in our own strength, but in the strength of Him who is all powerful and holds the universe in His hands.

Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand (Ephesians 6:13).

A LASTING IMPACT

A final note on this topic, I have seen that there are times when life hits us the hardest blows when we are on the verge of bringing something of great worth forth in the spirit or in the natural. I have seen this happen in my life and have learned to both prepare my heart and be watchful in Jesus so as not to be tripped up as I move forward.

Other times it is just a matter of living a life of worth before the Lord. We influence more people than we realize by our lives of faith on this earth. Our actions have much more of an effect than can be realized now. It will be an awesome time when we get to Heaven and Jesus shows us the full impact our lives have made in the lives and decisions of others.

I think many times the enemy is more conscious of the impact our lives have on this earth than believers are. It is part of the enemy’s job description to attempt to bring discouragement and defeat to those who have chosen to partner with Jesus and walk in the realms of supernatural faith. Giving in to discouragement makes his job—to steal, kill, and destroy—much easier.

Wanting to walk in the supernatural realms and not expecting to be challenged, is just not realistic.

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, but not destroyed—always carrying about in body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body (2 Corinthians 4:7-10).

I have found that this is not a place for the timid of heart. We have to position ourselves in the spirit and be willing to fight for the places of faith Jesus has for us.

When we choose to look above and walk according to what we see there, it will not go unnoticed either by witness of Heaven or by those of the enemy. Since we know the weapons of our warfare are in the spirit realm, we are actually perfectly positioned to defeat the things that desire to come against us.

When we choose to continue to look past the circumstance and challenges of life, we gain new ground in the spirit realm. We gain a new place of positioning in Jesus. We become more comfortable living the supernatural life of faith as a lifestyle.

Even in the midst of the challenges our hearts can now stay focused and unclouded by doubt, fear, and unbelief, due to our decision to stand. We are able to see clearly how to pray and partner with Christ. We are caught up more in what Jesus is saying to us than what life’s circumstances are screaming at us. It is in the place of determined and focused standing that we gain perspective to live, breath, move, and have our being in Him. Acts 17:28 says, “…for in Him we live and move and have our being….” It is in this place that we then gain the victory to stand with Christ to see Him change circumstances on earth for His glory. Standing in supernatural faith is the position place of victory.

CHAPTER 7

PROVISION OF

THE KING

Divine Provision—More than We Can Imagine or Think

(Philippians 4:19)

THE LORD SHOWED ME A SPIRITUAL PICTURE OF the Kingdom provision of which we all have access. It was a picture of a huge car lot and Jesus is the owner. This picture came during the time when I was talking to Jesus about a vehicle for the future trips felt He wanted me to take for ministry opportunities. Anyway, on the lot were many vehicles. All shapes, sizes, colors, and varieties. Many I haven’t seen before, but I did recognize some of the trucks, compact cars, and SUVs that were on the lot. In the picture each vehicle was a form of provision. In the picture Jesus was standing on the lot waiting for me, and I was to come to Him, tell Him the need, and ask Him which vehicle I would need in order to get the provision He wanted me to have.

This was not just provision for me concerning the necessary things I needed in order to live, but also provision that I can access for others, through partnership with Him. I thought this was really an awesome picture of God’s care for us. The provision was already there waiting for me to come to Jesus to access it. Just like in the picture I saw, Jesus has access to unlimited resources, as well as the many boundless ways of getting the items of need to me.

Jesus has access to everything. Everything under Heaven as well as in Heaven is fully accessible to Him at all times. He was showing me that anything I may need was accessible to me also! This is due to my relationship with Him and because I bring every need to Him in faith. This is not hoping He will provide but having the supernatural faith to believe He is my Source and provides for me abundantly.

This picture totally changed how I began to look at prayer for provision. I was able to see it in an entirely different way. When I have a need, I was not coming to Jesus begging for something He may or may not want to give me at the time. No, I was walking in at His invitation and letting Him know what my needs were so He could then pick the right vehicle for me to meet my needs. He is actually standing there waiting for me to come to Him, and He has the provision also ready and waiting. Suddenly I realized that asking for provision is a place of peace, trust, and believing—not hoping, pleading, and worrying. Totally different concept!

GOD’S PERSONAL PROVISION FOR US

I received this spirit picture during the early months of my faith journey, so I have been using it as my guide as to how to approach Jesus when I find I have a need of any kind. As I began to do this, I found the Lord to be very creative in how He chooses to provide for various needs. At the beginning of this journey I was very concerned about how I was going to live. I was used to working full time and knowing exactly how much money was coming in each month to take care of necessary living expenses. In the first month of my faith walk, I wasn’t sure how it would work concerning monthly expenses. He answered in a way that I had never experienced before.

I make a habit of checking my bank accounts via the online service. I had just checked my accounts the day before and knew exactly how much money was there. Which wasn’t much. The next few days I went to my account online to see if a payment I had posted earlier had cleared. I was very surprised to see over $400 dollars in the same account that had only $30 or $40 in it just several days earlier!

This was actually an old joint account I had shared with my ex-husband that I had never taken the time to close, as I rarely ever used it. The account was now in my name since he had moved his money to another bank. Just to be sure, I called him to find out if he knew anything about the extra money that was now showing in the account. He confirmed that he had moved all his money and was sure there could be only about $30 left in the account I was referring to. Which is what I had thought also.

I never had any automatic deposits going into this account the entire time it had been open, so I could see no reason for any new deposits of funds to have been put in there recently. In my attempt to understand how over $400 had suddenly appeared in an account that was virtually inactive, I called the bank. The lady I spoke to was very helpful but seemed unsurprised, almost nonchalant, and could provide no answer about the money in the account.

I know I had checked this account several days prior and that money was not there! I then realized Jesus had put $400 in my bank account in answer to my question about how I was to live during this time He had set aside for me to not work. I was to walk in faith, trust in His faithfulness, and then allow Him to provide for me. I felt He was showing me that supernatural faith produces supernatural results and provision. The $400 was a confirmation that He would, indeed, make sure I was taken care of and that He could get money as well as other provision to me at any time!

This confirmation of His supernatural provision working in the natural realm was very important for me at this time. The Lord knew it was important for me to see and understand this early in my journey, so I could rest well in Him for the remainder of this season. He knew that up to this point I had always been very much an “I have to work for a living” person, and not working for an extended period of time meant to me that I was going to go hungry and my bills would not be paid. I felt Jesus was using this download of $400 into my bank account to say, “Venetia, if I am telling you to do something, I am more than capable of footing the bill for it.” I started writing the letter of resignation from my full time job the day after this happened.

Another significant example of how faithful Jesus is in providing for those who trust Him came after I had been out of work a month. It had also been about a month since I saw the spirit picture of provision concerning the needs I would have. Using the picture He gave me as my guide, I went to Jesus and asked Him what vehicle I would need to get into to get some monthly bills and expenses paid.

This time the Lord guided me to an old profit sharing account that I had started years ago when I worked at a finance company. I had basically forgotten about this account over the years because to access any money from it would incur fees and penalties. Since I had stopped working at this company some years back, there had been no new deposits added to it in quite a while. I remember there was a small amount of money in the account when I left—about $200. I really didn’t see how this was going to be the means of provision sinces the bills I had at the time were much more than what I remembered having in the account. Nevertheless, I felt the need to call the company where the money was being held to find out exactly how much was in the account.

That phone call made it apparent that this was my vehicle of provision, for not only did I have enough money to take care of all my monthly expenses, but there was even some left over for spending money! Apparently the little I had put in the account had been accumulating interest over the four to five years since I had set it up.

What had started as a very small amount of money had blossomed into a fairly sizable amount. I was also told that there would be no fee to access the entire amount. All I had to do was tell them where I wanted the check to be mailed! Once again Jesus had proved His devotion and care of me. He had guided me to the exact right vehicle to use to get the needed provision just like He had shown me in the vision!

As I mentioned earlier, one of the reasons I had forgotten about the account was due to the fact that I had been told there would be penalties for taking the money out of the account before a certain time had passed. When the Lord directed me to this account, I remembered that stipulation and brought that up to Jesus. I felt Him telling me to “just call” and find out. Of course I was delighted to find out from the company that there would be no penalty as well as no fees.

I now had the money I needed, all by the Lord’s leading and direction. Even now as I write this I am still amazed at His creativity in providing for me when I have a need. At this writing I have been on this journey over four months now. During this time I have had all my bills paid—on time—have had plenty of food, went on a ministry trip, and had money for personal expenses such as hair appointments. I have found that the Lord moves on the hearts of others on my behalf when I choose to walk in obedience and trust with Him. One of the ways He has done this in my life is to provide me with free groceries from friends who felt the Lord has shown them to do this for me when they realized I was taking this journey. Another vehicle of provision from the One who has access to all things and to every heart!

This provision is open to all who will trust and believe Him. Jesus is the Creator, therefore He can use creative ways to meet your needs. He may not put money in your bank like He did mine, but instead may have someone send you a check or provide for you another way. Since He is the owner of the divine lot of provision, the possibilities of how He wants to get provision into our hands are truly endless.

I have gone to Jesus in this way during the entire time of the journey and am still living this way as I write this. I believe it is to be the “new normal,” not just for me, but for all those who are His in the upcoming days. As the darkness on the earth increases, His light will shine brighter through those who love and trust Him. Second Timothy 3:1 says, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come.” In providing for us He shows Himself to the world as the God who provides in all social and economic climates. His provision will be both a testament to the world as well as the source to meet the needs of believers in order that they can continue the work He has for them on earth as we move forward in these last days.

Jesus has always been most faithful to me. His faithful provision extended far above providing money for bills and provision of groceries. As wonderful as those things are, there is more. I have had dental work done for free, had a $50 hubcap for my car replaced for less than $10, and had my car professionally washed for free. I have also experienced the divine provision of healing for health issues in my own life come forth more during this season.

Since I desire to be a good steward of all Jesus provides me, I continued to stay within my budget during this journey. I believe this is just sound wisdom. I can say that I was not watching how I spent money in a fearful way as I may have done in the past. Actually as strange as it may seem, I felt more freedom to purchase what I needed as well more freedom to give to others during this time than I had felt when I worked each day in the marketplace. I believe this is because I realized the Source of the income and provision didn’t rest with me but rested in walking in faith with Jesus.

CHANGE IN PERSPECTIVE

As I slowly shifted into this lifestyle of faith, my focus for getting needs met totally shifted, which also changed my perspective on all other aspects of my life. I began to see that there is truly no limit. Anything and everything is open to me. All it takes for me to see these, as well as even bigger things to come forth, is for me to walk out my life in supernatural faith, choosing to believe and see.

As I mentioned before, Jesus used this time to change my perspective concerning provision and finances. Another way He did this was to show me less expensive ways to get some things I wanted, or in some cases changed my desire to have them at all. Interestingly enough, I never felt I was missing out or that I was lacking in anything. I was still getting what I needed and actually finding cheaper ways to get them. What a deal!

Through this process of walking in supernatural faith for everything, something else happened. I have come to enjoy the process of seeing the need, taking it to Jesus, then standing in faith to see how He will provide. In the beginning, this was not an enjoyable process as it felt so different from the way I had previously lived my life. It is now exciting to see how Jesus provides each time I come to Him. Joy in the journey!

The process of coming to Jesus with a need, for ourselves, a family member or a friend, and He in turn directing us to the vehicle of supply that will accomplish the job, is easy in explanation, but does require the key element of faith. Our job of simply coming in an attitude of believing and trusting Him to supply us with the best vehicle to meet our needs, requires a heart that is open to His instruction, as some vehicles may feel strange to us at first because we haven’t used them before. I think it is similar to learning to drive a new or different vehicle in the natural realm. When we first drive another vehicle, it is not comfortable and feels strange to us. Yet it also feels exciting to learn to drive the new vehicle and discover its full potential. Getting used to it just takes some time.

CHANGE IN HEART ATTITUDE

I found that changing my perspective requires not leaning on my own understanding or past experience, but resting only on Jesus the Provider. Proverbs 3:5-6 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” This will require us coming out of the familiar places of our mind and, through faith, leaning into previously unknown ways of thinking. As Second Corinthians 5:7 says, “For we walk by faith, not by sight.”

I have seen that this is not a place I could step into unprepared. There had to be a preparation of my heart in order to be able to live in this place of supernatural provision. One thing that really helped me was when I came to realize that each tiny step of faith matters. The Lord has spoken to me many times that “There truly is no idle thing in the life of the believer.” Each step in this journey of life is taking you someplace; therefore each step of faith counts for much in the Kingdom of Heaven. Each choice we make is either moving us closer to walking in deeper realms of faith or moving us farther away from this reality.

We are choosing each day with each decision we make. Walking in the supernatural realms of faith will require coming out of the everyday life lifestyle we are currently living in and stepping into another way of life. For those who may be already living this lifestyle, there is always a calling upward, a new realm or level of faith to move into. It will continue to be this way during our entire life on earth. I feel this is the Lord’s design and desire for those who know Him.

This is a lifestyle not controlled by our circumstances or the whims of others, but controlled only by the Holy Spirit’s leading and moving. Petitioning, supplication, warfare, and other forms of prayer are also vehicles we can use in order to see needs met. Of course divine provision includes every need that concerns us, not just material needs. Needs of salvation, restoration of relationships, healing, encouragement, our life mate, as well as all other matters of provision can be found in gaining access to the many vehicles of Jesus.

Some vehicles may be manifested in one person helping another on earth, some may be manifested through known processes on earth such as working in the marketplace, and still others are manifested supernaturally—but in all these many ways the clarity as to which one is to meet our needs is brought forth in prayer as Jesus is the owner of the lot and can best choose the right vehicle.

HEART AND MIND PREPARATION

Learning to live in this realm is not easily walked into as everything around us will beckon and attempt to woo us back into the false existence of what is tangible and appeals to our earthly senses. We learn to live in the supernatural by putting it in to practice on a daily basis. I found this true in my own life. It is something that became more natural to me as I continued to practice it.

I really feel this is one of the main reasons Jesus called me to not only begin to walk this out in my own life but to write about it. He wants all His people to know how to live this way and for it become the normal way to live while there is still “light” on the earth. When all the lights are out and everything is dark, is not the time to learn your way around a place that should be familiar to you. There is a preparation of the heart and mind that really must take place in order for us to walk this out in a real, purposeful way.

Then Jesus said to them, “A little while longer the light is with you. Walk while you have the light, lest darkness overtake you; he who walks in darkness does not know where he is going” (John 12:35).

Those who love and put our trust in Christ have an unlimited supply at our disposal! Jesus is Lord of all; and as one of His, we have access to more than we can imagine or think. We only need to believe, trust, and ask! Those who know and love Him recognize that we serve a God of abundant supply.

Philippians 4:19 says, “And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” His arm is not short. He delights to bless and provide for those who are His.

I encourage you to begin today. Go to Jesus and ask Him how you can begin to take steps toward moving into the supernatural lifestyle of faith that fits your life right now. You will find that as you begin to take steps in this direction, He will give you more and more to step out in, which will lead you to the place of more than you imagine or think in every area of your life.

CHAPTER 8

WATCHED BY THE

COURTS OF HEAVEN

We are being watched! (Hebrews 12:1-2)

IN THIS LAST CHAPTER I WANT TO BRING TO OUR remembrance the fact that we are continually being watched and observed by many more than we can imagine. Scripture tells us in Hebrews 11 that Jesus, as well as many others, are looking down from Heaven on all we do in this life. I believe that all those who have made church history, our friends as well as all our family members who have gone before us, in addition to all the heavenly host, are continually watching and taking notes as to how much we trust Jesus as we journey forward on this earth. Our lives reflect much more than we realize, both to those we walk among on earth as well as the countless ones who watch in the heavens.

Just as Moses, Joseph, Jacob, and Abraham walked out their stories while they lived on earth, so each one of us must walk out our story of faith. With each decision, each choice, and each act we are making a statement and exposing our heart decision as to what we believe and how much we trust the One who is most trustworthy. This story we are currently living out on earth is not a onetime essay but is instead a continual life report based on the journey that we choose to walk out all the days of our lives in this earthly realm.

AUTHORS OF OUR OWN STORY

I believe that our lives are a series of choices and each choice is actually taking us someplace. When I start out on a journey in the natural realm, it is vitally important that I know the right roads, make the correct turns at the right locations, and follow all directions to arrive at my destination with the least amount of delays.

This holds true in the spirit realm as well. My destination is Heaven, and Jesus has paid for my road map with His own blood. He has provided me with all the directions I will need in His Word. He has also provided me with Holy Spirit as a divine compass so as to stay on the right course. Even with all these divine tools I must still make the correct choices to stay on the course, follow the directions, and pay attention to the compass in order to get to the destination with the least amount of delays. I believe the Scriptures show us that if I am not allowing Holy Spirit to make constant adjustments as I walk this journey of faith, I will find myself on a completely different road, leading to a destination of total destruction.

Now the Spirit expressly says that in latter times some will depart from the faith, giving heed to deceiving spirits and doctrines of demons, speaking lies in hypocrisy, having their own conscience seared with a hot iron (1 Timothy 4:1-2).

Supernatural faith choices are not only taking us someplace, they are also shaping our life story that is being written in the pages of eternity.

And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books (Revelation 20:12).

Indeed, we are the writers of our own story and it is being written out as we live each day of our lives on earth. Like all other areas of our lives, our faith choices reflect whether we truly believe the truths of Scripture or not. We give testimony as to how much we trust and value Jesus in the way we live life day to day. Our lives reflect how much influence the lives of those who have gone before us mean to us by how we live our lives on earth now. Our responses to life’s challenges as well as our obedience to the instructions of Christ are key areas that communicate in what we really believe and trust. We are saying with each decision we make how much we trust the leadership and guidance of Jesus or how much we trust in our own solutions and understanding.

CHALLENGES ARE INVITATIONS

As mentioned in earlier chapters, each difficult circumstance or life challenge is really an invitation—an invitation to come into deeper partnership with the great Lover of our Souls. I think it would be wise for each one reading this book to ask yourself this question as we go forward and deeper into these last days before Jesus comes to earth again, “What will I do with those daily invitations to walk in deeper realms of faith that my Lord Jesus extends to me?”

My hope and prayer is that the details of my own journey into the supernatural lifestyle of faith will somehow allow you to see life’s challenges as far more than negative interruptions to your daily routine—they are faith-building opportunities.

I have determined that I want my life to reflect the full truth of Jesus by continuing to live out my days in the supernatural lifestyle. Just as with other aspects of our lives discussed in this book, it requires supernatural faith to live a lifestyle of supernatural faith. I believe that as I give my life to obedience to Him that it affects even the lives of those presently outside of Christ. I feel our choices help them move either closer to or farther from trusting Christ in their own lives. I believe the people of the world are starving to see something that is higher and greater outside of themselves and want something they can give themselves to that will make a positive impact.

REAL-LIFE EVANGELISM

Something I like to do when I am having a meal in a restaurant with friends is to ask Jesus for a word of encouragement for the person waiting on our table. This is even more fun when I get my friends to join in to bless and encourage the person serving us also.

This happened recently when I was at a Mexican restaurant with some dear friends. The server was doing a great job; the young man was very friendly, but I could feel that he was searching for truth in his spirit. So I began to ask the Lord for instructions as to how to encourage and minister to him. I shared with my friends what I was feeling and asked them to begin to pray for something from Jesus that would encourage our server.

The server was busy with several other tables in addition to ours, which gave us time to hear from the Lord concerning him. When he came to give us the bill for our meals, we were able to share with him the things Jesus had shown us. Some of us had received specific words for him when we had prayed for him. The results were so awesome! He was so blessed and asked many questions about our beliefs. He said he had never been encouraged like that and told us he was so glad we had sat at his table that day. I knew it was a divine appointment set up by Jesus. The Lord wanted him to hear what He told us and had chosen my friends and me to both plant spiritual seeds and provide divine refreshing into the life of a hungry soul.

The choice to take time from our lunch meeting in order to minister to this young man was ours. We could have decided to continue our meeting and fellowship, which would have been fine, but we chose to look past what was taking place in the natural to see a soul in need of truth. Then we partnered with Jesus to bring ministry and encouragement to someone who was searching and ready to receive divine refreshment.

I have heard it said and believe that inside each person there is a place that can only be touched by God. A “God spot,” I call it. I think that if this part of us is not filled with the presence of Christ, then men and women will seek to fill it with other things, because this space demands to be filled. Without filling it, they feel empty. We see this all around us with the negative choices many make in their lifestyles. They are looking to fill the void in their lives, but with so many voices and choices in the world seeking to invade this place that only Jesus should have, how will those who don’t know Christ come to find Him?

I am so very thankful for the many evangelistic outreaches we have in the Body of Christ in this day and hour. The Lord knows each one is very much needed. I feel we all have parts to play in seeing souls come to Christ; and one of the most effective ways that each one of us can evangelize in our everyday life is to determine to walk with Jesus in the supernatural faith realms that He will guide us through if we will allow Him.

As we consider that each person on the face of the earth is not only living out their own story but that story is being recorded in the history books of Heaven, again, I ask you to consider, How will your story read? Will it be a life lived in supernatural faith? When we read Hebrews 11, we see the heroes of faith were counted righteous due to their decisions to see and live above what their natural circumstances were telling them. They lived lives of faith and now look to see who among those on earth will do the same.

RUNNING THE RACE

As believers of the One who holds the world in His hands, we are called to live in this place also. As writers of our story, we must determine to live our lives free from the things that hinder and desire to ensnare us. Things such as doubt, unbelief, and fears of every sort are those things that keep us from running the race like the victors we are called to be.

Sin that would entangle us like a web and keep us from moving forward has no control over the person who brings each sin to the foot of the Cross in repentance. Choosing to live a life that is open to the correction of Holy Spirit keeps us from becoming entrapped in sin that keeps us from moving forward.

Hebrews 12 shows us that there are parallels to the race of faith and a race that is run in the natural. Like any race, the race of faith is run by those who are prepared and willing to overcome the obstacles that will prevent the runner from completing the race. The runner of faith is not looking for an “easy victory” but realizes that any worthy race requires runners who are prepared to be overcomers in every aspect of their lives, in order to run the race well and finish as winners. As runners will probably tell you, they are running to get the prize. I am not a runner in the natural realm, but it would stand to reason that anyone who takes the time to take part in a race is in the race to win the prize.

The prize of the runner of faith is Jesus. He is the goal. He stands with the other witnesses, waiting at the finish line coaxing, encouraging, and supporting us as we run:

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith… (Hebrews 12:1-2).

In the race of faith, the victor of the race is not who runs the fastest but who runs the race well. The victor will be the one who runs with a clear focus and vision to finish. This runner is the one who chooses to make the necessary adjustments required to win the race while setting aside any and all obstacles that would keep him or her from finishing well.

The realms of seeing Jesus move in our lives in unprecedented ways await each of us that will release all of who we are to all He is and choose to trust and believe Him in new ways. As we follow His road of provision in all of life’s many needs, we will find realms that will more than equip us for the challenges that will come as we move closer into the dark days that lead to the end of the age before Christ comes to earth again.

May you walk out your journey of faith with the One who holds the keys of each realm of the spirit as He guides and leads each heart in divine destiny and purpose!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

AND MINISTRY

Venetia Carpenter is available for speaking and ministry engagements.

Contact Information:

Website:

www.ecclesiainternationalministries.org.

Email:

ecclesiaministries@sbcglobal.net

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CHAPTER 1

Lower Law vs. Higher Law

“Luke, my son, God has two laws: a lower law and a higher law which govern how provision comes to us. Most people choose the lower law by default simply because they don’t know they have a choice, nor have they been able to observe a successful model of the higher law. If they’ve not seen a successful model, then they don’t know what to reach for.”

“Dad, do you have to call it a lower law and a higher law?” My son was feeling uncomfortable with the implied polarization that is created when you choose between the two laws.

“But Luke, in all of life we are faced with choices for the lesser or choices for the better. Scripture says, ‘Choose this day…’ (see Josh. 24:15), and whether we like it or not, when we choose, we automatically thrust ourselves into the terms, reputation, and outcome of that choice.”

My son Luke has a sharp mind and loves to know what he knows. If he’s going to believe something, he wants to have a strong foundation to support it and a solid conviction to motivate him. He has a healthy balance of openness to something new without being gullible. And that is just one of many great qualities I love and respect about Luke.

In fact, all of life is dominated by these lower and higher influences. Let’s just take a look at something so common that we hardly even consider it, gravity. We experience the pulling down of gravity upon us each and every day of our lives. Gravity never wearies or goes on vacation. We are slaves to its tyranny. Its rule is so pervasive and so long-standing that we rarely even question its supreme dominance over us. But as demanding as it is, there are other laws that can at least temporarily help us escape gravity. Just one of those laws has to do with aerodynamics. If we have the right kind of airfoil to create lift and enough thrust to create airspeed over that airfoil, we can overcome gravity’s force. Aerodynamics has revolutionized our world with global air travel. The world has gotten much smaller in the last 100 plus years, all because a new and higher law was discovered. In this simple, yet common example, we see that there are lower laws and there are higher laws, and the higher laws trump the lower laws.

Let’s further consider these lower and higher laws. Some people are afraid to fly, mostly because they’ve never flown and they’re afraid of the unknown, the “what ifs.” They think that air travel is more dangerous than what they’re used to, when in reality, flying is much safer than traveling in an automobile on the ground. Statistics prove that fatality rates are much greater while driving a car than flying in a plane. In this case, the higher way seems more risky, when in fact it is safer than the lower way of auto travel.

By and large, we humans have given up on any thought of overcoming gravity for long periods of time unless we are somehow able to escape into outer space. Have you ever daydreamed of a time when earth’s never-tiring gravity has to yield its hold, such as when someone invents a Back-to-the-Future anti-gravity personal hover-board? Can you visualize a person moving along effortlessly in thin air? You say, “That’s science fiction.” It may be science fiction now, but it’s quite possible that it will become a reality in the future. Countless areas of our lives have been revolutionized by the discovery of a previously unknown higher law which replaced a lower law.

Let’s look at a few of those areas. What about communications in many forms: telephone, computer, and Internet? In 1844, Mr. Samuel Morse exclaimed via the very first telegraph transmission, “What hath God wrought!” Never before had it been possible to send a communication through a wire. The higher laws of electricity had just empowered humankind to make a quantum leap beyond all historical forms of communication. Then around 1895, Mr. Marconi further upgraded communications when he invented wireless transmission via radio frequencies. These new laws have become our new norm. And those new laws continue to become outdated frequently. Consider the more recent inventions of fiber optics which conduct mind-boggling terabytes of information per second and pulsed laser light beamed millions of miles to a spacecraft careening through our solar system. Each new invention radically supersedes the previous norm with a more powerful law.

Consider the computer sciences. Since the 1980s we’ve experienced the explosive growth of the Internet and the personal computer, which has caused knowledge to expand exponentially for even the average user. All of this advancement was brought on by the discovery of higher laws of digital and integrated circuitry technology. Now thousands of space-hogging analog components have been transformed and miniaturized onto a micro-chip smaller than a fingernail. The mortality rate of society’s prized lower laws is increasing daily because knowledge is abounding. This must be the age referred to in Daniel 12:4, “…until the time of the end; many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall increase.”

Let’s get a little perspective on this for a moment. From all outward appearances, it looks as though we’re bettering ourselves as a society. We’re racing forward at light speed on every technological front, and we award ourselves and our research sciences for their great breakthroughs. But what is God’s perspective?

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts (Isaiah 55:9).

Even the very best of our stunning accomplishments, when compared to God’s thoughts and ways, are like the distance between earth and sky. In fact, as great a difference as there is between the natural heavens and the earth is the difference between our thoughts and His. His higher laws, higher wisdom, and higher ways are that much greater than ours.

Let’s explore some spiritual higher law possibilities now. I find it stimulating to ponder the meaning of verses like Isaiah 60:8, “Who are these who fly like a cloud….” What does that mean? Is this verse speaking of air travel that has just been invented in the last 100 plus years? Or is it speaking of something yet to be discovered? Could it offer a prophetic portent of something beyond our earthbound imagination? Or do we just relegate the meaning of this verse to some ethereal fuzzy meaning?

OK, I’ll admit that I’ve always been intrigued by science fiction. Even as a schoolboy, I found that science fiction helped to satisfy my mind’s quest to be exhilarated with possibilities of things beyond the normal. Normal was so boring, and I didn’t like being bored, so I escaped to another world. Now as a more mature man, I ponder the possibilities of heavenly realms and how to apprehend them in this present world. For instance, here’s a statement by Jesus that intrigues me to the core of my being:

If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? (John 3:12)

I can’t tell you how much this whets my appetite to know more about these heavenly laws for which we have no earthly parallel. Can you just let your mind go there for a moment—heavenly realities and norms that humankind has never seen? What would that be like?

You may say, “Mark, slow down; I’m not sure that I’m on the same page with you yet. What do you mean ‘heavenly things’ and ‘earthly parallels’?”

Well, here are a few biblical examples of non-earthly things: people walking on water (see Matt. 14:29), ax-heads floating (see 2 Kings 6:1-6), Enoch and Elijah escaping death (see 2 Kings 2:1-11; Heb. 11:5), Moses’ shining face (see Exod. 34:33-35), water out of a rock (see Exod. 17:5), and water becoming wine (see John 2:1-11), just to list a few. So the next question is, where were the earthly parallels for these things when they occurred? Was there a previously recorded precedent in Holy Writ? I’m sorry. I don’t think we can find such a precedent. And where are the earthly laws of physics to support the manifestation of these heavenly things? Of course, there are none. So, there are evidences of unearthly and “super” natural possibilities. How’s that for just getting started?

In each of these occasions, spiritual hunger and obedience coupled with the sovereign invasion of Heaven’s superior laws empowered people to trump natural laws with the greater influence of supernatural laws.

I believe Heaven is brimming—and even bursting—with desire to unveil these supernatural realities. This is an exciting discourse for me! Any takers? Would you like to go further? Heavenly realities await those who seek for and make a courageous attempt to escape the grip of prevailing world mindsets. In fact, God is delighted to watch His “kings and queens” contend for the secrets hidden in His heart.

It is the glory of God to conceal a matter, but the glory of kings is to search out a matter (Proverbs 25:2).

As we finished our talk, Luke’s response was, “I think I can see it Dad; I believe you have a point.” And since then, he has experienced several overt displays of God’s sovereign intervention of provision in his life. In fact, I truly rejoice with all of our children each time they share about another unmerited gift of favor from Jehovah Jireh. When you and I receive a solid foundation of truth, teaching, and example, it gives each of us a platform upon which to build. And when satisfying successes occur, it creates an eagerness to walk out even further on the water of revelation and supernatural possibility.

Personal Testimony—God Is the Best Banker (Dividends at just the right time)

Years ago, after a geographic move, I no longer needed my work truck. I sold it and saved the money to pay for a new concrete driveway, patio, and sidewalks at our residence. It was late in the year, and by the time I got all the forms in place and ready to pour concrete, a snow and ice storm accompanied with a deep cold spell stopped my home improvement project dead in its tracks. With winter in full swing, it seemed we would have to wait four or five months to pour the concrete in the spring. My wife Debbie and I have always been strong believers that God pays much better dividends than any bank does. Since that project money wouldn’t be needed for several months, we felt impressed to give it away to some needy people.

Normally at that time of year, the ground freezes and won’t thaw until March. But in the middle of January, several weeks of unseasonably warm weather melted the frost out of the ground. A few of those days had temperatures around 70 degrees. During that time, some friends were visiting us, and when they saw the installed, but unused concrete forms they asked, “When are you going to finish the project?” I explained that we hadn’t anticipated the unseasonal weather and that we didn’t have the money to do it right now. He asked how much it would take to finish. I told him, after which he looked at his wife and said, “Where is our check-book? Let’s write them a check for the full amount.” And within a few days the concrete was poured.

You see, when we put our investments in the Kingdom Bank, God saved those investments and gave them back exactly when they were needed. He proved that He is the best banker ever!

LET’S PRAY:

God, obviously You are much bigger than I can comprehend. Even so, all my life I’ve lived pretty much within my comfort zones. I guess I’ve needed them to make myself feel secure, but ultimately I end up feeling small and unfulfilled. Earthly things just seem to lose their appeal and reward after a while. I really want to know who You are, and I’m intrigued about those heavenly things Jesus referred to. Is it possible for me to get weaned from this world’s way of thinking and begin to think Your thoughts? I want to try. I’m giving You permission to walk through my mind and even go deeper into my heart with “words of life.” I promise I’ll listen and give You a chance to change me. Maybe I could just ask one thing: Would You be gentle with me as I let You change me? Thank You. Amen.

STUDY QUESTIONS:

1. Can I identify other lower laws in history that were trumped by a higher law?

2. Cite two incidents in Scripture where heavenly laws trumped earthly laws. (I’ll start with a fun one: You know donkeys can’t talk! But Balaam’s donkey did.)

3. Why do these higher law incidents happen? Is it due to the faith of a person or the sovereignty of God? Or is it the result of people and God laboring together?

4. How would I respond to an invitation or command from God if there were no precedents for what I was being asked to do?

5. What does my answer to Question #4 reveal about my understanding of the nature of God?

Chapter 1

BORN OF GOD

Fifteen years have now passed since the encounter that changed my life, but I remember it vividly. I was born and raised in a small town in Northwest Arkansas. My family was loving and godly, and we attended church every Sunday. In my mind, however, there was no difference between attending church on Sunday and attending football practice on Monday; it was just what you were supposed to do on that particular day.

I did not have a personal and real salvation experience in those early days. Therefore, when I was presented with opportunities to indulge in drugs, alcohol, and relationships at the age of 13, I said yes. (I knew I was supposed to “Just Say No,” but a red ribbon that I pinned to my shirt once a year did not motivate me to actually say no.) I partied through high school, and the partying increased in college. Toward the end of my freshmen year at college, my mother came to visit me. It broke her heart to see the effects of my lifestyle: I had lost quite a bit of weight, my eyes were sunken, and my zest for life was quickly disappearing. She begged me to come home for the summer in the hopes that she could get some weight back on me and distance me from the party scene.

That summer, while at home, I received my first DWI (driving while intoxicated) ticket. I couldn’t afford to go back to my university so I decided to remain at home and attend the local community college. The one bright spot in all of this was that one of my best friends, Zach, had a really great local drug hookup. We decided to get an apartment and take the partying to the next level. At this time, we began doing drugs that would keep us up for five days straight.

This continued until November 1996. That month we came off of a drug binge—and Zach had changed. After that binge, he behaved differently, as though part of him was lost. For the next four months, Zach hardly spoke to anyone and seemed to stare at people as though he was seeing things that others could not. This odd behavior continued up until February 1, 1997. After partying at the University of Arkansas, a friend and I decided to pick up Zach and hang out. When I pulled up in front of the house and got out of the car, I heard someone screaming. Suddenly, Zach burst through the front door, running full speed at me and screaming, “Corey, it’s Heaven or hell! Make a decision!” He screamed this over and over until we were face-to-face. I tried to talk to him, but he only repeated that phrase. Finally I grabbed my other friend and left.

Later we learned what had happened. Zach came from a very intense home, and his mother was what I would call an “old time” intercessor; she always seemed to be awake, no matter the time of day or night, wrapped in a blanket, praying in tongues, and anointing everyone and everything with oil. The last week of January she attended a conference and responded to an altar call for parents: Come and get your children! She rushed forward to cry out for breakthrough, and the Lord promised her that within the week her son would be saved. On that February day, Zach had just completed three days of deliverance with his mother. During those three days, she prayed over him, read the Bible over him, and took authority over any spirits that manifested. After those three days, Zach was freed from addiction and reconnected with the faith of his youth.

As the news of Zach’s salvation spread, I became more and more angry. I had put up with months of his odd and disturbing behavior; now I felt betrayed because he had chosen to be “born again.” In my opinion, Christians were the most boring people on the face of the Earth, and from what I had witnessed, most of them seemed to enjoy their Tuesday night sitcoms more than they enjoyed the presence of the Lord on Sundays. I couldn’t believe that Zach was a Christian! It was a very dark time for me.

Two weeks later, Zach showed up at my community college and took me out to lunch. Over the meal, he explained what had happened to him during the four months following our November drug binge. The spirit realm had been opened to him and he had seen demons controlling people. He was tormented as he witnessed these dark spirits influencing those around him, including me. The experience culminated at a late-night house party. In the midst of the party, he heard the voice of the Lord say, “Satan is raising up an army, but I am raising up an army too, and I am calling you out tonight.” After sharing this, he began to press me, saying, “Corey, you need to make a decision now, or you will go to hell.”

I told him to shut up and take me back to school. (I had just received my second DWI ticket and my license was suspended.) We drove the five minutes back to the community college in complete silence; my heart was incredibly hard, and I wanted nothing to do with Christianity. As we pulled into the parking lot, I suddenly felt a presence enter the van. I did not know it at the time, but it was the Holy Spirit. I began to shake violently, as though I were having a seizure. Demons were manifesting, and for the first time, I saw the battle between light and darkness raging in my soul.

Zach began to pray, and then he shouted, “In the name of Jesus, I bind the antichrist spirit!” Immediately, I felt as though a rope had closed around my neck, and I began to choke. I couldn’t breathe, but I knew that I had to say the name of Jesus. In that moment, all my petty arguments against Christianity vanished. Each time I tried to say, “Jesus,” the choke hold tightened, but finally, after wrestling for a while, I took a deep breath and screamed at the top of my lungs, “Jesus!” Immediately, the choking sensation vanished. Zach leapt out of the van and began to dance around and yell. I just kept repeating, “I’ve got air; I’ve got air.” It literally felt as though new breath had entered me. After a few minutes, I heard a voice within me telling me to get out of the van and kneel on the ground. Then I heard, clearly and powerfully, “Give Me your life.” I immediately jumped out of the van and knelt on that college parking lot. As students passed on their way to and from class, I began to violently scream, “Jesus, I give You my life! I’m Yours!”

In that moment—on Tuesday, February 18, 1997—the power of my years of addiction to alcohol, drugs, and perversion was broken, and I knew that I had crossed over from death to life. Zach and I drove home, and I walked through the front door, fell into my mother’s lap, and cried as I repeated again and again, “Mom, I got saved today.” I sat on our front porch swing later that day, looking at the grass and the trees and feeling overwhelmed by how green they were. It was as though I had never seen nature before—as though I had been blind for 20 years and was now seeing for the first time.

When I cried out to Jesus, something greater than a simple change of heart occurred; I knew that I had been transformed. Although the change was not external or physical, I felt an explosion of life and power deep within the core of my being—and 15 years later I still feel the reverberations of that initial transformation. Immediately, years of addiction and bondage were broken; the reality of the existence of God and eternity began to fill my thoughts and inform my decisions. This had never been the case before, but now God was intensely real to me.

Paul states that “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new” (2 Cor. 5:17). The apostle did not use these words lightly; he understood that when we are saved, a powerful act of creation occurs within us. Just as Adam was entirely new when the breath of God entered him and he opened his eyes for the first time, so we are entirely new when we enter into Christ. The same God who created light through the power of His voice has created life within us:

For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 4:6).

We must rediscover this newness of life in our generation; we must know in an intensely real way that we who are born again have undergone a glorious transformation and that God literally lives within us. Only then will we be able to live effectively and victoriously.

JOHN 3

What exactly happened to me that February day as I knelt in the college parking lot? How could I be completely blind to the reality of God at one moment and then find myself on my knees crying out at the top of my lungs to Jesus in the next? I’m convinced that the answer to these questions will birth a great revival in the Church worldwide. According to the language of the Bible, I was “born again” in that parking lot—but what does that even mean? I certainly didn’t know what it meant at the time; all I knew was that after that day, everything changed. While I used to feel dead in the midst of day-to-day life, suddenly I felt truly alive. I experienced a radical internal revolution, and it changed my entire nature from within.

This subject of being “born again” confronted Nicodemus when he sought to convince Jesus to align with the religious leadership in Jerusalem. Jesus cut right to the point, saying in essence: “You and the Pharisees think you know who I am, but you must undergo a radical rebirth to understand and agree with who I truly am.” “Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God’” (John 3:3).

As a Pharisee, the entirety of Nicodemus’ life was focused around the Kingdom of God, yet Jesus told this brilliant Jewish scholar that he would blindly miss the point of his existence if he was not radically recreated and reborn. Famously, the phrase born again caught Nicodemus off guard and confused him. “Nicodemus said to Him, ‘How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb and be born?’” (John 3:4). Nicodemus wrestled with the implications of Jesus’ statement in the natural realm. In His response, however, Jesus made it clear that He was not primarily referring to the natural realm.

Jesus answered, “Most assuredly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit” (John 3:5-6).

Jesus used the natural to establish the supernatural; He took the familiar and used it to create a bridge to the unfamiliar. It was and is the kindness of God to use analogies and parables to usher us into the deeper things of the Spirit. Then Jesus offered Nicodemus a new analogy:

Do not marvel that I said to you, “You must be born again.” The wind blows where it wishes, and you hear the sound of it, but cannot tell where it comes from and where it goes. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit (John 3:7-8).

Just as we can feel and discern the presence of the wind without knowing where it comes from, so it is with those born of the Spirit: They feel and discern the reality of their new birth and the presence of the Spirit, but they are unable to explain it or to show where it came from. The things of the Spirit can only be known through the revelation of the Holy Spirit (see 1 Cor. 2:13-16).

This is why Jesus exclaimed that Nicodemus would never understand heavenly realities. Jesus ended the discussion with just such a reality:

If I have told you earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things? No one has ascended to heaven but He who came down from heaven, that is, the Son of Man who is in heaven (John 3:12-13).

What a statement: as He stood before Nicodemus, Jesus boldly declared that He was in Heaven, by the Spirit, at that moment. Nicodemus must have thought, You are not in Heaven; You are clearly here in front of me, to which Jesus might have replied, with a smile, “That is what you think.”

This book is about the glorious reality of God dwelling in human vessels. From this revelation, we are called to actively access the life that has been given to us. We have all been guilty of treating phrases such as born again, new creation, and saved with over-familiarity. Many of us have relegated these realities to an altar call that we went forward for years ago: “Praise God, now I am going to Heaven.” Because we do not understand what happened at that altar call, we have forfeited the glorious inheritance that is now available to us by the indwelling Holy Spirit. We may know all of the Christian buzzwords and phrases, but we are trapped in cycles of depression, fear, addiction, and shame, and we cannot seem to save our marriages or our families. We confess that we have all things in Christ Jesus, yet this truth seems so far from our everyday lives. Do we really understand that the power to bring breakthrough in our hearts and transformation in our lives dwells inside of us?

BORN OF GOD

In many of his New Testament writings, the apostle John expounds on this glorious reality of being “born of God.” He wrote his Gospel and epistles as an old man nearing the end of his life, and with fatherly care he continually reminded his young followers what it meant to be “born of God.” He didn’t see this subject as something that a person moves on from; he understood it as the foundation to everything in the Christian life.

John opens his Gospel with a reference to this new birth.

Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God (John 1:12-13 NIV).

Take a moment and consider the phrase born of God. Please put the book down and meditate on those words. We have all experienced birth in our natural families. Each of us possesses the genes and traits of our parents. Of course, when a child is first born, we do not see the full resemblance; the fullness of the genetic inheritance on the inside is not yet displayed. But as time passes and the child grows, he or she begins to bear a greater resemblance to the parents. In some instances, the child looks like the father—having his eyes, his ears, his nose, his hair color, his body type, or even his personality. This is because the father’s genes are alive within the child.

In the same way that a child is birthed into a natural family and contains the DNA and characteristics of the parents, so we who are born of God have been birthed into the spiritual reality of the Kingdom and contain the DNA of God. The fullness of this reality does not manifest right away, but as we engage the life of God within us, it grows until eventually we begin to look like Him and walk like Him. First John 3:9 declares that the very seed of God remains in us. This seed is powerful because it contains the fullness of God.[1] The day that we said yes to Jesus, God placed His seed within us and birthed into our spirits His very own Spirit. I love to quietly repeat this phrase to myself: “I am born of God.” I have the DNA of God within me; His very life, His very mind, His heart, His longings, and His dreams live within me and invite me to partake of them.

“Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God” (1 John 3:9). This verse can be confusing at first glance. John is not claiming that those who are born again walk in sinless perfection. Earlier in the first chapter, he stated that if we say we have no sin, then we make God a liar. Here in chapter 3, John is saying that anyone who is born of God will be an unsuccessful sinner. The person who has truly been born of God is not comfortable with habitual sin that continues for any length of time. Such people cannot sin without the Holy Spirit convicting them, challenging them, and creating remorse within them. They cannot get away from the need for repentance!

I remember an incident that occurred about two months after I was saved. I crossed some boundaries with a woman I was seeing at the time—something I had done before without remorse. Now, however, the spirit of conviction rested heavily on me. What I had once done without the slightest twinge of conscience now had me weeping. I began to understand that my life truly was no longer my own and that Someone now lived inside of me who did not like what I was doing! John does not claim that believers won’t sin, but he does state that we will never be happy or successful sinners.

“You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world” (1 John 4:4). “For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith” (1 John 5:4). Here is another characteristic of those who have experienced the new birth: Whoever is born of God overcomes the world. There is something alive within every believer that has the ability to stand firm despite the resistance of the world, the flesh, and the devil. Just as Jesus overcame in His life, so we now overcome through His life in us. Overcoming is not floating over every hardship and trial.

Instead, overcoming is possessing life inside of us that enables us to persevere despite external circumstances. It is the ability, the perseverance, the grace, and the endurance to stay steady through every trial (see Heb. 11). The world, the spirit of this age, and spirits of darkness constantly oppress unbelievers, but we have something within us that resists oppression and allows us to walk in victory. God has also given us the power to move into the offensive (versus the defensive) in the face of oppression and negative circumstances. We can actually take ground in the spirit and thereby overcome external circumstances, too.

CHRIST IN YOU

Jesus told His disciples that He would not leave them alone, but that they would see Him and that He would dwell in them, giving them the power to overcome. This is the great mystery of the Christian life that Paul reveals in his letter to the Colossian church: “Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Col. 1:27b). Paul boldly declares that the mystery seen by the prophets of old, the mystery hidden in God from before the foundation of the world, was that Gentiles would become the dwelling place of Christ Himself. For those of us who have surrendered our lives to Jesus, He is in us right now, and we are not alone. “Christ in you”—His life, His presence, His resources, His power, His wisdom, and His love reside within us right now. When we receive by faith His life within us, we are empowered to walk as He walks, think as He thinks, and live as He lives.

First Corinthians says that “he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit with Him” (1 Cor. 6:17). I like to picture a giant umbilical cord connecting me to Jesus as He sits at the right hand of God. What do umbilical cords do? They release nutrients and food to the child. They are the life source. No matter where we go or what we do, we are connected with Christ by a giant, invisible umbilical cord. All of the life and resources of Jesus are available to us. It is critical that we understand that we are joined to Christ. We are not next to Him; we are one with Him. And He is in us. Right now we have the ability to feel what Jesus is feeling, see what He is seeing, know what He is thinking, and pray what He is praying. I pray this often: “Jesus, give me Your prayers. What are You feeling and thinking and praying?”

The indwelling life of the Holy Spirit was the subject matter that consumed Jesus when He was preparing to head to the cross. His last discourse recorded in the Gospel of John was on the person and work of the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not want to leave His disciples without grounding them in an understanding of the Holy Spirit! In John 13–16, Jesus told the disciples, “You are not alone.” He was strengthening these young men, and comforting their hearts over His departure in the face of a religious system and a Roman government that wanted to kill them. They had been led and sheltered by Him for three and a half years, and now they were about to experience intense persecution on their own. Instead of placing weapons in their hands, He introduced them to a Person.

This Person is Himself, yet distinct as the third person of the Trinity, the Holy Spirit. Jesus spent so much time that evening introducing them to the Holy Spirit, to His ministry and how they would relate to Him. One of the main functions of Jesus’ coming was the sending of the Holy Spirit. John the Baptist’s greatest revelation of Jesus was that Jesus was Jesus the Baptist, the One who would baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire.

Jesus strengthened their hearts as His departure neared by sharing that, though He had been with them in the flesh, now He would be with them in the Spirit. They would no longer be limited in their interactions with Him by time and distance, because He was going to live inside of them. Although the world would not be able to receive Him—for it had not known Him and soon would not see Him—the disciples would know and see Him through fellowship with the Holy Spirit. They would not be orphans, for the Holy Spirit would father them, teach them, and bring to their remembrance everything that Jesus had taught and said. I can imagine Jesus looking at Peter and Thomas and saying, “Guys, in the coming years, when you are in prison and are being persecuted for your faith, know that you are not alone. I am in you, and My very life and presence will comfort and strengthen you. You can speak with Me, commune with Me, and fellowship with Me anytime and anywhere.”

This is why Jesus told the disciples that it was actually to their advantage that He leave and send the Holy Spirit. We need to understand that it is better for us now than if we had been disciples when Jesus walked the Earth. Jesus in the flesh was confined in His interactions by space and time. Yet through the Holy Spirit, God can dwell in and commune with every believer, and we each as individuals have unlimited access to His life. This reality has been the desire of God from the beginning. We were made to commune with God, spirit-to-Spirit.

However, we will not experience this reality unless we become well acquainted with the Holy Spirit and engage Him in an intimate way. Is the Holy Spirit our best friend? Do we talk to Him, confide in Him, listen to Him, and hang out with Him? If we want more of God, if we want to experience the fullness of salvation, then we must develop deep fellowship with the Holy Spirit.

ENDNOTE

1.

Although God places His fullness within us, most believers access very little of it. For them, this fullness remains potential rather than actual and experiential.