“But a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and in truth, for the Father is seeking such as these to worship Him. God is Spirit, and His worshipers must worship Him in spirit and in truth.” (John 4:23-24 AKJV)
Jesus told a Samaritan woman that we must worship God in spirit and in truth. As simple as this may sound, many Christians struggle to feel connected to God, even during worship. We should not expect to have the connection confirmed by:
seeing a vision
feeling a sensation
hearing a voice
Worshiping God should not be about what we receive, otherwise, it isn’t true worship. We would be performing a service to obtain an outcome. When we worship God, our focus should be on Him: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. If He chooses to manifest Himself in a particular way, then we receive that with joy, however, we worship regardless of any manifestation.
Freedom from attacks upon our health, emotions, or finances can come off in layers: it is often like peeling an onion. At other times, the process to receive freedom may seem like we are wading upstream. We try to find out what is coming against us, what is hindering us, or what is the cause of an issue, but over and over again, we are constantly coming under attack. It feels like nothing seems to work; if it does, it doesn’t work for long. Instead of walking to freedom, it feels like an uphill slog through a foot of snow.
Through the core classes (101-401) at the free online school, many of God’s children have come to understand that our actions can open doors to the enemy’s attacks. There are far too many ways that the enemy moves into our lives to list them all. If it isn’t linked to sin, Jesus is our healer, provider, and protector for the glory of God. Suffice it to say, if there is a hindrance in our life preventing us from moving closer to God or doing His work, the enemy may be involved. Scripture shows us how to remove the enemy.
Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that you may be healed.( James 5:14-16 AMPC)
But you shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come on you: and you shall be witnesses to me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and to the uttermost part of the Earth. (Acts 1:8 AKJV)
Right before our Lord ascended into Heaven, He promised His disciples that they would receive the Holy Spirit to empower them. Later in Acts, Paul demonstrated that the Holy Spirit is available to every believer who will devote their life to Jesus as the Lord, Owner, and Master.
There are several names that refer to God, in the Old Testament, that apply to the role of the Holy Spirit. Seeing where these names appear will help us to understand the Holy Spirit better.
VIDEO: Elohim, Jehovah, Yahweh, El Shaddai, Yahweh-Sabaoth
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
Reading the Bible is the best way to learn about God. The word “testament” means covenant or agreement. The Old Testament is centered around God's original agreement with the Israelites. Under our New Covenant, we no longer have to receive circumcision or hold ceremonies on certain days, but God is always the same: What He expected from His people in the Old Testament is still what He wants His children to do who come to Him through Jesus. For this reason, the Old Testament is a good place to learn about God.
There are names the Hebrews use in connection with God which describe each of His attributes. When God did something miraculous, His people would associate it with His name. We can apply these names to each of the members of the Trinity. Because God is triune, but all three are one, if we address prayers to any one of the three, God gives us grace and He will receive them. However, it is great to get to know the various aspects of God so we can be more specific.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by Him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. (John 1:1-3 AKJV)
Certain names of God apply directly to the Son of God. Jesus is God, and has been with God from the beginning. Several names of God refer to Jesus.
ADONAI
After these things the word of the LORD came to Abram in a vision, saying, Fear not, Abram: I Am your shield, and your exceeding great reward. And Abram said, LORD God, what will you give me, seeing I go childless, and the steward of my house is this Eliezer of Damascus? (Genesis 15:1-2 AKJV)
When I “pray” to God, rarely do I make a formal petition. Most often when I pray, I simply speak to God in a respectful manner by acknowledging who He is. If there isn’t an actual time of thanksgiving and praise an attitude of gratitude is usually present.
Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18 AKJV)
Prayer is pausing throughout the day and turning our minds toward God to say “thank You.” This is how we fulfill the instructions of the Apostle Paul because we have a wonderful relationship with God through Jesus.
For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” (Romans 8:15 ESV)
The last month had been a challenging one. During prayer, it seemed I had to fight to focus on the Lord. There was so much going on, so many world-changing events happening so soon, it was hard to still my thoughts. Every small open door seemed to bring attack after attack. I’d close one and have a few days of peace, only to have something else hit me.
When my husband suggested going hunting at the cabin, I thought I’d have extra prayer time to reconnect with the Lord while he went deer hunting. The remote location didn’t help to still my thoughts; I still struggled to see the Lord clearly.
A gentle nudge from the Holy Spirit led me to pray in the heavenly language in between singing praises and silent meditation. I did this for two days with no appreciable results. Then, on the third day after I prayed in the heavenly language, I found myself dancing with the Lord in the Secret Place.
Lord, who shall dwell [temporarily] in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell [permanently] on Your holy hill? He who walks and lives uprightly and blamelessly, who works rightness and justice and speaks and thinks the truth in his heart. (Psalm 15:1-2 AMPC)
A tent served as a sanctuary during the Exodus until the Temple was built. The tabernacle was a tent that enclosed the Ark of the Covenant. It was the place where God lived among the people and where people went to meet with the Lord. Later, Zion became known as the holy hill of the Lord.
VIDEO: God's Way Prophecy (Waves Over Barriers in San Francisco)
VIDEO: Fall of Church Leaders - Confirming Sign
VIDEO: Confirmation Removal of Leaders
It was because you, the Levites, did not bring it up the first time that the Lord our God broke out in anger against us. We did not inquire of him about how to do it in the prescribed way. (1 Chronicles 15:13 AMPC)
Israel’s desire was to have the Ark of the Covenant in Jerusalem. However, when they went to retrieve it, they placed it on a cart instead of having the Levites carry it on poles. They didn’t worship Him in the way He had shown them and because of that, one man died as the Lord “broke out” against them.
The Lord told me two things:
“You need to turn your back on churches under the influence of Jezebel”
“The waves south of San Francisco will break over the barriers.”
The Throne of Grace is a wonderful place to be. The attacks of the enemy are lessoned so that we can grow and learn about God. As you begin to grow in the knowledge of the Courts you may begin to wonder:
Are there different levels at the Courts of Heaven?
What do we need to do to operate in the Courts with more authority?
Just like court systems across the world, your actions will carry more weight in the Courts in Heaven as you come into higher positions within the army of God. If you have been called to a specific office in the body of Christ, that will be the first thing that determines how much weight your actions carry. For example:
A doctor's testimony about a medical condition carries more weight.
A prophet is the mouthpiece of God and their words hold more weight than someone who isn’t.
There is great power in the words of anointed people. Think about what the Lord said to Jeremiah:
We know that God has instructed through the Holy Spirit that everything Agape Christian Fellowship provides is to be freely given, because this is His way. One of the hardest teachings we come across as we do the Courts of Heaven (CoH) Academy is the challenge to separate ourselves from a global church system where the ‘normal’ these days is to charge upfront for what belongs to and comes from God.
This includes:
Copyright worship music
Teachings and revelation, including seats in a conference, and classes
Prayer, counseling, and personal ministry
The reason why many find it difficult to accept this teaching is that this is opposite to the way most of the body of Christ has been operating. Charging for things in the church has been introduced and has increased greatly over the last 50 years. For most of us, it’s the only way we’ve seen the church operate. People have been so indoctrinated by a church culture, where you pay upfront for the things of God, that many just accept it as God’s way of doing things.
However, just because the majority do it a certain way doesn’t make it right. The only true measure of what is right is considering how it stands up against the word of God. Truth has never been about following the majority. In fact the Bible says:
Christians are those who are committed to Jesus as their Lord. God’s people are the nation of Israel, those who are Jewish by birth or marriage. God created a covenant, or “testament” with Israel which is the Old Testament. Christians have a New Covenant with God through Jesus. It may be labeled as “old”, but it is still relevant to our relationship with our Heavenly Father because God is always the same. Much of what Israel went through will apply to us.
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. (2 Timothy 3:16-17 ESV)
We receive correction so that we stay on the right path with God. Looking at those who walked with God before Jesus will help us know what our Father expects of us. Traditions outlined in the Old Testament will still have meaning for Christians:
As Christians, we are called to repentance, which means to turn from sin. John the Baptist preached repentance and we are to see sin as something horrible that we need to turn from.
John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness (desert), preaching a baptism [obligating] repentance (a change of one’s mind for the better, heartily amending one’s ways, with abhorrence of his past sins) in order to obtain forgiveness of and release from sins. (Mark 1:4 AMPC)
Bear fruits that are deserving and consistent with [your] repentance [that is, conduct worthy of a heart changed, a heart abhorring sin]... (Luke 3:8 AMPC)
At a recent visit with the Lord in the Secret Place, He looked a bit different as I approached Him. His chin rested on His chest and instead of moving in time to the music, He remained as still as a stone. The mental image in my mind was so odd that I immediately tested the vision by asking, “Do you confess that Jesus the Christ has come in the flesh?”
The reply was the same voice He always uses, “Yes, I do because it is Me. Does something seem wrong to thee?”
I replied, “Yes, it does! You are still as a stone, My Love.”
Jesus didn’t reply, but I was unwilling to leave until I knew what was going on. Instead of attempting to dance with Him as usual, I stepped inside of Him. His image overshadowed mine as I worshiped Him for a while.
“My Love,” I finally said, “I will not leave here until I know what is going on. Why are You so still and stony?”
Good Friday is a time when most Christians acknowledge the crucifixion of Jesus and Easter is when we celebrate His resurrection. In truth, these modern holidays have little to do with the crucifixion and resurrection of our Lord Jesus, except for the fact that Jesus rose on the first day of the Jewish week which was on a Sunday, for that particular year. Our Lord was not crucified on Friday, as most people believe.
Jesus was Jewish and many forget that Israel doesn’t look at months or even days as we do. They have their own lunisolar calendar that is driven by the cycle of the moon and balanced by the seasons of the solar year. For this reason, Jewish feasts, such as Passover, can occur on a variety of Gregorian dates. Some years it may begin on the Sabbath; while others will begin on a different day. Passover began on a Wednesday night the year our Lord died. Walking through the accounts of His capture, crucifixion, and resurrection will prove the day Passover began and when Jesus was crucified.
Creation reveals who our Creator is (Romans 1:20). Scientists have discovered that matter is organized and beautifully choreographed far past the atomic level. When we pass from this life to the next we won’t be set free to wander about, flying through the clouds doing whatever we please. This would be very disorganized and result in chaos. It is not God’s way. He is orderly. In the second verse of the bible, we begin learning about our Creator’s opinion considering organization.
And the Earth was without form and void… (Genesis 1:2 AKJV)
The Hebrew word translated “without form” is tohuw, which means formless, a place of chaos and confusion. The word “void” in Hebrew is bohuw and means an indistinguishable ruin. Jewish mothers often refer to a messy teenager’s room as a “Tohuw ‘ethbohuw,” meaning a disorderly, chaotic ruin. This state of the Earth referred to in Genesis was not acceptable to God who began establishing order from the chaos.
The Holy Spirit has been encouraging me to worship God in a unique way. Worship music fills the room as I crochet. My hands are busy with the simple task while my heart and mind worship the Lord. Last week, when I worshiped this way, I had one of the most unique encounters with Jesus when He strengthened my spiritual body.
However, since that time I had discovered why the enemy was allowed to attack my health lately. I had repented for letting my words come out without love, but the damage had been done to those closest to me.
Meditation means to engage in contemplation or reflection. It is letting go of all the things in this physical world and focusing on something in your mind; your imagination. The Bible tells us that our thoughts are important. Scripture instructs us in what we should be meditating on:
“I will meditate also on all Your work, and talk of Your doings.” (Psalm 77:12 AKJV)
“Meditate on these things; give yourself wholly to them; that your profiting may appear to all.” (1 Timothy 4:14 AKJV)
Paul instructs Timothy to meditate and think on the gifts that had been given to him by the Holy Spirit. When we meditate on the things of God, it honors Him. This allows Him to reveal more about those things to us.
Even though the week wasn’t over, it had been a hard one. Two days before teaching about discernment, the Lord was kind enough to bring a correction that will help many of us avoid the traps of the enemy when receiving discernment from the Holy Spirit. I had been under attack from the enemy for a while and couldn’t find the cause. At one point I literally felt blows to my spirit man. When the situation was resolved, I felt lighter, surrounded by a peace that I didn’t know had diminished until the fullness of it returned. When I look back now, I can see the warning and information given by the Lord when applied to this correction… as they say, “Hindsight is 20/20.”
Resist and overcome the pull of the world that rages against the things of Almighty God by living a life contrary to the world’s ways of doing things (godless society).
View life from a heavenly perspective (the way He sees it).
Women of God should have a God-centered perspective of the world by viewing everything from this vantage point. Unlearning incorrect information may take some time because of the persistent barrage of misinformation that continues to intertwine itself into the culture of today, but it can be done.
Before I understood the principles of God being just, I really thought that every Christian who really sought God would walk as Peter did once God’s glory was being poured out. Many have desired to walk in the anointing of the disciples like in the Book of Acts, especially Peter who healed all those who came into a shadow’s distance from him.
We are entering a time where the true disciples of Jesus will once again walk in His power and glory. When I read these words at the Agape Fellowship live meeting, the Holy Spirit said that was what this verse is about:
And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with fire of the altar, and cast it into the Earth: and there were voices, and thunder, and lightning, and an earthquake. (Revelation 8:4-5 AKJV)
While writing this article, the Lord led me to 1 Corinthians 15 where Paul speaks about this life and the next, to demonstrate why He was revealing our abilities in Heaven.
But someone will ask, “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body do they come?” You foolish person! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. And what you sow is not the body that is to be, but a bare kernel, perhaps of wheat or of some other grain. But God gives it a body as he has chosen, and to each kind of seed its own body. (1 Corinthians 15:35-38 ESV)
The apostle begins with a metaphor about seeds which must die to receive their full glory. What we sow in this life is only a seed for what will grow to the fullness when we die and receive our eternal body. Paul relates it to our existence in this way:
A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the LORD; even to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the LORD. (Deuteronomy 23:2 AKJV)
The Hebrew word mamzēr (mam-zare’) is translated “bastard” in the King James Versions of the Bible, but is sometimes translated to mean “illegitimacy.” It not only means those who are born outside of wedlock or in incest, but the root of the word means to contemn (regard with contempt), to despise, or be ashamed of. If a pregnancy happens outside of marriage and the parents speak words of rejection, shame, or are regarded with contempt because of it, the same curse comes to that family line.
When a child is born outside of wedlock, a curse is passed down to the tenth generation. Ten generations means that it can be passed on from any one of our 1,024 ancestors. Since so many people can be affected by this curse, this curse applies to most people.
To remove a curse you must be willing to confess for yourself and your ancestors. Confess means to see it the way the other person does, in this case, God. It is easy to confess for our ancestors. We know it is God’s will for sex and the product of sex to happen inside of a marriage, otherwise it is called fornication. We simply state the fact that what our ancestors did was wrong.
Jesus wants you to know about some basic ways Heaven works. The journey to discover this information began one Monday, during the Dream Interpretation meeting on Zoom. I lost all WiFi connection, then came back in with data on my phone. Within 10 minutes, again I was kicked out and this time I couldn’t open the Zoom app on my phone.
People who have had a near-death experience (NDE) or have been taken to Heaven, explain it as vivid beyond description. This is one part or one aspect of Heaven. To fully understand experiencing Heaven in this way, we must look to the Word of God.
The Old Testament is written in Hebrew and the New Testament was originally written in Greek. If we look to the language of God’s people, the Hebrew word most often used for Heaven is shamayim. It refers to the “unseen” or “invisible” realm and is both singular and plural. Most Christians agree that Heaven is a “spirit realm” because Jesus declared that God is a spirit being:
Before we discuss the churches of Revelation, the
Lord has asked me to show you what it means to be the Bride of Christ, since
the Church is the Bride. When Jesus refers to us as His Bride, it is more than
a title, it is how He feels about you. If you were engaged to be married to the
person of your choosing, how would you feel about them? Here is how the Lord
revealed His feelings to me:
I was listening
to a waltz-like tune (not sold in stores) that says, “You’re my one desire,
you’re my one thirst, more than anything, I seek You first…” As I raised my
hands and closed my eyes I saw myself dancing with the Lord, whose features
were indistinct, but I knew instantly who it was, nonetheless. My right hand
dropped slightly while my left came down in front of my stomach, mimicking the
position in the vision. It seemed natural for my feet to follow the path the
Lord led me on as we waltzed together.
Towards the end
of the song, a thought that wasn’t mine entered my mind, “This is our song.”
Mulling over
those words, I finally replied, “Lord, this song is about how much I need You.
Why is it our song?”
To hear more from the Holy Spirit, we should always acknowledge Him. If we “miss” what is saying and operate in the flesh or soul, it is necessary to restore our connection to Him. One of our team members had this dream to show what needs to be done:
Dream
In a school auditorium a quartet of boys were performing. They were off key and didn’t really know the words, but the huge crowd loved them anyway.
In the next scene a team member and two other girls were pushing red dollies (box movers) around on the stage and were performing as if in a musical in a theatre. A small audience of family members watched as they paraded around.
Occasionally the dollies would slip and hit the performers in the face, causing their mouths to bleed and the loss of their canine teeth.
Once the performance was over, they went backstage where Lynn Hardy applauded their efforts by letting them know that sometimes accidents happen. A female teacher had their intact, unharmed, and neatly wrapped teeth in a bag. The teacher smiled encouragingly as she handed each person their missing teeth.
Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but
He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets. (Amos 3:7 AKJV)
The Hebrew word sôḏ (sode) is translated secrets but means “secret counsel.” God
reveals His plans to those whom He calls as prophets. The Word of God, from the
Old Covenant to the New, Genesis to Revelation, paints a complete picture of
His entire plan for mankind. Hundreds of prophecies were fulfilled by the first
coming of Jesus, yet God’s people, Israel, failed to recognize the events as
they unfolded.
The fulfillment of the prophecies occurred during
what the Bible translates as “feasts” but literally means “appointed times.”
The Lord instructed Moses:
Standing strong while you wait on God to do as He has promised can be hard. The Bible speaks of it this way:
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 firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth… (Ephesians 6:13-14 ESV)
We stand against all that the enemy brings against us while we wait for God to open the door to the Secret Place. I will not explore the entire armor of God here, but before meeting with the Lord face-to-face, the “belt of truth” is what will fuel your tank while driving toward your destiny. The Word of God, the Bible, is the truth. It is the first thing mentioned when describing the armor of God. There are some hidden truths about the Secret Place that we can apply here!
Over a year ago, the Lord told me to visit Him
every day in the Secret Place to be strengthened and receive instruction. I
took this very seriously and did my utmost to spend time in worship and
meditation. Occasionally I’d miss a day and quickly repent.
Last month we recarpeted our entire house. For
three weeks we moved everything from the rooms and pulled up the old carpet. On
top of this, I decided to repaint one of the largest rooms as well. Needless to
say, I was quite busy, working long into the night. Because of this, my
meditation time was shortened.
But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to every man to profit withal.... to another discerning of spirits… (1 Corinthians 12:7-10 KJV)
The Holy Spirit brings gifts to help us in
this life. It is critical that the full body of Christ, the worldwide Church,
uses the gift of discernment for all things. The Greek word diakrisis (dee-ak'-ree-sis) is
translated as discerning, but it also means distinguishing or judging. Some may
be given a very strong gift of discernment from the Holy Spirit, but as a mature
Christian we should all have a basic level of discerning good from evil.
When I was called into ministry, I asked the
Lord, “Are you sure it should be me? Many countries and denominations don’t
believe a woman can lead or teach.”
Before I began the journey into my calling,
Holy Spirit took me through the New Testament scriptures which spoke about
women leaders and put my heart to rest. In the last week, the Lord has sent
seven people to inquire about women leaders. It is clear that He wants me to
share what He has revealed with His body. Paul wrote many letters instructing
Christians addressing how the Body of Christ should be organized. In order to
fully understand what he wrote, we must:
And
the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and
soul and body be preserved blameless to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1
Thessalonians 5:23 AKJV)
Apostle Paul identified three parts of every
person when writing to the Thessalonians. We are a spirit being in a physical
body with a soul (mind, will, and emotions). God is composed of three parts,
and so are we as His children. The spirit part of our being is perhaps the most
challenging to understand but it is also the part of our being that connects
with our Father the most. We can and should connect with our Father, who is a
Spirit, in Heaven.
VIDEO: Avoiding Potholes and Staying out of the Weeds
There are two early journal entries I’d like
to share with you to help you stay out of the weeds and avoid potholes while
you travel the Roadmap to Heaven.
October 2014
The trials of the last month fade away as I
recall how the Lord has confirmed that this is His will for me. I am going to
Heaven! Maybe not tonight, maybe not even tomorrow, but He has confirmed it:
I'm going. The miraculous story of meeting my 8 ft tall guardian angel,
Richard, face to face can be found in the free book Angels Believe in You.
The time in between breaths becomes long as my
body completely relaxes. Inside, I rejoice, praising the Lord for His goodness.
I am going to Heaven! My spirit soars with joy. Tingling power flows across my
body in a strong wave each time I breathe out. Again and again power floods
through me like waves of a torrential downpour.
The fourth and final signpost is “time.” It
was the hardest to accept and I have struggled with it from the beginning. One
of my earliest journal entries I recorded while walking the Roadmap, when I was
very young in my walk, shows how God revealed this to me in a very personal
way:
As I get
comfortable for the night, my thoughts speaking to the Lord aren’t exactly
respectful: “What's up with this? All day today your presence has been
surrounding me and now that I'm here, ready to meditate, You don't even call
me? I thought we were practicing for Heaven?”
Silence surrounds
me. The Big Guy offers no guidance.
Today in the Secret Place the trend of rhyming in song continued. I won’t repeat the exact words, for that is very time consuming. Here is the gist of what occurred:
As we danced, the Lord pointed out that I was slightly out of rhythm with Him. Mentally, I went through all the challenges and tasks awaiting me and released each one to Him. Our steps finally came into sync.
There was one particular project heavy upon my heart. I began asking the Lord questions about it. Our steps got out of sync once more. A wistful smile played about His lips as He asked, “Do you not yet realize that I know what your need is? That I will bring the answer without you asking?”
The questions reminded me of my earthly husband, Tony. He is happiest when he is hard at work and loves to take care of me. Not only is he a great provider for our family, he has let me follow my heart into ministry though it isn’t something he understands or desires.
I looked to the Lord for confirmation, “Is that why You brought Tony to be my husband? So that I would experience what it is like to be taken care of? To have my needs thought of on a daily basis?”
“It is the way a husband should care for his wife and am I not to be your Husband?” He answered.
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall remain stable and fixed under the shadow of the Almighty… (Psalm 91:1 AMPC)
God would not have Moses begin this Psalm by stating it only applies to those who are dwelling in the Secret Place if it were not His will for all of His people to come and be with Him there. This is a Moses generation. God wants to bring all His children to “The Secret Place” where He can speak to them face-to-face. He did this with Moses, and it was His original intent to have all of Israel visit Him this way.
The next two signposts came quietly as I tried to push into the Secret Place once more. I wasn’t at all sure they were the signposts. Surely it couldn’t be that easy. It is very fitting that I had to seek confirmation from the Lord for more than a week before I knew it was the next step to visiting with God. Most people think of desire as a strong wish or a craving for something. This is only a small part of what the Holy Spirit communicated to me as the meaning of the third step in visiting Heaven. Desire is associated with passion and passion with love. Do you want to visit with God because you love Him and want to get to know Him better? Or is it just to have a new experience? Are you looking to connect with your Father who will be with you for all eternity? Or do you want some spiritual gifts to impress your friends and family? It is the desire of your heart, your inner being that counts with God. He loves you and it is your love for Him that opens the door to the Secret Place.
Delight yourself also in the Lord: and He shall give you the desires of your heart. (Psalms 37:4 AKJV)
Many people pray and quote the last half of this verse about God giving us the desires of our hearts. The “and” connecting these two parts says that to have one, you must have the other. According to “Strong’s Concordance,” the Hebrew word `anag means “to be happy about, take exquisite delight in.” The word exquisite in this context means intensely felt. Put all these words together and we have “to be intensely happy with the Lord.” Then He will give you the desires of your heart. Notice it isn’t seeing Heaven that we need to be delighted in, but in the Lord. The Hebrew word nathan translated in the passage as “shall give” can be defined as “to produce” or “to put.” In other words, when we take delight in the Lord it produces or places His desires in our heart. Is there a way to increase your delight in God? How can we increase or even establish our desires?
Driving Directions
One of the biggest obstacles to applying this signpost is the way in which we became a Christian. For many of us, we were told, “All you have to do is say this prayer and say Jesus is Lord, then you get to go to Heaven: it is a free gift from God.” If this is the way you became a Christian, that may be the issue in walking the “Roadmap to Heaven.” We must look at what is said in the Bible in the proper context to fully understand it and apply it to our lives.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. (Romans 6:23 AKJV)
For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 AKJV)
Through Jesus, we receive eternal life. We cannot earn our place in Heaven, it only comes through Jesus. Up until this time, people had to sacrifice animals in order to go to Heaven. Jesus was the perfect sacrifice for all time, so now no more sacrifices are necessary. However, this does not mean there is nothing we are expected to do after we say that prayer.
Even so faith, if it has not works, is dead, being alone. (James 2:17 AKJV)
It is by faith that you are saved. When you have faith, it will be followed by working for God in some way. Many of us did not receive this as part of the “salvation” message. If we look at what happens in salvation, we know where our “work” should begin.”
...That if you shall confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved.… (Romans 10:9 AKJV)
Jesus must be our “Lord.” When this was written, the audience was very familiar with what that meant. Today, many don’t understand and fully comprehend what is necessary for one to be saved. The word “lord” means owner: a landlord is the landowner. It can also mean hereditary right or preeminence to whom it is that service and obedience are due. We must be willing to OBEY and SERVE in whatever way He tells us to. Other places in the Bible refer to those who have taken Jesus as Lord as “bondservants.” These are willing slaves to a master. This means we agree to do things His way, not our way, and to put Him first in all matters. The first step after accepting Jesus as Lord is to figure out who your new Master is and what He expects out of those following Him. How can you follow His ways if you don’t know what they are? If you did not know that you would be expected to find out who Jesus is and what He wants you to do when you said the prayer to take Him as Lord, you may want to consider rededicating your life to Him now. You can pray something like this:
Heavenly Father,
I believe that Jesus Christ is Your only begotten Son, that He came down to our Earth in the flesh and died on the cross to take away all of my sins. I believe that Jesus Christ rose from the dead on the third day to give all of us eternal life.
Lord Jesus, I accept You as my personal Lord and Savior. I now ask that You come into my life and live with me for all of eternity. I thank You that all my sins are forgiven because of the blood You shed for me.
For me, I just said, “Father, I realize that I have sinned and done horrible things, even saying You are not real. Please forgive me for this. If You can use me in any small way, just show me. I am willing to do whatever You need me to do.” After I said this prayer, I began reading the Gospels to figure out who Jesus was. I suggest you begin with the Book of John, then continue with Matthew, Mark, and Luke. The Lord became a REAL person as I did this and my life has never been the same. Until you submit to Jesus as Lord you will not have the “desire” necessary to enter into the Secret Place. In my heart, I really thought that I had messed up so badly that maybe God could only use me for something like cleaning up at a church or volunteering at a “food pantry” to distribute food to the poor (not to belittle these tasks, as nothing is too small to do for the Lord). I actually did volunteer in these ways as I began walking with the Lord again many years ago. You must be willing to let go of everything you want to do and be ready for what Jesus has for you. I can promise you this: once you embrace it, the job will be the most fulfilling work you have ever done! Once Jesus is your Lord, it is through the first two signposts, communion and focus, that you then begin to develop the desire and delight which will open the door to the Secret Place. Understanding where desire comes from may help.
Keep and guard your heart with all vigilance and above all that you guard, for out of it flows the springs of life. (Proverbs 4:23 AMPC)
…for out of the abundance (overflow) of the heart his mouth speaks. (Luke 6:45 AMPC)
The spirit of a man is often referred to as our “heart.” Jesus tells us in the Book of Luke that our mouth will naturally speak what is dominant in our spirit. If we must keep and guard our spirit, then there must be a way for things to be placed in it.
So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17 AKJV)
Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there be any virtue and if there be any praise, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8 AKJV)
Faith is something that takes place in our spirit, not in our mind. Hearing can impact our spirit and we are urged to hear more of the Word of God. This means that one way our desire can increase is by hearing. This is backed up by Paul’s instructions to the Philippians when he tells them to focus on the good things as stated in the verse above. Jesus also gives similar instructions:
And He said to them, “Take heed what you hear: with what measure you mete, it shall be measured to you: and to you that hear more shall be given.” (Mark 4:24 AKJV)
You must choose what you are going to listen to. What you are going to feed your spirit. Paul encouraged Timothy to “stir up” the gifts given to him:
Why I put you in remembrance that you stir up the gift of God, which is in you by the putting on of my hands. (2 Timothy 1:6 AKJV)
When you “stir up” trouble, you are talking about and bringing attention to challenging things or unsettling the status quo or changing people’s perceptions. For years, marketing companies have known how to “stir up” people’s desire for products. Millions of dollars are spent on radio ads where items are spoken about. Billions have been spent on commercials where we’re shown what advertisers want us to buy. Ad agencies regularly pay movie directors big bucks for product placement. It serves both as a branding opportunity and as an occasion for their merchandise to be plainly on display in scenes that can be noticed by the viewing public. This may seem complicated, but the reality is quite simple. Often, before you get to visit the Secret Place, your desire for Jesus may need to be stirred up. We can stir up desire for visits with Him by reading the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John) that speak of His time on Earth. We can also look elsewhere in the New Testament, but it may take some effort on our part:
Brothers, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth to those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13-14 AKJV)
Paul, who wrote more than half of the books in the New Testament, counted all he knew as nothing. He urged believers to leave their old ways, the ways of the world behind. They needed to press forward toward the job, the calling the Lord had for them. This is a choice we must make: that whatever God created and designed us to be, whatever job He needs for us to do, we shall do it.
All of us, then, who are mature should take such a view of things. And if on some point you think differently, that too God will make clear to you. (Philippians 3:15 ESV)
If your desire for a deeper relationship with the Lord is lacking, talk to God about it with sincere honesty. Let Him make His will clear to you.
Here are a few things that may help:
Ask the Holy Spirit to help you, to place His desires in your heart.
Go through the Secret Place course in the Courts of Heaven Academy to find out more about this topic.
There are many accounts given of Secret Place visits in the other classes at the Academy as well.
Instead of thinking about the trouble in your life, think instead about:
Who you will visit in Heaven: The Creator of all we have, all we know!
Exactly what God did through Jesus.
How much God loves you and the different ways He has shown that in your life.
This is a journey. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. If you get off track, just ask God to help you make up for lost time. After all, He is the God of second, third, and fourth chances!
Playing Checkers
My good friend, let’s call her Carol, was using my computer to complete a project so I headed upstairs to take a shower. Afterward, I decided to do a charcoal facial mask. The black paste on my face needed 20 minutes to dry so I couldn’t use my glasses to read the Bible or work on the computer. I decided to relax in my bed and worship God. After listening to a couple of songs, I switched off the music. “Abba…” I called with a mental cry, “Daddy… can we play for a while? It’s been a rough week.” So far, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit had only appeared at church during worship, but my heart longed to spend more time with my Heavenly Father. I wanted nothing more than to be held in the arms of my Father for a short while but didn’t have any conviction that He would show up. Out of the darkness, before my closed eyes, a shape appeared. His eyes glowed with an inner fire that was strong and comforting. He scooped me up into His arms and I hugged His neck, burying my face in His white, shoulder-length hair. “I love you…” I whispered. “I missed you.” “I love you, too, and am glad to see you,” He replied. Then He asked, “What would you like to play?” I was so glad that He showed up. I was sure He’d have the perfect thing planned and didn’t really care what we played and told Him so. Before I could answer Him, He said: “Let’s play checkers.” Checkers? That seemed like an odd choice to me. When I met with my Daddy before, He knew exactly what I liked… and I really wasn’t overly fond of checkers. I had long outgrown the simplistic game of strategy. Besides, if this isn’t Heaven it was close enough. Playing checkers was the last thing I wanted to do here! At the table that appeared, I took my place none too gracefully, flouncing down onto the chair. I was mortified as my inner feelings were displayed clearly in my behavior: disinterested, I slumped to one side leaning my chin on my hand, picking a checker piece at random and moving it forward. As the author of a fantasy series, I am used to making up stories in my head —it is a talent that earned me the nicknames of Space-case and Airhead growing up. Meeting with the Trinity takes place in my mind, but it is very different from creating fantasies in your mind. In previous visits, I learned that all I had to do was think of a question. The small childlike version of me would ask, though not always in the exact words I was thinking. To me, this experience proved that it wasn’t my imagination at play: when I created stories, the characters did what I wanted, what I directed them to do. I created every word and every response. Now, however, I had the unsettling discovery that inner feelings cannot be hidden in this special place with the Trinity. Emotions and feelings can determine the actions of my spirit being. This brings a whole new meaning to “being transparent.” The Bible tells us that God sees into our hearts. In this space with God, the reality of that fact is played out. When I moved the third red checker piece into place, Daddy jumped it with one of His pieces. A few more moves and more of my pieces disappeared while His pieces invaded my side of the board. “This isn’t fair!” I said with a huff. I dashed from my seat and climbed into His lap like I was scaling a hill. “You know everything, I have no chance of winning!” I sunk back against His chest. Words came forth like water from a broken dam, “I’m tired of losing! It seems like all I do is lose!” Tears poured from my closed eyes. Hidden feelings that I thought I had dealt with long ago were revealed. “I try and try, but everything I think I am supposed to do just fails!” Sobbing, I buried my face in His chest as He stroked my hair. Thoughts of my first series, the movie based on said book, the game based on the same book… even my delayed trip to Heaven flowed through my mind as He held me. Softly He asked, “Look at the game. What happens when you lose?”
A glance revealed that His pieces had taken over two-thirds of my side of the board. “You move into that spot…” I whispered. Instantly, the Bible verse my mom always likes to quote came to mind, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” (John 3:30 KJV)
“So I wasn’t failing, I was giving more of my life to You?” Just then the conclusion my mind had drawn sprung from the lips of the tiny version of myself. “Exactly,” He whispered. The heaviness of pain, condemnation, self-doubt, and frustration fell away. A burden I didn’t even know I was carrying was lifted from me. After a few more minutes of hugging (there is always lots of hugging in our moments together), He asked, “Want to go on the swing?” I leapt down from His lap with the exuberance of the child I appeared to be. He picked me up and placed me on a big swing. My lips turned down in disappointment when I realized that if He went behind me to push, I wouldn’t any longer be able to see Him. As the swing began to move He asked, “What do you feel?” I focused on my spiritual body, mini-me. Suddenly, I was no longer watching the scene from a third-person perspective; I was in a little person’s body. There was a light breeze as I went up and down on the swing. I didn’t have to say it out loud, He knew. “What do you see?” Sight in this place was much different than our natural sight: it was more like a muscle. At first, things were vague without much detail, including God. But with each visit, things became clearer. I brought my eyes up, staring straight out, and strained to focus on what was before me. The scene wasn’t vivid as I’ve heard Heaven to be, but it was clear that the sun was rising over a mountain with a city below. “A new day is dawning for My children,” Daddy confirmed, as I saw myself swinging. While I was still swinging, I felt His arms wrap around me. It was like He was on the swing with me, holding me close. I could see mini-me swinging and God surrounding me as if I was riding on His lap. “Nothing can harm you because I am with you,” He told me. Psalm 91, part of my daily prayers, came to mind, “He will cover you with His pinions, and under His wings shall you trust and find refuge.” I knew, beyond a doubt, that my spiritual self would be forever safe from all harm. “But what about the rest of me?” As I thought about my physical body I saw it lying on the bed. “What about my immune system that allows allergies attack? The vertigo that plagues me…?” Instantly a correction came. It was a strong knowing, a fact that appeared in my mind. My physical body isn’t really me; it is just a tent, a house in which my spirit lives. My mind struggles with a new question, “How can Your protection expand to include…?” While I struggled to find the words, I realized that I could not see or feel God anymore. As I became more focused on my physical self, the spiritual world disappeared. “Daddy!” I cried, turning my mind from the physical body to the dark of the spiritual world. “Where are you? Come back!” It seemed like minutes passed while I called out for Him. “I am here,” He appeared before me. “I will not leave you.” I leapt into His arms. “But I couldn’t find you. I couldn’t see you!” I insisted, “I couldn’t even feel you!” “Even when you can’t see or feel Me, I will always be with you,” His words were reassuring. It is one thing to read the words of the Bible, “I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee,” (Hebrews 13:5 KJV), it is quite another to hear them from God, Himself. A feeling of strength and peace surged into my spirit. Daddy put me down before Him, “It is time for you to go. There is work for you to do.” He tousled my hair and my heart soared. He trusts me to get things done. The scene faded, but I knew that I would be back and have more questions answered; questions that I might not even know to ask, but that would mean more to me than I could fathom. Loud footsteps sounded on the stairs. Carol called out to me. She needed my help. Feeling renewed, I was grinning as I climbed out of bed. There would have been no time to delve into that final question: How God’s presence with me can affect my physical body. Going downstairs, I hoped that would be one of the questions that got answered on my next trip.
Limited Spiritual Experiences
After I helped Carol with the project, I told her, “I was spending time with God while this mud dried on my face. He said it was time to go just before you came up the stairs.” I tried to explain why my shower had taken so long, hoping it would comfort her to know that God knew she needed me and responded to that need. “Well, that just makes me angry,” Carol replied. “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to make you angry,” I apologized, before asking, “Why is it upsetting to you?” “I have been going to the Courts of Heaven. I’m even doing it out loud now, and I haven’t heard even a word, much less God telling me it’s time to go!” I understood her frustration. It was hard for me personally to see a “Christian” publisher with shady business practices flourish while I struggled. Many times, Christians will get angry or upset when they are asking God for healing and someone else gets exactly what they are asking for. Over the years, I realized that the success of others didn’t take away from what God was doing, or going to do with me. God is not short on miracles. Rejoice when you see the supernatural work of God… He is not short on power or blessings and has plenty to go around. Rejoicing in someone else’s fortune is a great way to see it manifested in your own life. I tried to apply logic, “I have been considering the fact that you and Alice don’t get to see as much in the Courts of Heaven as I do. Christ told Thomas, ‘blessed is he who does not see and yet believes…’ ” I said. “Maybe I am allowed to see more because I am explaining the process to others in the book about the Courts.” Attempting to address part of the issue, I encouraged her further, “And remember, I have been at this for 16 years. You began seeking deeper experiences with the Holy Spirit a year ago and have come a long way since then. It may just be a matter of time.”
More Articles on the Courts of Heaven can be found in the:
Many people think of boot camp as a place you train for combat. Any veteran will tell you that basic training is about three things:
Knowing what weapons are available
Learning how to use those weapons
Receiving orders and following them
Believer’s Boot Camp series is a collection of books which teach us how to hear more clearly from God with the goal to ready ourselves for a face-to-face meeting with our Lord, Jesus. The series reveals the “weapons and tools” God has given us and how to use them, so we can bring God’s kingdom to Earth. Each book in the series focuses on a single topic to clearly define one tool or weapon from our Heavenly Father.
The series uses the Word of God to reveal all that He has given us through Jesus. The Bible is our instruction manual and the Holy Spirit is our guide to understanding it.
Why Doesn't God Speak to Me?
Believers’ Boot Camp, Volume 1
Eager hearts cry out, hoping for a single word to confirm that He hears us. Yet, many times the only sound is silence. Over the years I have heard several reasons why God speaks to some and not to others. One night, as I tossed and turned, I brought each of these reasons before the Lord, stating why each of them did not line up with who I thought He was.
Words rose from my soul, pleading for Him to reveal why He has remained silent when a single word from Him would mean so much to so many. For the next few hours, God used things I learned about years ago and things I had just discovered to show why He talks to some and why He doesn’t, and in demonstrative ways.
In His grace, He also showed me how people could hear more from Him. Basic instructions on how to hear more from God and how to be led by Him are included in this book. Thank you for taking time to consider the answers I received and share with you now.
There is untapped power that is easy for every Christian to access in the form of authority. The keys to this authority will unlock weapons we can use to free ourselves from the attacks of the enemy. We must be intimately aware of the bounds and limitations of our weapon if they are to be used effectively.
Find out about your authority:
Why you need it.
Where it comes from.
What you can do with it.
How to get more.
Destroying Curses in the Courts of Heaven
Believers’ Boot Camp, Volume 3
Our rights to appear in the Courts of Heaven have been greatly undervalued. The missing key to our authority is here. Jesus has provided the access and the Bible shows us the court procedures. When we learn to operate in our rightful place as children of the Most High, the enemy will be defeated and we will see the victory we have prayed for.
The death of Jesus freed us from the curse of the law. However, we must declare this freedom just as we must make a declaration for our salvation.
Can curses be passed to our children?
What are signs of a curse?
How do you get rid of one?
Every answer is backed by scripture. Come and find out how easy it is to be free!
Roadmap to Heaven
Believers’ Boot Camp, Volume 4
As I meditated and sought the Lord, a vision overcame me. A “Roadmap to Heaven” was deposited into my soul. We are entering a season of unparalleled access to Heaven. Jesus is calling all who are His to visit with Him in the Secret Place of the Most High.
What is the Secret Place?
How do we enter?
What will we find there?
The Bible holds the answers, the mystery has been revealed. As you use the map given in this book to journey to the Secret Place, discover your destiny and find the gifts the Holy Spirit will bring along the way.
The second sign appeared when I least expected it. Usually, I receive new instructions once I have completed the tasks given to me. There had been a feeling of building pressure; my workload was behind schedule from the previous week. Life was getting in the way and I hadn’t yet recorded the revelation about the first sign in this book.
The gray-haired gentleman on a TV program, dedicated to supernatural occurrences within the church, was interviewing someone who had an incredible healing ministry. The pastor said that the Lord told him that the old ways to the Secret Place were closing. The new path He was opening would be available to all Christians who would seek it.
VIDEO: Old & New Wineskin - Receiving More in the Courts of Heaven
Each new revelation from God seems to be so effective as it begins, then degrades over time. Why is this? God is always the same, so why does the flow of His power change?
We must find the answers to these questions now because the revelation of the Courts of Heaven is in danger of becoming ineffective; an “old wineskin.” If you have not been immersed in the Christian culture, this term may be unfamiliar to you. To understand why this is a danger, we need to know:
What does the Bible say about old wineskin?
What does it mean to be an old wineskin?
Three out of the four accounts in the Bible record our Lord talking about this, so it must be important:
