Author: dvcreel

When Jesus was here on earth, He did many things.  He was very busy with ministry. He traveled often in Israel. He taught many people and healed people from illnesses. He also had power and authority over unclean spirits. Though He had a busy ministry schedule, He took time to pray and fellowship with His heavenly Father.  

 He (Jesus) Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed. Luke 5:16

Then one day, His Disciples said to Him, “Lord teach us how to pray.”  

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. Give us day by day our daily bread. And forgive us our sins,
For we also forgive everyone who is indebted to us. And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.” Luke 11:1-4

The Lord’s prayer is not really a formula. I believe it is a model prayer, David and I pray this every day, not just by rote, but with faith and trust in Jesus that He hears our prayers.

And here is another guide we also use in prayer: We use the acronym ACTS, which makes it easy remember.

A- is adoration. Like what Jesus said, “Hallowed be Your name”. We praise God for He is merciful, all powerful, sovereign, loving, gracious, etc.

C- is confession. Again, from the Lord’s prayer, Jesus said, “Forgive us our sins, as we forgive others.” We can ask the Holy Spirit to search our hearts if there ‘s any thing that is not pleasing to the Lord. And ask God for forgiveness. (See I John 1:9)

T- is thanksgiving. Thank God for 3 things; count your blessings.

S- is supplication – deliver us from the evil one.

For Supplication, some people use the 5-finger model.

Thumb- friends & family

Pointer-Parents and Teachers

Middle-Leaders

Ring-weak and sick people

Pinky-self

Whichever prayer model you prefer, prayer is not a ceremony or a ritual. It is a personal relationship. Like with friends and others, prayer is talking, and taking time in fellowship with Father God, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.

I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you;“

(Ezekiel 36:26)

A couple of weeks ago, I took a special time with the Lord as the Jewish calendar of Ellul was closing and the head of the year was coming, Rosh Hashana (September 7^th).  I asked Him what is His heart for the Church, the followers of Yeshua, the Bride of Christ. I felt the Lord said, “I will put a new spirit within you and will give you a new heart,” (Ezekiel 36:26). Then He also said, He is giving us new wine and new oil. He is also giving us fire of the Holy Ghost to burn the dross, blow away the chaff, burn old wineskin – which is old thinking, old habits, including old beliefs and tradition.

God is giving us new wineskins, to be vessels of silver and gold, (such as cup, oil lamps, etc). New wine is to refresh our souls so we can refresh others. He is giving new oil to anoint us, to give us power for new ministries He is calling us to. God is giving us new oil to be a light burning for Jesus in this dark world.

A few years ago, while praying, the Spirit of the Lord gave me a picture (vision) of earthen vessels or clay jars, of different sizes and shapes. Then I saw Jesus pouring wine into each clay jar. There were many in the room, but Jesus was waiting for those jars to be willing vessels for Him to pour His wine into. Right after that vision Lord gave me, I saw this miniature of Jesus pouring water and wine into a clay jar right in one of the cabinets in our church.

Back to my prayer during this recent Ellul month, the Spirit of the Lord continued to speak as HE impressed upon my heart this word;

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.” Romans 12:2 (NKJV)

God is giving us new wine and new oil for a harvest of souls. I heard some prophetic words about a harvest of a billion souls in this new decade (2020-2030) and as we enter a new era. I felt the Spirit of the Lord is saying for the harvest of souls, God needs new vessels (new wineskins) to be vessels for this new wine and new oil.

Then God says, “I do not change, I AM, I am gracious and merciful. I hate sin and do not tolerate sin. I’m calling my people to holiness – the church- you are set apart for me to be a light in this dark world. I’m pouring fresh wine, to new wineskins, new oil to new vessel of oil lamp, I’m sending fresh manna from my Word.”

To change old wineskin to new wineskin is to change old habits and old thinking. For me personally the Lord is dealing with me about these sins and wrong ways, such as procrastination, delayed obedience, not paying careful attention to the Holy Spirit’s leading and His Words, holding on to old grudges, resentments, unforgiveness, pride, self-righteousness, etc. 

A Dream

A few weeks ago, I had another dream: In my dream, I was in my room, then my late father came to the room. He went to a clothes drawer where I keep my undergarments. He pulled out old undergarments. As he pulled some old, tattered, gray-looking undergarments one by one, he looked at me and I saw in his eyes, as if telling me, “Why are you holding onto these?” Then he showed me the other part of the drawer, with new and clean undergarments.

In that dream, I felt our Heavenly Father was telling me to throw away the old garments and He is giving me new garments, which means throw away old mindsets, old thinking, old stuff in my heart that are not pleasing to Him. And He wants to give me new garments or new heart, new spirit. Undergarments also represents things hidden and not seen by men.

Then I read this quote from “Billy Graham’s Wisdom for Each Day” Daily calendar on September 2nd:

“To ask God to search out the darkest, most secret corners of our minds and hearts take courage… if we aren’t willing to do this? Then the sins we know about remain unconfessed, and our fellowship with God remains cold and distant. Perhaps more important, the hidden sins we may not even realize we have sins- like pride, suppressed anger, lack of love, jealousy, a secret yearning for recognition- remain firmly in place, manipulating us and eventually destroying us.”

New Garments

In the Old Testament, Zechariah had a vision of the high priest of Israel, Joshua who was being accused of Satan because of their sins.  But God defended Joshua from Satan. ((Zechariah 3:1-2).

“Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and was standing before the Angel.

 Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”

And I said, “Let them put a clean turban on his head.”

So, they put a clean turban on his head, and they put the clothes on him. And the Angel of the Lord stood by.” (Zechariah 3:3-5)

Joshua was a high priest in Jerusalem was being accused by satan because of his sins and the sin of the people of Israel, but Lord God defended him. Zechariah 3:1

God forgave their sins as represented by the filthy garments, and gave him new and clean garments.

As God forgave the sin of Joshua and the people of Israel, He encouraged him.

Then the Angel of the Lord admonished Joshua, saying, “Thus says the Lord of hosts:

‘If you will walk in My ways,
And if you will keep My command,
Then you shall also judge My house,
And likewise have charge of My courts;
I will give you places to walk
Among these who stand here.

(Zechariah 3:6-7)

New Wineskins

Jesus said, “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine will burst the wineskins and be spilled, and the wineskins will be ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.” Luke 5: 37-38 NKJV 

New Wine, new oil, new wineskins to be vessels of honor (silver cup, gold cup, an oil lamp, etc) for the harvest of souls.

To have a new wineskin is to consecrate our spirit anew afresh to the Lordship of Christ, get rid of all thoughts, old habits, old ways of thinking to brin a new wine, new oil, which is fresh power and anointing of God, a new revelation of who He is.

Prayer: Holy Spirit please search my heart, see if there is anything that is not pleasing to you. Dear Jesus please forgive me of my sins. Cleanse me, make me a new wineskin, give me a new heart, and fill me with your spirit.

The Power of the Word: Why the Bible is Relevant

As we see turmoil and chaos around, it is easy to be fearful and worry. The other morning I felt God encouraged me from His Words in the Bible. Just in time, these Words have strengthened my spirit.

God is our refuge and strength,
A very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear,
Even though the earth be removed,
And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;
 Though its waters roar and be troubled,
Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah

…

Psalm 46: 1-3

The nations raged, the kingdoms were moved;
He uttered His voice, the earth melted.

 The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah

 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
Who has made desolations in the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;
He burns the chariot in the fire.

¹⁰ Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!

The Lord of hosts is with us;
The God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah – Psalm 46

 The horse is prepared for the day of battle,
But deliverance is of the Lord.

Proverbs 21: 31

Bible Scriptures taken from New King James Version, NKJV

https://www.biblegateway.com

A Dream:

Early one morning in September 2020, I had a vivid dream:

My husband and I were in a small room inside a big building. I was not sure, but perhaps it was a hotel. I know the building had many rooms. We were inside huddled together in a corner, sort of hiding. In the dream, I saw our room door was shut, and we looked at the glass window to the hallway to make sure no one could see us. Then suddenly the door opened. A woman came in, with short hair, maybe in her late 60’s. She went straight across the room and stood next to the window to the outside world. It was a small window, and she opened it a little for us to see. As she pointed at the window to the outside world, we could see that the sky was dark and bleak. It was supposed to be daytime, perhaps afternoon, but we could see stormy clouds. Then she pointed to a white stone that looked like a chair or throne which appeared like a vision or an invisible movie screen picture on the wall. It was like a marble stone chair with bits of clay. We saw the picture, like watching a movie scene. Then she said to us, “That’s Jesus, on the throne. He is the rock.” And then the dream ended.  

After a couple of days or so, as I pondered and prayed about the dream, I felt that the Holy Spirit revealed to me a portion of the interpretation of the dream. The woman was an angel. The dark clouds outside, were the chaos and all the negative things happening in the world. (During that time in real life, there was chaos happening in the country such as the pandemic, protests, etc.) Then the Holy Spirit led me to Psalm 91:

He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High
Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress;
My God, in Him I will trust.”  (Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV)

This is what I felt led me to the meaning of the dream. The room we were in was like a secret room.  There were other rooms in the building. The woman was an angel of God.

Despite all the bad things and chaos of those dark days, I was reminded that if Jesus is our Lord, He is our Rock. If Jesus is our Lord and Rock, then we stay in the secret place of the Lord, “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”  We are safe and secure in the secret place of the Lord.  He shall hide us in times of trouble under His mighty wings.

Angels

In the dream, as I mentioned, the woman who came to our room represents our angels whom the Lord God sends to guard and protect us in times of trouble. In the Bible we know that angels are also messengers and God’s ministering servants.

“Bless the Lord, you His angels, who excel in strength, who do His word, heeding the voice of His word.” (Psalm 103:20 NKJV)

We read in the Bible where angels delivered messages to Abraham (Genesis 18), Gideon (Judges 6:11), the parents of Samson (Judges 13:3), and others. In the New Testament, Mary was visited by an angel (Luke 1: 26), as was Zacharias (Luke 1:11), and others.

Let us look at the story of Mary and Zacharias when angels appeared and spoke to them at separate times:

An angel spoke to Mary and said, “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bring forth a Son and shall call His name Jesus.” (Luke 1:31 NKJV)

Mary’s final response was: “Behold the maidservant of the Lord! Let it be to me according to your word.” (Luke 1:38 NKJV) Mary just agreed with the message of the angel as she believed in her heart that it was the will of God.

Let’s see the story of Zacharias when an angel told him that he and his wife would have a son, John the Baptist, also in Luke 1:

“Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John” (Luke 1:13 NKJV).

And Zacharias said to the angel, “How shall I know this? For I am an old man, and my wife is well advanced in years.” Because of unbelief, the angel said to Zacharias:

“I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings. But behold, you will be mute and not able to speak until the day these things take place, because you did not believe my words which will be fulfilled in their own time.” (Luke 1:20 NKJV)

The Power of Words

A few years ago, I read a book by Charles Capps with the title “Angels.”[i] According to Mr. Capps:

“Be careful what you say. Your Angels are listening! Don’t speak negative words before your angels.”

Capps explained further that angels are very much alive on earth. As they worked in the Old Testament and the New Testament times, they are still working now on behalf of God’s people.

According to Mr. Capps, one day the Spirit of God spoke to his spirit: 

“One reason the words you speak are so important is because the angels are listening to what you say… I designed them as ministering spirits. They stand beside you daily, listening to words that come out of your mouth. If your words are in line with my Words, then the angels go to work immediately, causing the things you speak to come to pass. But if you speak things contrary to My word, you won’t get an audience with angels. They won’t operate on those words. Words spoken contrary to My Words will bind the angels. They will back off, fold their hands, and bow their heads… You should speak in line with My Word in order for my will to come to pass in your life. Man was designed to speak truth, to speak his will.”

He went on to say how detrimental it is when people say things like, “Nothing ever works” or “I never get healed,” etc.

The Words of God are powerful and very important, as Jesus said to His disciples:

“It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63 NKJV)

“If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7 NKJV)

Our words are important, too, as the Bible says:

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
And those who love it will eat its fruit.” (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)

Of course, as Christians, we do not pray to angels, but to our Lord God. However, God sends His angels to minister, and to answer our petitions and requests. The angels get their instruction from God as they heed the voice of His words. (Psalm 103:20)

The apostle Paul warned:  

“Let no one cheat you of your reward, taking delight in false humility and worship of angels, … (Colossians 2:18); and “But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” (Galatians 1:8 NKJV)

About prayer and intercession, we pray in faith as Jesus said:

 ^“For assuredly, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, ‘Be removed and be cast into the sea,’ and does not doubt in his heart, but believes that those things he says will be done, he will have whatever he says…” (Mark 11:23 NKJV)

Notice Jesus said again, “believe that those things he says will be done…” The use of the words of our mouths is important. “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (Luke 6:45 NKJV)

As we pray in faith, we also must watch what we say. Sometimes, I catch myself after praying for some situation saying something like, “I’m not sure if God listens to such prayers…”

As Christians who are familiar with the Bible, we should try to be careful about saying negative words. However, with some of the negative things going on, it is sometimes easier to paint the worst scenario. As Christians, God gave us the gift of faith. Jesus said His followers are supposed to be the salt and light of the earth.

Derek Prince said, “Christians are responsible for the government they live under, if you would take less time to criticize (which is the use of our mouths), and more time to pray, you would have less to criticize.[ii]”

---

[i] Capps, Charles,  “Angels”, Tulsa, Oklahoma, Harrison House, 1984

[ii] IFA, Derek Prince, “Praying for Your Government”,  p.18, Intercessors for America, Derek Prince Ministries

God loves you!

For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

John 3:16-17, NKJV

If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. (Romans 10:9NIV)

Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the ^[remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.” (Acts 2:38)

Jesus is coming back soon!

 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words. (1 Thessalonians 4:16-18)

Prayer of repentance and commitment to Jesus as your Lord and Savior:

Dear God, thank You for your love for me and for sending Jesus. Thank you, Lord Jesus for dying on the cross for my sin. I believe that God raised you up from the dead. Please forgive my sins.  I open my heart to you. I commit and trust my life to Your Lordship. Please help me, Holy Spirit, to live the life God has planned for me.  In Jesus name, I pray. Amen.

If you pray the prayer above, you are now a child of God and forgiven because of Jesus Christ! What to do next?

Christianity is not just a religion. It is a personal relationship with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.

1. God speaks to us through reading the Bible every day. (www.biblegateway.com)
2. We speak to God through prayer in the name of Jesus.
3. To hear good Bible teachings, look for a good Bible believing Christian church to be part of, or maybe look for online for now.

Thebiblegateway.com   peacewithgod.net

This poem, “Traveling on my Knees” has inspired us, especially these days when we are not able to travel for our ministry. May this poem inspire you too.

Last night I took a journey
To a land across the seas;
I did not go by boat or plane,
I traveled on my knees.

I saw so many people there
In deepest depths of sin,
But Jesus told me I should go,
That there were souls to win.

But I said, “Jesus I cannot go
And work with such as these.”
He answered quickly, “Yes you can
By traveling on your knees.”

He said, “You pray; I’ll meet the need,
You call and I will hear;
Be concerned about lost souls,
Of those both far and near.”

And so I tried it, knelt in prayer,
Gave up some hours of ease;
I felt the Lord right by my side
While traveling on my knees.

As I prayer on and saw souls saved
And twisted bodies healed,
And saw God’s workers’ strength renewed
While laboring on the field.

I said, “Yes, Lord I have a job,
My desire Thy will to please;
I can go and heed Thy call
By traveling on my knees.”

by: Sandra Goodwin Clopine

• Sandra Goodwin Clopine –
• https://news.ag.org/en/Features/This-Week-in-AG-History-Feb-17-1963