Posts Tagged IHOP-AC
Covenant God
Tuesday, March 2nd, 2010
This past week, I have been learning a lot about covenants and what God thinks of them. I realized that God doesn’t just admire covenants; He is the one who invented them and has bound Himself them out of love.
The definition of a covenant is the following. “…the strongest most solemn agreement that can be made between two parties. It cannot be changed by time, space, government, circumstances, or men. It is unbreakable, and enduring to following generations.”
In the west, we don’t hear the word “covenant” at all. We are familiar with agreements, testaments, legal documents or certificates but never a covenant. We are used to “changing our minds”, “waiting till we’ve fulfilled the requirements” or “seeing if it will work out”. It seems too pre-historic or binding to use a covenant and we have totally lost the meaning. A covenant originated with God when He made the very first covenant with Noah after the flood. No one had ever made a covenant before. Gen. 9:13 “I set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be for a sign of a covenant between be and the earth.” After that first covenant, a knowledge of covenant then spread to all the generations following.
It is interesting to note that God does not take a covenant lightly. When someone makes a covenant, He sees it as real. In Joshua chapter nine, we see Joshua had fought against Jericho and Ai and had crushed them. The Gibeonites heard it and decided to deceive the men of Israel and dress up as foreign envoys to pursuade them to make a peace covenant. So Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant to let them live. Three days later, Joshua found out that he had been tricked.
Nevertheless, Joshua and the men of Israel had sworn to them and made peace so they did not kill even one of them. Now, a King named Adoni-zedek found out that Israel had made a peace covenant with Gibeon and that Gibeon was a “great city” and “all its men were mighty”. He got afraid, so he called four other kings to go up and attack Gibeon. So they did, and the Gibeonites called Israel for help. (One of the characteristics of a covenant is “my enemies are your enemies and your enemies are mine”.) Israel came and fought against this enemy. The Lord told them that He had given the enemies over to Israel and not one of them would live. Israel had a great victory, and it says that the Lord helped them by throwing “large hailstones from heaven on them….and they died”. Wow, if God stands with someone who made a covenant out of deceit, He must really, really see a covenant as very important!
God wants us to see how serious he is when He says things. He doesn’t have to make a covenant because His very word should be enough for us. However, God wants us to be sure, for we are doubtful most of the time. He gave us many examples of what a covenant is and how He backs them up. He wants us to know Him as a “covenant God”. He is not a far away, apathetic, unfeeling God. He is real, intense, and full of passion and emotion.
Gracey Guetterman
Without Vision we will Perish!
Monday, February 22nd, 2010
I was sitting in the prayer room this past week and the Lord began to break in upon me concerning His heart for Revival and another great awakening in our nation and in the nations of the earth. I realize that most of us who name the name of Jesus as our Lord and Savior in some capacity desire to see this be a reality in our generation. What I was confronted with is that my burden for REVIVAL/AWAKENING is far short of the vision that God has in His heart.
The Lord spoke through the prophet Joel that in the LAST DAYS the Lord would pour out His SPIRIT on all flesh… (Joel 2:28-29)
What we sometimes tend to think in our Christian Renewal culture is that REVIVAL means extend meetings and possibly falling on the floor under the power of God’s presence. We tend to think of the “MORE LORD” mentality… which is great! God loves to touch His people. These things are all wonderful if they are from our Father, He only gives good gifts. Inner healings and physical healings breaking out among the people of God are beautiful expressions of God’s love and the power of the age to come where there is no sickness and disease, no more sin! Who honestly wouldn’t rejoice to see these manifestations among a company of believers, more so all over the nation and nations. Yet I am moved that there is more we have not yet seen!
I am convinced there is more power coming to the church to declare and demonstrate the glorious gospel of our Lord (Acts 1:8; Rom. 15:18-19), unto a great awakening among the Lost to prepare a BRIDE for the soon to return King of Glory. The end result of REVIVAL/AWAKENING isn’t just people getting touched for a moment, but TRANSFORMATION of individuals who collectively make up a society. It is about RIGHTEOUSNESS and JUSTICE breaking out from the presence of the Lord. It is about SALVATION coming to many. It is about darkness being destroyed by the Light of our Lord Christ Jesus. It is about the Kingdom of God advancing in the earth, the will of God being done until the King returns to establish His physical reign from His throne in Jerusalem.
With all this said, I realized that my vision was very near sighted often times. I think about what I am doing and what God is doing in my life and around me, which is good. Yet, I believe the Lord wants us to set our eyes on things to come and live like a people contending for another age when Jesus is King of the Nations! Beloved this doesn’t happen until the great OUTPOURING of His Spirit on all flesh! We must contend for this HISTORIC REVIVAL/AWAKENING because this is how God has chosen to prepare the Bride and the nations for His Son. If we ever want to see Jesus split the sky… we first must CRY! We must contend for the promise of the Father for all flesh unto the provoking of Israel and her salvation! (Rom. 11:25-26)
I pray we all give ourselves to this reality of the wisdom of God in this hour. We must give ourselves to solemn assemblies and cry out for God to come. Everything isn’t ok in a land where we have murdered over 50 million babies in the past 40 yrs. It’s not ok that there are gangs destroying communities all across this nation. It’s not ok that darkness of immorality is destroying the institution of the family. It’s not ok that hundreds of thousdands die daily and go to a REAL place called HELL where they are in torment for all eternity never to know the joy of the Lord and His great salvation.
Beloved, WE NEED REVIVAL, WE NEED AN AWAKENING!!! Let a cry arise from the sons and daughters of GOD! All creation waits eagerly, creation is groaning, it is time for us to GROAN! We need God, God wants to come. All heaven is waiting to be released at the prayers of the saints! Father, pour out your Spirit… we need a HOLY VISITATION! Make us ready Holy Spirit!
Immersed Consecration
Friday, February 12th, 2010
Here at IHOP-AC we have a four month internship for young adults ages 18-25. Immersed Consecration.
Immersed Consecration is a season where young adults give their lives wholly to the Lord. Finally, putting aside the busyness of life, and sitting at the Lord’s feet.
The internship consists of prayer room time, teaching, areas of serving and community time. Most of the intern’s time is spent in the prayer room in worship, intercession and bible study.
During the intern’s time at Immersed they are getting rooted in love for Jesus. Sitting at His feet, reading His word, worshiping Him and listening to His voice, all to cultivate love in their hearts toward Him.
If a young adult wants their life changed, then this is definitely the internship to be in. Giving yourself in consecration, without distractions to the Lord is an amazing place to be. It will root and ground the intern for the rest of their lives!
This internship can also be an on ramp for coming on full-time/part-time staff at IHOP-AC as well.
So if you know of any young adults looking to give a season of their life to the Lord, let them know about Immersed Consecration! You can find out more at our website: www.ihop-ac.org.
Haiti Relief and Restoration
Tuesday, February 2nd, 2010
What has happened in Haiti is a complete tragedy. Many people are now homeless, orphaned, lost, confused, hungry and thirsty. Many have lost their lives during this time of crises. The world is in a scurry to go or send help. Much of the world is wondering how they can help as they watch their television screens full of Haitian victims.
I, as well, have been wondering the same thing. How can I help? What can I give? What can I do? The answer seems like such a helpless act, but in fact, is the most powerful thing that any of us can offer the Haitians at this time.
Prayer.
It seems so small, but beyond anything we do or give… prayer will have the biggest impact in Haiti.
We can only do so much and please don’t misinterpret what I’m saying. Missionaries are SO important and I pray that the Lord abundantly blesses them as they help bring relief to Haiti. Relief is good and needed, but complete restoration brings wholeness and it is needed even more. Only the Father can bring restoration to Haiti.
What good is it if Haiti is relieved if there are still broken people? What good is it if Haiti receives clean water if they never get to drink the living water? What good is it if hunger is satisfied, but spiritual hunger is left malnourished? What good is it if children are placed in orphanages, but never get to know God as Father?
Oh, that the Lord would restore Haiti the way that He dreams and desires Haiti to be restored – walking in wholeness, loving and knowing Him.
Lord, raise up messengers and let your Word run quickly throughout Haiti. Father, let the Haitians love you with all their hearts, minds and souls. Let them fall in love with Jesus. Holy Spirit, come to Haiti. God, bring restoration and wholeness!
Ways to partner with the RELIEF effort.
IHOP-AC’s prayer room is located at New Directions International (NDI), a mission base that is dedicated to reaching the unreached for Christ. NDI has been greatly moved by this tragedy as Haiti is one of many countries that they have established ministries and churches. Through out this year, they will be taking trips, sending food and doing what they can to help bring relief and the Gospel to Haiti.
To find out more about New Directions International and how you can help with the relief effort in Haiti, visit: www.newdirections.org
Ways to partner with the RESTORATION effort (Prayer Focuses)
Here at IHOP-AC, we are partnering with the Lord as we intercede on behalf of Haiti. Here are some prayer focuses for the country of Haiti:
• Messengers to be raised up to boldly proclaim the gospel of Jesus.
• That the Lord would have mercy and send revival to Haiti.
• Safety for missionaries as they travel to and from Haiti. That the Lord would move mightily through them.
• Food and clean water for the people of Haiti. As well as safety for the people distributing these things. These resources are scarce and could cause riots because they are in highly needed.
• Medical care. Many are dying before they receive medical care because there aren’t enough hospitals/clinics. Since many are dying on the streets, there are and will continue to be many airborne and water transferred diseases/illness due to decomposing bodies that remain on the streets.
• Complete restoration for Haiti!
Thank you for partnering with God and IHOP-AC in prayer on behalf of Haiti.
WSM: The Book of Hebrews- underway
Wednesday, January 27th, 2010
The Way School of Ministry began its 5th course this past week on the book of Hebrews. David Gordon, director of IHOP-AC is teaching the course. We are excited as a school to go deep in the Word together as we peer into this epistle and gaze on the God-Man. In the first week we began to look at “interpretative keys” to understand the book. From the notes: “The key to understanding God’s message in its proper context in the book of Hebrews is to develop an intimate familiarity with the book as a whole….context is king in interpreting the word of God.” We began to look at some of the keys such as:
5 dangers/ warnings- addressed to these believers to endure to the end and not to give up and fall away from the faith. Each warning/exhortation is connected to His Word
“ifs”- the “ifs” we see in Hebrews challenge us to consider the severity of our obedience and endurance as we walk with Jesus Christ in the midst of increasing deception and persecution at the end of the age.
Supremacy & Excellencies of Christ- It really is all about Jesus: His beauty and His glory manifest to His people, He is worthy. Jesus in His person and work are the key themes of the book of Hebrews.
Lifestyles before the Lord- The cross, the word and the throne are three essential and continual themes throughout the book of Hebrews.
- Lifestyles of consecration through the cross of Jesus Christ
- Lifestyles of revelation through the word of Jesus Christ
- Lifestyles of intercession through the throne of Jesus Christ
We are so expectant to see God establish us deeper in His Word over these next few weeks. Keep checking back for more insights from the class.
New Prayer Room Location
Tuesday, January 26th, 2010
For the last four years, IHOP-AC has been blessed by Life Fellowship Church to use their facilities freely. With the event of their new church merge and relocation, we have been given the opportunity to set up the prayer room at New Directions International. Since being in this new prayer room, we have felt a new sense of unity and comradery in our times of corporate intercession. We are excited to see what the Lord is going to do here! Pray with us as we continue to labor for God to raise up day and night prayer & revival in the region!
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