I want to share one sentence and one thought with you. This stood out to me because it mirrors a conversation I had with my wife last night about light and a recent family victory in spiritual warfare.

“The more light we have, the more we should be carriers of that light to those who are bound in darkness.” - Rick Joyner (from Fifty Days for a Firm Foundation, Copyright © 2000, 2003 by Rick Joyner. All rights reserved.)

God gives each of us a measure of light.

There are many ways we could describe the application of light. But for now, I’m going to refer to God’s light as revelation. More specifically, spiritual revelation – man’s spirit ability to see or perceive revelation from the Spirit of God.

Recently, the Lord revealed to my wife that some of the negative things my family was going through was a spiritual attack. Though everything we were going through had logical reasons behind the “why are these things happening to us?” question, the Lord gave my wife some dreams that initiated a series of revelations that allowed us to see what was spiritually happening behind the scenes. Sure enough, there were some spiritual “why these things are happening” reasons that our human mind could not have come up with. We could have made some guesses, but that would not have been revelation that our spirits could grab onto.

As we prayed over these dreams and what others from our church were sharing, the root of the cause of these problems was revealed. My wife and I agreed in Jesus’ name that this root be bound from having any further authority over our family. Things began to change that day and have snow-balled in a positive way ever since.

We were treating our circumstances with the natural understanding we had of the situation. But when the Lord came along and shed His “light” on what was happening, our spirits came alive and could see what needed to be done in terms of prayer. In fact, we had been praying all along. But once we could “see” how to pray, prayer had an immediate effect. We had to pray specifically with “light” from heaven.

Since then, and after reading the sentence above, there are two thoughts the Lord has given me regarding this scenario. I’m going to share them with you with very little commentary, because they are powerful in their simplicity.

1. We are called to abide in the light we receive.

The light doesn’t go away after we receive it as long as we abide in that revelation. We are responsible to continue in the light we receive.

2. We are called to give away the light we receive.

Gently with humility and love, just the way the Father shed the light into your life. If you see others around you bound in darkness after you have received light, it is for the purpose of sharing that light for their freedom’s sake. Religion is where people had once received light and then turned around and beat up those in darkness with judgment. Don’t judge those in darkness. Free them by giving away the light.

In fact, this one paragraph (just eight sentences) in Rick’s Intro to 50 Days to a Firm Foundation sums up the progression God is calling us to in terms of setting others free with His light.

“Our primary quest is to know the Lord and His ways. If we know Him, we will love Him. The more we know Him, the more we will be captured by the glory of who He is. We cannot help but to love His creation too, because His creation is a reflection of His nature. Our love will also grow for the crowning glory of His creation, man. Even though man’s glory is now marred because of sin and rebellion, God made man in His own image, and we can see Him in every person if we know where to look. Then we begin to love mankind with a deeper, more effective love. This is a love that calls the fallen back to their high destiny in His plan for their lives.” - Rick Joyner (from Fifty Days for a Firm Foundation, Copyright © 2000, 2003 by Rick Joyner. All rights reserved.)

Being in this type of place can be extremely frustrating. Even discouraging.  For a follower of Christ to lack a sense of direction and purpose for his or her life, the frustration and discouragement can even go so far as depression.  The reason?

Revelation of the future is built into our DNA.

Christ designed us to yearn for and experience revelation of the future in order to have clarification of what we should actively be doing right now.

When the disciples were following Jesus, he continually gave them revelation of what was to come.  He did this both on the big picture (his death, burial, resurrection, and second comeing) and the more immediate future (like when giving ministry assignments and instructions for the church once he would physically be apart from his disciples).

The disciples didn’t necessarily understand the revelations they were given.  And Jesus’ goal was never to make sure his followers understood the revelation.  When they were confused, he would explain with another parable.

This wasn’t because Jesus did not care that they understood the revelation he was giving them.  He didn’t trouble himself with over explaining revelations of what was to come because of truth regarding God’s revelation to us.

Why we often misunderstand His Revelation of the future

If you have been struggling with a sense of discouragement because you feel like there is a lack of revelation of you are supposed to be doing or where your life should be headed, make sure you grab a hold of this simple little truth about how God operates and speaks to us.

Jesus didn’t bend over backwards to ensure his disciples understood the revelation he was giving them was because the revelation was for the future, not the present.

When God speaks to about the future, it is not always meant to give you directions now.  When Jesus spoke of his death, his disciples couldn’t get it.  Their present circumstances gave them no context for revelation of what was to come.  They saw Jesus as this awesome guy who fit the description of Israel’s coming Messiah, and they theorized how his coming was going to play out.  His revelation didn’t match was firmly lodged in their minds.

Yet his revelation of the future was extremely important for them.  The revelation would hit them like a ton of bricks when they reached the destination of the revelation.  In other words, when the time came that the revelation was speaking of, the light bulb would go off.

“Ooooohhhh!!!!  This is what he was talking about!  I get it!!!”

Even after he was raised from the dead, and all the revelation he shared with them prior to that moment that clarified he would die and be rose again.

When Jesus was walking with his disciples after his resurrection, his disciples were overwhelmed with the connection of their current experience of seeing first hand the previousl shared revelations of  his death and resurrection being fulfilled.

Yet they show there were revelations that Jesus had given them they still did not understand.  In Acts 1, they ask him when he is going to restore the kingdom.

So when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?”

He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; - Acts 1:6-7 [NASB]

Context is needed for understanding

Their context prevented them from understanding the nature of his second coming and the application of what had just taken place with the cross and resurrection.

Another event would take place before that revelation would become clearer.  Jesus spoke of it in Acts 1 and the fulfillment came in Acts 2 when they were baptized in the Holy Spirit.  And that is when the revelation became clear.

...but you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” – Acts 1:8

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place.  And suddenly there came from heaven a noise like a violent rushing wind, and it filled the whole house where they were sitting.  And there appeared to them tongues as of fire distributing themselves, and they rested on each one of them.  And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit was giving them utterance. – Acts 2:1-4 [NASB]

Have you wasted hours like me?

I have spent fruitless hours trying to understand revelation that God has given me of my life.  It’s like lots of puzzle pieces with big gaps of missing pieces.  I get the revelations.  But I don’t have the context to understand them.  These revelations are for the future.

For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome. – Jeremiah 29:11 [Amplified]

So what you do in the meantime?

The key to overcoming the frustration and discouragement y0u may at time feel when you are in the present with revelation of the future that you do not understand is obey what he has told you to do.

Obedience is the key ingredient that will get you to the place where the revelation he has given you regarding your future will all of a sudden make sense.

For the revelation of his cross and resurrection to make sense, he had to be obedient.  But for the revelation that was unclear in Acts 1 to become clear, the disciples had to obey what Jesus told them to do in Acts 1.

Gathering them together, He commanded them not to leave Jerusalem, but to wait for what the Father had promised, “Which,” He said, “you heard of from Me; for John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit not many days from now.” – Acts 1:4 [NASB]

He commanded them to wait.

When they did what he commanded, the revelation of what was to come came to pass and they understood.

Success brings confidence.  And obedience brings clarity.

What has told you to do?  What do you need to obey?

No matter how simple, silly and small, do it and watch what happens.

Several months ago, I had a vision about a coming movement that will be birthed in North Carolina.  I saw a map of the eastern seaboard of North America stretching from Florida all the way up into Canada.  Florida, USA and Toronto, Canada were both shining with colored light. Most of us are aware of the amazing move of God that has taken place in Florida and Toronto.  It’s what I saw next that ignites the fire kindling in my spirit. The light covering Florida and Toronto began to glow more vibrantly until it jumped off the map. The light from Toronto traveled south and the light from Florida traveled north. Both lights turned into arrows that collided over and landed in North Carolina.  YES! North Carolina! The explosion from the collision then bursted outward and spread across the nation until light covered the land.  YES! Light covered our land!

A New Awakening in America

Recently, I read a journal published by Rick Joyner, founder of MorningStar Ministries in which he spoke of a Third Great Awakening coming to America that will be greater than any preceding revivals. There is an Awakening coming to America that will far surpass anything our continent has seen before.  I believe that North Carolina has a vital part to play in this new awakening. Revival for our land birthed here in North Carolina. What an exciting time we are living in!

So We Seek!

The questions begs to be asked…why North Carolina? I ask…WHY NOT!!! Why not North Carolina! Why not Wilmington! Come all who are hungry in Wilmington, NC! Let’s keep seeking…stay hungry.  Let the cry, “MORE LORD!” resound from our spirits. Let’s become the vessels the Lord is waiting for to birth this New Awakening that is coming to our land.

Fulfillment Fest 2009

For those of you who have been following the fulfillment fest movement, it is coming to Wilmington this weekend September 18. For all who are hungry for more of God in this city, let’s join together and cry out with one heart and one song.  Rise up in prayer and become the light and salt of this land.

In Him,

Cheri

Wear something pretty and white

And we’ll go dancin’ tonight

Lyrics by: Neil Young

I awoke several nights last year to the Lord singing these lyrics to me. I felt the song deep in my spirit. The words are beautiful, and I have long loved this song. Its writer, Neil Young, is one of my favorite artists. His music career really took off in the 70′s. He was a pioneer and music was his vehicle—a true poet.

When the Lord sang it to me, I felt that there were layers of revelation He wanted to share. As is true most of the time with me, I had no idea of just what was in store.

Truly, I have been to the wrecking ball and have stood face to face with its judgments. I’ve crumbled under the sheer power it wields and wept over what was revealed in my life after the outer layers were broken away. I’ve mourned over the darkness in my life and how I’ve hurt those I hold most dear. I have been utterly ashamed of how deep the roots of pride entangled my every decision and how quick I’ve been to judge.

But another swing of the wrecking ball revealed more. Suddenly, I could see more clearly than ever how beautiful the Lord’s judgments are upon those He loves. I have kissed the face of mercy and been swaddled in grace. The hands of heaven swept down and saved me from a whirlpool of self-pity and despair. Never have I seen a smile so beautiful as the one on His face. It was as if He never saw any of the ugliest things about me. It felt like spring rain falling on the dead, wintry ground—its sole purpose was to bring forth new life.

One look at His face and it was so clear that He had already clothed me in something pretty and white. I am ready to go dancing with my Beloved tonight.

In Him,

Cheri

I saw a river flowing down the center of Wilmington NC. It was flowing North to South. This river was the pure living water of God. People from miles and miles away were attracted to Wilmington NC because of this river.

Two Attractions: Business and Recreation

I felt the Cape Fear River and Wrightsville Beach represented two areas of attraction for both visitors and residents.

The Cape Fear River I felt  represented business, thinking primarily of the Port and Central Business District downtown. I believe people have come to Wilmington in response to the business climate and investment opportunities that have been available in Wilmington.

I felt Wrightsville Beach represented recreation.  With the beaches, the Intracoastal Waterway, and much more, countless numbers of people over the years have sought to get away from the everyday grind by soaking in the tranquility that the water surrounding Wilmington provides.

A New Attraction: The River of God

Yet, in this vision, I saw people coming from miles away to seek after another water feature in Wilmington. A new water feature. A spiritual water feature. I saw this river both on a city wide scale and also a phenomenon in individuals churches.

I could see people lining up to attend worship services at Wilmington churches.  People were being set free, healed and restored in the presence of God. There was an excitement and an expectation for what God would do in their midst.

Two Key Groups of People

There were two things I noticed about this river flowing through Wilmington that I do not fully understand yet.

The first, was that the river flowed down the center of Wilmington. I felt this represented the heart of Wilmington. I don’t fully understand what the “heart of Wilmington” represents yet.

The second thing was that I40/College Rd travels along the path which I saw the river flowing. I believe this river will attract people from outside of the state of North Carolina. I also believe the college, specifically college students will play a crucial role in this river flowing in Wilmington.

This River will Touch Other North Carolina Cities

One more thing I believe will happen as a result of this river flowing in Wilmington: I believe this river will touch and bring changes in the spiritual atmosphere of Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston Salem and Charlotte NC.

I believe there will also be an overflow of what God will do in these cities to smaller towns around these cities. I could see Wilson, Rocky Mount, and Greenville being a triangle of encouragement to one another as ministry and ministers flowed in and out of Raleigh NC.

I believe the river in Wilmington will have a connection to these strategic outposts.

In 2009, I am believing for this river to begin to flow!

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.  When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.  So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.  During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”  After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them. – Acts 16:6-10

I wanted to share five things that stood out to me yesterday when I read this passage and I think you will find them encouraging.

1. If the Lord sends you – go!

Don’t worry if you are supposed to reach out to a certain area or people. If the Spirit of God has sent you out to spread the good news of Jesus, or whatever He has showed you that He has called you to do. Just do it.

2. Always stay close to the Lord so you can hear His voice and sense His Spirit’s leading

It is possible that we can get so caught up in the initial sending/calling of the Lord that we drift from a focus of being intimately near the Lord to a focus on routine religious duty (replacing God with religious activity) where it becomes difficult to hear His voice and sense His leading. As we go in obedience to His initial revelation, He will continually unfold the next steps for us. We have to trust and obey and stay close so that we can hear new updates from heaven.

3. At times, God will prevent us from going in a certain direction, even though that direction makes sense to us and others around us

When the Spirit of Jesus prevented Paul from going into Asia Minor, it is remarkable to me. This area needed Jesus just as much as any other area. Why did Jesus prevent them from going?

I am sure many theologians have tried to explain it, but the Bible does not give us the answer so we do not know. But what I do know is that Paul listened! We have to be sensitive to the Lord leading us into a different direction.

4. God will use visions that aren’t always literal in their interpretation to show us the next step

Paul didn’t have a vision of a man in Macedonia asking them to come to Macedonia to preach the good news. The Bible says the man was begging them to “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Paul and his companions interpreted this to mean that they were supposed to go preach the gospel to Macedonia. Why didn’t God just tell them, “No, I do not want you to go to Asia Minor. I want you to go to Macedonia instead to share my word there”?

The answer to that question is really not important when being obedient to your heavenly Father is at the core of your being. I am of the opinion that God is profoundly more creative than typical religion would have you believe. I believe He can speak in multiple ways and He enjoys doing so.

At any case, we need to be open to all the ways God speaks to us.

5. They got ready to leave immediately after receiving the vision

This is the part that amazes me the most. When they received this vision to go, they went. They went! No delays. They immediately obeyed the Lord. I think this was because they were already in obedience mode.

I personally want to be in that place where I am always in obedience mode and am constantly responding to the Lord with an obedient heart. Trusting what He is telling me is the very best possible thing I could be giving my heart and effort to.  And when a change in direction comes, I want to hear it no matter how the Lord wants to speak to me, and I want to obey it immediately!

One other thing to note, which I think a lot of believers in America get mixed up about since we live in a culture of instant results: Paul and his companions didn’t immediately end up in Macedonia. And they weren’t rushing in a guilt like frenzied hurry where they would have been beat down on the inside because they weren’t seeing the results of the vision come to pass immediately.

Instead, they changed their focus and direction. When they began to go, that was the obedience. When the Lord speaks something to you, get caught up in the awesome privilege you have that you are able to actually hear God and get focused on taking steps in that direction. Don’t get caught up in the results or in how well you are obeying Him. God is not asking us to produce results. He is asking us to go.

Big difference. Subtle, but it’s still a big difference. If you will catch that, being obedient to the Lord is a fun adventure. Doesn’t mean there won’t be tough times. But it does mean you have the God of the universe in you, behind you and in front of you with all of heaven in agreement with you.

Why? Because you chose to agree with your Father’s word to go!

In His Presence,

Walt

Most of us can quote it even if we don’t know who originally said it. I heard these words echo in my mind. Suddenly, my thoughts were interrupted by the Lord speaking to me. He said, “He was on to something, you know.”

I then began to intently listen to what the Lord was speaking because I knew there would be something for me to share from this.What I began to understand was that FDR was on the right track in what he was saying, and as children of God we can take this revelation to a whole new level. Let me elaborate.

There is Nothing to Fear

Many of us have been gripped by paralyzing fears of what could have happened or what might happen: fears of sickness, accidents, failure, desolation, phobias, economic hardships. The list of things that people fear seems endless.

As believers, we know that the things we fear are just lies from the enemy meant to cast doubt on our hearts and paralyze us from fulfilling God’s plan for our lives. We know that fears are an assignment from the enemy meant to immobilize people from fulfilling our destiny in the Lord. But we can’t stop with just the realization that fears are an illusion from the enemy and go on fearing the enemy that tries to plague us with them. We don’t have to be afraid of Fear itself! The Lord gave us all authority over Fear when he conquered death through his resurrection. That’s Good News!!

We are Seated in Heavenly Places

If you find yourself struggling in these times with lies that Fear is throwing your way, you must remember the price that Jesus paid for us. His death opened the way for His Spirit to live inside of us. We are seated with Christ in heaven. Everything that is a part of heaven is now inside of you. You have free access to all the things of God.

Is God Afraid of Fear?

If someone were to ask you if you think God is afraid of Fear, what would you say? That’s absurd! God would never be afraid of Fear. Then why do we so often give in to the lies of Fear rather than listening to what God is saying? The choice is ours…it always has been. Let’s stand up and make a choice to go after the dreams God has placed in our hearts.

Forget the Fear and Follow the Fire

Maybe the Lord has given you a dream to work with kids, minister to elderly in a nursing home, build a business, pray for the sick in hospitals, start a non-profit organization, run for a governmental office, share your paintings with the world, or write books. Maybe you sense a burning in your heart that there must be more to this life. You know that you want to go deeper into the things of God and even begin to move in supernatural signs and wonders, but you have felt Fear holding you back. Fear of failure. Lies that you are not good enough. Fear of persecution.

Here is the mandate that I hear resounding in my heart: It is time to Rise Up and step into the destiny God has planned for you!

In His Presence,

Cheri

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The Riveras are anointed and go places in worship that will leave you on the floor encountering a mighty, yet gentle and loving Father.

The reason I wanted to post the videos was to give a place here on Life In His Presence where you could jump into worship and just spend time in His Presence.

Enjoy! (worship starts to really flow around 8 minutes in.)

As the Lord began speaking to me about this release of fear, I saw many of His children were going to find themselves struggling with fear over what the future would bring.

It is Not Time to Hide

Many believers think the answer to the fear and uncertainty they are feeling is to hunker down and hide until things are looking better. This is the worst mistake we could make right now because we would be giving in to the enemy. That is the trap set for us.

It is critical that we not hide. Now is the time to take a bold stand and embrace the risk of living for the message of the cross. This is truly an exciting time to be a believer and things have never looked better for the Body of Christ.

The Lord is positioning his army to walk in the full authority He has already given us. It is a time when His people will step into the greatness that He has called us to. This is the time when those who are truly walking with the Lord as one crucified with Christ will be begin to experience the enormous power of a Father who loves us.

Jesus gave us a mandate:

Cure the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give.

- Matthew 10:8 New American Standard

Jesus didn’t say that He wanted some of us to cure the sick and some others to raise the dead. He was commanding all of His followers to do all of these things. Jesus said that we were going to be given authority to do greater things than even He did while on earth. Walking in the supernatural things of God should be absolutely normal for us. A normal life for a child of God should include seeing miracles take place on a regular basis. Yes, the Lord wants to do miracles through you, in you and for you.

So, why hasn’t the American church seen a widespread move of the miraculous things of God?

I believe we have a great example to look at in the Old Testament. When Moses came down from meeting with God, the Israelites were afraid of what they saw. They decided they would be better off if they just let Moses commune with the Lord while they went about life as usual.

Are We Willing to Pay the Price?

Moses paid a price for the friendship he had with the Lord. It took time, commitment, a willingness to be persecuted. The people of Israel, as a whole, were not willing to pay that price. They would rather have one person who risked it all and would go to speak to the Living God and come back to tell them what He was saying.

Can you see the parallel in American churches today?

Many of us have been comfortable with allowing a handful of public figures to carry the message, move in miracles like healing, and basically hear from the Lord for us. There is nothing wrong with honoring those that have been appointed to serve in leadership.

We absolutely should be giving them the honor they deserve. I believe where we have fallen short of our purpose is by assuming that those well known public figures who have large ministries are the only ones who have been given a mandate by God to walk in supernatural power. We have created Moses-figures and left them to go up the mountain alone.

Taking on Risk

Risk. It is something the American church has largely shunned. We live in a society where natural comfort is regarded as the highest accomplishment.

In a country where we have been given more freedom to outwardly show what life is like living in relationship with the Lord, many American believers have chosen a quiet, complacent life. Much of the church in America has settled for living the American Dream as the ultimate sign of God’s favor.

It is time for all believers in this country to realize that affording a nice house and cars, having job security and plenty of money in savings is not the measurement for God’s fullness. There is so much more for us than we have imagined!

Losing the Fear of Losing Everything

Many believers are being shaken by the recent economic downturn and gripped with a fear of losing everything. We should be the ones who are not fazed in the least. Jesus encouraged us for such times:

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Matthew 6:20-21 New American Standard

Let’s break out of the pattern of allowing only a few to be vessels of the miraculous power of God and fulfill the calling that Jesus has entrusted to us all. Other believers around the world have already been experiencing this move of God because they are not as caught up in the “ease of life” that many Americans seek.

They have learned that there is much greater glory in losing your life for the sake of Christ.

In His Presence,

Cheri

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