Prophecy

What is prophecy?  
Some people believe that prophecy is only all about predicting the future. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

Strong’s concordance describes prophecy in Greek as prophēteia, which means:

“a discourse emanating from divine inspiration and declaring the purposes of God, whether by reproving and admonishing the wicked, or comforting the afflicted, or revealing things hidden, or about upcoming events…”.

2 Peter 1:19 (AMP)

¹⁹ And we have the prophetic word [made] firmer still. You will do well to pay close attention to it as to a lamp shining in a dismal (squalid and dark) place, until the day breaks through [the gloom] and the Morning Star rises (comes into being) in your hearts.

In actuality the revealed word of God “i.e. the scriptures” is where we receive the entirety of prophecy.  God has revealed His plan in detail to us who believe in the truths of the bible. Our response is to allow the word of God to engraft or embed itself upon our hearts and minds and to take root and grow deep, so that the new life of Christ which is engrafted or seared into our minds can begin to overtake our old nature and reveal the life of Christ in us.

1 Peter 4:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

As God’s word begins the transformation or regeneration process in our hearts and minds, our thoughts become quickly aware of a different perspective which is contrary to our old nature and desires.  We begin to see our world from a Kingdom perspective where God reigns and we are bound to this humble potentate by the bonds of His love for us.

The word of God (scripture) is true prophecy, for it reveals the heart and purposes of God as well as the destiny of humankind.  The intent is we are being shaped and molded by the scriptures to form within us the very image and nature of Christ, not a caricature of something which lives by the flesh, having stiff rules which are restrictive and legalistic.  No, we are bound by God’s love, which is undeserved, unearned and unmerited.  In this type of love there is freedom and rest, for it is His free gift to us. There is no lack on God’s part, our only challenge is appropriating the depth of His love on our part. 

The canon of scripture has been established and set, there is no need to add any further extra-biblical words or phrases to the scriptures.  However, there is the need for illumination of the existing text.  That is where prophecy comes in.  Prophecy in our day and age is more akin to teaching and preaching, for we are bringing illumination and practical understanding to the engrafted word working within us which has been historically revealed some 2000 years ago, not declaring any new extra-biblical revelation.

Revelation 22:18-19 (NKJV)

¹⁸ For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; ¹⁹ and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

If it were necessary for new extra-biblical information to be revealed in our day and time, then we could honestly say that the bible is not enough to assure our salvation, for the information it contains is incomplete.  And the revealed Jesus in the scriptures is not enough to save us to uttermost, because the information concerning Jesus and His role as intercessor is also incomplete and lacking further revelation.

But, Thank God!  We do have a complete biblical canon of scripture which not only declares God’s heart for a fallen world, but also reveals Jesus who is our intercessor and our salvation.

Colossians 2:13-15 (NKJV)

¹³ And you, being dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, He has made alive together with Him, having forgiven you all trespasses, ¹⁴ having wiped out the handwriting of requirements that was against us, which was contrary to us. And He has taken it out of the way, having nailed it to the cross. ¹⁵ Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.

Jesus has declared that the war with Satan is over, it has already been won by His death on the cross, so our involvement with “battles or skirmishes with the enemy” are for shaping and forming our lives, we are being changed, transformed into the likeness of the one who loves us.  We can confidently declare the truth of what we know through the scriptures that Satan has been defeated, we stand victorious in Christ and His victory.  That is our position in Christ Jesus, as co-heirs partaking in His victory. 

John 16:13 (NKJV)

¹³ However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

As the scriptures continue to grip our minds and reveal a paradigm which is totally counter to this world and it’s ways, we are not left on our own to sort it out, we are given a tutor or guide  to help us through these changes, He is called the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will bring lessons and stories we have read, coupled with life experience back into our minds which we have learned through reading scripture, and He helps us to make meaningful application.  He will also bring conviction over sin which needs to be dealt with in our lives to bring the light of Christ into every corner of our minds which brings complete freedom.  The Holy Spirit will also give us insights into others so that we may effectively pray for and encourage others. 

Jude 1:3 (NKJV)

³ Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.

The gift of prophecy is quite unique because it declares truths which have already been revealed in scripture. It does not utilize extra-biblical sources in as much as it speaks of the light and revelation from scripture as it applies to history, and as it applies to our present day lives. God does have an amazing way of bringing insight into scripture when we ask Him to show us what He wants us to see.

The gift of Prophecy is more about who we are positionally, rather than just about what we say. Our words can fall upon deaf ears and even fall to the ground with little or no effect, but our position in Christ will never change or be taken away, and that alone is our greatest testimony, we are in Christ. We are His children who have been bought with a heavy price.  That fact is built upon the truth of scripture and should always make us aware that we have been given such amazing unconditional love from our Savior Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 13:2 (NKJV)

² And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

Prophecy is all about love, and about sharing the relationship we have with Jesus that others may know the freedom that comes through Him.  How could we not share something so amazing?


Stephen Barnett

God is good all the time―all the time God is good!

Word of God Speak
Words and Music by Peter Kipley and MercyMe

I'm finding myself at a loss for words

And the funny thing is it's okay

The last thing I need is to be heard

But to hear what You would say

Word of God speak

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty

To be still and know

That You're in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness

Word of God speak

I'm finding myself in the midst of You

Beyond the music, beyond the noise

All that I need is to be with You

And in the quiet hear Your voice

Word of God speak

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty

To be still and know

That You're in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness

Word of God speak

Word of God speak

Would You pour down like rain

Washing my eyes to see

Your majesty

To be still and know

That You're in this place

Please let me stay and rest

In Your holiness

Word of God speak

I'm finding myself at a loss for words

And the funny thing is it's okay

©2002 Warner/Chappell Music, Inc

The music above is copyrighted by the respective artist and is presented here for demonstration purposes only and not for profit.

Intimacy

In my youth I grew up in a traditional conservative Christian denomination in Southern California where they were cessationists, they believed that Spiritual Gifts like tongues, prophecy and healing died out with the apostles in the book of acts, and that somehow there was no need to continue these gifts because the Church had been established and it was unnecessary for these gifts for the formation of future believers. But it did leave me wondering about Christ for many years.  I see Spiritual Gifting as an aid to help with drawing one closer to Jesus and developing intimacy, not making the gifts as an end in themselves.

As I grew older, I found that I had developed a hunger for a deeper spiritual connection with Jesus, so I began talking to my Christian friends at my High School and asked where they went to Church so I could find some type of fulfillment for this deep need I felt inside.  I was invited to a "Charismatic" Church in Anaheim where I was introduced to people who believed in the operation of the aforementioned gifts of the spirit.  It was there I was drawn into deeper intimacy with Jesus.  I have found the gifts of the spirit interesting and helpful, but not an essential focus.  What I did find essential was this burgeoning love relationship that was growing between Jesus and I, this truly helped me to define what being a Christian was all about.  It was here that God got a hold of my heart and mind and drew me closer to Himself.  My focus has never been on the gifts, my focus has always been on seeking intimacy with Jesus.  I will further develop this topic of Spiritual Gifts in subsequent posts.

1 Corinthians 12:7-11 (NKJV)

⁷ But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to each one for the profit of all: ⁸ for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit, ⁹ to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, ¹⁰ to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another different kinds of tongues, to another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹ But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually as He wills.

As I continued to grow in my relationship with the Lord, many amazing things began to unfold.  One thing that truly amazed me was that I was able to hear the Lord's voice very clearly, and He began to give me specific words from the bible and visions of what He wanted to do in my life.  I also had a desire and a passion to reach the lost for Christ, but didn’t have a clue how to go about it.  So I asked the Lord for opportunities for sharing the message of the Gospel.  I have been given many opportunities to mentor and lead people to Jesus since, these are the most memorable situations I have ever known.

In the course of time I grew stronger in the Lord, He led me to a "Third Wave" Church in Anaheim.  This was a Church where their ultimate expression of our love for Jesus was in worship by pouring ourselves out before the Lord.  We would literally spend 30-45 minutes of each service in deep intimate worship.  We would experience the sweet presence of the Lord in a corporate setting where it was manifested like a cloud (mist) or heaviness over the room where we were all gathered.  I saw hundreds of people come to Christ from these meetings, there was always a compelling sermon and ministry time which followed.  The Lord came and demonstrated His intimate presence among us, this was where the Lord was adding to the church daily―as was spoken of in the book of Acts.

Acts 2:46-47 (NKJV)

⁴⁶ So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, ⁴⁷ praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved.

My point here concerning the Spiritual Gifts and intimacy is that the gifts are not the focus, intimacy with Jesus was and always is the focus.  We can put too much emphasis on the ride rather than the destination and it become a distraction rather than a benefit.  However, having said that, I am a strong advocate of Spiritual Gifts as defined in  1 Corinthians 12:7-11, as long as the gifts are practiced in order as Paul defines it.  Jesus is our sufficiency, not Spiritual Gifts.

1 Corinthians 13:8-13 Version (NKJV)

⁸ Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part. ¹⁰ But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away. ¹¹ When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. ¹² For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

¹³ And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Like everyone, we all grow up.  We should all become aware that as Christians that intimacy with Jesus does not go away, as we grow it only deepens over time, this is the one thing that remains. We have been bought with a price.  The One called the “Desire of All Nations” has one desire above all others—it is you and I!  We have an inheritance in Jesus, but Jesus also has an inheritance in us. For Jesus, seeing the hidden treasure of our lives, went and sold all that He had for the joy of your life.

Matthew 13:44 (NKJV)

⁴⁴ “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and hid; and for joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Like the treasure in the field you are His inheritance! But how does this become a truth that transforms us, rather than simply an interesting theology? It takes the Father revealing Jesus to our spirit for us to begin this amazing adventure. It is by beholding His presence that we become closer and more intimate with Him.

It is like the song ‘In The Garden’ by C. Austin Miles

I come to the garden alone,

While the dew is still on the roses,

And the voice I hear, falling on my ear,

The Son of God discloses.

     Chorus

And he walks with me, and he talks with me,

And he tells me I am his own,

And the joy we share as we tarry there,

None other has ever known.

He speaks, and the sound of his voice

Is so sweet, the birds hush their singing,

And the melody That he gave to me,

Within my heart is ringing.    Chorus

I’d stay in the garden with him

Tho’ the night around me be falling,

But he bids me go, Thro’ the voice of woe,

His voice to me is calling.    Chorus

As John Piper so eloquently wrote: “God is most glorified when we are most satisfied in Him.”  He is the only one that can truly satisfy our soul.  Jesus is enough for us.  He fills all of our needs, our wants, and our desires if we are truly satisfied in Him.

My prayer for you is that you find that Jesus is always enough for you in every situation you face.

Stephen Barnett

God is good all the time―all the time God is good!

Intimacy

(One Thing My Heart Is Set Upon)

Words and Music by Matt Redman

     Verse: 1

One thing my heart is set upon,

one thing that I would ask:

To know You, Lord, as close as one

could hope to on this earth.

     Chorus:

Intimacy,

O Jesus, intimacy.

My treasure will be,

O Jesus, Your intimacy.

     Verse: 2

To look upon Your beauty, Lord,

Your glory and Your heart;

To know You close and closer still

each day upon this earth.

     Verse 3:

Lord, since the day I saw You first,

my soul was satisfied;

And yet because I see in part,

I'm searching more to find.

©1998 Kingsway's Thankyou Music 

The lyrics above are copyrighted by the respective artist and are demonstrated here for educational purposes only and not for profit

Prosperity

One of the most amazing promises of scripture is that of prosperity, but what is prosperity? And is God's view of prosperity very different from ours? Our sufficiency in Christ is different than just acquiring wealth, for it embodies the whole man, not just what we can acquire.

Webster’s 1828 dictionary says:

PROSPER'ITY, noun [Latin prosperitas.] Advance or gain in anything good or desirable; successful progress in any business or enterprise; success; attainment of the object desired; as the prosperity of arts; agricultural or commercial prosperity; national prosperity. Our disposition to abuse the blessings of providence renders prosperity dangerous.

The prosperity gospel in our time has become so twisted and distorted from God’s view of prosperity, it has been built upon greed and amassing wealth instead of us just living in His abundance and giving to others and extending the Kingdom of God.

God does want all of us to live prosperous lives where our needs are met, but even more than that He desires for us to have His type of abundance where we have all of His resources and influence to invest into the world around us so that our lives are changed, and so that others are changed as well.  

The enemy has also fed us the lie that there is something spiritual about being poor, and that evil men hoard all the resources.  There is nothing spiritual about being poor, unless we have been called to a life of poverty and give everything we have to the poor and live destitute by choice out of obedience to the Lord.  Even then we are still dependent upon God's provision to meet our daily needs. 

Proverbs 29:2 (NKJV)

² When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice;

But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.

 

God’s word has a different approach to prosperity than what we would normally expect, prosperity is not about amassing wealth or becoming greedy, it is about increasing in all aspects of our personal lives and growth in Christ.

Paul uses the supreme example of Jesus:

2 Corinthians 8:9 (NKJV)

⁹ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.

Although Jesus enjoyed equality with God, he willingly gave it up to save us (Phil. 2:5-8). 
He became a curse for us so that we might escape the curse and be blessed instead (Gal. 3:13).

Through Christ’s willingness to give, we share in His riches. Grace is not an abstract theory — it is practical. It had physical results in the life of Jesus, and it should have physical results in our lives too.

So what grows inside us when we allow grace to do it’s work?  It is generosity that flows through us, and it is the main thing, as well as the other fruits of the spirit becoming manifested in our lives in due time.

2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (NKJV)

⁷ So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. ⁸ And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.

Sowing and reaping is not about us giving to God and somehow thinking that He now owes us something back, that is not how it works.  That type of belief system is part of the corrupt prosperity gospel which has been sold to so many Christians as the truth and has brought many into bondage.  We cannot force God to respond to our efforts.  Sowing into the Kingdom is a transaction that happens first in our hearts so that as we respond out of generosity to the love from God’s heart, we begin to take on (or adopt) God’s heart for others and the world around us.  It also changes us and our capacity to perceive and receive opportunities to prosper as they are presented to us.

 

Psalm 35:27 (NKJV)

²⁷ Let them shout for joy and be glad,

Who favor my righteous cause;

And let them say continually,

“Let the Lord be magnified,

Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His servant.”

In Genesis 1:28, the very first command God gave to mankind was to be fruitful and multiply, not to become miserable and poor.  We were designed in the very image of God to rule and reign on the earth as Kings, not to live destitute as paupers. 

So a starting point would be to ask the proper question “is it God’s will for me to prosper?” And “what does it mean for me to prosper?" and then "What does that look like for me?"

The enemy has brought out many lies which counter the truth of scripture through deception which has been revealed in two major ways:

     1.      Through greed, and the “get rich quick” schemes and scams by getting something for nothing.

     2.      Through the belief that there is a “spiritual blessing” in being poor.

Proverbs 10:15 (NKJV)

¹⁵ The rich man’s wealth is his strong city;

The destruction of the poor is their poverty.

Those who are poor, hardly have time for God or family, they are struggling just to make ends meet under the stress and pressures of life.  It can actually become a form of temptation. 

Strong’s concordance defines the Greek word for temptation as pā-rä-smo's which means “an enticement to sin, temptation, whether arising from the desires or from the outward circumstances of the condition of things, or a mental state, by which we are enticed to sin.”  Anything that causes one to be in the position of placing their focus on striving is temptation which can seduce them into compromising their life away from the freedoms afforded them by the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

Proverbs 4:23 (NKJV)

²³ Keep your heart with all diligence,

For out of it spring the issues of life.

In the above verse the word "issues" could also be interpreted as boundaries.  The limitations we face in life we may think are caused by external things like the economy, circumstances or by people who oppose us, but the truth is our boundaries are internal and determined by what we think about ourselves.  In Christ as we grow in our knowledge of  Him ― and who He says we are,  we rest in the knowledge that we are His children.  As we begin to understand that all of His promises are for us, our boundaries will continue expand and grow, and our limitations will become less and less.  He becomes our sufficiency.

2 Corinthians 8:7 (NIV)

⁷ But since you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you—see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

Our prosperity should be something that increases our lives on every level, not just financially.  It isn’t about getting more, it is excelling “…in this grace of giving.”  You only get the capacity to receive grace, as opposed by your capacity to give it away. 

My prayer is that God would give us a capacity to invest and give away the many blessings He has given us so freely, that we may extend His Kingdom and ministry to our immediate world.  As grace works in our heart it’s outcome will always expand our boundaries and our sphere of influence.  

Stephen Barnett
God is good all the time—all the time God is good!

Dove’s Eyes

Words and Music by Misty Edwards

I don't want to talk about You

Like You're not in the room

I want to look right at You

I want to sing right to You

I believe You are listening

I believe that You move

At the sound of my voice

Give me dove's eyes

Give me undistracted devotion

For only You

I don't want to talk about You

Like You're not in the room

I want to look right at You

I want to sing right to You

Forerunner Music © 2007
The lyrics above are copyrighted by the respective artists and are demonstrated here for educational purposes only and not for profit.

Real Presence

One of the things that has been on my mind this past week is the desire for God’s presence.  Have you ever thought about what God’s presence is all about?

Jude 1:24-25 (NKJV)

²⁴ Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling,

And to present you faultless

Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,

²⁵ To God our Savior,

Who alone is wise,

Be glory and majesty,

Dominion and power,

Both now and forever.

Amen.

In verse 24 it says…”Before the presence…”, Thayer’s greek lexicon  defines this word presence as kä-te-nō'-pē-on, which means to stand …‘over against, opposite, before the face of, before the presence of, in the sight of”.  Or metaphorically… “standing as one before the eyes, or standing as a witness”.   This describes what it means to be before the presence of God, but what is the actual presence of God?

Adam and Eve had intimate fellowship in the presence of God before the fall in the Garden of Eden

Genesis 3:8 (NKJV)

⁸ And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

Since that time, sin has prevented our ability to be in the physical presence of God

Exodus 33:20 (NKJV)

²⁰ But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”

Now only the holy, sinless angels are in the physical presence of God

Luke 1:19 (NKJV)

¹⁹ And the angel answered and said to him, “I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings.

But as Christians, we have the presence of God within us by virtue of His indwelling Holy Spirit

John 14:23 (NKJV)

²³ Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home with him.

and that indwelling presence comes only through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

John 15:4 (NKJV)

⁴ Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.

We are aware of the reality of this presence from our obedience to His Word.

1 Peter 2:9 (NKJV)

⁹ But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Note that Peter says that “we are chosen people . . . belonging to God.” If we belong to Him, will He not be present among us? We never lose the reality of God’s presence, no matter how badly we fail; we never sin so much as to lose our salvation; we never sink so far as to banish the Holy Spirit forever. We can anger God because of our sin, but true believers never lose the presence of the Holy Spirit. While we will never lose the reality of God’s presence, we might well lose the “sense” of His presence.

Every child of God invariably goes through this feeling of losing God’s presence from time to time, like a landlord who has left his house and gone away on business for a while. He has not left the house completely empty, for, if he had, he would have taken all his belongings with him. But because he has left all his furniture and belongings in that house, does it not mean that he will return once again? Any believer knows that there are times of spiritual leanness where perhaps the Lord determines to test our faith. Does He not sift us; does He not push us through the times of affliction that we might be all the more pure?

Job 23:10 (NKJV)

¹⁰ But He knows the way that I take;

When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.

And as Peter proclaims:

1 Peter 1:7 (NKJV)

⁷ that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,

But the positive aspect of being in God’s presence is joy! Many Christians go around gloomy and dejected because they lack this sense of God’s presence. The hymn “Trust and Obey” tells us there is “fellowship sweet” for those who walk with the Lord in obedience and faith. But the sweet fellowship that comes from obedience and trust in the Lord is not a mere fancy or passing whim. It sustains us, especially during trials.

Nehemiah 8:10b (NKJV)

^10b …”Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

James, the Lord’s brother, writes;

James 1:2-3 (NKJV)

² My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Because trials produce faith and develop perseverance. When we persevere through trials, proving to ourselves and to others that our faith is real, our sense of God’s presence increases, as does our joy in it.

David speaks of a joy that only the righteous can know:

Psalm 16:11 (NKJV)

¹¹ You will show me the path of life;

In Your presence is fullness of joy;

At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

—a joy that is but a taste of a far greater and everlasting joy when we see the Lord’s face in the glory to come. The hymn writer John Newton spoke of these in 1779 when he wrote the Hymn ‘Glorious things of thee are spoken’.  The last verse says “solid joys and lasting treasures that only Zion’s children know.”

On a similar vane, California has been going through a drought for some time now, one could say that it is God testing His people to thoroughly trust Him in spite of the current conditions.  Do we pray for rain, YES we do, and we SHOULD!  If rain does not come, does that mean that God is not listening?  NO, not at all!  God does hear our prayers, and everything happens according to a bigger picture we call God’s will or God’s timing. Most of the time we only see a small portion of that bigger picture. But the drought is only the manifestation of something much much bigger and deeper, and that is the drought of knowledge of God in our land.  God is using a physical drought to reveal the spiritual condition of our State and also reveal our California heritage.  We in California have been given much prosperity over the years to be a provider of cotton, rice, beans, nuts, and vegetables  to the world.  This has been an outpouring of abundance and prosperity that has touched the entire world, but that outpouring has come with a price, and the price of prosperity is for the healing of the nations, not just the feeding of the nations.  

Ezekiel 47:12 (NKJV)

¹² Along the bank of the river, on this side and that, will grow all kinds of trees used for food; their leaves will not wither, and their fruit will not fail. They will bear fruit every month, because their water flows from the sanctuary. Their fruit will be for food, and their leaves for medicine.”

God is calling His people to prayer, not just for California, but also that He would extend our sphere of influence beyond the borders of our state into the nations where our food goes.  God is calling us to be consumed with His real presence where our soul longs for nothing but Him, and nothing else will do until we meet with Him and encounter His desire for the lost by bringing healing and restoration to those who need it most through us, both here in California and abroad.

Stephen Barnett
God is good all the time—all the time God is good!

My Soul Longs For You

Words and Music by Misty Edwards

          Verse1

     My soul longs for you, my soul longs for you

     Nothing else will do, nothing else will do   X2

          Pre Chorus

     I believe, you will come like the rain

     I believe, you will come like the rain   X2

          Chorus1

     You’ll come like the rain

     You’ll come like the rain   X2

          Chorus2

     So let it rain, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

     So let it rain, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

     So let it rain, let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

     So let it rain, let it rain, let it rain

          Bridge

     Hallelujah, hallelujah

     You make all things new

     All things new

CCLI Song No. 5402289 © 2006 Forerunner Worship, Cassandra Campbell | David Brymer | Misty Edwards | Seth Yate

Thank you to the website Got Questions.org for insight and inspiration into What does it mean to be in the presence of God?

The lyrics above are copyrighted by the respective artists and are utilized here for educational purposes only and not for profit.