Initiative to Prophesy by Bill Hernandez - Prophetic Overseer

It's not a matter of if you can prophesy, but when.   As the Bible says in I Cor 14:31, you can all prophesy: "For you can all prophesy in turn so that everyone may be instructed and encouraged."  Functioning in the prophetic will look and feel different to everyone because we are all unique. Most often people hesitate to walk in the prophetic or disqualify themselves because they feel they can never measure up to the more demonstrable forms of prophesy like speaking it out in public, publishing a word or singing a prophetic word. As a result people give up in their journey into prophetic expressions and experiences. Some actually do prophesy, but they give up because they may feel they don't measure up to others more skilled. Some find their gift shrivel up due to lack of practice.  But, what is really shriveling is initiative. Initiative is the thing that can break you out of sitting back, break you out of giving up or disqualifying yourselves from being used in this church building, body edifying gift bestowed upon us all by the Holy Spirit.

Initiative-killer inner statements include: “My word is too simple or cliché.” “When I speak a word to someone or a crowd no one reacts by shaking, laughing, crying or falling down.” “No one responded to a prophetic word I shared.” “A word I shared that I felt was correct was denied as being right on.” “Nobody is recognizing me as prophetically relevant.” “I have too many personal problems to prophesy.” "Who am I to say a thing?" "Only leaders are anointed to give relevant prophesy." "I am too shy or an introvert." "I have been judged or persecuted for prophesying and I feel sorry for myself." "I gave an inaccurate word and feel disqualified to ever be prophetic." We may never understand His purposes in the words we might share and so there could very well be a disconnect between believing what you shared was right and getting timely confirming results. There are no guarantees for seeing results when you step out and do God's bidding. Obedience does not necessarily have tangible immediate outcomes. To be an effective prophesier or minister in any area, you have to let go of needing to be affirmed in the moment. When He tells you to jump, you pretty much have to ask, "How high?" His ways are above our understanding and when we trust Him in those times when we don't understand, powerful things can happen. You may never know the full outcome on this side of heaven. But then again you can or probably will, from time to time, occasionally. Find your affirmation in His arms in your quiet time or worship. That's how to acquire initiative. That's where friends get their love and inspiration to keep on giving without seemingly getting rewards. His presence is reward enough. Finding this connection can feel like a chore and an uphill battle in itself. Until this is worked out, you will find discouragement dragging you back into being a spectator and not a participator in what God is doing. I suspect that many spectators are actually disconnected in some way in their relationship with Him. Invite Him to appear in your life by calling upon Him and He will show up. When that happens, you will have a good foundation to prophesy with confidence - even if it's a small word. I hope some of you can join me this coming July 6th when I provide training for the prophetic through activation and teaching. This could be a good start for you to discover the prophetic ministry working through you and to recapture lost initiative. God bless you, Bill Hernandez

Restored in God's Presence by Bill Johnson

Last Saturday at Blazing Fire in our ongoing adventure through the book of Acts, I tackled one of the more challenging passages in the Bible~the story of Ananias & Sapphira. I loved some of the spirited discussions that followed and I plan to go a bit deeper as we progress further in Acts 5 this Saturday night to talk about the place that the Fear of God has in a Covenant of Love. In preparation, I thought it would be timely to hear from a spiritual father of mine, Bill Johnson, from his new devotional called "The Resting Place." May the kindness of our King and the awareness of His majesty and holiness lead us to repentance and bring us into a deeper love for His sweet Presence! ~Pastor Brent

Restored in God's Presence Trust is the natural expression of the one in deep repentance. The nature of these two realities is portrayed well in Hebrews 6:1, "repentance from dead works and of faith toward God." In this one verse we see the nature of both repentance and faith--from and toward. The picture would be of one making an about face, from something and toward something. Here it is from sin toward God Himself. His Presence is discovered in repentance. Repentance means to change the way we think. Our perspective changes regarding sin and God. With deep sorrow we confess (fully own up to our sin without excuse) and turn to God (upon whom we place our entire trust). Similar imagery is given in Acts 3. "Therefore repent and return, so that your sins may be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord" (Acts 3:19). Note the end result--that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord. In these two verses we see the pattern, the order that God created to lead us to Himself, to His manifest Presence. While we were sinners, God chose us to experience Him in such a way that we were fully restored to our original design, to live in and carry His Presence. We are either walking in repentance, or we need to repent. Repentance is the lifestyle of being face-to-face with God. If that is missing, I must turn back. I must repent.

Super Bloom prophetic word by Diane Jung Overseer and Intercessor

Diane Jung is the head intercessor of Blazing Fire Church and part of the overseers team. She is passionate for Jesus and pure of heart. On June 1st after worship, she released this powerful prophetic word from the Lord. If you would like to hear this in Diane's voice from that night and capture the Spirit of this powerful word, listen here. Be greatly encouraged…

A couple of months ago I was reading an article about the super bloom. In the Anza Borrego Desert in Southern California, because of super abundant amounts of rain this past winter, they experienced a super bloom of poppies all over the place in this desert. People from all over place started to come and flood this little town to see it. I remembered that the color orange (the color of poppies) can mean perseverance. And as I was thinking about it, the Lord impressed upon me for those of you who have been persevering for so long, and have cried out and said, “When God? When’s my breakthrough? When’s the time?” I felt the Lord saying, “My Loved Ones, I was hiding you in the desert. It was not time for you to bloom. Not yet, because I did not want the enemy to come and choke you out. I was saving you. I was letting the seed germinate. I was watering you. And when the time was right, the Holy Spirit came and watered and watered you. And then it was time for you to super bloom. And I will turn your perseverance into something wonderful and beautiful! I will show the world how awesome you are! And people from all over will see who you truly are in me. You will attract those people because you are my beloved.” So I release over those of you who have been persevering: This is your super bloom year, in the name of Jesus!! We thank you, God!! We thank you, Lord Jesus for your goodness!!

Hosea 2:14-15 (NJB) Yahweh says, “But look, I am going to allure her and lead her into the desert and speak to her heart. There I shall give her back her vineyards, and make the Valley of misfortune a gateway of hope!” Isaiah 45:8 (NJB) Rain down, you heavens, from above, and let the clouds pour down saving justice, let the earth open up and blossom with salvation, and let justice sprout up with it. I, Yahweh, have created it! Hebrews 10:35-36 (TPT) So don’t lose your bold, courageous faith, for you are destined for a great reward! You need the strength of endurance—perseverance—to reveal the poetry of God’s will and then you receive the promise in full.

The Power of Testimony by Pastor Susan Fochler with Shannon Downs

When we tell our story of what Jesus has done for us, we release power for someone else to step into that same victory.  This is how the “testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy”  Rev. 19:10.  When Peter and John were challenged by the religious leaders to explain “in what name” they were going around healing and preaching, their answer was simple:  “there is only one name to whom God has given authority by which we must experience salvation: the name of Jesus”. Acts 4:12 TPT. The leaders were dumbfounded by the bold confidence of these simple fishermen and concluded it was because “they had been with Jesus.”  After three years of sitting at His feet, receiving His love and watching Him release heaven on earth, they had been transformed.  Peter and John absolutely believed they could walk in the same anointing Jesus had walked in.  And with that conviction they changed the atmosphere and released His glory  everywhere they went. Following is a testimony by Shannon Downs about how she has been transformed by being in His presence, moving out of the shadow of loneliness and into the light of belonging.  Allow these tender words it to speak to your heart and prophecy hope and life to your spirit! Find You by Shannon Downs Oh, my Lord I give you all of my worship Oh, my Lord I give you all of my praise Oh, my Lord I give you all of my thanks I give you all of me, all of me I am no longer on the island of a loneliness, the place called I don’t care or the cave of does anyone see me out there In you I have the faith in this journey ahead Even in the midst of the winds and the waves I can still find you; I can still find you No longer in the fog of despair I can climb the mountains with hind’s feet Steady as a gazelle, strong and bold as a lion My heart continues to beat with the One who calls me lovely And looks upon me with His unrelenting love I see your beauty, the beauty of heaven all around You whisper its mysteries to my heart, And as a child of God I fall upon holy ground You are the lifter of my head You look into my eyes with blazing fire burning my heart within, it is here that I have found you; I have found you ©Jennifer Shannon 05/24/2019 Love, Susan Fochler and Shannon Downs

Last week at Blazing Fire we looked at Acts 4 and how we have been changed by being with Jesus.  Every single one of us has a unique and powerful story in Jesus.  You can hear the message along with several testimonies of what Jesus has done for His kids: The Power of Being With Jesus