FRESH INSIGHT PART 4
| As we continue on this 21 Day Focus for Fresh Insight, I like you to pause, put your hand on your heart and dedicate this time to the Lord and to consecrate yourself to Him completely. Lock yourself away with the Word of God and become marked by His Word. DAY 15 FOCUS ON THE SHEPHERD Psalm 23:5 AMP 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with [a]oil; my [brimming] cup runs over Psalm 92:10 AMP 10But my horn (emblem of excessive strength and stately grace) You have exalted like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil Picture in your mind's eye, Jesus, the great Shepherd, preparing a table for YOU in the presence of your enemies. This table is filled and ready to burst with all kinds of blessings. Remember you are safe, you are secure, because you can watch God's goodness unfold right in front of your eyes. Rest assured, that He is leading you besides still waters, and He is THE LORD, your Shepherd [to feed, guide, and shield me], I shall not lack. 2He makes me lie down in [fresh, tender] green pastures; He leads me beside the still and restful waters. 3He refreshes and restores my life (my self); He leads me in the paths of righteousness uprightness and right standing with Him--not for my earning it, but for His name's sake (see Psalm 23:1-2 Ampl) PRAYER: Thank you, Jesus, for being my Shepherd, who loves and cares for me unconditionally and with an unfailing love. I am asking for a deeper revelation and awareness, on how You feed, guide and shield me every moment of my life. Thank You, for the opportunity to actually "see" Your goodness, and to "experience" Your presence and glory. Today, I am casting all of my cares upon You, because You love and care for me. I want to be a vessel, who can release Your peace and presence in any situation, because I am operating out of the place of resting in You. DAY 16 FOCUS ON THE OVERFLOW Psalm 23:5 AMP 5You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over Psalm 92:10 AMP 10But my horn (emblem of excessive strength and stately grace) You have exalted like that of a wild ox; I am anointed with fresh oil Fresh oil to be poured out all over us today. My cup is full... wait! It is actually overflowing. It was a custom in hot climates to anoint the body with oil to protect it from perspiration and insect infestation. When mixed with essential oils, the oil imparted a delightfully refreshing and invigorating sensation. As the body, therefore, anointed with oil was refreshed, invigorated, and ready for action, so the Lord would anoint His "sheep" with the Holy Spirit, to anoint them to engage with Him and run in the way He directs-in heavenly fellowship with Him. PRAYER: Thank You for anointing me with fresh oil and teaching me how to prepare my physical body to run the heavenly race set before me. I realize that You have anointed me and You are the "lover of my soul." You heal my soul and set me free. As You fill me up, as Your cup and vessel, to overflowing, my sensitivity to the leading of the Holy Spirit increases and I know that I am seated in Christ in heavenly places! DAY 17 FOCUS ON THE RIVER OF LIFE Revelation 22:1 AMP 1THEN HE showed me the river whose waters give life, sparkling like crystal, flowing out from the throne of God and of the Lamb John 7:38 AMP 38He who believes in Me [who cleaves to and trusts in and relies on Me] as the Scripture has said, From his innermost being shall flow [continuously] springs and rivers of living water. There is a constant flow of living water issued forth from the throne of God and the Lamb, Jesus Christ. As I engage and believe in Jesus, cleaving, trusting and relying on Him, then out of my innermost being will flow rivers of living water. It is a continual, steady flow beginning at, and flowing out of His throne into me, through the Holy Spirit, and then issued forth out of me. It is a river whose waters give life. Therefore, let's not use our tongue to curse, but to bless only. 8But the human tongue can be tamed by no man. It is a restless (undisciplined, irreconcilable) evil, full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless the Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who were made in God's likeness! 10Out of the same mouth come forth blessing and cursing. These things, my brethren, ought not to be so. 11Does a fountain send forth [simultaneously] from the same opening fresh water and bitter? (see James 3:8-11) PRAYER: Thank You, Lord, for anointing me and giving me a choice to believe in You. As I cleave, trust and rely on You, out of my innermost being, my heart, will flow rivers of living water. I can release the ZOE, the God kind of life, into every situation by releasing this stream of living water. Lord, I give the Holy Spirit full control over my tongue, who no man can tame, but only You. I desire to bless instead of curse and send forth fresh water instead of bitter. Show me if I have any bitterness or resentment, and release me from it. DAY 18 FOCUS ON THE UNITY OF FAITH Ephesians 4:11-12 AMP 11And His gifts were [varied; He Himself appointed and gave men to us] some to be apostles (special messengers), some prophets (inspired preachers and expounders), some evangelists (preachers of the Gospel, traveling missionaries), some pastors (shepherds of His flock) and teachers. 12His intention was the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), [that they should do] the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), 13[That it might develop] until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the [[b]full and accurate] knowledge of the Son of God, that [we might arrive] at really mature manhood (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him. 14So then, we may no longer be children, tossed [like ships] to and fro between chance gusts of teaching and wavering with every changing wind of doctrine, [the prey of] the cunning and cleverness of [c]unscrupulous men, [gamblers engaged] in every shifting form of trickery in inventing errors to mislead. 15Rather, let our lives lovingly [d]express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 16For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. When the Lord Jesus ascended to heaven, He took captivity captive and released gifts for His body. Those gifts are the five fold ministers, as indicated in Ephesians 4:11 above. Why did He give those gifts? His intention was for everyone in His body to function in their individual gifting, being trained and equipped, to actually encourage and build up one another in Christ's body. There has been much talk about apostolic ministry. Frankly, apostolic ministry is about reproduction. Your greatest anointing will not come out of your mission or vision, but in your human transmission, which means in making a deposit into the lives of others. Focusing on equipping, training and releasing others to be able to find and do their part. PRAYER: Thank You, for the gifts you have given us. Not just the five fold, but our individual gifting and place within Your body. Lord, show me where I am to be fitly joint, so I can encourage and also receive encouragement as needed. As a joint within a body, I must know where to be part of; the knee, the hip, the elbow, etc. Show me how to deposit into the lives of others around me so that they can fulfill their part. DAY 19 FOCUS ON SPEAKING TRULY, DEALING TRULY, LIVING TRULY Ephesians 4:15-16 AMP 15Rather, let our lives lovingly [d]express truth [in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly, living truly]. Enfolded in love, let us grow up in every way and in all things into Him Who is the Head, [even] Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed One). 16For because of Him the whole body (the church, in all its various parts), closely joined and firmly knit together by the joints and ligaments with which it is supplied, when each part [with power adapted to its need] is working properly [in all its functions], grows to full maturity, building itself up in love. Do not bury your human emotions nor your pain. We have not a high priest, who cannot be touched with the feelings of our infirmities. Jesus Christ has encountered all of it while on earth. We have been really good at performing, so much so, that we have buried our emotions. We have suppressed things and called it overcoming. Let our lives lovingly express truth in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly and living truly. David said, pour out your soul unto the Lord, oh you people. He practiced this, He learned how to trust in the Lord and encourage himself in the Lord, by honestly encountering the Lord. The book of Psalm is full of such encounters, David had with the Lord, Every time he spoke of what was happening to him, he released it to the Lord, and after that he was able to see the truth and started to praise the Lord and acknowledged Him as King. You must own your emotions and own your feelings, then your thoughts will be transformed. Every feeling, every emotion you have registered somewhere in your body. This is a medically proven fact and is what doctors have told us for years. When we take communion, we are exhorted to "consider the Lord's body". (see 1 Corinthians 11:29) I believe it is both, our own body and the body of Christ. Some have even fallen asleep, because of not presenting our bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service or worship unto God. We must be willing to be transparent and allow the light of Jesus Christ to shine upon any thing hidden within us. Jesus said the devil is coming, but he has nothing within me. Jesus was clean and clear and there was nothing the enemy could put his hooks in. Peter, after he denied Jesus three times, wept bitterly. He came to grips with the fear that must have been lurking within him, causing him to be "tripped" in a time of temptation. Jesus knew what was within, but Peter had to see it for himself. After he returned he was able to minister to his brethren. Jesus said to Peter, Satan has come to sift you, but I prayed that your faith will not faulter..He did not say, I will take this from you, no because the Lord's grace is sufficient and when Peter repented and turned back to Him, in turn he was able to help his brethren. (see Luke 22:31-32) PRAYER: Lord, teach me to live lovingly, to express truth in all things, speaking truly, dealing truly and living truly before You, myself and others. Show me how to consider the body of Christ and how to be fitly joined and firmly knit together in order to supply what is needed and to grow up to full maturity, as I build up others in love. Lord let Your light shine and expose any hidden agendas. Thank you for Your love and that You correct me, because I am a Beloved son (or daughter). It is because of Your love and acceptance in Christ, I can walk uprightly and enjoy live each day, even as I mature in You. DAY 20 FOCUS ON A NEW WINESKIN Luke 5:37-38 NLT 1And no one puts new wine into old wineskins. For the new wine would burst the wineskins, spilling the wine and ruining the skins. New wine must be stored in new wineskins. Two things that do not mix are new wine and old wineskins. The new wine is bubbly and is still expanding. In Germany my family has vineyards and I grew up harvesting grapes each year. We all knew, that when the new wine is filled in bottles, it had to be without a cork. Why? Because the new wine was still expanding and would therefore eventually pop the cork. This reminds me of those who are filled with the Holy Spirit, the enemy would love to put a cork into our mouth to keep us quiet, but the power of the Holy Spirit within us will cause this cork to be popped. Remember the ones in the upper room, when they were filled with the Holy Spirit, they were as drunk people and spoke in other tongues. (See Acts 2) The new wine God wants to fill you with is a picture of God's Spirit, and this wine is alive. The old wineskins cannot grow and stretch to hold the new wine, that is why they do not mix. Our vessels must be prepared for the fresh, dynamic, living presence of God, because everything we do will flow from that. As we walk in the Spirit and are renewed, restored and refreshed, it always changes us by expanding our faith, enlarging our purpose, and bringing renewed vision. Romans 12:11 Never lag in zeal and in earnest endeavor; be aglow and burning with the Spirit, serving the Lord. As we seek the Lord in this season for Fresh Insight, let's ask Him to fully prepare our hearts for what is to come. PRAYER FOCUS: Is there anything that has caused you to shrink back in your expectation of what the Lord wants to do? Pray for an expansion of what you see on your horizon and allow the Lord to expand your life to glorify Him. Ask for boldness to step out and be used by Him on a much greater scale. Allowing your gifts to be stirred up daily and to not slumber, but to be fully awakened! DAY 21 FOCUS ON WHAT IS YOUR ASSIGNMENT Luke 4:1-2, 14-15, 18-19 NIV 1 Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, left the Jordan and was led by the Spirit into the wilderness, 2 where for forty days he was tempted[a] by the devil. He ate nothing during those days, and at the end of them he was hungry 14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” In this season of intensely focusing on the Lord, He gives us a clearer vision of His specific path for our lives. Often after a time of prayer and fasting we have a more defined understanding of the part we have in the body of Christ, and also a greater sense of our particular spiritual giftings (1 Corinthians 12). "Walking in the power of the Holy Spirit" is essential to accomplish the assignments we have been given. He is equipping us to not only to know Him, but to also walk in His power. Galatians 5:25 KJV If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. PRAYER FOCUS: Are you walking in the Spirit and living in God's purposes for your life? Write down the things God is speaking to you. May the Lord continue to show you what your assignments are, and how to proclaim the good news to the poor, how to proclaim freedom to the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free! Proclaiming the year of the Lord's favor! Gabriele Gilpin www.soaringeagleinc.org |
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