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I am a Full Time Intercessory Missionary at the Salem House Of Prayer
My beautiful bride and I at my mom's.
The Oil Of Intimacy Part 1-Mike Bickle (notes by Gary Black)
Mike is the founder of International House of Prayer (IHOP) in Kansas City, MO. He and his team of hundreds have established a house of 24 hours-a-day, 7-days-a week “Harp and Bowl” worship and prayer for over eight years now, non-stop!
Mike preached this message the night before The Call Las Vegas – I was on my face, crying out with conviction to the Lord. I pray that it has the same effect on you. The gist of the teaching is this:
We have two inheritances on earth – our heart inheritance and our ministry inheritance. Our primary inheritance is our heart connection with Jesus. Satan seeks to steal this aspect of our inheritance, knowing that by doing this he will also gain access to our ministry inheritance.
This is a teaching on the End Times and how prepared we are to “watch” for God and know Him as the Bridegroom, the King and the Judge.
Folks, we will experience the tribulation at some level – you will see through this teaching that those whose lamps have oil and know the Holy Spirit and those that are running around doing good things for God, but neglect getting the oil, will have an encounter.
Those that have taken the time to gain oil cannot just give to those that have not, or should we say that those people and ministries that are running around doing “good things” cannot buy from those that take the time to hear the voice of the Lord and know Him intimately. “Lovers” always out work “doers.”
If you would like the full 18-page outline of this teaching, please let me know. I’m sure Mike would be happy that I sent it to you. Remember, God’s judgment is the release of His ultimate love for you and me.
I. The context of the Parables in Matthew 25In Mt. 24-25, Jesus gave His primary teaching on the End-Times just before going to the cross, and it’s important to understand the context of these parables. The Second Coming will come after the tribulation.
These are “leadership parables,” meaning that these are parables about being leaders in the Church or having a ministry. There should be no chapter break between 24 and 25 – these two parables should always be studied together.
Immediately after the tribulation of those days the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light… Then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven… He will send His angels with… and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other. (Matthew 24:29-31)
There are more than 100 chapters on the End Times in the Bible, and this is referring to “World Dominion. In Mt. 24:37-41, Jesus prophesied of the great death toll that will occur in the generation in which He returns (Rev. 6:8; 9:15). The word “taken” does not refer to being caught up with him in the sky; they will be struck dead in some way. Those “taken” in Noah’s day were “taken in death.” Here’s the context:
As the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking… until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. (Mt. 24:37-41)
This is not talking about the rapture! This is the judgment of God – which is the release of His ultimate love for humankind. He loves us too much to allow anything to separate us from Him, and He must judge everything and anything that does separate us.
Two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. They said, “Where, Lord?” He said, “Wherever the body is, there the eagles will be gathered.” (Lk. 17:36-37) Eagles or Vultures gather around dead carcasses.
Jesus’ primary emphasis in Mt. 24-25, as well as His pastoral advice in light of the coming unprecedented death toll, was to watch or to develop a deep inner life in connection with the Holy Spirit (Mk. 13:32-37). This seems impractical to many; however, if we do this, then we will receive instruction, strength and supernatural courage to face everything else.
Watch therefore, (connected to the Holy Spirit) for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house (place of inheritance) to be broken into. (Mt. 24:42-43)
Todd Bentley’s Restoration with Rick Joyner Part 6. Apology to Church and Revival Alliance.
This is a very important word for the hour!
Paul Keith Davis: “A Vision of the Coming Days”
www.whitedoveministries.org
On July 31, 2008 while in Red Deer, Alberta Canada for a conference, the Lord took me into a very interesting and enlightening revelatory experience. It was approximately 3 o’clock in the afternoon after spending considerable time in preparation for the evening service. My subject was one that I had been diligently studying for several months involving the Lord’s admonition saying:
“For the coming of the Son of Man will be just like the days of Noah. For as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and they did not understand until the flood came and took them all away; so will the coming of the Son of Man be.”—Matthew 24:37-39
The Lord spoke to me clearly saying, “It would behoove you to understand as much as possible concerning the days of Noah; what overcame Noah’s day, your generation must overcome.” As a result of that charge I have been consumed with passion to fully understand Genesis 6 and its relationship to the days ahead.
While sitting on the couch in my hotel room in Red Deer, I was contemplating the Biblical implications of Genesis 6 in relationship to our day when suddenly I went into a revelatory encounter. I found myself in the Spirit standing in an evangelistic crusade being conducted on a football field. My first observation involved the people riveted to a message that was being preached from a podium on the field. I then clearly recognized the voice of the evangelist…it was the great Billy Graham preaching the Cross of Jesus Christ as only he could.
I was able to recognize the people’s attire resembled that from the 1960s. I could hear Dr. Graham presenting his anointed message from the four spiritual laws as complete silence filled the auditorium with the exception of his voice. Then I could hear the song “Just As I Am” being played as hundreds responded to his invitation and began quietly and orderly making their way to the altar.
Then a Voice spoke in the vision saying, “What is coming will not be like this!” With that statement I knew the coming revival would clearly have a strong evangelistic anointing like I heard from Dr. Graham, but also of a different nature that facilitated a compelling demonstration of the Spirit’s power producing reverential awe and conviction according to 1 Thessalonians 1:5 saying:
“For our Gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.”
With that statement I found myself standing in a large auditorium with a considerable altar area filled with the sick and afflicted on cots, gurneys and wheelchairs. To my amazement the entire altar was filled with the sick on a scale I have only seen in pictures from past revivals. To my right I noticed a man lying on a cot whose bones were twisted like pretzels. Further to the right, another man was seated in a wheelchair with his legs elevated and his feet curled under by a hideous bone disease. Beside him a man was lying on a gurney with a large tumor protruding from his abdomen.
I actually felt encouragement from this scene derived from the faith that permeated the atmosphere. These people were here because of the expectation and anticipation of God’s Presence to heal and deliver. Suddenly with that realization, the double doors of the sanctuary burst open and a family of approximately ten people came through the doors escorting what appeared to be a young teenage girl that was clearly demonized. I watched as she was screaming, cursing and throwing grown men around like rag dolls.
Then one of the men in the family spoke with a very demanding tone saying, “Somebody had better be here that can deal with this.” With that statement I could sense the family’s desperation for God’s intervention. They had tried every other alternative possible with no success. Only the power and authority of Christ could help this family.
As the family made their way up the aisle I walked towards them with the profound awareness that there was no time to call for a host of intercessors nor was there time to pray and fast. It was like a Mount Carmel showdown between light and darkness requiring that we call upon God’s grace and manifest Presence resident in us to meet this incredible need. I was immediately reminded of the Lord’s confrontation with the demoniac of Gadara. I was also thoroughly convinced that a mere spiritual gift, as wonderful as spiritual gifts may be, was not sufficient to overcome this level of darkness. It required “Christ in me, the hope of glory.”
As I walked toward the family my spiritual eyes were opened in the experience and I could see an evil being occupying this young girl that seemed to be approximately 12 feet tall. It was then I remembered my study concerning Genesis 6 and the Lord’s admonition that the day of His coming would be just as it was in the days of Noah. I knew that I was dealing with a being in the spiritual realm that had its origin in Genesis 6. What overcame Noah’s day in the natural, we must overcome in the Spirit!
Suddenly, a realm of authority rose up within me that I knew transcended present understanding of spiritual authority. Out of my mouth the words, “Be gone,” proceeded with great power and authority. As quickly as the words were spoken the spirit left the young girl. Of course, I realize this was a teaching experience to illustrate the authority we must aspire to and demonstrate in this generation to meet the great demands and level of darkness that will define the final days before the Lord’s return. It is the realm of Christ’s authority that the Bride must come to know in fullness in order to gather the great harvest.
As soon as the evil being left the young girl, the entire family came under the spirit of conviction and gave their lives to the Lord. Then I heard the Voice speaking again saying, “What has previously been relegated to India and Africa is coming to America and somebody had better get authority with Me and in a hurry.”
I knew that I had seen a spiritual confrontation that is commonplace with ministry in Africa and India. Some form of restraining force has been removed from our country that has sheltered us from this realm and dimension of spiritual darkness on a broad basis. It has been seen in isolated areas and circumstance but not as widespread as we are about to witness. We must prepare now to meet this incredible challenge. This level of hostile opposition will require the Lord’s Bride to enter a level of maturity belonging to “the fullness of Christ” and absolute demonstration of the Lord’s victory over death, hell and the grave. The apostle Paul admonished us saying:
“And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the Body of Christ; until we all attain to the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a mature man, to the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ.”—Ephesians 4:11-13
I believe with that admonition we will also see greater expressions of the spirit of revival that will be of a different nature than outpourings of the past. We have been ardently contending for mantles of revelation and power that were demonstrated in prior generations to be mingled with the fresh and unprecedented. Even though the Lord promised Joshua that He would be with him as He was with Moses, the ministry of Joshua had little resemblance to that of Moses. Likewise, though we may carry the same spirit of revelation and power that rested upon prior champions, the model of ministry will be considerably different.
Interestingly, shortly after this experience Wanda and I had the privilege of ministering in a conference alongside Heidi Baker. I took the opportunity to convey this revelation to her and asked her to share some of the confrontations with deep realms of darkness that she has personally experienced as a missionary in Mozambique, Africa. Without a moment’s hesitation she recounted several encounters with evil beings and people given over to them that most Christians in the West couldn’t fathom nor are prepared to deal with.
Even so, the Lord is opening the door of opportunity for us to pay the price as the early apostles did in order to carry this level of spiritual authority and dominion. Clearly the Bible foretells this as part of the last day’s ministry. The book of Revelation outlines a period of time in which the enemy is cast down to the Earth with great wrath and anger. Likewise, at that time a voice will be heard in Heaven with a promise to the Lord’s people that:
“Now the salvation, and the power, and the Kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night. And they overcame him because of the Blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death.”—Revelation 12:10-11
This confrontation is imminent. Since I have been bringing this message we have already noticed numerous accounts in the US media of darkness and spiritual violence that is staggering to the imagination. The prophet clearly admonished us saying:
“Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. For behold, darkness will cover the earth and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORD will rise upon you and His glory will appear upon you. Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your rising.”—Isaiah 60:1-3
A Prophecy From 1965
On February 26-28, 2009, WhiteDove Ministries hosted one of our most outstanding conferences in recent memory. Our guests Chuck Pierce and Steven Shelley brought incredibly prophetic and relevant messages, not only for the Tucson region, but also for this present time in Church history.
On the final day of our conference I was pleasantly surprised by a guest who the Lord sent to be a part of our last service. His name is “Buford Dowell” from Phoenix Arizona. I heard his name mentioned during the Lakeland revival and remembered the mention of a prophecy but knew little else. It was a great pleasure getting to know brother Dowell and hearing his experiences with some of the great healing revivalists of the prior generation.
Most interestingly, he shared with me a conversation that he had with William Branham in June of 1965. Buford Dowell had played the organ for Brother Branham in a healing meeting in Phoenix, and asked Buford to join him for lunch that afternoon. What transpired resulted in a fantastic prophecy that I wholeheartedly believe.
The following is an edited transcript of Buford Dowell sharing in our conference his testimony and the encounter with William Branham in June of 1965. I pray and trust it will be a source of great blessing and encouragement.
Transcription from Paul Keith Davis and Brother Buford Dowell, spoken in Tucson, AZ at February 28, 2009 conference:
Paul Keith Davis speaking: We currently have “Joshuas and Calebs” in our midst; people that saw things with their own eyes in the prior generation. I like to look someone in the eye when they share a testimony or tell a story of the miraculous; I want to watch their eyes and I want to hear their voice. I want to know what they saw is truth; you can discern it. A Christian can discern truth from error. So I shared all of that to just set the stage. I am not going to speak tonight, but I want to share an unexpected blessing I received today.
I met a man by the name of Buford Dowell this afternoon. I had heard his name before, and I had heard that he had a prophecy involving William Branham. I found out today, I didn’t know this, but in 1965 in this very room he played the organ for William Branham’s meetings.
Isn’t it amazing that God would send him here for us tonight? A Joshua or a Caleb, I don’t know which; it doesn’t really matter. Both of them went in and obtained the inheritance.
He was telling me about a day when he had lunch with William Branham. And Brother Branham prophesied to him pretty much what you and I are about to move into in our generation. So I asked Brother Buford, if he wouldn’t mind sharing that testimony. Would you like to hear it? Yes. Please welcome Buford Dowell!
Buford Dowell speaking: Would somebody repeat after me, my favorite Scripture? “For this purpose the Son of God was being manifest, that He might destroy the works of the devil.” Guess who He is going to use to do it?
William Branham isn’t here. I still feel him here. Maybe he’s part of that cloud of witnesses, looking in on us. That is something bigger than me. He’s not here. A.A. Allen is not here. His son, Paul Allen is sitting on the front row…I love him to death. We’ve grown up together. Between him and me, and a couple of seats over, Paul Hammond, we’ve been all over the world and preached in more tents than Carter’s got liver pills.
We’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly. I like the good a whole lot better. If Brother Branham was here, if Brother Allen was here or Jack Coe, who laid his giant hands on my little bitty hands when I was around 13 and prayed a big fancy prayer, said, “Jesus, teach Buford how to play the organ. Amen.” I went and sat down. And I thought in my heart at the time, “Lord, he could have prayed a little longer.”
But then all of a sudden I remembered like it was yesterday, those are the same hands that I saw reach up and take that cancer on that lady’s face and pull it off. I almost fainted when I saw that. There was nothing left but a pink dot. And I thought, “That’s the same hands that took that man whose back was all hunch-backed.” He looked like the hunchback of Notre Dame. Brother Coe was a big man, and he put his knee on his back and pulled back on his shoulders and screamed, “Jesus.” Then the man went out screaming and I knew he’d killed him. I knew he was hurt or wounded. I was sitting by the organ. I couldn’t play the organ then. I was sitting by the organ, dreaming.
Anybody got a dream in this place? Don’t quit dreaming. God will have somebody lay their hands on you; you will wake up the next day and your dream will become true.
I sat up there and almost fainted when Jack Coe pulled back on that man’s shoulders. The man let out a scream that I misinterpreted. And I began to have a suspicion he was hurt. And the man took off running around the building. And when he came back, his back was as straight as mine is because he was healed. And then it hit me, “I’m going to play the organ.”
You see, that was important to me, because I had taken three weeks of piano lessons, and a little 16-year-old concert piano concerto pianist who played like Liberace tried to teach me. And the third week he gave me my second false prophecy. He grabbed the music book, threw it on the floor and said, “You’ll never play anything but the radio.” Well, that was good for my confidence.
Well, I turned my radio on, ten years of age at the time; I turned my radio on and listened to A.A. Allen on the radio. I listened to Jack Coe, and some other preachers. I got saved every time. My God, they’d preach it; I could hardly stand it. I could almost smell the smoke. If the walls of this building could talk they would testify of the miraculous that occurred in this room when I played the organ for William Branham in 1965. I also played for him in Phoenix at the Ramada Inn, and if those walls could talk.
I’m going to tell you what he told me just a few months before the Lord took him home. Today as I was leaving Phoenix to come down here, I took an associate to the airport and I had to drive down Van Beuren in Phoenix. Some of you know where it’s at. And I saw the place where there used to be an old cafeteria. And on the last Sunday afternoon of the crusade in Phoenix in 1965, Brother Branham walked over to the organ after the service and he said, “Son, would you like to go for lunch with me?” I had seen him many times in different places and was privileged to be with him on occasion. But that was a joy, and my heart almost jumped out of my chest. “Oh yes, Brother Branham I’d love to have lunch.” I was 19 years of age at the time.
I got off the organ. We went and got into his car and we drove over to this little cafeteria. When we got out of the car he said, “Come here, I want to show you something.” He gets the key to the trunk and he opens it up and to my shock he’s got a gun case in there. It was a hunting rifle. It was a 30/30 Winchester. He took it out and handed it to me, “The Winchester Company just mailed this to me,” he said. It had his name engraved in gold on the bottom, “Brother William Branham.”
I felt like I was almost tucked into the Ark of the Covenant. I didn’t know how to shoot it, but I knew it was special. I knew he liked to go deer hunting once in a while. I had some minister friends who liked to go hunting with him. I said, “Brother Branham, I heard about those times that you would like to go hunting. Brother so-and-so and Brother so-and-so went with you.” He confirmed that was true.
Anyway, we went on in the restaurant. And here’s what I’m supposed to be telling. We went on in the restaurant, got our food, and we sat down. I’m ashamed to say this, but can I just tell it like it was. I’m just going to tell the truth. I had in my mind back then that if Brother Branham hired me for an advance man, why I could really help him have big crusades or so I thought. Now, of course, that was my carnal brain. I had helped a few preachers put some ads in the paper and I had thought I had the answers for the preachers’ advertisements.
But Brother Branham, he was sitting there and I said, “Brother Branham, you know you’re only in your 50’s. You’ve got plenty of energy. If you just had the right promotion you could have the biggest crusades you’ve ever had.” He looked at me and smiled and dropped his head. He said, “No son,” he said, “You see, that’s not the way God planned it.”
That wasn’t really what I wanted to hear, but how do you tell William Branham something you didn’t want to hear? He was speaking for God and I was listening with my old carnal brain. I said, “What do you mean, Brother Branham?” He said, “Well, you see, God’s through with me.” And I almost fell off my seat. I said, “What do you mean about that? You’ve got plenty of years left?” He said, “Well, my season has come to a close.”
He went on to explain how he had been part of a great season of healing revivals. He mentioned all the voice of healing preachers, many of them. He mentioned Brother Allen and others. He had been in some of my father’s meetings, and he was kind to mention that. Dad had a great Holy Ghost anointing. Dad and my mother could get more people through the baptism than Elvis Presley could get in his concert. Sometimes 1500 people could get the baptism, because they had a love to see people get the Holy Ghost.
We need a fresh infilling and baptism into the Holy Spirit. I’m not just talking about tongues, that’s wonderful; we’re going to have to learn to walk in the Spirit to get the job done in this hour.
Brother Branham said, “I’ve been in this season where we laid hands on people one at a time and we saw blind eyes open, cancers disappear, the lame walk. And oh, it was wonderful.” But he said, “I am about to leave you because God is done with me but another season is coming. And this season is going to be teaching and revelation of the Word of Jesus Christ; who we are in Him and who He is in us.” Not just Jesus hanging on the Cross. That’s wonderful. But religion will leave Him on the Cross.
Brother Branham went on to emphasize, “It’s about Jesus in us and us in Him.” And he said, “This teaching season will go for a while, and then it will come to a close. And God is going to take every move of God in history, and even what we witnessed and what we saw in Bible days, and put it all together in one great Holy Ghost bomb and drop it on Planet Earth and the nations will rock and reel with the power of God like we’ve never seen.”
On Prime Time News—not the late night talk/gab shows, not the preachers, the Prime Time News—will show the dead being raised and limbs created and eyes being put back in eye sockets and arms stretching out. And preachers won’t lay their hands on them like we did; they will simply speak the word and blindness will leave. There’ll be so many people, no auditorium, no church and no arena will hold the people. And no tent.
He said, “They’ll even stand in an open field. It’s going to happen in America.” Brother Branham said, “God is going to bring the ministry of the apostles and the prophets to the forefront.”
How many of you can remember when you never heard the word “apostle or prophet” in your churches? All we heard was pastors and teachers and evangelists because they’d been pushed in the background. Jesus said (I didn’t say it, William Branham didn’t say it); Jesus said that His Church would be founded on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Jesus Christ the Head. The fivefold ministry functioning in the Body of Christ!
God’s bringing them forth, into the forefront. But Branham said to me, “They will have the mind of God and the heart of God and the Voice of God. And when they speak, their words will become the Words of God.” They won’t say what man says. They won’t say what denominations say or tradition or any of that. They will speak as the oracle of God. And they won’t just speak about the future. Anybody that reads the Bible can do that. You don’t even have to have the Holy Ghost to talk about the future.
We’ve got a lot of people running around calling themselves prophets. But simply calling yourself a prophet doesn’t necessarily make you a prophet. When this group emerges, they will speak as the oracle of God and whatever they say, God will create it because it will be His time, His will and His Word. And it won’t be about the ministers, it will be about Him.
If I learned anything traveling with these precious men of God from the past, whom I love very much and could tell countless testimonies of miracles and deliverance, but the greatest miracle of all is the miracle of millions of people coming to Jesus. I got to sit right here in this room and play the organ in 1965 and watch them come to Jesus. I saw people come and get saved. I could see the conviction of God on them; the Holy Ghost changed their lives right in front of me.
One time in Brother Allen’s meeting, I got off the organ and I told the associate, “I’ve got to go pray.” I went to my room and I stayed in my room for three days and got saved all over again because people were getting more than I was getting. I sat on the organ so long, I had backslid. I’m just being honest with you. The greatest place to lose your walk with God is sitting in the church somewhere, with your mind tied up and tangled up in religion and stuff, and all these do’s and don’ts. But if you want to know Jesus, He is here.
Oral Roberts laid his hands on my hands when I was ten years old. I had no idea what he was doing. He said, “Jesus, bless this boy. Let him take Your healing power to the nations.” I didn’t want to go nowhere. I was comfortable at home. I had my bicycle and Roy Rogers, Gene Autry, and a black and white TV set. What else could a boy want?
God put the desire in my heart to sit on that organ. I saw the power of God so much in those crusades till I couldn’t sit there. I’d go to the hotel and motel, and I’d dream at night, and I’d be preaching and praying for the sick in my dreams.
Finally, I took $8,000—that’s all I had. Went to Nassau, Bahamas and rented a ballpark. I put money on advertising and shipped a little half pint organ—a little Spinet and put a microphone on it so they could hear it. Nine thousand people showed up and I didn’t know what to do with them.
I just played the organ and sang and testified. And when I ran out, I started all over again. And they got to singing, praising God with me. And in a few nights the crowd was getting bigger. When it was raining, they wouldn’t go home. I was soaking wet, so were they. But we just kept having church. Anyway, to make a long story short, I wound up going all over the world in missionary crusades because somebody took the time to bless me and say, “Let him take your healing power to the nations.”
I believe God’s going to do it. I believe God’s going to do it. Here’s the bottom line. All of it, past, present, future is not about men. They’re just men. It’s all about Jesus.
When Brother Allen went to be with the Lord, I raced across America to get there in time for the funeral at Miracle Valley. And I didn’t make it. I got somewhere down there and I missed the funeral. And I was weeping and I said, “God, I didn’t want to miss that funeral. He was such a blessing to me.” And God said, “It wasn’t about him, it was about My deposit that I put in him.” He said, “Son, you can have the same.”
T. L. Osborne said, “William Branham was raised up to show the Body of Christ that we can do what Jesus did.” It wasn’t just about his message, it was all about Jesus. You can lay your hands on the sick and God will heal them.
God spoke to me on the way to this service. God said, “I’m tired of you just praying for people to be healed. Pray for them that they’d open their heart and let Me move in and bring My healing with Me. And it’ll flow through them to somebody else that’s sick, and it will flow through that person to somebody else that’s sick.” From Paul it will flow through to another person. Don’t you want to be used of God? God wants every person in this place to be a channel. Give Him a handclap.
Paul Keith Davis speaking: If you believe that say, “That’s nothing but the truth. Nothing but the truth. I believe it.” You can look into his eyes. Do you believe it? That man, this brother, was with William Branham only to promote his ministry. Brother Branham said, “That’s not going to happen. My life is coming to an end.”
He told me over here earlier today, “That was six months before Brother Branham died in 1965.” Just before William Branham left he said, “Something is coming.” It’s about a Body of people, walking with God, becoming the habitation of Him. It’s not just about miracles, but it’s about God in us. We are about to encounter great realms of darkness. If we don’t get that level of the Lord in us, we’re not going to be able to meet the needs of our generation. That’s it.
He said, “Every mantle, every anointing, every commissioning that has existed will be dumped into our day.” And we’ve been through this qualification process. It’s not about how much we have done or what we have performed, but instead it’s about—how emptied are you? How much have you pulled back your breastbone to allow God to extract the tares of our soul?
I couldn’t have preached a message any better than what he just preached. I want this man of God to release into us what he has seen and carried, and begin to walk it. We’re going to pray for you still, but I want this to be released. And we’re going to pray for him. Would you do that?
Buford Dowell speaking: If you went to the doctor and he examined you and he gives you a prescription, most of you would go to the drugstore and get the prescription. Well I’ve got a Holy Ghost prescription. There’s a book laying back there. Have you got them with you? “The Price of God’s Miracle Working Power…” Perhaps one of the most powerful books A.A. Allen wrote. If you’ve got it, you can give it. I’ve got healing power in my hands, just like this brother.
Jack Coe laid his hands on me and God taught me how to play the organ. Now everybody’s not going to be an organist here, but if you’ve got a desire, the Lord will give you a gift, a talent. Maybe it’s to play the piano, the guitar, or sing, or write poetry, or just a gift. I want to impart the spirit of gift. The Bible said, “Every good and perfect gift comes from the Lord.”
I don’t play the organ because I was born with talent, I couldn’t even play the radio without getting stuck. A man of God imparted that anointing into my hands and I started doing what I couldn’t do before within four weeks. I was playing in Dallas at his church. And within two months I was playing before ten to twenty thousand people in worship. And I didn’t even know how to play but two keys.
We’re going to pray, and it’s not because of how great we are but because of how great He is. And I pray to God that you’ll never look at another national evangelist on TV without seeing Jesus. If you don’t see Jesus, you’ve missed it. If you see all the sizzle and all the glamour and the gold and whatever, you’ve missed what God wants you to see. When you leave this meeting and you haven’t had an encounter with Jesus, you’ve missed what this is all about. Am I right?
Father, on Your Word, Brother Branham preached this Word and You confirmed it with signs and wonders and miracles.
And T.L. Osborne was sitting in the audience and never had a miracle. And he went home and said “God, if You can do it for that humble man, You can do it for me.” And he got on a plane; he and Daisy went to India. And that was the beginning of one of the greatest evangelistic ministries this planet ever saw.
Father, if You can do it for them, You can do it again; and You’ve given me something, and I’m giving You all the honor.
Now in Jesus’ name, these men join with me, and we transfer our anointing. We transfer our gifting into this congregation. If you’ll open your heart right now, Jesus will walk right into it and bring everything that you want with Him. Hallelujah. Open up, open up, open up in Jesus’ name. Come on in, Lord Jesus. Say it again. Come on in. Bring everything I need to do the work. Your life will never be the same. Amen
Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
WhiteDove Ministries
Email: inquiries@whitedoveministries.org
Our obedience is to simply ask or do what we can and leave the rest to Christ. Thanks for taking 5 min. friends!
What if…?
Steven, like many visitors at SHOP is a young man who just showed up one day and kept coming back. His warmth and transparency was like a ray of sunshine that day. He introduced himself and began to share that he traveled across the country by bus to reconcile with a loved one, and was staying at the mission. We prayed together briefly and my life became connected to this new young friend of mine. Steven came back the next day to read his Bible and pray. One hour became two, two hours became four. Day by day, hour by hour, the Holy Spirit was moving in Steven’s heart. About six weeks later, I saw Steven in the men’s room and asked how he was doing. As he opened his heart, he began to weep, even sob. They were not tears of repentance or regret. On the contrary, through his tears, Steven reflected the beauty of broken humility before the Lord. He is finding his identity as a man on fire and full of love for Jesus!
On one hand…
We are in an interesting season right now at the Salem House Of Prayer. On one hand, God is changing people’s lives day by day in this humble little prayer room. We witness all kinds of miracles, big and small, every day. More and more people are praying, worshiping and growing up into His image. Passion for true unity is growing, and we keep finding ourselves right in the middle of events that only God could have orchestrated! We feel the pleasure of God’s heart because the weak, poor, and broken of our city can encounter His presence and His love day and night, 24/7, and find people that will just love and encourage them in Christ. His presence keeps increasing and the intercession keeps rolling like a river over Salem and the Northwest, changing the spiritual atmosphere!
On the other hand, we find ourselves as Intercessory Missionaries in one the most desperate states in finances and support. I do not say that lightly. Besides worshiping, praying, and ministering to people 24/7, we also need to keep our families fed and our bills paid. It’s challenging to stay in the black, let alone provide music lessons for our children or get some necessary work done on our vehicles that desperately need it. The list of needs goes on and we are not complaining about it. We find God’s provision step by step and yet we feel Him challenging us to get out of survival mode and into thriving mode!
Put your hands together… and pray.
We love our work as missionaries and we embrace the challenges, but how do we reconcile these realities? With these bills hanging over us, we did the one thing we know how to do-we prayed. At our last staff meeting, we felt challenged to ask God for more than our immediate needs. As we sought Him for how we should pray, He gave us a specific amount and time frame to believe for SHOP as organization and in addition He is leading us specifically regarding each of our individual circumstances as missionaries, most with families, about what to believe and ask for. The result has been a very, faith stretching call, but we believe we have heard from heaven!
As a family we are boldly asking God to bring in $10,000 in 30 days, starting today Thursday, March 12th and will end on Saturday, April 11th. We are also asking God for creative ideas how we can tap into His resources.
The Lord spoke to us Jeremiah 33:3 as confirmation both corporately and individually:
“Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things, fenced in and hidden, which you do not know (do not distinguish and recognize, have knowledge of and understand)” (Amplified Bible)
The Salem House Of Prayer is YOUR house of prayer; it is a corporate altar for the city, state, region, nation; even the entire earth. Houses Of Prayer are spiritual catalysts that break open things in the spirit and galvanize the unity of the citywide church. SHOP is praying for YOU, for our city, for all the congregations of Salem, and for the region.
Intercessory missionaries like us need YOUR help. If only 100 friends gave $100 over the next month, we would have the amount God spoke to us. We are already praising Him for His faithfulness and perfect wisdom. Together, we can watch God mobilize a miracle that comes through his people in the city, the Northwest and beyond!
To give please CLICK HERE and help us keep the fire burning and partner with us to see our city and region transformed for the Glory of Jesus Name!
A response to the unrighteous judgment of Todd Bentley, the Lakeland Revival and beyond.
Some time back in June of 08’ at a Friday night Intercession meeting at the Salem House of Prayer there was a powerful segment of intercession surrounding the subject of the present move of God in the earth and the division that is being generated in the Body of Christ as a result of people taking sides for or against this, that, or the other. The following article, now slightly edited, was written back then. In light of recent events with my brother Todd Bentley I feel very strongly that I should post this on Facebook and maybe a few other places. Todd, like myself and every other human, has made some big mistakes. I am not surprised or ashamed of leaders when mistakes are made. Whether speaking of myself or Todd or Ted Haggard or Jim Bakker or ______________ I am convinced in the great grace of of God Almighty to forgive, heal and restore.
I do not know Todd personally. We have never met and has no knowledge of this article. This is has been on my heart for months now and I am gripped for unity in the Body of Christ that readily extends the grace and mercy it has been extended. This note will probably fade away unread by most but my heart gives me no rest.
I am man who has walked the trail of tears because of my own sin and failures and have seen the power of restoration first hand in my life even in the midst of some major mistakes. My dark night is over now and guess what? I didn’t deserve any of what God has done in turning my “weeping into to joy”. Oh the power of the Cross!
Many in Body of Christ are taking sides for or against this, that, or the other regarding the Lakeland Revival and Todd Bentley. The result has moved many to a place of outright judgment against what they believe to be a movement full of, as one person said “demonic dung”, and labeling the leaders at the forefront of it as hucksters. The flip side is many who are for the move of God are returning the same spirit of judgment against those who are judging it! Beloved we need unity and love!
“Wolves in sheep’s clothing” is the phrase being bantered around a lot these days by those who would stand in the place of judgment leveling their accusation at broken, saved people, full of the Spirit and not yet fully mature. Are we really still surprised when the men and women God picks to “lead” something mess up in some way? Real danger is coming in this great unholy divide that is splitting the Church in America and beyond. Soon there may be great repercussions from a heart that is filling much of the Body of Christ that is full of Unrighteous Judgment.
“And at that time many will fall away and will betray one another and hate one another. Many false prophets will arise and will mislead many. Because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.” Matthew 24:10-12
“Do not speak against one another, brethren. He who speaks against a brother, or judges his brothers, speaks against the law, and judges the law; but if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law, but a judge of it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the One who able to save and to destroy; but who are you who judge your neighbor? Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the JUDGE is standing right at the door.” James 4:11, 12; 5:9
These are serious and frightful warnings to each of us in the body of Christ. If your ministry has primarily become the pointing out of the faults of other men/women of God or ministries, the Bible is clear that you need to sincerely ask yourself “has my love grown cold?” “Is my accusation righteous or am I joining the accusation of the Accuser himself?” “Am I full of a loving heart or rather a betraying heart that speaks against God’s people and fuels disunity?”
If you, or anyone, are not wrong on who Jesus is or what Jesus has done through the cross and resurrection then the rest of what we believe, for the most part, is open for some measure of disagreement. Disagreement in the Spirit of Christ never looks like accusation, betrayal, hatred and unrighteous judgment. Never.
We must decide in our hearts that we will not tolerate any more division, and devote ourselves to unity. I can not come up with one negative ramification of unity. Some of the most extraordinary promises of God are connected to His people being in unity. The benefits are impossible to overstate and yet our motivations should not only be “the results” but rather that we get to honor our Lord Jesus Himself by being the living answer of His prayer in John 17. Clearly this pleases Jesus. May we do all that we can to bring pleasure to the Lord at this critical juncture in human history.
Romans 12:10: Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves.
If we arrogantly point to other movements or leaders as “not of God” or “inferior” and declare ourselves to be of the movement or following the leader that is “best” or “superior”, we have almost certainly disqualified ourselves from being trustworthy or effective. The standard of Biblical credibility, which is love and honor, just goes down the drain when we give ourselves to faultfinding even when the faults we find are true. Everyone has them, sometimes even big ones, and that still does not mean they are disqualified, evil, or mostly wrong.
Notice it does not say to devote ourselves in love to those that agree with us. Just to be devoted to each other in love. We are to honor all those who have called on Jesus name for Salvation, not just the ones who look or sound like us! We need each other. We simply can not make it in these times without each other. However, once we start to really connect and “dwell together” reaching out to others in the body of Christ quickly becomes something we get to do, not just that we have to do. I do not believe it’s possible to overstate the benefits of unifying at this juncture of the churches experience. We know so little of true unity that there is so much yet to be had for God’s people who embrace unity that is rooted and grounded in love and honor of one another.
It will be those who view other movements and their leaders with the honor they deserve, and who will open themselves to their message and teachings, who will be qualified to receive the next level of authority. We all see in a part and we all need each other to have a full representation of Christ in our individual lives, churches, movements, etc.
One of my favorite authors, Rick Joyner, said this:
“When we judge in such a way that we are criticizing, we are condemning ourselves to the opposition of God, Who “resists the proud and gives grace to the humble” James 4:6 Criticism is one of the highest forms of pride. When we criticize others we are by that declaring ourselves to be superior to them. This may be true, but if we are better than others it is only because of God’s grace. To become proud of our standing is to depart from the very foundation upon which we are standing-God’s grace.
The failure to properly understand righteous and unrighteous judgment is the reason for many of the greatest failures of the church in history, and is one of the most important issues facing the church today. Until we understand them, and walk by that understanding, we will continue stumble over a deadly stumbling block. The church both historically and presently has been prone to use unrighteous judgment while utterly neglecting the righteous judgment.
Many watchdog ministries and Christian journalists have stumbled while sincerely trying to help fill a tragic void in church government. They fall because they moved into a realm of authority to which they have not been appointed. Meanwhile, the elders neglect the authority which they have been given to exercise. Every new movement will continue to fall short of its potential until this important issue is resolved.
Looking at some of the historic factors that have caused others to retreat can help us discern these stumbling blocks. The first dangerous delusion is for us to think that we would never oppose a true move of God. It has happened to some of the greatest men of god in history. The arrogance that it cannot happen to us can be the very thing that disqualifies us from God’s grace, which He only gives to the humble.
Unfortunately, most new movements are led by relatively immature leaders. This is because the mature leaders have become “old wineskins”, too inflexible to receive the new wine. Spiritual movements must be led by the Spirit, Who requires flexibility and openness. Usually the only ones he can find that are flexible enough are the immature, because they have not yet become inflexible with preconceived ideas. Immature leaders are therefore more prone to be dependent on the Holy Spirit than on their experience, allowing Him to direct as he chooses. This is probably why the Lord chose such unlikely and “unqualified” men as the foundational leaders of His church. They were so unqualified that they were desperately dependent upon His grace and guidance”.
It is time to understand how our words affect our hearts and the hearts of countless others in our spheres of influence. It is time to be people of Grace and Wisdom being “full of all spiritual wisdom and understanding” that we might accurately discern and align ourselves with what God is doing, being very careful to not call that which is from God, from the devil or that which is from the devil, God.
1 Peter 5:5 Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”
Soon, if there is not wholesale repentance and a purposeful realigning with God’s heart, many will completely miss what God is doing in this hour and are in danger of aligning themselves with the accuser unwittingly becoming an enemy of the work of God. Some may even continue to the point of hardening their heart so dramatically that they are forever relinquished to mediocrity and diminished usefulness at best, or at worst, become deceived and hard hearted because of pride. Again God resists the proud but give grace to the humble.
Let’s stay humble and extend grace. Let’s be patient with what we don’t understand. Let’s judge the fruit of a thing without make character judgments about people we don’t know personally and be ready to freely extend grace and mercy when leaders do make mistakes (because they will).
Let me be clear that Lakeland has obvious fruit that is obviously glorifying the one true and risen Lord; Jesus Christ. Satan does not drive out Satan and he would certainly not falsely heal someone in a meeting where the Gospel of Jesus Christ is so clearly being preached. To do either of those things would be to divide his own house and is in direct opposition to what Jesus taught us about the nature of any kingdom.
As long as the Gospel continues to be preached in Lakeland, and it is, and as long as God continues to establish His word with signs following, as He has, then I’m not too concerned about some fine theological point that may not be in line with my doctrine. Now if Todd Bentley or any other man or woman ever gets up and preaches another “gospel” as a result of an angel or exhorts someone to do what the Bible calls sin I assure you that I, as would his leaders, be quick to condemn such an act. The simple fact is that it’s not happened and there are safeguards in place if it does.
Now my brothers and sisters lets get on with reaching souls, meeting needs, healing the sick, casting out demons and the like. Freely we have received let’s get on with giving it away.
To finish where we started let me end with saying that the only wolves running around these parts right now are the people who from either side of the issue have turned their words into teeth and are devouring each other with unrighteous judgment in the name of Jesus. I can assure you that Jesus has not asked any of us to be wolves to the other. Sheep don’t kill, steal or destroy. What’s the fruit of your words?
God help us all!
Where is the grace for the man Todd Bentley? Mistakes and sin do not equal judgement and crucifixion in God’s Kingdom!
Todd Bentley Begins Restoration Process By Rick Joyner
Todd Bentley was used to spark the Lakeland Outpouring, which raised the faith level of much of the body of Christ. Testimonies of healings and miracles from it are now virtually all over the world. When Todd’s marriage failed, he abruptly stopped all ministry and virtually disappeared for almost nine months. In the meantime, his divorce was finalized and he has recently remarried. Todd has taken full responsibility for the failure of his marriage. He and Jessa also admit that their relationship was premature and should not have happened the way it did. Both are adamant that it was not the cause for the failure of his first marriage, nor did they begin their relationship until Todd was convinced that his marriage was over. They have both expressed that it was wrong and premature. They do not want to try and cover this up even though they know many will never accept them for it. Even so, they are married now and are resolved to make the most of their marriage, their lives, and to continue to serve the Lord in the best way that they can.
My position all along has been that I will do my best to comply with Galatians 6:1, “If a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (NKJV). To obey this Word, I have always felt that it did not matter what one had done, and that it was my responsibility to help them find the grace of God to return to the place from which they had fallen. I confess that with Todd, I am not just doing this as a duty. From the time I first met him nearly ten years ago, I knew that he had an extraordinary purpose and a gift of faith for the miraculous that would be desperately needed in these times. I consider helping any of God’s children an honor, and helping Todd is a privilege.
I also confess to some selfish ambition in wanting to do this. I had a dream two decades ago in which one of my children had fallen into a sewage ditch and could not get up. My child was being scorned and no one would help him. A man came along who helped my child get up and then cleaned up. In that dream, I felt as if I would give everything that I owned to this man who helped my child. Then I heard the voice of the Lord say, “Jim Bakker is My child. Will you help him?” Since that time, I have been devoted to helping any of God’s children that I could who have committed any trespass, because I knew there were few other things that would bring the Father’s favor.
I consider this willingness to at least try to help others this way a major reason for the extraordinary favor that our ministry, my family, and I have received. I love Todd and am glad to help him, but I also know by doing this, I will be doing something that means a great deal to our Father. When we release someone to minister in the body of Christ, we are releasing him or her to minister to God’s own children, and I personally do not do that with anyone who I would not allow to minister to my own family. For all that was done through Todd, and especially at Lakeland, which touched and helped countless thousands, many were also left confused and hurt by the way it ended.
I think Todd is even more sensitive to this than I am. Although in some ways he greatly misses being in ministry and praying for people, he wants to be sure that when he comes back that his life and his ministry are on the most solid ground possible so that he does not cause these kinds of problems again. Jack Deere and Bill Johnson have agreed to be a part of Todd’s restoration process.
I asked them to be a part because I know they will probably see things I don’t, but also because both Todd and I trust them and know they would not sign off on something they did not really believe in. However, both of them are going to be involved in this at a distance, and therefore, I will be the main person responsible. Being a believer in body ministry, I expect our whole leadership team, and to some degree, our whole local church, to be involved in helping Todd and Jessa.
Our staff and all from the church that I have discussed this with are very happy about them being here and want to help them in any way that they can. In future Bulletins, we will go into more detail about what we’re doing and why, as well as what we think was a cause of some of the failures Todd experienced. We will only do this for the sake of helping others avoid the same traps. We know that trust has to be earned and that Todd will have to earn the trust of the body of Christ for future ministry, which will not be easy, nor should it be. Todd, more than most, does not want to jump back into ministry prematurely, even as much as he misses it in some ways.
I for one have been very encouraged by the expressions of grace and genuine concern so many have expressed toward Todd in this situation. It gives me great hope. As we have been constantly reminded, the Lord had great patience with sinners, but He had none for the self-righteous. We’re all here because He had mercy on us, and we know we still need it. However, we also know that true repentance and restoration can only come if we refuse to compromise the clear biblical standards for morality and integrity.
Todd wanted to personally say the following:
It has been a long while since I have spoken publicly and openly. I am sorry for the hurt and confusion that my decisions have caused the body of Christ. It has been a true season of brokenness, hiddenness, and a long process of grieving. As many of you now know, my previous marriage has endured years of unresolved conflicts. I apologize that it has ended in divorce, and I take full responsibility for my part for the ending of the marriage. I realize that my silence and decisions have caused many of you to feel hurt, confused, and offended. The reason for the silence was for my need of healing, creating a restoration process under a team of qualified leaders, much needed rest after the Lakeland Outpouring, repentance, and the divorce process. I have now relocated to Fort Mill, South Carolina and have entered into my restoration and healing process under Rick Joyner, Jack Deere, and Bill Johnson. I am confident of this one thing—that God is faithful to His promise and my hope is to be fully restored, strengthened, healed, and to learn from all the mistakes I have made along the way. Thank you friends and partners for your continued prayers, encouragement, and love. I am committed to the work of the Holy Spirit and confident that the good men around me will help me be restored first as a man, as a husband, and ultimately to fulfill God’s call on my life.
Those of you who were touched by the Lakeland Outpouring do not lose your encouragement.What happened there was from God, and Todd is a true servant of God. He has made some mistakes, and he is trying to get his life back in order, and you can be confident that he will.
Throughout the Bible, many of the greatest heroes in it also made some of the worst mistakes. King David, possibly the greatest hero in the Bible after Jesus, made one of the most horrible mistakes, not only committing adultery, but murdering the husband of the woman he committed it with. God knew that was going to happen with David when He called him, and He loved David before, during, and afterward.
One of the remarkable events in the Bible is that the Lord then used Bathsheba to bring forth the heir to the throne, Solomon, and she is part of the genealogy of Jesus. It still stretches me, but we need stretching in the grace of God. At the same time, we must balance it with how God hates divorce, and it is one of the scourges of our times that is tragically hurting many, many people.
Marriage is under such an assault now because it is so important. However, legalism will not overcome lawlessness. This situation and similar ones that almost every church and family are now being faced with is one that we need answers for. We cannot run from Him, but must run to Him with our need.
Many of Todd’s friends and former partners have asked if and how they might help.
Donations can now be made to Fresh Fire USA at the following address: Fresh Fire USA C/O MorningStar Fellowship Church 375 Star Light Dr. Fort Mill, SC. 29715
Make checks out to Fresh Fire USA or if you would like to donate by credit card, call 1-800-542-0278, and tell the operator that you want to make a donation to Fresh Fire USA.
