The Oil Of Intimacy Part 1-Mike Bickle

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)