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January 2, 2011 Show
A Special interview with Dr. James Russell, Professor and Chair at Oral Roberts University
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A Personal and Heavenly Make-over
for 2011 |
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Greetings!
Last week a godly woman shared a dream she had that gives a wonderful illustration of God's make-over for His people. This particular woman has been maturing in God's Kingdom for years, and senses that during the last two years she has reached a new maturity level. Her recent dream was:
"I was getting a facial make-over from one of the world's leading women in ministry. When the make-over was complete, I felt refreshed and as if my disposition in life was changed. In essence it felt like something was passed onto me from this well known person. As I left the place the make-over took place I traveled through many places (up and down hills on skis). Throughout my travels I saw numerous types of people who were all looking at me in amazement as if I had a new make-over or glow about me. However, at the same time I was carrying a quart of ice cream and going through a store check-out counter with the ice cream. The lady at the checkout kept telling me that my ice cream was melting and that I should exchange the ice cream. It was clear in the dream that the ice cream and lady at the counter were distractions from my travels."
On one hand the dream is unique to the person who had it, while on the other hand numerous people have shared similar visions or dreams they have had that illustrate a reflective view of their life. Their reflection included a type of heavenly exchange where their troubles, trials, and/or training from the past were now becoming part of a fresh and new type of Heavenly make-over. The woman who had the dream confirmed that she had received promises from God years before that she would be used by God in a special manner among many people. Needless to say, this woman loved the dream and potential meaning of the dream in which she can optimistically look into 2011. I challenged the woman to step back and make sure she can embrace the reality that God allowed her to get a reflective view of who she really is in Christ Jesus.
This Spiritual Newsletter is intended to challenge all of us to take a reflective view of who we were created to be in Christ Jesus. It is our hope you see your reflection in its purest and fullest form that God has promised you.
This Spiritual Bulletin Includes
- Can you believe and receive a reflection of your future - a personal make over?
- The World is waiting for us to have personal Make-overs
- Is 2011 your year for a reflective and spiritual make-over?
- Closing and Summary
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Can you believe and receive a reflection of your future - a personal make over? |
It is clear that many people choose not to believe in the supernatural aspects of God and would rather keep religion to a theory and measureable practice. We appreciate these view points, but would like to share scriptural evidence that God is in the business of doing heavenly make-overs for those who are interested in believing, seeing, and receiving their promises.
A spiritual make-over for Elisha
Elijah was a well known prophet in the Old Testament that did many miraculous signs. His successor was another prophet named Elisha who believed that God had called him to do miraculous things to shift humanities view of God. As Elijah was ready to retire (be taken to heaven) Elisha had the belief that he could receive a heavenly make-over by receiving a double portion of Elijah's blessing. Listen to the exact request and interaction.
"When they had crossed over, Elijah said to Elisha, "What can I do for you, 7 before I am taken away from you?" Elisha answered, "May I receive a double portion of the prophetic spirit that energizes you." Elijah replied, "That's a difficult request! If you see me taken from you, may it be so, but if you don't, it will not happen." II Kings 2:9-10
Elisha had the belief that he was able to receive the double blessing make-over. However, what was required to receive the blessing (according to Elijah) was that Elisha would have to actually see the transfiguration of Elijah being taken into heaven. It is clear that Elijah knew that Elisha could either believe and see his transfiguration, or not believe and miss his transfiguration into heaven. If he saw the transfiguration, he would receive the make-over he requested, but if he did not see the transfiguration he would not get the make-over.
Elisha believed in his make-over, asked for his make-over, saw his make-over, and then received his make-over. This is evident as Scripture reveals in I and II Kings that Elisha did exactly 32 miracles versus Elijah's 16 miracles. In fact some of the miracles even had twice the intensity (i.e. "Elijah prayed for no rain for 3 ½ years." James 5:17, 1 Kings 18:41-45; while Elisha was able to cause a drought for 7 years. II Kings 8:1-2).
After Elisha's make-over (from God via Elijah) Elisha performed some of the most miraculous miracles that involved reflection, optical illusion, and time being reversed. Please look up these spectacular miracles that occurred because Elisha believed in seeing God's invisible aspects that transforms space and time.
· Optical illusion created by the early morning sun reflecting upon the water (II Kings 3:21-23)
· Miraculous vision of an invisible army to appear to give courage. (II Kings 6:13-17)
· Turned-back time as a sign of adding 15-years unto King Hezekiah's life (II Kings 20:1-11)
Elisha had a personalized and heavenly make-over that created some of the most amazing looks from people of his day.
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Our world may need religion, politics, and education; but it awaits a heavenly make-over |
Throughout history certain seasons of time warrant the need for God to intervene in divine, spectacular, and miraculous ways. God knows that religion, politics, education, and committees are beneficial for societies up to a certain point, as they can help navigate civility and benefits from an earthly perspective. However, when society and human struggles reach a certain breaking point, it is time for a heavenly make-over where God calls upon His saints to step-up and believe, knock, ask, seek, and receive the supernatural grace that can only come from a spiritual and heavenly make-over. This same type of miraculous intervention is a historically proven and repeatable process that is induced through God's heavenly make-over(s). The Apostle Peter referred to them as 'Times of Refreshing' in Acts 3:19.
After thousands of years the world has witnessed the educational, political, and religious system provide enough balance to have a semi-civil civilization. However, the world has never witnessed the educational, political, or religious systems supernaturally transform the ills of society during unprecedented troubling times. Rather, God has chosen to impart spiritual gifts; whereby, His Spirit flows through the likes of Moses, Ruth, Elijah, Elisha, Mary, John the Baptist, Peter, Judas Maccabee, John Wesley, Aimee Semple McPherson, Oral Roberts, Billy Graham, Reinhard Bonnke, and many, many others. These types of godly individuals literally moved generations into a direction of physical, financial, and spiritual healings that no educational, political, or religious structure could accomplish. These individuals had unusual spiritual make-overs at one point or another in their life; much like the woman experienced in her dream.
Consider the Apostle Peter's case alone; His make-over was so great that people were healed in his shadow. People would literally line up the sick folks in rows on the street, in hope that Peter's shadow may pass by them, that they might be healed. The political, educational, or religious system of that day could not do what one man allowed God to do through him. See Acts 5:15 "As a result, people brought the sick into the streets and laid them on beds and mats so that at least Peter's shadow might fall on some of them as he passed by." |
Is 2011 your year for a reflective and spiritual make-over? |
We believe the woman who shared her dream with us was sincere, and has truly been prepared to do the very things God promised her. Our response to her, much like Elijah's response to Elisha, is ... "Will you believe and therefore see what God has revealed to you? If you see it, you will receive it, and if you receive it, you will act it out in real life."
Pam and I believe that 2011 is an opportune time for God to give many personal and heavenly make-overs. The world's challenges along with humanities dire needs warrant such a time for individuals to receive heavenly make-overs. It is plausible that many people have had similar feelings, dreams, visions, and/or prayers whereby God is hinting at a personal make-over. And, much like this woman's dream, they will be viewed differently by those who observe the make-over they begin to let shine.
Scripturally, the world is on the pathway for a make-over activity much like Elisha, Peter, and the woman experienced in her dream. This is explained in Romans 8:18-19
"For I consider that our present sufferings cannot even be compared to the glory that will be revealed to us. For the creation eagerly waits for the revelation of the sons of God." Romans 8:18-19.
During times when our creation is groaning, they are stating that they are waiting eagerly for the revelation of God to be revealed in His saints; and God responds through revealing His presence, salvation, miracles, and healings through individuals who have been revived, trained, and made-over by fresh revelation through them. This process is what makes people look at you differently! |
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As you recall in the woman's dream there was a present and ever ready distraction that the clerk was reminding her to focus on, the ice cream. The ice cream may very well represent the reality that we all have daily distractions that appear to take our eyes off the beauty that God has for each of us. The ice cream could represent cares, worries, and concerns that easily beset us and turn us away from the greater good that God has created us to become. However, the ice cream could also represent a larger distraction that has shifted our attention away from being made-over as individuals. Many people have spent years trying to create a make-over for America, a denomination, and/or a local church; whereby they miss the personalization of the Gospel in which heavenly (makes-overs) are completed on an individual basis. God is in love with people not America, countries, systems, or organizations. He cannot reverse his desire to save individual humans versus America, countries, systems, and denominations.
As much as this woman may love ice cream, the fact is that it will eventually melt away; but her beauty, value, and ability to worship and serve God is of greater value. This reality needs to be at the center of her attention; not the ice cream or another person worrying over her ice cream melting.
America, politics, educational systems, denominations, religions, etc. will also pass away one day; but the human heart/soul that Christ died for, will continue to be perfected into His perfect image and reflection. This continual make-over process will intensify as the creation begins to wait eagerly for the saints to reveal the manifestations of God.
May you receive your heavenly and personalized make-over in 2011!!
Mike and Pam Mathews In Christ's Love |
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