THANKSGIVING PRAYER!

We Gather in Thanksgiving To express our appreciation To the God of all living.

A Time set apart for giving of Thanks To our Lord and Savior By the city wide churches serving in their ranks.

I asked for a sonnet to sing And didn’t hear a thing.

I enquired for a poem to say But received only a little ray.

Time was given to listen and pray And these words I was given to say.

When my soul became still And His presence became real,

Words of Worship Are all I can Say Concerning this Thanksgiving Day

Expressions of Praise from my lips And a prayer I now say:

Clean Hearts, O God, create in us, Hearts full removed from sinful lust.

Washed in His Blood, each part And captured by you love, our hearts…

Hearts that are given in great fullness, Humbled in thanksgiving, residing in Your Rest.

Thankful hearts that are given Through meekness of living, To have each day, a day of Thanksgiving.

Thank you being Lord of this our land, Governed by your mighty hand By Your Grace we can only stand.

Thank you…. From your sons and daughters And not just a few.

For Your Love, Your Son, and Your Grace…
For Your Presence in this Place.

We thank you being our God, We love you and bless you in His great name, THE NAME OF JESUS…

Pastor Thelma Daniels, 2013

Blessings,

JB, Nov. 2014

Great to sense the awareness of change and see the reality of the kingdom as we walk it out… Been in about a 40 day season of being at home, only out for necessary meetings and enjoying “dwelling in a peaceful habitation, in secure dwelling places, and in quiet resting places”. (Isa. 32:18) In fact, we’ve spent more time at home and in Houston this year than any of the precious ten years. Many things are culminating to prepare for a change of administration and stewardship of the apostolic…

At the conclusion of the great apostolic council at Jerusalem concerning the Gentiles and circumcision, Paul and Barnabas began again to fulfill a commission:

Acts 15:30-36- So when they were sent off, they came to Antioch; and when they had gathered the multitude together, they delivered the letter. When they had read it, they rejoiced over its encouragement. Now Judas and Silas, themselves being prophets also, exhorted and strengthened the brethren with many words. And after they had stayed there for a time, they were sent back with greetings from the brethren to the apostles… Paul and Barnabas also remained in Antioch, teaching and preaching the word of the Lord, with many others also. Then after some days Paul said to Barnabas, “Let us now go back and VISIT OUR BRETHREN IN EVERY CITY WHERE WE HAVE PREACHED THE WORD OF THE LORD, AND SEE HOW THEY ARE DOING.”

I have always enjoyed travelling, driving the roads, to go see brethren, go see how the churches are doing, and see change happening in the region. That has started even as of today, and will continue here in Houston and the surrounding area this weekend, then East Texas, and Louisiana and back in Deep East Texas of Pineland/Hemphill in the next 8 days. We will begin to see once again other apostles and prophets going with us and begin to see apostolic/prophetic councils and gatherings take place in various regions. Not much slowing down over the holidays, as there will be preparation for 2015, even the kickoff of the second half of the apostolic campaign 2014/2015 in January.

After the separation of Paul and Barnabas, a new apostolic campaign began…Acts 15:40:41- …but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches…. I appreciate your prayers for Pam and me, especially for this next week, and the apostolic teams, companies, and councils that are coming forth to help bring a “cultural change” and strategies in the brethren, churches, cities, and regions. Thank you and God bless…

JB

Amos 9:11,12 coincides and fulfilled in Acts 15:13-18 in the crux of the matter of Jews and Gentiles at the “Jerusalem Council” concerning circumcision:

Amos 9:11,12- “On that day I will raise up The tabernacle of David, which has fallen down, And repair its damages; I will raise up its ruins, And rebuild it as in the days of old; That they may possess the remnant of Edom, And all the Gentiles who are called by My name,” Says the LORD who does this thing… (Obadiah 21- Then saviors (deliverers) shall come to Mount Zion To judge the mountain of Esau, And the KINGDOM SHALL BE THE LORD’S.)

Acts 15:13-18- And after they had become silent, James answered and said, “Simon has declared how God at the first visited the Gentiles to take out of them a people for His name. “And with this the words of the prophets agree, just as it is written: ‘After this’ I will return And will rebuild the tabernacle of David, which has fallen down; I will rebuild its ruins, And I will set it up; So that the rest of mankind may seek the LORD, Even all the Gentiles who are called by My name, Says the LORD who does all these things.”

Tabernacle of David- signified the ‘Presence of the Lord’, with the only piece of furniture being the “Ark of the Covenant!” The Ark of the Covenant is Christ Himself, the very presence of God, who now resides not only in us individually, but corporately…The tabernacle of David was in Mount Zion, the highest place, the Summit, where we are called to worship in His Presence…

What is the “After this” will I return…? After Pentecost, because it was spoken of David in Acts 2 by this same Simon Peter quoted in Acts 15: Acts 2:29-35- “Men and brethren, let me speak freely to you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his tomb is with us to this day. ‘Therefore, being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him that of the fruit of his body, according to the flesh, He would raise up the Christ to sit on his throne,”

“he, foreseeing this, spoke concerning the resurrection of the Christ, that His soul was not left in Hades, nor did His flesh see corruption. “This Jesus God has raised up, of which we are all witnesses. “Therefore being exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He poured out this which you now see and hear. “For David did not ascend into the heavens, but he says himself: ‘The LORD said to my Lord, “Sit at my right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool.” (Psalms 110:1-3)

What was He talking about and that James agreed with and declared in Acts 15?

This was of course, the birthday of the church, the ecclesia of Jesus Christ, that He Himself declared that He would build, and not even the gates of Hell (power of death) would be able to prevail! (Matt. 16:18,19) The true church, the ecclesia, is the tabernacle of David “REBUILT” and because of the ‘Patriarch David”, He would raise it up from the ruins (the Jewish system) repair and restore it, and re-build it an in the days of old! (Galatians 6:15,16- For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation. And as many as walk according to this rule, peace and mercy be upon them, and upon the Israel of God.)

It is now through the blood of Christ that He Himself has brought peace, who, at that time we were without Christ (no peace), being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having NO HOPE and without God in the world. He has Himself made both ONE (Jew and Gentile, circumcision and uncircumcision), and has broken down the middle wall of partition (separation)…and has created in Himself ONE NEW MAN (the Israel of God) from the two, thus making peace, and that He might reconcile them BOTH TO GOD IN ONE BODY (the church) through the cross,…(Ephesians 2:11-18)

Ep. 2:19-22- Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and with the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles (12 apostles of the Lamb) and prophets (the patriarchs), Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building (church), being fitted together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together (the body) for a dwelling place (habitation) of God in the Spirit.

What does the tabernacle of David look like today and how do we inherit the kingdom?

I. Peter 2:4-6- Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. Therefore it is also contained in the Scripture, “Behold, I lay in Zion, A chief cornerstone, elect, precious, And he who believes on Him will by no means be put to shame…”

Hebrews 12:22-24- But you are come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, to an innumerable company of angels, to the general assembly (of Zion) and church of the firstborn (Christ the firstfruits and every man in his own order, conformed to the image of the Son, the revealing or manifestation of the sons of God) who are registered in heaven (born in Zion), to God the Judge of all, to the spirits of just men made perfect, to JESUS THE MEDIATOR OF THE NEW COVENANT, and to the blood of sprinkling that speaks better things than that of
Abel. (Now, One Covenant, One Church, One kingdom, One people, One body…)

Blessings,

JB

Acts of 17:6b- “These who have turned the world “upside down” have come here too.”

The term “upside down” literally means to to turn it “right-side up…”
Since the world system is totally opposite of the kingdom of God, when we preach the kingdom and see signs and wonders taking place, then everything is shaken, EXCEPT THE KINGDOM!

HOUSTON IS NOW READY FOR A “DIVINE INVASION!”

This was not an exception to the early church, this was the RULE!” The apostles and the church were under constant attack and persecution, not only from the religious system but the Roman government. When they were commanded in Acts 4 not to “speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus”, Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. “FOR WE CANNOT BUT SPEAK THE THING WHICH WE HAVE SEEN AND HEARD.”

IN Acts 5, they were put In prison for preaching Jesus and we’re beaten and cast In prison . An angel of the Lord came and let them out and they were found in the temple teaching the people. Acts 5:27-29- And when they had brought them, they set them before the Council . And the high priest asked them, saying, “Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man’s blood on us?”

Vs. 29- But Peter and the other apostles answered and said, “WE OUGHT TO OBEY GOD RATHER THAN MEN!”

Acts 5:40- And when they agreed with him, and when they had called for the apostles and beaten them, they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. And daily in the temple, and from house to house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Stephen was taken and stoned in Acts 6 & 7, Philip turned Samaria upside down in Acts 8 and an angel of the Lord led him out to the desert to preach to the Ethiopian eunuch. After he baptized him, the Spirit of the Lord caught Philip away, and he was found at Azotus. And passing through, he preached in all the cities till he came to Caesarea.

Now is the time for the Regional church in Houston to ARISE & SHINE!

JB

Luke 16:13-16- “No servant can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other; or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon.” Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, also heard all these things, and they derided (turned their noses up to) Him. And He said to them, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God. “The law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.”

Nothing reflects the kingdom more than how we handle our money! Jesus taught about mammon (money) and the kingdom more than any other subject in the gospels… That ought to tell us something!! Jesus prefaced with where I started in verse 13 in verses 10-12- “He who is faithful in what is least is faithful also in much: and he who is unjust in what is least is unjust also in much. “Therefore if you have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? “And if you have not been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?” The principle in the kingdom is “to he who hath, even more will be given, and to him who has not, even what he has, will be taken away.” I used to think that’s not fair, but it’s only those who “invest” in the kingdom, that God continues to give back to them! Those who trust in ‘uncertain riches’ will not be givers, but they will be hoarders. They’re afraid they will not have enough so they hold on to what they have.

This is the way the Pharisees thought and still the pharisaical spirit works today. They want to be seen giving in the temple and lording over the people, but have no idea how to give and sow in the kingdom… I’ve certainly not mastered it all concerning finances, but Pam and I have found and seen how faithful God is, when we sow and invest in the kingdom! This is not just investing in buildings and organizations, this is investing in the work of God through those that are ambassadors and stewards of the mysteries of God. What freedom it is to give liberally and cheerfully to those that have been entrusted with a stewardship, those who have an assignment in the kingdom! Apostle Paul understood this as he said in I. Co. 9:17- “For if I do this willingly (preach the gospel), I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.” (a dispensation, or an administration of the gospel.)

When we sow “with a view toward the kingdom”, we return tithes, give offerings, and sow into the kingdom, then what we give through a “church, ministry, organization, or mission, will not be limited to our resources! It will take on a multiplication and an exponential return that cannot be matched by this world system! It opens up “YOU” the windows of heaven, and pours out through YOU a blessing that we cannot contain or just receive unto ourselves. It expands our borders and enlarges our territory and causes us to break out on the right and on the left.. Those who ‘turn up their noses to those who are givers’ are really the ones who don’t understand the purpose and meaning of money! And those who ‘freely receive (know they haven’t really earned their money where they work or their own ability) freely give!’ (Know that they are just a carrier or conduit of the blessing of God on their lives!)

So, as we press into the kingdom, we find that the only place or thing that cannot be shaken concerning finances, is the KINGDOM OF GOD! Hebrews 12:27,28- Now this ‘Yet once more’, indicates the removal of those things that are being shaken, as of things that are made, that the things which cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace by which we may serve God acceptability with reverence and godly fear…. God bless, Jim & Pam

Luke 1:13-17 (NKJV) BUT the angel said to him, “Do not be afraid, Zacharias, for your prayer is heard; and your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you shall call his name John. “And you will have joy and gladness, and many will rejoice at his birth. “For he will be great in the sight of the Lord, and shall drink neither wine nor strong drink. He will also be filled with the Holy Spirit, even from his mother’s womb. “And he will turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God. “He will also go before Him in the spirit and power of Elijah, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ and the disobedient to the wisdom of the just, to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.”

This is a few of the scriptures concerning the birth of John the Baptist, who came “in the spirit and power of Elijah” as a forerunner to prepare the way of Jesus. Elizabeth was six months pregnant when Gabriel also appeared to Mary and told her she was going to give birth to the Son of God. Luke 1:34-37- Then Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I do not know a man?” And the angel answered and said, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Highest will overshadow you: therefore, also, that Holy One who is to be born will be called the Son of God. “Now indeed, Elizabeth your relative has also conceived a son in her old age; and this is now the sixth month for her who was called barren. “For with God nothing shall be impossible.”

We know that the custom of the day was when a Jewish man, especially a priest, gave birth to a son, they were named after the father. Because Zacharias had questioned Gabriel about how, as an old man, he could have a child, he would not be able to speak until these things were fulfilled. (Luke 1:18-22) When John was born, and he was to be circumcised on the eighth day, the other relatives and neighbors assumed he would be called Zacharias. In verse 60 of Luke 1, it was the mother, Elizabeth, who said, “No; his name shall be called John.” And Zacharias wrote on tablet, sying, “His name is John.” Verse 64 says, “Immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, praising God.”

Now, what can we learn from this great story and prophetic scriptures?

First of all, this was the start of the fulfillment of Malachi 4:5,6: “Behold, I will send Elijah the prophet Before the coming of the great and dreadful day of the LORD. And he will turn The hearts of the fathers to the children, And the hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the earth with a curse.” Notice back in Luke 1, the last part of verse 17 is changed from what Malachi said, ‘to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children,’ AND THE DISOBEDIENT TO THE WISDOM OF THE JUST, TO MAKE READY A PEOPLE PREPARED FOR THE LORD.”

Jesus said in Matt. 11:10-15 concerning John: “For this is he of whom it is written: ‘Behold, I send My messenger before Your face, Who will prepare Your way before You.’ “Assuredly, I say to you among those born of women there has not risen one greater than John the Baptist; but he who is least in the kingdom is greater than he. “And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and violent take it by force. “For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. “And if you are willing to receive it, HE IS ELIJAH WHO IS TO COME. (my emphasis) “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”

IN Matt. 17:10-13, Jesus is asked by his disciples: “Why then do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” Jesus answered and said to them, “Indeed, Elijah is coming first and will restore all things. “But I say to you that Elijah has come already, and they did not know him but did to him whatever they wished. Likewise the Son of Man is also about to suffer at their hands.” THEN THE DISCIPLES UNDERSTOOD THAT HE SPOKE TO THE OF JOHN THE BAPTIST. (MY emphasis)

Then, Jesus said in Luke 16:16:16- “The Law and the prophets were until John. Since that time the kingdom of God has been preached, and everyone is pressing into it.”

What can we conclude from this?

1) To fulfill Malachi, John the Baptist was born to simply come in the spirit and power of Elijah “to turn many of the children of Israel to the Lord their God.” (Luke 1:16)

2) He came “To make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” (Luke 1:17b.)

How shall we prepare today concerning Malachi, to break the curse off?

John the Baptist came in the “spirit and the power” of Elijah belfore the “great and the dreadful (awesome) Day of the Lord. The curse was broken off the first time Christ came because of the obedience of John, who said speaking of Christ, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” He was also born, not to fulfill a religious requirement or be a part of the system of the day, but his “name change” signified that he would represent a new thing in that day. If John was the “Elijah who is to come” and fulfilled this in the transition from “law to grace”, who and what is this power of Elijah who will break the curse off this generation of Jesus Christ?

We are now in another great “overlapping” transition in that the spirit and power of Elijah has come into the ‘hearts of the fathers turning to the children (sons)’ and the “hearts of the children (sons) being turned to the heart of their fathers”, so that a people are made ready, prepared for the Lord.’

Who and what is that people today? It is a “John the Baptist Company”, a prophetic and apostolic people who so represent the Father today that because of the maturity of the “new man” in Christ Jesus, we will point the way to Him! The mystery is being fulfilled, not just mong the children of israel, but the sons of God, which is, Christ in YOU, the hope of glory…” (Col.1:26-28)

What is this people? The Father represents the kingdom, since it is the “Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32) So, the fathering spirit of Elijah is being raised up in “fathers in the faith” today, those whose lives and hearts accurately represent our Father Heart of God! The mother represents the church, just as Elizabeth gave birth to John, and Mary gave birth to Jesus, now the children being born are prophetic and apostolic, ( spirit and power of Elijah) to call the church back to its first love, and to see the equipping of the saints!

We must remember: It will NOT happen the way most think it will today, that just like Israel, we are looking for something we can understand with our mind. But without the mind of Christ, we cannot see the “generational curse” of immature ministry be broken off the church and It’s leadership today! Let us embrace the name change, from “Abram” (exalted or high father) to “Abraham” (father of many nations, or a multitude), Jacob to Israel, and like a “Saul to Paul.”

Finally, the Spirit of Elijah has restored the heart of the fathers, so that once again, an attitude of righteousness has returned to the sons of God because of the wisdom of the fathers, to break off disobedience, to make ready a people prepared for the (habitation) of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 10:1,2,5,6,8-11- After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go. Then He said to them, ” The harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send laborers into his harvest…” But whatever house you enter, first say, ‘Peace to this house.’ “And if a son of peace is there, your peace will rest upon it; but if not, it will return to you…”

“Whatever city you enter, and they receive you, eat such things as are set before you. “And heal the sick there, and say to them, ‘The kingdom of God has come near to you.’ “But whatever city you enter and they do not receive you, go out into it is streets and say, ‘The very dust of your city which clings to us we wipe off against you. Nevertheless know this, THAT THE KINGDOM OF GOD HAS COME NEAR TO YOU.”

JB