Lisa Great

We can become so familiar with things that we are not open to anything. Familiarity is comfortable, it can feel stable, secure and like a safe place. The challenge is we have not been called to be comfortable, we have been called to be conformed.

To be conformed is to be continually teachable, always pliable, willing to listen, learn and understand what we may not know. Conformed is like soft clay in the hands of the potter, comfortable is the clay pot that wants to sit on a shelf and shine with its glaze for all to see.

God keeps adding water to clay pot on the potters wheel in order to keep the clay soft, moldable and continually being transformed by the fingerprints of the potter.

Our love of things being done hinders our ability to remain teachable. We look forward to graduating, so we don’t have to go to school anymore, but life is an eternal education, we are to never stop learning, listening, exploring, asking questions, seeking to understand.

We are comfortable with the words of Jesus, out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, but this morning the Holy Spirit said, “The words of the mouth are deep waters, but the fountain of wisdom is a rushing stream.” (Proverbs 18:4) The Lord went on to say, “I want more fountains of wisdom that turn into rushing streams, than I do deep waters.”

There is darkness in the deep waters, there is history and mystery in the deep waters. There is pain, memories, in the deep waters that is why what comes out of our mouths needs to be filtered. But wisdom is a fountain, it bubbles up, it recycles the waters and turns them into rushing streams.

Streams are waters that move, they are not stagnant. Rushing streams power cities, create adventure, and give drink to many living creatures. We have known the deep waters of our mouths, now the Lord wants the fountains of wisdom coming out of us, so rushing streams can pour out of our bellies. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Have you ever wondered why it is easier for us to accept the truth of certain things, but then others are very challenging to rest in? For example, if I say God loves you, most people would say, yes I know this. It is an easy truth to accept. However, if I say God is a healer or a provider, we may have a mental assent, but still struggle to believe it, because it is not an experiential one.

When Hebrews 12 says, we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken, many in the church would say amen. Then when nations rise, people riot, DOGE strikes, Trump tweets or airlines cease flights, we panic pray and forget we have a kingdom that cannot be shaken.

Our instability is rooted in our insecurity about truths that are solid but we do not believe experientially/relationally, but we do believe intellectually. Intellectual belief is not stable, it fluctuates with every bit of new information that is presented to you. Relational/experiential truth is unshakable, for it is rooted in relational equity.

Yahweh/Yeshua is a relational not intellectual God. The word of God is about a Father, a Son, a nation (Israel), a city (Jerusalem), nations (Gentiles), covenants and they are all unshakable because they are relational.

The eating of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil is what makes people shakable, for the tree of life is wisdom, it is Jesus, it is unshakable, immovable, undeniable.

As you hear the news, as you see headlines, I want you to remember this unshakable truth found in Psalm 47 “God reigns over the nations; God is seated on his holy throne. The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; he is greatly exalted.” Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

I was preparing to pray Psalm 46 this morning and the presence of God wafted into the room and tears filled my eyes with the arrival of His presence. I heard the Holy Spirit say, “Many say I am seated on a throne, but I wanted to be enthroned, enthroned, enthroned.”

I honestly did not know there was a difference between being on a throne and being enthroned. To be on a throne is to acknowledge conceptually, or agree with doctrinally the reality or truth God is on the throne. But the Holy Spirit did not say to acknowledge He is on the throne, but to enthrone, enthrone, enthrone Him.

To enthrone means to live under His authority, His governmental rule. It is relational alignment, not conceptual acknowledgement. It is a declaration of kingship to govern responses, emotions, fears and decisions. It is authority that is welcomed and obeyed. God wants to be enthroned!

Praying Psalm 46 established this invitation of enthroned, when it says, “At daybreak his help will be seen with the appearing of the dawn. When the nations are in uproar with their tottering kingdoms, God simply raises his voice, and the earth begins to disintegrate before him. Here he comes! The Commander! The mighty Lord of Angel Armies is on our side! The God of Jacob fights for us!”

We know God is on the throne, He is sovereign, He rules the nations, it is a belief we have, an acknowledgment we give. But today, He is wanting us to enthrone Him, to let Him rule over us, to govern our responses, emotions, fears and decisions. Enthroned, enthroned, enthroned is what He is asking us to do. Live under His authority.

Remember “God has a constantly flowing river whose sparkling streams bring joy and delight to his people. His river flows right through the city of God Most High, into his holy dwelling places. God is in the midst of his city, secure and never shaken.” (Psalm 46) http://www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Can you see what your face is saying? Can you hear what other people’s faces are saying? Did you know the face is a reflection of the heart? We try to hide our worries, fears, anxieties and concerns, but our face reveals what our heart is going through.

It is challenging because we want to look all put together, like everything is great, but our face betrays our words. I love looking at people’s faces because I love seeing God on their face. The creativity of God is revealed in the faces of humanity.

Did you know that when you hear the voice of God your face actually shines? Exodus 34:29 says, “It came about when Moses was coming down from Mount Sinai (and the two tablets of the testimony were in Moses’ hand as he was coming down from the mountain), that Moses did not know that the skin of his face shone because of his speaking with Him.”

We are called God’s shining ones. We are called to shine like stars in a dark world. If the world is the dark sky of night, we are the bright stars that give it light. However, to be that we must hear the voice of God. For in our hearing and obeying His voice is our shining.

Have you ever wondered why some people shine brighter than others? You can see it on their face. It is because they are ones who hear the voice of God and can I tell you a secret, He only speaks good news, for He is the gospel. When you hear good news, your face can’t help but shine.

John 10 says, “My sheep hear my voice…” if you are sheep in the flock of God, you hear His voice. Obedience is biblical hearing, and when we hear, we obey, and when we obey we shine like a diamond in a dark world. Shining is the result of hearing the voice of God. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Trust is intimate knowledge of someone. Trust is knowing someone’s character; knowing someone’s movement; knowing someone’s lifestyle. We use the phrase, “That is out of character for that person.” It is a statement of trust, because we know how they would act or speak in any given situation. 

Trust is a powerful tool we have been given and we gain trust by being a safe place for others. Trust increases when we do what we say we will do. Trust is established when we hold in confidentiality that which we have been told. 

Trust is such a weapon, such a gift, it is no wonder the enemy attacks our trust in our childhood. If we do not trust it is a crack in our foundation that hinders any weight being placed on it. Trust is bedrock and the strength of our foundation is critical to everything in life. 

We are called to trust the Lord as people. God has never lied to us, yet we doubt what He says to us. God has never hurt us, yet we stay at a distance as though He is not safe for us. God has never betrayed us or denied us, yet we are suspicious of Him. Why? 

The enemy of our souls whispered to us God is not trustworthy. God is not dependable. God is not telling you the truth. God cannot do this or do that for you. God does not want to help you. But what is the enemy? 

When a prayer is not answered when or in the way we think it should be, the enemy whispers, see God can’t be trusted. When something bad happens, we hear God could have stopped that but didn’t. God gets blamed for everything negative in our lives and then we don’t trust Him. 

Psalm 44 says, “It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them. You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob. Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory; but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.”

God is not your enemy, God is for you, God loves you, God wants you to be victorious. God is restoring trust in you, so you can trust Him. Trust is the key to victory for all of humanity. Www.apostolicrecourcecenter.org

When revelation crosses over into manifestation there is a new way of thinking that we must employ. Revelation was the runway, the set up, for the execution of the manifestation of what He showed us in the revelation.

Proverbs 29:18 says, “Where there is no revelation, people cast off restraint; but blessed is the one who heeds wisdom’s instruction.”

When people cannot see or hear what God is doing in the earth in now time, they lose hope, purpose, anticipation, direction, so they just do their own thing.

Revelation is the first move of God on earth. We live in a time in history where we can read our bible for ourselves and God will reveal Himself to us. Most books people write are about a revelation they received on a subject, and as you read them you are reading second hand smoke.

You can get firsthand revelation from God, if you will make time to read His words for yourself. Revelation that comes from God to you directly changes the way you think, the way you act, the way you do life. Revelation brings joy which gives you strength. Revelation gives us the desire to know Him more.

The Lord is dealing with people’s foundation called trust, because He is releasing revelation about who He is and what He is doing. If we can’t trust Him we will not obey Him. He gives us revelations so we know who He is, so when He asks us to do something, we can trust Him.

We need a revelation of Jesus Christ. You can’t trust someone you don’t know. So, even thought we love the manifestation of healing, prosperity and revival, what we need is a revelation of Jesus Christ, so our foundation is repaired.

Many are in the foundation repair stage of their walk with God, they are learning to trust Him, so He is revealing Himself to them. But there are some, who are crossing from revelation to manifestation. Those who have been through the foundation repair stage, your next season is manifestation and demonstration of the kingdom of God on earth as it is in heaven. Let’s go!!!! Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

I cannot get past the phrase “ask anything”, it keeps arising, bubbling up in my spirit. It is an invitation to ask for things I never thought to ask for. Contemplating this question is challenging, because I feel so small in my asking, when the Lord is so big in His ability to answer.

How do we as finite people step into the abundance of God who says, ask anything, nothing is beyond my ability or capacity to respond. This idea of ask anything is revealing my finite thinking in light of His infinite presence. Prayers seem so puny in light of the invitation to ask anything.

I stepped outside this morning looked up into the bright blue skies and the massive sky whispered, ask anything. I came outside after being at a friends last night, looked up into the dark sky with bright stars all around and I hear the voice again, saying, ask anything.

What do I ask for? Why am I afraid to ask for anything? What is holding me back, keeping me locked in when He is inviting me to step out, into the great unknown, into the beyond all we can ask think or imagine realm.

Then this morning reading Psalm 42:7 it says, “Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me.” Go deeper is the invitation, ask anything, plummet the depths, soar the heights, the invitation is on the table.

We are made of deeper things than we allow ourselves to explore. We serve a God who is bigger than we can control or comprehend. We don’t need to physically die to dive into the deep, but we do need to die to our limitations, human strength, personal knowledge, small thinking.

I remember having an encounter one time where I was walking on the floor of the ocean. It was level ground with water all around. The beauty of creation under water is indescribable, the encounter was powerful. The Lord said, this is my love surrounding you. Depths reveal His heart for us. Love like we cannot describe is what unlocks the limitations, so we can ask anything. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Have you noticed there is a lack of wisdom in people no matter their age? When I was younger I was taught that wisdom was for the older generation. Now I am in the older generation and there is such a lack of wisdom in people.

In church I was taught wisdom comes from asking God and He will give it generously without finding fault (James 1:5). I know many people who have asked for wisdom, but they still lack it.

This has puzzled me for years of being a Christian. How can people go to church every Sunday, be a believer for 5, 10, 15, 20, 30 or more years and still lack wisdom. It seems like the idea of how to actually obtain wisdom is lost in cultural translation.

If wisdom does not come with age, nor does it come by just asking for it, then how do we become wise? Solomon was known as the wisest man on earth and he shares how to get wisdom.

Proverbs 11:22 “When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Solomon discovered the key to wisdom, humility. Humility is the ability to admit we do not know as much as we think we know. Humility is teachablity, no matter our age, our gender, our socio economic status, our title. Humility is the path to wisdom.

Culturally we are very opinionated, but not very wise. It is time we, at least as believers humble ourselves and recognize we do not know as much as we think we do about God, church, politics, nations, even things we see on the news. We are long over due of being an echo chamber of opinions and it is time to humble ourselves and listen, for in doing this we will become wise. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

Last night we were watching Mr. Beasts game on television. If you have never seen it, Mr. Beast is giving away 5 million dollars and there are 1000 people seeking this money. Games are used to eliminate people, so eventually there is only one winner.

One of the games they played was to put three people in a box. Each box had all white walls and one phone that said on it, “Ask Anything”. The rule of the game was, they had to decide which one of the three of them was going to handcuff themselves to the wall in order to be eliminated. If they could not decide on who would be eliminated, within the 5 hour time period, then all three would be eliminated.

What was fascinating to me was the phone in the room. They were told they could literally ask for anything in the world, anything. Some ordered pizza, others ordered dice or playing cards, some ordered bean bags, and the list went on. Anything, they could ask anything.

How often do we limit what we ask for? They could ask for anything, anything, Jesus said the same thing to us, ask anything in my name and it will be given to you. Anything. How many of us ask for pizza when we would ask for nations? How many of us want playing cards, when we could ask for restoration of marriages.

Watching this last night made me realize, we are so small in our thinking, believing and asking because our experiences are so small. For the month of January the Lord has invited me to make decrees daily over certain people. I have a list of 7 people, I am making decrees over daily. Why?

Job 22:26-28 says, “For then shalt thou have thy delight in the Almighty, and shalt lift up thy face unto God. Thou shalt make thy prayer unto him, and he shall hear thee, and thou shalt pay thy vows. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.”

My decrees for them is to bless them, but I also get the blessing of light on my ways. I can decree anything, for anyone, but for this month it is decrees for seven people and I am listening closely for them to be established in their lives. Ask anything friends, there are no limits to what you can ask for, or what you can decree for someone else. Www.apostolicresourcecenter.org

What are you leaning on? Where we lean reveals where we find our confidence, where we put our trust. If where we lean changes, we feel shaky, nervous, unsettled. What are you leaning on?

Some of the places and people we lean on are stable for a season, but when they change, we feel unstable. If you lean on a President or Prime Minister, a Pastor or Apostle, if they do something other than what you expect, it shakes you.

If you lean on numbers, which many many many people do, if those numbers dip below where you feel safe, it makes you feel unstable. This can be stock market numbers, paycheck numbers, bank account numbers, members numbers, so many numbers we as people lean on.

King David shifted his confidence from covenant to numbers and it was detrimental for him. In 2 Samuel 24, King David took a census and this census brought judgment from the Lord. Why? Because the census was a David initiated not God commanded census. The census revealed numbers David wanted to know in order to have confidence in a battle God called him to fight.

Joab warned David not to take the census, but he took it anyway. This census shifted confidence from covenant to numbers and God was not happy.

We live in a world of numbers. Job numbers, stock market numbers, portfolio numbers, credit numbers, membership numbers, bank account numbers. There are numbers everywhere, but the Lord is saying, don’t shift your trust from covenant to numbers or it will make you shaky, unstable, insecure.

Numbers fluctuate, covenant remains constant, consistent. Lean on the truth that you are in a covenant relationship with God, so if numbers fluctuate you may see it but it does not alter your confidence, for covenant is continual, numbers are temporal. Www.apostolicresoucecenter.org