Tag: Opportunity

What Days Are We Living In?

Published on by lisagreatenebeliLeave a comment

One of the hot topics in the church is that of the end times. We love the idea of the rapture, so we can escape this evil and corrupt world. Others like the idea of being pre-tribulation, so we do not have to go through any pain, when God “judges” the earth. Many believe we are living in the days of Noah, where Jesus says in Matthew 24:37, “As in the days of Noah, so it will be at the coming of the son of Man, for in the days before the flood people were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, up to the day that Noah entered the ark.” With what is happening in Houston, TX right now with record flooding hitting 52 inches and now with Hurricane Harvey landing in Louisiana for a stay before it considers coming back to Texas, some could say, lift up your eyes to the sky, for your redemption is here, Jesus is about to split the sky and come down in his second coming.

Others believe we are living in Matthew 24 with all the “signs” of the end of the world, but the Bible does not say that they are signs of the end of the world, but the end of the age, the end of an epoch, the end of a set amount of time. The signs are truly there, for the end of the age, but what age is ending and does that mean another age is beginning. I believe it does, I believe the church age has ended and the kingdom age has arrived, but I also believe there is a transition between these two ages, which can mean weeks, months, years. Remember Jesus prophesied the destruction of the temple in 30-33 CE, but it was not destroyed until 70 CE. Therefore, one age can end, the age of the Law and the Prophets, which included the temple and its animal sacrifices ended when Jesus said, repent for the kingdom of heaven is here, but we see a crossover or transition time with the arrival of the tongues of fire at Pentecost and the destruction of the temple.

What days are we living in then? Are these the days of Elijah, when fire came down from heaven and consumed the false idols of Baal and put an end to Ahab and Jezebel? Are we in the days of Ezekiel when dry bones are coming alive and being made into a great army? Are we living in the days of Ninevah, when an eclipse crossed over the land from west to east? Are we in the days of the Judges, when everyone is doing right in their own eyes? Are we in the days of Jesus, when people are leaving the temple to follow Him into the fields, mountains and beaches to hear what He has to say? I think the answer is yes to all of the above. These are days of transition, days of change, days of incredible awe and wonder. These are the days of the Bible!

This change we are in is not like any we have seen in our lifetime, with the darkness (ignorance of people) getting darker and the light (revelations of God) getting brighter, with despair seeming to sink lower and with hope seeming to rise higher. It is amazing to me how people are in distinct and different camps of thought whether they realize it or not. It was as though God drew a line in the sand and people made their choice, now we are seeing who is where. The name Christian is no longer representative of just one kind of people anymore, just like the name thief, when the two guys on the cross meant two different attitudes. One said, I am guilty, Jesus you are innocent, remember me when you come into your kingdom and the other said, if you are the Christ save yourself and us. Same cross, same title (thief), two distinct and different attitudes (Luke 23:39-43).

Now to answer the question, what days are we living in? We are living in days of opportunity like never before, but man-made plans are not going to stand. These days demand we slow down, get silent, and say, speak Lord, for your servant is listening. This is not the time to jockey for position, try to be the loudest, longest or most listened to voice, this is the time to pause, relax, trust, and wait for the call, the command. In days of extreme change, intense transition, it is critical, that we recognize we have hit a speed bump as a nation, as a church, as a globe and it is advantageous for those who know their God and want to do exploits, that they selah until they hear Him speak, then move as He says move, for He is positioning us purposefully for what is upon us. These are the days we are living in.

Published on by lisagreatenebeliLeave a comment

Proverbs 18:16 “The right gift at the right time can open up new opportunities and gains access to influential people.” (The Voice Translation)

We are on the verge of the greatest breakthrough our generation has ever seen, experienced or participated in. There are more people that we know who have been in a place of hiding, not out of fear, but out of preparation for what is coming. Since being in Redding, CA for the past two weeks the Lord has revealed things to me, that words cannot utter at this time, but what is coming is going to be visible to believers and unbelievers alike. This is not going to be a one nation, one region, one city, one church, one ministry event. This is going to be of global proportions and we are going to say with Job 42:5, “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you.” Yes my friends, it is going to be that big, that is why we have been learning, as Bill Johnson so eloquently said last night, “bold faith stands on the shoulders of quiet trust.” We have been learning to trust quietly, because our faith is going to be extremely bold.

Now that we can see in part what is coming, what do we need to be doing, what understanding is the Lord releasing to us as we press in just a little while longer? I believe we need to hear the truth once again that the right gift, at the right time, can open up new opportunities and gains access to influential people. But here is the unique twist on this that the Lord revealed to me in worship yesterday morning. He said, “a song is a gift; a tithe or offering is a gift; a word of encouragement is a gift; a kind word or gesture is a gift.” When we offer gifts to the Lord or to other people, one of those gifts is going to open doors for us. We have been taught a resume opens a door, the right network opens the door, but the Lord says, the right gift at the right time is going to open the door.

We need to listen to the songs we sing, because some songs are our gift; we need to pay attention to the offerings and tithes we sow, because some of them are gifts we give; and we need to listen carefully to the voice of God as He speaks through us to other people, because our words have the power to activate greatness in other people and this is our gift. I felt like the Lord said, we need to be prepared to give gifts in every situation, because the right gift at the right time is going to open doors and usher us before people of influence in the natural, but even more so in the spirit. Remember what the Psalmist said, “Enter His gates with thanksgiving and His courts with praise! (Psalm 100:4). Your gift will usher you into places you only dreamt of going, so don’t leave home without your gift, for it is what will begin opening doors.