fling wide you heavenly gates

prepare the way of the risen LORD.

2010 is upon us. it is gonna be a good year. =)

He is doing so much. we live in some of the most exciting times in HIStory. the LORD is doing big things in hearts at UCSD and across the world. i want to be aware of what He wants to do so i can partner with Him.

right now, He is pouring out His Spirit. He said He would do it this year at UCSD as well. at the beginning of the year He gave us joel 2 and ezekiel 37. i'm gonna continue to pray into what He has given us.

there has been a shift in the hearts of His people. and it's affecting me and those around me at UCSD. even before His kindness demonstrated through the IHOP awakening and the webstream, more and more have been falling in love with the man Jesus. it's happening because we are getting to know His friend, the Holy Spirit, who has been speaking in an indescribable voice straight into our hearts, touching us in a way that is so profound, yet something so beautiful. and it leaves us hungering for more.

as we encounter His Spirit, we encounter His heart. it is something beyond manifestations nor is it something reserved for "charismatics". as His people cry out for more, He has been kind to give love encounters. we are beginning to understand the Father's heart. and Abba Father's love for us as His beloved children. we are beginning to understand how He loves us so. beyond head knowledge and straight to heart. and we are beginning to feel his love and affections. He wants every person in the world to know Him in this intimate way, so He has been kind to pour out His Spirit because His people have been hungering for more.

the spirit of religion is being broken. and He continues to prune away the religious spirit in me. what if the goal of our relationship with Jesus was more than about being a "good christian" and doing the right things for Him, but was actually a relationship where we enjoyed being His friend? what if our relationship with Jesus was less performance driven, less about doing the "right thing" to please Him, but what if success was to know with all our heart that "He loves me and i love Him?"

what if our "christian obligations" weren't obligations but we actually enjoyed spending time with Him? and instead of burdening ourselves with sacrifices of programs and church "obligations", all we had to offer was worship that comes from the heart (psalm 51:16), one of spirit and of truth?

from encountering His heart, He is pouring out a spirit of intercession. prayer is becoming enjoyable. we are beginning to enjoy talking to Him beyond an obligation of "laundry list" prayer. and as we get to know the Father's heart we begin to pray the things that are on the Father's heart.

~~~

the Holy Spirit is searching. He is searching for hearts that will say YES to Him and are willing to partner with His desires for this world. but before that, He simply longs for a resting place (isaiah 66). individually, it is a heart for Him to dwell in. as His church, it is a house of prayer. so let's be a church that prays!

Jesus said His house will be a house of prayer (matt 21:13). it's happening right now. across the world. houses of prayer are being established left and right. but why? not because it sounds cool or because it is the new "radical" thing to do. not because IHOP is doing it. but i think it's because a hunger is being stirred up in hearts that yearn just to be with Him and to partner with Him. His church is beginning to understand what david understood, to build a tabernacle of 24/7 worship because he enjoyed spending time with the LORD.

so what if a house of prayer was not only about intercession, but first and foremost, a house of intimacy, a resting place for the LORD? a place where He can dwell and a place where we as His beloved can fellowship with Him and enjoy His presence? a place where we can simply enjoy being with Him? a place where His people can turn their hearts towards His face to gaze upon His beauty? what if we prayed more not just to pray about things and to ask Him change circumstances around us but to first and foremost, enjoy being with Him? and enjoy talking to Him?

i'm convinced that after intimacy, intercession will come. once we know His heart, we begin to cry out for the things on His heart.

~~~

He brought this up yet again. it is about intercession.
something He has been making more clear to me and those around me is to pray with authority and boldness, or as beni puts it, pray offensively. i still don't know how to pray. but i am always learning more. i've learned:

1) God's will is for kingdom come. on earth as in heaven. our guideline in what to pray is to make earth become like heaven.

2) the LORD's perfect will is not always done. there is sin. and brokenness. and illness. and pain. He does not delight in evil (psalm 5:4). therefore, it is our role as intercessors to pray against the power of darkness and for His kingdom come. because of the cross, we have victory to overcome darkness.

watch bill from 5:16 to the end

HE'S THE ONLY SOLUTION.
HE'S THE ONLY RESOLUTION.