December 19, 2002

Dear Rejoicing, Worshipping Warriors:

This is a joyous season! Lots of "firsts" this month! It was such a joy to see my assistant, Brian Kooiman, and the former Lori Wentroble start their life together as one on December 7! The new book Worship Warrior was released last week! I am praying that this Sabbath Rest Year allow the "first fruit, double portion" anointing to manifest in you. This will be a year that we must understand the principle of first fruits if we are going to break into the mentality that will reap the Harvest the Lord has for the future.

The passage that I keep reading for this particular Christmas season has to do with the shepherds. "Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Then the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy. For there is born to you this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.' And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: 'Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and goodwill towards men!' So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another, 'Let us now go to Bethlehem and see the thing that has come to pass, which the Lord has made known to us.' And they came with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the Babe lying in a manger. And now when they had seen Him, they made widely known the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all those who heard it marveled at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things and pondered them in her heart. Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things that they had heard and seen, as it was told them." (Luke 2:8-20)

Here are the ten points that the Lord has me praying for each one of you in the Body this month:

1. Expect God to visit where you are...He wants to intervene in your normal activities.

2. Keep watch and stewardship over what you have been assigned...

3. Listen for Divine messengers with an announcement...

4. Look for the signs...a Babe in swaddling clothes. Know what you are looking for.

5. Hear the Host of Heaven...

6. Be willing to go and look for your promise...

7. Boldly share your testimony....

8. Let your witness have results...

9. Lean not on your own understanding, but meditate before the Lord...

10. Praise and Glorify Him for all He has done for you this year!

Notice the relationship between divine visitation, angelic hosts, and the response of the shepherds in that they follow, boldly share, and then express praise and glory back to God. THIS YEAR WILL BE THE HISTORICAL SHIFTING YEAR FOR THE BODY OF CHRIST IN WORSHIP. A NEW DEMONSTRATION OF WORSHIP FROM GOD'S PEOPLE WILL BE THE BEGINNING OF THE HARVEST SEASON AHEAD.

My prayer for you is to submit yourself to God. Resist the devil. Watch your enemy flee. Draw near to God. And watch Him draw near and anoint you for the coming year. This anointing will set the course for your next five years of experiencing superabundant grace and power.

12 DAYS OF REJOICING, ASCENDING AND UNLOCKING YOUR HARVEST POTENTIAL

This is a time to rejoice. But it's also a time to move into a new dimension of worship. This will give you and understanding of ascension in worship. Jesus ascended. He wants us to come boldly into the Throne Room. Here are some Biblical promises that come with ascension. When we ascend in worship, we can expect to experience these things.

Day 1: Read John 14:1-2. Review your testimony of salvation. Allow the Lord to release new confidence within you. Have an assurance that a heavenly place has been prepared for you. Operate in the earth with an eternal view.

Day 2: Read John 14:5-7. Break any spirit of doubt that has crept into your life. Thomas, who had a spirit of doubt, questioned the Lord on how to follow Him. There is power in the supernatural connection that we have with Jesus by the Spirit. He gives us access to the Father and all of His love.

Day 3: Read John 14:21. As you worship, receive a spirit of revelation. Obey. Usually, He will tell you something very simple to do. There are many needs during this season, physically and emotionally. Ask the Lord to speak to you over how to give. As you give, you will receive revelation of who the Father is.

Day 4: Read John 16:7-9. Read Ephesians 4:7-32. Jesus ascended so the Helper (the Holy Spirit) could come to Earth on our behalf. Therefore, if we worship and ascend, we are promised that the Holy Spirit will fill our lives. He will bring conviction when we sin, open the way for us to experience our righteousness through faith, and condemn the devil on our behalf. Ask Him to fill you new and fresh.

Day 5: Read Acts 7:54-60. As we ascend in worship, we are comforted in our sufferings. Ask the Lord to touch you in the place where you have the most need.

Day 6: Read Gen. 28:10-22. Read Gen. 32:22-32. Read Acts 9:1-18. Jesus ascended. As you worship, ask Him to reveal heaven's call on your life. See the Hosts of Heaven assigned for your help. Be willing to wrestle to break through.

Day 7: Read 2 Cor. 2:12-14. Ask the Lord to show you the new doors of ministry that He has for you. We each have open doors. Do not miss your opportunities.

Day 8: Read 1 Cor. 12 & 14. Read Eph. 4:7-12. Ask the Lord to release the gift of the Holy Spirit in you. Be aware of His gift manifesting in you. Declare your gifts will manifest in a new way. Ask the Lord to align you properly with His government gifts in your sphere of authority. This will allow you to see a demonstration of God's power, authority and rule in the earthly realm.

Day 9: Read Col 3:1-4. Have confidence that you can demonstrate the life-changing power of the Gospel.

Day 10: Read 2 Tim. 4:16-18. Read 2 Kings 6. Don't allow the enemy to convince you that he is more powerful that the Lord. Open your eyes and see the angelic host around you. We can experience the Lord standing with us and strengthening us so that we might accomplish His will on Earth. We can experience the power of His ascension and deliverance from every evil work.

Day 11: Read Heb. 2:9. Declare that the power of any voice of death over the personal vision of your life be broken. From His ascension, He demonstrated that glory, not death, is the final word of operation in our lives. Make declarations of faith. Only through worship do we ascend into a new faith dimension.

Day 12: Read Rev. 1 - 5. Make a list of things that you need victory in for the coming year. From ascension, we can always have a final victory.

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