Live Today

How can you live today? It’s about obeying Jesus’ commands to His disciples to make other disciples. The exciting news is that if you’ve been following the Living LIGHT challenges, you’re already doing it.

It’s been said, like Paul, we should have a Barnabas and a Timothy. Paul had these men at different times in his life. Barnabas encouraged him. Paul encouraged Timothy. Where are you on your walk? Do you have a Barnabas or Timothy?

Learn about obedience in this message today.

T – live Today

Downloads: Live Today Notes | Living Today Daily Bible Reading Guide

Learn more about the free course at https://revtrev.com/friends

The discipline of prayer

discipline of prayer, prayer, speaking in tongues, tongues

Discipline of Prayer

Why discipline?

The Christian life takes discipline.

Stay clear of silly stories that get dressed up as religion. Exercise daily in God—no spiritual flabbiness, please! Workouts in the gymnasium are useful, but a disciplined life in God is far more so, making you fit both today and forever. You can count on this. Take it to heart. This is why we’ve thrown ourselves into this venture so totally. 1 Timothy 4:6-10 (MSG)

What if God (mainly) limits what He does in the world through what we pray?

We get what we pray for. – Spouse, kids, job, church, pastor

How to pray for a long time

Understand we’re not to pray like the pagans and their many words. Matthew 6:7

TWAR –

Thanksgiving,

Worship,

Agreement (confession),

Requests

Pray the Word – Thematically or from a portion like the Psalms.

Run out of words? Spirit will help you. (Romans 8:26)
Jude tells us to build ourselves up praying in the Holy Spirit (Jude 1:20)
Paul tells us the one who speaks in a tongue builds himself up. (1 Cor. 14:14)
(That’s why it’s the least of all the gifts when we gather)

Paul says

For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my mind is unfruitful. So what shall I do? I will pray with my spirit, but I will also pray with my understanding; I will sing with my spirit, but I will also sing with my understanding. 1 Cor 14:14-15

He equates singing and praying in tongues as singing and praying in the spirit.

I pray in tongues every day. ..it’s personal.

This is how I’ve learned to discipline myself to pray for a long time.
Praying in the spirit builds me up so I can pray.
Praying in the Spirit gives me words to pray when I run out.
Praying the Spirit gives me confidence that I’m praying God’s will, because I don’t understand it and the Spirit is praying through me.

It’s a gift that’s available to everyone. It’s more a phycological problem than a spiritual problem when people start to eagerly desire the gift of tongues.

Challenge

Discipline yourself to pray more this week.

Allow the Spirit to speak to you about it.

11 Ways the Spirit Speaks to You

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The Spirit is always speaking. You are his sheep, you know his voice. Today you’ll find out or be reminded about how the Spirit is speaking to you. Here are 11 potential ways God speaks to us.

3 Meanwhile, the boy Samuel served the Lord by assisting Eli. Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon. 2 One night Eli, who was almost blind by now, had gone to bed. 3 The lamp of God had not yet gone out, and Samuel was sleeping in the Tabernacle[a] near the Ark of God. 4 Suddenly the Lord called out, “Samuel!” “Yes?” Samuel replied. “What is it?” 5 He got up and ran to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you,” Eli replied. “Go back to bed.” So he did. 6 Then the Lord called out again, “Samuel!” Again Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” “I didn’t call you, my son,” Eli said. “Go back to bed.” 7 Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before. 8 So the Lord called a third time, and once more Samuel got up and went to Eli. “Here I am. Did you call me?” Then Eli realized it was the Lord who was calling the boy. 9 So he said to Samuel, “Go and lie down again, and if someone calls again, say, ‘Speak, Lord, your servant is listening.’” So Samuel went back to bed. 10 And the Lord came and called as before, “Samuel! Samuel!” And Samuel replied, “Speak, your servant is listening.” 1 Samuel 3:1-10 (New Living Translation)

We’re continuing to talk about the Holy Spirit. Specifically, how He helps us to discern.

We looked briefly at , and I hope you remember we’re not limiting God to these 10 things. The same is true today as we look at Knowing How the Spirit Speaks. …there’s not just 10 ways.

The Spirit is speaking all the time. You are His sheep, you know His voice. Often we just don’t know what the Bible says how the Spirit speaks.

I’ve taught people how to recognize and respond to words of knowledge and always there are people who didn’t have Biblical insight to understand their experience. They thought they were going crazy. They wondered if they had ESP. They were fairly certain they were psychic. They weren’t. It was God.

Today you’ll find out or be reminded about how the Spirit is speaking to you. Here are 11 potential ways God speaks to us.

1. Through the word of God

Written word

All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Spoken word

But Jesus told him, “No! The Scriptures say, ‘People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.’ Matthew 4:4

2. Through what people say

Intentionally

If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. 1 Peter 4:11 (NKJV)

Unintentionally

Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. Philemon 1:7 (NLT)

3. Through open and closed doors

And pray for us, too, that God may open a door for our message, so that we may proclaim the mystery of Christ, for which I am in chains. Colosssians 4:3 (NIV)

6 things I needed to happen before I knew God wanted us here…

4. Through His still small voice

Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. Acts 16:6 (NIV)

Are you renewing your mind with the word of God? Then start to follow your still small voice.

5. Through prophecies

During this time some prophets traveled from Jerusalem to Antioch. One of them named Agabus stood up in one of the meetings and predicted by the Spirit that a great famine was coming upon the entire Roman world. (This was fulfilled during the reign of Claudius.) Acts 11:27-28 (NLT)

These are tricky and need discernment – OT – “If they don’t come true – stone them” (Deut 18:22) NT – “Test everything and hold to the good.”

Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. 1 Thessalonians 5:20-22 (New Living Translation)

6. Through words of wisdom

“For it seemed good to the Holy Spirit and to us to lay no greater burden on you than these few requirements: Acts 15:28 (NLT)

But the wisdom from above is first of all pure. It is also peace loving, gentle at all times, and willing to yield to others. It is full of mercy and good deeds. It shows no favoritism and is always sincere. James 3:17 (NLT)

7. Through words of knowledge

26 As for Philip, an angel of the Lord said to him, “Go south[a] down the desert road that runs from Jerusalem to Gaza.” 27 So he started out, and he met the treasurer of Ethiopia, a eunuch of great authority under the Kandake, the queen of Ethiopia. The eunuch had gone to Jerusalem to worship, 28 and he was now returning. Seated in his carriage, he was reading aloud from the book of the prophet Isaiah. 29 The Holy Spirit said to Philip, “Go over and walk along beside the carriage.” 30 Philip ran over and heard the man reading from the prophet Isaiah. Philip asked, “Do you understand what you are reading?” 31 The man replied, “How can I, unless someone instructs me?” And he urged Philip to come up into the carriage and sit with him. 32 The passage of Scripture he had been reading was this: “He was led like a sheep to the slaughter. And as a lamb is silent before the shearers, he did not open his mouth. 33 He was humiliated and received no justice. Who can speak of his descendants? For his life was taken from the earth.”[b] 34 The eunuch asked Philip, “Tell me, was the prophet talking about himself or someone else?” 35 So beginning with this same Scripture, Philip told him the Good News about Jesus. 36 As they rode along, they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look! There’s some water! Why can’t I be baptized?”[c] 38 He ordered the carriage to stop, and they went down into the water, and Philip baptized him. 39 When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away. The eunuch never saw him again but went on his way rejoicing. 40 Meanwhile, Philip found himself farther north at the town of Azotus. He preached the Good News there and in every town along the way until he came to Caesarea.

8. Through angels

Peter in jail…

The night before Peter was to be placed on trial, he was asleep, fastened with two chains between two soldiers. Others stood guard at the prison gate. Suddenly, there was a bright light in the cell, and an angel of the Lord stood before Peter. The angel struck him on the side to awaken him and said, “Quick! Get up!” And the chains fell off his wrists. Then the angel told him, “Get dressed and put on your sandals.” And he did. “Now put on your coat and follow me,” the angel ordered. So Peter left the cell, following the angel. But all the time he thought it was a vision. He didn’t realize it was actually happening. Acts 12:6-9 (NLT)

9. Through dreams

Wise men avoiding Herod…

When it was time to leave, they returned to their own country by another route, for God had warned them in a dream not to return to Herod. Matthew 2:12 (NLT)

10. Through visions

Paul’s Macedonian call…

That night Paul had a vision: A man from Macedonia in northern Greece was standing there, pleading with him, “Come over to Macedonia and help us!” Acts 16:9 (NLT)

11. Just about anyway He wants

When you are His sheep, you will know His voice. You need to learn how He’s speaking to you, but He’s almost always speaking.

It’s up to you to learn how to discern His voice. You need the Spirit’s, word and body’s help.

We’ll continue looking at these in our Did God Really Say? series.

Next week I’ll share some of the weird and wonderfully wacky ways God has spoken to me and how I’ve learned to trust it’s Him speaking.

What I’ve Taught on Holy Spirit

Check out my messages and blog posts on Holy Spirit. I’ll keep this updated. Let me know if there is a specific topic you want covered in the comments.

Learn and Experience All You Can About Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-hopeful/learn-and-experience-all-you-can-about-holy-spirit/
How to know and experience more of our triune God today https://revtrev.com/living-light/trinity-essential/
Is Spiritual Growth is on your vision board? https://revtrev.com/living-light/is-spiritual-growth-on-your-vision-board/
How to be confident you’re being led from Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/living-light/be-confident-led-holy-spirit/
God is with us will I be with Him? https://revtrev.com/living-light/god-is-always-with-us-will-i-be-with-him/
How to understand and and enjoy the Gifts God has for you Today https://revtrev.com/message/how-to-understand-and-enjoy-the-gifts-god-has-for-you-today/
Buying the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-intentional/buying-holy-spirit/
How to Release the gift of words of wisdom https://revtrev.com/livecasts/how-to-release-the-gift-of-words-of-wisdom/
70 Functions of the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-light/70-functions-of-the-holy-spirit/
How can I Receive the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-today/how-can-i-receive-the-holy-spirit/
3 ways to know it’s the Holy Spirit Speaking https://revtrev.com/live-hopeful/3-ways-to-know-its-the-spirit-speaking/
How to let the Fruit of Holy Spirit Transform you https://revtrev.com/living-light/how-to-let-the-fruit-of-holy-spirit-transform-you/
5 things to know about Spiritual Growth https://revtrev.com/livecasts/5-things-to-never-forget-about-spiritual-growth/
11 ways the Holy Spirit Speaks to you https://revtrev.com/live-today/11-ways-the-spirit-speaks-to-you/
Do Spirit-Filled Believers Leak the Spirit? https://revtrev.com/live-today/do-spirit-filled-believers-leak-the-spirit/
How to use God’s Gifts for Another https://revtrev.com/living-light/how-to-use-gods-gifts-for-one-another/
I build myself up reflectionhttps://revtrev.com/livecasts/day-42-i-build-myself-up-reflection-livecast/
4 Tips I’ve learned To Hear the Spirit Speak https://revtrev.com/live-intentional/4-tips-ive-learned-to-hear-the-spirit-speak/

4 Things We Know We’ll Be Doing in Heaven

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If you missed the first article on what Heaven is like you can find it here. In this article we’ll look at what we’ll be doing in heaven and what’s left on earth for us to accomplish now.

Heaven is your destiny. It’s what you were created for. You were created to walk with God in the garden of the cool of the day. Sin entered the world and ripped that possibility away from you. Christ came and paid the penalty for sin to make it once again possible for you.

One of the things that marvels me about heaven is that it’s the place where God’s will is done perfectly. I can’t wait to experience what that is like. I know it’s what we’re created for.

Now if you think that everything that happens on earth is God’s will, I have a question for you… Why did Jesus tell us to pray that God’s will be done on earth as it is in heaven if God’s will is already done on earth like it is in heaven?

May your Kingdom come soon.
May your will be done on earth,
as it is in heaven. Matthew 6:10 (New Living Translation)

God is sovereign in that no one can question Him or stop Him from doing anything He wants to do. His sovereignty does not mean He’s responsible for everything that happens in this world. We have got to stop giving God credit for the works of the one who comes to steal, kill and destroy.

[Tweet “May Your Kingdom come and Your will be done on (Mt 6:10) @revtrev”]

God’s will is most often done through His body – that’s you and I – doing His will and speaking His will.

When we do that, we extend His Kingdom on this earth.

What frustrates and troubles us now, will no longer frustrate and trouble us in heaven.

Heaven is the culmination and progression of the Kingdom of God in it’s redeemed state.

Let me explain. There are five things that together we do in this life for eternity.

Four of them we continue to do in eternity.

Worship – Fellowship – Discipleship – Service

Let’s take a look at these ones first. It will show us what we’re doing in Heaven.

[Tweet “Heaven is the culmination and progression of the Kingdom of God in it’s redeemed state. @revtrev”]

Worship

Revelation 19:1-3
After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God, for true and just are his judgments. He has condemned the great prostitute who corrupted the earth by her adulteries. He has avenged on her the blood of his servants.” And again they shouted: “Hallelujah! The smoke from her goes up for ever and ever.”

See Revelation 5 and 15 and 19.

There will be no temple, no church buildings. We will need no props to worship him. PowerPoint is not eternal.

Christ will be the focus of all. Worship will be unaffected, without pretense, and without distraction. We will lose ourselves in worship of Christ, and before we turn to the duties at hand we may suddenly realize that we were so caught up in worship that we have spent the last hundred years gazing upon the Lamb.

We will worship Christ in singing. In Revelation 5 we are told of a choir of angels of ten thousand times ten thousand–that’s a hundred million. And then we are told that the whole rest of creation joins these 100 million. The 100 million are merely a little ensemble up front. Can you imagine the power of the song? If hearing gathered voices praise God as one moves us in this life, what will this be like in eternity?

How do you worship God in this life? Is it in spirit and in truth? Is it with all of your life, soul, mind and strength? Are you taking your everyday, ordinary life and living it in worship to Him?

Spirit helping you, you can.

[Tweet “We’ll worship God in heaven. Get used to it here on earth. @revtrev”]

Fellowship

Revelation 19:9
Then the angel said to me, “Write: ‘Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”

Christ promised we would eat and drink at table with him; plus come from all over to sit at table with Abraham and patriarchs. We will feast at the marriage supper of the Lamb.

There will be an endless supply of water and food. No famine or drought. No food poisoning, no indigestion, no high or low blood sugars.

Eating is not just to eat–the table is the center of conversation and fellowship. We will meet and converse with other inhabitants of heaven. God tells us we’ll fellowship with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob. We’ll meet David and Ruth and Esther and John the Baptist and Mary and Peter. I look forward to meeting and feasting with Origen and Anthony and Patrick and Charles Finney and Smith Wigglesworth and C. S. Lewis (and you – won’t we have a lot to catch up on?).

How do you fellowship in this life? If it’s just the coffee time in the service, great. Thanks for showing up. Make time and space to really connect with others. We all need those close friendships.

[Tweet “We’ll enjoy each other in heaven. Enjoy each other here on earth.”]

Discipleship

We will learn, progress in knowledge. When 1 Corinthians 13 says we will know in full, it’s in contrast to seeing through a dark glass. We will know accurately. But we will not be all-knowing. Only God is that, and we will never be God.

For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)

Ephesians 2:6-7: ” . . . in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace…”

A continual learning more about God, who can never exhausted.

Right now 11% of our brain is used. I know in heaven we’ll have new minds with our new bodies, but consider even what we have now to be amazed at what’s to come.

Theology is the understanding of God and we will be able to understand God in what he reveals to us and throughout his creation. How long will you spend studying a black hole? Why not? Who has placed in us the thirst for knowledge and understanding and beauty? Our Creator. And because he is a Creator he will go right on creating.

How much time do you give yourself to get to know God more in this life? Do you spend time daily in His word? Do you talk to Him on a regular basis? Have you tried the devotionals in RightNow Media?

I want you to experience even a shadow of the joy we’ll have in heaven now!

[Tweet “We will grow in knowledge in heaven. Learn how here on earth.”]

Service

Revelation 22:5
There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign forever and ever.

We are called joint heirs with Christ. We will own property, residences in heaven. We will enjoy those treasures that we have laid up for ourselves in heaven while on earth.

Revelation 22:5 says we will reign with Christ over the earth.
Luke 19 tells us those who have been faithful in this life will be placed in authority, some over one city, some five, some ten.
1 Corinthians 6 tells us we will judge or rule over angels.

Before we’re ready for service in heaven, we will be judged for our service on earth.

[Tweet “Before we’re ready for service in heaven, we’ll be judged for our service on earth. @revtrev”]

In heaven we will be judged for what we’ve done on in this life.

So whether we are here in this body or away from this body, our goal is to please him. For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body. 2 Corinthians 5:9-10 (New Living Translation)

Look, I (Jesus) am coming soon, bringing my reward with me to repay all people according to their deeds. Revelation 22:12 (New Living Translation)

Five Crowns People Will Have in Heaven

1. The Imperishable Crown (1 Cor. 9:25)

Crown for those who run a good race

And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 1 Cor. 9:25 (NKJV)

Make sure you run a good race.

2. The Crown of Righteousness (2 Tim. 4:8)

Crown for those who look forward to Christ’s coming

Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.
2 Tim. 4:8 (NKJV)

The only way to love His appearing is to fall in love with Him. If you’re not excited that one day you’ll be with Him, get to know Him better now.

3. The Crown of Life (James 1:12 Rev. 2:10)

Crown for those who endure

Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. James 1:12 (NKJV)

Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life. Rev. 2:10 (NKJV)

Endure temptation. Endure trials when they come. God is polishing the good He’s entrusted to you.

4. The Crown of Glory (1 Peter 5:1,4)

Crown for elders

The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed…and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. 1 Peter 5:1,4 (NKJV)

This one is for leaders. Be open to leadership opportunities when they arise.

5. The Crown of Rejoicing ( 1 Thes. 2:19)

Crown for Soul Winning

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 1 Thes. 2:19 (NKJV)

Be active in sharing your faith, so you can have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ.

How else will we serve?

How else will we serve Christ besides ruling? Well, we will be creative and exercise abilities–all will sing and some will play instruments. (Harp and trumpet mentioned, but no doubt many other instruments too.)

We will no doubt compose, write, paint, carve, build. We will exercise our God-given gifts, and continue to develop and perfect our talents.

One other thing that together we can do for the sake of eternity, this one we can’t do in eternity.

Evangelism

This is the one eternal purpose that is only for this time… there are a few other things I’ve noticed we can only do in this life…

Christ sent his disciples out and told them to “Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons and raise the dead”. (Matthew 10:8) Then when He commissioned His disciples he told them to make disciples “teaching them to obey everything I’ve commanded you.” (Matthew 28:20). That has to include healing the sick, cleansing the lepers, casting out demons and raising the dead.

We can only do these things here in this fallen world that screams out for reconciliation. When we do, we bring heaven to earth. We bring the circumstance into agreement with the Father’s will. And it’s so much fun to share your faith in love and power.

What we’re doing when we move in the supernatural on earth, is inviting heaven to invade today. We’re calling into being what is in our future state. We are giving others their hope and future.

Who knows what blessing lies just beyond your obedience?

What can we do?

Prayer each day… “Lord, may today I be part of the answer to someone’s prayer.”

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Romans 15:13

Heaven – a brief look at enternity

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Have you seen the movie, or read the book “Heaven is Real?”

I haven’t done either so I can really comment on it.

I do get a little nervous when people go into great detail over their experience in Heaven because Paul had a heaven experience and told us this…

And we…write books and make movies about people’s experiences in Heaven.

Now, that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t talk about heaven.

Paul also tells the church in Philippians to think about what is good and pure and right.

And heaven seems to qualify.

The Bible tells us a lot of what Heaven is like. It tells us all we need to know about Heaven for this life. And we should know the hope that awaits us who have made Jesus our Lord.

Can heaven be more than what’s in the Bible? Oh yes… Paul he heard things so astounding they can’t be expressed in words… so heaven is even better than what we’re going to get excited about today.

I’m going to show you what the Bible says about heaven so you discern for yourself how much stock you should put in books like “Heaven is Real”.

This brief life on earth is the preface, not the book, the preliminaries, not the main event, the tune-up, not the concert. You were created for so much more than you could ever possibly experience or even conceive in this life.

Inside your spirit you know that it’s true. You cry out for justice, you want good to always be done, the pain that sin causes sickens you.

It’s because the core of who you are has been ruined for everything less than your destiny.

Some of you husbands just think your wives like to complain… No. It is because she lives in a fallen world that has yet to be redeemed in a body that has yet to be perfected and her spirit resists accepting that she has been created to live in anything less than her destiny… you go girl.

Just remember the eternal perspective if you’re one of those given to complain… you’re not complaining about your husband not putting the toilet seat down. You’re complaining because you were created for heaven and heaven is not yet here… but it’s coming.

What does the Bible say heaven will be like?

Heaven will be a lot like earth, only so much better than earth that it seems like an insult to describe it like earth. I’m not trying to lower your expectations but I want to give you some frame of reference… This world is a shadow of things to come – a pale reflection see through the glass darkly.

This world is where we live… Heaven is the place where God is.

Home of Christ, angels, and redeemed. Only for those who know Christ, whose names written in Lamb’s book of life.

This world really exists…

Heaven is located up and out there, outside our own universe. It is solid. Real. Not airy. Not ethereal. Tangible.

In this world we have bodies… In heaven we will have resurrected bodies

In this world we have houses and cities….In heaven we have homes and the new Jerusalem

Heaven is a city whose builder and maker is God. A city by definition consists of residences. People live together. No isolation.

City will have walls, gates, streets.

Three gates on each side, 12 gates total. Access from all over new earth.

In Heaven there is room

Homes will need no down payment, closing costs, mortgage payments, property tax, utility bills.

And if you think you’d never like the city, it’s because you’re thinking of earthly cities, with litter and dirt and crime. The heavenly city will have all the freshness and vitality and openness of the country with all the vibrancy and interdependence and relationships of a city. And there will be no racial divisions between people.

In this world oceans divide people… In heaven…Water.

No oceans to separate people of earth but fresh water–a great river, flowing not stagnant.

We travel in this world… In heaven there will be travel…

People will go from one place to another. Gates never shut. Our means of travel may be interesting–we are told we will be like Jesus and that his resurrection body is the prototype of ours. He walked through walls with his resurrection body. Perhaps we will have the option of walking, or traveling at the speed of light, or even the speed of thought.

In this world we remember… In heaven we’ll remember..

We know that in the heavenly city there will be memorials to the twelve tribes and to the apostles. Remembrance is something very important to God. We will sing of Christ’s redemption, his space and time history death on our behalf. Christ’s resurrection body bore the nail scars–this itself reminds us of redemption.

We’ll know our loved ones in heaven. We’ll know even those we didn’t know on earth. Peter James and John recognized Moses and Elijah in the transfiguration. They had died 900 years earlier and nobody had a picture. Christ’s resurrection body resembled him–the disciples had a hard time recognizing him at first, but they thought he was still dead!

You don’t become ignorant when you go home with Christ, you become enlightened. Heaven’s joy is not based on being uninformed but in having an accurate perspective.

In Heaven there is light…

Light. No secondary sources. No generators and power lines, not even the sun. Illumination right from God himself–the lamb is the lamp. There will be no night–could be a variation in brightness; maybe a gentle suffused light.

In Heaven there will be trees and seasons…

And animals…

Revelation talks of several angels riding out on horses. Elijah–chariots and horses of fire come to and from heaven. Elisha–God sent horses and chariots and warriors from heaven.

Heaven is the culmination and progression of the kingdom of God in it’s redeemed state.

Those of us who long for justice, justice for the racially oppressed, for the politically persecuted, for the unborn children need to remind ourselves not to give up hope, not to become embittered. Heaven will bring great relief to the suffering, the hungry, the hurting. No crying, no pain, no sorrow, no more death. No hospitals, cemeteries. No sin.

No evil. No fear. No abuse, rape, murder, drugs, drunkenness, no bombs or guns. Walk streets at night.

In Heaven We Enter Into our Destiny

No miscommunication or fear of misunderstanding. Total intimacy with Christ. We are told that he will give each of us a new name. A personal name that will mean much to us and to him.

Heaven will be deeply appreciated by people with disabilities that will not be disabled any longer. Think of those who can walk and run and hear. Think of those blind from birth that will see for the first time.

In Heaven all our tears will be dried

The hymn writer Fanny Crosby said, “Do not pity me for my blindness, for the first face I ever see will be the face of my Lord Jesus.”

And think what heaven will mean to the mentally disabled, who will wake up in heaven to great powers of understanding and learning. Who, will be as free in their minds as those who were disabled on earth will be free in their bodies.

This is the hope for all who believe. Heaven is real, and it’s better than we can ever express.

There’s one way to enter heaven…

The Bible tells us there is one way to enter heaven and that’s to have our names written in the Lamb’s book of life.

Another way the Bible talks about being “saved” is having your name written in the Lamb’s book of Life.

You can today.

1 John 2:15-17 NLT
“Do not love this world nor the things it offers you, for when you love the world, you do not have the love of the Father in you. For the world offers only a craving for physical pleasure, a craving for everything we see, and pride in our achievements and possessions. These are not from the Father, but are from this world. And this world is fading away, along with everything that people crave. But anyone who does what pleases God will live forever.”

There will be great joy in heaven…. And just thinking about it now should give us Joy and Peace and hope.

Have You Ever Considered A Daniel Fast?

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What is a Daniel Fast?

I’ve had so many readers ask me about fasting. I have some problems teaching it because people often use fasting to almost bend God to their will. That’s really missing the point. We have to fast with the right attitude.

Jesus spoke to His disciples saying…”When you fast…” so fasting should be part of our Christian discipline. We can’t throw it out because people have used it poorly.

A Daniel fast is an excellent tool for facilitating protracted times of prayer and fasting. Let me outline how I’ve done Daniel Fasts.

How to Do a Daniel Fast

A few days before you start the fast, make your meals lighter -eat less meat.
Set a date and time for when the fast will start and when it will end.
When the time comes, start off with prayer. Why are you fasting? Make sure it lines up with one of the reasons shown in Scripture. Don’t forget anything not done in faith is sin.
Pray often, maybe at least five times more than you normally do.
Spend time in His presence at all times and in His palpable presence more often.

Foods You Can Eat

Whole Grains: Brown Rice, Oats, Barley

Legumes: Dried Beans, Pinto Beans, Split Peas, Lentils, Black Eyed Peas

Fruits: Apples, Apricots, Bananas, Blackberries, Blueberries, Boysenberries, Cantaloupe, Cherries, Cranberries, Oats, Figs, Grapefruit, Grapes, Guava, Honeydew Melon, Kiwi, Lemons, Limes, Mangoes, Nectarines, Papayas, Peaches, Pears, Pineapples, Plums, Prunes, Raisins, Raspberries, Strawberries, Tangelos, Tangerines, Watermelon

Vegetables: Artichokes, Asparagus, Beets, Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Chili Peppers, Corn, Cucumbers, Eggplant, Garlic, Ginger root, Kale, Leeks, Lettuce, Mushrooms, Mustard Greens, Okra, Onions, Parsley, Potatoes, Radishes, Rutabagas, Scallions, Spinach, Sprouts, Squashes, Sweet Potatoes, Tomatoes, Turnips, Watercress, Yams, Zucchini

Seeds, Nuts, Sprouts

Liquids: Spring Water, Distilled Water, 100% All-Natural Fruit Juices, 100% All Natural Vegetable Juices

Foods to Avoid

Meat
White Rice
Fried Foods
Caffeine
Carbonated Beverages
Foods Containing Preservatives or Additives
Refined Sugar
Sugar Substitutes
White Flour and All Products Using It
Margarine, Shortening, High Fat Products

Tips

The fast can last as long as you want.
Do not eat meat or consume alcohol during this fast. Vegetarians and those who don’t typically consume alcohol find these easy to give up for a season.
Stay away from sugars, sodas, cake, ice cream and other products with sugar. Honey is good, but make sure it is pure natural honey. Almost everyone finds these a bit harder.
Make your meals vegetables, salads, fruit and water.
Drink at least 6 glasses of water each day, more when you are experiencing weakness or headaches. Often, we do not understand just how much our body needs water, especially when fasting.

Warnings

If this is your first time, you may get a slight headache.

During the time of fasting you will face temptations. Resist them in the name of Jesus Christ.

When you have finished fasting, eat light meals and slowly build back up to your normal diet.

The “Daniel Fast” comes from Daniel 10:2-3

In those days I, Daniel, was mourning three full weeks. I ate no pleasant food, no meat or wine came into my mouth, nor did I anoint myself at all, till three whole weeks were fulfilled.” Daniel 10:2, 3

But I do recommend you “anoint yourself” (ie. use deodorant) while you’re on a Daniel Fast. Jesus said something about not announcing that you’re fasting. 🙂

I would appreciate hearing about your experience fasting completely or doing a Daniel Fast. I’ve had great times with God whenever I’ve fasted. Can’t wait to hear about your past or present experiences. Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Wounds Well Healed

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Wounds Well Healed

It was just over a year ago I was in a church to help launch a 40 day fast from negativity. I was going to explain the concept of “gravitas.” This description comes from M. Craig Barnes “The Pastor as Minor Poet” p. 49

It [gravitas] speaks to a soul that has developed enough spiritual mass to be attractive, like gravity. It makes the soul appear old, but gravitas has nothing to do with age. It has everything to do with wounds that have healed well, failures that have been redeemed, sins that have been forgiven, and thorns that have settled into the flesh. These severe experiences with life expand the soul until it appears larger than the body that contains it. Then it is large enough to proclaim a holy joy, which makes the soul so attractive.

As I shared that I felt I needed to expand the message. I said something like this extemporaneously, “Some of you hear take pride in your wounds. You wear your pain like a badge of honor. You think it makes you acceptable to God. But God wants you to know that your wounds hurt Him and what brings Him joy is your wounds well healed.”

After the service a lady came up to me with tears in her eyes. She told me some time ago God impressed upon her that her wounds would heal well. She said, “when you said that phrase – ‘your wounds well healed’ – I knew God was saying my time of healing is complete.

I was floored. I had just come from a long conversation with someone telling me how tough his life was and how he had a right to his bitterness. This lady had the opposite spirit. It was amazing.

How do you allow your wounds to heal well? This should really be a book, but here are a few things I’ve picked up in my own journey.

Allow time – miracles happen in a moment, healing takes place over time.
Don’t separate from community – real healing takes place in community.
Let God heal you with His word – it’s not circumstance that matures us, too many choose to be bitter. It’s the word of God spoken to us (see John 15 – specifically verse 3)

Your wounds can heal well. That thorn can settle into your flesh. You where made for gravitas.

Mind If I Pray For You?

Lord help us to see situations the way you do. Help us to know you work all things out for our good. Help us to understand your purpose to grow us into maturity. Help us to not fight that metamorphic process.

~Trevor

How do you Fast and Pray and Help Others Out?

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These are questions I need a lot more time to answer fully but let’s start with the basics right now. How are we to do everything we are to do? Let me know what you think in the comments.

Question:

I’ve been so caught up in my emotions recently, I haven’t noticed that God was busy encouraging me with his servants and I have been ignoring. I recently sort references to aid me to understand more about our unfailing God who loves us apart from our disgrace in the garden and his purpose, and realize that you have to understand the purpose you have in his reality.

There’s a lot I want to understand, learn and know.
1.What’s the correct and fulfilling way to fast.
2.What’s the correct way to pray.
3.How to effectively help others in there struggles?

That’s me today!

Pray blessing to all and have a blessed ay.

Answer:

Thanks so much for your email.

I find God is so much more concerned about relationship than rules. I do have tips for fasting I’ve found helpful I’ll post on RevTrev.com soon. I also thought I had posted on prayer but I guess they are in the works to.

When we understand the Father’s heart of God everything I can say about the disciplines we can do are understood more clearly. We’re not earning anything from God. To beg God for anything assumes we have more mercy than He does.

Yes we need to obey everything he has said, and that means we need to know what He has said. But it doesn’t mean we forget to listen to the Spirit tell us when it’s time to fast. It may mean we need to take more time to pray so we can have more time to listen.

I’ll be writing more about prayer and fasting in the coming months.

Oh yah, my advice to help you help others… let others see the beauty of God’s holiness in you. This is true holiness, not simply following a list of rules. Still, a simple prayer I pray in the moment is…”Lord, give me your words for your people.”

It all starts with our relationship with the Father.
It all needs to flow from our identity.

We can’t be concerned with rules and regulations but we do need to concern ourselves with live up to what we’ve already attained.

Hope that helps for now.

Blessings

~Trevor

Do Spirit-filled Believers Leak the Spirit?

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Here’s another question from a reader I’ve tried to answer. It’s a good one we should all consider the pros and cons for.

Question:

A friend of mine brought up the subject of being filled with the spirit and she reckons that we are filled with the spirit when we are baptised in the spirit (I agree) and that we never need to be refilled again as the Holy Spirit lives in us after this and therefore we have all that we need from that moment on. (This is the bit I am not sure about). She has steadfastly refused now to sing lyrics which ask God to fill us. I am really not sure at all about this as I have always believed in the teaching that says ‘we leak’ and constantly need to be refilled! She says there is nothing in the Bible that says we ‘leak’. I pointed out to her, even Jesus said, He felt power go out from Him. Is that the same thing? Did He need to be refilled after that? Now she has mentioned this subject to me I feel uneasy about the whole thing.

I would be interested to know what do you think/believe and whether you have heard this teaching?

Answer:

I know I shouldn’t be amazed at how God works, but once again I’m excited that He’s already got me started on answering this question. I’ll let you know about that in a bit.

First off, “leak” is a term I’m not really comfortable with since it’s not in Scripture. But that doesn’t mean I don’t use it and it doesn’t mean it’s not correct.

I think your friend is making a mistake that many people do…confusing being anointed with being filled.

Jesus is quoting Isaiah when He says:

The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed….
Luke 4:18 (New International Version)

We have the Spirit BECAUSE we’re anointed. John tells us that anointing remains:

As for you, the anointing you received from him remains in you, and you do not need anyone to teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about all things and as that anointing is real, not counterfeit—just as it has taught you, remain in him.
1 John 2:27 (New International Version)

Now the confusion comes in because Jesus taught us the Spirit, like the anointing, teaches us all things:

But the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. John 14:26 (New International Version)

The anointing remains – in both the old and new covenant. In the Old covenant the Holy Spirit came on a specific person for a specific time or job. In the New Testament, He’s poured out on all flesh. Does that mean we always have all the Spirit we ever can?

We need to look at verses like Ephesians 5:18:

And do not get drunk with wine, for that is debauchery; but ever be filled and stimulated with the [Holy] Spirit. Ephesians 5:18 (Amplified Bible)

The Amplified Version does a decent job with the imperative, present, passive verb for “filled”

being imperative, God commands us to be filled;
being present tense, it is to be repeated, it is an ongoing responsibility; and
being passive, we are to yield to the influence of the Holy Spirit.

If it’s our repeated, ongoing responsibility to be continued to be filled, does that suggest we can “leak”?

I wrote (I’m just being lazy to cite myself) in “How Big Is Your But?”

One day not long ago I was up early to have my time to soak in the hot tub, exercise and spend time with God. It was such a good morning. I had been talking and praising and listening to God. I remembered a season when I constantly felt His power and it seemed like everyone I prayed for was healed. I was saddened a bit at the thought and asked God, “Daddy, why do we leak? Why couldn’t I always be that full.”

I felt His response “Because I want an ongoing relationship with you. I like when we’re together.”

If I ever think I have all I can of God…let’s just say He has a way of blowing away my understanding and experience of Him, as long as I continue to seek Him.

I understand this all can be sloppy language. Since Jesus only did what He saw the Father do (John 6:38) and only said what He heard the Father say (John12:49-50), how do we think He did that? Was it just “He was God” or did He leave us a pattern to follow in His steps? I think so. Notice how often He went away to pray:

And early in the morning, while it was still dark, He arose and went out and departed to a lonely place, and was praying there. ( Mark 1:35)

And immediately He made His disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side to Bethsaida, while He Himself was sending the multitude away. And after bidding them farewell, he departed to the mountain to pray. ( Mark 6:45-46)

And they came to a place called Gethsemane; and He said to His disciples, “Sit here until I have prayed.” And He took with Him Peter and James and John, and began to be very distressed and troubled. And He said to them, “My soul is deeply grieved to the point of death; remain here and keep watch.” And He went a little beyond them, and fell to the ground, and began praying. ( Mark 14:32-34)

And when day came, He departed to a lonely place; and the multitudes were searching for Him, and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from going away from them. ( Luke 4:42)

But He Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray. ( Luke 5:16)

And it was at this time that He went off to the mountain to pray, and He spent the whole night in prayer to God. ( Luke 6:12)

When we do this we get filled and refilled and refilled and refilled. I don’t even think we need to open to it or embrace it. Spending time with God “changes us.” Why? Because we become what we worship (2 Corinthians 3:18). Isn’t that a great description of “being filled”?

[Tweet “We become like what we worship see 2Cor 3:18 @revtrev”]

Do we leak? I think I do. It doesn’t mean I have less of a standing with God – I’m His child and friend (and favorite) regardless of what I do or don’t do. But I can always do things to improve my relationship and experience with Him. Continually being filled is one of those things.

I like the concept of “leaking out all-over others” as it means what God gives me, He gives me to give others. A pond that has no way for the water to exit is stagnant. The best example for this in the world is the appropriately named Dead Sea.

[Tweet “A pond that has no way for the water to exit is stagnant – share what you’ve been given. @revtrev”]

Finally, the songs I have trouble with are probably in the same genre as your friend. I can’t sing anything that has me begging my Daddy for something He’s promised to give me. Often these are the song that cry out to “fill us.”

Look at Ephesians 5:18 WE are commanded to be filled continually. Do we really think God is going to answer a prayer for Him to do something He’s already commanded us to do?

Poetic songwriters often do a disservice to theology. I’m glad at times that God’s more concerned with our heart and actions than the words we parrot because it has a nice melody.

~Trevor

What I’ve Taught on Holy Spirit

Check out my messages and blog posts on Holy Spirit. I’ll keep this updated. Let me know if there is a specific topic you want covered in the comments.

Learn and Experience All You Can About Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-hopeful/learn-and-experience-all-you-can-about-holy-spirit/
How to know and experience more of our triune God today https://revtrev.com/living-light/trinity-essential/
Is Spiritual Growth is on your vision board? https://revtrev.com/living-light/is-spiritual-growth-on-your-vision-board/
How to be confident you’re being led from Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/living-light/be-confident-led-holy-spirit/
God is with us will I be with Him? https://revtrev.com/living-light/god-is-always-with-us-will-i-be-with-him/
How to understand and and enjoy the Gifts God has for you Today https://revtrev.com/message/how-to-understand-and-enjoy-the-gifts-god-has-for-you-today/
Buying the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-intentional/buying-holy-spirit/
How to Release the gift of words of wisdom https://revtrev.com/livecasts/how-to-release-the-gift-of-words-of-wisdom/
70 Functions of the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-light/70-functions-of-the-holy-spirit/
How can I Receive the Holy Spirit https://revtrev.com/live-today/how-can-i-receive-the-holy-spirit/
3 ways to know it’s the Holy Spirit Speaking https://revtrev.com/live-hopeful/3-ways-to-know-its-the-spirit-speaking/
How to let the Fruit of Holy Spirit Transform you https://revtrev.com/living-light/how-to-let-the-fruit-of-holy-spirit-transform-you/
5 things to know about Spiritual Growth https://revtrev.com/livecasts/5-things-to-never-forget-about-spiritual-growth/
11 ways the Holy Spirit Speaks to you https://revtrev.com/live-today/11-ways-the-spirit-speaks-to-you/
Do Spirit-Filled Believers Leak the Spirit? https://revtrev.com/live-today/do-spirit-filled-believers-leak-the-spirit/
How to use God’s Gifts for Another https://revtrev.com/living-light/how-to-use-gods-gifts-for-one-another/
I build myself up reflectionhttps://revtrev.com/livecasts/day-42-i-build-myself-up-reflection-livecast/
4 Tips I’ve learned To Hear the Spirit Speak https://revtrev.com/live-intentional/4-tips-ive-learned-to-hear-the-spirit-speak/