Ignite (4/14) Revival: Discernemnt of Spirits

Pennie and John Mirande shared about Discernment of Spirits 

At first Pennie felt as though she should talk about intimacy with the Lord, but all of the gifts of the Spirit about intimacy with the Lord. They come from intimacy with Him. 

1 Corinthians 12:1-11 talks about all of the gifts of the Spirit: 
1 Now about the gifts of the Spirit, brothers and sisters, I do not want you to be uninformed.

2 You know that when you were pagans, somehow or other you were influenced and led astray to mute idols.

3 Therefore I want you to know that no one who is speaking by the Spirit of God says, “Jesus be cursed,” and no one can say, “Jesus is Lord,” except by the Holy Spirit.

4 There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit distributes them.

5 There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord.

6 There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work.

7 Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good.

8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit,

9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit,

10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues.

11 All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he distributes them to each one, just as he determines. 

These are all the work of the Holy Spirit and they are gifts that Holy Spirit gives. 

Human beings by nature have discernment - we are able to discern things throughout life, but often this comes down to wisdom, so how do we know the difference between discernment and wisdom? The greek word for distinguishing is diakrisis, meaning judicial estimation, so asking "what is the source?". 

Practicing discernment often starts with "something doesn't feel right". So you look at it's fruit (is it good or bad fruit?) then ask God a lot of really specific questions about the situation. 

Pennie gave a few examples of this:

She shared that at one time in life there was a family member who would speak a lot of vile things to Pennie that did not have any grounding. The Lord showed Pennie that this was a spirit of defilement - when something is clean but is being called unclean. So the next time this situation arose with that family member, instead of arguing, Pennie responded with "I don't receive that. That is the spirit of defilement talking." then the person went blank and said "I don't know why I was saying that or what I was saying - that's not even true!"

Then next example, Pennie shared about a coworker that had a hopelessness and negativity about her in every conversation. Each time Pennie talked with this person, she left the conversation feeling so defeated. The Lord showed Pennie how to stand against this spirit of negativity in authority. Whenever this coworker would call, Pennie would answer, put her on hold and pray "In the name of Jesus I say no to the spirit of hopelessness and negativity. In my conversation, you are not allowed. I will always listen to the Spirit of God who brings hope." From then on, her conversations stayed positive, light and hopeful. 

Pennie shared a third example about the spirit of offence and accusation that can come up in marriage. Whenever she and her husband feel that spirit rising, the pause and pray "spirit of accusation and offense, we see you and you are not welcome here. The only thing welcome is the Spirit of God in our midst." And that shifts the conversation, realigning focus. 

Next, Pennie shared and example from a friend who has a ministry teaching young kids about Holy Spirit. At a birthday party, her young daughter was around 5 years old. At the party she ended up at the back of a yard with an older boy who started acting inappropriate towards her. As the young girl later told her mom, she said that in the moment, she felt that something wasn't right, so she did what her mom taught her and asked Jesus what he thought about it and he said "No, that is wrong." So the young girl said that to the boy and the boy ran off. It is so important that we teach young kids how to walk with Holy Spirit!

Next John shared his testimony of the Lord calling him to walk in authority over the spirit of fear of man. John worked at a school with at risk students who would speak offensively to him, argue, mock, and be violent. That was very hard for John at first, but he continued to stand on the truth that God has given us not a spirit of fear, but power and love and self control. He began to walk in the authority that the Lord has given him. He would not respond to the offenses and mocking but would love on the kids. The kids eventually began to love and respect John as he showed the love of Christ to them. 

We have to walk in the authority that we've been given - the power that raised Christ from the dead lives in us. 

Pennie and John then led a ministry time of prayer and activation. To watch the full service, click here. 

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Ignite 4/7 - Revival: Evangelism Carly Schut

This week we heard from Carly Schut about street evangelism. Carly spent some time in the past year doing missions with YWAM.

To know God and to make Him known. - YWAM Mission Statement

What pops into your head when you hear the word "evangelism"?
Often times we think of it was scary. Many will say that evangelism is about "winning souls", but if you see yourself as a "soul winner" you'll set yourself up for failure. We need to see ourselves as "seed planters" because it's not our job to save people - that's God's job. We get to be the messengers apart of that job. It's not about arguing with people and convincing them. We can't view this as something where we have success or failure.

If you go up to someone and ask them if you can pray for them and they say "no", that's not failure. A seed was planted where they might walk away thinking "Why would they want to pray for me?". Seeds were planted and now they have questions.

When we think of ourselves as "seed planters" rather than "soul winners" we take the pressure off of ourselves.

Carly used a number scale as an analogy.

Someone who's not anywhere close to saved may be at a "-5" and someone who's saved may be at a "5". You can't go up to someone at a "-5" as expect them to be saved with one conversation. Salvation is a process. Every encounter you have may make one step closer to salvation.

What our job as believers is to simply be available and obedient. Maybe you're in the grocery store and feel a nudge in your heart to go talk to someone. Often we fight it, but that is when the Lord is asking us to step out and be bold. He does the work, we are the vessels.

1 Thessalonians 2:4 - "On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts."

We aren't doing any of this for people. We are doing this for God. He doesn't need us - he could do this by himself, but he loves us so much that he invites us into partner with him. 

Carly then shared what she did with YWAM. 

First, they would pray and ask God what He has. This part takes a lot of faith, obedience, and trust. Many times you get a picture or phrase or name or scripture. 

The first time Carly went out in Thailand, she saw in her mind's eye someone in a green shirt, but heard "yellow shirt". She and her partner went out and they saw a man with a yellow shirt with a green apron on. Carly was blown away. 

Another time, her school leader was praying with his team and kept hearing a Lady Gaga song in his head before going out. As the team went out they pass a coffee shop with the song playing. They enter the coffee shop and talked with the owner and had some great encounters with the Lord. 

Each time as they'd go out they'd be praying "God open my eyes to whatever you have" and listen to where the Lord leads. When God says to go up to someone, just go out of love and relationship. Ask them about what they're doing, their family, activities, etc. It's not hard to simply be caring to them. Then ask God for a word to share with that person. 

It often feels like you're going out and doing prophesy. We just share the love of God with people and let God do the rest. We don't get the victory for the salvation so we also don't take the blame. It's not on us, we're just being obedient to what the Lord says. 

This is an every day type of thing. The nations need to know God, but so do our neighbors, friends, coworkers and families. We just need to wake up with obedience in our hearts. 

Carly then shared a couple stories. 

When she was in Thailand, they went out and a man came up to them and just began conversation. He began sharing a ton about bars and the red light district which was very near. He shared how he didn't like going to that area of town. During the conversation the man said he used to pray with his grandma but isn't really a Christian anymore. Then the man had to leave and go across town. Carly and her partner wished they could've talked to the man more, but went to the area he had talked about and were able to talk and pray with some people. A little while later they ran into the same man they were hoping to see again. They talked with him again and he shared how he might need to start thinking about faith again. The team felt very blessed by the encounter and was able to help him take a step closer. 

When Carly was in Orlando, her team was in a park praying for people. They were praying for healing for a guy. When they were done and walked a way a bit. A guy came up and asked if they had been praying and when the team responded yes, the man said "I want that - I want your Jesus." He was so ready for Jesus and had the desire so the team was able to pray with him and lead him in that. 

To watch the full service, click here. 

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Ignite 3/24 - Revival: Baptism in the Holy Spirit

The Baptism of the Holy Spirit 

Jesus is revival because when Jesus came; his life, death and resurrection, we see that the demons left, people were healed, hearts were made alive!

Lyle began with talking about God's business being revival and adding people to His family.
Hebrews 2:4 - "While God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will."
Joel 2:28-29 - "And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour out my Spirit."
God says that He will pour out his Spirit. In Acts 2, Peter references, but this is not the end, it was the beginning - the Holy Spirit poured out in the upper room.
John 14:12 - "Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father. Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son."
John 17:18 "As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world."
Scripture tells us that God has given us his Holy Spirit.

As Lyle continued, he explained what a human being is made up of - Spirit, soul, and body.
1 Thessalonians 5:23 says, Now may the god of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We have a spirit so that we can identify with God. We have a soul that is our mind, will, and emotions (our personality), then we have a body. We can easily be caught up in or dominated by our soul, instead of our spirit. We want to be connected in spirit with God.

Jesus told the disciples that it was better that he went away because he would then send the Helper.

When our spirit is dominating, we are in line with what the Lord calls us to. In Acts 8, we see Philip leave the revival that was breaking out because the Lord said to and he went to the chariot and baptized the man.

Lyle shared a story about a friend who rarely cried before he was baptized in the Spirit, but once he was baptized in the Spirit, he cries much more often because the Spirit has reign over his emotions. The Lord tenderized his heart.

John the Baptist was called the greatest prophet. His greatest prophecy and message was found in Luke 3:16 - "I baptize you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."

The word baptism (greek: baptizo) means to immerse, submerge, totally saturate.

Jesus baptizes in the Holy Spirit. In John 20:20, it says that Jesus breathed on His disciples and said receive the Holy Spirit.

Lyle shared that he believed that the disciples received the indwelling Holy Spirit, just like when he prayed the prayer asking Jesus to be his Lord and Savior, he received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. But then there is also baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Acts 1:8, Jesus says that you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you. This means the same thing as baptism. Often in different denominations, the word "baptized" in reference to the Holy Spirit can be poorly received. We see many synonyms throughout Acts: "filled, poured out, received, baptized, full of, the Spirit came upon, the Spirit fell upon".

There were 4 things that the early apostles were about when it comes to salvation.
1. Belief in the Lord Jesus Christ
2. Repentance of sin and turn to God
3. Water baptism
4. Spirit baptism

Jesus is our model - he was circumcised and dedicated in the temple. 
Many people have been baptized as a baby - we don't remember it, but it was symbolizing our dedication to the church. 

Jesus was the only many who didn't sin, but he still went to the river to be baptized by John. When he comes up from the water, the Spirit descends on Him like a dove. The Spirit "lighted" Him. This all happened before he did ministry. Then Luke 4 tells us that Jesus was full of the Holy Spirit and then was led into the wilderness. In Acts 1:5 Jesus says that John baptized with water, but you will be baptized in the Holy Spirit not many days from now. 

There was a testimony shared about being baptized in the Spirit, then there was a time for people to receive prayer. To listen to the full service, click here. 

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Ignite 3/17 - Revival: Prayer

Revival: Prayer (Greg Schut)

Before any revival, there are people that labor in prayer for it. As we are talking about revival and wanting it to come, we have to first be praying for it. 

Isaiah 30:19 "He will surely be gracious to you at the sound of your cry. as soon as he hears it, he answers you." The Lord doesn't need us, but he loves partnership with us. He invites us in to partner with Him in what He is doing. He's the Bridegroom and we are the Bride. When we cry out to Him, He answers. That is one of His promises. 

At Ignite, we sang the song Yes and Amen. The lyrics say "all Your promises are yes and amen". 

Psalm 22:3 says that He is enthroned on the praises of His people. That is a promise! Scripture is filled with His promises. One of them being that He answers our cry! 

Prayer isn't just a checklist of things you need to ask God for. It is dialogue with our Father. It's relationship - communing with Him. He is jealous for us and for our attention, He wants to commune with us. Greg explained that it's just like when he is gone for a few days from his family. A phone call or skype isn't enough, he has a longing to be in their presence and to commune with them. There is a similar longing with the Lord! 

When we pray, we often forget to slow down and simply be with God. We need to listen and take time being in His presence. 

He has called us to be watchmen, to cry out to Him day and night. Isaiah 62:6 says, "On your walks, O Jerusalem, I have set watchmen; all the day and all the night they shall never be silent. You who put the Lord in remembrance, take no rest, and give him no rest until he establishes Jerusalem and makes it a praise in the earth." He wants us to continually cry out to Him. 

James 5: 16-18 says, "The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working. Elijah was a man with  nature like ours, and he prayed fervently that it might not rain, and for three years and six months it did not rain o n the earth. then he prayed again, and heaven gave rain, and the earth bore its fruit." Elijah was a man - just like us - and look at the testimony of his prayers! 

Greg them moved into a time of prayer with a few volunteers reading from Joel 2, prefaced by a dream that Greg had many years ago. He was at a place where there was karaoke. Greg was in the way back of the room as the next person went up to sing. Before the man began to sing, he said into the microphone "Joel 2" and Greg just began to cheer and jump and yell, feeling as if electricity was shooting through him. Everyone in the room turned around to look at him strangely. This happened three times. When Greg woke up, he knew it was from the Lord. He had never read the book of Joel, so as he began to read, the Lord spoke to him. Joel 2:12, "'Yet even now,' declares the Lord, 'return to me with all your heart, with fasting, with weeping, and with mourning; and rend your hearts and not your garments;" The Lord wants us to rend our hearts, to come to Him and pour everything out. 

Later in verses 28-29 it says, "And it shall come to pass afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy and your young men shall see visions. Even on the male and female servants in those days I will pour our my Spirit." This is what is to come. He WILL. This is another promise from the Lord. 

For practical tips about prayer leading, Greg shared that it's not something that is practiced and polished, it's simply us praying scripture back to the Lord. Saying that we agree with the Word and that it would be so in our hearts. 

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Ignite (3/10) - Revival: Study of Scripture (Wayne Vermeer)

Revival: Study of Scripture

Wayne started out by sharing about the urgency of the last days before Jesus returns. This is why we need to study scripture and to know Jesus, so that we can stand firm and share what the Word says. 

Scriptures about the importance of the Word:

- Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path. 

- 2 Timothy 3:16 - All scripture is given by god, ,and is profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, and instruction in righteousness. 

- 2 Peter 1:20 - 21 - No prophecy of Scripture is of any private interpretation,, for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit.

- Hebrew 4:12 - For the Word for God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword.

How do I know the Bible is true? "The Bible tells me so" - God's Word is amazing. There are 66 books written by 40 men over the span of 1,500 years with miraculous collusion. The prophecy fulfillment is astonishing - 54 prophecies about Jesus all came true. Taking only 8 of these 54 are all affirmed by history has the odds of 1 in 10^17. How big is that? Texas 5 half dollars deep. Now consider prophecies from both major and minor prophets. Take the prophecies of just Daniel - amazing, incredible odds. Another reason I know that the Bible is true is because I know the author! 

How to study scripture:

- Read your Bible to develop relationship with God rather than knowledge about God. Knowledge will come with the relationship. 

- Read slowly and carefully

- Pay attention to conditionals - converses + contrapositives.

- Understand the difference between "and" + "or". 

- Notice things like adverbs, adjectives, and words like "therefore" + "for".

- Stay away from proof texts - often theologians support their pet teachings with distorting the truth

- Watch the context, avoid pulling scripture out of context.

- Use al pertinent passages to arrive at truth.

- Make your own lists of verses on various topics like baptism as you cover all of scripture.

- Be aware of false premises and false assumptions in developing a teaching or doctrine. 

- Read entire books in one sitting if possible.

- Journal or write as you study scripture.

- Read out loud to involve another sense and deeper comprehension.

- Read various translations (your phone is a great resource for finding other translations!).

- Pray scripture back to God, have conversation with Him concerning scripture.

- Listen to the Spirit as you study different topics. 

To listen to the full teaching, click here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3

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Ignite 2/17 - Revival: Shifting Atmospheres/Breaking Conformity Pennie Mirande

Steps to Shifting Spiritual Atmospheres

1. Discern - What do you "pick up"/sends/see/hear?

2. Ask - Ask the Lord, "What do you want me to know about this?" What for revelation or understanding.

3. Repent - Repent on behalf of others. Repent also for any way you partnered with it as well. 

4. Release the opposite - Ask God for revelation about what His opposing truth is. Release this blessing over the environment and yourself. Wait for his peace to come.

Ephesians 6:12 - "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."

2 Chronicles 7:14 - "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and I will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 - "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of this world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ."

Romans 12:2 - "Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then, you will be able to test and approve what God's will is - his good, please and perfect will. 

Romans 12:2 (Passion Translation) - "Stop imitating the ideals and opinions of the culture around you, but be inwardly transformed by the Holy Spirit through a total reformation of how you think. This will empower you to discern God's will as you live a beautiful life, satisfying and perfect in his eyes. 

Psalm 51:7 - "Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean; was me and I will be whiter than snow."

During the service, there was a powerful ministry time where there was much repentance and release of freedom in this space. You are encouraged to watch or listen to the recording of the service.

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Ignite (2/10) - Revival: Hearing the Voice of the Lord

Revival: Hearing the Voice of the Lord

Lyle Schut shared what the Lord has spoken to him about hearing His voice. 

Malachi 4:5-6  - “See, I will send the prophet Elijah to you before that great and dreadful day of the Lord comes. ⁶ He will turn the hearts of the parents to their children, and the hearts of the children to their parents; or else I will come and strike the land with total destruction.” This was a prophecy about John the Baptist coming. 

400 years later, in Luke 1 we read about Zechariah being visited by an angel, telling him that the prayers Zechariah and his wife had been praying for a child, has been heard, and this child to come would be the one who goes before the Lord. 

In Luke 2, we read about Simeon praying and the Lord spoke that him that he would see the Messiah before he died. How was it that Simeon was able to hear the Lord speak this? He had positioned himself before the Lord.

Then John the Baptist says in John 3:29-30,  ^"The bride belongs to the bridegroom. The friend who attends the bridegroom waits and listens for him, and is full of joy when he hears the bridegroom’s voice. That joy is mine, and it is now complete. He must become greater; I must become less.”

John the Baptist was a friend to Jesus, the Bridegroom. The Lord speaks to us out of friendship. He loves us, He is a friend. We shouldn't desire obedience out of duty, it is out of friendship. We can ask the Lord to speak to us out of friendship. 

John the Baptist also positioned himself to hear. He stands to hear him. It's an intentional act to stand. You break out of a slumber position. He stood to hear His voice, he changed position to hear the Lord. Later in Ephesians 6 when we hear Paul talking about spiritual warfare, he talks about standing: "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people."

John the Baptist knew who he was as the friend to the Bridegroom and the one who was sent to prepare the way. 

What if revival looks different that we thought? If it looks like a crazy guy in the desert yelling "Repent! The Kingdom is at hand!" would you go to listen? Will our hearts be hard, or will we be ready with hearts positioned towards the Lord, listening to what He will do? 

To watch the full service, click here. 

To listen to the full audio, click here. 

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