Whatever your clouds have been, hang on, God’s glory is about to breakthrough and change everything!
Notably, a few weeks later while in church, I was so overcome by the Holy Spirit, I felt I was being lifted into the heavens! His Presence and power was so strong on me I knew I was in a different dimension. I would liken it to Phillip who was transported by the Spirit of the Lord in Acts 8:25-40. I literally had to try to hold myself down as I did not want to disrupt the service. As I held on to my husband’s arm I did in fact, declare boldly and loudly, “Breakthrough! Breakthrough! Breakthrough!” I could barely contain myself for all I was seeing in the Spirit. It was magnificent! I saw healings, deliverances, restorations, divine provisions and many powerfully amazing things!
Beloved, pray the promises given in the Word of God as well as those given you by prophetic utterance. Pray for your breakthrough! Pray that the Living Waters of the Lord will come thundering into your life and manifest in such a way as to bring the holy reverential fear of the Lord in and around you! Waves of glory are coming! Linda Schreurs
A STUDENT OF GOD’S BREATH
A chief joy in my life is to wait in silence and stillness before the Lord, almost breathless waiting for His Presence to fall upon me. Shouldn’t we all have an insatiable hunger to know our Divine Beloved up close and personal not just to know about Him?
Personally, I need to experience His heartbeat, His divine Breath for myself just as did John the Beloved. “There was reclining on Jesus’ breast one of the His disciples, whom Jesus loved.” (John 13:23) Spiritually speaking, we too can enter in to this kind of divine and holy intimacy with God. What John experienced is available to all of us.
We’ve been invited to listen and discern the heartbeat of the Lord, His divine will for our lives. Everything in God’s Word is an open and Living Book which can be accessed for those willing to press in and take hold of all it’s truths of astounding glory. Do you do this? Are you in hot pursuit to know the God of the Bible the way those men and women did? We certainly need to. We’re just as human as they and in just as much need.
Oh to lay one’s head on the bosom of our Eternal King of glory! It’s amazing to wonder what heaven will really be like when we can encounter His powerful Presence while on earth to such a magnificent degree.
A song
Early one morning as the fiery skies cracked open the dawn, I began to realize, that in essence, I’d become a student of God’s Breath! Awesome!
I couldn’t have imagined this kind of spiritual intimacy was possible. In fact He gave me a song which I’d love to have someone record someday. He instilled it’s melody in my heart and I sing it often in my quiet times with Him. Here are the simple, but profound words:
I could never imagine it could be this way…
For my heart is enthralled, for my heart is enthralled with You…
I could never imagine it could be this way,
How deep, how wide, is Your love for me,
I could never imagine it could be this way.
(@copyright owned by Linda Schreurs; IWG Ministries)
How magnificent! There can be nothing of this earthly realm of which to compare it and is discerned by the Spirit. I John 3:16 says flesh gives birth to flesh, spirit gives birth to spirit. Experiencing the profound joy of the Lord’s divine breath is very holy and pure. It will cause the reverential fear of God to fall upon you.
2 Samuel 22 is David’s song after God had delivered him from Saul’s murderous intentions. It has many vital verses that captivate the fear of the Lord’s breath and magnificent power. “Then the earth shook and quaked, the foundations of heaven were trembling and were shaken because He was angry… Smoke went up out of His nostrils and fire from His mouth devoured; coals were kindled by it… He appeared on the wings of the wind… Then the channels of the sea appeared, the foundations of the world were laid bare, by the rebuke of the Lord, at the blast of the breath of His nostrils.” Glory!
Beloved friends, if you’re having trouble encountering the Lord’s Presence, perhaps you need a good, deep-down heart check. A born-again believer in the Lord Jesus is called to become astutely aware of His Presence in their lives. We’ve not been called to waterless wells, but to the Living Water of the Lord Jesus which splashes joy within our hearts to ever increasing depths. (John 4:10; 7:38) Let’s embrace Isaiah 12:2-3, “Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the Lord God is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation.” ‘Spring up O well’ is an endearing song from Numbers 21:17. I believe the deepest, refreshing waters of Ezekiel 47 are being released right now. It’s flowing and going and gaining momentum. Jump in!
I can’t even swim, and I’m jumping in over my head! Why? Because it’s everything I’ve ever dreamed! You cannot exhaust the Living Waters flowing from the Throne of God. Amen and hallelujah!
Increasing glory
Each of us must make the effort to encounter the splendors of God. (2 Cor. 3:18) Amazing songs burst forth from the heart like none-other!
Have you considered John 20:22? “And when He had said this, He breathed on them and said to them, ‘Receive the Holy Spirit.” And this was before the ‘wind’ of Pentecost! This is truly intimacy with God. We must come to understand that being close to Jesus, means experiencing His divine, spiritual breath upon our lives. In essence, it’s simply His Presence and power just as King David knew and felt.
In the natural realm, when someone stands very close to you peering into your face as they are speaking, you feel their breath. This can be said of people who may want to make a point! Precisely! I believe in this portion of the book of John, that’s exactly what the Lord was demonstrating. He wanted to show us just how close we can walk with Him, knowing and sensing His Presence as He directs and guides us in righteous paths.
King David knew the Lord intimately. He knew His breath, His authority, His splendor. We see this reflected in many of the Psalms that he wrote. Surely we are much more guarded from enemy onslaughts in such a walk with God. We too shall be saved from our vile enemy like David was from Saul.
Consider also when you sense the Breath of the Lord on you, it’s so He can kiss you with His Word - His ‘God-Breathed Word.’ (2 Tim. 3:16) Deuteronomy 30:14 beautifully states it this way: “But the Word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may observe it.” I like to call this, ‘spiritual CPR’ – Christ Performing Resuscitation. It revives and enlivens your spirit like none other! If you’re feeling down or depressed, call on the very Breath of God to overtake you. It’s like a personal, fresh Pentecost just for you. Oh how the Lord loves you! He’s willing to come as close as you will allow Him to.
There is a very exciting verse in Song of Songs 1:2, “May he kiss me with the kisses of his mouth; for your love is better than wine.” Oh for joy at the nearness of God’s Breath upon us! May we be ever enthralled by it’s magnitude of glory! This is spiritual intimacy with God that is beyond human measure. It is utterly holy.
Its unfortunate that many read the scriptures without any thought whatsoever of it being ‘God Breathed’ and totally alive! The fact of the matter is, many read it for head knowledge instead of heart knowledge that would result in a changed life. They operate out of their soulish, natural mind. Therefore they negate much its truth, power, purity, holiness and spiritual intimacy with God. They do not handle it with the reverential fear of the Lord.
Encouragement
John 20:22 is what I believe is meant by being a student of God’s Breath and being very close to Him. This is great encouragement! You and I do not walk, talk, live and breathe on our own. We’re not the ones in charge of our lives. (Acts 17:28) Some may think so. But a ‘born again’ believer in Jesus knows that every breath is by the mercy of God. Every breath we take by the power of the Holy Spirit living within takes us into ascending glory just as 2 Corinthians 3:18 promises. Therefore we’ve been equipped with the Lord’s DNA that causes us to go from victory to victory. Whatever is troubling you right now, why not use the prescription of that spiritual DNA and walk an overcoming lifestyle?
Who wouldn’t want that?! Who wouldn’t want to be so close to the Savior of the world that you can feel His holy, powerful Breath? If the apostles knew and felt it, so can we! Dear hearts, press in to know the lover of your soul in this manner just as John the Beloved. But it will take good listening skills. You will have to embrace Psalms 46:10 with a new fervor, “Be still and know that I am God.”
In this day of intense trials, heartaches and turmoil, isn’t it good to know you and I are divinely equipped to overcome just by virtue of the Lord’s Presence and power within us? Just breathe in, and breathe out. Breathe in the Lord’s Presence and breathe out all worldly burdens. Give the charge of your life to Him and watch your world change.
His fragrance
Being a student of God’s Breath also gives you the added pleasure of the aroma of His divine Presence! I’m sure many of you have been in church, or prayer meetings, or conferences where the aroma of Christ was discerned in the room and it took your breath away! It can even come as holy smoke or even as a cloud. (2 Chron. 5:11-14; 7:1-3) No doubt it was an intimate time of worship and adoration that ushered in His holy Presence in this manner. This is completely scriptural and ought to be sought after in our walk with God. “And one called out to another and said, ‘Holy, Holy, Holy, is the Lord of hosts, the whole earth is full of His glory. And the foundations of the thresholds trembled at the voice of him who called out, while the temple was filling with smoke.” (Isa. 6:3-4; See also Ex. 19:18; Rev. 15:8)
Most assuredly the scriptures confirm the beauty of the Lord’s majesty through His fragrance in many passages. A well known one is from 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in His triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things?”
Designer Perfume
People pay a lot of money for worldly designer perfumes but there’s no comparison to the Lord’s fragrance! I’ve often referred to it as His personal ‘designer perfume.’ He has designed each one of us to individually reflect His glory. Have you done that lately? Have you shown the love of God to those around you by virtue of His aroma on your life?
Is it any wonder that Mary poured out expensive perfume on the feet of Jesus not too many days before His battered and bloodied feet took Him to Calvary? The aroma of love saturated the room. She didn’t give one thought to the expensive perfume being poured out, or what her reputation would be from that point on. This little lady was going after the Lord in as much passion as she could muster. Mary could not withhold anything either of the treasures of this world, or of reputation from worshipping Jesus with all her heart. She is an example to us. Most certainly, she knew the Lord’s Breath in those moments of exquisite closeness.
In the most intimate book of the Bible, Song of Songs, we find a beautiful allegory the Bride of Christ {the church/believers} and her heavenly Bridegroom, Jesus. Chapter 3, verse 6 says, “Who is this coming up from the wilderness like columns of smoke, perfumed with myrrh and frankincense, with all scented powders of the merchant?” Chapter 4, verse 6 speaks of the ‘mountain of myrrh and the hill of frankincense.’ Frankincense is mentioned a multitude of times in this precious book and it was simply a precursor for the very fragrance that was brought to the Christ Child when the New Testament dawned. (Matt. 2:11)
Even at Jesus’ birth there was a designer fragrance released! The designs on His life were to come into the world and die for sinners such as you and I. How could we not love Him? How could we not serve Him? He is after all the Rose of Sharon and the Lily of the Valleys! He is the Divine Fragrance of the world! How could we not adore, worship and seek profound spiritual intimacy with Him? A student of God’s breath knows His fragrance.
Purity
Everything about our Lord Jesus is holy, even His clothes! Why? Because they touch holiness Himself! His garments were pure, righteous, and fragrant. His beautiful, peaceful Presence brought the divine aroma of love. He could wear rags and they’d still be pure and all together beautiful! Ps. 45:8, “All Thy garments are fragrant with myrrh and aloes and cassia.” This is astounding and quite wonderful and ought to put the fear of God in us.
This is one of the reasons a few years ago the Lord called me to do a conference called: ‘Adore To Be Adorned.’ In other words, we too are to be pure and holy in our own attire. By our ardent adoration to the King of kings and our integrity of heart toward Him, we are clothed with His strength, authority, compassion, humility, dignity, righteousness, etc. (Isa. 52:1; Col. 3:12; 1 Pet. 5;5; Prv. 31:25; Job 29:14)
Take note of Ecclesiastes 9:8 which states: “Let your clothes be white all the time, and let no oil be lacking on your head.” (See also Rev. 19:8). It means we are to be holy in how we dress or we’ll lose the anointing of God. But far too many Christians have wandered from such purity of heart. They look and act like the world rather than adoring the Lord in even the clothing they wear.
Again, no wonder they cast lots for our Savior’s garments. Even the unsaved soldiers knew there was value in them. They were extremely precious! Just think of it, even the Lord’s very clothes were changed into brightness like the sun on the Mt. of Transfiguration! (Matt. 17:2) We too must be transformed by the fragrance of our Savior’s holiness and purity in our lives. Being a student of His breath compels us and we cannot do otherwise! (See Matt. 5:8)
Caution - Discern which Breath?!
One more thing I need to share regarding being a student of God’s Breath.
A few weeks ago while in praise and worship, the Holy Spirit revealed to me the extent and degree that we truly need to be a student of His Breath. It’s absolutely vital for survival! He reminded me of Revelation 13 and the breath of the beast at the End of the Age. Keep in mind, the goal of satan is to deceive every person on the face of the earth. He can certainly do amazing things, doing cheap imitations of the power of God. But there is no love of God in him.
Beware of those who do signs and wonders but do not show love. 1 Corinthians 13 is clear on this. And in Acts 19, the sons of Sceva tried using the Name of Jesus to cast out demons but were rebuked by those very demons who said, “I recognize Jesus, and I know about Paul, but who are you? And the man, in whom was the evil spirit, leaped on them and subdued all of them and overpowered them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded.” No one can flippantly USE the name of Jesus. There will always have to be the heart to heart connection with Him in spiritual intimacy.
But even more poignant is Matthew 7:21, “So then, you will know them by their fruits. Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’ ‘Knew,’ refers to an intimate spiritual relationship with the Lord.
How acquainted are we?
Each one of us needs to do a heart check to see if we are really walking closely with the Lord. Are we truly acquainted with His intimate Presence?
If we do not know the Lord’s passionate heartbeat of love for us, if we do not know Him up close and personal for ourselves, if we do not know the glory of His Divine Breath, we will DIE A MOST HORRID DEATH ETERNALLY!
The demonic beast at the End of the Age, will do tricks, magic, and all kinds of signs and wonders to amaze the dazed of mankind whose hearts are not set on the Lord. This beast will cause many to fail and fall into the pit of deception leading to eternal damnation. Remember, ‘it was given to him a mouth speaking arrogant words and blasphemies.’ (Verse 5) We’ve all been given a mouth to verbalize our honor or dishonor of Christ the King. Verse 15 states it again: “And there was given to him to give breath to the image of the beast, that the image of the beast might even speak and cause as many as do not worship the image of the beast to be killed {martyred}.” Satan really has no more power than what he’s been given (for a time), and the end of the matter is - that the Truth of God’s Word, His divine Breath will prevail for all eternity! (See also the book of Daniel)
Ladies and gentleman, if you do not know the Lord intimately, you will fall prey into the enemy’s hands through the darkest deception in existence. You will never, ever rise up from the pit. It’s an eternal equation that you must ponder and decide on immediately!
Prepare!
Ezekiel 37 is upon us once again! The Living Word of God is marching on! It’s time the saints of God speak to all the dry bones around us, all those whose hearts are not yet set on the Lord. We must prophesy as the Lord commanded this mighty prophet saying: “Thus says the Lord God to these bones, ‘Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life.”
Resurrection power is here! Your life is about to change for the dramatically wonderful life you’ve been called to live! You’re days of mourning are over. Your days are about to be filled from beginning to end with the vastness of God’s Breath upon you ushering in intimacy with Him to amazing degrees. Prepare your heart to receive. Prepare! “So I prophesied as He commanded me, and the breath came into them, and they came to life, and stood on their feet, an exceedingly great army.” Be ready to watch CNN and Fox and all the other networks gasping at the wonder of it all! Yes and Amen! The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!’ Come Lord Jesus! (Rev. 22:17-21)
Be a student of God’s Breath and watch His majesty unfold around you!
ANNOUNCMENTS