JANUARY 2008
INTIMACY WITH GOD JOURNAL
In this issue:
- Stunning Things
- Prophetic Word on Power Surges
- Holy Communion Seminar, 1/12/08!
Mike and Linda Schreurs
HAPPY 2008!
Who’s to say it’s going to be happy?!
You.
You have everything to do with it. The position of your heart will determine the depth of your joy. Anyone of us can, and undoubtedly will, experience sorrows and joys as various detours unfold. No one knows for certain what will come. However, one thing is sure, our God reigns! Acknowledgement of that fact will allow our hearts to be nurtured in His perfect will no matter what a day, month or year may bring. “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty, reigns.” (Rev. 19:6)
The dictionary describes ‘sovereign’ as supreme ruler. He’s in control, we are not. As Kathryn Kuhlman used to say, “He’s the boss!” Complete submission to God guarantees joy because there’s no greater comfort than knowing He’s directing our lives. Therefore shalom is ours. He is the Prince of Peace. I decree peace and joy over your life for 2008. I decree blessings will overtake you until you lay in a
pool of laughing tears! I decree health and vibrancy in your body and soul. I prophesy you will experience the Holy Spirit in a depth you never thought existed! I prophesy you’ll be ‘pentecosted’ in a fiery new way that takes you into signs, wonders and miracles!
I heard the Lord say, “You’re at the starting gate!” We’re like horses waiting anxiously for the starting signal or sound in order to burst forth and race toward the prize! Psalm 29 is about the power of God’s voice resonating throughout the earth. Verse 5-6 says, “The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; Yes, the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord hews out flames of fire.” Beloved, you’re about to break forth from the stall (things that have held you back) and race toward your divine destiny with lightening speed. I decree God will speed the cause of righteousness in your life. (Is. 16:5)
I also heard the Lord say, 2008 is a year of “rushes!” He’s releasing a new, profound, powerful, holy sound of a mighty rushing wind and fire like no other. It will usher in the FEAR OF THE LORD. It’s going to come upon those crying out in desperation for more of Him and they’ll begin to know breakthrough after breakthrough.
2007 is likened to Joshua who marched seven times around Jericho and then the barriers fell with a great poof of dust and smoke. 2008 is the year to cross over the barriers and take the Promised Land!
I felt the Lord also say: “Electrifying power is being sent to you!”
Our God reigns!
Linda Schreurs
STUNNING
On the last day of 2007, as I was having my devotional time with the Lord, Genesis 45:26 was quickened to me. It resonated within my spirit. It reads: “And they told him, saying, ‘Joseph is still alive, and indeed he is ruler over all the land of Egypt.’ But he was stunned, for he did not believe them.”
How could he believe them?! For many years he had known his son Joseph to be dead, torn to pieces by a wild animal. Jacob had been living a lie! But he did not know it of course. Because of the deception of the other sons who were jealous toward their younger brother, they ‘got rid of him.’ They sold him into bondage, but took his tunic, and rubbing it with animal blood, told their father he had perished. (Gen. 37)
Jacob believed the lie because, after all, there had been evidence, right? What am I trying to say here? It is that the enemy’s best business is demonic disguises. Beware. Some things are not always as they appear! Satan worked his plan of deception and it broke the heart of a dad and his family.
Believe God
Some have been living a deceptive lie like Jacob. You think because you’ve had arthritis for so long, that it’s part of your life and you’ve accepted it as fact. Some may believe the doctor’s dire report and not even consult the Divine Healer. Others think their smoking habit or drug addition can’t be broken. There are those who may think they’re just not smart enough, talented enough, etc. Many have lived with unforgiveness and bitterness so long it’s become a way of life for them. Some believe they’ve done too many things to come back into the arms of Jesus. They believe they’re not worthy of love. Others think the time has passed for their dreams to come true.
But life, at some point, brings a list of these kinds of things before us where the enemy has deceived us into wrong thinking. Pure and simple, it comes down to this. It’s unbelief in a powerful God who can do the utterly impossible! “I do believe; help my unbelief,” cries the father to Jesus when he asked him to heal his son. (Mark 9:24)
We must remember satan is a first class liar. He is the father of lies! (John 8:44) So which camp do we want to be in?
In this new year of 2008, we must become ferocious in our prayers. “From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.” (Matt. 11:12) We must roar with the Lion of Judah! We must take back everything we’ve lost! The Lord desires we know truth, because truth sets us free. (John 8:32)
The truth of the matter is - Jesus reigns in this place. (Now place your hand on the part of your body that needs healing. Place your hand on your broken heart, your weary mind, or wherever Jesus needs to touch you.) He is the boss. Jesus is the WORD, the FINAL WORD. What He says flies right, true and powerful. The scriptures declare in Psalm 103:2-5a, “Bless the Lord, O my soul,” {so start blessing the Name of the Lord !}, “And forget none of His benefits; who pardons all your iniquities; who heals all your diseases,” {all means ALL!}, “Who redeems your life from the pit; Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; Who satisfies your years with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle.”
Conquer
I say to each one of you reading this monthly journal, “Be released from your bondages, in Jesus Name!” This truth from Psalm 103 shall set you free. It is your divine prescription from heaven to help you be whole, happy, and more than a conqueror. Be more than you could ever believe for, because God says you can! (Rom. 8:37) Rebuke deceptions that may have invaded your life. Embrace the truth of what God says about you for this year that’s so pregnant with divine promise. Let truth reign in your midst! This is the year truths will deliver many from their bondages for those willing to believe God is exactly WHO HE SAYS HE IS! He is our deliverer, healer, restorer, peace, joy, our song, and so much more.
Jacob could not believe that his son, Joseph was still alive. It stunned him! It was shocking news to say the least after living in deception for so long. What deception might you be living with? You may not even be aware of any as was Jacob. And he was a very holy man! It can happen to the best of us. Just ask the Lord and He will tell you. Allow Him to give you revelation in all areas of your life. Humble yourself before Him expecting divine heart surgery to bring you into great and grand health of mind, body and soul. And those things in your life which appeared to be dead and gone, are about to be resurrected! Hallelujah!
Be astonished!
On that final day of 2007, as I pondered that verse from Genesis, I began to question the Lord about Jacob’s reaction when he’s said he could not believe his son was alive. “No faith!” I thought to myself. Sure. I could look at him from this angle of thousands of years later and criticize him because I knew the whole story. He did not.
Isn’t the Holy Spirit a kind teacher? He knew my heart and immediately took me to Habakkuk 1:5, “Look among the nations! Observe! Be astonished! Wonder! Because I am doing something in your days – you would not believe if you were told.” Sound familiar?
My friends, this is where we’re headed! The greatest sights, sounds, miracles, wonders and awe of God such as never seen before are NOW being released from the Throne Room of our Most High God.
This is the year of stunning victories for us as we adore, praise and worship the King of glory. Submission and surrender to Him will chart our course through the thin needle of life that weaves us into our divine destinies. He is always worthy to be praised no matter what our circumstance. His position does not change. HE IS THE WORTHY ONE!
Those who fix their eyes on Him and not themselves or their problems will reap the greatest rewards they’ve ever known – almost beyond belief! It’s going to unfold in 2008. Watch and see!
Let’s position our hearts now.
PROPEHTIC WORD ON POWER SURGES
On December 5, 2007 while weeping in deep prayer for lost souls my cries went from intercession to revelation as the Holy Spirit brought a download of prophetic insight. At 12:47 AM I began to journal the following:
There’s an agony arising in my heart…a grieving; can’t define it exactly. I pray for the banner of love to fly high! (Song of Songs 2:4) May my ‘flesh-tent’ royally serve Your Majesty! May every particle of my life and being, be given over to You completely, O God. How I long for Thee, O King of glory. Will you please come? Please come and answer my deepest longing for Thee. How shall I live with this utter longing for Thee in my soul? I seem not to breathe without You! Come my Love! Come!
Re-do me. Re-tool me. Deep calls to deep! (Ps. 42).
How did Enoch cry out for Thee? I want his passion!
In my ‘babyness,’ {I know…it’s a strange word, but it’s how I felt that night - like a baby}… will You come, my Lord? In my ‘childness,’ {same thing!} … in my simplicity of knowledge and understanding – will You come? Cut through again to my heart!
Intercession
Then the prayers for myself turned to intercession. And I wrote: O God, there are so many spiritually homeless people! How can we feed and house them? How sad that so many are not aware of their frail condition. I pray for stadium-type lights to illumine their hearts, so they’ll come home. Light their pathway, O Lord. Let them come with love and passion for God where the ‘home fires’ are burning. Bring the homeless home, Lord, {into the church/family of God}. Thousands of them!
Show the ‘fire-light’ of Your glory. Let them follow the Morning Star into Your holy Presence. I cry out for the babies! Let newborns in Christ come forth! Restore the holiday – the HOLY DAY of the Savior’s birth for mankind’s redemption from all earthly corruption.
Let the bells, the trumpets…let all of heaven sound with joy as homeless sinners repent and come to Papa! (Luke 15:6-7) I cry for them! They must be so lonely and cold. Warm their hearts Jesus. Blanket them with Your Presence and power.
Change the landscape of Iowa and America for the greatest Homecoming celebration we’ve ever known! I see them! I see them now! They’re coming by the thousands and thousands! Somehow, someway, they’re coming home. The prodigals are en route! They’re on their way. (Luke 15:11-32) Remove every road block, every storm. Clear the way for them, O God. Expose the enemy of their souls. Let there be thunderous shouts of applause heard across the land.
“But he who takes refuge in Me shall inherit the land and shall possess My holy mountain. And it shall be said, ‘Build up, build up, prepare the way, remove every obstacle out of the way of My people.’ For thus says the high and exalted One who lives forever, whose name is Holy, ‘I dwell on a high and holy place, and also with the contrite and lowly of spirit in order to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.’” Isaiah 57:13c-15.
The Lord’s response
Then, suddenly, I heard our Lord say, “Linda, it’s time!” He spoke further: “Power surges are coming! You shall see. The babies are coming! Thousands shall indeed be born again. As you have asked, so you shall receive. You are my midwife.” {We all are midwives in the sense of assisting the ‘birthing’ of new babes in Christ.} “Prepare for delivery! The babies are coming and they must be fed and nourished in My Love. Prepare the way of the Lord! (Is. 40:3; Matt. 3:3; Gal. 4:19) Behold, I am coming in power surges that will be unexpected and in peculiar places.
This is a new year, a new day, a new hour. It is a holy hour that has come upon you. Watch for my ‘coaching’ techniques. They will be most usual! Simply listen carefully and obey without question, doubt or fear, for behold IAM with you.
The hour has come. The woman in labor is about to birth and co-labor with Me for new babes in Christ. Be attentive to My instructions and for spurts of birthing moments. Unexpected short periods of My power surges {as with electricity} will bring them through as you coach them and bring them into My House. They’re coming home to Papa!
Electrifying power is being sent to you! It will be as a lightening rod. Behold, stand by and see the fire power of the Holy Spirit. Conviction unto repentance will spark the fire and My Breath will fan the flame into full and immediate passion for Me. Watch and see! Watch and see!”
God bless the midwives! God bless those who have a burden for the spiritually homeless. But shouldn’t we all care what happens to our fellow travelers in life? Someone ministered to us and helped birth us into the kingdom of God, so we must do likewise. Let us comprehend the magnitude of Exodus 1:21, “And it came about because the midwives feared God, that He established households for them.” Do you want your household established in God? Then fear Him in holy reverence, awe, adoration and worship of Him.
There are many of our friends, relatives, co-workers, neighbors who are in the valley of decision. (Joel 3:14) They’re sick, tired, worn out and fed up with the frenzied ways of the world. But far too often they’re looking for truth in all the wrong places. Let us nurture them. Let’s coach them into the kingdom of God with the love, fear and holy admonition of the Lord. “My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you.” (Gal. 4:19)
Precious people, God is about to work in stunning ways we’ve never seen before. “You have not passed this way before.” Joshua 3:4b Let us not miss the ‘stadium lights’ of His glorious Presence that’s lighting the pathway before us. Is’ a whole new hour!
MINISTRY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Holy Communion Seminar with Linda Schreurs. There’s no greater intimacy with God than experiencing Him in the depths of His holy Body and Blood. It’s an encounter with Jesus, not a tradition done by rote. It has the contents for miraculous interventions for every area of our lives. It’s needed now more than ever! We’ll partake of this divine meal at the end of the Seminar. Of course, it’s for men and women, and there is no cost involved, except your time. We’ll look for you on January 12, 2008, 9 AM – 12:30 PM at the Kingdom House of Prayer, 515 E. 9th St., Des Moines, Ia. (Located within the Elim Christian Fellowship bldg.; one blk from the state capital)
Wednesday Bible Study with Mike Schreurs. For men and women who want more than a typical study. Call 270-0231 for details.