Times and Seasons

 

Times and Seasons

There’s a rhythm to life that heaven sets in motion - a divine calendar that moves not by clocks or calendars, but by seasons of the Spirit.

Just as the earth shifts from winter to spring, summer to autumn, so does God lead us through spiritual seasons - each with its own lessons, timing, and purpose.

Recognizing these seasons doesn’t just help us understand what God is doing - it helps us flow with Him instead of fighting Him.

1. The Chronos Season - Time of Preparation

The Greek word chronos simply means chronological or measured time - the regular, everyday flow of life.

This is the season of faithfulness in the ordinary - where nothing seems dramatic, but everything is forming.

It’s where you build roots, discipline, and patience.

David had his chronos years tending sheep before becoming king. Joseph had his chronos in Potiphar’s house and prison.

“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time (kairos), we will reap if we do not give up.” -  Galatians 6:9

Chronos prepares you for what’s coming next. Stay faithful. What feels like delay is often divine development.

2. The Kairos Season -  God’s Appointed Time

Kairos is different. It means a divinely orchestrated, opportune moment - when God’s timing meets your preparation.

It’s when long-prayed prayers align with heaven’s calendar and doors begin to open.

Esther’s moment before the king was a kairos -  “for such a time as this.”

Jesus began His ministry declaring, “The time (kairos) has come. The kingdom of God is near.” (Mark 1:15).

Kairos moments don’t come every day -  and when they do, they demand faith, courage, and obedience.

3. The Epoch Season - The Beginning of a New Era

An epoch (pronounced EE-pok) is more than a moment -  it’s a divine turning point, when God shifts you into a new chapter entirely.

It’s when the old season no longer fits, and God says, “Behold, I am doing a new thing.” (Isaiah 43:19).

It can feel disruptive -  but it’s often the very thing that births your next dimension.

The resurrection of Jesus was an epoch shift - a new covenant, a new age of grace, a new reality for humanity.

If you sense transition, change, and stretching - don’t resist it. You might just be standing in your epoch season.

4. The Wilderness Season -  A Time of Testing and Refining

Before every great assignment comes a season of pruning. The wilderness isn’t punishment; it’s preparation.

Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness - not by the devil -  to be tested and strengthened. Israel spent 40 years there before the Promised Land.

The wilderness teaches dependence.

It empties you of self so God can fill you with purpose.

If you’re in one now -  don’t despise it. The wilderness is where God purifies motives and forges strength that glory will later require.

5. The Birthing Season -  Bringing Forth the Promise

Every seed of destiny eventually comes to labor.

It’s a season of travail - of pressure, contractions, and spiritual warfare -  but also of imminent manifestation.

Hannah cried in anguish, and Samuel was born. Sarah laughed, and Isaac arrived. Mary said yes, and the Savior came forth.

“Do I bring to the moment of birth and not give delivery?” says the Lord. - Isaiah 66:9

When you feel the pressure increasing, don’t give up -  something divine is about to be born.

6. The Waiting Season -  When God Seems Silent

Every believer walks through this -  a time when prayers linger unanswered and heaven feels quiet.

But silence isn’t absence; it’s strategy.

In the waiting, God builds trust and matures faith. David was anointed long before he was crowned. Abraham waited years before holding Isaac.

“Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” - Isaiah 40:31

Waiting seasons aren’t wasted; they’re where endurance grows roots.

7. The Harvest and Due Season - Reaping What Was Sown

After plowing, sowing, and waiting comes reaping.

This is the season of visible fruitfulness -  when obedience pays off, prayers are answered, and promises manifest.

“At the proper time we will reap, if we do not give up.” - Galatians 6:9

But remember: harvest requires stewardship. Don’t abandon the field when it’s time to gather.

8. The Rest Season - Renewal and Restoration

God also gives seasons of rest -  moments to breathe, heal, and regain strength.

Even Jesus withdrew from the crowds to pray. Elijah, weary from ministry, was told by God to eat and rest.

Rest is not laziness; it’s trust / the kind that says, “The world will keep turning while I sit in God’s presence.”

“He makes me lie down in green pastures; He restores my soul.” -  Psalm 23:2–3

If God is calling you to stillness, honor it. You can’t pour from an empty vessel.

​The Appointed Season -  When Heaven’s Timing Manifests

Some moments are purely sovereign. You can’t rush or earn them - only recognize them.

Jesus was born “in the fullness of time” (Galatians 4:4).

Abraham received the promise “at the appointed time” (Genesis 18:14).

An appointed season means God’s perfect timing has arrived - no delay, no denial, just divine completion.

How to Recognize What Season You’re In

​Ask the Holy Spirit. He reveals what God is doing beneath the surface.

​Pay attention to patterns. Closed doors, recurring lessons, or inner stirrings often mark shifts.

​Measure your pace. Every season requires a different rhythm - sowing, resting, or reaping.

​Stay faithful. No season lasts forever, but faithfulness bears fruit in all of them.

Final Thought

The same God who appoints seasons in nature governs the seasons of your soul.

Whether you’re waiting, birthing, resting, or harvesting -  He’s working.

Don’t rush what He’s refining.

Don’t quit what He’s cultivating.

And don’t fear what He’s shifting.

Because in every season, God’s purpose is unfolding - one moment, one chapter, one heartbeat at a time.

It’s your Prophetic season of New Beginnings - Have a Wonderful Week.

The Two Oils

 

The Two Oils!

The oil of joy, and the oil of gladness, are two oils that are mentioned in the Holy Bible.

Jesus was anointed by God with the oil of gladness, above His fellows (Psalm 45:7), but God also anointed Him with the Holy Ghost and with power. Both the oil of gladness and the oil of joy both represent the Holy Spirit. So, lets look at the substance of oil.

Oil is ‘fatness’ and ‘excess’. ‘Anointing’ is an action of being rubbed with oil or to be saturated with God, for a specific calling or need. Therefore, the oil of gladness is to literally be greased with excessive gladness; or greased with excessive joy. Spiritually, being anointed with either oils, is to be excessively anointed with the oil of the Holy Spirit, or excessively having the Holy Spirit’s indwelling within you.

Both the Old Testament and the New Testament speak of the ‘Servant’ aka our Lord Jesus Christ, being anointed with the oil of gladness and the oil of joy. (Isaiah 61 and Acts 10:38.)

Jesus was consecrated by being saturated with the oils (The Holy Spirit) for the specific purpose of the Messianic Office. That was the specific calling or need, on His life. The anointing or saturation furnished Him with the necessary powers for its administration.

Jesus knew what He was anointed or saturated with the Holy spirit of extreme joy and extreme gladness to do so and said so. (Isaiah 61: 1- 3; Luke 4:18) Jesus would do so above His fellows (those sharing and partaking as a partner in dignity, office, and work.) God ‘anointed’ Jesus with ‘exceeding joy’, excessively, surpassed anyone else with whom He had to do.)

The oil of joy and the oil of gladness would give Jesus power. It will also give every Christian power. (Acts 1:8) a power that allows the Christian to strongly stand joyfully or gladly, for the things of God.

How can we obtain the oil of gladness? For us to obtain the oil of gladness and be excessively saturated with it, the Christian has to:

Spend time in prayer; Spend time worshipping God; Spend time enriching your soul and spirit via Bible Study. The Oil of gladness has the power to set your affection and eyes on the Holy Trinity.

If you want the oil of gladness, spend time with God and ask Him for it. God is a good God.

2023 Prophetic Perspective: Engr. Sam Ezeokoli

 Welcome to AD 2023: The Year of Total Victory

For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?

(I John 5:4-5)

Victory as it is defined by Vine’s Expository Dictionary means to conquer, overcome, and prevail, and that is exactly what God wants in His children. From Genesis 3:15 to Revelation 15:2 God has promised that the Saints will prevail. Satan is destined for the Bottomless Pit and desires to take as many souls with him as is possible. We are in a battle for our very souls and the thing to be feared the most is not merely the death of our physical bodies, but the eternal damnation of our souls.

FOUR BASIC TRUTHS TO NOTE

1. Life is not a play ground but a battle field

2. Life is not a funfair, it is a warfare

3. Whether you are interested in fighting the battle or not, the battle is interested in you

4. It is a known fact that the Spiritual rules the Physical

"But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ" (1 Corinthians 15:57).

Let me share with you another mighty Scripture: "Now thanks be unto God, which always causes us to triumph in Christ" (2 Corinthians 2:14). Think upon this verse for a moment - GOD ALWAYS CAUSES US TO TRIUMPH IN CHRIST! Not sometimes, but always! God has a complete and continual victory for us in Christ! Praise His name.

God has provided us with mighty spiritual weapons which, when used, will "pull down strongholds, imaginations, and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God (God's revealed will for us), and bring into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ" (2 Corinthians 10:4-5). If we do not use these weapons that the Lord has given us, then WE will be brought into captivity. 

In Romans 8, Paul again reveals the complete victory which is ours through Jesus Christ. We can name anything we like; but he was persuaded that IN ALL THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH CHRIST THAT LOVED US - MORE THAN CONQUERORS! The strongest onslaught the enemy can bring against us, we are able to effectively conquer, with plenty in reserve! We are more than conquerors through Jesus Who loves us! This is the kind of victory that God has for those who love Him and who believe the promises of His Word. We cannot go under for going over!

In Romans 8, Paul again reveals the complete victory which is ours through Jesus Christ. We can name anything we like; but he was persuaded that IN ALL THINGS WE ARE MORE THAN CONQUERORS THROUGH CHRIST THAT LOVED US - MORE THAN CONQUERORS! The strongest onslaught the enemy can bring against us, we are able to effectively conquer, with plenty in reserve! We are more than conquerors through Jesus Who loves us! This is the kind of victory that God has for those who love Him and who believe the promises of His Word. We cannot go under for going over!

Irrespective of your situation, there is surely hope for you if you accept the finished work of Jesus Christ on the Cross. Appropriating the Power of the Blood of Jesus Christ reverses all negative situations (Revelation 12:11, Isaiah 53:4-5).

Why would you remain in that situation when the Blood of Jesus Christ is readily available for you to appropriate? There is no situation in life beyond redemption by the Power of the Blood of Jesus Christ. All you need to do is call on Jesus Christ right away in faith, accept Him into your life and begin to appropriate His Blood for your total victory.

Say this prayer genuinely from your heart… “Lord Jesus, I call on You today for help, I accept You into my heart as my Lord and Saviour, please forgive my sins, wash me in your Blood, break every yoke of the devil off my life by the Power in your Blood, and give me total victory in life in Jesus Name, Amen”.

Remember that in Egypt, the children of Israel were saved from death by the blood of goats and rams which was placed at the doorpost of their houses and when the destroyer came, he passed over their houses. All that the people needed to do to be free from death was to stay in the house. Jesus is that house and all you need to do today to be saved is to stay in Christ. 

“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.” Revelation 12:11 KJV

 Your salvation has the provisions of heaven for your victory over the adversary. God did not bring you out for you to fail, but to live a victorious life. It is easy to understand that we have been redeemed with the blood of the lamb. You must also have an understanding of the reality of the blood that makes you acceptable in the presence of the Lord.  Ephesians 1:7 declares: “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace” (KJV).

 The blood of Jesus gave us redemption. We were bought back from the adversary; so, Satan has no right to accuse us of anything. The price has been paid in full with the blood. As a result of the victory which we have in Christ Jesus, we are supposed to live a life of ease. You must understand that the blood of Jesus has given you complete and total victory over every opposition that comes against you.

 Welcome to an Era of Possibilities and Total Victory! Please attend any Bible-believing and Holy Spirit-filled church near you to be deeply rooted in the Word of God to sustain your victories. Feel free to connect with us

The Gates of Hell Shall not Prevail

The Gates of Hell Shall not Prevail!

Jesus said:

“I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” (Mt 16:18)

The phrase pulai hadou (gates of hell) is a Jewish expression meaning “realm of the dead.” The same two words appear in the Septuagint version of Job 38:17: “Have the gates of death been revealed to you, or have you seen the gates of deep darkness [ puloroi de hadou]?” They appear again in Isaiah 38:10: “I said in the middle of my days I must depart; I am consigned to the gates of Sheol [pulais hadou] for the rest of my years.” In both passages, pulai hadou is a euphemism for death.

There is no doubt that we are involved in an intense spiritual warfare. God is impressing upon us that we are in a battle against an enemy who is taking the offensive against us. Satan’s kingdom is not divided and disorganized as some would believe, but is a highly organized array of spiritual powers and principalities. However, God is also impressing upon us that we have the authority to take the initiative against our enemy, and effectively counteract his ruling spirits and influences.

In fact, if we do not take the initiative against Satan, he will take the initiative against us. Whether we like it or not, we are at war with the kingdom of Satan, and we must not settle for a negotiated peace. We must utterly dominate Satan and his co-workers.

As I pondered this, I realized that Satan has a place, a gate, where he counsels together with his forces and exercises authority out of that council. To effectively counteract those satanic forces then, the Church needs its leadership, under the head of Jesus Christ, to gather together in unity and harmony in a sense of government. When this happens the gates of hell will be no match for the Church.

some Christians are not even aware of who or what the Church is. My understanding of the Greek term which gives us the ward "church," is that it is similar to the governmental houses in the United States which used to be called "assemblies." It is men coming together in right order, exercising a certain amount of rule and authority. This type of order and unity represents a tremendous threat to Satan, because his basic strategy towards the Church has always been to divide and conquer. As Jesus said, "Any kingdom divided against itself would be no match for its opposition. For this reason it is necessary for the leadership of the Church to assemble together, counsel together and exercise the corporate authority needed to defeat the government of Satan.

Adam failed in his delegated responsibility to rule the earth for the Lord, and that enabled Satan’s rulership to be established. But Jesus won the right of rulership back, and as we come together and align ourselves with Jesus, once again exercising the authority and dominion that Adam forfeited, there is a clash of governments — a conflict between the government of Satan and the government of God.

Satan, through trying to influence governments in the world, is trying to take dominion over the earth or at least regain his former dominion.

Jesus follows this by saying “I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven” so that what the church binds and looses on earth will be bound and loosed in heaven. Whatever the church locks up when it bashes down the gates of Hades will be locked up in heaven, and whatever it unlocks and sets free will be set free in heaven.

Another corporate picture, in addition to the one of our being the army of God, is a picture that we are still trying to come to grips with in many ways, that or being God’s government on earth. To successfully attack the strongholds of the nations, "binding the strong man" and "plundering his home" and thus ultimately fulfil the Great Commission to disciple not only individuals but nations, is going to take the authority of Christ invested in His people as a corporate Body under the government of God. Against this type of Church assembly the gates of hell are no match.

2Cor. 10:3 For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war after the flesh:

4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

The Realm of Death and its arrays cannot Overcome the Triumphant Church.

REFERENCE:

1. Chuck pierce - storming the gates of hell(Spiritual Warfare)

Prepare for the Double Portion

God has promised to pour out His Double Portion Anointing, the former and latter anointings together after two days.

• • "After two days will He revive us: in the third day He will raise us up, and we shall live in His sight. Then shall we know, if we follow on to know the Lord: His going forth is prepared as the morning; and He shall come to us as the rain, the latter and former rain unto the earth." Hosea 6: 2-3

These two days are the Church Age. As Jesus promised, He will be perfected in His saints on the Third Day when they are prepared to enter into His presence, Luke 13:32.
The prophet Joel declared the Double Portion anointing:

• • "Be glad then, ye children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord your God: for He hath given you the former rain moderately, and He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former rain, and the latter rain in the first month." Joel 2:23

The former rain (Pentecost) was only poured out moderately. This is the firstfruit anointing, the earnest, (down payment)of our inheritance. But God's prophetic Word declares we will receive the early and latter rain together in the first month, or at the beginning of the New Day. The apostle James gave us this same hope:

• • "Be patent therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until He receive the early and latter rain." James 5:7

Our God has a harvest in the earth. He has had long patience for this harvest, but it cannot be harvested until it receives the early and latter rain God has promised.
Those who enter the hundred fold realm, the Holy of Holies, will have their Father's name in their foreheads. This is the seal of the living God, Revelation 7:2. Those who enter through the vail receive another anointing. Before Aaron, the High Priest, could enter through the vail:

• • "Moses poured of the anointing oil upon Aaron's head, and anointed him, to sanctify him." Leviticus 8:12

It was necessary for Aaron to receive another anointing before he could enter into the Holy of Holies. This is the Double Portion anointing.

We are right now in the beginning of a new apostolic reformation, Judgments are coming on many, many nations, and they are coming.

Judgments are coming. We need to know it is coming so that we know it is God and we know why He is doing it. He is trying to turn the nation back to God.
Sometimes that is just His last resort, but God still has a destiny for this nation. We’re going to go through some rough times but she will emerge again.

God is allowing all of this shaking because He is trying to bring the church to a place. He is going to create another kingdom in the earth, the kingdom of God. He is shaking everything down. Everything that can be shaken is going to be shaken in our lives and in the church.

The changes that are coming to the church are so profound. Pentecost turned the early church upside down (Acts 2) and turned the world upside down. This next move is going to turn the world right side up. What is coming is so profound that it will be hard for us to comprehend. God is going to break all of the traditional boundaries, all of them. This is much deeper than revival.
“You have heard; look at all this. And you, will you not declare it? I proclaim to you new things from this time, even hidden things, which you have not known.” (Isaiah 48:6)

God has a lot of stuff up His sleeve and He has a big sleeve. He is going to start pulling them out. We are living between a dying age and a new age. We are living in between them. We are living between sunset and sunrise. The church is at the point of profound change. There is a new season for the change, and because of this storms are abounding everywhere.
It is the dawning of a new age. There are birth pangs taking place because God is seeking to birth something. We have these contractions that happen.

The Lord Jesus said to me, “The day has now come when you will begin to see great anointings breaking out across the earth, anointings like you have never seen before. There are different anointings and there is nothing in history to reference them to. You must allow these anointings to strengthen your spirit. The time has come to stand and not fall. The time has come when these anointings will enable you to reveal the heart of the Father to this world. Tell the people they are My sent ones to this generation. I am about to release my apostolic anointing into the true church. Many angels are now prepared to come to the earth. They will carry these anointings and diffuse these anointings and impart mantles with them. Truth will be revealed like never before. You will be sent to reveal the heart of the Father. You must know the Father and reveal him to this world.”

Then Elijah said to me, “The spirit that was upon me in the earth in my days will be seen again in your days. It will turn the hearts of the children to the fathers. In my day, there were droughts in the earth. There were great deluges of rain. There were great fires and windstorms. There were confrontations with the powers of darkness. You are going to see the same things when my spirit comes again into the earth and rests again on God’s people.”

God is going to do a new thing. There is coming an anointing. There is coming a power. There’s coming a new revelation, which will turn the hearts of the children, not just to their earthly fathers, but to their heavenly Father. They will know God. They will know what He is like and what their destiny is here on this earth.

“Behold, I am going to send you Elijah the prophet before the coming of the great and terrible day of the Lord. He will restore the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of the children to their fathers, so that I will not come and smite the land with a curse.” (Malachi 4:5-6)
God has His eye on a lost generation. Jezebel is going to lose her children. The Father is going to make himself known in the earth. The spirit of Elijah is coming. You’re going to see on YouTube confrontations between witches and the people of God. It is going to go worldwide. Guess who wins? God is going to demonstrate His power like never before.

Then Moses said to me, “The spirit that was upon me in my days on the earth will be upon you in your days now. This apostolic anointing will be released in the earth with great power. The end-time apostles are coming. It is going to change everything. They will lead God’s people through deep waters into the Promised Land, leading them through droughts, plagues, and dangerous times. The spirit of Pharaoh has to be broken. God sent plagues upon the land to break the spirit of Pharaoh.”

The people of Israel in Moses’ days were in bondage to Pharaoh, which is a type of the world. The church today is still in bondage to this world and it’s pull upon them. It has to be broken. Do you know what is coming upon the land? Plagues. All kinds of stuff is coming. Volcanic eruptions are coming. Chemical warfare is coming. Plagues are coming. There are going to be viruses with no antibiotic for them. Why? To break the spirit of Pharaoh so God’s people have no one else to turn to but God. That is the purpose of it, to turn the people back to God. Moses said, “These apostles will release the fullness of Passover, the fullness of Pentecost, and the fullness of Tabernacles.”


We have never entered into the fullness of our salvation, but we are going to. We are going to have a whole Church of people who are whole. A new reformation is about to get underway.

THE BLOOD SPEAKS

THE BLOOD SPEAKS

Hebrews  8:6:- But now hath he obtained a more excellent ministry, by how much also he is the mediator of a better covenant, which was established upon better promises.  12:24 And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.

The power of the blood of Jesus has provided everything you need to live a life of victory, including Redemption, fellowship, healing, protection and authority over the devil.




As Christians, we know about the blood, sing hymns about the blood, and remember it during Communion. But how many of us truly know how deep its power runs, and all that it has provided for us? Even more important—how many of us use it and apply it in our lives every day?



From Genesis to Revelation, the words the blood are kept before our eyes—a reminder of its importance and significance to God and to us. The sacrifices of Abel, Noah and Isaac, and the Passover lamb, and the giving of the Law all came to pass, but “not without blood” (Hebrews 9:7, NKJV). The blood symbolizes cleansing and purification—the settling of a matter.



God is love. And the greatest expression of His love toward us is the blood of Jesus. That love covers every need man has had or ever will have, and every time we apply the blood, we experience an outpouring of this love. It is love, through the blood, that has created a barrier between you and all the works of the devil.



“Of all the glorious things that the blood means, this is one of the most glorious: His blood is the sign, the measure, yes, the impartation of His love.” —Andrew Murray



Let’s elevate the blood of Jesus to the same place in our hearts that it has in God’s heart—and awaken in our spirits those powerful things the blood has procured for us. The power of the blood of Jesus has provided everything you need to live a life of victory, including redemption, fellowship, healing, protection and authority over the devil.

Faith in the blood produces great results.”

Authority Over the Devil Through the Blood of Jesus
“And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.” –Revelation 12:11 (KJV)

Activate the Efficacy and Supernatural Power In the Blood and Experience The Believers Authority over the Works of Hell and Darkness.

The Glory Realm

                                                

                                                  THE SHEKINAH DIMENSION

There is a dimension of God’s presence that the scriptures refer to as God’s dwelling place, or shekinah. We may also refer to this as his manifest presence.

The Hebrew word used for this dimension of God’s presence, shekinah, is almost always used in the verb form (shakan) in the scriptures. It means to reside or permanently stay, to abide, continue, dwell, inhabit, remain, or rest upon. It has a sense of continuation or long duration. There is another Hebrew word that may be used for a short-term visit (yashav), but the shekinah presence is meant to be abiding presence, not a brief visitation.

This manifest presence is also called the glory of the Lord. The word “glory” in our English Bible is translated from the Hebrew word kabod which means heaviness or weightiness. The glory of God is literally a heavy or weighty sense of his presence.

His omnipresence permeates all places and time, his indwelling presence resides in us, but his shekinah presence or glory comes to rest on us.

We recognize the shekinah glory of God in our midst by the manifestations of his goodness and his power. When the shekinah presence, or the glory of the Lord, comes to rest on a place or a gathering, the gifts of the Spirit become evident in increased measure. These are grace gifts, or manifestations of his goodness to us. It includes gifts of healing and deliverance, of salvation and breaking of bondages, of prophetic words and words of knowledge, of miracles and demonstrations of his power.

The manifestations may be internal or external. They may be something one experiences personally or privately, or they may be visible for all to see. It may come as an overwhelming peace that surpasses our understanding, or exuberant joy that is unquenchable and full of glory, or an overflowing love poured into our hearts.

"Now the Lord is the Spirit. And where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, seeing the glory of the Lord with unveiled faces, as in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:17–18).

Some things in the Spirit cannot be grasped by faith alone. There are also some things in the Spirit that cannot be released through an anointing. That's why we must learn how to bring forth the glory. Faith says God is present, the anointing says God rewards, but the glory says, "I Am."

In a moment's time, the glory can capture your miracle and overshadow the most difficult situations. The glory is not limited by time, space or circumstance. Neither is it limited by the mind of man or earthly ability. It is eternal and flows into those dimensions with every good and perfect gift that comes from above. There are no limitations in the glory realm.

Faith calls the anointing, but the anointing calls the glory."

Can you see how these three realms come together and form a new dimension? The power shifts from dunamis, which is the anointing (miraculous power, might and strength), into episkiazo, which is the New Testament cloud of glory, an overshadowing, supernatural influence.

Peter walked in this new dimension of God to such a degree that:

"So that they even brought the sick out into the streets and placed them on beds and mats, that at least the shadow of Peter passing by might touch some of them. Crowds also came out of the cities surrounding Jerusalem, bringing the sick and those who were afflicted by evil spirits, and they were all healed" (Acts 5:15–16).

This shows how the shift from anointing into glory is a shift from working personal miracles to moving into a pervading influence with the atmosphere of heaven.

As we work in the anointing, God works in the glory. We hear and obey the simple instruction of God, and get ready to move into a greater realm. When the glory comes, we stand in the glory and allow God to do His work.

The glory is the highest level of power known to man. In the Scriptures, we read about this episkiazo that overshadowed Peter, James and John on the mountaintop where they witnessed the physical transfiguration of Christ and the appearance of Elijah and Moses. (See Matt. 17:5; Mark 9:7; Luke 9:35.) This same glory overshadowed the Virgin Mary and implanted a miracle within her womb (see Luke 1:35.) In the realms of glory, I have seen those who suffered with infertility find their miracle. Healing through the anointing is no longer required in the atmosphere of glory because, in that atmosphere, sickness can no longer exist.

The influence of God's glory spreads deep and wide. There is no place or person the glory cannot reach. There is no situation where the glory cannot extend its miracle touch. The glory is the realm of highest power. Are you hungry to go deeper in the Spirit? He has greater things prepared for you as you determine to enter into these glory realms.

Spiritual Strength

Achieving spiritual strength and maturity is a process. Many want to know how to get closer to God and become strong Disciples of Christ. They want to know what to do after they get saved.

They want to know their purpose in life, how to deal with the spiritual opposition against them, and how to take control of their lives. In other words, they want to know how to be strong in the Lord and the power of his might.

When asking how to become strong in the Lord many say that trust in God is key. Trust means to have confidence in God. Said another way, trust says that God is not a man that he should lie. If God made a promise, he will keep it. Trust is another word for faith. Surely trust in God is essential for developing a strong relationship, but you can trust God and still not spiritually mature. With that in mind, let’s explore some steps toward spiritual strength. Let’s start with the idea of process. I use the word process because it relates to actions along life’s journey that produces various outcomes.  

Apostle Paul wrote, “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might” (Ephesians 6:10). Becoming strong in the Lord and the power of his might are great goals. To reach these goals, however, requires a right process. In our example, a right process means the application of Biblical principles in your life.   

SANCTIFICATION
As already mentioned, developing or growing in the Lord is what we call a process. The process is a mapped-out course of action needed to achieve the desired result. We could say then that process is the necessary path needed to reach our goal of spiritual strength and maturity. Now let’s include another word, sanctification.

Sanctification is a word you might not be familiar with. Sanctification comes from two Latin words, sanctus which means holy, and ficare which means make. In other words, sanctification is a work of God, a process toward holiness.

This brings us back to process. Sanctification is the process needed for getting closer to God. It is a work of the Holy Spirit.

Sanctification can also mean a setting apart for the work of God. All of us are called to advance the Gospel. Most importantly, sanctification deals with a change of mind and a change of heart. Knowing that sanctification is a work of the Holy Spirit, let’s take take a look at the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues is a great place to start your process toward spiritual strength and maturity. After the resurrection, Christ held a forty-day meeting with his Disciples teaching about the kingdom of God, the restoration of all things, what signs follow those that believe, and what happens to you after the Holy Spirit comes on you.

His disciples were full of zeal and ready to spread the Gospel. You can only imagine how it felt to be in this meeting talking to the resurrected King of kings. It should be pointed out, however, that Jesus didn't think these disciples were ready. They were missing something significant. They needed the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus said, “But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

ANOTHER EXPERIENCE
Some think they were baptized with the Holy Spirit when they were born again. (To be born again means to come out of spiritual death into spiritual life by the redemptive blood of Christ.) This might be true with some, but for most of us it wasn’t. The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a different and unique experience for you after salvation. We can see that separate experience when Philip went down to Samaria after the great persecution of the early church.

Philip was having great success in ministry. He preached three things to the people of Samaria: Christ, the kingdom of God, and the name of Jesus. One thing was missing in his ministry, however, the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

When the apostles in Jerusalem heard of the great miracles in the Samaria meetings they sent Peter and John to see what was happening. When they arrived, they noticed none of the people were filled with the Holy Spirit. To the Apostles, the baptism of the Holy Spirit was critical for success in life, ministry, and the advancement of the kingdom of God.

Scripture says, “Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:  (15) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (16) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)  (17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:14-17).

The apostles understood that blessing, healing, deliverance, and miracles were good, but not enough. The people needed the Holy Spirit. These apostles were following Christ’s instructions, “And you shall receive power after that the Holy Spirit is come upon you.” This takes us back to the process. To reach our goal of spiritual strength and maturity we need the baptism of the Holy Spirit. Notice the many times the Holy Spirit is mentioned in the following Scriptures.

CHRIST'S INSTRUCTIONS
“But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8)

UPPER ROOM
“And when the day of Pentecost was fully come, they were all with one accord in one place.  (2) And suddenly there came a sound from heaven as of a rushing mighty wind, and it filled all the house where they were sitting.  (3) And there appeared unto them cloven tongues like as of fire, and it sat upon each of them. (4) And they were all filled with the Holy Ghost, and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.” (Acts 2:1-4) (The Day of Pentecost could not fully come until after the resurrection of Christ.)

APOSTLE PAUL IN EPHESUS
“And it came to pass, that, while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul having passed through the upper coasts came to Ephesus: and finding certain disciples, (2) He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.  (3) And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John's baptism. (4) Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. (5) When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.  (6) And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied” (Acts 19:1-6)

PHILIP’S MINISTRY IN SAMARIA
“Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:  (15) Who, when they were come down, prayed for them, that they might receive the Holy Ghost: (16) (For as yet he was fallen upon none of them: only they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.)  (17) Then laid they their hands on them, and they received the Holy Ghost.” (Acts 8:14-17)

PETER AND THE GENTILES
“To him give all the prophets witness, that through his name whosoever believeth in him shall receive remission of sins.  (44) While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word. (45) And they of the circumcision which believed were astonished, as many as came with Peter, because that on the Gentiles also was poured out the gift of the Holy Ghost.  (46) For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God. Then answered Peter, (47) Can any man forbid water, that these should not be baptized, which have received the Holy Ghost as well as we? (48) And he commanded them to be baptized in the name of the Lord. Then prayed they him to tarry certain days.” (Acts 10:43-48)

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is an awesome experience. To summarize:

After the resurrection of Christ, He held a forty-day meeting with his Disciples teaching about the kingdom of God, the restoration of all things, what signs follow those that believe, and what happens to you after the Holy Spirit comes upon you.

The baptism of the Holy Spirit is a different and unique experience for you after salvation.

The apostles understood that blessing, healing, deliverance, and miracles were good, but not enough. The people needed the Holy Spirit.