Fresh Manna

This page will publish our newsletters.  In addition, we endeavor to publish what we sense is the heart of the Lord for this season to the larger body of Christ (see 1Chron.12:32).  You may either copy and print these pages or email us for a copy.

January 2004 NEWSLETTER-

“ The Lord also will ROAR from Zion, and utter His voice from Jerusalem, the heavens and earth will shake; but the Lord will be a shelter to His people” Joel 3:16 (NASB).

2004 -The Most Important Year of Your Life!

Blessed New Year's greetings to you in Jesus! While each year is important to us and to God, I believe this year, when we look back on it, will be seen as a strategic, pivotal year in the Kingdom of God and the history of our world.   Did you know God has seasons that change and that he tells us, His beloved, of it?   “ And He changes the times and the seasons ; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things ; He knows what is in the darkness ” Daniel 2:21.     

“ He has determined their preappointed times …” Acts 17:26.  

The heading of our last newsletter was “ Revival and Awakening IS Coming to America!”   God is continuing this season of revival in 2004.   This newsletter explains my impression of what God is doing.

Last fall I saw visions of the Lord fanning His arms to fuel a flame of revival in America; our meetings and personal lives have reflected just that; people are getting saved easier than ever before!   If you didn't get our last newsletter contact us for a copy.   Here are some key words I would use to describe 2004:

AWAKENINGS, REVIVAL, OPPOSITION/WARFARE, TRANSITIONS, VICTORY, UNITY

1 . AWAKENINGS

2004 is a year where God is opening people's hearts.   The unredeemed are seeking, this is God's doing and is what I call an “awakening” since those who don't know God are “asleep” to Him.   Many of us believe that if we pray and act nice people will just come to our church, they may, but don't forget the Great Commission to tell and invite !   When Jesus said, “preach the gospel to all creation” it was for all of us.   It's not hard; in fact it's fun. Don't you love to talk about God? Do realize the world hears lies about God everyday?   We must open our mouth and tell the truth about Jesus.   If you don't, the media will give them another Jesus.   Perhaps you only know how to talk about God to people who are already saved.   Do you know how to talk to a completely unchurched person?   Do you enjoy it?    I love it!   Jesus loves it!

Many Christians, especially Charismatics, think revival is some supernatural move of the Spirit blowing people into our churches.   This will NOT be the norm at this time . God does not want it to be.   That's correct; God doesn't want to cause people to come falling in our churches apart from us .   Yes, He wants all men saved, but He wants it to happen by a personal, one-on-one witnessing experience.   In this way, WE grow in our faith in God and in love for our fellow man.   He wants us to GO OUT TO THE PEOPLE one by one tell the GOOD NEWS.    At this season in history, God is asking us to go into their world more than he is bringing them to ours.   Personally, I can tell you that it has NEVER been easier to witness as it has in the last 6 months.   Expect the same for you.   I don't know one pastor who doesn't want church growth; few however understand how it comes.   Method is as important as desire.

2. REVIVAL

Before God has His way with sinners, He must first revive His messengers.   How does this happen?   Revival. The Church is “revived” when she does three things :  

•  Remember where you came from.   W hy did God keep telling Israel for thousands of years to look back and remember their deliverance from Egypt?   It was supposed to make them love Him more and walk in thankfulness and humility.   It's only when you are deeply grateful that you have avoided God's judgment that you can have a passion for seeing others avoid the same judgment.   Sadly, I have spoken to entire Christian groups who don't believe they ever deserved eternal hell.   If you have sinned once, you deserve hell.   Sound harsh? James 2:10 says, “ For whoever shall keep the whole law, and yet stumble in one point, he is guilty of all.” I am so thankful for the mercy of God; it motivates me to share that same mercy with others!   Remember where you came from and share with the lost. You have a testimony!

•  a heart-set, if you will, to love and minister to the world.   When I have been in my prayer closet, I can love the most unsavory of people, simply because I have more of Jesus' love in me via prayer.   2 Chronicles says we are to humble ourselves and pray.   Praying declares our dependence on God.   If there is one thing I need more of is dependence on God.   When asking the Lord what He wanted to say in this letter, regarding prayer He said , “ tell them not to forget the importance of prayer and intercession, now more than ever.”   Three years ago intense prayer began in this nation for the elections, but for 2004 it must increase.

•  Die to the opinions of men.   One mark of the great revival leaders of the world, including Jesus Himself, was indifference to popularity.   Notice what the religious people said about Jesus in Matthew 22:16, “Teacher, we know how honest you are. You teach about the way of God regardless of the consequences . You are impartial and don't play favorites” (NLT).   Proverbs 29:25 says, “ the fear of man is a snare, but those who trust in the Lord will be kept safe. ”   Jesus said, “ H e who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.” Ouch !   He is to be revered and will take a backseat to no one, not even our parents.   Here's how to test whether you fear man or God.   When mentioning Jesus, church, the Bible, or spiritual things to others, notice if you are apprehensive, fear being thought ill of, or fear rejection when you mention these aspects of your faith.   While I am not saying you are to be someone you are not, we should examine whether we fear man's opinion more than God's.

In Summary : You cannot have revival and the awakening it brings without passing through the above three steps .   Pray for God to infuse your heart, then go out and have a “Love and Tell” session with your neighbor or co-worker, being careful not to fear their reactions.   “ Love covers a multitude of sins ” (1 Peter 4:8; Prov 10:12).

3. WARFARE & OPPOSITION

We are in period of war in the natural and in the spirit.   This is a strong word for this season, but it's not a season of doom or gloom because victory is here in the midst of war!!   Last weekend at the Minnesota Prophetic Conference I had a vision of the Lord riding on a white horse across the face of the earth.   As He rode, He smote the earth with the sword, striking His enemies.   His sword was also releasing fire from the tip, giving fresh fire to His people.   This is a vision of victory!   Don't mistake warfare for defeat.  

I believe a reason God wants to bring revival in America is because of a planned terrorism attack that may take many lives. The sense I had regarding this awakening of America was, “ save them while you can .” The enemy plans to kill many, perhaps via a nuclear attack on our country.   I realize how “alarmist” this may sound, but the media has confirmed that radical Islamists want to kill as many Americans as possible.   Whether it's God responding to the enemy or visa versa, we know that there is war afoot.   The greater the move of God, the more it will seem like men oppose us.   Christians will always be hated by religious people (Muslims) and the secularists.   Take heart, for God will not be without a voice; He will always give greater grace where there is great sin (Rom 5:20).   You will be tempted to see men as your enemy, whether in schools or courts or other government outlets.   Indeed, though men will hate you, they can still be saved.  

Many times in a season of warfare we make God our opponent, as if we must talk Him into something.   Remember, the devil is your opponent, not God.   You may have opposition to what you want to see in your city, church or personal life from men or the devil, but not God.   Paul told the Romans as they were being butchered by Nero, “ And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly ,” (Rom 16:20).   We should voice our dissension to the elimination of God in our society, but first we declare things in the spirit.   What do we declare?   The supremacy of Christ!   Worship to bring His presence and displace darkness.

Ephesians 6:17 says, that your only offensive weapon is the Word of God.   You should note that ‘word' in this verse is the Greek word ‘ rhema' which is the SPOKEN (not written ) word of God! !   You should also be aware that “hallelujah” is only used in the context of warfare or victory of God's people (see Psalm 149, Rev 19).   Our weapon in this war is worship and declaration of the will of God!

4. TRANSITION to VICTORY- “the Farmer, Athlete and the Soldier ”

The above-mentioned warfare started 31/2 years ago. At the end of '99 and early 2000, God released a change in the earth.   It was His divine transition for many churches and leaders in the body of Christ. This transition is turning a corner this year for many, since we are midway in a 7-year war in the spirit. The Lord has given me a message for the Church at large, which I call ‘The Farmer, the Athlete and the Soldier', taken from 2 Timothy 2. (I encourage every one of you to contact us for the tape) .   The gist is all of us start in our walk with God as a farmer/family person.   Churches and young Christians start with a family mentality; every new Christian passes through this stage. (Farmers are family oriented--I know, I grew up in Iowa!).   While families are great, we can't stay as family Christians,   we must progress to become an athlete with discipline and training to win the race.   We must see that we have a goal, or we will turn to infighting, gossip and judgment.   Eventually, we should become soldiers who “take ground” and occupy enemy territory.   This comes when we recognize the war, find our assigned position and stop worrying about the small issues.   If I'm in a foxhole shooting, should I whine about someone's minor doctrine or about who took up the offering!?   We must transition from looking at ourselves to looking after the lost and the devils that keep them that way.   A Christian without a clear goal will end up in either self-condemnation or contempt for their church and the world.   Ask yourself where your focus is, what bothers you the most; your church's problems or the situation of the world??    This will indicate whether you have the mentality of a farmer or a soldier . In 2004 God wants to turn civilians into soldiers.   It's a different mentality.  

5.   BEWARE THE OFFENSE

Matthew 24:10,12, “And then many will be offended, will betray one another , and will hate one another . And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold . ”   This verse is about Christians.   It is my firm belief that one of the main strategies of the devil this year will be to move us into a hurried, harried lifestyle , full of cynicism, judgment and anger towards fellow saints.   It is an attack on our “love-walk.”   In Matthew 24:12, I don't believe he meant that there would be more evil deeds happening per se, but rather spiritual forces will increase their activity against Christians making it difficult to obey 1 Corinthians 13:7, “(love) bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. ” The enemy has released an attack of hatred and you, as a Christian, must be careful not to pick up on it.   Do not, I repeat, DO NOT hold anger or resentment in your heart.   If you have an issue with a fellow believer, go to them--get on the phone and call them.   If you don't, YOU will suffer, not them.   Don't let anger and hatred get into your heart…walk in love!

6 . IRAQ-THE MOST IMPORTANT PRAYER PROJECT FOR THE YEAR

Iraq is crucial because for the first time in a millennium, Christians have unfettered access to a Muslim people.   Hundreds of Christian relief agencies are now in Iraq, giving, loving, and caring for the Iraqi people.   If we can SHOW Jesus to them, it is a great witness to Muslims.   If we ultimately fail to establish a long-term relationship with the country, and if Christianity is again kicked out, we will have lost an historic opportunity.    There may be many opinions on the war, but we should agree as Christians that we have a great chance to refute the lies that Christians are the evil people the Muslims leaders have portrayed us to be.   Continually pray that Christians will be able to lovingly witness to the Iraqi people, and that the soldiers will use grace and wisdom when dealing with the people.   The situation in Iraq is extremely volatile and needs your daily prayer.

Remember that Babylon was located Iraq, and while the city no longer stands, the territorial demons that once dwelt there may still be the cause of that country's troubles and they may attempt to afflict America for our presence in the country.   Revelation 18:2 says, “ It (Babylon/Iraq) has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every foul spirit , a haunt of every foul and hateful beast.”   Verse 3 says, “ For all the nations have drunk of the wine of the wrath/( anger ) of her fornication ” (RSV).

As I mentioned previously, I believe hatred has been released to a new level on earth from this “haunt of hatred” in Babylon.   There seems to be much confusion over Iraq, which isn't surprising since Babylon comes from Babel, which means “confusion.”   I know many non-Republicans deeply hate our current president, which I believe is a spiritual phenomenon in our country that needs to be addressed in prayer.   We seem to be more divided in our country than ever, and I fear that this same spirit of anger, division and hatred will come into the church.   Susan and I pray against the “spirit of hatred, anger” with regards to Iraq.   We also pray for truth to enter the Muslim culture concerning Christianity and America.   Will you join us and pray every day for Iraq?

7. UNITY