Are We Passing up the Powerful for the Popular?Over the last several years i have had the opportunity to be in the company of some very powerful men and women of God. It can be life-changing. I have also had the chance to be around some very popular people in Christian ministry today. Let me tell you that popular and powerful are not always synonymous.
I know some people that no one has ever heard of that God uses in incredible and miraculous ways and some who have national or world-wide platforms who are merely uplifting and encouraging . (not to denigrate them because we need encouraging too) You know this is true. Let me ask you a question... Who are you more likely to desire to get next to? Do you value those without larger than life names but carry larger than life power? Do you go to those meetings? Years ago the Lord told me to take my summer vacation and spend a few days with the prophet Bob Jones. He actually told me several times and I always put it off or had other things to do. The same thing happened with John Paul Jackson. John Paul was having a conference on the east coast and the Lord told me to go. I didn't go. I don't remember why. Recently I had the chance to go and meet and spend some time with Neville Johnson. I didn't go because of a family situation that I wasn't truly needed for. The point is that I had the opportunity to be with people who walked (walk) powerfully with God and I did not take advantage of it. You know I'm sure that those opportunities are no more. Thankfully God has created new opportunities for me and I am much more inclined now to just say "Yes Lord" and go. Are we drawn to the thousand person conference or the the twenty person conference? Do we really know those who labor among us and what they carry? Do you need miracles or is good fellowship enough? Just think about it is all I'm saying. Take Advantage of the Opportunity God Presents - Michael
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A Visitation of Angels by Marvin Van Vlymen It wasn't very long ago that I had an occasion to be at the hospital and found myself waiting in a hallway waiting area with my wife Cathy. As I sat there, I was actually passing the time by reading a book that my son wrote and Cathy was sitting on the other side of the hall across from me. As I read, I suddenly became aware that someone was standing in front of me, and I looked up. It took a minute to process what I saw. In front of me stood a man who was at least seven feet tall, and was dressed like he had just stepped out of the 1940s. He was dressed in a nice suit and hat and although it was not old or shabby appearing, it was definitely from a different era. He was carrying an old leather briefcase. When I looked up and made eye contact with him, he said, "You are a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ." I said "Yes I am." He sat down next to me and laid his briefcase across his lap and opened it. In the briefcase was a bible and a book by Smith Wigglesworth. He took the book by Smith Wigglesworth out of his briefcase and showed it to me. He said "I want you to get this book and read it. It is going to be important for you." I said "I will." At this time my wife Cathy needed me for something and called me to come across to talk to her. After she spoke to me I asked her if she saw that I was talking to that odd looking gentleman who was sitting with me. She said she didn't see me talking to anyone. I asked her how in the world she could have missed him as he was easily more than seven feet tall. She said she didn't see him. I turned to point him out and he was not there. I had only been away from him a minute and there was no place he could have gone. It was then that I realized that Heaven had visited me. The first thing I did was get the book by Smith Wigglesworth and read it. The Lord showed me some important things and things that really spoke to me personally. When Heaven breaks into your life to bless you with help, instruction or revelation, follow the instructions. You too will be blessed! - Marvin Van Vlymen  This is the Power of God to Them that Believe (As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations,) before him whom he believed, even God, who quickeneth the dead, and calleth those things which be not as though they were. (Romans 4:17 KJV) God calls those things that are not as though they were. Why? Because He is changing the reality by the word He speaks. When Jesus told everyone “the girl is not dead but only sleeping”, everyone laughed. He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. (Matthew 9:24 KJV) People are still laughing today but the reality is that this is the God we serve, the God that makes all things possible and He has also given us an overwhelming promise and instruction. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. (John 14:12 NKJV) Speaking the word of God is powerful.  Our Identity in Christ
Walking in Holiness Many times the problems and issues we face in life are born out of not having a clear understanding of who we truly are. If we know we are redeemed and see ourselves that way, it makes it easier for us to choose a path in agreement with that. If we see ourselves as sinners, and that is our identity we can choose things that bolster that idea as well. It's not that we don't sin, it is that we realize that we are in Christ and our debt of sin has been paid. When Jesus forgives us our sins He washes us whiter than snow... “Come now, and let us reason together, ”Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool. (Isaiah 1:18 NKJV) Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. (Psalm 51:7 NKJV) Our Calling and Direction If we struggle with who we are or if we don't have a clear sense of self, it is too easy to look for approval from those who surround us. We can begin to do things to mimic the group so we might have acceptance. With no clear sense of who we truly are, we can miss our calling and true purpose in life. The temporary accolades of the group are not truly satisfying but are a poor substitution for a sense of completes we can only find in Him. for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’ (Acts 17:28 NKJV) For in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all [a]principality and power. ) Colossians 2:9-10 NKJV) Not knowing who we are keeps us in a place of looking for that job or purpose or spouse to bring us fulfillment not realizing that fulfillment of that kind is only found in Him. If you know someone who is struggling, not settled and seeking, pray that the Lord shows them their true identity. If you are struggling in these areas, meditate on the scriptures that tells us who we are in Christ and you will see a fulfillment come like no other. Look at these verses and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you to even more. 1 Peter 2:9 Jeremiah 1:5 1 John 3:1-2 Galatians 4:7 Galatians 3:13 1 John 4:4 God bless you. Mike  Lord make us CleanEvery day because of what we are contending against with this virus that has come, I am hearing about washing hands, keeping hands clean, using hand sanitizer and hearing about what the deadly results could be if I don't. This has brought back many memories of dreams and visions and encounters in the spirit from over the last 10 years or so.
When I first began to learn about the things of the spirit I knew from what the Lord had taught me that I had to be a clean vessel. The bible says that sweet water and bitter water can't pour from the same spout. (James 3:11) I was constantly asking the Lord to make me clean and I was constantly having experiences related to that. I remember one dream I had where our swimming pool was a giant washing machine and I was stuck in it in a wash cycle. If that wasn't strange enough, suddenly 2 vacuum cleaners appeared in the pool. I had numerous dreams about washing my hair and once in the dream I was washing my hair with red wine. I had a incredible vision one night about a white top loading washer that was so overwhelming I wrote 2 pages of the details. (this was during a conference I attended in Ohio) I also had a prophet appear to me once in the spirit and tell me "Stay pure and God will make you holy." It really reminded me that the work was the Lord's to do but I had a choice to make as well. Do you really want to wash and sanitize your hands? Who will ascend the hill of the Lord? I bet you know the answer. (Psalm 24:3-4) I had dream after vision after encounter based on being made clean. There was one very disturbing "side effect" of this asking the Lord to make me clean. It seemed like every time I asked for greater cleansing and sanctification all hell would break loose in my life. I would have battles come up before me that I never dreamed could happen. That's not fair! Is it? God wants us to be clean and He has made a way. The bible says that He, Christ has taken our sin and given us His righteousness. So should we stop asking for greater cleansing? No, just the opposite. Lay hold of the washing of the water of the word. Tell the Lord "Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow." Confess our sins, and know that he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Allow the Lord to do this work in you. He's ready.  Welcome to my world, where it's naturally supernaturalThere is a place where angels stand beside you with your full awareness, lightnings and whirlwinds come to bring deliverance, spiritual doors lead to places the Lord has ordained to take you just like Elijah, numbers announce new destinies and God reveals things to you by writing them in the Heavens. There is a place where healing is simply hearing God's voice and obeying, prayers are made without doubt and unbelief, miracles, signs and wonders become everyday life. There is a place where all the things in the bible are seen to be attainable and a renewed sense of purpose comes upon you. There is a great wealth of revelation that waits for us just beyond the veil. I don't mean the veil of death, but the veil that separates the seen from the unseen. The bible says this concerning spiritual sight.... I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see. (Revelation 3:18 NKJV) Again, we read in 2nd Corinthians... while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal. (2 Corinthians 4:18 NKJV) My Christian walk, my life in God was and is profoundly changed by this blessing of having eyes that see. I encourage you to do all you can to lay hold of this blessing for yourself. Petition Heaven day and night and do whatever it takes because it will be worth it. -Michael Here are a couple of the resources I have available right now
Also, don't forget Seer School on YouTube where I cover these same topics. More episodes to come!  click on photo
 Does the Enemy have Access to your Finances?Several days ago I had a dream. In my dream I was in a meeting and someone came up to tell me that the enemy had stolen $3.50 from my blessings. I thought for a moment and said " That isn't very much money, I can suffer that loss ok."
A few seconds later a representative of the Lord came and told me that what happened was not acceptable. I was not to be apathetic over the smallest amount of the Lord's money. I was reminded that by agreeing it was ok to be robbed by the enemy in any amount, I was opening a door to the enemy and giving him my permission. Confirmations Yesterday I had another dream. In this dream I saw an elderly couple on a wide public walkway where there were a lot of people walking. The elderly couple had apparently dropped something and were upset because they didn't have the flexibility to bend down and gather what they had dropped. I went out to see if I could help them and saw that they had dropped a bunch of change on the sidewalk. There were quarters, dimes and nickels and some of them were valuable collectors coins. I knelt down and began to quickly gather the coins so they wouldn't lose any and hand them to the elderly man. When I had picked up a bit more than half, the man said "that's ok, you've done enough, we have enough money now." As soon as he said this, a woman swooped in and quickly began trying to take all the quarters left and put them in her pocket. I worked faster to keep her from getting so many, but she did get quite a bit. The Lord spoke to me in the dream. He said, "The woman came to steal from him as soon as he told you "It's ok, we have enough." It was a permission for someone else to take what belonged to them. I prayed over this in the light of what the Lord has spoken to me concerning breakthrough in this season. Because the Lord gave me the same lesson twice in one week, I know it's important. I believe in this time of breakthrough there are going to be many who are expecting and will receive financial breakthroughs. I believe the Lord is saying to guard over every penny and do not give permission for the enemy to steal your blessings. No matter what the enemy tries to do in your life, no matter how small, never say it's ok, or it doesn't matter because of the size of the theft or affliction being small. Jealously guard what the Lord gives you and steward it well.  I heard someone ask yesterday... With all the foolishness going on today in the church, shouldn't we pull back from pursuing a supernatural relationship with God and get back to the "normal" gospel? Won't we be on more solid ground if we do that?
In an hour where God is pouring out His spirit upon all flesh, I can't believe this is a good time to pull back. Is that really your problem? Seeing too many angels are you? Too many miracles in your church? Too many people having dreams and visions and getting prophetic words for others? Too many healings and deliverances? Are your experiences with God leading you away from God. Do you have less passion and love for Jesus because your spiritual eyes are open? Frankly I don't get the logic. I know there is foolishness going on, there is foolishness going on in every area of life. Don't throw the baby out with the bath water. No dear brother (and sister) I am not going to stop believing for face to face encounters with Jesus. I have read the bible and the life it describes others have had with God and the promises of the life we can all have. That is what I desire. I had the "those were the bible days" explanation as to why God doesn't do the miraculous and why it isn't normal to pursue that kind of life. I can no longer buy that as I have had an encounter with God. The one with the experience is never at the mercy of the one with the argument. All glory to the Lord Jesus Christ, I believe the gospel with power, signs and wonders is the normal gospel. Lord make us even more normal.  Is the Supernatural Really God? Moses boldly marched up to Pharaoh’s palace and was brought before him. “Let my people go!” Pharaoh was not intimidated. He knew Moses. They grew up together. In Pharaoh’s eye’s Moses wasn’t so special. “Who does he think he is anyway?” Pharaoh mused. But Moses wasn’t the same man he was when he left Egypt. He had encountered the living God and learned a few things about God’s supernatural power and his (Moses’) destiny. Moses had seen miracles. He had been instructed to move in the supernatural for the Kingdom’s cause. Boldness is a benefit of seeing the hand of God move powerfully…it takes your faith to new levels. Moses, sure of his calling and his God stepped closer to Pharaoh, looked him in the eye and handed his staff to Aaron. Aaron threw down the staff. There were gasps from the surrounding crowd. The staff of Moses had turned into a huge serpent, slithering around on the steps of the throne. Many in the crowd were stunned! The Pharaoh’s magicians, Jannes and Jambres came forward and also threw down their staffs. Their staffs also became serpents and slithered upon the steps of the Pharaoh’s throne. The gasps in the crowd increased and suddenly many began criticizing and complaining about Moses. “Oh my goodness” they whispered amongst themselves,. “He is doing the same thing those demonic magicians are doing! This must be of the devil!” The mood in the crowd changed….they eyed Moses suspiciously….. “How could this be God if it looks so demonic?!” No doubt about it they reasoned…Moses is in deception. The Heart of the MatterOf course we know it didn’t really happen this way. (Read Exodus 5) The people of the day, the children of Israel, had no problem believing that God could and would do the most amazing supernatural things. Not only did they know it but they depended upon it. Read the Bible. They had a history of the supernatural and it was normal for the people of God to experience the supernatural, receive miracles, see and speak with angels, perform signs and wonders, etc.. What happened? Somewhere along the way we stopped believing. Bill Johnson of Bethel Church calls that “unbelieving believers”, people who believe in God but deny His power today. All throughout the Word, Genesis to Revelation, the power of God was manifest and evident. Even in the writings of the early church fathers it was obvious that they still believed and walked in the power of God. Tertullian, an early church father around 100-200 A.D., taught new converts to ask for and believe the gifts of the Spirit to come upon them. I believe the problem that caused believers to stop believing and working in the miraculous is the same problem we face today. In lives so engrossed in the natural, we cease to see the supernatural. If churches and believers alike do not heal the sick, cast out devils or do supernatural exploits, we must have an excuse as to why. “Why can’t you do miracles? The rest of the Bible people did!” What kind of answer is appropriate? “Well Brother, God doesn’t do those things anymore.” Once you have one person of “authority” that starts teaching people the new normal is NOT to expect miracles, it infects the whole group. Multiply that by centuries and you have millions of people who believe in Christ but not in His power to be available today. Now THAT is demonic. Don’t be offended! I was a non-believing believer for much of my life. You don’t know until you know…. Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:14) The very sad thing about this is that there are so many people who need the power of God manifested in their lives today. Everyday I hear the most heartbreaking stories of people who need a touch from God. Many won’t even allow you to pray for them because they have been instructed that anything miraculous is of the devil. What is the Answer?Pray. Pray for those who need God’s power to at least ask Him to show them if it is real or not. Encourage that God does not lead us into deception if we are seeking Him! Oh what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? (Matthew 7:9) Share scriptures that tell of God’s desire to heal us and deliver us. Give a Biblical reason for them to consider that God has not changed. And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God. 23 For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith. 24 Therefore I say unto you, What things so ever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them. (Mark 11:22-24) Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. (Hebrews 13:8) Live ready to provide an answer! God is seeking to manifest His love towards us ALL and He will create opportunities for us to display His power to those in need. A person being in need, many times will open a door for God to move. There is nothing like being desperate for God. I have been there! But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: (1 Peter 3:15) If you are one of those who believes that everything God has done, He will do and everything the Bible reveals is for us today, don’t be dismayed. Sometimes you may wonder where you fit in. You may not fit in anywhere right now but God has people just like you all over the earth and increase is happening! Thank God for those you know who believe, and fellowship together, encouraging each other in the faith! Know that you are not alone! We are right here with you! Blessing upon you! Mike  Naturally Supernatural - Four Simple Things You Can Do
Once believers learn that God is still as real and present today as He was during bible times, we suddenly get a strong desire to experience that “bible times” presence and relationship for ourselves. The biggest problem is that all things considered, that topic of conversation or teaching does not happen in most churches or bible study groups. Mostly in churches that know this truth, you might get a somewhat brief acknowledgement to the spiritual or supernatural things of God, but they are still learning just like you. The desire is there however… Every time I would hear some testimony of God’s power being on display, I would get excited and jealous at the same time. (a Godly jealousy) I was happy for the person but looking for the same things in my own life. When I finally got a serious breakthrough into the things of the spirit, it was like the door was opened and there was no going back. An avalanche of Heaven invaded our lives and our home and increase begat increase. The more we saw, the more we desired it and the more we desired, the greater the manifestation of God’s presence in our lives. But what exactly was going on? Did we learn some special mystical truth that few people knew? Was there some ancient phrase or extra-biblical instruction we followed? No. We were doing very simple things as steps of faith as the Lord led us. Things anyone could do if they so desired. I have written about these things and spoken of them in fairly great detail but this isn’t some thing you have to memorize all the pieces of before you get breakthrough. If you take a few simple steps of faith, you will see breakthrough in the things of the spirit. A key, a very important key is this… How much does it mean to you? Ask God for those things you desire. I know, this is a no-brainer right? The key here is that you must be like the woman who wearied the judge by all her knocking. Ask and ask and ask and knock and seek. If I asked the lord once during the day for breakthrough into spiritual things, I asked Him 200 times. I’m NOT exaggerating. Ask God with a passion. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. (Matthew 7:7 NKJV) Fill yourself with powerful encouraging testimonies One of the staples of my evening encouragement was YouTube videos and programs that featured over the top testimonies about the manifestation of the power of God. In addition to watching It’s Supernatural every day, (archived programs etc.) I would load about 10 to fifteen programs on my computer set to play an angel or supernatural testimony. I would move from the first through to the end watching one testimony after another and then do it again. Don’t laugh! Is this overkill to you? What I was doing was regenerating my mind to conform to the normalcy of supernatural living being our possibility. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2 ) Stay in the Word. The word of God is powerful and sharper than any two-edged sword. The word will accomplish things in your life that you don’t even realize in the moment. The word is a springboard of testimonies into the supernatural of God. Look at every testimony as a template for your own life. Staying in the word and seeing the healings and deliverances and visitations will remind you what the life of a believer is supposed to look like. For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12 KJV) Spend Time Waiting Upon the Lord. We have to get to the point where we are listening to the Lord more than we are talking. He KNOWS the desires of our hearts. Setting aside time every day to spend time waiting on Him to speak to us, or just spending time in His presence is something you will never regret. Make time with Him a priority. What do you do while you wait? Think about His goodness or His faithfulness. In the silence, worship Him in your mind/spirit, and look with expectation for Him to honor His word. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. (James 4:8 NKJV) As you take these simple steps of faith, keep very much in mind that the journey, the entire journey is Christ. Seeing Christ formed in you… becoming Christ-like… Fulfilling His call upon your life… The truth is that if we truly keep the main thing, the main thing, the things of Heaven we desire will be manifest as we take these steps of faith. Make a decision, be passionate about what you decide and pursue God with all your heart. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33 KJV) Michael Ps. For added inspiration and instruction check out my videos on YouTube or read my books available on Amazon, quite often for free. |
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