 Understanding Signs and WondersRecently I was speking somewhere and someone closeby overheard me sharing something in the realm of signs and wonders. They stepped in to tell me it was demonic and although I was kind, I thought to myself, here is yet another one who doesn't understand. I then felt the need to address the subject and share that God can and will do the most extraordinary things.
A while later Gordana told me that she didn't like it when I shared a certain testimony regarding her. She thought it was too challenging for most people. I thought and prayed about it and I began to see a greater understanding. I was thinking about all the miracles, signs and wonders we have experienced in our home and lives. I, in my exhuberance have desired that people experience those exact same events. I have been so motivated to pursue God because of things He has done in my family, I kind of forgot that we each have our own walk and relationship with the Lord. Whereas when I walk by Gordana's bible on the table and see sparkles on it, it encourages me and well it should. It had and has a purpose. Gordana, who is a giver would very often pour herself out for people only to have them turn and trample her (which happens to a lot of believers) She would come home weary from the long day at work and then have to take care of the household and also take care of her mom who was ailing the last several years of her life. Gordana would read her bible for strength and encouragement and the Lord would often cover the pages with sparkles. It encouraged her to know the Lord was right there with her. It brought a refreshing of joy to her and had a purpose. Others who saw it would often turn away in disinterest or disgust at the sight. It had no purpose for them. This has happened many times and for a long time confused me. My friend Dr. Bruce Allen has always said that our focus has to be the Lord and everything else flows from that. Another friend John A. Scotland says that signs have a purpose to point to the Lord, to move us in His direction. Having been in many situations now where I have shared about such things I am beginning to see the wisdom that many things we experience may just be for us and not for public consumption. I have had many come away from meetings and their focus has been the signs. ""How do I get gold dust?" or "How can I have my money multiply also?" Wait a second.... I just spoke for an hour on the sacrifice the Lord made for us and that is your question? Wow! I have realized that there are all levels of maturity in any given meeting or church and although I could share openly about certain things and some wouldn't even think it odd, others would hear and run straight into a ditch with it. Some things we share to point people to Christ and others we experience out of our walk and intimacy with Him. To conclude let me share again the wisdom of my dear friends mentioned above... Focus our attention and affection on the Lord, let your life in God and whatever signs, wonders and miracles we experience flow out of that. Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. (Matthew 6:33) -MIke
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 Praise God for powerful women of God who hear and obey His voice. Here, left to right... Suzanne Hinn, Linda Vega, Carmela Myles, Gordana Van Vlymen and Dr. Elizabeth Fondong ministering to the people at the USA Miracle Convention 2023. Be Ready!It was our intention only to attend the USA Miracle Convention this year in Falls Church Virginia. Gordana and I talked about it. We really wanted to attend and just kind of hide in the back rows somewhere and soak in the atmosphere and recieve from God. It is difficult to make that work but it sounded nice. The Lord had other plans however and we ended up doing that which the Lord has called us to do and truthfully, I liked God's plans better than ours. It is always a joy for me to see Gordana used in the capacity of her anointing and then hear testimonies of God moving to touch His people. Watching those powerful women of God move boldly under His anointing was an honor to behold and I was grateful to see it. In my humble opinion God has indeed His Kathryn Kuhlmans and Maria Woodworth Etters and Aimee Semple Mcphersons for this day also. If you are a woman reading this it may be you I am speakng of. God is no respecter of persons so if you have ever desired to be used mightily of God, ask Him and believe for it. We are in an age where the miraculous will be poured out like never before. There is no reason you should not lead the way as a forerunner of God. Ask... believe,,, recieve! Amen!
 Here is an excerpt from the book Angels - Real Encounters with Angels Today. I wrote the forward for this book because I like the idea of people thinking about God's angels and realizing they have a dramatic impact in all of our lives. In our world today we need the presence of God's angels more than ever and we need to know beyond a doubt that they are always close. I hope you enjoy this small taste... Angels in the Jungle Deep within the dense jungles of Brazil, a group of brave missionaries made plans to embark on a journey that would forever change their lives and the lives of an isolated tribe of indigenous people. Their mission was to bring the love of God and salvation to a tribe that had been known for its violence and hostility towards outsiders. However, the dangers were evident, and the last group of missionaries who had attempted to make contact had met a tragic end. It was a decision that weighed heavily on their hearts, but they felt an unshakable conviction that they must go and do what they felt led to do. After weeks of arduous travel through the unforgiving jungle terrain, they knew they were getting closer to their destination. With each step, their determination and faith grew stronger, bolstered by the knowledge that they were following a divine calling. Finally, they arrived at a small clearing where they decided to set up their camp. The atmosphere was tense yet hopeful as they waited for their first encounter with the indigenous tribe. The missionaries understood that it would take time to build trust and establish a connection with the people, especially considering the tribe's history with outsiders. Then, one fateful day, as the sun was setting, a tribal elder and a couple of others approached their campsite. Fear and curiosity were evident in their eyes as they offered simple gifts of welcome to the missionaries. The language barrier made communication challenging, but the missionaries were patient, knowing that learning the tribe's language would be a crucial step in forming a bond and being able to share the gospel. Days turned into weeks, weeks turned into months, and the missionaries settled into a rhythm of living with the tribe, learning their ways, and sharing the love of God. Despite the challenges, everything seemed to be going well, and they began to feel a strong connection with the indigenous people. One day, as the trust between them grew deeper, one of the missionaries couldn't help but ask the elder a question that had been weighing on his mind. "Your tribe had a reputation for violence and even killing missionaries who reached out to you. Why did you welcome us? Why didn't you try to harm us?" he asked with a mixture of curiosity and gratitude. The elder paused for a long moment, his eyes filled with shame remembering what led up to their first meeting. "The first day you arrived, we knew you were here," he began. "We watched as you set up your camp, and as we watched, we talked about how we would come back and attack you in the night." The missionaries listened intently, amazed by the elder's honesty and vulnerability. "We crept silently towards your camp, and as we got close to the clearing, we saw your guards standing around your camp," the elder continued. "We went back several nights in a row and saw that your guards were always there. Even our strongest warriors said they refused to go near. They said your guards were so fierce-looking that surely if we attacked you, your guards would kill us all." The missionaries exchanged puzzled glances, wondering who these guards were. The elder's voice became solemn as he revealed the truth. "That last night, we had a tribal meeting and decided we must make peace with you because of your warriors, and we brought gifts of peace to you the next day," the elder said. "But the truth is, your guards were not ordinary men. They were taller than any man I have ever seen, and they seemed to glow like the moon or the sun. Their eyes were focused into the darkness, and we knew they were watching us. We have since learned that they were angels of your God who protected you." The missionaries were stunned by the revelation. They realized that the presence of God’s angels had kept them safe during their most vulnerable moments. Tears filled their eyes as they felt a profound sense of gratitude and awe. As time passed, the missionaries continued to live among the tribe, leading many to a saving knowledge of Christ. The tribe's reputation for violence diminished, replaced by the love of God as they grew to know Him. The journey was not without its challenges, but the missionaries knew that they were never alone. The angels who had guarded them in the darkness had become a powerful testimony of what King David wrote in the Psalms, “For He has given His angels charge over you to keep you in all your ways.” And as they looked back on their journey, the missionaries knew that the presence of the Lord was a testament to His faithfulness and His guiding hand that had led them to the heart of the jungle.  Declare your Agreement and Let the Angels go with you!
Three weeks ago the Lord caught me into the spirit and took me to a place where there were 12 angels standing in a line. They were all about ten feet tall and dressed in a similar type of military looking tunic. None were talking but all were standing at a kind of comfortable attention, looking forward. As I walked down the line of angelic warriors, I was in awe at the presence of God they carried. I looked up at their faces and saw a resoluteness that reminded me of the scripture that talks about setting your face like flint. (Isaiah 50:7) As I studied them, it was almost seemed like they didn’t even notice I was there. I slowly walked back toward my starting place, still overwhelmed by what I was seeing. When I was back in front of the fifth angel, he stepped out slightly and spoke to me in a tongue I did not understand. “I don’t know what you’re saying” I told him. The fourth angel also stepped out. “He said we want to go with you.” I began to think about that. He didn’t say “we are going with you” or “we will be with you.” But rather that they wanted to go with me. As I stood there wondering how to respond, I was again caught away and found myself back in my prayer closet. Choose You this Day The Lord began to speak to me. He reminded me of the importance of speaking and declaring my agreement with what He was doing and what He wants to do, I should not just have an acknowledgment but make a decision that yes, I agree with you and I want what you have for me. Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways. (Job 22:28) The Lord also reminded me of something He had told me previously, that angels are assigned as we say “yes” to Him. I Choose You Lord In that moment, in my prayer closet, I told the Lord yes. Yes Lord, I want everything you have for me, every path and every assignment, every blessing and every angel you want to release into our lives and ministry. I say yes. I agree with You. When the Lord first began to teach me about the angelic realm and how present they are in our lives and how much of a role they play, it caused me to begin to actually declare my agreement for the resources of Heaven to be manifest in my life. The bible says we have not because we ask not. (James 4:2} I would counsel you to look around at all that is happening in today’s world. This is not an hour to hold the power of Heaven at arm’s length. Don’t wait and don’t be shy! Ask for God to provide the assistance you need and declare your agreement with His promises! Michael  When you think about spiritual warfare do you automatically think of seasoned men and women of God doing powerful exploits in His name. Yes? That's fine, but there is another group that needs to learn and know about God's power and authority and those are the young ones. The bible says to "train up a child in the way they should go..." We need to understand that children face battles too and they need to know how to deal with them and the power of God available to them. Children often have great faith or child-like faith where they believe and act on something simply because it was told them by someone in authority over them. Oh how wonderful it would be if we could be that way, to believe something simply because the Lord said it. This little book, "Spiritual Warfare for Kids" is a book that shows kids the basics about spiritual authority in a way they can grasp it. Faith modeled in the life of the central characters of the book in the situations they face. This isn't a theological discourse but an example of what authority and faith looks like in the life of a child that they can learn from and use for themselves.  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 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. |
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