Fresh

Bread

Volume 33   Number 04 Jan 25, 2009

        Habakkuk 1:5: "Look among the nations and watch—be utterly ASTONISHED (astounded, wonder marvelously)! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you." There is a work of God going on at this very time, and there is a work going on in our lives. Remember God's best work is at the midnight hour. When man runs out God shows up. GET READY TO BE ASTONISHED! The word astonished means: amazed, surprised, overwhelmed, miraculous.
        Habakkuk 2:14: "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea."
        Isaiah 43:18-19: "Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert."
        Habakkuk 3:17-18: Though the fig tree may not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines; though the labor of the olive may fail, and the fields yield no food; though the flock be cut off from the fold, and there be no herd in the stalls—yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation. The Lord God is my strength; He will make my feet like deer's feet, and He will make me walk on my high hills (places).
        Isaiah 55:6-11: "Seek the Lord while He may be found, call upon Him while He is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the Lord, and He will have mercy on him; and to our God, for He will abundantly pardon. This speaks of a time of humility and repentance, both individually and nationally.
        "For My thoughts are not your thoughts (thoughts–the power to imagine, the power of conception, tiny seeds), nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts. For as the rain comes down and the snow from heaven and do not return there, but water the earth and make it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; it shall not return to Me void, but it shall accomplish what I please, and it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it."
        God desires for each one of us to prosper, but we need to remember 3 John 2: Beloved, I pray that you may prosper in all things and be in health, just as your soul prospers. In other words, true prosperity starts from within.
        Isaiah 55:12-13: "For you shall go out with joy and be led out with peace. The mountains and the hills shall break forth into singing before you, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. (All of creation is waiting for the manifestation of the sons of God.) Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress tree (or fir tree, which speaks of provision and fruitfulness), and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree (speaks of the aroma of worship and fresh anointing); and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off."
        Psalm 126:1-6: When the Lord brought back (or restored) the captivity of Zion (those of the captivity), we were like those who dream. Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing. Then they said among the nations, "The Lord has done great things for them." The Lord has done great things for us, whereof we are glad. Restore us again, restore our continual refreshing and anointing, O Lord, as the streams in the South.
        Those who sow in tears (humility and brokenness) shall reap in joy. He who continually goes forth weeping (having an attitude of humility and brokenness), bearing seed for sowing (the living Word of God), shall doubtless come again with rejoicing (shouts of joy), bringing his sheaves (harvest) with him.
        Notice there are four things that happen when the Lord restores. (1) Mouth is filled with laughter. (2) Tongue filled with singing. (3) There is seed for the sower which results in (4) reaping in joy the harvest of the Lord.
        Let's look again at Habakkuk 1:5: "Look among the nations and watch----be utterly ASTONISHED! For I will work a work in your days which you would not believe, though it were told you." Everywhere Jesus went and preached, people were astonished. Luke 4:31-32: He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. And they were ASTONISHED at His teaching, for His word was with authority. When the ruler of the synagogue's daughter died, it is recorded in Mark 5:39-43 that Jesus ....took the child by the hand and said, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." Immediately the girl arose and walked, for she was twelve years of age. And they were overcome with great AMAZEMENT.
        Mark 6:51 tells us that the disciples were astonished when Jesus stepped into their boat in the midst of a strong wind and stormy seas. Then He went up into the boat to them, and the wind ceased. And they were greatly AMAZED in themselves beyond measure and marveled. Another time the disciples had fished all night and caught nothing, and Jesus told them to let down their nets for a catch. When they did, they caught a great number of fish, and their nets began to break. Luke 5:9: When he (Simon Peter) saw it.....he and all who were with him were ASTONISHED at the catch of fish which they had taken. Acts 10:45 tells us that when Peter was preaching at Cornelius' house that the Holy Spirit fell upon all those who heard the word. And those of the circumcision (the Jews) who believed were ASTONISHED, as many as came with Peter, because the gift of the Holy Spirit had been poured out on the Gentiles also.
        Recently Sharlene had two dreams which coincide with this message of being astonished. In the first dream, she and Pastor Phil were inside a huge jumbo jet airplane, standing at the front of the plane near the cockpit. This airplane represented God's presence. There were no class divisions or sections, and it was open to everyone. Although the plane was huge, the back of it could be seen. As they looked at all the people on board, there arose a tremendous swell of praise and worship which totally filled the interior of the plane. Pastor Phil and Sharlene were filled with both amazement and great joy as they realized these were people to whom they had taught and demonstrated the power of praise and worship. Bread of Life Ministries/Church was established years ago to bring people into the Holy of Holies through worship.
        In the second dream, Pastor Phil and Sharlene were again standing at the front of an airplane, but this one was so gigantic that it extended far beyond what their eyes could see. It was also flying at a much higher altitude, and the air was very pure, refreshing, and invigorating. Jesus, the pilot, came out of the cockpit and began walking up and down the aisles touching people, bringing healing and deliverance. These people in turn immediately got out of their seats and began to pray for others, and then those got up and began moving about the plane praying for even more people. The supernatural was being manifested through God's people.
        Pastor Phil and Sharlene stood in amazement and were astonished to realize that these were thousands of believers, both here at home and across the nations, who have been blessed and encouraged by the ministry of Bread of Life Church. As Sharlene looked out the window, she saw that the wings stretched beyond what her eyes could see, they was so huge. And on each wing were multitudes of angels rejoicing and assisting in what God was doing among His people as they rose higher and higher in God's presence in the heavenlies. God's presence was being carried on the wings of prayer and praise.
        ARE YOU READY TO BE ASTONISHED? Are you ready to be amazed, surprised, and overwhelmed? Are you ready to see the miraculous power of the Kingdom of God come forth in and through you?

Coming into the new year, we keep hearing the words: FOCUS and BALANCE. Notice how many times the word FOCUS is used in Dr. Kluane Spake's word. Following are excerpts.

FULLY PROSPERING
by Dr. Kluane Spake
        This is a year of CHANGE! You will have to give up blaming and complaining and take total responsibility for your life. That means all your results, successes, and failures. Destiny is a matter of personal choice determined by what you decided to focus upon. What you focus on will develop and expand.
        Great derailments happen when you allow the outside world to determine your internal outlook. If you are disappointed internally, then your external world will also mirror this disappointment. Disappointment brings a dullness to your demeanor and appearance.
        No matter what happens in the news, there are massively wonderful opportunities in the world today for you. Begin today to focus on what you want to create, not what outside conditions may exist right now. Your future will be determined by the thoughts and actions you decide to take. What you decide to focus on will happen!
        The Scripture shows us that what we fear will come upon us. Focusing on what is negative will surely bring more bad things. As believers, the power and energy by which we do things is only through the Holy Spirit! He alone is the energy by which we operate.
        Be aware of the fact that right now you are creating your own reality. God has ordained that the power of your words, thoughts, and actions creates your Divine Destiny.