Barbie Breathitt:
"New Dimensions of Faith and Trust Are Being Released"
Psalm 109 for 2009
This passage opens with, "for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues. With words of hatred they surround me; they attack me without cause. In return for my friendship they accuse me, but I am a man of prayer. They repay me evil for good, and hatred for my friendship...But you, O Sovereign LORD, deal well with me for Your name's sake; out of the goodness of Your love, deliver me."
These few verses let us know that God's love will deliver us from lying words and accusations if we will pray. Psalm 23 assures us the LORD is our Shepherd; we will not be in want, that He restores our soul and guides our paths. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for He is there to comfort us. God prepares a table before us in the presence of our enemies. He anoints and causes us to overflow with His goodness, love and mercy.
God will bring us into the bond of the covenant in the coming days, when He fulfills the gracious promises He has made to us.
The Baptism of the Holy Spirit and Fire is the Grooming and Purging Process
The baptism of the Holy Spirit and fire is the grooming, purging process that removes the chaff and brings us into a new dimension of intimacy and power. Matthew 3:11-12 says, "I baptize you with water for repentance. But after me will come One who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. His winnowing fork is in His hand, and He will clear His threshing floor, gathering His wheat into the barn and burning up the chaff with unquenchable fire."
Moses said, "Here I am," as he turned aside to see the angel of the Lord in the burning bush that was not consumed by fire. God called Moses by name, warning him, "Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off...for the place where you stand is holy ground." This was Moses' first encounter with the living God, so he hid his face for he was afraid to look upon God. Over the years, God walked Moses through a purification process where, eventually, God could speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend. The boundaries and restrictive limitations were consumed by fire.
Joshua 1:5-7 tells us when this process is completed in us no one will be able to stand up against us all the days of our life. "As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. Be strong and very courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them."
The prophet Elijah did eight miracles in the wilderness with very limited contact with people. However, when the new order was established through Elisha the miracles doubled to sixteen and he interacted with the masses. Saul encountered a blinding light on the road to Damascus. When true vision came the scales fell off his eyes and transformation took place. No longer was he a Saul that persecuted the Church, but he became the Apostle Paul who defended the cause of Christ.
Fresh prophetic voices are arising out of their wilderness, burning-bush experiences. They have received bright revelation from encountering the plans and strategies of Heaven. Leaders with a renewed passion for Christ and extravagant devotion will release the work of His angelic spirits, His ministers of flaming fire in our lives.
The Fiery Furnace Will Fashion Us into the Image of Christ and Our Authority Will Increase as We Overcome
The fiery furnace in Daniel 3 will fashion us into the image of the "Fourth Man."
Furious with rage, Nebuchadnezzar summoned Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, "Is it true, you do not serve my gods or worship my image? Now, when you hear the sound of my music, fall down and worship what I have made. If you do not bow down and worship my image you will be thrown into the furnace. Then we will see if your god will be able to rescue you from my hand?"
The three replied to the king, "We do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. If we are thrown into the furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and He will rescue us from your hand. But even if He does not, and He requires us to walk with Him through the fire, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
This infuriated King Nebuchadnezzar and his attitude changed. He commanded the furnace heated seven times hotter. His strongest soldiers tied up Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego and threw them into the blazing furnace. The flames of the fire killed the soldiers as these three men, firmly tied, fell into the blistering, fiery furnace.
Then King Nebuchadnezzar leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his worldly advisers, "Weren't there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?" They replied, "Certainly, O king." He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods."
Nebuchadnezzar approached the open furnace and shouted, "Come out! Come here!" So Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego came out of the fire, and the governors and royal advisers crowded around them. They saw that the fire had not harmed their bodies, nor was a hair of their heads singed; their robes were not scorched, and there was no smell of fire on them.
"The God of Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego, sent His angel and rescued His servants! They trusted in Him and defied my command and were willing to give up their lives rather than serve or worship any god except their own God." Then the king promoted Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the province of Babylon. (Paraphrased)
No one likes to be thrown headlong into a fiery situation, but when difficulties, bondages or limitations are overcome, our influence and authority is increased. Once these three men walked through the fire, the image of the fourth Man was seared on them and world leaders gathered around to hear their wisdom and counsel.
God will keep us safe as we dwell in His presence. He will hide us from the days of trouble and exalt us over our enemies. We will rejoice for the days of testing, trouble, and trials because they perfect us as fine, pure gold. The favor of the Lord will rest upon His golden vessels and He will establish the works of our hands.
Sin, doubt and disobedience keep us from the promise of entering God's rest. When we rest in Christ He will find His resting place in us. It is the Christ in us that gives us power to demonstrate the "greater works" of the Gospel. New dimensions of faith and trust are being released.
God's Breath to you,
Barbie Breathitt
Breath of the Spirit Ministries
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