Firelight

Calling Captive and Wandering Sons to Return

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Sun, 07 Aug 2011 07:21:00 +0000

I have awaken this early Sunday morning at roughly 1:45am. Not able to return to sleep, I get up to spend time with the Lord. As I sit under the lamp at the end of the couch, my still-foggy mind is suddenly invaded with the faces of brothers in the Lord whom I have walked with over the years.

Many of these men I have served with closely. Many of these men I have not seen in a very long time. Some of these men I see from time to time, but I'm aware their relationship with the Lord is tepid. Regardless who they are, nor the length of days since we've spoken , every last one of these men are greatly treasured by me...largely because they are ALL vastly treasured by the Lord. These men are HIS SONS! They are an awesome treasure indeed! I have seen these men in the days of their valor; I have watched them serve others with heroic devotion; and I've witnessed them strive to do their utmost to please the Lord of all Glory.

And yet, in this early hour as I see them looking back at me (almost like a vision) as their faces pass before my eyes, I see a hollowness looking back from theirs. There is a look of bewilderment that clouds the faces that once shined with devotion. The faces of this magnificent company of brothers can only be described as having the look of prisoners of war staring shoulder-to-shoulder past the barbed wire feebly hoping to be delivered one day.

They are soldiers still but have been stripped of their weapons. They were seized in the very midst of battle and have now been dominated by their foe! They did not die in battle. They still awake every morning and dress for the day. They fall in to their ranks to show themselves present and accounted for. But they have no mission. These men I see do not awaken to a purpose larger than themselves but rather awaken with the anticipation just to survive their way through another day.

Not all are POWs. Some are MIAs. These men are the wanderers. They've not been sidelined by the enemy. Instead, these men "benched" themselves by disappearing. These brothers somehow lost their vision--blurred by battle--and were separated from their comrades. These guys know they're lost but don't know where they want to go nor realize how imperiled they really are!

I must be sincere. I am disturbed by the condition of all of these treasured men. Most of these brothers maintain a brave front that they are doing well though they struggle every day with the confines of their captivity or lostness of their confusion. Here is the scary part: these brothers are just glad they themselves are "holding up" and gage their own well-being by comparing themselves with the other POWs and MIAs around them! Why not? After all, they are so far removed from the troops on the front lines they've seemingly forgotten the adrenaline rush of engaging the enemy! More sadly, some brothers can no longer put on the brave front. They are succumbing to defeat and risk suffering a worse fate.

Let me step aside briefly from the military metaphor to speak plainly. I see Christian men all the time whom I personally know whom I can look into their eyes and discern their spirit because the fire in their eyes has largely gone out. For some, it is to a lesser degree than others but is not just a few but MOST! At other times, I need only listen to them speak. Jesus rightly said "from the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks." I simply listen to these men and they are unconsciously downloading their present heart-condition to me. Some of you men have even left your wives believing they were the problem when the problem was your heart! And you still have THAT with you! I can't over-emphasize how greatly distressed I am about the condition of God's men today.

And let me hasten to include Pastors in this concern. They are the men given the assignment of maintaining the condition of God's people and in many cases, I believe these men have either gone blind or gone AWOL. However, I am NOT laying blame on a single person. We must all work out our own salvation with fear and trembling.

That being said, here is the message I believe the Lord has put on my heart for these precious comrades (and it is not an easy one):

You are waiting for the day when your brothers-in-arms come marching across the field to tear open the gates for you or find you in a ravine somewhere. That day may come, but you will probably never see it till the war has come to an end. Putting all your hopes on that eventual day is taking the risk you will survive to ever see it. (Let me say plainly, here, I've already seen men I was certain would be survivors only to witness them fall by the wayside. So if you think you can tough out dilemma...think again.) OK, so here's the tough part, brother...and this is coming from an ex-POW...you must plot your own escape! You'd thought about a quick escape frequently when you first realized your were snagged. But others in your circumstances gave you false comfort by saying there was no way to escape. You just needed to ride it out till the war was over. I can assure you, the Lord takes no delight in you "riding it out."

So how do you shake yourself from your circumstances and catch a fresh vision of becoming once again who God designed you to be? How do you escape insipid existence when others around you say its pointless? Well, its NOT pointless. You were destined to stand shoulder to shoulder with the rest of God's mighty men. But escaping from your entrapment will take focus and determination. For one thing, you will have to turn a deaf ear to discouragement. In fact, you'll have to turn a deaf ear to a lot of things. There is more, but the REAL question now is "Are you even willing to be fully engaged as a son of God, again? Are you ready to seize a larger purpose, again?" The question must be asked because, truth be told, you just might prefer being where you are rather than being fully engaged.

If you are willing to plot your own escape, email me so I can notify you of my next posting about this. I want to help men who are ready for change and I just don't know of a more efficient way of reaching so many diverse brothers better than this without hitting men with emails they don't really want.

If you don't have my email address, leave a comment on the post. (Just make sure when you sign in, you check off that I can respond to you by email.)

Some email addresses of men I know are obsolete. So feel free to forward this to other brothers because we all kind of travel in the same circles.

Next time: RECONNAISSANCE Later: THE GREAT ESCAPE

The Glory of the Lord Fills the Earth

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 16:42:00 +0000

We're all familiar with Habakkuk 2:14 "The glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the water covers the sea." Only that's not exactly what it says. Here's how it reads, literally:

For the earth will be filled with the KNOWLEDGE of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea.

That SUBSTANTIALLY changes how we should comprehend what this verse is saying. We've always simply assumed that God would pour out His glory in a mighty end-time move. And in context this verse is, indeed, exclusive to the end-times. Verse 3 of that chapter sets the context for that:

For the revelation awaits an appointed time; it speaks of the end and it will not prove false. Though it linger, wait for it: it will certainly come and will not delay.

However, Hab 2:14 is not speaking of an end-time outpouring, but rather an end-time revelation! We should come to realize its not God's glory that would fill the earth in the last days...it is an international KNOWING (literally: to know, to perceive, to be skillful in) His glory.

We can be encouraged that our yearning to intimately know the Lord and His glory is not "our idea." Rather, it is a fulfillment of an ancient prophecy and evidence we are living in "the end." It is a revelation from God reserved for the end-times according to Habakkuk. This is the Lord's doing, not ours!

Returning to Our Journal

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 00:43:00 +0000

It has been quite some time since I logged a Firelight post. It was originally intended as an opportunity to log what God was saying during our prayer gatherings and for others to likewise express their thoughts through any comments. Since none ever took the opportunity to log their own thoughts or comments, I saw no reason to maintain it.

However, in recent months, the LORD has been drawing a number of us i

nto a fresh and rich depth of relationship with Him. So as to chronicle the baby steps we are taking into this seeming new frontier of relationship with Jesus, I am resurrecting this blog. I hope it serves as a point of reference for each of us as we engage in our exploration of intimacy with Jesus!

First let me establish that a few short weeks back, we began meeting each Thursday night for what we call "Fascinate." Inspired by having read "Gazing Into Glory" by Bruce Allen, we have chosen to encourage each other to learn to become more attuned to the reality of the spirit life than we have been up to this point in our lives.

So to digress a bit, I will post a bit about our Fascinate gathering of June 9. During our worship, Tonya Rainey watched Jesus go to each person in the room and recorded what He said concerning each one present:

Russell:

with great love in His voice, and smiling, the Lord looked at

Russ then looked at me and said, "I am his sufficiency." there was great weight to the word "am"

Jordan:

as He walked in front of Jordan, He began giggling. He seemed to enjoy Jordan. Then He sai

d, "We're walking together." There was a certainty in His voice.

Eileen:

with great affection, He placed His hand on her cheek, then looked at me and said, "She's precious to Me."

Pastor Don:

when He walked over to Pastor, He patted his shoulder a couple of times and said, with a smile, "That's My boy!" Then He

looked at me and said, "he's walking in a new light."

Will:

He walked over to Will and placed His hand on Will's chest. He looked at Will for a while, then he said to me, "I have much more in

store for him."

Jon:

When He got to Jon, He lifted Jon's chin so that Jon was looking strai

ght up at the Lord, and said to Jon, "Keep your eyes on Me. Don't look

to the left or the right." Then He looked at me and said, "I love this boy!" (there was great weight to th

e way He said that He loves Jon.)

David:

The Lord embraced him

in a hug. It was a chest to chest kind of hug and it lasted a while. As they embraced, I could see tha

t there was an exchange happening between the Lord & David....spirit to spirit....deep

to deep. I knew that whatever He was transferring from His Spirit to David's that great encouragement would be a result.

Jack:

He stood in front of Jack for a while, enjoying his worship. Then said, "he'll see things h

e never imagined he'd see."

Bev:

He waited a while before speaking about Bev. It seemed He had many things on His mind. Then He said, "she yearns....and she will be filled."

Now we come to this week's Firelight. We blended our weekly Fascinate gathering with our once-a-month Firelight meeting. The truly astounding aspect of the night was that we CLEARLY were enjoying a spirit of revelation from the very outset. A comment would lead to a realization which would, in turn, lead to an "aha moment." Then an observation would be made and someone would relate it to something said earlier. A scripture would come to mind followed by a thought, that related to a comment and it would connect to an earlier revelation.

This continued unbroken for three solid hours! It was almost as though we couldn't turn around without bumping into a "eureka" thought. We tried to start our worship time but it was almost as though we couldn't stop the stream of thought, scripture, postulations and what-about's. At some point Mike finally, almost unable to contain himself, remarked, "Man, Jack! I don't know what's going on here tonight, but you'll say something and it reminds me of a verse that I'll wonder where to find it and when I open my bible, THERE IT IS!" Then he added, "I can't tell you how many times that's happened tonight just the short while we've been in this room."

It was finally 9:30 when we BEGAN worship. But we were already saturated! Wanting to be mindful of the time, we wrapped up worship at 10 but then interpersonal ministry got started in obedience to the Holy Spirit's direction. We finally ended at 11:00. It was a truly remarkable evening.

In conclusion, I could sum up the theme of the night as revelation on God's BOUNDLESS expanse of all He wants to do in our lives. "New wineskins" was an underlying topic as was "repent" AKA "burn the house down!" The operative word for the night was "enlargement." Lord, give us a greater capacity for Your Presence!

LORD, Welcome to 2010

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Sun, 24 Jan 2010 03:15:00 +0000

Its been a very long time since I've posted anything to our Firelight site, but at this outset of 2010, I felt it important to log Friday night's prayer. You see, Friday night was our first gathering for the year and it was good see our regulars. But the tone of our gathering would prove to be different from others and there are two aspects of where the Holy Spirit took us in prayer that I felt must be conveyed here.

The first thing to note was that the Lord illustrated to us that the previous week or so was filled with His dealings in the affairs of men. Those events included the catastrophic earthquake that suddenly flattened Haiti in general and Port-au-Prince in particular. Suddenly personnel and resources had to be funneled by the nations to that tiny country in response to a shaking in the earth. Another shaking took place within days, but it was in the realm of US political affairs when Massachusetts shattered the hopes and delusions of liberal Democrats nationwide. In only a matter of days, that Senate race was upset by Scott Brown coming seemingly out of no where to seize the seat. The Democratic leadership were suddenly sent running for cover and have been visibly shaken by an event they can't explain.

Meanwhile, a shaking in the heavens over California--the home of drought and wildfires--produced four waves of powerful storms relentlessly dumping the kind of rainfall they haven't seen in years and creating floods and landslides. Finally, there was a mild shaking in the financial realm when the Dow Jones averages dropped 200 points after as the markets reacted to the President's warning he has decided to take aim on big banks.

All of this shows us how the LORD can suddenly and sovereignly create a shaking within the affairs of men and send them scrambling not unlike ants in a stirred anthill. We prayed as the Lord indicated the year ahead would be met with more of the kinds of "suddenlies" as we've found crammed into these brief, few days. We prayed this nation would recognize God's sovereignty and turn TO Him not from Him.

Then there is a second aspect of our evening I wanted to make known (there were many facets to our evening, not just two). It concerned our intercession for the Church in the Baton Rouge region. We implored that the fear of the Lord would manifest itself when various minister's meetings in the area are conducted. These would no longer be times to compare notes as to how many people various churches are running nor opportunities to commiserate over declining tithes and offerings but a time when pulpit ministers would weep over the flock of God and convulse over the tepid condition of the people of God.

We initially cried out for Jeremiah 3:15 shepherds for God's people in the Baton Rouge area. But then we had to backup a verse and realize God providing those kinds of godly men were contingent upon something. So, we prayed according to verses 13 and 14 that we, the Church, would recognize and repent of our own transgressions and discontinue folly. In discussing the scriptures we had been praying over, we noticed planted there was something we all needed to be prepared for. You see verse 14 reveals that God will "take you one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion." Zion is the presence of the Lord. As the Lord draws people into His very presence, it would mean separating people from each other and moving them around to places He was directing them to.

It can be very unsettling for us to see loved ones being moved around even when we know the hand of the Lord is in it all. But we understood this was part of His plan to reorganize His Church for His glory. It could mean redefining congregations and moving saints both out of as well as into our area.

But it was clear from how the Lord directed our prayers that we are to make His presence the goal of both ministers' meetings and congregational worship. It was a great way to step into 2010. Let's all press in to HIM!

The Real Jesus?

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Thu, 09 Apr 2009 13:58:00 +0000

I received this in an email recently. Since we are soon to commemorate the death, burial AND resurrection of Jesus, the Son of God, I thought this was fitting to pass along to you. Perhaps it will help each of us hold ourselves to a higher standard and greater faith.

Likewise, it might be a good time, say Friday night, to have a family communion service. If you have no family to do that with...why not do it as unto the Lord? I hope each of you have a safe and sacred weekend. Let it be more than eggs, baskets and candy.
God bless each of you!
Jack

There seems to be more than one Jesus to choose from these days.
Which one is the true Jesus and who am I following?

· There’s a ‘seeker friendly’ Jesus, he’s the one who will not
offend anyone in anyway. He loves everyone no mater what they do.
· There’s a ‘sow and reap’ Jesus, he made a covenant with man
so that man could sow his seed and reap wealth and happiness on
earth and then go to heaven when he dies.
· There’s a ‘blend in with the world’ Jesus, he wants us to look
like, act like, and be like the world in order to reach the lost.
· There’s a ‘neverending grace’ Jesus, his ‘grace’ covers us no
matter what we do or how we live.
· There’s a ‘just believe’ Jesus. As long as you truly believe
in your heart, you’re saved.
· There’s a ‘name it claim it’ Jesus. You name it; anything and
it’s yours! If you don’t get it, it’s because you lack faith. It’s your fault.
· There’s a ‘carnal’ Jesus. He doesn’t expect you to overcome
sin, he understands you’re just carnal.
· There’s a ‘heart dwelling’ Jesus. All you have to do is ask
him into your heart and voilà, he’s there. You’re going to heaven!

Truth:

There’s the Jesus who said “Repent and believe the gospel,
the kingdom of God is at hand.” -Mark 1:15
He said, “Deny yourself, take up your cross and follow Him.” -Lk 9:23-25
He said without Him you are already condemned. -John 3:18
He said He came to save the world -John 3:16
He said unless you forsake all you have, you cannot be His disciple.
-Luke 14:33
He said if we love anyone more than Him we are not worthy of Him.
-Matt 10:37-39
He said if you love this life you’ll lose it. -John 12:25-26
He said you cannot serve God and money. -Matt 6:24
He said fear God who can destroy both body and soul in hell. -Mt 10:28
He said be extreme in your war against sin. -Matt 18:8-9
He said love God with all your heart, soul and mind and your
neighbour as yourself. -Matt 22:37-39
He said He is the light of the world. –John 8:12
He said the gate is narrow and the way is difficult and few find it.
-Matt 7:13-14
He said those who believe in Him but work iniquity will be
cast out. -Matt 7:21-23
He said you’ll be hated for His name’s sake, but if you endure to
the end, you’ll be saved. -Matt 10:22
He said I am the way, the truth and the life. No one comes to
the Father but by Me. –John 14:6

Which Jesus do you serve?

I, the Sovereign Lord

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 03:00:00 +0000

Well, I have to say, Friday night's Firelight intercession was truly impressive! Typically, when we gather to appeal to the Lord to transform our local Church and make us able to show forth God's Kingdom, we usually arrive with no certain aspect in mind. But on this night, I arrived with a concern that our Church leaders needed a good dose of courage for the changes ahead.

The reason for that concern is that Christian leaders, in general, have counted upon political influence in Washington to influence the culture. Because we can now expect anti-Christian retribution from Washington, our leaders are going to find they can no longer afford to tow the party line, but will have to take a John the Baptist approach against a growing tide of wickedness. Being outspoken is not what our leaders are known for.

But then we went to prayer and had hardly begun to worship. Normally, a good portion of the start of our evening is spent in worship, but the Holy Spirit clearly had something to say. Worship had barely begun when prophetic prayer began to volley back and forth between Will and me. I can recall only once or twice in my entire life of that ever taking place and it went on non-stop for how long?--I don't know. It could have easily been 30 minutes or 45. All I know is that it was as though the Lord was "in the room" speaking to us and through us in one unbroken stream of thought. There was such a unity that several times, I knew the next thing the Lord was wanting to say and there would be Will proclaiming out the very thing--the very words--I knew were to be spoken!

Unfortunately, it was SO engaging, it wasn't possible to take notes of what the Spirit was saying as I normally do. Man! Was it POWERFUL! Our focus started as an appeal for courageous leaders, but immediately erupted into the Lord proclaiming His DOMINION, declaring that He rules with a rod of IRON, boasting that He LAUGHS at His enemies. Folks, it was the most amazing interweaving of scripture and prophecy extolling the Lord's unrivaled SUPREMACY in the earth. One prophetic proclamation gave way to the next and it was as though each one seemed larger than the prior one. What's more, He was throwing down the gauntlet for the Church to radically rise to the full stature of what she is called to be. It was like tag-team.

Writing this can in no way do any justice to the Lord driving home the fact that a magnificent, faith-filled Church is about to be revealed which will portray to the world the Lord's supremacy! What a glorious hour the Church is about to witness!

He Wins!

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Sat, 25 Oct 2008 03:06:00 +0000

This past month was our last time to meet in advance of the Presidential elections. I truly expected the evening would be one of serious warfare and declarations of God's Word. Instead, it was an evening of sweet worship and encouragement. But the evening was punctuated with one, bold prophetic utterance which seemed to settle any concerns we may have brought into the evening.

It went something like this: "Do I not hear the cries of My people calling out to Me for a righteous ruler? And you do well to do so, for do I not wish to intervene on your behalf? Have not your prayers and tears been heard in heaven? Indeed, I respond to your cry to me for righteousness. Therefore, I declare victory in this season! Look and you shall see it. It is right before you! I proclaim Myself King over your hearts if you will have Me! Are you not called to be to Me a nation of priests and prophets? Are you not to be to Me a people separated from amongst all the nations of the earth?

"Then I invite you to give your allegiance to Me and Me alone! Have I not demonstrated My devotion to you by My Blood shed to purchase you, My people? Have I not earned your devotion to Me by My sufferings for you and washing your sin from you? I present Myself before you as your King. Choose Me above all else," says the Lord, "Choose Me, for there is no other who will sustain you as I will. There is none who will defeat your enemies before you as will I! I declare My Sovereignty over all the earth. I welcome you into My Kingdom. My Kingdom shall prevail when all others will fall, for I am the King of kings and the Lord of lords and there is none like unto Me. I declare victory and My people who are Mine are with me in this hour!" says the Lord.

What an invitation! What an opportunity! Here we stand in a moment of history in which we determine if we ultimately pledge our allegiance to the flag or to the Lamb? This is not to diminish our dedication to make this free nation all it can be. Rather it is to be certain we do not pin our hopes on it!

This is an hour for extreme intercession for our land. Not since the very founding of this nation has so much been at stake! We stand to lose all the underpinnings this nation was established upon. There is a gross deception blanketing this nation. II Timothy 3:13 is clear, "But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived."

Perhaps you've seen the video the AFA has promoted. It was produced to encourage Catholic voters to take a moral stand in the upcoming elections, but I found very inspiring and extremely well done. To view it, paste the following into your browser:

http://www.onenewsnow.com/valuesvoters.aspx

Voices Like Silver Trumpets

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 15:50:00 +0000

At Firelight's prayer a couple of weeks ago, the conversation was then--as now--about the Wall Street failings which had just begun to implode that week. As we had already discussed on prior occasions, we recognized that we're living in the period Jesus referred to as birth pangs just prior to the Great Tribulation. How long that period will last is open to debate but the clear picture painted is that we can expect a series of succeeding events each more intense than the previous. These frustrating events are sent by God to condition us toward prayer, repentance, seeking Him, changing our perspective from things temporal to things eternal, etc.

Following is the journal of the evening, taken directly from my notes:

Hurricane Gustav was a dry run; a lesson in preparing for days coming which are defined by lack of the basic infrastructure of life which we take for granted.

Cried out for God's impassioned servants--even those marked as martyrs--to rise up; a generation unlike any previous generation. Called for a people who could lock eyes with God and not flinch (due to shame) but rather gaze upon His beauty.

Declared its not too late for our generation to make its mark. We repent of our excuses and wish to run this race. We would choose to be like Daniel and his three friends who would stand when others wouldn't; that we might be like Moses whose strength is unabated.

There is a grinding stone sharpening swords that is the Word being declared in razor-sharp clarity and with accuracy. Prophetic words will not be vague but sharp; precise. The sword will cut bands of discord and demolish yokes and cut through nonsense.

There is a changing of the guard underway in the Church. That new guard will bow to You Lord and no other. Their faces will be set like flint (not swayed by opinion nor giving ear to it).

Prayed for Governor Jindal to not be ashamed of the Gospel.

Repented of speaking critically of other pastors or ministries which are unlike where we ourselves attend or whom we prefer to listen to. Concerning the shaking of the financial markets, we repented of declaring judgment in the matter when our hearts should be declaring redemption. Its not about God's judgment but of His rescue. We ask forgiveness for forming coalitions, politically, with those who don't acknowledge You.

Remove mixture from our churches. Let out leaders discontinue being compromisers but be courageous; not lulling the flock to sleep but whose voices resound as clear as silver trumpets.

Prayed for the prophetic words to come forth with all the clarity of Samuel as demonstrated in I Sam 10:1-8

(For information on trumpets in the Bible, click here. Please note this will take you to a different website.)

Which is Coming: Judgment or Revival?

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 20:19:00 +0000

During last month's prayer, we pondered how different prophets seem to prophecy at odds with each other. Some are declaring the judgment of God looms over the United States and that, as a result, we could expect to see the last great revival to follow.

Others prophecy we are entering the Church's finest hour and the last great revival is about to break forth. They conclude that following that great in-gathering, judgment will begin to fall.

So which is it? Which prophets have the mind of the Lord? Are we on the verge of a great revival or a great judgment? Yet as we prayed, we listened to what the Holy Spirit was praying through us and received real clarity to this dilemma. We sensed that the great revival AND the falling judgments would actually take place at the same time! We were reminded that it was PRECISELY AS darkness covers the land that the light of the Church grows the brighter! The power of God is most evident where there is the greatest upheaval. Churches are far more consecrated where there are more martyrs. In the midst of the fire is where the gold is refined! It is in the flame where the wood, hay and stubble are burned up.

Two chapters that really spoke to us in our prayer were Jeremiah 7 and Ezekiel 14.

We acknowledged the guilt of the Church before God and that He is just to do whatever He chooses. The Church in America is without excuse. We were consoled by Romans 9:27. Clearly life in the Church will one day soon change. That life will be terrible and glorious. May the hearts of God's people be prepared for the Refiner's Fire.

Redeemer to a Holy Offspring.

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 16:17:00 +0000

This past Friday night's Firelight prayer was fascinating. The Holy Spirit's theme for the evening was a revelation of the Lord's character as the Redeemer. The various scriptures we received and the exhortations which came forth and the prophetic words declared reinforced that throughout the night.

The defining scripture portion for the evening seemed to have been Isaiah 53; the Messiah chapter. We all know it to accurately describe the life and ministry of Jesus, but it should be noted that does not at all depict the Royal Defender of the Covenant the Jews were awaiting. The Holy Spirit seemed to emphasize through the evening that it is completely consistent with God's nature to answer our prayers through unexpected means.

For example, we know He uses foolish things to confound the wise, so why are we always so surprised by the source of the answer? He chose little Bethlehem from among Israel's towns and cities. He used a shepherd boy against a giant, a Gideon's army against an invading force. He called order out of chaos, light out of darkness and gives beauty for ashes. And likewise this next, unparalleled, prophetic generation will arise from the midst of young men and women who bear little resemblance (in our way of thinking) to what heroes of faith look like!

The wayward appearance of the children from Christian homes is NOT AT ALL the end of the story! We are not to fear for their futures. The seed sown in their hearts--that imperishable Word of God--will surely spring up to be an abundant, fruit-bearing plant. Like their Lord which sprang from the root-stock of the tree of Jesse, this generation (even though the Church world be cut down to the root) will spring from that same living root.

It was truly an insightful and very encouraging time of prayer. Thanks to those of you who were able to attend.

Let us be careful to have eyes of faith to look beyond the self-evident into the eternal.

As a post-script, I came across a video called "The THUNDERING Song" which is an appeal for true prophets that I thought you might enjoy.

For those of you interested "TheCall DC" is August 16 with a pre-Call conference August 14-15.

My "Thanks!" to Mike Hebert who oversaw last month's Firelight while my family was in St. Louis.

Chuck Pierce's Word for the Next 40 Days

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 02:48:00 +0000

Chuck Pierce received the following prophecy on March 4th, 2008, and it is time to MARCH FORTH!
The Voice of Change is Stirring Us to Come UP from the Wilderness!
Dear Friends and Intercessors:
We are heading into two of the most rearranging, realigning months that we have ever known in the history of this generation. What occurs during these days will set a course for our lives and this nation. The Lord woke me at 1 o'clock on Tuesday morning, March 4th, 2008. As I walked into the bathroom I noticed a calligraphy verse: "Lean not on your own understanding." This verse lit up even though the light was not on in the bathroom. The verse became red and yellow like fire. When I went back in at 5 AM, I noticed that the verse was actually in navy blue!

I heard the Lord begin to say: "Lean not on your own understanding today. I am calling you to watch the way that begins to form! For I am forming and reforming the way for My people! Abrasive circumstances will increase over these next 40 days. Lean not on your own understanding. I will show you things that you do not know during this time. I will cause you to see the pattern that I am forming. Do not fall into an understanding of the past, even the past 40 years, for in the next 40 days I am producing a new time of understanding in My people. For My wisdom is not your wisdom. I am creating a fear and an awe of Me!

I will show you how evil is working. I will let you hear the voice of evil-- that voice that has been distracting, confronting, and taunting you. My cause will rise up in you. My words will form in your mouth. You will speak it to the atmosphere and the atmosphere around you will change.
I am forming a highway in your wilderness. It will not be made of shifting sand. The foundation for your future is being laid. I will cause you to see the land that will be made sure for you. Lean not on your own understanding. Allow these next 40 days to be that which will change the atmosphere from one of a mesmerizing force to the power of God in your midst.

Honor ME with a shout! Bless My Name. For My name is replacing the name of the enemy on the gates of entry into your future. Where the enemy had your gate blocked, I am now rising up to give you authority and entry into your new place!
Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Me and I will direct your path. Do not just look at your circumstances--do not lean on your own understanding! Keep your mind stayed upon Me. Do NOT allow your abilities to be your trust.

I will create a strong people that will rule in every sphere of authority. Spheres of authority will be rearranged in these next 40 days. The power of My words in your mouth will cause a breakthrough. Don't miss your window of opportunity or fail to recognize the catalyst I am creating for rearranged momentum. Receive an anointing to leap over the mountain that has been deceiving and intimidating you.

Don't be afraid of your storm this week, for I will reorder your way and will cause your times to be changed. I'll set you ahead of that which would overtake you and cause you to be overwhelmed. So don't fear the storm. Watch the rain and wind work to your benefit! Hear the keys shaking, for I am rattling the gates of hell. Decree the blockade that wouldn't open up and let you move forward, even in your emotions--is being unlocked and that you are now able to move forward.

Your path will become straight so that I might enter a new way. What is too high will come down and that which is too low will come up. I can bring the prideful into right order and bring the humble into a new place of seeking. I am creating a straight path for us to walk into the future. May you see the path on which I will lead you into the future. Allow Me to come into your midst and prepare a way through this wilderness and into your next place.

I control the end from the beginning. There is nothing that happens in the earth realm that is outside of MY dominion. Agree that My will will be done on earth as it is in Heaven this day. Look up and see Me as the King who reigns. See Heaven's highway forming in the earth realm around you. I am not asking you to go under, but to come up! Find the high way into the place that I have for you.

Hear My voice in the wilderness. Though you have been unsure of the way you are to go, today I am beginning to call you new and fresh. This is a time when you must not miss that window of momentum. Do not be content to only sit and be taught every day because teaching alone will not get you to your next place. You must have the anointing to leap over that mountain. My call is being extended from the heavenly realm.

War for the next 21 days to see My call come forth. Those that will hear the call that I have for them this hour know how to follow after the call that I am extending. This is not about a person you are following--but a call that I am placing to set a course for you out of one place and into another. Hear the call! My voice is entering into your valley and your wilderness and saying, 'Come up with Me!'

Now is the time of restructured vision. Now is the time of finding your place to stand on the land, a place that will not sink when you stand, a land that will not confuse or entrap you. Hear My voice in your wilderness. For in 40 days, I will begin to qualify those that have received and embraced My call!

Do not allow the enemy's voice to confuse you in the next few days. You will be accosted by the enemy three times to keep you from finding and standing firm on the highway that I am forming to bring you through and into your new! Watch carefully and know the different voices this hour. Voices will bring confusion into your atmosphere. In the midst of this time, you must know what you are to follow. This is a time when confusing voices over your financial state and the state of the world would create a disheartening emotion that would lead to fear.

I am the God of the gold and silver. I am the one who can shake loose new finances. I am the one who can cause things to be let go so you can move in and go through the gates I have for you. Do not let a narrow, high path in front of you seem to be too steep for you to climb. I am making a straight path and causing you to be directed in a new way these next 40 days.

You have never been this way before. Nations are hanging in the balance! My Kingdom government will now begin to rise up and form to influence the government of the earth. I am a God who creates a Highway that can only be seen by eyes who know My glory. You will know me as King and ruler. I confounded the gods of Egypt. I confounded the Roman Empire.

Let Me form the words in your mouth to confront those things that would keep you from finding the highway I have prepared in the wilderness. Only My voice can guide you through and to this narrow road! In the midst of these three confrontations, NOW I am forming the words for you to use to stop your enemy from overtaking you. This is a corporate call for My people to rise up. In this corporate call you must be a people who know how to confront the atmospheric war around you.

I am raising up an abrasive time that will provoke you and produce My jealousy in you so you rise up with a new war mantle against the forces of hell in your midst. I will raise the abrasion! I will provoke MY people to action. Wake from your slumber and stupor and hear Me now to come forth! Do not lean on your own understanding. Go with My flow and watch Me make a direct path. Watch Me cause a path to come into order.

Renew the foundation. I am ready to build again. I will begin to build your future. Activate that way that I am calling you. Do not fear going into the brush and the brambles to find the hidden treasure that you will use to build My altar this hour. Today I am activating you. The intensity of the time is now upon you. I am activating you and calling you to hear what is coming into your atmosphere. Be delivered from a deaf and dumb spirit that would keep you from speaking and hearing at the right time.

Rise up and create a path. Change an atmosphere and you will be able to take a stand in that land. Let Zion call forth. I am calling forth to Zion within you to rise up. Prepare for a quick change. Prepare for a quick change. Write the vision. Make it plain. Prepare for a quick change. I am calling for a new release of power over these 40 days. Do not lean on your own understanding. Go in My direction to create a power shift!"

Firelight Prayer Journal for 2/15/08

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 01:36:00 +0000

Prayer this past Friday night was truly special. There seemed to be a singular focus on interceding about those things that were on the heart of God. Though I didn’t take notes, I’ll try to include some of the things we felt impressed to pray about, though not in the order we received them.

As we were praying in the midst of the Louisiana Legislature’s Special Session on ethics reform we prayed for divine guidance for the legislators. We believed that raising ethical standards would be an indication that God would be raising moral standards in Louisiana culture as a parallel.

Likewise we prayed for Governor Jindal as he guides the state under godly influence. We noted that it was prophesied the eyes of the nation would be upon Louisiana to take the lead. Just that week the Governor was suggested as a possible nominee for Vice President of the US and the nation’s “next Ronald Reagan.” We thanked God that the news served as a token of greater things he had in store for Louisiana.

We prayed for those LSU students working toward a week of 24/7 prayer on the campus. Their efforts were absolutely pivotal in the move of God to be released in this region of Louisiana. We thanked God that by faith he was raising up more believers with heart to seek God and laying the groundwork for 24/7 prayer meetings all around the area. It was prophesied that God was in the process of lighting little “fires” across Louisiana (prayer meetings) and would later send a wind to cause those little fires to sweep the state. We prayed God would continue to bless and encourage all in Louisiana who were committing to deeper prayer. We asked the Lord to make the leaders of this new move toward 24/7 prayer to be courageous in the face of naysayers—men and women committed to what God set their hands to.

One of our members works at Parkview and considers the school her special project. We agreed with her that God would transform the school from whatever the community thinks it is (whether academic or athletic) but would instead be known as a school where the Spirit of God prevails over it all.

Another member brought a print-out of a prophetic word she received by email. The word was for Miami, Florida and Louisiana concerning unusually strong spring storms with resulting floodwaters. We prayed for God’s protection on our state.

While this doesn’t cover everything, it hopefully gives you a taste of some of what was prayed about.

Two Upcoming Prophetic Conferences in LA

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 04:00:00 +0000

I usually find out things like this too late. So, I wanted to pass this along to you:

There are two upcoming conferences in Louisiana which we wanted you to be aware of. You can also check for simialr conferences at any time by going to the website www.prayerfocusministries.com and clicking on the “Schedule” button.

Swiftfire Ministries International
Quantum Leap
Ray Huges, David Van Koevering, Sharnael Wolverton
Denham Springs, LA
February 21-23, 2008
www.swiftfire.org

IFL Northeast Regional Conference
Mobilizing the Army of God
Monroe, LA
February 15-16, 2008
More information: Contact CHatcher@pray4govt.org or
TTrahan@pray4govt.org

The Cry of a Nazirite

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Wed, 30 Jan 2008 06:59:00 +0000

It is God's heart to raise up in this generation men and women aflame with holy devotion to Him and His purposes. Tragically, the Church is bloated with sell-outs who are profiteers of the Gospel. She is drunk from the intoxication of a self-empowering, you-can-have-it-all, "Jesus wants you blessed" kind of Christianity. Compare that with the early Church Apostles who were martyred for their convictions rather than bend to popular culture.

Instead, the eyes of the Lord today roam "throughout the face of the earth seeking those whose hearts are completely His" (2 Chron 16:9). We have relied on church growth seminars, pollster prophets, business management training, success principles of franchise marketing, and mission statements with corporate branding to attempt to build 21st century churches. God is not mocked. He wants His people in our day to abandon our trust in chariots and horses and to radically and unashamedly put our trust in Him. We would be wise to seek out the ancient pathways.

Where are those who would pray and fast with a desparate longing for the living God to breathe upon His people again? When will we learn that it is not by might nor by power, but by His Spirit that the work of God will ever be accomplished? When will we die to the tinsel this world tantalizes us with and ache to instead see the hand of God touch the leprosy of our land?

In stark contrast to the marketing madness gripping our churches is the following poem--the heart of a young woman who yearns to see God call forth His Nazirites once again:

For Such a Time

I was fashioned for this day

I was born just for this hour

A day of revolution

An invasion of Your power

We're John the Baptist signals

Posted high up on a hill

Lifting trumpet voices

And doing all Your will

My heart was made for burning

My destiny extreme

Called to be a Nazirite

A faith and fire machine

I'm fasting in the desert

And making straight the path

Proclaiming by Your Spirit

"Mercy triumphs over wrath!"

I'm laying down my future

In worship at Your feet

I'm calling for revival

To fill our nation's streets

I'm lifing up my voice

To God who answers prayer

"make me the hinge of hist'ry!"

And He answers

"Become it if you dare!"

To see the Lamb exalted

And His reward secured

I'll live a life of sacrifice

And let His voice be heard

For such a time as this

And for this very hour

God's called a generation

To be channels of His power

John the Baptist company

With Elijah in their blood

Burning in the desert

So that God will send a flood

--by Sylvia M. Barnhart--

Do you still share her passion? Or is there no oil left in your lamp?

Intercession for Society: Friday, October 19

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 17:49:00 +0000

Here's our journal entry for our prayer meeting Friday night, October 19:

After a time of worship, the Lord challenged us through a brief prophetic word saying, "Get yourselvess ready, because I'm ready."

We turned our attention to Joel 2:18-32. It is promise in the last days of the Lord restoring what was lost as one aspect of his outpouring upon all flesh. If you're not familiar with it, it is worth reading (or re-reading). We observed that along with the revival God brings to His Church, He sends a restoration to society. In fact, there really is no true revival WITHOUT it spilling out into the marketplace and affecting society. Culture will either embrace it or spurn it, but it will not continue unaffected with business as usual. We interceded for society for change and a return to justice.

There was quite a bit of travail going on. Those who were doing so were exhorted to offer to the others some sense of why they were travailing. We encouraged clarification so that all present could appreciate that nature of intercession. Jeremiah 31:15-16 was offered; a calling for God's children to return to the Lord. Romans 8:18-22 was also suggested. Finally, Isaiah 42:14 was also considered. The context of Isaiah is that the Lord's sons and daughters are to refuse to be kept silenced, often the result of agreeing with surrounding culture or the majority mindset. No longer! Like a woman in childbirth we should warfare to declare the rejection of worldly influence and instead turn our hearts completely back to Him.

A word of encouragement then came forth, "God is going to do something good." Then a brief prophetic word, "The days ahead will be unsual. our lives will change, but it will be in Me. I'm coming soon." Then it was repeated for emphasis, "The days ahead will be unsual. our lives will change, but it will be in Me. I'm coming soon."

Still another prophetic word came: "You will work together. My spirit will come and say 'go together.' You will work together. I will send you on operations. And you will say, 'yes, I see it. I see it clearly.' And the Lord will say, 'get up and go.' And you will say, 'yes, I see it clearly.'"

One of the aching symptoms that the Church in our area desperately needs revival, is how barren our churches are of seeing people experiencing the New Birth. The Holy Spirit brought us to Isaiah 49:19-23. "Though you were ruined and made desolate and your land laid waste, now you will be too small for your people..." What an amazing turn-about! According to these verses, even those young new believers are going to feel overcrowded by each other. Further, God was going to use inflential people to come into the kindgom to help steward all of these new believers in their new life in Christ. So we interceded for an outpouring in culture in addition to praying for an outpouring in our churches. We prayed for the next day's elections as so many key state-wide offices were up for grabs. We noted that having the right leadership could foster the transformation in society God was wanting to produce. We also prayed for John and Joy Monger of Prayer Lake whose ministry reaches so many in the Body of Christ in our area.

As a final plea to the Lord for His Sovereign intervention, Jeremiah was 8:18-22 was read.

Burning Before His Throne

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Mon, 01 Oct 2007 14:29:00 +0000

Will LaPointe sent this brief article from the Elijah List website to be shared with all of you through our Firelight blog site. It tracks very closely to one of the things we prayed about at our last gathering. Wonderful! Thanks, Will! :

September 30, 2007

Bob Sorge:

"BURNING BEFORE HIS THRONE MEANS STANDING IN THE ALL-CONSUMING FIRE"

"His 'consuming fire' will burn away all from your life, until all that's left is love itself."

My prayer life was transformed when I discovered that prayer is the glorious adventure of an unfolding, growing, reciprocating relationship with the living God of the universe. Nothing excels the glory of burning with holy longing before a burning God who blazes with fiery passions for weak but lovesick worshipers.

I didn't stumble or wander accidentally into this discovery; it was a divine set-up. I was ambushed. In my case, a personal trial has been used by God to totally rewrite my spiritual DNA, redirect the course of my life, and bring me to the threshold of a relationship that I always longed for but didn't know how to find. The calamity made me absolutely desperate for God. I began to scour God's Word like a starving man trying to stay alive. It wasn't the fiery trial that changed me; it was the desperate pursuit of God in the trial that changed me.

There are two Scriptures that define my place before God in my present season. The first is Deuteronomy 10:8, "At that time the LORD separated the tribe of Levi to bear the ark of the covenant of the LORD, to stand before the LORD to minister to Him and to bless in His name, to this day." I now see my primary calling as being that of standing before God and ministering to Him. No great agenda, no mighty ambitions, no rush to move on to the next thing. I just stand before Him and love Him.

The second Scripture is Revelation 4:5, "Seven lamps of fire were burning before the throne, which are the seven Spirits of God." When I saw the phrase, "burning before the throne," my heart cried out, "Lord, I want those same words to characterize my life. I too want to stand before You and burn before Your throne!"

I have discovered who I am. I am a holy one (not because of who I am, but because of where I am) who stands before the throne of The Holy One, gazes upon His beauty and majesty, the fire that flows from His throne (see Daniel 7:10) flowing into my heart, setting me ablaze with the same fiery passions that kindle God's heart, and now my love flows back to Him like a volcanic eruption as my heart responds to the love He is now igniting in my heart (see Romans 5:5).

I will burn before Him for eternity. I will always stand here. By His grace, I shall never be moved. May nothing of this world or of hell's assault ever deter me from this holy stand before His throne. I've tasted of the ultimate privilege of burning before His throne, and I'm ruined for anything less.

Simply Stand

There are seasons when God calls us to simply stand. We might prefer the adrenalin of chasing down a great cause, but sometimes God calls us to stop all activity and just stand. Sometimes He gives us no choice. Occasionally, circumstances will constrain us beyond our ability to steer a different course, and we become prisoners to the chains that bind us to God's will. Incapable of extricating ourselves and moving on to the next thing, all we can do is stand and burn in holy love for our King.

It is commonly said, "Don't just stand there, do something!" When circumstances in our lives are careening out of control, the great temptation--when you don't know what to do--is to do something. "God can't steer a stationary vehicle," they say, "So start moving out on something, and let God direct your course."

That may be the way to go in some situations, but the Lord has been leading me in a different path. He inverted that common saying and gave it to me this way, "Don't just do something, stand there!" It came like this: "When you don't know what to do, don't just do something! Wait on Me, stand before Me, minister to Me, until. Until I speak. When I speak to you, then you can move out in response. But until I speak, just stand there."

I've been gripped recently by the phrase, "the fire never says, 'Enough!'" (Proverbs 30:16). There is a fire in God that is never satisfied; and there's a fire in me, placed there by God, that is never satisfied. The fire in me is constantly reaching out for more of God; and the fire in Him responds by desiring more of me in return. Eternity will be the unending adventure of ever giving more of our hearts in fiery love to Him, as He eternally unfolds more of His glorious beauty to us.

Do something dangerous. Get alone with God! His "consuming fire" will burn away all from your life, until all that's left is love itself. This is our God, "Who makes...His ministers a flame of fire" (Hebrews 1:7).

He'll make you one, too, if you'll let Him.

Bob SorgeOasis House MinistriesEmail: oasisdesk@aol.com

Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,Albany, OR 97321
http://www.elijahlist.com/
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

Prayer Journal: Friday, September 21

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Sat, 22 Sep 2007 19:49:00 +0000

Following are the notes taken from our prayer meeting last night:

Prophetic intercession: The Church does not need to be afraid of the fire of God, but instead we should run into it. He will make Himself known to us and be with us in the fiery furnace.

Revelation 5:11-14 was read by one and later in the evening confirmed by another.

Prophetic word: The Bride of Christ was to cease feasting on “junk” food, instead of the pure food which is the Word of God. Follow-up prayer: Help us, Lord to eat food from the King’s table and to discern the difference between “food” which is clean from that which is unclean.

Scripture reading: Jeremiah 2:13 was read and then prayed a prayer of repentance that as a Church, we’ve committed two evils in turning aside from the simple truth of God’s Word and the message of repentance and the cross and in exchange, dug for ourselves cisterns to hold stagnant, dead water which can never sustain us. Another prayed that we return and dig up the wells that the enemy had filled up and we would restore those wells until none are left unstopped.

Observation made: Some would ask, “Where is the God of Elijah?” but the real question is, “Where are the Elijah’s of God?” Follow-up prayer: Lord, raise them up!

Repentance: A pastor in our meeting stood in proxy for ministers in general repenting for turning aside from being the clear voice of God in the earth and succumbing to seeking the approval of men instead. His presenting himself in this way was confirmed by another member.

Scripture reading: John 7:37, 38 was read and then a follow-up prayer: Lord, let your pure Word dwell in us and may it flow out of your people to the lost.

Scripture reading: Isaiah 54:7, 8

In a reference back to the earlier Jeremiah 2 prayers, a brief vision was shared. Big name preachers had huge wads of money caught in their throats and it was choking them. A large hand (God) was stretching every neck and wringing the money out of each throat, forcing them to regurgitate it so as to disperse those funds to ministries which would be faithful to put it to the uses the Lord intended. It was very painful to the “hot shot” preachers but it would save them ultimately from death and likewise be a blessing to those who would rightly put those offerings to kingdom use.

Another shared that it as though the Church is about to be resurrected, but with that, we must also be loosed from the grave clothes which will restrain us unless they are loosed.

Someone else had a vision of two men who represented pastors. They stood back to back with each other, possibly one protecting the other. A golden thread began to encircle them which at first appeared to be a good thing but later, as the thread continued wrapping them, proved to have them so bound so as to be unable to move! God’s Spirit intended to have them free, yet their freedom was turned to bondage. (The meaning was not quite apparent, however, perhaps it was a picture of ministries protecting each other from outside forces. That is good until ministries try to shield each other from God’s probing.)

Scripture reading: Proverbs 13:12: Follow-up prayer: For too long, the Church as been weighed down waiting for the day the Lord would have His way in the earth. However, now, Lord, let this be the hour when you no longer restrain yourself, but show forth your glory in the earth.

Scripture reading: Jeremiah 12:5: We are to be prepared for the hour we’re coming into.

Prayer: That we would be bearers of Your glory in the earth. Cleanse us for that purpose.

Is A Stirring Going On?

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Mon, 17 Sep 2007 19:24:00 +0000

Last week, I was talking with a friend of mine and conversation soon turned toward spiritual matters. I don’t even recall what the phone call was originally about. But soon, Andy was commenting how relieved he was to report that it seemed to him that God has suddenly begun to move in church services in our area. I was all ears!

You see, he and I had talked in times past of how stale most church services seemed to be regardless of which church one considered. While some preachers are more entertaining than others, that’s not the same as having God magnified in a service. Andy said, “Boy it seems like, here lately, everyone I talk to has mentioned that God seems to be stirring at their churches.” Hmm.

“About how long would you say this stirring of God’s Spirit has been going on?” I asked him. “Well,” he pondered, “I’d say about a month or so.” Excitedly, I told him that’s exactly when I noticed at our own church that things seemed to be changing. I told him that I am convinced that something broke in our nation on 7/7/07 at The Call, and additionally that I was part of a prayer meeting that has met a few times since them praying for God to transform area churches.

But I MUST report that we had a truly sovereign service Sunday morning! Not long after our communion service but before our worship service had ended, the atmosphere seemed to turn to a real reverence of the Lord. Just then, a godly woman from our congregation began to weep aloud while speaking prophetically in tongues. That, in and of itself, is highly unusual to have happen. Another woman began travailing in prayer. A few were already prostrate before the Lord. Soon, Pastor brought the interpretation. It was a call to lay “self” down and pursue the Lord. Pastor then opened the altars for any to respond as they felt prompted. Immediately, not less than 85% of the congregation had filled the front of the church! But more amazing still was that there were as many flat on their faces as were kneeling with faces to the ground. But EVERYONE in the house seemed to be desperately seeking God! The fear of the Lord seemed to be evident in the sanctuary. It was truly a holy hour!

There was no preaching and people were free to linger as long as they wished.

I hope you’re seeing a stirring where you are. Let’s continue to press in and believe God to transform the churches in our part of Louisiana! God’s people are so hungry for His sovereign move and He is so desiring to flood our lives with His transforming grace!

Lou Engles' Call to Repentance

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 13:52:00 +0000

In preparing for The Call: Nashville, Lou Engles provided some vision for the condition of the Church in America, the source of that condition, and how he believes we as the Church might pray to truly turn back to the LORD. Below are portions of what was found at his website for "The Call." It is provided here, in a condensed form, in hopes that it might be instructive to our prayers for the Church in our area:

"Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord...he who has clean hands and a pure heart," Psalm 24:3-4. The hill of Lord is the place of the throne, and the place of spiritual authority. Only those who have clean hands and a pure heart can stand on that hill and exercise that authority.

Revelation 2:18-23 and 26 says, "And to the angel of the Church in Thyatira write, 'These things says the Son of God, who has eyes like a flame of fire, and His feet like fine brass: "I know your works, love, service, faith, and your patience; and as for your works, the last are more than the first. Nevertheless I have a few things against you, because you allow that woman Jezebel, who calls herself a prophetess, to teach and seduce My servants to commit immorality and eat things sacrificed to idols.
And I gave her time to repent of her immorality, and she did not repent. Indeed I will cast her into a sickbed, and those who commit adultery with her into great tribulation, unless they repent of their deeds. I will kill her children with death, and all the Churches shall know that I am He who searches the minds and hearts. And I will give to each one of you according to your works."

Verse 26, "And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations". It is only when the Church is found faithful in moral purity to her bridegroom, God, that she can gain spiritual authority over nations.

The Church cannot bind the spirit of Jezebel dominating the nation if the spirit of Jezebel binds the Church. Only to those who have overcome this spirit, the Scripture says, will be given authority over the nations.

(From a dream Lou Engles had)…"Neither you nor the Church of America has any power to awaken this nation or Bill Clinton because it sleeps in the same bed!"

The dream and the Scripture confirm each other. The Church cannot bind the spirit of Jezebel dominating the nation if the spirit of Jezebel binds the Church. Only to those who have overcome this spirit, the Scripture says, will be given authority over the nations.

This truth makes the present moment with fallen leaders more profound and pronounced. I am not pointing the finger at a fallen brother. I mourn for any of them and for my generation that has been assaulted with the spirit of Jezebel and lives under the shame of their bondage, which defiles imaginations and causes nightmarish inward moral battles. Maybe all our leaders who have fallen are a sign and a symbol of the whole Church of the nation. From the head to the feet we are sick, bruised, and beaten up, and we are being exposed publicly.

Hosea 2:10 says, "Now I will uncover her lewdness in the sight of her lovers..." We are like eunuchs in Jezebel's palace whimpering our prayers, and even with our great churches and powerful spiritual programs, the nation remains unchanged. More than all this, we have crushed the Lord's heart with our spiritual adultery, we have left our first Love, and have gone after our Baals as in the time of Jezebel. But I believe that God wants to allure us into the wilderness and speak tenderly to us and make this Valley of Achor (the place of exposure of hidden sin) a door of hope. "In that day...you will call Me 'My Husband,' and no longer call Me, 'My Master'" (see Hosea 2:14-16).

I believe that in this moment in time, if we respond in repentance, we could release the greatest revival of confession of sin and a cleansing by the blood of Jesus that could draw us back into marital faithfulness with our Bridegroom, God. I believe a great spiritual awakening could be at hand which could even affect the elections of 2008 and overthrow Jezebel's death-march in this nation.

Night Watches in Louisiana

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 02:12:00 +0000

I was contacted yesterday by Roger & Charlotte Merschbrock, Apostolic Coordinators with LAGAPN (Louisiana Global Apostolic Prayer Network). I agreed to be put on their email list. They try to maintain contact with groups involved in intercession. The following was included in today's newsletter that I thought I'd pass along:

We are beginning to receive words about “Night Watches” that are coming forth. We will be helping to facilitate Night Watches in Louisiana by connecting with the various corporate watches, giving and receiving revelation and information, and releasing that information to the rest of the state. If you are beginning a corporate night watch in your area, we would like to know about it; if you need more information about night watches, please don’t hesitate to email us at pray@prayerfocusministries.com. For those of you in the Baton Rouge area, New Life Church, Pastors David & Terry Ellis are beginning a First Friday of the Month Watch at their church from 6:00 PM to 12:00 AM on Sept. 7th. For directions to their church go to their website: http://www.newlifechurchofbr.org/

Praying Isaiah 30

noreply@blogger.com (Jack Ortego) — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 04:07:00 +0000

At our first meeting, and then again at our most recent, the Holy Spirit directed us to Isaiah 30. I was meditating on it this morning and was struck by how sobering it was. So much could be said about this chapter, and indeed the succeeding 5 chapters, but my focus started at verse 18.

It reads, Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; he rises to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! To which we might respond, "Yes Lord, that's what we want to hear." It continues in v19 in a much similar tone: O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious he will be when you cry for help! As soon as he hears, he will answer you. Isn't that what we want to know? Isn't that praiseworthy? We like to camp a while at such scriptures.

But it is the next verse that is so crucial. We are almost amazed to read at v20, which begins: Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction... what's that? While we may find it to be out of character for the Lord to put us on a diet of adversity and affliction, it isn't. Why would "the good Lord" want to do a thing like that to us? What did he just now get through saying? Well, we shouldn't be so surprised. It is very much like him to do such a thing. It is part of his process for bringing much needed discipline into our lives. It is the process by which he turns flabby into fit, wishful into watchful, victims into victors, and wimps into warriors.

Verse 20 continues magnificently (as in the NASB), ...He, your Teacher will no longer hide Himself, but your eyes will behold your Teacher. Wow! Isn't that powerful?! Saints, when your find yourself on a diet of adversity and affliction, LOOK UP, open your eyes! You are about to behold the LORD your Redeemer in a whole new light and with fresh love and appreciation!

And in that refinded condition, v21 tells us Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying,"This is the way; walk in it." Nothing is so precious as divine direction--especially when you really don't know where you're going. Notice that regardless of what path we might be taking at the time, in that refined, disciplined condition, we'll hear that clear, unmistakable voice of the Lord directing us how to make the correct course adjustment.

Finally, here's what the Lord instructs us we'll be able to do as a result. And this next verse is precisely where God gave us laser focus at our last prayer meeting. V22: Then you will defile your idols overlaid with silver and your images covered with gold; you will throw them away like a menstural cloth and say to them, "Away with you!" Now if you don't realize it already, we have idols in our lives that need to be thrown out! God said so then and he is saying so ever so forcefully, "Church! Remove the idols from your lives and worship him and him alone!" It is perhaps the clarion call of the hour for the Church. We have adapted so much of the world into our worship and church government that we can hardly recognize a church service from an Amway meeting. We've preached success principles over sanctification. We're familiar with wholistic, but not holiness. We've elevated superstars rather than servants.

And idolatry has filled the house. But these verses tell me that all of the discipline and chastening the Lord has been dishing out to so many of his choicest saints has been with a divine purpose. He has been readying us to clean out all of our idols--to throw them out like "a menstrual cloth" (can it get any clearer than that?) and to embrace him above all else!

Its time for the Church to clean house!!