atmosphere

In order to have the intensity of the Atmosphere of Heaven that the Father desires to manifest upon the earth will require sacrifice. It will require us lying down rote traditions, a dying of self-promotion and our preferences.

In order for us to walk in the “power of the age to come” spoken of in Hebrews 6:5, it will require a dying to self. Apostle Paul said he died daily. I do not believe that meant that he died by saying “No” to a Hershey bar. He said “No” to his right to be right. He said “No” to his own opinions. He died daily by putting the will of the Father above his own will.

This may mean if someone has come against you, Holy Spirit may direct you to bless them. He has had me do this by sending flowers to two friends who betrayed me. Was it easy? It was not, but I knew that I knew that I was instructed to do it. The Lord said when they reached out their hand to take the flowers from the delivery, Holy Spirit would convict them so as to restore relationship. At that time, they would be given grace to reconcile and if they did not, I was released from trying to reconcile the relationships. The Father always desires reconciliation. Sadly, they did not happen.

Another way we die to self is being a servant. Not being a servant to one who can give you a leg up, but being a servant to those who cannot give you anything in return. The Father is looking at heart motives!

You see, Heaven must have us before we can have Heaven! Jesus said the devil had nothing in Him. Can we say the same? I know I’m not there yet, but I am pressing in daily for Him to reveal to me what is in my heart that is not like Him. It is Christ in us – possessing us – which is the hope of glory.

It will not be getting the man of the hour to preach and release their anointing. Although that has been good, we have entered a new era. It is where we will experience the anointing and the glory! This is where it is all God – all Him moving in our midst. I do not desire to have meetings where people walk away saying “Wasn’t the worship good? Wasn’t the preacher on fire?” NO, I want us to walk away from a meeting with the fire upon each of us that we become as living burning beings where the world turns aside to ask “What is it about you?” Where there will be a glow about us to the extent where even our shadow will heal those who are sick as we walk by. This is the Atmosphere of Heaven that I am after. This is where God’s Kingdom rules and the deaf will speak; lame will walk and the blind shall see!

What is the atmosphere of Heaven and how to do we draw that realm into this realm? When I began my ministry about 17 years ago, I desired to create a place where the atmosphere was conducive to Holy Spirit. You see, it doesn’t matter if it is a church meeting or your quite time in your home reading the Word and Jesus – the focus has to be on Him, not our favorite worship song, not our favorite preacher, but Jesus Himself!

For too long, we have tried to fulfill the second commandment before fulfilling the first commandment. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.

“This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ Matthew 22:36-40.

Anything less than fulfilling the first commandment is dead works. When you have the first commandment, then it is out of a transformed heart and out of the abundance of His love, out of a heart of wholeness – then we speak and then we act. The only works that will be rewarded in Heaven will be ones with the fruit of Heaven upon them. All other works will be burned as wood, hay and stubble.

“Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done”, but “If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone’s work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire” 1 Corinthians 3:12-14.

This does not mean we will not get to Heaven; we will, but if the motivation is for ourselves, even though we say it is for God, whether in word, deed or song; if we are doing it to be seen, then we have all the reward that we will receive….the reward or approval of man. If we say one thing but live another way, we are not glorifying the Father. All the works we do for selfish motives, to be seen and desire the accolades of man, then whatever we have done is all for nothing. It will be burnt up and be as smoke on that Day.

So again I ask, what is the atmosphere of Heaven and how do we create it?

1) It is an atmosphere of worship – true worship. This is where all focus is upon the King of Glory, the Lord of Lords and the Lord of Lords; the Lamb that was slain before the foundation of the world. True spirit and truth worship is where everything must bow to His magnificent presence. A lot of the worship that we do is loving our favorite artist, or favorite song or our favorite beat. Anointed musicians point us to Him and lead us to the throne of God.

~~to be continued