Impartation

“I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now I am sure dwells in you as well. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”  2 Timothy 1: 5-7.

When I read this passage I knew that there was treasure in it that could change my life! I read it over and over again, and finally, the Holy Spirit revealed its meaning to me.

It says that there was a faith that the grandmother, and mother had, and now Timothy has. There is an inheritance of faith being passed down through the generations of this family.

We were created for family. God intended for us to recieve an inheritance from our parents, grandparents, and ancestors (for example Abraham).  But family has been attacked by the enemy, and it is more rare to find a rich inheritance of faith passed down from generation to generation. Rather we see the sins of our fathers and mothers past down; we recieve inheritances of fear instead of faith. But God  is restoring the hearts of sons and daughters to fathers and mothers.

Many believers don’t have a rich inheritance of faith from their parents, and this is why God has given us spiritual mothers and fathers. He wants us to recieve the inheritance of faith that they have.

At Bethel, my spiritual mothers and fathers here constantly say, “I give you freely everything God has given me. I want you to go further than I did. I want my ceiling to be your floor.” We recieve the free gifts of God through faith, grace, and God’s love being poured into us through the Holy spirit.

The bottom line is this: The kingdom of God doesn’t consist of striving and earning, but recieving through faith the gifts of God! And as Paul writes in 2 Timothy, we recieve gifts of God through our spiritual fathers and mothers laying hands on us, and giving us what they have been given. And it is our responsibility to fan into flame the gifts of God we are given through impartation.

I had this revelation on Thursday. That night my Californian Mom and Dad, Ernest and Abby were over. I felt like I was to ask for them to give me a gift as a father and mother. Abby starts praying for me, and she imparts strength that comes from the Holy Spirit, and within moments I have collapsed to the ground. She continues to give what she has to me, and I start laughing like crazy. As i laughed, I felt the Holy Spirit strengthen me.  I woke up the next day feeling more secure, safe, and emotionally and spiritually stronger than ever before.

At school on Friday, I was meditating on the verse, and hoping that Bill would impart things to us. And the next minute Bill says, ” There is a strong annointing right now for impartation”, and about half the students flood the stage and sat under his feet, ready to recieve. We were sitting on the stage, recieving from the Lord, and then everyone started worshiping the Lord, singing in the spirit. It sounded angelic, it was like we were in a cathedral singing with angels! After worshiping for awhile, Bill had all 800 students line up to recieve impartation.

We all line up, and everyone is recieving from the Lord like crazy. Bill Johnson and all of our revival group leaders were lined up in a tunnel, and we walked through them as they laid their hands on us, imparting gifts to us.

The second I walked through that tunnel, I lost control of my body. God’s presence was so thick on me that my body could not contain it! I was falling over, shaking all over the place! It was like nothing I had ever experienced before. I could not stop it if i wanted to! I continued to walk through to the outside door, and the whole time I could not control my body, but it was so fun! God was giving me so much of his goodness! Everytime I would open my eyes, I would lay my hands on people, and give them what I was recieving, and my body would become even more out of control!

There was one point that i couldn’t for the life of me get off the ground. It was hilarious! My roomates had to carry me. All i know is that my spiritual fathers and mothers imparted to me some amazing things! I encountered the power of God more than I ever have before! it was incredible! I know that I’ll never be the same. Impartation is powerful. Now, I am responsible to kindle the fire that was lit, and to fan the flame  in a love relationship with God.

rags to royalty

 

“my child, you have always been with me, and all that is mine is yours. “  luke15:25

i asked Jesus- “bring me to the father! i want to know the father!” And after I asked that, I saw a picture of the Father weeping, holding me in his arms.

Then i saw a picture of myself, a servant girl (exactly like danielle in the movie Ever After). I had been a servant for many years in my Father’s house, tending the fields. I enjoyed it because it was all I knew. I enjoyed the simple things like picking apples off the tree, and making the best of my servant quarters. I made the best of my poverty.  But i was tired and starved for love. I had no idea that i was serving in my father’s fields. I thought i was serving a hard hearted master, earning my way and keep. I was surviving, not knowing that i was on my father’s property.

Finally, I discovered that i was working under my Father. My kind father. I ran to him from the fields, dusty, dirty, tired, and broken. He was waiting for me! My papa was waiting so long for me to come into his home. He held me, weeping for a long time. He wept for sadness of the time that he missed me, and for joy that i had returned to him. it was so precious.

Then he sent me in for a bath, and i was made clean. And for my dirty rags, he gave me a long dress of fine material, with every color you can imagine. He put a royal cape on my shoulders, a crown on my head, and jeweled slippers on my feet. I was crying the whole time for joy that he would honor and love me so well.   I heard him say ” You are done working. Never again will you return to the fields. You are home now.”

a testimony of provision

At Bethel School of Ministry, in Redding California…
Moving here was the biggest leap of faith i have ever taken! I had hardly any money, self confidence, or idea of what was to come. All i knew was that I wanted more of God, and that I felt he was calling me to Bethel School. To be honest, I made this leap of faith while being freaking afraid! And most of it was a fear of not being provided for!

Though I was fearful, the Lord has been faithful to show me how to trust him and let go of my fear bit by bit. The day I moved to Redding I had community–9 other room mates, a family that adopted me as their spiritual daughter, and an amazing revival group, and leader that has walked in the things I am desiring for my life. God has provided for me!
I searched all over Redding for a job. The job market here is pretty tough, and most people here have a pretty tough time finding work. Every time I prayed about a job, I saw myself making coffee! But none of the coffee shops were hiring! I got really desperate and started applying at every place i could think of, including Mcdonald’s and creepy gas stations! Not hiring! And finally, I applied to this job that seemed way out of my league and experience, and I was hired! HALLELUJAH!

I am working for a bakery and café called “From the Hearth”. Until the Café opens in mid January, I will be working as private contractor creating a menu , training manuals for both food and coffee, and finding the best deals on coffee equipment, coffee beans, and dinnerware. I will have more responsibility than i have ever had before!
When being interviewed, I discovered that both the owner and manager go to Bethel Church, have a heart for missions, house churches, the kingdom coming through business, discipleship through business, and business opening up doors all over the world! The owner just moved here from Hawaii where he and his family were planting churches to reach the lost! And my manager just moved here after serving 15 years on the mission field! Can you believe it?! These people have a passion for the same things i do!

[Back track a bit: This August I realized something-I want to do something I love, that is practical, that will make me money and bring the kingdom. When thinking about that I realized: I love coffee! I would love to open up a coffee shop! I would love to be equipped in how to start and run a business.]

My first week of school a student prophesied over me that God was bringing me into a drastically new realm of influence, and that I didn’t need to be afraid for lack of experience, because he would equip me!

God gave me incredible favor and has chosen me for this position! I have love for cooking, baking, and coffee, but I have no experience in the management or pioneering side of business. But I have been blessed with the opportunity to do this! My boss told me this: “ we believe that you have a good amount of experience, but that is not what has qualified you for this position. You are qualified because God has called you. And he is investing in you, and saying that you have what it takes.” My managers focus on doing everything out of love for Jesus. They want all that we do to be out of a place of the rest and peace of God’s presence. The purpose of this new business is to love people and to give to the city of Redding. They have a heart for everyone who works at this café to be family and to see the people who come into the store encounter the love of God.

This job and opportunity is almost too good for me to believe! I feel so honored that God would choose me, and that people would believe in me for something so big! Pray that I abide in Jesus for this work, because I cannot do it without him! Pray that through this many would have encounters with Jesus! And that God would equip me to start my own business one day! Receive this a testimony of God choosing us and giving us more than we could dream of!

nepal 2009 pictures!

check out more pictures from my trip by clicking on the link below!

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2042036&id=1442820127&l=c11b44f2b7

god’s kindness to me! asika and syoin!

Syoin and Asika! we love them so much! they welcomed us with hugs, kisses, and laughs! they danced with us, sang with us, and helped us deal with culture shock!

from village to village

in every village we went to nearly every person invited Jesus to change their lives.

We went from village to village: about 3-4 villages a day. it was always the same. We sang and danced, and Jesus broke the chains! people recieved Jesus with eagerness and joy! there was an almost unbelievable move of the spirit! His glory came down! darkness fled at the name of Jesus, and the King established his throne in the places we went. the atmosphere of each village changed dramatically: instead of hopelessness, there was hope! instead of sadness, joy! freedom came through the spirit of Jesus. we could feel and see the victory of Jesus in the people’s hearts and faces! they were forever changed, and Jesus will finish the good work that he started! Hallelujah! all praise and glory be to the king!

what a ripe harvest!!!

nepali believers

We trekked in the middle of the night for 3-4 hours, seeking out an isolated village. The sillouette of the mountains in the moon light was beautiful! we saw distant lights of lamps in villages… we were a little lost until we saw a far flashlight waving in the air. we followed the light, and made it safely.  We were greated with hospitality and wonder. The people had never seen a white person before, so we were stared at for days! the smell of jasmine filled the air as we walked down the mountain.

these people had never met white people before! they had recieved Jesus and were walking with him before a caucasian ever talked to them! praise God for indigenous people making disciples!

These people were following Jesus because he came to them! he spoke to them through other Nepali believers. the church of Nepal has and is making disciples! the kingdom is coming through indigenous believers.

Children

We shared the gospel with hundreds of children, and they recieved the gospel with joy!

leaving on Sunday!

So my friend morgan had a vision of me in nepal, and i think it applies to my whole team. She said, ” i feel like you are a free person…but always wanting more freedom than you have, which is good… but i feel like God is saying that YOU ARE FREE! and that when you give freedom to people, you will experience more freedom with them. i see you walking up a hill with a line of girls… they are walking in a straight line, all with chains tying them together. you get up to the top of the hill… and start speaking crazily… (don’t know what this means) maybe full of the spirit. and then you lift up your hands and karate chop the chains off of the girls… they are so happy and experience freedom! you raise your hands laughing in joy and freedom!” i think this is so true for our team!!! i know i feel like i am not ready…. but God is saying YOU ARE!!! he has more freedom and love and joy for us! and we will witness him give these things to the people we encounter. i really feel unprepared… but last night i felt like God was saying that he is going to really show me that it is HIS POWER! not me mustering something up or making something happen! IT IS HIS POWER! IN US! JESUS CHRIST IN US.. THE HOPE OF GLORY. so i am expectant to see his power and salvation come. this is who he is! he is powerful savior. compassionate healer. giver of strength and joy! i expect these things. i expect to be blown away! just because of who he is! that we say yes jesus! and he sends a mighty wind of his power through the land! -megan elizabeth