March 2014
 Jim Wies currently serves as the lead pastor at the Maricopa Campus of Church for the Nations and an itinerate prophetic and teaching ministry. His ministry includes teaching and activation on a number of topics such as personal prophecy, revelatory gifts, healing seminars, ministry training and leadership training.As an author he has written “See Jesus” and “The Advancing Kingdom”.So many in the body are hungry for “more!” More of God. More for God. More with God. It has been the cry of the heart of so many for so long. In this month’s devotional and prayer directive, Jim Wies unpacks what it is to want “more” of God, and shares some insights and prayer points to help us all lay hold of … more!. |
One of the peculiar debates across the body of Christ today is whether we should press in for more of God and His power in our lives or believe that we have already received the fullness of what He provided through the finished work of the Cross. It actually presents a contrast between those who are taking an intellectual/theological approach toward their Christian life and those taking a more subjective/experiential approach.
The enigma is that we can state from a positional reality that all the grace and provision of heaven is now available on earth through the cross of Christ, and that is the settled fact. But if we are honest, we would have to admit we are not walking in all we could or should be experiencing. One clear example is the level of signs, wonders and miracles God has invited us to walk in—and even encouraged us to walk in—that we all too often fall short of experiencing in our lives.
The Kingdom of God is a supernatural Kingdom. We, as believers in Jesus, were supernaturally birthed into that Kingdom, and the Scriptures indicate that supernatural “tools” to live the life and do the works of that Kingdom were made available to us.
Quite frankly, God has called Christians to be a supernatural expression of His supernatural Kingdom. As believers, God has called us to function “in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God” (1 Corinthians 2:4-5). “The kingdom of God does not consist in words but in power” (1 Corinthians 4:20).
We read in the Bible that Jesus demonstrated the Kingdom of God when He exhibited signs and wonders, going about pardoning sin, healing the sick, performing miracles, casting out demons and raising the dead (Luke 7:21-23).
He then trained His disciples to do likewise (Matthew 10:7-8), and told them to train their disciples to do likewise (Matthew 28:18-20).
Then He said: “Truly, truly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do, he will do also; and greater works than these he will do; because I go to the Father” (John 14:12).
We are even told in several places to “earnestly desire spiritual gifts” (1 Corinthians 12:31; 14:1). There are actually whole sections of Scripture devoted to instruction on the proper use of the supernatural gifts of the Holy Spirit for the common Christian.
Taking all that into consideration, I derive inspiration and encouragement from the exploits of heroes both past and present who have lived extraordinary lives and accomplished unusual exploits for the Kingdom. One such hero of mine is Saint Patrick of Ireland, whose life and influence in the nation of Ireland was so notorious that it is the only national holiday (March 17) that is regularly and continuously celebrated beyond the boundaries of the nation from which it originated. So extraordinary was the life and ministry of this man that he has become an inspiration to people all over the world.
Patrick is remembered today as the saint who drove the snakes out of Ireland (there are no serpents in Ireland, to this day) and the teacher who used the shamrock to explain the Trinity. What is less well-known is that Patrick was an apostolic leader of enormous courage who moved in signs and wonders and demonstrated to the Irish, who were steeped in paganism, magic and occultism, that the power of Christ was greater.
Patrick was enraptured by God, loved sacred Scripture, and engaged in continuous prayer. He regularly practiced the prophetic gift of hearing God in dreams and visions. Patrick recorded numerous dreams he regarded as personal messages from God. He held a deep sense of God’s intimate involvement in his life. “I have known God as my authority, for He knows all things even before they are done,” he wrote. “He would frequently forewarn me of many things by his divine response.”
For example, Patrick received his call to evangelize Ireland from a detailed vision not unlike the apostle Paul’s at Troas, when a Macedonian man pleaded, “Help us!” “I had a vision in my dreams of a man who seemed to come from Ireland,” Patrick wrote, “and they cried out as with one voice, ‘We appeal to you, holy servant boy, to come and walk among us.’ I was deeply moved in heart and I could read no further, so I awoke.”
Much of Ireland was very dark and barbaric in the fifth century after Christ; a land of druids and pagans. A declaration of Christianity had not yet reached northern and western Ireland, so this is where Patrick began.
Interestingly, Patrick did not attempt to persuade the Irish to deny their belief in the existence of the supernatural. One historian wrote: “If Christianity had come to Ireland with only theological doctrines, the hope of immortal life, and ethical ideas without miracles, mysteries, and rites, it could have never wooed the Celtic heart.”
Instead, he convinced the Irish of the demonic nature of the powers they were familiar with, and the surpassing power of Christ. He used the Scriptures to define these powers as demons (note Ephesians 6:12): “We do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”
The reverence the Irish held for these old deities was converted into hatred of demons. Predictably, Patrick faced the most opposition from the druids, who practiced magic and were the advisors to the Irish kings. Stories abound of druids who “wished to kill holy Patrick.” Patrick wrote, “Daily I expect murder, fraud or captivity, but I fear none of these things because of the promises of heaven. I have cast myself into the hands of God Almighty who rules everywhere.”
Confrontations with demons and druids
Patrick was as fully aware as the Celts that the power of the druids was real, but he brought news of a stronger power. There are numerous stories from his life of confrontations between the power of God and the power of darkness. Here are just a few.
One biographer from the late 600s, Muirchoe, described Patrick challenging druids to contests at Tara, in which each party tried to outdo the other in working wonders before the audience, reminiscent of Elijah and the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel (note: 1 Kings 18).
“The custom was that whoever lit a fire before the king on that night of the year [Easter vigil] would be put to death. Patrick lit the paschal fire before the king on the hill of Slane. The people saw Patrick’s fire throughout the plain, so the king ordered 27 chariots to go and seize Patrick.”
“Seeing that the impious heathen were about to attack him, Patrick rose and said clearly and loudly, ‘May God come up to scatter His enemies, and may those who hate Him flee from His face.’ By this disaster, caused by Patrick’s curse in the king’s presence because of the king’s order, seven times seven men fell.” And the king, driven by fear, came and bent his knees before the holy man.
“[The next day], in a display of magic, a druid invoked demons and brought about a dark fog over the land. Patrick said to the druid, ‘Cause the fog to disperse.’ But he was unable to do it. Patrick prayed and gave his blessing, and suddenly the fog cleared and the sun shone.” And through the prayers of Patrick flames of fire consumed the druid. “The king summoned his council and said, ‘It is better for me to believe than to die.’ And he believed, as did many others that day.”
On another occasion, Patrick was aware that there was an ambush to try to kill him and his group en route to the King’s court. It was during the march that they chanted a prayer that has come to be known as St. Patrick’s Breastplate, which states in part:
“I summon today all these powers against every cruel and merciless power that may oppose my body and my soul, against incantations of false prophets, against black laws of heathenry, against false laws of heretics, against craft of idolatry, against spells of witches, smiths and wizards, against every knowledge that endangers man’s body and soul. Christ, protect me today against poisoning, against burning, against drowning, against wounding, so that there may come abundance in reward.”
“Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ in breadth, Christ in length, Christ in height, Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me, Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me, Christ in every eye that sees me, Christ in every ear that hears me.”
The story goes that as the druids lay in hiding, ready to kill, they didn’t see Patrick and his men, but instead, a gentle doe followed by twenty fawns. St. Patrick and his men were saved.
During his lifetime, (he lived into his 70s) Patrick is attributed to having founded more than 300 churches and baptized more than 120,000 people. He was primarily responsible for converting the nation to Christianity in that day, and he became known as the Apostle to the Irish. While he evangelized Ireland, his influence eventually impacted all of Europe, and his day is celebrated March 17th in many places all over the world.
If Patrick could impact all of Europe in the fifth century through such profound demonstrations of the love and power of God, why can’t we, and why not now? I want MORE! So our prayer directives this month are a continuation of what was focused on the first two months of this year.
Prayer Directives
This month let’s pray for the body of Christ and XP Ministries:
- Pray for increased visitation of the Lord to His body.
- Pray for the people of God to burn with intense passion for Him.
- Intercede for the body of Christ to be filled with increased insatiable spiritual hunger.
- Pray for the body to be touched and changed into His image and likeness.
- Our hearts will be fully His, and we will follow where He is leading.
- We will discern the times, know His intentions, hear His voice, and follow His lead.
- We will value what has been and all that He has done to date, but we will also be excited and expectant about what He is doing and what is breaking forth in the earth.
- Most of all, the fullness of what He has planned for this season will come forth and He will receive all the glory and all He is due!
About Jim Wies:
Jim has served the Lord in a variety of capacities for over three decades. During that time he has served the church as a pastor, teacher, author, equipper and conference & seminar speaker throughout the USA, Canada and abroad, providing training and mentoring on a number of topics including personal prophecy, revelatory gifts, healing seminars, ministry training and leadership training. As an author he has written “See Jesus” and “The Advancing Kingdom.”
He currently serves as the lead pastor at the Maricopa Campus of Church for the Nations, www.CFTN.com, and in itinerate prophetic and teaching ministry in association with Dunamis Network in Las Vegas, Nevada, and with XP Ministries in Maricopa, AZ, and is available for church meetings, seminars and conferences.
More about Jim can be found at www.oracle-ministries.org
Want more? Then may we suggest:
See Jesus – A book by Jim Wies
To know the real Jesus is absolutely critical to our lives and eternal destiny. A thorough examination of Scriptures will reveal that there are many more facets to who He is and what He has done for us than most people realize. This book is an in-depth look into the multi-faceted person of Jesus Christ. It will inspire you, quite possibly surprise you, and ultimately build you up in your faith in the God who is the creator of all things.
The Advancing Kingdom – A book by Jim Wies and Jonathan Welton
In “The Advancing Kingdom”, Jonathan Welton and Jim Wies have done an incredible job of debunking and unmasking the doctrinal error which the church has embraced as biblical truth. They offer hope and exciting anticipation regarding the posture and function of the Body of Christ in the coming days.
Although this is contrary to the prevailing eschatological views of much of today’s Church, a thorough examination of the Scriptures will give us a much bigger view of the “the advancing Kingdom” than most of us have been seeing. God promised David He would raise up the House of David and a descendant would rule there forever. This restoration was inaugurated at His coming, and it is now beginning to be enforced, not just within the Church but through the Church into every sector of society.
Topics include The Inauguration of the Kingdom; The Transcendent Nature of the Kingdom; and Finishing the Apostolic Mission.
We at XP Ministries thank you for your prayers, partnership, and financial support. May you be richly and abundantly blessed. And remember, God loves you with an everlasting love!
