Thursday, March 18, 2010


Viewing Resources that Broaden Your Spiritual Perspective


The following resources are likely to help you broaden your spiritual perspective and get outside your current bxes. Please give us feedback to help us understand your needs so we can develop or locate the resources for which you are searching. If you don't find what you are looking for, please contact us. Or, consider writing some content yourself and publishing it here on our site. So, take your pick below and let's get going... Or, feel free to use the Advanced Resource Browser. And, remember to forward articles you find helpful to your friends - be a spreader of the light...




And Then the End Shall Come (Part Two)

Article by Francis Frangipane
It is no secret that we live in prophetic times. Besides two world wars, earthquakes and famines, our generation has seen the return of Israel to its land, and we have personally witnessed the spectacular increase of knowledge and travel (Dan 12). Spiritual signs are like towns we pass through en route to a further destination: they reveal approximately where we are as we approach the Lord's return. Yet, it is important to not assume we are further than we are. There are two major end time signs that we have not yet passed through. I'd love to be wrong, but it's my opinion that those planning for an immediate rapture should probably unpack. For, while we should be dressed in readiness, the gospel of the kingdom has not been proclaimed worldwide (Matt 24:14) nor has the Antichrist been revealed (2 Thess 2:1-3). Both these things must occur before Christ returns.

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Ask of Me

Article by Francis Frangipane
We live in unparalleled times. Not since the first century have more scriptures been fulfilled in a single generation. Each unfolding word brings down another mountain; it lifts another valley. In truth, the way is being prepared for our King's return into this world. The Great Revolt - The Lord forewarned that, during the end-time, "many will go back and forth, and knowledge will increase" (Dan 12:4). Contrast our time with any other in history: Not only are we traveling farther and more frequently, but we do so in a world inundated with increasing knowledge. It has been our privilege to behold the prophetic return of Israel to its land (Jer 16:14-15), and our misfortune to live when "the earth is...polluted by its inhabitants..." (Is 24:5).

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Ask of Me!

Article by Francis Frangipane
Whether or not we find God answering our presidential prayers as we expect; regardless if we must continue to deal with delays in our quest for revival, God remains our ally. Indeed, even in the most terrible of times, He still commands, "Ask of Me, and I will give the nations for thine inheritance." The Great Revolt - As though Jesus were reading a news summary of recent years, His prophecies of two thousand years ago clearly describe our times. He warned, "You will be hearing of wars and rumors of wars...in various places there will be famines and earthquakes...many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many...because lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold" (Matt 24:6- 7,11-12).

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Beyond Denominations - The Networked Church
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Downloadable eBook by John Edmiston
The book has six short chapters and a one page introduction. The chapters outline the problem then discuss local area networks and task focused Christian ministries then go on to look at how we can devolve the work that denominations are doing over to these two structures and close the door at denominational HQ. The book is in a concise question and answer format. It is a plea for unity and sanity. Its provocative I hope but also moderate, balanced and as wise as I can make it. It is written from an Australian perspective but with appropriate changes should apply to the majority of Western denominational situations.

 

 

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Braveheart - When Freedom and Oppression Collide
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Article by John Tisdale
This article discusses what happens when freedom and oppression collide. It does so through the lens of the Hollywood film Braveheart. It is something with which we are all intimately familiar. How we choose to respond to oppression determines the amount of life we will experience in its aftermath.

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Can God's Existence Be Proven?
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Article by John Tisdale
This article takes you on a journey of discovery into the question of whether God's existence can be proven. Many people try to prove God's existence and yet it is apparent that God has intentionally hidden Himself from us. This article explores this interesting dynamic to uncover some foundational principles about the person of God that aren't often discussed or understood by most people. You may end up thinking outside of the box and considering some new possibilities.

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Christians are a Bunch of Hypocrites
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Article by John Tisdale
This article discusses the opinion that Christians are nothing more than a bunch of hypocrites. It delves into numerous dynamics that must be considered to understand the real issues. It begins by exploring the objection and insights from the author's personal encounters on the subject. It seeks to cut through the religious facades and get to the heart of the issue of faith and spirituality.

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Coming to America - The Secret Prince in Search of a Bride
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Article by John Tisdale
This article explores some of the deep truths found in the Hollywood movie starring Eddie Murphy Coming to America. We go on a journey exploring how this son of a king reveals some profound things about the purpose for the human race. The author proposes that this film's storyline actually represents God's plan and purpose for the human race. It points out the parallel's between this film and what scripture reveals about our reason for being.

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Diamonds are Forever
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Article by John Tisdale
This article explores how people are like diamonds. It lends us some valuable insights into the challenges and difficulties of life by making an assortment of comparisons between the process of diamonds forming and being processed and the circumstances we encountered regularly in life.

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Does Religion Hold the Answer?
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Article by John Tisdale
The subject of religion is a controversial one. In this provocative article, the author discusses how religion is commonly misunderstood. He develops a line of thought that shows how differently we view religion from God. The author helps us understand that our definition of religion causes us to relate with God in wrong ways. If you are willing to have your views of religion and Jesus challenged, this is interesting exploration on the issue that may take you outside your current boxes.

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Exposing Witchcraft

Article by Francis Frangipane
To deal with witchcraft, we must discern its effects. Therefore, let's examine some of the characteristic symptoms that occur when witchcraft hits a Christian or a church. 1. When a Christian is under an assault of witchcraft and curses, he becomes increasingly disoriented or confused; he might even become clumsy. Satan wants to cloud his vision, thus stopping him from reaching his destiny in God. Thus, the individual under attack cannot connect with his spiritual vision; his motivation is either gone or lacking. 2. When one is targeted by curses, he will feel emotionally drained or debilitated. Those who have been the object of spiritual curses will carry a darkness, a cloud, in their countenance. The back of their neck is tight; a band of oppression around their head manifests as a headache. The person might assume he is sick, but it is not the flu. It is witchcraft.

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God Talking to God

Article by Francis Frangipane
We have been studying the influence that one mercy-motivated intercessor can have upon the heart of God. In this, we looked at Abraham and then expanded our study to Moses. The Lord heard the intercession of Moses as he stood between divine judgment and Israel's sin, and he stayed in the place of intercession until God's Word concerning Israel came to pass. The cycle of Israel's sin and God's justice repeated itself time and again. In essence, it was always the same: Israel rebelled; God threatened destruction; Moses interceded; God forgave.

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God's Heart For The Lost

Article by Francis Frangipane
Now that the elections are over, we are compelled to return to what should be our first purpose: fulfilling the Great Commission. Indeed, as we draw closer to the Lord's return, His passions shall increasingly become our passions and to rescue the unsaved world is the epicenter of His heart. To understand the Lord's desire for the unsaved, we simply have to review Peter's discourse in Acts, chapter two. Remember, the disciples had been with Jesus for forty days after His resurrection. The words, which Peter took from Joel, conceivably might also have been spoken by Jesus Himself during this last intimate time with His disciples before the ascension.

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Good Will Hunting - When Fear and Hunger Collide
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Article by John Tisdale
This is an interesting perspective on the film Good Will Hunting. It considers what you will do when your hunger for life collides with your fears. We each have dreams and desires that call us out beyond our comfort zones. Yet, we each are challenged with fears that would rob us of ever moving beyond our safe little worlds. If you've seen the movie, you should check out this review from a spiritual context.

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Guarded by His Word

Article by Francis Frangipane
Safe in the Word - The primary means through which we are kept and preserved by God is through obedience to His word. In the submission of our will to God, our soul finds protection from evil. Consider the apostle John's words to the young men of the first century church. He said, "I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the evil one" (1 John 2:14). Abiding in the Word of God brought spiritual strength to the young men in John's day, enabling them to overcome the evil one. Is this not the reason many of us are defeated by the devil we do not abide in the Word? Christ's teaching guides us into the Presence of the Father; it is the Father's Presence that both empowers and protects us.

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Holy, Holy, Holy
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Teaching Video by Francis Frangipane
In this 4:12 minute video, Francis Frangipane offers a powerful teaching into the person of God and eternity in His presence in heaven. This video is an excerpt from the Heaven Within Our Reach Conference DVD.

 

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Honor's Highest Purpose

Article by Francis Frangipane
Last week we discussed how Ham's sin of exposing the shame of his father, Noah, led to Noah's curse upon Ham's son, Canaan. Noah saw in Ham a character flaw that would be passed on to Ham's children. The specifics of this curse would be that, from generation to generation, Ham's descendants would become the "servants of servants." Why would they abide in this economic slavery? Simply because one who habitually disrespects, shames or exposes the weaknesses of those in authority over them simultaneously disables their ability to advance in life.

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How Can God Have No Beginning or Ending?
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Artciel by John Tisdale
Most people struggle with the idea that God is infinite (without beginning or ending). God is also purported to be everywhere at the same time. Supposedly, He can hear everyone's prayers in the same moment. These and other such concepts can be difficult to accept. This article takes you on a fascinating journey into the life of a movie character named Bob. By observing Bob, we begin to get some insights into the capabilities that God can have because He is not confined to our dimensions of space and time.

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How does Jesus compare to our Creator?
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Article by John Tisdale
This article explores an important question. Jesus claimed that He was God and the Creator of everything. If this is the case, we should be able to compare His behavior and personality with clues we can gather about the kind of Being that would have created this universe and see if we find any similarities to support His claims. It makes some interesting comparison between Jesus and our Creator.

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Humility Precedes Holiness

Article by Francis Frangipane
A Holy Man is a Humble Man - "Learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart" (Matt. 11:29 KJV). The holiest, most powerful voice that ever spoke described Himself as "meek and lowly in heart." Why begin a message on holiness with a quote concerning humility? Simply because holiness is the product of grace, and God gives grace only to the humble. It is vital we understand that Jesus did not condemn sinners; He condemned hypocrites. A hypocrite is a person who excuses his own sin while condemning the sins of another. He is not merely "two-faced," for even the best of us must work at single-mindedness in all instances. A hypocrite, therefore, is one who refuses to admit he is, at times, two-faced, thereby pretending a righteousness that he fails to live.

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I Will Rejoice

Article by Francis Frangipane
"'Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?' Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for He, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him" (John 6:70-71). To what was Jesus referring when He identified Judas Iscariot as "a devil?" Was He speaking figuratively or factually? Could a human being not only "have" a devil, but actually become one? Some believe that Judas had become so perfectly possessed by satan that he actually lost his humanity. Yet, consider: after this fallen apostle delivered Jesus up, he felt such remorse for betraying Christ that he committed suicide. Could a devil feel remorse for sin? I do not think so.

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Is Your God Too Small?

Article by Francis Frangipane
Too many Christians serve a little, prepackaged god who, along with a hymnal and bulletin, was given to them at church years ago. Today, "little god" still sits in their minds, blocking their capacity to see the true God for who He is. "Little god" asks nothing of his followers except they try to be good, and he promises that everyone will go to heaven regardless of what they believe. "Little god" is harmless, nice and safe. Unfortunately, he is also an idol that dwells in the church and needs to be cleansed from our thought life.

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Let the Fainthearted Go

Article by Francis Frangipane
A Word To Leaders: I am concerned about the leaders who have not dealt with their personal fears. I have a word for you: stop terrorizing the people under your influence. A number of ministries have submitted to the oppression caused by the terrorist attacks. As a result, they are speaking to their constituencies from a position of fear and trepidation. Leaders, please hear me: The people who are listening to you are already praying, fasting and repenting. Don't burden them with fear; empower them with vision and faith.

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Mystery of Godliness
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Article by Anita Tisdale
God-like-ness is a gift given by the One and Only Savior, Jesus Christ. He gives it to those He is in a relationship with, and it can’t be obtained any other way. Read more to broaden your understanding of godliness and what can be attained by living a godly life. This article provides an excellent launching point for a bible studio as it provides plenty of scripture references.

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Of Men and Angels
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Downloadable eBook by John Tisdale
Of Men and Angels is one of those rare and unique books that stand out from the crowd. From the moment you load it onto your computer you know you are launching into a fascinating journey. The eBook is loaded with fascinating photos, popup textboxes, pages that visually turn in 3d, user interactivity and engaging content. The premise of the book is rather interesting. The author, John Tisdale, proposes that if this reality was created by God for a purpose, that purpose must have required this reality to be precisely as we find it. Therefore, what purpose could possibly require a surreal, chaotic reality like ours. His answer takes the reader on a fascinating journey of exploration.

 

 

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One Message

Article by Francis Frangipane
Normally my Sunday sermon is prepared a few days in advance, but this week was different. All week the heavens seemed like bronze. Saturday morning came and still I was at a loss. Nothing seemed alive. It was now Saturday evening and I was pacing the floor seeking God. "Lord," I asked, "What is the message for tomorrow morning? What topic should I address?" A dozen ideas filed through my mind, loitered momentarily in my imagination, and left as unanointed as they had arrived. I went to bed praying. When I woke Sunday morning, my prayer was still on my lips.

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One Purpose: Reveal the Fullness of Christ!

Article by Francis Frangipane
The virtue of any institution is not so much in its doctrines or organization; rather its virtue resides in the quality of person it produces. A New And Fresh Anointing - Some of you have been struggling, not knowing what God has for you. You have been through a season in which the Lord has revealed your need of Him in very dramatic ways. Jesus Himself has been near to you; however, His closeness was not merely in the way of external blessings, but in the way of His cross. Yet, you have delighted in this, for the way of the cross has increasingly become the way of your life.

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Possessing A Thankful Heart

Article by Francis Frangipane
'Did I Myself not choose you, the twelve, and yet one of you is a devil?' Now He meant Judas the son of Simon Iscariot, for He, one of the twelve, was going to betray Him" (John 6:70-71). To what was Jesus referring when He identified Judas Iscariot as "a devil?" Was He speaking figuratively or factually? Could a human being not only "have" a devil, but actually become one? Some believe that Judas had become so perfectly possessed by satan that he actually lost his humanity. Yet, consider: after this fallen apostle delivered Jesus up, he felt such remorse for betraying Christ that he committed suicide. Could a devil feel remorse for sin? I do not think so.

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Power Through Prayer
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Downloadable eBook by E.M. Bounds
What is the difference between a preacher of the letter and a preacher filled with the Spirit? In POWER THROUGH PRAYER, E. M. Bounds issues a passionate call for lives based on prayer. It is much prayer that leads to anointed preaching. Edward McKendree Bounds (1835-1913) was a Methodist clergyman. He was born in Missouri and trained as a lawyer, but felt called to ministry. After seminary studies, he served as pastor of a church in Missouri, and during the Civil War he ministered to soldiers as an army chaplain. After the war he again served as a pastor, where he encouraged powerful weekly prayer sessions. He was devoted to private prayer between the hours of 4 a.m. and 7 a.m. Along with much preaching, he edited several Christian newspapers and wrote eleven books. A chaplain during the American Civil War, Edward M. Bounds was a prolific writer especially about the importance of prayer in Christian life. After being released as a prisoner of war, Bounds traveled the country as an itinerant pastor, bringing many to the saving grace of Jesus Christ.

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Prayer for a Thankful Heart
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This prayer is designed to help you take the first step toward having a life of genuine thankfulness. It is a rarity that any of us really appreciates all of the goodness and life that has been lavished upon us. We miss it happening a hundred times a day all around us. This prayer is for the person who wants to awaken to all of the bountiful provision they have been given and to come to truly appreciate it.
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Prayer for Compassion toward Others
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This prayer seeks help in breaking free of apathy over your life so that you can see beyond yourself. The person who has lost the ability to care about others is a person who has stopped making a difference in life. If you don't have compassion, your life will be lived with no lasting impact. It has been said that what matters most in life is what you do that will outlast it. If you are living with an apathetic lens on life, you will someday find that all of your values were misplaced. Deep life can only be found when you understand the enormous value of a person (yourself and others).
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Prayer for Emotional Healing
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This prayer asks God to bring you healing from the scars and wounds that you've suffered. If you have gone through a prolonged period of recovery from hurt (or are somehow on that journey now), this prayer will help take you to a new level of healing. It is a cry for God to break into your life and heart and bring His healing touch to mend the wounds and restore what you've lost.

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Prayer for Peace in Difficult Times
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This prayer seeks peace in the midst of difficult times. The person who is struggling with challenging circumstances will find this prayer helpful in seeking a peace that transcends all difficulties. It is a cry for God to be real and show up in your circumstances and deliver you out of a situation in which you are in over your head. It is a confession that we need move than our own strength and provision to meet our needs.

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Prayer for When God has Hidden Himself
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This is a prayer designed for the season in which you cannot find God. There are times and seasons when God reveals Himself easily and clearly and times when He hides Himself. In those time of hiddenness, our trust in His goodness is tested. It is also a season in which God tests our willing to trust in Him even when our emotions don't feel Him. It is an essential season, but we need lots of prayer during those seasons. This is just such a prayer.

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Prayer of Openness to God
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This is a prayer asking God to bring you into a new place of relating to Him. If you are looking for deeper life, this is a good starting point. Pray this prayer to ask God to bring you into a new place of more abundant living. This is a cry to God to shorten your heart, release the anger inside and to begin the process of rebuilding and restoring your relationship with Him.

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Prayer to Receive Jesus as Personal Savior
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This is a powerful prayer for receiving God's gift of salvation through a personal relationship with Jesus (God's Son). This prayer is for the person who wants to say yes to God's invitation for forgiveness of sin and eternal life. There is nothing magical about this prayer. It is more about the condition of your heart and attitude toward God than it is the words that are spoken.
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Prayer to See Beauty with New Eyes
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This prayer asks God to bring you healing from the scars and wounds that you've suffered. If you have gone through a prolonged period of recovery from hurt (or are somehow on that journey now), this prayer will help take you to a new level of healing. We tend to loose sight of the miraculous happening all around us every day. We need the veil lifted from our eyes. This is just such a prayer designed to help us see beyond the ordinary and rediscover the extraordinary happen in our midst.

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Pursuing the Stature of Christ

Article by Francis Frangipane
In a most profound verse the apostle Paul unveils God's supreme plan for the church. He tells us we are called to nothing less than "the measure of the stature which belongs to the fullness of Christ" (Eph 4:13). The Father's glorious intention is to exhibit through us all the attributes and power of Jesus Christ. He has purposed that, not only in eternity but here in the midst of our battles and temptations, we are to grow "in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ" (vs 15).

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Sense and Sensibility - When Duty and Desire Collide
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Article by John Tisdale
This article discusses the situation in which many find themselves. They have their desires, but they feel that their duties and responsibilities keep them from ever having those desires met. It is seen through the Hollywood film Sense and Sensibility. It explores some truths portrayed through this movie.

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Standing Behind Our Wall

Article by Francis Frangipane
The sense of distance we often feel between Christ and ourselves is an illusion. As we enter the days prior to Christ's Second Coming, the Lord shall begin to remove that falsehood. Indeed, He promises, "In that day you shall know that I am in My Father, and you in Me, and I in you" (John 14:20). The Scriptures tell us that Christ is the vine, we are the branches; He is the head, we are His body; He is the Lord and we are His temple. From start to finish, the Bible declares the Lord not only has a dwelling in heaven, but that He also abides perpetually in redemptive union with His people. The ever-present focus of His activity is to guide us into oneness with Himself.

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The End-times Global Worship Movement
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Teaching Video Featuring Mike Bickle
This video features Mike Bickle discussing the global worship movement that is beginning to emerge as part of the end-time movement at the International House of Prayer in Kansas City, Missouri.

 

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The Fundamentals of Addiction
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Article by John Tisdale
This article is designed to give you a high level overview of the dynamics at play in an addiction. It provides a foundation upon which other articles will build. It discusses some strategies to gaining victory over past addictive patterns that have robbed you of life. If you or someone you know struggles with addiction, this may be a good starting point for understanding some of the keys involved.

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The House is the Gate of Heaven

Article by Francis Frangipane
"In the last days, the mountain of the house of the Lord will be established as the chief of the mountains, and will be raised above the hills; and all the nations will stream to it" (Isa. 2:2). Today, in the very context of our lives and times, the first stages of this Scripture are being fulfilled. Throughout the body of Christ, leaders and intercessors are uniting in unprecedented ways. Indeed, the house of the Lord is being established. How significant is this? In the history of the church there has never been a time when Christians from so many backgrounds came together as we do today. Our pattern has always been to divide and then criticize those with whom we once associated. Yet, today this trend is being reversed! God is establishing His house.

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The Jezebel Spirit - Part 1

Article by Francis Frangipane
There is a war, a very ancient war, between the spirit of Elijah and the spirit of Jezebel. In this age-old battle, Elijah represents the voice of Heaven: the call to repentance and the return to God. Jezebel, on the other hand, embodies that unique principality whose purpose is to hinder and defeat the work of repentance. Its goal is to silence the prophetic call.

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The Jezebel Spirit - Part 2

Article by Francis Frangipane
The spirit of Jezebel will target, and then seek to divide, the relationship between a pastor and the church intercessors. The antidote? Let the senior leader appreciate, communicate and support his intercessors and esteem their contribution, and let the intercessors set their prayer focus to first seek the spiritual fulfillment of the senior pastor's vision. Pastors are under siege. At every conference where I speak, various pastors approach and tell of terrible experiences with Jezebel-like battles in their churches. But I don't have to travel to be informed, for not a week passes where I do not hear from pastors from many places via phone, letters or emails; each desperate for specific prayer concerning the conflict in their churches. The war is over one thing: satan seeks to neutralize spiritual authority, and no enemy of hell does this more efficiently than the spirit of Jezebel.

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The Land Beneath Our Feet

Article by Francis Frangipane
As a speaker in citywide and regional prayer conferences, I am often asked to unmask the "spiritual power" opposing the body of Christ in the conference region. City leaders and intercessors have even asked if I knew the "name" of the principle spirit that is resisting the church in their area. "Do you want to know the name of the most powerful spirit opposing most Christians?" I ask. Eager faces respond affirmatively. "It's Yahweh."

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The Matrix - When Your World Starts Unraveling
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Article by John Tisdale
This page examines the possibility that there is more to life than what meets the eye. It does so through the lens of the Hollywood film The Matrix. It looks at life in terms of how invisible spiritual dynamics are at play in it.

 

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The Nature of Addiction
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Article by John Tisdale
This very short article brings encouragement that you have the ability to control your life by working in conjunction with God's efforts. The strength and courage needed to break free is within your reach. It is designed to get your thinking about the power of life and death that is in your hands.

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The Peril of Religious Flesh

Article by Francis Frangipane
Two Types of Knowledge - There is a type of knowledge that is doctrinal, theological and instructive, and there is a type of knowledge that is born out of a revelation of God. Both are known as "truth," both produce a certain type of person, and both are accepted as "Christianity." You can be certain that God wants us to have right doctrines, but we must never content ourselves with merely the accumulation of correct knowledge. For this knowledge often remains just a file of religious facts; where the Word of God is viewed more as a museum than a power plant.

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The Power of Honor - The Curse of Dishonor

Article by Francis Frangipane
Among all in his era, Noah was the most godly. He alone was considered by the Almighty, blameless. In a time when terrible wrath was about to unfurl, Noah alone found favor with the Lord. Consider this man Noah and what he experienced: Aware that the end of his world was at hand, he faithfully preached repentance for over one hundred years, yet his words converted no one. His eyes beheld the terrible descent of the wrath of God; his ears heard the terrifying cries, the final cries, of an entire civilization. His mind experienced the horrifying destruction of every man, woman and child outside the ark.

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The Rewards of Fasting
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Downloadable eBook by Mike Bickle
Fasting is a gift from God that goes much further than not eating; it is a means to experiencing the power and affections of God. Jesus promised us that we would be rewarded for fasting. Done in the right spirit, fasting increases our receptivity to God's voice and His Word. This book explores the rewards and delights that come to those who fast. Fasting. It sounds difficult. Fasting every week. That sounds impossible! Our society considers hunger among the worst of fates, but God calls fasting part of our faith. Hunger for God is not foreign to anyone who loves JesusĀ­. It is an ache within that makes us desperate for deeper measures of abundant life. What may be new to some people is that fasting is an avenue God has chosen to answer our hunger and to fuel our experience of Him. Fasting is essential because it answers our cry for more of God.

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The River of God's Pleasure

Article by Francis Frangipane
To live for God is to be nourished by the nectar of heaven. As the days unfold toward Christ's return, an ever increasing number of voices will clamor for our attention. There will be church programs and prayer strategies, activities and powerful movements. Signs and wonders will splatter the world, dazzling the religious mind of man. Remember also, the days ahead shall increase in pressure and troubles. Jesus warned that, because iniquity abounds, the love of many shall grow cold. Do we not know too many whose heart, once hungry for God, is now stricken dead with cold love? Angry Christians: the world is full of them. We must not assume it cannot happen to us.

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The Search for Relevance
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Personal Story Video from Misty Edwards
This video talk features Misty Edwards sharing a message entitled The Search for Relevance. She poses some important questions about the meaning and purpose of life and the deep inner yearning to uncover our identity as it relates to eternity.

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The Shawshank Redemption - When Fear and Hope Collide
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Article by John Tisdale
This article looks at what happens when fear and hope collide through the Hollywood film The Shawshank Redemption. It considers what happens when you discover that you have allowed yours fears to imprison you. Will you break free or will you surrender to the fate of fear's control over your life?

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The Shelter of Glory

Article by Francis Frangipane
What we define doctrinally as "salvation" is, in truth, the entrance, and then expansion, of Christ's Presence throughout our person. What we call salvation is, in truth, the beginning of God's glory in man. If you are a Christian, then Christ is in you; you are already in glory. You have been clothed with Christ, who is Himself the "radiance of [the Father's] glory" (Heb 1:3). The fact is, Satan knows you are a Christian, not simply because he heard you repeat a prayer at a church altar; the Devil sees what happened when you prayed: The glory of Christ entered your spirit!

 

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The Unloved Beloved
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Article by John Tisdale
This article focuses on a message of divine love. It is designed for the person who is struggling with understanding his/her needs for love and acceptance (and not feeling either). It goes below the surface of the obvious and considers some important principles about your real identity and worth.

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The Weapon of Prayer
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Downloadable eBook by E.M. Bounds
It must never be forgotten that Almighty God rules this world. He is not an absentee God. His band is ever on the throttle of human affairs. He is everywhere present in the concerns of time. "His eyes behold, his eyelids try the children of men." He rules the world just as He rules the Church by prayer. This lesson needs to be emphasized, iterated and reiterated in the ears of men of modern times and brought to bear with cumulative force on the consciences of this generation whose eyes have no vision for the eternal things, whose ears are deaf toward God. A chaplain during the American Civil War, Edward M. Bounds was a prolific writer especially about the importance of prayer in Christian life. After being released as a prisoner of war, Bounds traveled the country as an itinerant pastor, bringing many to the saving grace of Jesus Christ. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Those Who Make a Covenant With God

Article by Francis Frangipane
The Covenant- Keeping God - Throughout the history of God's dealings with man, He has revealed Himself as a covenant-making God. The Almighty covenanted with Noah, Abraham, Moses and David; He renewed His Abrahamic covenant in His call to Isaac and Jacob. Each covenant initiated a new wave of redemptive power into the world and forever impacted the human condition. The word covenant means "to fetter" or chain together. It was the highest form of commitment that two individuals could share. Any of several rituals were employed to express the covenant partners' unity: A sword might be passed, signifying that the two would be united against the enemy as one. They might pass a sandal between themselves, which symbolized they would travel any distance to be at one another's side. Or, they might cut an animal in two and pass between its halves. As the two halves, though separated, were still one animal, so the two covenant partners would become as one individual.

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Two Sets Of Books

Article by Francis Frangipane
It was not a dream. It was simply a thought in the middle of the night, but it came into my mind with such clarity that it roused me from my sleep. It said, "He keeps two sets of books: one is exact and the other forgiving." I barely had time to wonder who it was that kept these mysterious two accounts when the parable of the wise, but wasteful, steward surfaced in my mind. The story, which comes from Luke, chapter 16, tells of a manager who was soon to be dismissed for squandering his employer's wealth.

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What Will Be Valuable in Heaven?
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Article by John Tisdale
This is an interesting question that you may not have considered before. It is apparent that heaven has an economic system. Scripture speaks repeatedly of having treasures in heaven (as well as there being a least and greatest in heaven). Yet, what is it that will have value there? We can derive the answer from a simple principle of economics that scripture indicates is at work in God's eternal economy...

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What You Give Over, God Will Take Over

Article by Francis Frangipane
Early this morning the Lord gave me a special word that I hope will be as living to you as it was to me. At the moment of my awakening, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, "What you give over, I will take over." The Marriage of Faith And Humility. We cannot advance spiritually without both faith and humility. Indeed, faith without humility inevitably becomes presumption, while humility without faith never ascends above oppression. Consider: Faith's nature, in part, is to possess the promises of God. Israel was commanded by the Almighty to possess the Promised Land. Scriptures tell us that, without faith it is impossible to please God and that, whatever is done without faith is sin (Heb 11:6; Rom 14:23). Thus, faith unites the human heart to God. As a result, the sinful appropriate God's righteousness and those who were dead gain access to God's life. Christianity without faith is like a computer without electricity: the circuits of "proper knowledge" may be in place, but there is no light, no power nor functionality.

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When Christ is Formed in Us

Article by Francis Frangipane
The intercessory prayer of the Apostle Paul was not just a prayer for protection or for a few blessings to rest upon the saints. He said, "My children, with whom I am again in labor until Christ is formed in you" (Gal 4:19). Paul was "in labor" to bring forth the actual spirit of Christ within the church. Let me say it again: his goal was Christ, not merely Christianity!

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When the Crop Permits

Article by Francis Frangipane
Concerning the end of the age and beginning of judgments, God is not looking at His watch; He's looking at His heart. Indeed, His eyes are upon the harvest, for in sync with the harvest all prophetic events unfold. Listen carefully to what Jesus taught...

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Where Have All the Dimensions Gone?
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Article by John Tisdale
This article takes a fascinating journey into an exploration of hidden dimensions of space within our universe. We look at the possible spiritual implications of this scientific discovery. It explores some of the most interesting questions of life. It does so through the lens of science, physics, relativity as well as spirituality. If you are up for a fascinating journey of exploration, it's well worth the ride.

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Why Did God Create Death?
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Article by John Tisdale
Death is a subject with which many people struggle. Yet, it's as much a natural part of life as dreaming and sleeping. In this short article we see that death was an essential part of God's plan. He had to design us as both temporary and eternal beings if our purpose was to be fulfilled. It explores the purpose life and death play in God's plan for the human face.

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Why Do I Exist?
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Article by John Tisdale
This article explores a possible explanation for the reason why you are alive and breathing on planet earth right now. In it, we explore the unique worth and value of who you are. This article helps you think outside of your boxes and to see yourself outside of the mundane and ordinary. It helps you get a higher perspective on the unique value that is you. Beware, you may just experience an epiphany along this brief little journey.

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Why Does God Hide Himself?
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Article by John Tisdale
This article explores a question with which most people have wrestled at some point in their life. If God does exist, what reason would He possibly have for choosing to hide His existence from us? How we answer this question shapes our understanding of the meaning of life and why we are all here in the first place. In this brief article, we discover they it would be essential for God to hide Himself from us in order to fulfill His declared purposes for the human race. If you have ever wrestled with this question, this is an excellent resource to help you find some meaningful answers about God's existence.

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Why Doesn't God Prevent Injustice?
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Article by John Tisdale
This article addresses a critical question with which many people struggle when it comes to God's goodness. This article takes you on a journey exploring why God's doesn't prevent injustices from happening in our reality. It's an important issue that gets in the way of many people being at peace with God. So, it's a good starting point for seeing past the potential offenses and discovering the goodness of God that lies on the other side.

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Will everyone go to Heaven?
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Article by John Tisdale
This article explores the question of whether everyone will go to heaven. It begins the discussion by considering some of the implications of human freedom of choice and what it reveals about God's strategies. The issue of heaven and hell and brought into focus through some practical examples of how our free will works in this reality. These concepts are put into the perspective of God's plan for the human race.

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Would a Good God Allow Pain and Suffering?
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Article by John Tisdale
In this article we examine one of the most critical question with which people struggle in coming to terms with God's existence. We uncover the topic of whether a good God would permit pain and suffering to happen as we find it in this world. Instead of dodging the difficult questions, we take them head on. We search for meaningful answers to this, one of the most signficant questions related to the existence, nature and character of God. Prepare to think outside of the box as we consider some important factors to this question.

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You Control Your Own Destiny
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Article by John Tisdale
This is a short article meant to give you encouragement that how you are in control and you have the incredible opportunity to live life in a meaningful way starting any moment that you so choose. If you are in need of encouragement about your life, you may find it helpful.

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