I encourage you to read up on the book of Daniel, study his life and the few people in his day that are mentioned of staying faithful to God in the day of trial. I believe this book is critical for our generation. The lifestyle of Daniel and the messages that God gives Daniel in this book are imperative for us. It’s a fascinating book. Take a few weeks and read it through several times. Maybe even add a little fasting in your posture as you seek understanding.
The setting of the book comes from the days of the prophecy of Jeremiah. Daniel as a teenager more than likely would have heard the words of Jeremiah several times, from the lips of the prophet himself. Jeremiah was prophesying that a day of judgment was coming to Israel, specifically upon the city of Jerusalem, the very city in which Daniel lived. Jeremiah said that the neighboring empire, Babylon, led by Nebuchadnezzar, would invade, conquer and take Israel into captivity for 70 years (Jeremiah 25:11, 29:10).
After hearing this for years, believing it and preparing for it Daniel sees Jeremiah’s prophetic word come to pass; Babylon invades and takes the city, ultimately destroying the city and leaving nothing behind. This is the setting of Daniel 1:1 which reads, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came to Jerusalem and besieged it. Daniel is ripped from his family, probably still a teenager, and sent away to a foreign, pagan nation to serve them and their gods. read more…
For the last several days I’ve continued to pander and process with Amanda and other friends about the horror of what I observed at the Auschwitz death camps from World War II when millions were murdered via starvation, gas chambers and brutal beatings. I realized how very little I learned in my childhood education about WWII, the Holocaust, Communism, Nazi Germany and also how living in the US is like living in a bubble, mostly unaware with what is going on or has gone on around the world.
In this post I want to share some information and education that I learned. As I was leaving one of the buildings in Auschwitz there was an inscription that read, “learn from history or history will be repeated.”
-Auschwitz is located in south Poland. It was a military barracks for the Polish army before the Germans turned it into a prison camp which at first was mostly for prisoners of war. The Nazis liked the location because of the seclusion of it thus aiding their ability to keep the doings of the camp in secret and hidden from the outside world.
The wife and I along with our good friend and 4th year IHOPU student Bri Fahrmeier are leaving out tomorrow afternoon for the long 16-hour trip to Warsaw, Poland. We’ll be leading a young adult conference that’s going to pioneer a way for a huge onething Eastern Europe conference in the coming years. This is our first time in Europe for Amanda and I believe it or not, outside of an airport anyway. So we’re pumped and expecting mighty seeds to be planted in a generation that will lay hold of God in a wholehearted and abandoned way for the decades to come.
There is an authentic movement of God happening throughout Poland concerning prayer, fasting and a contending for the fullness of God’s presence to be manifested within the church. There are small communities of believers spread out all over the country with similar DNA of IHOP-KC: 1. To call forth, train, and mobilize intercessors to live a life of prayer as they preach the gospel, heal the sick, help the needy, make disciples, and seek to bring transformation to society; to make it our aim to personally live as fully devoted disciples of Jesus, who operate in the forerunner spirit.
2. To establish a perpetual solemn assembly by gathering corporately to fast and pray, because we recognize this as essential to establishing justice in society and 3. To train others to plant houses of prayer, churches, and/or marketplace ministries as the Spirit leads.
A few years back about a hundred leaders from Poland came and spent a significant amount of time here in KC with us. It was a powerful time to see so many like-minded leaders from one nation come together and strengthen their commitment and loyalty to Jesus. God takes them serious. He is going to answer the cry of their heart and respond to their humility.
Commit to pray for us this weekend. We’ll be ministering long hours Friday through Sunday. Pray for our travels, the time adjustments, the translation to be clear and smooth, our health, for the Word of God to go forth in power and authority, for healing to be released, souls to be saved and a prophetic spirit to rest on me, Amanda and Bri the whole time we’re there.
Thank you for standing with us in prayer!
Be blessed,
Wes
As certain as Jesus lived on this earth, died by the hands of the Roman government and was raised to life again He will surely come again. The Man, He’s fully God, but also fully Man, He will come to the earth again and reign as the Ruler of the earth. Every nation will take their cues from Him. He will be crowned as the King, the Lord and the President if you will of all humanity on the earth.
Take a look at Acts chapter one. In verse three it mentions the resurrection of Jesus. How He was seen by many people for a forty day period after He was visibly seen crucified and dead. There were many occurrences during these forty days where He was seen, spoken to and even touched and held. It was infallible proof that He was alive. One time there were over five hundred that seen Him at once (1 Cor. 15).
The chapter goes on to tell us of His last words that He spoke to them as this profound forty day period was coming to a close. He tells them to wait upon the promise of the Father, the Holy Spirit, that He will give them as they wait upon Him. Jesus promised them that as the Holy Spirit comes He would would give them power to be living witnesses of Him and His kingdom. This promise of the Holy Spirit indeed came. You can read more about that in Acts chapter two.
Then the promise of His return comes in the next few verses, verses nine through eleven. As they were gathered around Him and listening to Him, He was taken up into the clouds and left their sight. Notice He didn’t suddenly vanish. He levitates, ascends, goes up right in front of them into the sky until they can see Him no more. They are stunned and awestruck! So much so that they all stand there for some time starring up into the sky. Can you imagine what’s going on in their minds!? read more…
“I have a testimony about Jesus. He carries me through my worst storms. I only call on Jesus. I’m leaning on His everlasting arms.” This is a chorus by gospel singer Karen Clark Sheard but for the morning the sound of this powerful chorus was ringing through our 8am prayer meeting yesterday at IHOP-KC. Slowly but surely across the room one by one people began to stand, cry or raise their hands to the Lord as we all sang in agreement. I could’ve sang that chorus all day I believe.
I was immediately brought back to the Fall of 2006 when our twin daughters, Charli and Ali, died not too many days after my wonderful wife gave birth to them. By far our “worst storm.” As I sang the chorus and witnessed so many people across the room agree with its truth I too was overcome by the greatness and tenderness of Jesus. How He carries me, loves me and leads me so well. Indeed He carried us in that season.
read more…
For many in the church the subject of Israel remains a mystery. We know that Israel served a purpose in the Old Testament and in bringing Jesus, the Son of God, through their lineage to the earth. However some don’t understand God’s purposes for the people of Israel for the future. Many have missed that Israel still serves a very pivotal role for the future of the nations of the earth. Here are a few biblical points to help us connect with God’s heart concerning Israel and why we should pray for them.
The first passage that moves me to pray for Israel is in Isaiah 62. In verse 6 the Lord directs His attention specifically to those who are believers in Jesus and who “make mention of the Lord.” God says to those of us who pray and mention His name to “not keep silent” and “give Him no rest” until He makes Jerusalem, the city of David, the city of Israel, a praise in all the earth. This is a command. read more…
We had nearly 2,000 in attendance for the onething New Jersey conference this past weekend. I love watching the leadership of Jesus. He’s amazing in His ways and can do so many things in the lives of so many with just a small move of His Spirit. Jesus is alive and He’s active, oh so active!
On Friday night as Benji Nolot preached Psalm 27:4 and called us to intimacy with God even in the midst of the assault of Satan in a growing culture of lust I saw hope, conviction and redemption building up in the hearts of the nearly 2,000 packed out crowd. Benji went on to give the charge to call out to Jesus for forgiveness, healing and restoration from any sexual assault that may have victimized anyone or immorality at work in their life. The altar area was packed for over an hour with weeping, prayer, repentance and deliverance. Lives were changed as the love of God met them and the Holy Spirit was present to empower them in righteousness and happy holiness. read more…
I’m pumped to be going with the onething team this weekend to Cranford, NJ. We’re stacked with godly talent. Matt Gilman and Justin Rizzo will be our two worship leaders while Brian Kim, myself and a few other IHOP leaders bring the messaging. No doubt God will do what He does and many will be empowered in godliness and service. Many will be refreshed in the love of God and be left with a renewed zeal for the Word of God.
I believe the Lord has something powerful in His heart to release in the NE. I’ve been reflecting on onething NYC that we had back in April. The Lord is totally up to something. I think there may be a fresh outpouring of power and Holy Spirit miracles coming to all the NE of the U.S. God is zealous for Philadelphia, Boston, NYC, etc. He is bigger than the intellectual arrogance against His name and against His ways. There will be a bright and shining witness come forth. Let’s pray for this, according to His heart.
Pray for us as the weekend approaches. The Events team and most of the band leaves out on Thursday and the rest of us leave out early on Friday. The conference starts 7pm, Friday night.
Much love and thanks,
Wes
God is the wisest leader of all leaders. He’s the most brilliant shepherd of all shepherds. His leadership guarantees the production of all that we were destined to be if we heed it. Jeremiah 29:11 says I know the thoughts I have for you…to give you a future and a hope.
He has a perfect destiny for us. He thinks of it often and has great zeal for us to walk into all that He has for us. He wants this for my life way more than I do. This brings confidence to my heart; that my Leader has greater zeal than I do for me to finish the course of life and arrive at all the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19).
This hope and future that is spoken of in Jeremiah is awakened in us when we’re first born again. We exclaim to everyone, “God has a plan for me! My life matters! I’m important to God!” We have been awakened to bigger plans, higher wisdom and the knowledge of God. read more…