From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Mark Virkler's articles are great teaching tools about developing our relationship/communion with God. In this article by Mark he poses this question:
"What gift could I bring before the Lord when I come into His presence? How do I approach Him?"
That's quite a question, isn't it?
You will learn a great deal about this and more right below. And for further study, we carry some excellent resources from Mark and Patti Virkler just below that will help you grow even more so in your daily relationship with God.
Enjoy!
Steve
Note from Steve: By the way, to have daily, encouraging prophetic emails from The Elijah List sent to your inbox, just CLICK HERE.
***
Note from Steve Shultz:
Your support for the Elijah List helps to pay the cost to deliver daily Words from the Lord to you for FREE. You help us by simply purchasing your prophetic and other Christian resources from a selection of over 6,000 products directly from us at: elijahshopper.com.
We appreciate our dear readers and we thank you for supporting your Elijah List staff!
"Bring a Gift When You Come Before a King"
Mark Virkler, Cheektowaga, NY
"What Gift Could I Bring Before the Lord When I Come Into His Presence?"
When we come before a King, we are to bring a gift (see Psalm 45:11-12).
When Esther went to the king with a request, her gift was to adorn herself in her royal robes, and prepare herself with oils of myrrh and spices and cosmetics to make herself as beautiful as possible (see Esther 2:12).
Now it came about on the third day that Esther put on her royal robes and stood in the inner court of the king's palace in front of the king's rooms, and the king was sitting on his royal throne in the throne room, opposite the entrance to the palace.
When the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter. Then the king said to her, "What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it shall be given to you." Esther 5:1-3 NASB (Photo by Donna Smallenberg "For Such a Time as This" via elijahshopper.com)
So my question is, "What gift could I bring before the Lord when I come into His presence? How do I approach Him?"
Might I suggest that we, too, are to put on our royal robe – the robe of Christ's righteousness (see Galatians 3:27), a robe of white, radiating divine glory? We see ourselves adorned in Christ's righteousness which has been given to us as a gift (see Isaiah 61:10). The perfume that envelops me is my petitions united with thanksgiving (see Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2), which is an incense that goes up before the nostrils of the Lord (see Revelation 5:8; 8:3-4).
So, as I come before my King, seeking Him for healing, for example, here is what I do: I begin with godly imagination. (I define "godly imagination" as seeing those things the Lord says are true.)
From Godly Imagination Into Divine Vision
Using godly imagination, I paint a scene (see Revelation 4:1) of my King on His throne in His throne room. I then ask the Holy Spirit to take over this scene (see Ephesians 1:17-18), and I tune in to the flow (see John 7:37-39). As the flow of the Holy Spirit takes over, I find myself stepping from my godly imagination, into a divine vision.
At the point this vision begins, like John we exclaim, "Immediately I [am] in the Spirit" (Revelation 4:2), and the scene shifts, coming alive, possibly revealing a different scene than the one we painted with our godly imagination. John no longer saw the doorway in the sky scene which he had used as his stepping stone into this divine vision; now he saw in the Spirit the throne of God and the One sitting upon the throne and the elders.
In the same way, I behold God's splendor, compassion, and power as I enter before God in His throne room (see Revelation 4:3-11). I join as one of the worshippers before His throne, glorifying Him for all the good gifts He has given me and for the healing I now believe Him for. I kneel before the light of His glory, asking for Him to extend His golden scepter.
There is lightning and power in His right hand (see Habakkuk 3:4), and as I feel Him touch me, His power pulsates through me, restoring my body to full health in an instant. Or He may choose to give me wisdom and instruction concerning a gift of healing (see I Corinthians 12:28) which I may apply to restore health to my spirit, soul, and body. I do whatever He tells me to do (see John 2:5).
What King David Knew
King David was a man after God's heart who installed 24-hour worship so he could continuously be in the Lord's presence. He asked the question, "Who can ascend into His holy presence?"
Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood and has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
This is the generation of those who seek Him, who seek Your face – even Jacob. Selah. Lift up your heads, O gates, and be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in! Who is the King of glory? The LORD strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle. Psalm 24:3-8 NASB (Photo by Linda Harris-Iorio "Consuming Glory" via elijahshopper.com)
David understood that I ascend and stand in His holy presence and experience His healing power by coming before Him with my head uplifted and seeking His face. Stated another way, I have lifted up my eyes and I am gazing upon His majesty. I am seeing Him, on His throne, with His light and glory and splendor proceeding forth from Him! I see His power is hidden in His hand and it springs forth as light and glory! I seek a touch from His hand. "His radiance is like the sunlight; He has rays flashing from His hand, and there is the hiding of His power" (Habakkuk 3:4).
I am allowed to ascend because I have received Christ's cleansing Blood and robe of righteousness (see Isaiah 61:10). My heart is pure, with no anger, bitterness, or hypocrisy. My hands are clean; my mind speaks God's truth, being filled with His light, life, love, joy, and peace rather than satan's doubt, accusation, judgments, lies, and death.
I have not made vows which negate the promises and provisions of Almighty God. I have not undertaken to accomplish on my own, or to fight or win based on my own strength. I have not sworn that God is not near, or God does not answer, or God does not care. Such deceit has no place in the purposes of my heart.
Now, I find myself in the King's presence, and I receive the King's anointing and blessing and righteousness! NOW, I receive help from the Lord. I am ushered into my Lord's Presence, and HE is mighty to save. He is the Strong One who accomplishes and who fights for me and who wins the battles set before me.
I say: "You are my healing! You are my strength! You are my rear guard! You are my fortress! You are my All in All. I celebrate Your presence, and Your divine favor abides upon me. Thank You, Lord!"
Dr. Mark Virkler
President, Christian Leadership University (CLU)
Communion With God Ministries
Email: cwg@cwgministries.org
Website: cwgministries.org | cluonline.com
Mark and Patti Virkler are the founders of Communion With God Ministries. They have co-authored 50+ books. Their writings are unique in that they are designed to draw the learner into revelation-based learning. Mark has received a Master of Theology from Miami Christian University and a Ph.D. from Carolina Christian University. Patti has received a Master of Ministry and Doctorate of Ministry from Vision International University. Their focus has never been on degrees, but simply growing to maturity in the Lord. Degrees are viewed as incidental accomplishments and signposts along the road of life which can sometimes open up people's hearts and minds to hear, listen, and learn what they have to share. They have two children, Charity and Joshua.
To subscribe to The Elijah List go to:
http://elijahlist.com/subscribe
