From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Our worship, praise and intercession are LIFE over a region and nation. You'll read about the importance of prayer and worship in this latest word by John Belt. It is full of wisdom and experience of breaking the oppression in your area of influence.
Also, check out these awesome music resources by John Belt and a brand new collection from our very own ElijahSounds that will most definitely jump start your worship and praise:
John Belt:
Shift the Climate - through Praise and Intercession
Worship Displacing Darkness
Psalm 22:3, But Thou art holy, O Thou that inhabits the praises of Israel.
We just celebrated our first anniversary as a Church Body here in Hamilton, Ohio, located in the Greater Cincinnati Area. Through the course of the last year we've really concentrated on changing the spiritual climate through our individual and corporate worship as a Church family. It is amazing the power that worship has to displace darkness over a region.
When the sole motivation is to magnify Jesus, exalt the Lord, the purity of worship draws the angels of God and cleanses the very atmosphere of an area. When we worship we bring the atmosphere and activity of Heaven into the earth.
Revelation 7:9-12, After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."
Angels Overtaking and Stationed
Psalm 103:20, Bless the Lord, ye His angels that excel in strength, that do His commandments, hearkening unto the voice of His word.
Recently I was driving down the road and the Lord just gave me a snapshot of what He has been doing through our worship in the last year. I saw that where there had been angels of darkness stationed over the city of Hamilton, there were now stationed angels of Heaven in their place.
We have noticed the shift in our local atmosphere. Where there used to almost always be a need to press in during worship, there is now ease and things just flow. It is like the portal in the heavens is widening. The scope of glory is increasing. The work of the devil is to "oppress." Just as Jesus came to heal all those oppressed of the devil, so we are here to break the yoke of oppression over people, cities, regions and nations through the power of the Spirit.
There is a saturating affect when we continually are releasing of praise and worship to God, inviting the presence of the Holy Spirit to rule and reign in our midst with pure hearts. When our only motivation is to please the Lord, rather than men, God will begin to do the extraordinary works in our place of occupation.
Intercessory Power Released
Isaiah 61:3, To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that He might be glorified.
When we take on His beauty in our lives, receive the oil of joy and put on the garment of praise He will be glorified and the blessing of the Lord will be released through us. Here is where we become the conduits of Heaven's life and blessings transforming atmospheres. We are called to shift atmospheres ushering in the Kingdom of God.
I recently had an encounter where God was releasing an anointing for intercession. The power that was released was electrifying. Just as worship opens and displaces darkness so the power of intercession changes the spiritual and physical landscape of an area. Where there was disrepair, there was restoration and beauty restored.
Hebrews 7:25, Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.
In this encounter, prayer in the Holy Spirit was emphasized. Our praying in tongues (in the Holy Spirit with a clean heart) is our hot link to God's heart. We join with Christ through our surrender to the Spirit. The spirit of prayer is released upon us, granting us the privilege of being united with the purposes of Jesus' intercession. Through our intercession God's anointing is released to rebuild, repair and restore surrounding troubled areas. The mercy of God is released through our intercession. When the people of God prosper the city rejoices.
Proverbs 11:10, When it goes well with the righteous, the city rejoices; and when the wicked perish, there is jubilation.
There is a positive impact that is brought into the earth through our prospering in the Lord. Jesus lives forever to make intercession. When we join with Him in His work we will see His restoring power transform as Heaven is manifested on the earth.
Sow to the Spirit
There are no limitations to us in God's Kingdom. He has put an unlimited potential within us by His Spirit. Don't think about what you can't do. Think about what you can do through Christ. Everyday there are multiplied opportunities to "sow to the Spirit." In your actions, your words, your creativity, your worship, your meditation, your prayers, your decrees, and your communion, you can sow to the Spirit and experience a place in God of absolutely no limitations. They key is in continually sowing to the Spirit and reaping the life of the Spirit.
Get Your Vision and Run!
John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries
Email: admin@liveinhispresence.com
