From the desk of Steve Shultz:
Powerful things happen when we come into agreement with God and with one another in the Body of Christ. God is longing for unity with Him and with each other, so that we may be one as Jesus prayed.
I hope you'll do what Sandie Freed shares here in her latest article: Take a moment and confess to the Lord your past disappointments and then receive His love and power to move ahead. You will be renewed and refreshed as you also agree with His Word concerning your future.
And please remember us at the Elijah List and consider making an end-of-the-year donation. We are an LLC which is a FOR-PROFIT entity, so there wouldn't be a tax-deduction. We appreciate ALL of your support big and small. You can donate online by going to: https://www.elijahlist.com/donations/donation.php or you can send in a check to this address:
Elijah List Publications
528 Ellsworth St. SW
Albany, OR 97321
Many blessings to you, our dear readers.
Sandie Freed:
God Says, "I Want My People to Agree with Heaven"
Christmas time is filled with much joy, isn't it? I love the lights, the Christmas trees and lovely ornaments. Not to mention the festive gatherings with friends and family.
In between shopping, attending Christmas plays and programs and ministry opportunities, I have been pressing in for God's direction for the next year on our Gregorian calendar. I believe the Lord spoke to my heart about coming into greater agreement with Him and His Word in 2011. I heard Him say, "In 2011, I want My people to agree with Heaven." I am not writing on this subject because the topic rhymes and sounds good to the ear. I believe God is very serious about each of us understanding how important it is that we agree with what God says about us, our future and our relationship with Him, especially in this next year.
To be in agreement with God means that we have the same mind as He does. In other words, we are going to be developing the mind of Christ within us like never before! Some of the definitions of the word "agree" are: "To be of one mind; to harmonize in opinion, to live in concord, or without contention, to yield assent." There are three words in which the Webster's Dictionary uses to define the word "agreement": concord, harmony and conformity.
Unity Releases Life and Victory
I believe that the Lord is asking that we yield to His divine direction for the upcoming year and that we purpose to live in "concord" or unity with His Word. What does that actually mean? Well, if we observe what God says concerning unity, we realize that it brings life. Psalm 133 is a perfect example of how unity releases life to God's people. If only we completely understood that when we come into full agreement with God's will and His Word, He actually breathes life into us, as well as our situations. But, there is so much more concerning agreeing with God. Matthew 18:18-19 explains the principle of the power of agreement for spiritual warfare:
Matthew 18:18-19 (ASV) Verily I say unto you, what things soever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven; and what things soever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven. Again I say unto you, that if two of you shall agree on earth as touching anything that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of My Father who is in Heaven.
In this passage, Jesus was saying that we have the power to bind the enemy if we will come into agreement with Heaven. The word "agree" in this passage is the Hebrew word sumphoneo, which again implies being in unity or being harmonious. However, it is connected to another word, phone, which is described as "noise, sound, (and) voice." So, we can say that Jesus was instructing us to come into unity with the sound of Heaven and the voice of Heaven, which is God's voice! Wow! Now this begins to make even more sense when we are binding the powers of darkness, doesn't it?
I want 2011 to be a breakthrough year. I believe it will be if we agree with God's voice. Whatever God is instructing and whatever His Word says, we must come into unity with it so that we can experience life and victory.
Our Wineskin Needs to Agree with God's Plans!
In another study on "agreement," I came across a passage that leapt from the page. I have taught on the wineskin many times, but I believe there is present revelation in this passage for us now:
Luke 5:36-39 And He spake also a parable unto them: No man rendeth a piece from a new garment and putteth it upon an old garment; else he will rend the new, and also the piece from the new will not agree with the old. And no man putteth new wine into old wine-skins; else the new wine will burst the skins and itself will be spilled, and the skins will perish. But new wine must be put into fresh wine-skins. And no man having drunk old (wine) desireth new; for he saith, The old is good. (ASV, emphasis mine)
Look closely at the first verse which I provided for you. Read this verse aloud. Did you notice that the new will not agree with the old? Looking at this spiritually, we can conclude that as God is pouring out His new wine (new revelation and fresh understanding of His Word) that any "old" understanding or "old revelation, or even "old mindsets," will not "agree" or "be in unity" with the new. In other words, there will be no life in our wineskin if we cannot fully embrace the new. Hanging onto something old (old habits, beliefs, etc) will hinder our ability to fully walk in unity with God. We must come into complete agreement with God so that He can make us a new wineskin – only then can we experience the abundant life.
If you will read the last verse, you will read that many will desire to hang on to the "old" because they believe the "old" is better! There will be a great temptation to remain with what has been familiar. Embracing the new will require change and, therefore, some will resist moving forward in unity with God. However, I believe that if we will agree with all that God says, He will also empower us to move into the new with great confidence.
Overcoming Mindsets Concerning Poverty
I am fully aware that so many Christians are struggling financially during this season. At Christmas, money "pressure" is more difficult. I want to challenge you to not allow depression to hinder your joy during this glorious season. I wrote an entire book as to how to overcome a poverty mentality and walk in victory.
In my book, Crushing the Spirits of Greed and Poverty: Discerning and Defeating the Ancient Powers of Mammon and Babylon, I specifically minister to the heart of Believers who are struggling with finances. Please do not allow your financial disappointments to rob you of opportunities to agree with God concerning your future. Your old wineskin, which is soaked in disappointment and potential bitterness, will not agree with God's divine will to cycle you out of some past challenges. Believer, God wants you to walk in total victory and peace!
It is time for your wineskin to agree with God's Word concerning your future. As you "let go of the old," allow the disappointments of the past to totally die. You cannot carry old disappointments into your future and walk in victory. Every disappointment you carry into your new season will sabotage your new beginning. Take a moment and confess to the Lord your past disappointments and then receive His love and power to move ahead. You will be renewed and refreshed as you also agree with His Word concerning your future.
Allow me to ask you a question: How long has it been since you pulled out your personal prophecies and prayed over them? I believe that before we enter into the New Year we must do this! As we do, we will get fresh vision for the season ahead. So pull out those prophecies and come into agreement with God, okay? This will properly position you for your year ahead!
Agreeing with One Another
I particularly love this passage in 2 Corinthians:
2 Corinthians 13:11-14 Finally, brethren, farewell. Mend your ways, heed my appeal, agree with one another, live in peace, and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the saints greet you. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all. (RSV, emphasis mine)
When we agree with each other, there is such peace. I am not advocating that we mindlessly agree with anything or any wind of doctrine or opinion. No, this passage in all about living in harmony. When there is harmony, there is a blending. A symphony has many different instruments each with its own unique sound, so when each is played they all harmonize and blend and make one sound. This is to what this passage is referring – one sound. This one sound should fully reflect the sound from Heaven. And when we are in agreement with one another, there is a release of even more life!
The Prince of Peace
Jesus is the Prince of Peace. He came to give us peace. This is not a peace that the world can give to us; it is a supernatural peace. However, we can only fully experience this type of peace when we are in agreement with Him.
I believe that in 2011 that we will experience much joy and peace as we walk in unity with Heaven. We may still be challenged with some difficulties because we live in a fallen world, but if we can agree with all that God says, we will experience hope, peace and abundant life.
I pray for each of you that you have a wonderful Christmas and a very Happy New Year!
In Him,
Sandie Freed
Zion Ministries
Email: zionministries1@sbcglobal.net
