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August 3, 2005
 Welcome
to each and every one of you.
Our Women On The Frontlines Conference is almost here! This year, we're taking it
to Florence, Alabama -- just a couple of hours south of Nashville -- August 4-6.
We are very excited about this gathering that we're titling, "A Call To Take Action,
Together." We're believing for a fresh release for the state of Alabama, the surrounding
region, and the nation. Stacey Campbell, Beth Alves, Michelle Jackson, Heather Clark,
and other regional leaders will be speaking, along with James and myself. If you
are not registered yet, do it now (see below)! You won't want to miss this one!
James and I have a new book out, God Encounters.
For this teaching, I've chosen to post a part of our book for your benefit. I pray
you are blessed as you read it!
Many Blessings!
Michal Ann Goll
Scripture
"Now when the attendant of the
man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots
was circling the city. And his servant said to him, 'Alas, my master! What shall
we do?' So he answered, 'Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those
who are with them.' Then Elisha prayed and said, 'O Lord, I pray, open his eyes
that he may see.' And the Lord opened the servant's eyes, and he saw; and behold,
the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha."
II Kings 6:15-17, NASB
"Velvet Warriors"
Some time ago, Jim and I were at a conference where he was to minister on "Waging
War With the Prophetic." He saw a vision in his mind and began to sing a prophetic
song. I joined him, and together we sang spontaneously, "The velvet warriors, the
velvet army on its knees."
Jim explained that he saw advancement coming in the Kingdom
of God, but it wasn't a picture of troops running forward with great spears. He
saw an army of velvet warriors marching forward by crawling on their knees; they
were clothed in humility -- which mirrored dependency on God -- but they were valiant
warriors in the Lord.
Whenever I hear Jim talk about his visionary vow to be a "brave heart" for God,
it reminds me of my season of extended angelic visitations. More than anything else,
my supernatural encounters whetted my appetite for something that I had not tasted
before. When the visitations began to come less frequently, I actually felt
lovesick. I found words to express my pain when I read this passage in the
Song of Solomon:
"I opened to my beloved, but my
beloved had turned away and had gone! My heart went out to him as he spoke. I searched
for him, but I did not find him; I called him, but he did not answer me . . . I
adjure you, O daughters of Jerusalem, if you find my beloved, as to what you will
tell him: for I am lovesick."
Song of Solomon 5:6, 8, NASB
The Lord has given us invitation after invitation to come
into a place of intimacy with Him. This is a place where you must press in for Him.
You do so because He is pressing in toward you at the same time.
The mystery of the gospel is the mystery of a divine, eternal
love story -- it is all about capturing our hearts and wooing us into the place
where nothing matters except being in unbroken fellowship with God. Walking in the
Spirit has little to do with only head knowledge; it has everything to do with a
heart response of knowing that your Bridegroom is calling. God is calling for His
Bride, and He is fighting for His Bride. He ardently loves His Bride, and He is
asking us to be mirrors of His perfect image, which is Himself. He longs for us
to be valiant warriors for His sake, and be people so in love with Him that no cost
is too great!
"God Encounters!"
About halfway through those blessed weeks, I had a pivotal experience. His Presence
was overwhelming. I was having all types of dreams and experiences, was feeling
and sensing things. I was trying to write everything down and not miss one iota.
At the time, there was so much that I did not understand -- the experience was like
a large mountain that overwhelmed me. I was trying to be as responsible as I knew
how, and yet I felt as if the mountain of revelation was beginning to overshadow
the Revelator, Jesus Christ Himself.
Late one night, I found myself saying, "If these encounters
do not bring me closer to Jesus and more in love with my Father, then what use are
they? What are they for?" Quickly, the dove of God assured me, "That is exactly
what they are for!"
"Experiencing His Presence
- Releasing His Power"
I have a word for you -- it is simple, yet profound and clear. Our God is a God
of love, strength, and power. His great desire is toward you -- His beloved Bride.
Yes, pursue the God of visitation, and not the visitations of God. Seek the God
of power, and not just the power of God. Pursue the God of encounters! But keep
first things first. When He grants you extraordinary encounters, remember that their
ultimate purpose is to reveal the person of Jesus Christ, to bring you into a greater
intimacy with the Father, and empower you to testify to others of His great love!
Hosea 6:1-3 (AMP) states:
"Come and let us return to the
Lord, for He has torn so that He may heal us; He has stricken so that He may bind
us up. After two days He will revive us (quicken us, give us life); on the third
day he will raise us up that we may live before Him. Yes, let us know (recognize,
be acquainted with, and understand) Him; let us be zealous to know the Lord [to
appreciate, give heed to, and cherish Him]. His going forth is prepared and certain
as the dawn, and He will come to us as the [heavy] rain, as the latter rain that
waters the earth."
Now is the time for us to pursue the God of our visitation,
and for His latter rain to water the earth. When you really love someone, and your
heart for them is sold out 100 percent, then there is nothing you wouldn't do for
your beloved. No task is too difficult. Knowing Him is the ultimate goal of all
God encounters.
The motto of our ministry is: "Experiencing His Presence --
Releasing His Power." Catch God's gaze and give His love away! It is time for us
to give our all for Him Who gave His all for us. Let us pursue the God of visitations
and may close encounters with a supernatural God by yours! You, too, can be changed
by the prophetic power of the supernatural!
"Since God is no respecter
of persons, and is the same today as He was 2,000 years ago, all stories of divine
encounters become invitations."
~ Bill Johnson ~
Prayer
Father God, I present myself to You. I believe that Jesus Christ is Your great
and only son. I come to present myself, my family, and my future to You. I need
you more than I have ever needed You before!
Come, Holy Spirit! Come and invade my unholy comfort zones
with the love of God. Change me. Shape me. Drive fear and unbelief out of me. Consume
me with the fire of Your holy Presence.
I welcome Your ambassadors -- the angels of the Lord --
to do Your bidding. Take control of my life. Bring me close encounters of a heavenly
kind. Release the prophetic power of the supernatural to change my life.
I ask for life-changing encounters, Lord, as I seek You
first, Your kingdom, and Your righteousness.
For Your holy name's sake! Amen.
Applications
Just pray about this issue. Ask the Holy Spirit to point out places where you might
be suffering from an orphan mind set, and ask for His help to let it go. Take authority
over these ungodly mind sets, and call for God's Fatherhood to be established in
your life.
If you have been helped today through this devotional, consider printing out 5 copies
to give to people who maybe don't have e-mail capacity, perhaps to some of our elderly
brothers and sisters in Christ.
Be blessed and encouraged this day!
Michal Ann Goll
Encounters Network
www.michalanngoll.com
Excerpted from God Encounters
by James W. & Michal Ann Goll
© Copyright 2004 Encounters Network. All
Rights Reserved.
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Michal Ann & James W. Goll's Upcoming Itinerary:
August 4-6, 2005
Women on the Frontlines Conference
Hosted by Encounters Network
Michal Ann Goll, Patricia King, Stacey Campbell, Beth Alves, Shelvi Gilmore & others
Faith Tabernacle Church, 3601 Florence Blvd., Florence , AL 35634
877-200-1604
www.encountersnetwork.com
August 7, 2005 @ 10am
James W. Goll
Valley Fellowship Church, 3616 Holmes Ave., Huntsville , AL 35816
(256) 533-5117
www.valleyfellowship.com
August 7, 2005 @ 10:30am
Michal Ann Goll
The Dwelling Place (formerly Abundant Life Church)
2550 Redstone Road SW, Huntsville , Al 35803
(256) 883-6616
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"This
book is packed with revelation!" - Bill Johnson
"You'll
love this book!" -C. Peter Wagner 
"
. . . dramatic, biblical, faith-building!" - Mark Virkler
"
Your appetite for His presence will grow beyond measure." - Heidi
Baker
"This
book will change your expectation for the presence of God." - Mickey
Robinson
My
favorite books have three elements to them:
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