From the desk of Steve Shultz:
As I grew up, I was raised with the "Theology" (supposed to be defined as the proper study and knowledge of God)--that if I was truly humble in heart, I would settle only for what God gave me and ask for no more. Now that was not explicitly stated...not in so many words. It was just a feeling based on what I was learning. It was a general understanding that today, we might call as being raised with a "poverty spirit."
Almost like taking a vow of poverty, I grew up thinking that the less I asked for and the less I had, the more chance I would have of being "holy" before God. In the same way, I grew up with the sense that if I stayed humble enough, I would not ask for too much OF ANYTHING from God. In doing too much asking, I might unwittingly be wanting to "spend it on my lusts" as it says in the Bible...you know, "You ask, but you don't receive because you want to spend it on your lusts" (see James 4:3).
I made this both a physical thing (money or property) and a spiritual thing (gifts and talents)--a commitment to not over-ask, because either way, I might ask too much from God. And well, maybe, just perhaps...I would be trying to get credit for something important and thus, I would be spending it on my "lusts."
Well, I can tell you that the fruit of those understandings was that I asked for very little from God in any category, and this caused me to be a non-praying person. It wasn't taught to me that I shouldn't pray much--that's just how it worked out. I was just left with A + B = C. If I asked for too much in prayer, my motives might be wrong, so I wouldn't ask for much. Thus I didn't pray very much. That is why this article by Jane Hansen is so important for you to read! As she writes below, "NOW IS THE TIME TO APPEAL TO THE KING!"
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Blessings,
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Steve Shultz
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Jane Hansen Hoyt:
God Says, "I Never Intended for You to Live on Leftovers!" Now is the Time to APPEAL to the KING!
What have you been contending for? Are there things in your life that you have been praying for, believing for or watching for, that have yet to come to pass? If you're like me, you get weary sometimes. Instead of sitting down to the banquet feast, you feel like your plate is full of leftovers.
The Lord spoke to me recently in this regard through the story of a woman that is found in 2 Kings 4. She was barren, and she was desperate.
You know the story: Elisha promised this Shunammite the cry of her heart--a son. Then, after she received her promised child, he died. In a powerful moment of restoration, Elisha raised him from the dead and gave him back to his mother.
But that's not the part of the story I want to focus on. Instead, I want to concentrate on "the rest of the story" (as nationally known radio commentator Paul Harvey might say), because the Lord has insights for us to grasp hold of through this woman's experience (2 Kings 8).
The Shunammite is told by Elisha that there will be seven years of famine in the land and that she is to leave and find a place for her household until the famine ends.
Insight #1
The Shunammite "arose"--she took action. She obeyed God, speaking through Elisha. "So the woman arose and did according to the saying of the man of God?" 2 Kings 8:2.
She had to get up from her place of comfort, from all that was familiar, from the place where she was accustomed to living. She actually went to the land of the Philistines--unfamiliar territory.
So with us, in this hour, God is calling us to step out of the places where we find comfort and security and to risk radical obedience to His leading. To do that, we must "upgrade our relationship with God," as prophetic voice Graham Cooke says. We must press in for greater intimacy with the King, because intimacy is the only source of strength and confidence.
Insight #2: She Appealed to the King
At the end of the seven years, the Shunammite returned from the land of the Philistines and "went to make an appeal to the king for her house and for her land" 2 Kings 8:3.
This was property that she owned, bought and paid for. She was coming to reclaim that which was already hers. There are things that you have been contending for in your life, things you know belong to you--but are not "yet" in your hand.
Now is the time to appeal to the King! Come boldly to His throne of grace and appeal for that which is already yours: family, finances, health, relationships. Jesus has purchased the deed on your behalf with His Blood. The King is waiting for you!
Then God intervenes. The king is talking with Gehazi, Elisha's servant, asking about the great things Elisha has done. As he's telling the king about the woman whose son was raised from the dead, there she stands! Gehazi identifies her as the very woman he was speaking about. After she confirms what happened, the king gives her back her inheritance.
Insight #3: Full Restoration Was in Her Destiny!
Not only did she receive her house and land back, she received the proceeds from the land which had been earned--from the time she left until the time of her restoration.
"Restore all that was hers, and all the proceeds of the field from the day that she left the land until now." 2 Kings 8:6
She moved out of a place of poverty and lack into possessing her inheritance. So are we! When I read this passage, the Lord clearly spoke to me saying, "I NEVER INTENDED FOR YOU TO LIVE ON LEFTOVERS. YOU OWN THE FIELD!"
Every area of your life that you have been contending for already belongs to you. All the prayers you have prayed, all the tears you have cried have not gone unnoticed. The King is declaring over your life: RESTORE ALL!
We are in a season when that which we have sown in the spirit--is being restored to us. The Shunammite experienced seven years of famine. From 2000 to 2007, we have gone through significant things--hard, painful, disappointing things in our personal lives, as well as corporately.
But in the midst, we have sown faith and obedience and trust in the King. We have been faithful to press into Him in times of testing and trial. Each time we yield, we align ourselves in a greater way with His purposes in our lives.
In 2008, your King declares over you: RESTORE ALL!
Jane Hansen, President/CEO
AGLOW International
Email: aglow@aglow.org
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About Jane Hansen Hoyt:
Jane Hansen Hoyt serves as President of Aglow International, a worldwide organization made up of more than 200,000 women (and men) from over 170 nations who serve 17 million people each year. An ordained minister, Jane has been recognized by other international Christian organizations as a global leader. She serves on the Charismatic Leadership Council, the International Coalition of Apostles, and the board of the International Reconciliation Coalition.
Jane travels extensively, sharing a message of God's unique call to women. She has a personal passion to see the genders restored around the world to reclaim their godly positions for which they were created and works to empower women and believes the feminine sex has an innate strength and voice to influence the family, church and community. After being widowed in 2000, Jane recently wed Tony Hoyt, former National Director of Leadership of the Future Farmers of America. The couple resides in Washington State.
