You are invited to join us for the Celebrate to Accelerate fast! Please review Celebrate to Accelerate and other words for the reasons behind the fast as well as daily encouragement.

Here we are on day 30 of The 40! Whether things have gone great for you or not God is moving. Bad things have happened to us during this time. Our computer and finances are down… Praise The Lord! Great things have happened through The 40, doors are opening to the nations, evangelistic opportunities are increasing, revelation of actions we took a years ago are beginning to bear fruit, increased fire and revival are being released and community is being built… Praise the Lord!!! God is doing much more than we can see or understand because we are committed to seeking Him! 

God spoke to me something simple as I was praying over my list, “Step Up and Step Out“.  We have been focused on drawing into the secret place and committing ourselves completely to God.  We have been drawing near to receive revelation, rightly responding in repentance and worship, and walking in a constant state of revival. Now, it is time for us to step up to the next level and step out of the secret place. As we step out of the secret place, we must carry His presence with us out into the world with the power and grace that Holy Spirit brings.  

God has had me reading through Acts recently, and he reminded me of some of the revelation that needs to be released to our community.  In the first eight verses of Acts 1, Jesus is with his disciples speaking his last words to them before he leaves.  This passage also takes place concurrent with Matthew 28, Mark 16 and Luke 24.  (While we will be discussing the passage in Acts 1, I encourage you to read Jesus words in each of these chapters and how they are all connected.)  Jesus, tells his disciples to go and wait for the promise in Jerusalem that they may be “endued with power from on high” (Luke 24:49). This same thought continues here in Acts 1:

Acts 1:8 But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and  you shall be witnesses to Me in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the  end of the earth.”

We can see here that the power comes from, with, and through Holy Spirit.  This power comes as we wait and seek him.  However, power comes for a purpose.  The power of Holy Spirit that comes as we wait and seek Him is for this purpose: to be a witness.  If you study out this word “witness“in Greek, it is where we get the English word martyr.  The Holy Spirit revival power that we have been pressing in to receive is the power to be a martyr.  Normally, when we say martyr we are literally talking about someone who has died for the gospel.  However, the original meaning of witness(martyr) is one who believes, speaks, and lives with the genuine, strength, faith, and conviction that what they have seen and know is true and will stand by it even unto death.  This is next level stuff.  This is the step up that we are seeking! This is where the rubber meets the road!

Some may not have realized that as we press deeper into knowing Jesus and walking with Him, we are gaining His heart and being empowered to walk as martyr-level witnesses.  This is the stepping up and stepping out. Some may have for years sought to know God, in the secret place, in the quiet place, and grown holy and in knowing The Father’s heart.  Feel free to review Holiness Leads to Harvest from day 7.  The secret place of knowing God’s heart will always lead to the next step up of stepping out and sharing who He is!

Some of you may not know me personally, but I have always been an introvert that in the past was bound up by fear and insecurity. As God has led me through years of coming to know Him and getting free of the baggage and bondage, that we all carry, and coming to know Him more and more in the secret place, He is releasing a gift of evangelism to me. I do not understand it, and honestly am extremely uncomfortable in everything He is continuing to ask me to do and walk in. However, I am no longer saying I am an unwilling evangelist, because it is my delight to do His will.  In this process, especially more recently, God is continuing to develop in me His heart for souls. He is constantly reminding me that the fields are ripe for the harvest.  Both the field outside our door and around the world are ready to receive the wonderful works of God from Holy Spirit power-filled martyr-level witnesses.

My encouragement for us today is to step up and step out. The extended times we have spent in seeking The Lord through humility, repentance, confession, fasting, and prayer have empowered us by Holy Spirit to step up into the next level with Him. Holy Spirit is equipping us to daily step out of the secret place and carry the revelation of truth we have received to the ones who do not even know what they need.  Our time seeking The Father’s heart is transforming us into martyr-level witnesses. May we all walk in Holy Spirit power and declare the wonderful works of God in our words and actions everywhere we go.

Jesus, help me to truly come to know you and have your heart for harvest.  Help me to fully receive Your power to be a mighty witness of who You are no matter where You may send me. I desire to have Your heart, speak Your words, and be your witness everywhere that I go today, tomorrow, and forever!

Practical –

• Ask Holy Spirit to reveal God’s heart in the secret place
• Ask for power to be a Witness
• Walk in obedience out into the harvest today 

Be blessed with the peace and power from Holy Spirit today. May you receive a heart for the harvest and the boldness to walk in the power you have received as The Kingdom is accelerated in and through you!

Jeremiah, Man on Fire!!!