Watch live video from New Heights Network on Justin.tv

Two years ago, on July 7, 2007, countless numbers of couples around the world exchanged marriage vows because they thought 07/07/07 would bring them luck. Casinos enjoyed an increase in business that day and convenience stores reported a boost in the sale of lottery tickets as people tried to capitalize on the luck they believed the day would bring.

On that same day, church leaders and youths from all over the nation converged on the Tennessee Titans’ stadium in Nashville to repent before God, worship and pray for the nation from morning until night. The Call Nashville was an uplifting and inspiring gathering centered on completion, which the number seven signifies.

The following year, on August 8, 2008, the People’s Republic of China made history when she opened her doors to the world for the opening ceremony of the Games of the XXIX Olympiads. For 16 days, the world watched as thousands of athletes from several hundred nations competed in various events for the coveted gold medal. Even though the number 8 is associated with prosperity and confidence in the Chinese culture, compared to the frenzy 07/07/07 aroused, 08/08/08 went virtually unnoticed by the world.

On the other hand, many in the Church had a sense that God wanted to do something unrelated to the Olympics on August 8, 2008. I was one of those people. On January 1, 2008, God instructed me to have a celebration on August 8, 2008. In the months that followed, I received specific directions about what was to take place. I also became keenly aware of what was not to occur; namely, I was not to promote ministry, sell products or conduct any other activity that would detract from the overall purpose of this gathering. I knew Jesus was to be the focal point of this event.

Jesus Only!

Leading up to the conference, I oftentimes found it difficult to explain what the event was or how it would benefit people’s lives. I only knew that God told me to have the meeting and to tell those who could hear to come and celebrate our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. We would do so for twelve hours, from 8:00 AM to 8:00 PM, through our praise and worship, our exaltations and prayer.

The celebration was one of the most exciting events I have experienced. Believe me when I tell you there are not many moves of God that have taken place without me being a part of them. But this was different and it was evident from the very moment we stepped foot in the building. There were many who came to me and reported that they were so grateful we had the celebration and how they had to fight to be there.

The presence and power of God through Jesus was in the room with such peace and grace that it was difficult to move from one agenda item to the next. Jesus was the focal point and everything we did pointed to Him and how we are completed in Him.

The surprise for me was the reaction and response of the young people who have been walking the spiritual fence in God reaction and response. Many times as a pastors we want to reach our young people, but what they want is to experience the real and, we must be honest, our church services haven’t cut it for many of them.

I can tell you that a fire was ignited in the hearts of these young people that have has not gone out because Jesus touched them with His love and grace. It is my belief that the upcoming celebration will be greater than last year’s because there is no Olympics nor even a calendar date competing with the fact that 888 is a person and not just a date!

My life has changed forever since this celebration and many people who know me have seen it. The grace of revelation has continually been a blessing from the Lord in my life but since this meeting the heavens have opened. Father started preparing me for this change way before the celebration but however since I was so focused on getting things together it wasn’t apparent to me until after the celebration ended.

The Divine Math Book

Prior to the conference, I discovered Gematria (the substitution of numbers for letters in the Hebrew and Greek alphabets) and how the entire universe speaks to us through a numerical pattern designed by God. I believe a balanced study of the Bible using Gematria can change an unbeliever’s perspective about creation and the source of salvation as well as increase the faith of believers.

Since Hebrew and Greek, which are the original languages of the Old and New Testaments respectively, are both alphanumeric languages; that is, each letter also represents a numerical value; it is possible to conclude that the Bible is not just a literary book, but is also a divine mathematics book. (This is not something one would normally hear from the pulpit on a Sunday morning since most pastors and Christian leaders do not understand how Gematria works.). During the course of my studies, I learned that the number 888 is the numerical value for the name Jesus in Greek. Iesous, the name Jesus in Greek, is: I (10) + e (8] + s (200) + o (70) + u (400) + s (200), which equals 888. A detailed account of how Father gently led me to the place where I understood the meaning of 888 is in my new book “Knowing God by the Numbers”.

Some have questioned my motives for having this service on 08/08/08; perhaps I was over spiritualizing something that, for the most part, had little relevance. In fact, after the celebration, my spiritual father asked me if this conference was just because the date matched the Gematria number for His Name. I was able to clearly explain that the date did not have any bearing on my decision to hold this event. The date supported the revelation, but it was not the revelation. This celebration was all about Jesus and the greatness of His Name! For this reason, there will be another 888 celebration in 2009! In fact, we can have this celebration until the end of time because His Name is eternal. The calendar year may change, but His Name is forever.

I have also been asked if there will be other celebrations in recognition of September 9, 2009 (999) or October 10, 2010 (1010). Both of these numbers are awesome in Gematria and have significant meaning throughout the Bible. But, Father has not given me any instructions about these dates and, until He does, our celebrations will only be in observance of the number of His Name, 888.

After several months of prayer, fasting and preparation, on Friday, August 8, 2008, we celebrated 888: The Number of His Name Conference. Over 500 people came from across the United States to celebrate His Name. They did not come expecting to see a high profile personality. They came for Jesus! For 12 hours, we had the privilege of walking through the tabernacle, which speaks of Jesus, from the door to the Mercy seat. We spent 4 hours in the outer court, 4 hours in the holy place and 4 hours in the holy of holies. The last 4 hours were so powerful!

I know most of us attend church services, but how many of them focus on JESUS only the entire time? Unfortunately, not very many! Today, many Christians are comfortable discussing the problems in the world, but are unwilling to do anything about them. Others believe their primary purpose is to police the church while the vast majority of people today are destined to enter eternity without Christ. In these times, we cannot continue to do what has already been done when our times demand a change. We must seek the Lord until He comes and rains righteousness upon us.

Was This A God Generated Event?

One way to determine if God is involved in an undertaking is by the increased activity from the evil one, who always attempts to change or interfere with what God wants to accomplish. This became perfectly clear to me on the morning of the celebration when I received disturbing reports about the well being of several leaders in my congregation. One of my elders and his entire family was hospitalized after being hit by a drunk driver. The minister of music, who was following this family to the event, was also run off the road. Another elder and his wife had an accident while in transit. They were returning from a vacation and on their way to the conference site when the accident occurred. We started the celebration in warfare for these leaders. I am pleased to report that they are all fine and fully recovered. But it was very serious for a moment!

The Priesthood

As I prepared for the 888 celebration, an old reality became clearer to me. Through Christ Jesus, we have been made priests together with Him.

1Peter 2:5 Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
1Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: (KJV)

Once people learned about last year’s celebration many of them contacted my office to inform me of revelation that they had received about the fact that the tabernacle approach to God was still important. Some have held the revelation for years and many haven’t been received by the church because it was thought of as an old revelation. What I received built upon the Old Testament revelation as the shadow of a greater reality!

The Bible instructs us that the order of the priesthood changed from Aaron to Melchisedec, but we are never told that the order of approaching Father God changed.

Hebrews 6:20 Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus, made an high priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.
Hebrews 7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.
Hebrews 7:15 And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there ariseth another priest,
Hebrews 7:16 Who is made, not after the law of a carnal commandment, but after the power of an endless life.
Hebrews 7:17 For he testifieth, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedec.

It is for this reason that only priests are allowed to approach Father God on behalf of those who cannot approach Him for themselves. The priest in turn brings what they receive from God and gives it to those with whom He is not in relationship.

Christ is the Great High Priest after the order of Melchisedec and we have joined Him in this ministry to carry the lost to His throne. This is missed in most churches today due the great divide between the pulpit and the pew. But Christ Himself had to be made a priest so that He could approach the Father. Hear this again, ONLY PRIESTS CAN COME BEFORE THE FATHER!

It was that way with Aaron and the Levitical order and it’s true of the Melchisedec order which we were birthed into. Our desire should be to see our loved ones, friends, neighbors and even total strangers come to the saving grace provided through the cross. As Aaron had the twelve tribes on his breastplate, we should have at least twelve people in our hearts for which we pray regularly! The focus of the 888 celebration is completely on the Great High Priest Jesus and will only be through a people who fully understand that Jesus is Lord that the world of lost people can come to know our King!

The one question I receive from people once they hear this fact is why hasn’t anyone spoken of this before now? It is because we are conducting our church services from the basis that two things exist that God didn’t create.

Those two things are clergy and layman! It is understood that the clergy operate as the priests and the layman should sit back and receive whatever they present to them from the Lord. This doesn’t produce a people who want to completely surrender all to Jesus or who understand that He will work through them for the good of this generation.

During the Reformation, believers began to understand their rights as citizens of the Kingdom; namely, their right to approach God, to handle the sacraments and much more. However, a distinction between the pulpit and the pew continued to exist because of those two words introduced by Saint Clements; clergy and layman. Even though we cannot find either of the words in the Scriptures, they continue to rule the Church today. The biblical word that best represents the believer’s responsibility is Priest.

I believe the second reformation will occur when believers understand and begin to function in their priestly position. As a result, scores of believers will find their rightful place in kingdom service!

The starting place must be to honor and glorify the Great High Priest Jesus by adorning Him with our praise and worship! We have quoted for years the words of our Lord, “And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.” (John 12:32 KJV)

We know He was giving insight to the type of death He would face. But I believe it also is the way we present Him to the generation. I was told last year, and it has proven itself true, that when we honor the name of the Jesus in this way Father would protect us from the famine of the land. It was true in the sense that our church is advancing during these uncertain times and many of the people are receiving promotions. Their coworkers are being laid off but many in our body are being increased. None of the things that are plaguing the society is being found in our body.

Why?

Because the 888 is full of abundance and awesome in protections! Come celebrate the name above every name and watch Him bless you to experience a spiritual Goshen where the plagues hit Egypt but completely miss you!

The Details

This year’s celebration will again focus on the tabernacle and how each piece of furniture speaks of Jesus. Also, we will gain a better understanding of how to function as a priest in this generation for Kingdom advancement.

Remember, this is not a conference, but rather a celebration of Jesus and all that He has done for us. Join me on August 7, 2009 to celebrate the 888 (Jesus) as we worship His greatness and pray for Him to come and change our world. This celebration will take place at Heritage International Ministries in Fort Mill, SC. You can find more information on my website at www.Betheloic.com or by calling 704-992-1033.

Since the celebration, we have started a priestly prayer line in which believers from all over the Eastern Time zone pray for the lost Monday through Friday from 5:00 AM to 5:30 AM. I invite you to join us by calling 712-775-7000; when prompted, enter the pass code 926987#.

Why should you come to this celebration?
Because we must demonstrate to this world system that nothing will cause us to bow our knee to anything but our Lord and savior Jesus Christ, the new beginnings (8), the super abundance (8), the salvation of our God (8)! Amen!

I am looking for those people who will stand in prayer one hour per day with me for the advancement of our national 888 conference, which takes place August 7, 2009.

The number 888 is the numerical value of the name Jesus in Greek.  This is a celebration of the only name by which men are saved.

Last year our calendar had the number 888, on August 8, 2008 and many people in the body of Christ understood that this was an important date.  There were services across the country and in many parts of the world.

But it is important to understand that this number is more than a date; it is a name!

I believe the Lord gave me the instructions to have a service on this day to bring greater attention to His name and the power in His name. We will follow the same the format of service, from 8 AM to 8 PM, with the focus on Jesus only.

I need the believers who will join me in prayer to pray for the presence and glory of our Lord to be in the meeting. Will you join me?  If the answer is yes, please post your comment and I will give you further instructions.

It is important to understand that this prayer focus is different from our 5 AM prayer time taking place Monday through Friday.  I need this group of people to pray 7 days per week, which will be a total of 84 hours if you begin on June 9, 2009.  I you do not start on Tuesday, June 9, please start as soon as possible.

Thank you for your help!

Following is an entry from one of my church leaders:

For our early morning Together in Prayer meetings we take a scripture that God gives and write out a prayer in our own words related to each verse. We then pray what we have written verse by verse on Thursday mornings. Yesterday we did Psalm 40 and Bishop Jackson asked me to share mine with you. May this inspire you in your own prayers.

1. Thank you Lord for having an ear towards my cry; for listening to your humble servant.

2. You have delivered me from a place that caused me distress and sorrow and set me on a firm foundation where I have joy unspeakable.

3. You’ve given me a brand new song; I now sing praises to You, God. Those around me will see how You have blessed me and will also trust in You.

4. Lord you say that I am blessed when I put my trust in you alone.

5. The things you have done cannot be numbered and all the plans you have for me are so numerous that no one can list them – it’s impossible because they are so vast. Hallelujah!

6. I am glad that you do not desire sacrifice; you don’t desire offerings from me. You have already prepared blessings for me and have called me to be your own.

7. I have come to you as you have written about me in your word.

8. I set my will to be your will; I have written your law on my heart.

9. I dare not keep silent about you God. I shout to all who will hear about you goodness and righteousness.

10. Thank you for giving me a voice to proclaim your love, your truth. I do not keep it to myself. I speak out about your faithfulness and salvation.

11. I ask you my God to be merciful to me, to not give me what I deserve, to protect me and love me. May your truth stay with me, keeping me safe.

12. I ask you this because you know all the trouble that surrounds me and the thoughts that consume me. I am bombarded with them all day long and it weakens me from doing your will.

13. Save me Lord, take the torment away, and quickly help me! I’m crying out to you!

14. Anyone who seeks to destroy me or anyone who desires bad for me, may it come upon them and may they turn away in shame.

15. Those that criticize me and judge me may they themselves be judged.

16. But Lord, those who seek you, may they exalt your name and be glad and rejoice. My they live in peace and comfort.

17. Even so Lord, I am humble before you and I need you. Only You can help me, please come quickly.

Amen

I had an encounter with the Lord while driving to pick up one of my five daughters on June 1, 2009.  While driving I looked into the sky and it appeared as if I could see farther than the human eye is capable of seeing.  It was for just a moment but it seemed much longer, the heavens opened and I understood that I wasn’t from the earth.

Don’t freak out, I clearly understand that I am human but there is a part of me that isn’t!  The spirit of man that has been born again comes directly from the Father and isn’t produced by human hands or ability.

John 1:12  But as many as received him, to them gave the power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

John 1:13  Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

In that brief moment faith was released into my heart in such a way that I knew Father God would grant my petitions.  So, I immediately started praying for the things I need and the people who need a touch from the Lord.

I saw things such as cancer dying and financial needs met!  My drive time was about 15 minutes and in that time things in and around my life were different.  But I hadn’t left my car, how did I know things had changed?  By faith!

It is important to understand that the currency of heaven is faith.  Just as the currency of the earth is money.  We receive from heaven through the same type of exchange system, except we use faith as our means of exchange.

Remember, without faith it is impossible to please God!

Hebrewsrews 11:1  Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.

Hebrewsrews 11:2  For by it the elders obtained a good report.

Hebrews 11:3  Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear.

Hebrews 11:4  By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.

Hebrews 11:5  By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God.

Hebrews 11:6  But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

I think it is time to rededicate our heart to trusting the true and living God!  We have placed too much trust in the currency of the earth and its ability to provide for our lives.  But the just shall live by faith.

But we are living by money!

Could this be the reason the world financial system is in such trouble?

Because the people of God have joined their hearts to it instead of Him!

Please read and study the scriptures below. They may be just what you need to restart your faith engine. Amen!

Mark 11:22  And Jesus answering saith unto them, Have faith in God.

Matthew 9:2  And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.

Matthew 9:22  But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.

Matthew 9:29  Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.

Matthew 15:28  Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour.

Matthew 17:20  And Jesus said unto them, Because of your unbelief: for verily I say unto you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible unto you.

Matthew 21:21  Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.

Matthew 23:23  Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone.

Luke 18:1  And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

Luke 18:2  Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

Luke 18:3  And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

Luke 18:4  And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

Luke 18:5  Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

Luke 18:6  And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

Luke 18:7  And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

I believe that when the body of Christ realizes that Isaiah 53 should be a part of our everyday lives, nothing will prevent us from “pushing” to see that others are delivered from their sins.

Our Legacy of Suffering

Christians need to realize that we are heirs, not only of the salvation Jesus won for us on the cross, but of the pattern of His suffering as well. Everything Christ did in His earthly ministry was meant for those who would follow His example.

“To this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps” (1 Pet. 2:21).

The word “suffering” causes most of us to think about physical problems or things such as uncomfortable living conditions. We sometimes stop short of the full meaning of Christ’s suffering because of the awful way this world treated Him physically. Certainly Jesus suffered in the flesh, but before He did, He faced a time of suffering in the garden during prayer. This was the spiritual suffering that enabled Him to face the physical suffering.

I believe that one reason Christians are reluctant to follow in Christ’s footsteps of spiritual suffering is that, down deep, they think Satan is the cause of all suffering. It is extremely important to realize that it was God, not Satan, who subjected Christ to His suffering on the cross and that God will retain control over our own suffering on behalf of others.

All this is revealed in Isaiah 53. There we learn, “Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief” (v. 10). It was not Satan but God the Father who caused Jesus to face this great season of suffering. If this were not true, why would Jesus pray to the Father to remove the cup of suffering He was being asked to drink? It was because He knew the Father was in control.

Some would try to explain Christ’s suffering and death in terms of God’s pulling His hand back and allowing the enemy to take the life of His Son. The truth is that any involvement the enemy may have had in Christ’s suffering and death, God used to complete His plan–not only used, but also allowed.

According to the Scriptures, Jesus’ suffering for others was totally within the eternal plan of God. Christ even rebuked the apostle Peter for thinking otherwise (see Matt. 16:21-23).

This means not only that we should accept our role of suffering in the Spirit as from God, but also that we can trust Him not to allow us to suffer more than we can bear. God, not Satan, is in control.

Looking at Christ’s suffering, many people today think that Satan was winning. How wrong they are! Despite Christ’s suffering and ours, victory is at hand. There is nothing anyone can do to stop it. Being numbered mong the transgressors, willing to suffer as they suffer, we can be a part of that victory.  Part 3

When I started praying with this new insight, the intensity of my prayer time increased so much and so fast that it shocked me. I was not only praying for the person or situation, but also sensing what the person was feeling. It seemed as though their circumstances were mine, and as a result, I prayed more intensely.

Sometimes a person will ask us for prayer, and we forget to pray in spite of our good intentions. But we will never forget to pray when we truly understand the pain of others because we can feel the discomfort associated with the need. Being able to feel this discomfort while praying generates a deeper, more fervent prayer. It also increases our compassion and our desire to see the transgressor delivered, saved and healed–as much as if we personally needed God’s touch.

Joining Christ’s Suffering

For a long time I thought the “numbered with the transgressors” principle was a message to bring compassion for lost people back to the church. What I knew but had not connected to this principle is the fact that prayer works. Testimonies started to come in about people’s attitudes and lives changing. A person or a group of people would pray following my instructions, and testimonies would follow immediately.

A case in point is the first time I shared what I was learning about intercessory prayer at Manna Christian Fellowship in Richmond, Virginia–my home church. As the principle of being numbered with the transgressors unfolded and became clearer, people in the congregation began to cry uncontrollably. They cried just as I had cried while praying for those caught in the grip of homosexuality.

Suddenly the church was filled with the presence of the Holy Spirit. Through my own tears I instructed the congregation to pray for a family member who had not come into a relationship with Jesus Christ. I asked them to be sure they prayed from the position Christ had assumed, numbering themselves with that lost person.

When the entire congregation started praying this way, their hearts seemed to break, and the sounds of people crying aloud filled the room. At the end of the service all marveled at how God’s Spirit had taken over the prayer time. This was a church that already was committed to prayer!

Yet several people said they had never prayed that way before. It was not hard for me to believe that this kind of prayer was new for them because the same thing was happening to me every time I prayed with this attitude of being “numbered.” Some of the people indicated they better understood what intercession was and how to intercede.

One day while I was praying, I began to feel as though God did not exist. This experience caught my attention just as the experience of identifying with a homosexual had. At the time, my brother was going through a very rough period in his life. Family members suspected he was using drugs regularly.

On this particular day, the Holy Spirit placed this thought in my mind: Your brother’s true problem is not drugs; it is that he does not believe in God. Now you know how he feels, so pray from his vantage point.

Two weeks later, my brother called. He explained that he thought his life was trapped because of his bondage to drugs. Could I help him? Glory to God, I had already been allowed to help him by being numbered with the transgressors! Today, my brother is a drug-free, born-again husband and father.

Most of us know people who need help; if we are willing to apply the principle of being numbered with the transgressors when praying for them, we can often provide that help–and see them brought into a relationship with God.

Heightened Prayer Life

Many Christians today struggle with maintaining a consistent prayer life. Although there are various reasons for this deficiency, I believe two of the factors that contribute to a decreased desire to pray are the lack of enjoyment and the lack of answers to prayer.

When people begin to have their prayers answered, they will pray more. Answered prayers also cause people to enjoy the time they spend in prayer because they know it is not in vain. Whenever I teach about being numbered with the transgressors, I tell potential pray-ers that to see lasting change in the people or situations prayed for, they must pray steadfastly.

Family members who are resisting God can be changed when someone within that family who knows God cares enough to persistently intercede for them in this way. Those yearning to see change in their cities can use this principle, and changes will occur. Those who want more intense and effective prayer lives will find that the principle will bring positive results in days and weeks as opposed to years.

When we become a part of what we pray for, a new attitude develops. Those who have learned to apply this principle report that they have never before prayed with such intensity.

Since I have begun to share this principle with the body of Christ, some have stopped practicing it because of the cost of being consistent in prayer. Bishop Wellington Boone can help us here through the “P.U.S.H.” concept he introduced in his book Breaking Through.

P.U.S.H. stands for “Pray Until Something Happens!” A woman in labor cannot stop pushing when the head of the baby appears. She is compelled to push until the process is complete.   Part 2

Has the Holy Spirit ever given you His compassion as you prayed for someone? Prayers that are initiated by the Holy Spirit’s burden will move heaven and earth.

One Sunday evening during a church service, a strange thing happened to me. I began to feel like someone who lived the life of a homosexual man. I stopped praying to evaluate what was happening. Besides the fact that I had never struggled with my sexuality, I was happily married. Yet, these feelings were real and caused me some concern.

Then I began to reason that perhaps someone experiencing this problem was present in the service and that God was showing me that the person needed to be set free from the bondage of homosexuality.

How could I come to this conclusion so quickly? Many times while ministering the Word of God, I would feel pain in my body and know someone in the audience was experiencing it. The first time this happened and the Holy Spirit instructed me to tell the audience, the fear of looking foolish almost stopped me from expressing it.

Since then there have been times when no one in the audience responds, but the percentage of people who do respond is fairly high. When they respond, I pray for them, and many times they experience relief from their pain. On some occasions I have also told the audience when the pain started, how long they had been experiencing it, and on what side or in which arm or leg the pain was located.

I concluded that the feelings of homosexuality were like those that came to me on behalf of people in pain. Therefore I thought someone would be in the evening service that needed deliverance from homosexuality.

 

After the service concluded that night I realized that not even one visitor was present at the service. The church at this time was small and still meeting in a hotel ballroom so we all had intimate knowledge of each other and no one there struggle with this issue. So I dismissed what had happened to me as something unexplainable.

Days later, however, in another location with a new prayer focus, the same feelings came over me again. I was as confused this time as I had been the first time. On this occasion, however, I prayed to the Lord about the experience. I asked Him if He would help me understand what was happening.

Two Scripture references came to mind: Isaiah 53 and Romans 8. Suddenly a flood of understanding was released into my soul. It now became clear that God was using this prayer experience to show me how to be “numbered with the transgressors” and to identify with this group of people in intercessory prayer.

Numbered With the Transgressors

Gradually these words from the Holy Spirit began to grip my heart: “I allowed you to experience in seed form what homosexual people experience so that you would learn to pray for them from their vantage point–so that you would cry out in prayer with sincerity and understanding for their deliverance.”

God wanted me to become more effective in prayer. He also wanted me to tell the entire body of Christ that they are called to be numbered with transgressors to more adequately intercede for them.

Let’s look at the foundational passage the Lord gave me from Isaiah: “Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors” (53:12, NKJV).

I believe the phrase “the strong” in this passage refers to the church–those who receive their strength from the Lord. In His victory over sin, Christ divides the spoils with us, giving us the strength to do what He said. Because He was numbered with the transgressors, He calls us to identify with them also.

In becoming a man and then dying on the cross for the sins of others, Jesus became a part of every evil work ever done on the face of the earth. Not that Christ ever sinned, but He took on the sins of all who had. He became guilty by association.

He did not come to earth clothed in glory. He came wearing the clothes of humanity in order to totally identify with all that humans had experienced, are experiencing or will experience.

During His earthly ministry, the religious leaders could not understand why Christ would fellowship with, eat with and go into the homes of known sinners. He even allowed a prostitute to touch Him, and this truly alarmed the religious leaders. They began to ask Christ’s disciples if Jesus knew who the woman was.

“‘This Man, if He were a prophet,’” said Simon the Pharisee, “‘would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner’” (Luke 7:39).

Never would Simon or the other Pharisees allow this woman to come close to them because of their position in the religious community. These leaders lived their lives as though they were above other people.

Jesus, on the other hand, though He was God’s Son, not only let this sinful woman touch Him, but also defended her actions toward Him. He was clothed in flesh, and He was willing to identify with others who were also flesh.   (PART ONE)

Can you believe that all of the answers to your problems are only one prayer away?

The prayer that is needed isn’t a prayer about the problem but one of relationship with Father God.

It is the communion with God that is the true answer to every problem in our lives. Many believers have decided to use God as their own personal bailout plan. They show up at the throne of God when things aren’t going well in their lives just to relieve the pressures they are facing.

This is not what Father created man for! The bible tells us that we were created for His good pleasure and not our own.

Revelation 4:11 Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.

Think about this for a moment, Adam had no needs at all and had absolutely no problems. This was the original design for man in the created order of God. Jesus is the last Adam and has restored us to our place where we should enjoy the blessings of God.

Matthew 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

Can you really believe that God will add everything you need just because you spend time with Him and desire His righteousness? It is true, because the word of God cannot lie. But you must trust God with your life to experience this level of provision.

Get in His face with a desire to praise Him and nothing else. You will move quickly into worship and the heart of God will be pleased. You will receive your very heart‘s desire when the Father’s heart is pleased!

And there will be no more problems!