Tag: intercession

It all started in Jr. High – Before The Wind & Fire of God

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It all started in 1993/1994, I was 13/14 years old. There began an insatiable hunger. A hunger that couldn’t be filled. A feeling like there was something about ready to happen and I didn’t know what but I had to start preparing myself to get ready. I can’t believe my daughter is the same age now as I was then. I had this intense urgency to get on my face before God and cry out for something more. I was going to Temple Christian at that time and I asked my teachers if it was ok to go to the chapel during lunch on Tuesday and Thursdays with whoever wanted to come so we would worship and pray.
I would go around the lunch room and invite whoever wanted to come from my Jr. High and sometimes some high schoolers to join us to fast, worship and pray.

I remember leading worship from the piano and we began to join our voices in prayer and worship. There was an intensity that burned inside of me that got stronger and stronger. It was hard going to a private school and wanting the entire school to get on fire for God and not always seeing it. But I knew God had a purpose in us being there and to press in no matter what we saw.

I don’t remember how long those times in the chapel lasted, but I do remember what happened in 1995, when our Pastors at City Bible Church in Portland, Oregon, Frank & Sharon Damazio went to investigate the Toronto Blessing and came back with an impartation that spread like wildfire. All of a sudden the intensity and hunger that I had felt in 1993/1994 began to be filled to overflowing.
Countless services of receiving the love, anointing, holy spirit refilling over and over began. Times laying out under the power of the Holy Spirit and in those times going deeper, seeing visions God was showing me of the lost of other countries around the world and revival hitting them.


Then in the spring/summer of 1995 came the burden, heavy deep burden of intercession that overtook my body and soul. The deep deep loud travail that came out of me shook me to the core. I would spend hours at the alter, or in my bedroom not just crying but deep guttrral travail would come out of me. I lost all sense of what was happening around me when that took place. I would be worshipping or praying and all of a sudden I could feel the heartbeat and grief of God over those who did not know him or had rejected him. The burden to see them come to know Jesus and go to heaven would be the focus of my mind as my body was overcome by intense groaning. After it had lightened and I would stop, my face would be ballooned, eyes totally swollen and red dots all over my face and neck from blood vessels thst had burst. I started calling them Holy ghost dots, haha. Glad I didn’t have much vanity back then.

That summer I went to England on a mission trip with the youth lead by Ed and Heather Schefter. In preparing for that trip, our team had amazing prayer times after our drama practices. One night it went way too long and all of us kids on the team got in trouble by our parents for being out past curfew, but seriously we were slain in the spirit on the chapel alter or drunk in the spirit (no alcohol) and couldn’t get up. Haha. Awesome memories. Our poor parents, how many parents have ever gotten that excuse from their kids.

On that trip God began to talk to me about taking up my cross and following Him. I realized that going to a private school and living in a total Christian bubble, I had no cross to carry. When I got back home from England we had Youth camp. There at the alter, the intercession for the lost hit me again. As I was on my face Weeping, God clearly told me that every tear I cried would be a soul that is saved at Centennial High school. I was like, what? I love my school and my friends are my family (I had been at TCS from 1st grade till 10th). God said it’s time to pick up my cross and follow him. That Centennial was my mission field. I looked up and saw all my closest friends and I went over and gathered them and told them what God had told me and I cried tears of sadness. It was the hardest thing I had ever done till that time.

Obedience and sacrifice was what He had required for the next step of my journey. The mission field.

Wake Up Spirit! Declaring scripture over our prayer targets.

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Going on the theme of yesterday’s post, this scripture was burning in my heart this morning for some of the people I’m praying for. I encourage you to speak out loud this verse but insert the name of the person you are praying for in place of the word “You”.

I am convinced and confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will [continue to] perfect and complete it until the day of Christ Jesus [the time of His return]. Philippians 1:6 Amplified Version

SO, SAY THIS. GET IT INTO YOUR SPIRIT AND “STIR UP” YOUR FAITH!

I am convinced and confident that He who HAS begun a good work in _________ WILL COMPLETE IT until the day that Jesus Christ returns.

Amen!

Philippians 1:6

There’s something that happens in your spirit when you hear with your ears what you are thinking in your mind. The Bible talks about our thoughts being powerful but even more powerful is declaring the word of God in a situation and joining together your thoughts and heart for someone.

When our faith is “stirred” it means that we are activating it. Like when you put yeast in bread dough. That dough would just sit there and do nothing if the yeast was not added. In the Bible it talks about a little leaven, leavens the whole lump. So does our faith when it is activated in our spirit. It takes our thoughts and emotions and joins it with our spirit. That is where we began to see things from Heaven’s perspective instead of an Earthly perspective. It allows us to gain hope when everything we see in the natural seems hopeless.

So say to your spirit Wake Up! Start declaring with your mouth the Word of God over those who are praying for and in your own situations. There is nothing like getting out of your own pit by focusing your thoughts and prayers on someone else. We can get caught in our own bubble of a world and look at our own junk and situations causing us to go in a downward spiral.

What we need to do is get our eyes OFF of ourselves, and on to Christ. Through Christ see will people through His eyes and partner with Him to see breakthrough for someone else. That is when you begin to feel lighter and start feeling hope and joy in your own life.

It’s time to start declaring the word of God and stirring up our spirit with faith!

We sang this song when I was little. I love singing scripture!

He who Began, by Steve Green https://youtu.be/eNjZlHARnEk

Asking the Holy Spirit to Hover Over Your Prayer Targets

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I heard a message years ago from Beni Johnson that talked about praying for our kids that the Holy Spirit would hover over them like the Holy Spirit did over the waters at creation. The testimonies that came in were unbelievable how lives were changed and how the prodigals returned.

I encourage you to listen to this song and where it says “Rest on Us” replace the US with the name of the person you are praying for. It is soo powerful to combine worship with prayer as it releases faith inside of us and joins our hearts and spirit with Papa God.

This song was playing right when I turned my car on this morning on Air1, I’m so thankful!
Now I’m so excited to hear testimonies from you!

Worship Song, Rest On Us from Maverick City Music.
https://youtu.be/8qryRCbNYro

Today America Gives Birth to Truth

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Father in heaven, I ask that you would release the host of heaven to surround every single Elector today as they cast their electoral vote for President of the United States today. Please protect them and their families from every attack physically, mentally and spiritually. For Yours Is the Kingdom and the power and the Glory FOREVER Amen!
As I was praying this morning, I saw America as a woman in labor on her hands and knees. She gave birth today to a baby named Truth. As the baby came out it was caught by an angel whose name was Mercy. Mercy held the baby and I heard – 15 years she will guide and raise this baby. God is releasing the Truth that has been incubating for years in the prayers and intercessions of saints around the world and those who have gone before us. He is giving us a window of Mercy that we are responsible to guide and nourish. We must not take this responsibility lightly!

PRAY Until Something Happens – 2016

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PRAY Until Something Happens – 2016Today I pray for our families. I pray that the fathers will live a life of purity and accountability with God. That they would be examples to our children and teach them how a young man should cleanse his way. That husbands would love their wives and uplift them. I pray for mothers that we would parent our kids with grace and love. That every word that comes out of our mouth would be in tone and content how the Lord would want us to speak. That as wives we would learn to honor and respect our husbands in word and deed.

Let our children experience the tangible presence of God so intensely that their destiny will be thrust into place. Let them walk in purity and holiness with a passion for You. Thank you that there is NO Jr. Holy Spirit. And greater things will be released through them this year. Let us and our children lay hands on the sick and see them healed, that the blind will see and the deaf will hear, the dead will be raised. No disease is impossible for Jesus to heal!!! HIS BLOOD PAID FOR EVERYTHING.

Most importantly that God would be the center of our homes that we would to walk and talk with Him throughout the day and allow His voice to direct our steps. That we would serve each other and the body of Christ with a willing heart. So the world will see Jesus in us THE HOPE OF GLORY and come to His loving arms. Father God come and move in our country. We lift you up and magnify your Holy Name. The name that is above all names. Come and stir your church to walk, talk and be your hands and feet to the world. Let the trembling that is felt in the spirit break forth demonstrations of your glory in a powerful way. Let health and wholeness which is our spiritual birthright be released over us that we might walk in your power and might. Jesus you have already won every battle! You are our captain and we stand at attention in your army.

Use us Lord, let us be a light in this word. You said if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me. Let us see this year every prodigal return, every hardened heart softened and salvation and restoration come to our loved ones. Thank you Father that greater is He that is within us than he that is in the world. We are MORE than Conquerors because of the blood of Jesus. And NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST US SHALL PROSPER!! HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!!

 

Be Utterly Amazed- I am doing a work you will not believe!

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I made this poster 5 years ago when Isaac and David started Kindergarten and 2nd grade. Now with them in 7th, 5th and Elicia in 2nd this verse means more to me than ever! God is up to something absolutely amazing. I believe it and declare it. Will you join with me to Pray and incerceed for our nations senators this week as they make one of the most critical decisions in history on September 11th. Praying every one of them is sent ministering angels and encountered by Jesus Christ in their dreams and in their day. This Iran Deal MUST BE STOPPED! We will not support, lift sanctions and supply 100 billion dollars to terrorists and dictators who spew hatred to the United States and to Israel. Declaring THAT EVERY SENATORS EYES AND HEARTS TO BE OPEN, that DECEPTION WILL BE BROKEN AND God’s love and truth to be poured out upon them.  

Habakkuk 1:5 The Lord replied, “Look among the nations! See!Be astonished! Wonder!For I am doing something in your days—You would not believe it if you were told. 

 

The gates were rattling last night!

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Yesterday May 7, 2015 was the National Day of Prayer. I gathered in unity with other churches in my region (in unity there is a commanded blessing –

Psalm 133:1-3 Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! It is like the precious ointment poured on the head, that ran down on the beard, even the beard of Aaron the first high priest, that came down upon the collar and skirts of his garments consecrating the whole body. It is like the dew of lofty Mount Hermon and the dew that comes on the hills of Zion; for there the Lord has commanded the blessing, even life forevermore upon the high and the lowly.

We came together to pray for our nation and worship Almighty God. The worship was powerful and intense, it was a releasing of the sound of heaven. (See below: video from Ray Hughes teaching on the sound of heaven)

Durring a time of free praise, when we all lift up our own song to heaven, I heard a very loud sound of shaking of the gates of Heaven. The sound was so loud I had to cover my ears. I saw heaven’s gates shaking at the glory and presence of Almighty God. I saw a large foot step over the gates and come down and plant itself on top of the United States of America. God said, THIS LAND IS MINE! And it is time for my people to arise and claim this as God’s Land!

It was no accident that President Obama and his cabinet were meeting in my region Portland, OR on the same day I heard this sound. Our gathering was 20 minutes from where our Government Officials were meeting. We prayed that their eyes would be opened to see the Father and know truth. We repented on behalf of our land and declared healing for our country.

Our prayers of faith along with a million + others yesterday from other states and countries wround the world will not be in vain. God’s words will never return void but they will accomplish what they are set out to do. (Isaiah 55:11)

We will not shrink back in fear, we will not grow weary, we will align our hearts and faith in prayer and cry our for mercy, protection, justice, revelation and most of all salvation for the USA!

While I heard the shaking I also heard a booming voice quote Psalms 24:

(Picture of Heaven painted by Akiane Kramarik), I just added the verse. That I heard with the picture.

Ray Hughes teaching on the Symphony of Heaven

http://youtu.be/7-tYXUSVy64

 

Heaven brought to earth: the Sunday I will never forget!

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(Facebook Post August 10th 2014)

Today I experienced something I haven’t experienced in 19 years, since Renewal hit in ’94-95. It took place while listening to my dad speak part two of his message, For Zion’s Sake. (Click the link to listen to both of these timely and important messages about Israel and the Middle East)It was an in depth teaching on Gods love for Arabs and Jews and why God is not done with either of them. Something deep inside of me cried out during our prayer time. An intercession that you can’t produce or cause to happen. Such a burden for those persecuted all over the world for the name of Christ. I had the video and pictures in my mind of Arabs in Iraq being slaughtered, young and old. An intercession crying out for mercy, protection and justice.

During the message I could feel a host on Angels all around. Then as my dad shared miracle after miracle of what God has done to protect and defend the land of Israel, I saw and heard a massive group of angels watching and cheering on what was being shared like they were watching a sports game. They were high 5’ing each other and laughing and cheering saying, “remember when we did that!”. They were cheering on my dad Joel Hjertstedt as he was speaking.

Then as he started reading
Ephesians 2:11-22 I saw Jesus get off of the throne and lay prostrate on top of the glass ceiling over us. He began to weep and blow His breath down into us. He was so grateful about what was being shared. He was also weeping for the friends he grew up with on Earth who did not recognize who he was. He was crying out for the Jews whose eyes need to be open to see that He is their messiah. He was blowing and fanning our hearts to burn for him and to burn with passion for the land of Israel and also for the Arabs which he blessed also through Abraham.

He told me that there are some who are wondering why the pastor was talking about Israel like this. And Jesus said it is because it is a part of our mandate, not only our pastor’s mandate, but the mandate of the church. It is part of our mission on earth to share this with the body of Christ so their eyes will be open to reach out and accept with open arms the Jews and Arabs who will be coming to Him by the millions!

When Pastor Ken was prophesying over my dad, God told me those words were over me as well. Israel and our families connection to it is part of my heritage and destiny. I know I will be back, God spoke very clearly when we visited in 1995. We were leaving for the airport and I was weeping in the car because I did not want to leave the land. I was only a Jr in High School so there was no option. But I told God I didn’t want to leave unless I knew I was coming back some day. I turned and looked out the window and saw the hugest brightest rainbow I had ever. There is something about seeing a rainbow in Israel that brings it’s meaning of a promise a little close to home.

The heavy weighty glory and the “tipsy” filling of the Holy Spirit lasted over an house after the service, marked me in a deep deep way. A woman came up to me right after the service and told me she has been trying to share with her friends back in Japan what is taking place in the Middle East, and was so discouraged because they wouldn’t respond to her at all. She felt ignored , haha, but God had a very powerful word or her that I was barely able to speak out at that time because of the heavy weighty glory.

What a day!!!! Just the beginning!

Here is the verse that I saw Jesus come off of his throne for :

Ephesians 2:11-22 “Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called ‘uncircumcised’ by those who call themselves ‘the circumcision’ which is done in the body by human hands – remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world.
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.

He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit. Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.