September 2020 Fasting and Prayer Message — Saturday PM
This is a summary of the message from the September 2020 fasting and prayer weekend led by Pastor Praveen and held at our church. We had four sessions, Friday morning and evening and Saturday morning and evening (posted here). During our fasting and prayer sessions, it is usual for the Holy Spirit to speak to us through Pastor Praveen.
Pastor Praveen’s Message – The Bible is Prophecy
Pastor Praveen acknowledged that we all believe prophecy. He then pointed out that the bible is a prophetic book. It is prophesy – revelation – nothing else. From Genesis to Revelation it is about only one man – Jesus. Each word has revelation – deep meaning. Whatever God has spoken in this book has been happening and is still happening all over the world and in our personal lives. We are the children of God, the inheritance of Jesus Christ. When He called us and saved us out of the darkness into the wonderful light. He prophesied to us about our blessings, healing, eternal life, and many things. He prophesied – promised – these things to us. When He said that He would bless to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments (Deuteronomy 7:9), that was a prophecy.
We are the children of God. There is prophecy over us, or families, our children, our marriages, our businesses, over the nation, our community, and cities. If you are believing with a clean conscious mind, then you will receive the things prophesied over you. Whatever our God promised – or prophesied – to our forefathers, He accomplished. He will yet fulfill the prophecies of Revelation.
One of the main prophecies in Genesis is found in what God spoke to the serpent: “And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.” (Genesis 3:15). God will not change His prophecy, so in Luke 1 we see God fulfilling this prophecy with the birth of Jesus. Similarly, God will not change His prophecy over us or over our church.
What God prophesied in Genesis 3:15, God fulfilled through Mary (Luke 1:26-56). Notice that when the angel of the Lord spoke to Mary, she was humble. She asked, “How will this be since I am a virgin?”(v. 34). The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one to be born will be called the Son of God.” (v. 35). Note that the angel said, “The Holy Spirit will come …” One hundred percent certainty that it would happen.
Similarly, before Jesus ascended to heaven, He told the disciples, “… you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” It is a different process, for a different purpose, but the same Spirit that came to Mary and to the disciples. Again, “you will receive power …” means it was 100 percent certain to happen. And when the Holy Spirit came, they would be Jesus witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth (Acts 1:8). Similarly, if the Holy Spirit comes on us, we definitely will receive power.
In the case of Mary, not only did the Holy Spirit come on her, but the power of the Most High overshadowed her. This is an amazing thing. God told Pastor Praveen that heaven came down on Mary. She was covered with power.
The process started with her humility. She submitted herself before the Holy Spirit and the power of the Most High. She didn’t say, “Oh, I am going to be the mother of the Son of God!” She said, “I am servant of my Lord.” This is humility. God’s presence brought about this humility – she became clothed with humility. Then she began to sing in the Spirit – “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.” She called Him “my Savior.” This is a personal connection. Likewise, we should remember that Jesus saves each of us personally when He takes us from the darkness to the wonderful light. He is our personal Savior.
Mary was filled with the Spirit – heaven was in her. That is why Elizabeth also became filled with the Holy Spirit and prophesied when Mary stood before her (Luke 1:41-45). Elizabeth said that she was not deserving that the mother of her Lord should come to her. Even the baby in her womb leapt with joy.
Likewise, when we are humble before the Lord and filled with His Spirit, He will honor us before others. People should say of us, “I can see Jesus in you.” This is our calling. If Jesus is in us, wherever we go, people must experience the presence of God.
When the angel of the Lord spoke to Mary, she believed, even though what she heard sounded impossible. In the same way, there is prophecy over you. Believe what God has spoken. Pastor Praveen reminded us about the widow’s son that Jesus raised from the dead (Luke 7:11-17). He had compassion and touched the coffin and the boy sat up. There is power in the name of Jesus. Nothing is impossible with God. You need to believe prophecy. Then you will see miracles in your life. Why don’t you believe? Mary believed and began to sing and praise God. So she received the promised fruit in her life.
The point is that our clean, conscious mind and our faith need to connect. If you have faith, but no confidence in your conscious mind, you will not receive anything from the Lord.
There are still many active prophecies about the Lord healing, deliverance, and prophetic ministries. Are you ready to submit before Him? You might think, “How will this be?” Don’t think about your age, education, how well you can speak. Don’t think. God’s blessing and calling comes with a great package.
Before Jesus saved Pastor Praveen, he was very shy. He wouldn’t sit with or speak with people except for just a few friends. When he did speak, he would not make eye contact. When the Spirit came upon him, he changed because he received a great package.
Jesus crushed the head of the serpent. Then He took the key back from Satan and gave it to us. Use it! What key do you need to use? The key of the Love of Christ? Of Forgiveness? Of Salvation? Of healing? Of deliverance? Use it! Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:18-20). That is His promise. Do you believe God is in you? God is with you? Did he change His promise? He said, “I will be with you always. Even to the end of the age.” “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5). He is keeping His promises because He is the promise keeper.
There is prophecy over you, your family, and this church, because we are all children of God. He called us with a great blessing, great promises, a great package. Jesus gave us the authority to go and make disciples. God is telling us, “Go! Why don’t you go?” If you believe, you will drive out demons, speak in new tongues, pick up snakes in your hand, drink deadly poison and not die, lay your hands on the sick and they will get well (Mark 16:17-18). Also, you will trample on snakes and scorpions and overcome all the power of the enemy (Luke 10:19). What else do we need?
Pastor Praveen made several points from Acts 1 and 2. He said the one who was conceived by the Holy Spirit also gave instructions to his disciples by the Holy Spirit. He said, “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you.” The 120 who were praying together on the day of Pentecost had clothed themselves with humility toward one another. All were equal. None were trying to be better than the others. The women and the men were there together. They were praying constantly in one accord because they believed this prophecy.
A sound like a violent wind came and filled the whole house. Why? Because they believed the prophecy. They knew how to receive the tongues of fire – with unity in one accord and clothed with humility toward one another. What God prophesied to them before ascending to heaven, he fulfilled with the tongues of fire.
Concluding Remarks
Pastor Praveen has received two visions of heaven from the Lord. Today, he spoke about the second one in which God took him to the throne room where he joined in worship with the 24 elders. The King of kings was sitting on the throne, watching them. Pastor Praveen saw the glory of the Lord – it looked something like smoke – coming from the throne. It came towards Pastor Praveen and touched his heart. Then the Lord took him on a tour around heaven. After this experience, Pastor Praveen’s level of ministry changed. Soon after the vision, he prayed for a woman who was nearly dead and she immediately recovered by the power of God.
We must keep His commands always in our lives. There are permanent homes for us in heaven, not made by human hands.