A Season Of Wondering, "Have I Lost Jesus Somewhere?"

We all have those times when we wonder, "Have I lost Jesus somewhere?" Even Jesus' own parents, Mary and Joseph, lost Him for three whole days and couldn't find Him. "But they, supposing him to have been in the company, went a day's journey; and they sought him among their kinsfolk and acquaintances but He wasn't there." Luke 2:44 What a shock especially for Mary to have birthed the treasure of the world and wonder where He was. "And it came to pass, that, after three days, they found him in the temple." Luke 2:46 At twelve years of age He was about His Father's business to save you and me. It's easy to lose Jesus in a crowded world. If it seems you have lost Him, be encouraged. He is about to make His grand entrance into your life. But you may have to take a journey.

Come Away

 When God says, "Come away, My Beloved," a million "Likes" on Facebook won't satisfy. You crave to see His face. And it doesn't matter then if your favorite sports team wins or loses, for the things of this world grow strangely dim. People will say, "That was one of the best messages I've ever heard." but you felt nothing. And you were the speaker. When He bids you come, your fingers numb and your passion to write dies. You can do nothing without Him. We live by faith and not by sight or feelings, but sooner or later, if His presence doesn't return, you will check your pulse wondering, "Did I lose Jesus somewhere?"

But He Keeps Calling. And You Keep Seeking.

Your hunger grows. You eat off other people's plates during church now. Someone whispers after the service, "I didn't get a thing out of that pastor's message." You tell them, "It's because I got it all. I was so hungry I ate off your plate!" Unfamiliar scriptures come alive. "To the hungry soul every bitter thing tastes sweet." Proverbs 27:7 You get so hungry for God, you eat giants. They become your nourishment. They come for only one reason: to strengthen you. For you are on a quest to find God again. On the way the ravens feed you ---- people you thought God could never use are the ones keeping you alive now. With eyes straining, you start seeing God in everyone. He puts something you need in the person you don't like. Surprisingly, it's now your enemy telling you where your next meal is. And you love him for it.

Your stomach growls. Like the four lepers in Samaria in the time of famine, you're starving. "And there were four leprous men at the entering in of the gate of Samaria: and they said one to another, Why sit we here until we die? If we say, We will enter into the city, then the famine is in the city, and we shall die there: and if we sit still here, we die also. Now therefore come, and let us fall unto the host of the Syrians: if they save us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall but die." 2 Kings 7:3,4

Rolling With The Gut Punches

You are convinced too. You'd rather die moving, than die sitting. Up until now you've never regretted taking a risk. Your only regret were the ones you didn't take and what might have been. You know well the leprosy of rejection. Your Christian life is made up of mostly perseverance and rolling with the gut punches. But you keep going. Your gut keeps telling you, "If you can drag your weary bones past hell's gate of rejection, you can roll the rest of the way into the arms of the One who can heal all your wounds. And you will feast on the Bread of Life."

Almost There

The journey becomes lonely when you get close to finding Him. Even leprous friends leave you. You no longer follow the crowds. You push through them. To touch His clothes would be enough now. Like the woman with an issue of blood for twelve years. You are sick of being sick and wonder what it's like to be well again. But where is He? You heard His schedule is to raise Jairus' dead daughter today. You wonder if you can stop Him on His way to make history with you. One touch from Him and you can live through anything.

The Lord is releasing His greatest hunger on earth this hour. "And I will shake all nations, and the 'desire' of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory," says the Lord of hosts. Haggai 2:7 That word desire means: to crave, hunger, to have a strong longing for. The shaking is making the stomachs of nations to growl. And ours too. I heard He satisfies people with an unsatisfied satisfaction. I don't know about you. But, "Would you pass me your plate, please?"

Blessings,

Bill Yount

www.billyount.com 

Shofars Summoned Into Battle…To Raise The Nations From The Dead!

IS THE SHOFAR STILL EFFECTIVE?

Yes! Our battles today are with principalities and powers of darkness, but they are still battles!

“And the three hundred (of Gideon’s army) blew the trumpets (shofars), and the Lord set every man’s sword against his fellow, even throughout all the host (of the enemy): and the host fled to Bethshittah in Zererath, and to the border of Abelmeholah, unto Tabbath.” Judges 7:22

“I WOULDN’T HAVE CHOSEN THAT WEAPON!”

God is still calling forth the foolish things to use for His glory. If He can use you and me, He can use anything — and get away with it!

Most victories in times of war in the Old Testament came through unusual weapons ordered by the Lord. Samson with the jawbone of an ass slew a thousand Philistines! Israel marched around a city and took it with a shout! Jehoshaphat’s army was outnumbered like the sands of the seashore and He was led to put his loudest mouth singers on the very front line of battle. They began to sing praises as they marched into the enemy camp and God sent ambushments against the enemy to confuse them; and all the enemy were dead when the hymn-sing was over! They didn’t even get to fight in this battle!

I have been to an army base in Israel, recently. Their army still sings during their training drills . . . Devil beware! I must confess, if I was commanding these armies, “I wouldn’t have chosen these weapons . . . but God did!”

THE SHOFAR BLOWS CONFUSION INTO THE CAMP OF THE ENEMY

I believe the most terrifying sound in the enemy’s ears is the sound of the shofar! Every time a shofar blows, the devil doesn’t know whether it’s one of us or Gabriel himself blowing that last trump of God! When shofars are blown, they blow confusion into the enemy’s camp — every time!

I believe one of the reasons the Lord is calling forth the weapon of the shofar this hour is to send confusion into the camp of the enemy! Great fear and the terror of the Lord will be released upon him through this mighty, foolish weapon!

“WHEN GIDEON BLEW HIS . . . I BLEW MINE!”

As I read how the Spirit of the Lord came upon Gideon and he blew a trumpet (shofar), I asked the Lord, “When the Spirit came upon Gideon and he blew a shofar, was that Gideon blowing or was that you?”

The Lord answered, “When Gideon blew his . . . I blew Mine!”

Many Jewish people believe that the trump of God in Heaven is not a Louis Armstrong-type trumpet, but a shofar (a rams horn — or His could be called a lamb’s horn).

I heard of the testimony of a man who died and went to heaven. He said he saw the shofar of God there. He said, “It is fifteen miles long!” When it is blown it will literally raise the dead down through every generation of time who believe in Jesus Christ the Messiah! I believe the Lord is raising up shofars this hour, getting us used to hearing their sound; for when Gabriel blows the Shofar of God, it will be the last sound out of here!

“WHEN A WEAPON IS LOADED, IT GOES OFF EVERY TIME . . . THERE IS NO NEED FOR PRACTICE!”

In 1995, I was invited to blow the shofar at an International Aglow Conference in Long Beach, California. Blowing the shofar was new to me. Before the conference in the hotel room, I thought I better practice blowing it. At the very first blow, in the Spirit I saw angels descending upon Long Beach and the whole region! I sensed the Lord saying, “Be careful, this baby is loaded! There is no need to practice with this weapon!”

I have learned that when a shofar is blown, it calls forth angelic armies into that region to fight against the powers of darkness, to take back that territory into God’s kingdom! When I blew the shofar at the conference, into nine thousand people, and had them shout the walls down inside of their households, divorces were cancelled, marriages were restored and even reports came in of missing children being found!

“ALL I KNOW IS GOD SAID, ‘BLOW!’”

I wonder how God might organize a mass blowing of shofars from those who know they are called to blow one. I sense there are many who think that to blow a shofar isn’t for them. Let me ask you a question. “How do you know unless you blow one?”

I personally believe not everyone is called to blow the shofar. I will let that decision of blowing one be between you and the Lord.

When the Lord first called me to blow the shofar, He made one thing clear: “Bill, when you blow it, it will be Me blowing, because I live in you! By faith, I believe when I blow into one end of the shofar, the very breath of God comes out the other — because He lives in me! It’s all by faith that God is calling forth these foolish weapons again, this hour, in time of war!

I sense the Lord would have us to personally be led by Him when and where to blow in this season of war. I believe a good place to start is right at home. Let’s blow the confusion out of our own lives and families! And let the Lord lead you from there! You can stand right where you are and blow into a nation. There is no distance with the breath of God! He will lead us. Check in with Him for the details . . . all I know is God said, “Blow!”

Blessings,
Bill Yount
www.billyount.com

Healing Runs In My Family

My mother, who will be ninety years old soon, has found the key to long life. Twice cancer couldn’t kill her. The first cancer spreading through her body, the doctors gave her five years to live. That was thirty-five years ago. At eighty-seven the second cancer died through surgery. They got it all with no chemo needed. Years ago doctors witnessed a tumor disappear on her thyroid before taking a biopsy.

Ten years ago doctors wanted to amputate her one foot. She told them, “Whenever I go to heaven, I’m taking my foot with me!” Later they changed their mind. She still has her foot and walks fine. Most doctors who told her she wouldn’t live long are gone and she is still here. Here is her famous prayer when she gets attacked. “Lord, if I get weak and sick, how am I going to help anybody and reach the lost?” That’s it! Then healing starts to attack her.

I’m still here too after surviving many close calls. Excuse me, I need to check my front door. Yep, the blood of Jesus is still there. “The winds may blow and the rains may fall, but it won’t just wash away.” ( song -The Blood Is Still There )

Dear friends,

If you enjoy reading these writings, you may also want to read my other articles and blog posts on Spirit Fuel.  They are a Christian content network with the genre niche of the supernatural and prophetic as well as various types of Christ centered teaching, training, motivation and inspiration. The website address is: http://www.SpiritFuel.me

Blessings,

Bill Yount