KEY ONE – Resurrecting your vision

The Lord suddenly led me to speak about the resurrecting of the Shunamite woman’s son. I guess it was because I sensed many were tired. They were faithful and committed, but a zest and exuberance seemed absent. Perhaps it was because a vision they had been given had not turned out as expected. The following teaching really broke the heaviness that was upon them. Here is an abbreviation of what I shared:

1. Originally, she had chosen to support Elisha and his ministry simply because he was a man of God. She expected nothing in return. However, as a result of his prophecy, she received a son (2 Kings 4:13,17). This is like you and me. We serve the Lord because He is God, and not because we expect a reward. Yet, He has blessed us by giving us ministries, promotions, and opportunities.
2. The son died, prematurely and accidentally (4:20). Some of us have had great vision or projects that prematurely, for some unknown reason, just began to decline or even die.
3. This caused great distress to her (4:27), and she was determined that Elisha himself come and fix the situation. I feel God is asking us to have determination to put a “draw” or “pull” on Him to fix the situation. Unless it gets resurrected, there will be a pall or veil over us that hinders us from going forward.
4. Elisha stretched himself upon the corpse (4:34), and life began to return to the dead body. If your vision has died or been terminated, go back to the promises of God; fully embrace the vision. As you do, Jesus Himself will pour life into your vision.
5. The boy began to sneeze and was resurrected (4:35). Interestingly, as I led the people in prayer and a reembracing of the promises and vision God had given, some began to sneeze. To me it was a sign that God was resurrecting vision and faith.

KEY TWO - Joining the Lord in night watches

I have been profoundly impacted by the fact the Lord will often call us to “watch with Him.” Personally, I have been lead to observe the late night watch (between midnight and 3 am) for 21 days (Jan 6-26). I am doing it because the Lord wants to break obstacles including betrayal and covenant-breaking that have hindered His work in Asia.

I feel that being willing to respond to the watch of the Lord is a key for this year. This will bring great fruitfulness to our days, keep us from being scattered, and cause advancement and multiplication. The key for me was the revelation that Jesus Himself wants to come and pray with us (Heb 7:25). So, don’t think of the watch as an activity that we must do: rather, we simply respond to the Lord, and join Him when He calls us. It is exciting to know the Lord calls us to join Him, because this means He wants to move mightily on our behalf. I highly recommend Chuck Pierce’s teaching on the Watches of the Lord. He points out that there are 4 watches 6 pm-9 pm; 9 pm to midnight; midnight to 3 am; and 3 am until 6 am. We don’t have to do all of them all the time, but we need to be alert and respond to the Lord and watch with Him. This will bring great productivity and efficiency to our days.

KEY THREE - Declarations

Last year I began to discover that making declarations is one of the most powerful spiritual weapons at our disposal. God already has a plan along with the necessary resources to carry it out. It requires our declaration to “loose” that plan and allow it to come into effect (See Mt18:18). If we don’t declare, then the plan remains bottled up in the heavenlies.

Here are some declarations that I began to make last year and see as key for 2008:

• CI Asia network will grow quickly. I declared a doubling of churches in Japan in a short time, as well as great expansion in Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan, Singapore, Indonesia, and Russia.
• A large increase in finances, especially for Japan Alive – this also includes land being given for permanent headquarters in some of the other nations.
• That doors for broadcasting will continue to open not just in Japan, but Korea, and Taiwan and other nations.
• That ROI (Corporate Training) would move ahead. I see this as key to reaching corporate culture in Japan and other Asian nations

KEY FOUR – Think New(ly)

This is a last minute addition. But already the Lord has been giving me dreams about changes. Some changes at first will not seem pleasant but will result in doubling of influence and opportunity. I believe we need to keep asking the Lord to help us see with new eyes.

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keys for 2008