Posted on Wednesday, September 30, 2015

The Lord Reigns!

Psalm 99:1-5 “The LORD reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. Great is the LORD in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. Let them praise your great and awesome name– he is holy. The King is mighty, he loves justice– you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. Exalt the LORD our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy.”

The Lord reigns and He is going to shake everything that can be shaken! People may say that we live in uncertain times and although this is true from a world perspective this is not the case for those who call themselves believers. See although everything around us may be shaking our God reigns and He promises us that all these things must come to pass. For even now He is shaking the government, the economy, the social structures of our day. And just as we’ve seen unusual patterns in the weather we will see unusual things happening all over the earth in what seems like unprecedented ways. And yet God is saying “Be encouraged, for I am doing this shaking, I am causing people to not put their trust in any other thing for it is only I who you can count on. I am the Lord your God! I promise to go with you even to the ends of the earth. Be not afraid nor shaken for I am in all this and even this will be for my glory.”

I feel like the Lord has been taking His time raising us up, teaching us over weeks, months and years (even decades). And although at many times we have not seen the purpose in things, soon we will see that it has all been working for our good and that God has been preparing us for such a time as this! So don’t be afraid or unsettled rather rest in God’s love for you! And as you rest know that He is preparing you for what He has in store for you this next season. The instructions are simple: rest, remember all that the Lord has done, set your eyes on God, stay in faith, use the gifts He has given to you and be faithful in all that He has called you to. As we do these things we will indeed see God’s great reward! So let us exalt His name together! Let us rest in His love and be encouraged by the truth that no matter what we see around us, the Lord reigns!

Blessings,

John

PS I would be remiss if I didn’t share with you the regular encouragement I send out each week. If you would like to be encouraged regularly then subscribe to receive my devotionals via email @ http://www.johnsilkauskasministries.com/about/

Posted on Thursday, September 24, 2015

Get Ready for a Move of God!

We are about to see an unprecedented move of God in the earth! He is pouring out His Spirit and many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord! God has prepared us to receive all that He has for us, soon we will see the lost found, the sick healed, and amazing miracles all over the place! The Church is rising up and becoming all that God has foreseen it would be. Scriptures that come to mind are:

-Look at the nations and watch– and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5

-For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD as the waters cover the sea. Habakkuk 2:14

-Yes, Lord, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts. Isaiah 26:8

I see the body of Christ becoming one beautiful unified bride! I see believer’s hearts fully surrendering to the Lord and seeking only that His name would be glorified in the earth! I see people encountering the Lord in powerful ways, I see change and transformation in people’s hearts and lives and the by product of this will look like marriages being healed, families coming together and the Church fulfilling the great commission both near and far, yes locally and around the world!

Oh how we are living in exciting times! “See, the Sovereign LORD comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm. See, his reward is with him, and his recompense accompanies him.” Isaiah 40:10 He is coming! His Spirit is being poured out around the world, yes the Lord is stirring faith in the hearts of His children and we will be as one! One with Him and one with each other! The word of the Lord is, “Get ready!”

And may God get all the glory!

-John

Posted on Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Are You Stuck in Satan’s Web?

We’ve been in a season of warfare (it helps just to know this). See this knowledge brings light to your difficulties, it helps you to see you’re not as bad off as you thought, in fact you’re a lot better off than you thought! See just knowing that you’re being assaulted with a wave of warfare helps you to clear your mind knowing that even the thoughts that you’ve been thinking haven’t been you at all but rather the enemy bombarding you with fiery darts and accusations. He’s been trying to get you to question who you are, what you’re doing and why you’re doing it. He’s been attacking your character and identity trying to get you to second guess yourself and think as one who doesn’t know who they are at all. And along with this onslaught from the enemy he’s also been trying to confuse you, cloud your judgement, fill your heart and mind with doubt, discouragement and depression. And as if all those weren’t enough he’s also been attempting to bring division in your relationships, apathy at work and deceit in your mind (even leading to difficulties in your health).

I say all this to bring light to his schemes. Jesus said that he is a liar and the father of lies (John 8:44). Satan operates in darkness (which means ignorance), therefore when we don’t know his schemes we are often subject to them (Hosea 4:6). Jesus is the light of the world and in him there is no darkness at all (1 John 1:5). Jesus brings light (understanding) to Satan’s schemes. And therefore it’s through Jesus we overcome. Christ is the head of the church and we (referring to believers) are his body here on the earth (Romans 12:5, Colossians 1:18, and 1 Corinthians 12:27). So as we spend time with Jesus (reading God’s word and spending time in worship and prayer) and his body (sharing what’s going on in each of our lives and praying for one another) we walk in the light and darkness has no power over us. I believe even now as you read these words darkness is leaving and light is filling your heart. Ignorance, deceit, discouragement, confusion and despair are headed out and in their place joy, peace, understanding, encouragement, clarity and hope are flooding your heart today.

I declare freedom for you today in Jesus name! You shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free (John 8:32). And he who the son sets free is free indeed (John 8:36). All the rain is passing, the sun is bursting forth and you can clearly see God’s promise painted in the sky. “Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9 Great is his faithfulness (Lamentations 3:23), faithful is he who calls you, and he also will bring it to pass (1 Thessalonians 5:24). “Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass.” Joshua 21:45 “Remember his covenant forever, the word which he commanded to a thousand generations.” 1Chronicles 16:15

Remember God’s faithfulness! Remember all he’s done for you! Remember who he says you are! Remember the prophetic words spoken over your life! Remember all that you’ve been through together! Remember! Now rise up and give testimony to who God is in your life today! Stop letting your mountains speak to you and start speaking to them! God has given you authority, use your words, declare God’s truth over your heart and situation and be encouraged knowing that God is working ALL this for your good! Yes, indeed! Even your past, yes even your present, yes even this dark season, this time of testing, yes God is working it ALL for your good! Just think of what the Father has in store for you (in light of all these things). Oh, God is good, let’s bless his name together!

(If you were blessed by this message and believe others you know need to hear it, please share it with them, share in my joy knowing God is using you to help others and share it with the world as you never know who is in darkness and could really use some light)

Blessings!

John