"Birthing Part1" In the church this process spiritually speaking is described in the word as it is in the natural.  When the Spirit came into Mary who gave birth to the Son of God, it wasn't in a few days. The process took the nine months that it usually takes to give forth a baby. When the Spirit comes into the believer at the time of conversion there is also a time, a season before we give birth to the work of the Spirit. There are times when we feel we are getting close and wanting this work to come forth that we begin to push to soon, thus prolonging the process or even worse we end up aborting or giving birth prematurely. In these few post I will share what the Spirit has put on my heart concerning the need for the prescribe time and the seasons we and the local church must go through to give birth to a healthy work.

"Birthing the work of God in our lives Part 2" Luke 1:41when Mary was pregnant with Jesus the God/man, she went to visit her cousin Elizabeth and at Mary's arrival the baby leaped in her and she was filled with the Spirit. We are earthen vessels but God through the Spirit births His work in us and through us. Luke 2:39 and Jesus continued to grow and become strong, increasing in wisdom and the grace of God was upon Him. Even as Jesus was growing in the natural He was also growing in the Spirit. Jesus from the beginning of His birth was laying a foundation of the work of the Spirit as it would be in the life as a believer. Jesus revealed that blue print to Nicodemus in John 3:5 unless you are born of the Spirit you cannot enter the kingdom of God. There are times of seemingly quick growth and other times it will take longer to birth a new work in our lives. Even as the Spirit overshadowed Mary and she conceived by the Spirit we as born again believers have become pregnant by the Spirit and the work of God has been conceived in us waiting for the right time to come forth. Like Jesus our involvement with God the Spirit will mature us in the kingdom of heaven. How we receive this new birth and respond to the Spirit will dictate our journey in Christ. It is very possible to get the cart before the horse, pushing when we should be breathing, forcing when we should be waiting. In the kingdom of heaven a healthy pregnancy is nurtured in the Spirit which will produce a fruitful work!

"Are you tired of being pregnant?"Part 3 Though there is a season of waiting, (which is actively pursuing Christ) praying, (preparing our hearts) moving towards what we believe is a new work of the Spirit in our lives, we get overwhelmed wanting this season to be over. Nothing seems to fit or work anymore and we get edgy even tempted to look for a substitute, something else that looks and feels like a new work. We at times feel barren and wanting to give up we look for an artificial way to produce that work of the Spirit. It is during these times that the birds of the air (Matt.13 demons) fly in to steal seeds of faith and hope, tempting you to leave that place of Spirit nurturing that you need to give you strength preparing you for delivery. Even as Mary and Joseph needed to go to Bethlehem because of the census, she was with child but only engaged. This in itself could have put her in a place of feeling uneasy, uncomfortable, incomplete and wanting this season to be over. But her place was that deep union with God that kept her steadfast. The days were completed and she gave birth, in a stable an unlikely place, but very much ordained but God. Are you feeling uncomfortable, nothing seems to be working? Don't look for a substitute or give up, the Spirit brings forth at the right time and at the right place. Perhaps you are at place that you feel pregnant with the work of God but nothing is happening. There are times when the Spirit will move you to a different location in order to bring forth the birth. Many times its finding that new place in Him that will bring forth the work of God in you(John 3:8). Gods time and ours are different! He will take us through the whole season until we are ready. When it is time the travailing begins with groaning deep in our spirit(Rom.8:26). Our intercession is turned to loud cries as the Spirit begins to push forth the work of God. This is crucial we cannot get in the way by taking control, rushing through this time can cause a premature work which will be unhealthy. We must learn to breath, for God causes all things to work together for good(Rom.8:28)This is in our personal walk, in the local church it is magnified, now it is the whole church gathering with one heart to see the Spirit bring forth a particular work, such as revival. Coming up," birthing is a community of believers collaboration".

" Fire upon the water" As I was watching the news on all the fires with pictures of the devastation, there was one pic that stood out, showing a lake with the reflection of the fire on it. "I hear the Spirit saying; a new place of intercession, your brook has dried up a new place I will give to you."A new atmosphere I will create. A fire started in Elijah as he prophesied drought upon the land. As Elijah journeyed to the brook of Cherith a season of provisional intercession was released and only that which Elijah needed was provided. Before the waters flow the fire will purify. The Spirit will gut us before He releases the waters of revival. Provision came to Elijah in the form of a raven feeding him even as he himself went through the word that he spoke.  As we speak words we many times are the ones that embody that word, that we become a vessel of experience and not just of word. The brook dried up and God moved him to another place of provision. Has your brook dried up? Has your waters of intercession feel like the burning fire? Burning purifies the heart that the water can flow with anointing. Many of us want the glories of victory, but run from the trenches of agony. Its the groaning of the Spirit in us that is causing flesh to die and our spirit to fly . You may be going through the fire but your water is coming. The Spirit lead Elijah to another place of provision that expressed  itself in the supernatural. Elijah was heading to one of the most dynamic events in his ministry and the Spirit was preparing him for it. Have you been sensing a tugging to come away from that dry place. The Spirit is inviting you to a deeper place that you can be prepared for an event that will take all of you surrendered to Him. There is more to be refined, the purging of the Spirit in our lives brings clarity direction and release.  As Elijah was crouched down on Mount Carmel the fire of intercession was being released upon the hard rain that was coming. Before the rain came Elijah saw it  and was pushing the work of God upon the earth. Even his position suggested that he was in travail giving birth to the work of God. There has been a grinding, a sanding of edges in our lives that we can be that pliable church-intercessor, that will soak up the rain of the Spirit and let it flow through the drought-land. The fire must proceed the water that they both can become one. Love sick for Jesus makes life and ministry a joy. There is a hibernating of, a brooding over the dream before the season of release comes. The drought will end and the hard rain will be released. Push, Push, Push this is the time to push forth the work of God in our lives. Push from the overflow of the Spirit He will bring delivery. It is time to go deeper, if you are touching bottom you still depend upon yourself!! Let go!!