Mary, did you know!

And Mary the mother of Jesus (Acts1:14)

     The scripture says that they were all of one mind continually devoting themselves to prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus. I think sometimes as we read the scriptures we glance over parts that seem meaningless, until we read the same scripture again and the Holy Spirit brings revelation. This is one of those times. I've read this scripture many times but this time the Spirit has brought illumination in a different way. Many times as I read the account about the disciples gathered praying in the upper room, my attention goes to the twelve and even the 120 but I don't always see the women or Mary. I think it is mostly because the way the scriptures are written they seem to use the masculine verb more often but really not excluding or preferring. It was on that day, the day of Pentecost that not only the men but the scriptures say all were filled with the Holy Spirit and began speaking with other tongues. Mary now perhaps in her mid to late fifties gathering with the rest of the women and men along with the apostles. A mother to at lest six children including Jesus, now waiting for the promise from the Father which her Son would send. Insignificant? not to those women and Mary and her daughters. Some worship Mary as the Virgin Mary. This is true only in regards to the birth of Jesus, she was a virgin betrothed to Joseph but it was the Holy Spirit that came upon her and the power of the Most High that overshadowed her.  The scriptures tell us that Mary also had four other sons and daughters ( Matt.13:55-56 ). This was a significant time in the life of these 120 brothers and sisters, but also for the future church. Mary along with the other disciples were the forerunners of the Holy Spirit. For in Christ we the church have become that virgin bride betrothed to our Bridegroom ( 2 Corinth. 11:2 ). The scripture says in Joel 2:28-29 upon your sons and daughters I will pour forth of My Spirit and they shall prophesy. Mary was a daughter of Israel and a daughter of the King. In the upper room the sound of many different tongues and prophesying could be heard. What was taking place? Was it not the Holy Spirit praying to the Father through these saints. And when Mary began to prophesy was she not by the Spirit speaking over the church then and even for now! Mary along with the other women were being drenched with warm oil, the anointing of the Spirit filling them with words from heaven pertaining to the last days. The beginning of the early church in the upper room is the DNA of the last days church. The church today needs a drenching of the Spirit, to be filled with power to be witnesses to the remotest parts of the earth. The Mary's of this day need to turn their hearts to the next generation and mother the church. Malicah 4:6 speaks of the fathers turning their hearts to the children. I believe that same spirit is linked to the mothers to the younger generation. It is that spirit of Mary being drenched in the Spirit and turning their hearts as mothers to nurture the children in the Lord among them. Even those without children will not be desolate for she will receive numerous sons and daughters in the faith ( Isaiah 54 ). For you Mary's in the faith you mothers with children or without, come under the flooding waters of the Spirit and be drenched. For you will go forth as forerunners passing on the DNA of the early church and be a part of the last days outpouring.

"A wave of anointing"

                "A wave of unprecedented power and anointing is coming" 


 The anointing during an outpouring is  strong and very aromatic. It doesn't depend on ones talent or gift although it will be the power that will energize the gifts and callings to do an impossible mission.There is an anointing that the church needs to accomplish what the Spirit is doing in these last days(Joel 2:28-29;Act 2:17-21). This anointing comes from the Father through the power of the Spirit. Another wave is about to hit the church with such magnitude causing  everything that is not anchored in Christ to be shaken loose and swept away. Even those in Christ will be refined and purified. Precursors of this can be seen in the transition that is taking place in the church now. Many churches are closing with others trying to survive still ministering in the old wine. But it is the Spirit that is doing a work to build the last days church in the Spirit. Refining, purifying, cleansing from all of man's wisdom, charisma and kingdom building to be the church that can hold the new wine of Gods anointing.There are waves of the Spirit coming into many various places now removing the old wineskin's, the old cloth and replacing with new wineskin's that are full of the Spirit and anointing(Matt.9:15-17).These new wineskin's have been through the fire their lamps have been reignited by Christ Himself. Many leaders have been removed from service and benched for a season because they were not willing to surrender their kingdom and agendas.They ran out of oil and didn't refill their lamps with fresh oil that they could lead with fresh vision and revelation. Many churches are struggling with imbalance because they look to and depend on one leader(Pastor) for guidance.This next wave will bring a restoration of the early church leadership which will bring biblical balance and a healthier church. The water pots of purification(John 2:6) are being emptied and fresh water poured into them, that the water be changed into wine, the best wine and poured out upon the wedding guests of life bringing consummation of bride and Bridegroom. Many are experience a change in ministry, employment, living situations, health issues. The earthen vessels are being emptied out even broken up, remade in order to be filled and changed into the best wine(2 Corinth.4:7). This is the work of the Spirit, no prodding or production of man can produce this anointing of the Spirit. When the anointing is present there will be no need for leadership to make something happen. This will be the new super norm. With this next wave the body of Christ will be desiring greater intimacy with the Spirit, hungry for authenticity and flowing in the anointing writher than the mega church production. As the church lets go of the old skins (the old styes and formats) that they have grown accustom to and dependent on, they will be built into a true house in the Spirit full of power and anointing which will rain down like a heavenly aroma( 2 Corinth.2:14). The Spirit is the churches new wineskin and the new wine is the anointing! 

"Believing will bring greater revelation"

John 20:9-10; For as yet they did not understand the scripture, that He must rise again from the dead. I believe relying on feelings only can produce reservations and reservations can breed doubt. We many times rely on feelings to dictate our belief in Christ and what He did on the cross. Peter and John didn't run to the tomb with total abandonment to their feelings, believing that Jesus rose from the dead, if they did they would not have returned to their own homes? I believe that the other disciple  entered in, saw and believed. John got past his feelings but still didn't understand the scriptures. Believing the scriptures will give one revelation to continue pursuing Christ. Mary Magdalene loved and believed beyond feelings. She received sight to see two angeles inside the tomb and turning around saw the risen Christ. Our feelings can prevent us from receiving greater revelation and hearing what the Spirit is saying. We may wake up on Easter morning not feeling like we are christ like but the scripture says that the same Spirit that raised Christ from the dead dwells in our mortal bodies( Rom. 8:11 ) and therefore if anyone is in Christ he is a new creature; the old things have passed away behold new things have come (2 Corinth 5:17). Lingering around the tomb can bring revelation but we are being changed from glory to glory (2 Corinth. 3:18). We cannot live at the tomb (past glories) but must press forward announcing with belief in the scriptures that truly Christ has risen. Spending time in the scriptures will give us that assurance and rivers of living water will flow out from our inner most being (John 7:42). "Beholding the risen Christ"