Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of ...

I’m writing this article in the immediate aftermath of our national 4th of July celebrations that were quickly followed by the controversial shootings of two men by police officers, and the sniper rampage in Dallas, Texas that killed five police officers and wounded several others. The stark contrast of a celebration of our freedom in America with the increasingly obvious unrest that threatens those freedoms causes me to reflect on what we, as followers of Jesus, are truly called to value and pursue.

In the Declaration of Independence, we assert that we have a God-given right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. As American Christians, we have tended to equate that statement with Biblical truth, and have tended to see the fulfillment of the American Dream as the will of God for our lives. However, I want to suggest that, as precious as our freedoms are, they are not the focal point of God’s agenda in the earth. Rather, the thing focused in His mind for us is the knowledge of God and revelation and exaltation of His glory.

If the pursuit of happiness is our purpose, we will find ourselves increasingly frustrated and hopeless in the face of social pressures, economic struggles, disintegrating families, and political unrest that threatens our way of life. The growing perception that our world is uncertain and  unsafe presses on our souls, and makes happiness appear to be a fading dream.

On the other hand, when we embrace the perspective that the knowledge of God and His glory is what is uppermost in His mind, then we have a grid that helps us to interpret His purposes in allowing the events of our time to transpire as they do. All through history, God has revealed Himself as powerful and glorious against the backdrop of troubling human circumstances. He has repeatedly and consistently allowed His people – the ones He loves – to be cornered in seemingly untenable situations so that He might show Himself strong on behalf of those who trust Him. Simply consider the stories of the Bible – the predicament of Joseph before he is raised to a position of authority, the long enslavement of Israel before the incredible demonstrations of power through the Exodus event, the dilemma of the young David under the hand of the tyrannical king Saul, the seemingly hopeless situation facing Daniel and his friends in Babylon – the list goes on and on. It culminates ultimately in the crucifixion of Jesus, the pivotal event in history that demonstrates the knowledge and glory of God through the resurrection of His Son.

In the light of these historical realities, the promise of Matthew 24, that immediately following the time of great tribulation in the earth, Jesus will return in power and glory to gather His people, transform us into His likeness, defeat His enemies on the earth, and establish His eternal Kingdom is a promise that we can hold on to with ultimate hope and joy. He has come in history, He is coming now to strengthen His saints by His Spirit, and He will come again bodily to fulfill every promise He has ever made. 

Since these are the facts of God’s historical interactions with His dearly loved children, why would we assume that suddenly His methodology would change, simply because we think we have a right to happiness in the short term? If happiness is our goal, we will probably not attain it. If the knowledge of God and His glory is our goal, then eternal joy will certainly be the byproduct of that quest. His promise is that He will show Himself strong on behalf of those whose hearts are loyal to Him (2 Chronicles 6:9), but we must see that such loyalty of heart will be tested in the crucible of trying circumstances. As C.S. Lewis so intriguingly wrote, “he is not a tame Lion.” He is not safe, but He is good, and as we align our hearts with His ways and means, we shall indeed know joy and unspeakable delight in His presence.

Reflections of Liberty and What Lies Ahead

On Wednesday, June 29, I was privileged to take part in the Decision America prayer rally led by Franklin Graham in Olympia, Washington. As Franklin addressed the 5000+ folks who attended, he was bold in asserting no confidence in either the Democratic or Republican parties to bring hope to the nation. The strong call was for God to intervene, and for the people of God to repent from sin and turn back to our Father for His will to be done.

In spite of all this, the clear sense I had was that the focus of the prayers of many American believers is really for the restoration of the “good old days” of American prosperity and dominance, rather than what Jesus had in His view when He told us to pray that the Kingdom of God would be established on the earth as it is in Heaven. 

I am so grateful to live in America, and to have had the liberties that citizenship in this nation has granted me. But the Spirit of God calls us to a higher allegiance to His Kingdom, to His ways, to the seeking of His righteousness SO THAT He might have His way for the glory of His own Name. Peace and prosperity in any given nation is a by-product of seeking God’s Kingdom and His righteousness, not the focal point of our prayers. 

Like most Americans, I am deeply troubled by the political, economic, and social upheaval that is current in our world. Like you, I want things to settle down and come once again to peace. However, the simple fact of history is that God has always used the shaking of human foundations to drive His people to the place He wants them – seeking His face, walking in His ways, pursuing His Kingdom as His righteousness above all else. 

Though it is uncomfortable (and perhaps unpopular in American Christian circles) to say this, God’s priority is not the comfort zone of the American Dream. God’s priority is the exaltation of Jesus Christ as King of all kings and Lord of all lords. He is moving all things toward that goal, and the shaking of current systems is the primary indicator that He is actively pursuing the dream of His own heart – that the knowledge of His glory would cover the earth like a mighty ocean.

My prayer is that our hearts will be turned once again to His will and His ways, so that we can escape the prison of our comfort zones, and again walk with Jesus in the pursuit of the Father’s glory.

Mike Bickle's Meeting with Pope Francis

Mike Bickle's meeting with Pope Francis  There were about 30 Protestant leaders and their spouses from North America plus a few from Europe who had a private meeting with Pope Francis on Friday, June 10 in the Vatican. I did not know most of the Protestant leaders there but was glad to see Che Ahn, Stacey Campbell (representing John Arnott), and Kris Vallotton (representing Bethel and Bill Johnson). The purpose of the meeting was to engage in an on-going dialogue about his views on Jesus and Christianity. The meeting lasted a couple of hours—they gave us opportunity to ask a few questions. The meeting was warm and personal. I asked Pope Francis specifically about his views on "the serious error and deception of universalism" that claims that all paths lead to God and other religions being saved without receiving the grace of God that only comes through Jesus. He assured me that he believes that Jesus is the only way of salvation. A second time, I asked him again pointedly—is Jesus the only way of salvation? He was strong in his agreement on this. His emphasized his love for Jesus and the Scripture. When he says "Muslims and other world religions are all children of God," I spoke with several leaders and theologians who work closely with him that he is referring to Muslims as "children of the creator” or children of Adam not "children of redemption." They gave me Matthew 5:44 describing “the Father" giving sun and rain to both the just and unjust.  Pope Francis voiced his strong value of Protestant believers and affirmed salvation as only coming by faith in Jesus and affirmed other elements of the Reformation (with Martin Luther). He emphasized that a close relationship with Jesus is the only hope for the nations. I am not sure of all that he believes or what he means by some of the statements circulating around the internet. I can only report on what I heard him say to this group. Blessings, Mike  Several who were nervous that I was now promoting Catholicism asked me for a short report of what I specifically said to Pope Francis. I asked him a couple times about his views of universalism and Jesus being the only way to salvation.  I will include the report of this short exchange from Kris Vallotton (Bethel school of ministry) and Diane Bickle (her email to a friend). I hold to the same position that I have held for decades; I joyfully receive and honor any born again believer—who loves Jesus, accepts His leadership, and honors the Scripture as the final authority of faith and practice—regardless of what part of the church they serve Jesus in (1 Cor. 12).  From Kris Vallotton’s blog (June 13, 2016)  “….I was invited, along with several other pastors, to a small connect forum with Pope Francis because he has a deep passion for unity among believers …We spent about two hours asking him questions…Mike Bickle gets the “guts” award! Everything was going quite smoothly, partly because of the benign questions the pastors were asking. Then Mike stood up and asked the Pope if he believed that Jesus was the “only way” to heaven…The tension instantly rose in the room…the moderator was noticeably shaken. But the Holy Father didn’t blink an eye. He answered, “…Jesus Christ. There is no other way into heaven.” We all breathed a sigh of relief!.   Kris Vallotton (from Bethel) From Diane Bickle’s email to a friend (June 14, 2016) Here's a little update about our meeting w. the Pope.  Mike went for the jugular - he asked his question to the Pope twice about where he stands on salvation.  The moderators of the meeting were urging Mike to shut up.........but he persisted.   I'm glad he did, because the Pope did clarify and his answer will now go far and wide through Mike's reporting of it to Charisma magazine.  Several leaders came up to Mike after this meeting and said, that was the gutsiest thing they've ever seen.  Hah! Blessings, Diane

The Gospel of the Kingdom of God

Jesus said in Matthew 24:14 that when the Gospel of the Kingdom of God was preached to all the people groups of the world, then the end of the age would come. It's so important that we comprehend that this Gospel of the Kingdom of God is more than merely a message of personal forgiveness and a ticket to Heaven when we die. Those elements are real and true - praise God! - but they are not the complete Gospel.

The Gospel Jesus was referring to is the good news that there is a King over heaven and earth. His name is Jesus. He is the Son of God, and the Son of David, and He is the Christ. He is returning to the earth to establish a literal Kingdom by which He will rule all the affairs of mankind from His governmental center in Jerusalem. He is gracious and kind, and He is also holy and righteous. He will come as a loving Bridegroom to those who love Him, as a ruling King over all creation, and He will come as a judge to deal with evil in all its expressions.

For those who have acknowledged the Kingship of Jesus, and have entrusted their lives to His salvation through His life, death, and resurrection, the news of His return is news of great joy - the establishment of the Kingdom of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. Jesus will assess the lives of His people, and grant them wonderful rewards according to their deeds done in faith as they waited for His return. His people will share in the rulership of His inheritance - the earth and all it contains.

The Gospel, or the Good News, is that through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus, God the Father has opened the doors of His Kingdom to anyone who will respond by acknowledging the Lordship of Jesus Christ, repenting from their sins, and receiving His mercy and grace as a free gift. This gift of life is given because God loves His creation, and desires that no one should miss out on the invitation to become part of His family, citizens of His Kingdom.

For those who have rejected this good news, and have chosen to give their allegiance to the kingdoms of this present evil age, Jesus' coming will be a day of great darkness and terror, for He will deal with His enemies according to their own responses to the light they were given. He is merciful and just, and He is holy and righteous, and His judgments are true and right.

This is the Gospel of the Kingdom of God. All the peoples of all the nations will stand before Jesus in the Day of His power. Our great joy and our great mandate is to make this Gospel known to all who will receive it, and to hasten the Day of His appearing.

Prophesying to the Winds

Awake, O north wind, and come, O south! Blow upon my garden, that its spices may flow out. Let my Beloved come to His garden, and eat its pleasant fruits. Song of Solomon 4:16

With these words, the Shulamite articulates the primary transition of her life. Her desire is no longer that her comfort zone be maintained. Rather, her desire now is that the King would receive maximum pleasure from the fragrance of her life. The spices and fruits speak of the fragrant impact of her life, and she recognizes that in order for that fragrance to be released to the fullest degree, both the north and south winds are necessary.

The north winds speak of times of adversity, and the south winds speak of times of comfort and pleasure. There are some spices, some fragrances of worship that can only be released in the pressures of difficulty and trouble. When worship arises from a soul that is troubled, it is a pleasing and fragrant aroma to God, and a sign of defeat for the enemy. Without times of trouble, the fragrance of worship is not complete, nor is the experience of intimacy made full. There is a communion of sorrows that is uniquely precious, and only those who welcome the north winds can know that communion.

By the same token, there are spices, or fragrances of worship and love that can only be expressed as thanksgiving for times of blessing. The point is that her desire is not to be comfortable, but to give full expression of her love for the King, that His pleasure might be full. She is living for Him now, and her preparation for her place of intimate authority is nearly complete.

In the past days of her life, the changing winds would have been a source of anxiety and fear for the Shulamite. But now she sees that she can command the winds to produce and release fervent love in her own heart. So she prophesies to the winds, commanding them to do their work of refining and releasing the pure fragrance of adoring worship that the King desires. What a transition, and what a preparation for glory!

Gary Wiens

What In The Heavens Are "Blood Moons"?

The sun shall be turned into darkness,
And the moon into blood,
Before the coming of the great and awesome day of the LORD.
- Joel 2:31, NKJV



A fascinating thing is occurring this year on April 15, which is the beginning of the Passover Feast in the Jewish calendar, and October 8, which is the beginning of Sukkot, or the Feast of Tabernacles. The fascinating part is the occurrence of successive "Blood Moons," or total lunar eclipses.


As a matter of fact, there are four "Blood Moons" happening in 2014 and 2015, all on the Feast Days of Passover and Sukkot. These four total eclipses, called a "Tetrad," occur with some frequency, but only very rarely do they coincide with the Feast Days. The fascinating thing is that every time the Blood Moons coincide with the Feast Days, significant things happen regarding the State of Israel.

This coincidental event has only happened seven times since the resurrection of Jesus, and three times in the past 700 years. The most recent occurrences were in 1493-94, immediately following the expulsion of the Jews from Spain in 1492. This event has increased interest in the plausible theory that Christopher Columbus had a Jewish ancestry (see the article in the Huffington Post by clicking here).

The next occurrence of the Tetrad on Feast Days was in 1949-50, following the establishment of the State of Israel in 1948, and the most recent was in 1967-68, when the city of Jerusalem was restored to Israeli control.

So, we are poised to witness the eighth occurrence of Blood Moons happening on Feast Days since Jesus walked the earth. Prophetically, the number "eight" speaks of New Beginnings, and so we are encouraged to pay attention, to watch and pray, and seek the guidance of the Holy Spirit regarding the meaning of the events that will unfold surrounding this time in history.

Jesus commanded His followers to know the signs of the times. He gave the sun and the moon as lights and for "signs and seasons" (Genesis 1:14). We would be wise to watch, to pray, and to pay attention to what the Holy Spirit would say and do in these next weeks and months.

Blessings! Gary Wiens

Dark Nights and God's Ways

Dark Nights and God’s Ways

In the journey that God has each of us on – the journey toward intimacy and authority as the Bride of Christ – it is essential to understand the strategies of God, particularly during those seasons when His presence seems hard to find.

The primary promise of God, spoken to the Shulamite in Song of Solomon 2:4, is that His banner of love is over us for the entire journey. In other words, everything He does and everything He permits is about loving us, and drawing us further into His grace and power.

This truth seems the most difficult to grasp when His immediate presence is withdrawn from us for a season, and we experience a “dark night” of wondering, longing, and searching. These “nights” happen for several reasons – the first being compromise in obedience. This is the one most easily understood, but God does not withdraw because He is angry or rejecting us, but rather to draw us back to Himself, to woo us further along the way into His fullness and love.

The more difficult strategic withdrawal to understand is when His presence is taken away, even though we are walking in obedience and faithfulness. The purpose of this withdrawal is to present an opportunity for more extravagant worship and faithfulness, costly adoration, the sacrifice of praise. This costly, worshipful obedience is what Jesus presented to the Father during His dark night of suffering, and because of this He was given the highest place of authority and intimacy at the right hand of the Father. He was proven worthy to have all authority because He was the Faithful Witness during the greatest possible test.

Because God desires to present a worthy Bride to this worthy Son, His strategy is to allow similar – though much less strenuous! – dark nights for us, not because He is not caring or not paying attention, but because He is inviting us to have the same mind as Jesus – loving the Father extravagantly regardless of the season or circumstance.

The result of this kind of extravangant worship is a greater, more powerful revelation of the beauty of Jesus, the magnificence of the Father and of His plan for us. When Jesus suffered the tearing of His flesh, which was the veil between us and the Father (Hebrews 10:20), the full love and power of God was revealed to all who would receive Him. Similarly, when we trust the Father in a dark night, He moves to reveal the beauty of Jesus to us in greater measure, making our hearts lovesick instead of offended, and causing all those around us to desire to know Him as well. The result? Greater intimacy, and greater authority.

Such are the ways of God with His beloved Bride. For a full treatment of this topic, access my teaching from Sunday, February 16 here: http://internationalhouseofprayernorthwest.org/category/listen-to-messages.

You can also order a full series on the Song of Solomon by visiting the BHM store at http://www.burningheartministries.com/Shop.

Be blessed in the journey!

Gary Wiens