Friday Morning Scripture ~ Luke 15:1-7 (AMP)

The Lost Sheep

1 Now all the tax collectors and sinners [including non-observant Jews] were coming near Jesus to listen to Him. 

2 Both the Pharisees and the scribes began muttering and complaining, saying, “This man accepts and welcomes sinners and eats with them.”

3 So He told them this parable: 

4 “What man among you, if he has a hundred sheep and loses one of them, does not leave the ninety-nine in the wilderness and go after the one which is lost, [searching] until he finds it? 

5 And when he has found it, he lays it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 

6 And when he gets home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’ 

7 I tell you, in the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance.

Luke 15:1-7 (AMP)

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Come Back

“To the one who is far away from Me, come back. Return to a simple relationship with Me. Return to the uncomplicated truth that I am your friend, your Saviour, your Father in heaven,” says the Lord.

“You are never too far away from Me to return. My arms are open. All you need to do is take a step towards Me. And I will come running to you.

I wait to embrace you. To hold you close and call you Mine. Surrender to Me and I will hear you. I will listen to you pour out your pain and anxiety. Allow Me to carry your burdens, your agony, as we walk in relationship once more. I will heal your wounds as we go through life together.

Spend time emptying all your worries and fears to Me. Know that you are not alone.  All of heaven will rejoice when you come back! There is a party waiting for you so wherever you are, just take a step back to Me.”

Activation:

If you have either felt distant from God or been far from God, know that there is no shame or condemnation in your return. God wants to hear you. Pour out all your feelings to Him. When you take this step, His arms are open to welcome you back.

And when he gets home, he calls together his friends and his neighbors, saying to them, ‘Rejoice with me, because I have found my lost sheep!’

Luke 15:6 (AMP)

#lionbites

Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Trust My Voice

“My bride, how I long for you to trust My voice. To know I am the one who holds all knowledge, wisdom and everything you need,” says the Spirit of the Lord.

“I have not called you to follow the ways of man, but to be carriers of My wisdom. To have a fresh understanding of My ways, and the fear of the Lord. For I have called you to live set apart.

You may not understand what I have called you to do, and why, but trust in Me. Many have followed the fear of man, which has opened you up to anxiety, stress, and mistrust. I have not called you to live this way. Turn from the fear of man, and embrace the fear of God.

Step into intimacy, joy, fulfilment and a life to the full when lived with Me. This is what you are choosing when you step into reverence and awe of who I am. See fear of man fade away.”

Activation:

Ponder how awesome our God is. Dwell on how He made the world, how He knew you before you were formed. Think of His vastness and love for you. Then ask the Lord, “Is there anywhere in my life I fear man over you?”

Listen to what He says, and repent of any partnership with fear of man. Ask for Holy Spirit to fill you with fear of the Lord. Ask God what the fear of the Lord looks like for you and write it down.

The [reverent] fear of the LORD [that is, worshiping Him and regarding Him as truly awesome] is the beginning and the preeminent part of knowledge [its starting point and its essence];
But arrogant [a]fools despise [skillful and godly] wisdom and instruction and self-discipline.

Proverbs 1:7 (AMP)

Footnotes

[a] Proverbs 1:7 In Proverbs various kinds of fools are discussed including those who are closed-minded, over-confident, and reject instruction and correction—the unteachable; those who lack spiritual insight—the spiritually blind; and those who are flippant, hardened, and who deliberately choose to reject God and wisdom—the arrogant.

    #lionbites

    Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Growth Is Coming

    “Embrace the breaking I am taking you through, because growth is coming. Like a muscle being worked out and stretched, I am stretching you. Just as your muscles break and tear to grow stronger, I too am breaking you down to become stronger. I need you strong and filled with endurance to run the race set before you so you do not grow weary,” says the Spirit of the Lord.

    “Don’t give up. I am with you, cheering you on as you push towards the finish line. You are way more capable than you think you are. Let yourself be stretched by Me so you can bear a new weight. I am there to see you finish well. I want you to receive your ‘Well done good and faithful servant’. I want you to run your race and win.”

    Activation:

    Do a spiritual push-up with the Lord – choose a spiritual practice e.g. praying in tongues for two minutes or reading a chapter of Scripture out loud. On your first day, do one rep or set of that spiritual practice. On your second day, double the number of reps with a break in between to allow God to speak to you like a coach. Write down what the Lord says as an encouragement to you. Keep increasing every day until you hit your chosen rep count. Watch God spiritually coach you to new levels of growth.

    “But He knows the way that I take [and He pays attention to it].
    When He has tried me, I will come forth as [refined] gold [pure and luminous].

    Job 23:10 (AMP)

    #lionbites

    Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – The Divine Turnaround

    A U-Turn sign appeared in the spirit. And I saw in the spirit that even though I was already travelling in one direction, once I arrived at the U-Turn sign, the car turned and started to drive in what seemed like the opposite direction.

    “I am bringing a shift, a turnaround to the direction you have been heading. It’s not that you have been going the wrong way. I am calling you to move with Me in a different direction,” says the Spirit of the Lord.

    “It may seem I am taking you in the opposite direction of where you thought we were going. Where you have been going one way, I will call you to follow Me into another place. Where you planned to go left, I will lead you right. Where you planned to stop, I will lead you to go.

    ‘You have asked Me to turn things around. You have decreed turnaround in agreement with Me even when you did not see it yet in the natural. The turnaround that I already released in the Spirit, I am now causing to manifest in your life.

    But you must trust Me and believe Me in the midst of what seems like resistance. Allow Me to lead you in the new direction, for as you believe and trust in Me, I will lead you into abundance, victory and overcoming.”

    Your ears will hear a word behind you, “This is the way, walk in it,” whenever you turn to the right or to the left.

    Isaiah 30:21 (AMP)

    #lionbites

    Lion Bites – Global Prophetic Alliance – Run on Wings Like Eagles

    “My child, many things are vying for your attention and affection. There are countless pulls and distractions, and this has sat heavily in your spirit. You are not functioning in the fullness I have called you to live from,” says the Spirit of the Lord.

    “Look again at the systems you operate in, the people you connect with, the places you feel called to, the numerous pulls in your life and the things that drive you. I am asking you to relinquish control and submit to Me in fullness, once again building on Me and in Me. Don’t build out of trauma, pain or wrong roots. I want you to be rooted and established In love, in Me. What does that look like?

    I invite you to move in step with Me, to know My voice, to do things in My strength and not your own. Will you let Me strengthen you? Will you allow Me to renew your strength so you can run again on wings like eagles? Bring Me your weariness and pick up strength instead.

    I want you to move with Me in full partnership and in unity with Me. You are overwhelmed at the weight of what you are carrying but I haven’t asked you to carry it alone. Come to Me once again and let us soar together.”

    But those who wait for the LORD [who expect, look for, and hope in Him]
    Will gain new strength and renew their power;
    They will lift up their wings [and rise up close to God] like eagles [rising toward the sun];
    They will run and not become weary,
    They will walk and not grow tired.

    Isaiah 40:31 (AMP)

    #lionbites

    Friday Morning Scripture  – Genesis 18:16-33

    16 Then the men got up from there, and looked toward Sodom; and Abraham walked with them to send them on the way.

    17 The LORD said, “Shall I keep secret from Abraham [My friend and servant] what I am going to do,

    18 since Abraham [a]is destined to become a great and mighty nation, and all the nations of the earth will be blessed through him?

    19 For I have known (chosen, acknowledged) him [as My own], so that he may teach and command his children and [the sons of] his household after him to keep the way of the LORD by doing what is righteous and just, so that the LORD may bring upon Abraham what He has promised him.”

    20 And the LORD said, “The outcry [of the sin] of Sodom and Gomorrah is indeed great, and their sin is exceedingly grave.

    21 I will go down now, and see whether they have acted [as vilely and wickedly] as the outcry which has come to Me [indicates]; and if not, I will know.”

    22 Now the [two] men (angelic beings) turned away from there and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the LORD.

    23 Abraham approached [the LORD] and said, “Will You really sweep away the righteous (those who do right) with the wicked (those who do evil)?

    24 Suppose there are fifty righteous [people] within the city; will You really sweep it away and not spare it for the sake of the fifty righteous who are in it?

    25 Far be it from You to do [b]such a thing—to strike the righteous with the wicked, so that the righteous and the wicked are treated alike. Far be it from You! Shall not the Judge of all the earth do right [by executing just and righteous judgment]?”

    26 So the LORD said, “If I find within the city of Sodom fifty righteous [people], then I will spare the entire place for their sake.”

    27 Abraham answered, “Now behold, I who am but dust [in origin] and ashes have decided to speak to the LORD.

    28 If five of the fifty righteous are lacking, will You destroy the entire city for lack of five?” And He said, “If I find [at least] forty-five [righteous people] there, I will not destroy it.”

    29 Abraham spoke to Him yet again and said, “Suppose [only] forty are found there.” And He said, “I will not do it for the sake of the forty [who are righteous].”

    30 Then Abraham said [to Him], “Oh, may the LORD not be angry, and I will speak; suppose thirty [righteous people] are found there?” And He said, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

    31 And he said, “Now behold, I have decided to speak to the LORD [again]. Suppose [only] twenty [righteous people] are found there?” And the LORD said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the twenty.”

    32 Then Abraham said, “Oh may the LORD not be angry [with me], and I will speak only this once; suppose ten [righteous people] are found there?” And He said, “I will not destroy it for the sake of the ten.”

    33 As soon as He had finished speaking with Abraham the LORD departed, and Abraham returned to his own place.

    Genesis 18:16-33 (AMP)

    Footnotes

    [a] Genesis 18:18 Lit will surely.

    [b] Genesis 18:25 Lit according to this word.

    Friday Morning Scripture  – Genesis 32:22-32

    22 But he got up that same night and took his two wives, his two female servants, and his eleven children, and waded over the ford of the Jabbok.

    23 Then he took them and sent them across the brook. And he also sent across whatever he had.

    Jacob Wrestles

    24 So Jacob was left alone, and a [a]Man [came and] wrestled with him until daybreak.

    25 When the Man saw that He had not prevailed against Jacob, He touched his hip joint; and Jacob’s hip was dislocated as he wrestled with Him.

    26 Then He said, “Let Me go, for day is breaking.” But Jacob said, “I will not let You go unless You declare a blessing on me.”

    27 So He asked him, “What is your name?” And he said, “Jacob.”

    28 And He said, “Your name shall no longer be Jacob, but [b]Israel; for you have struggled with God and with men and have prevailed.”

    29 Then Jacob asked Him, “Please tell me Your name.” But He said, “Why is it that you ask My name?” And He declared a blessing [of the covenant promises] on Jacob there.

    30 So Jacob named the place Peniel (the face of God), saying, “For I have seen God face to face, yet my life has not been snatched away.”

    31 Now the sun rose on him as he passed Penuel (Peniel), and he was limping because of his hip.

    32 Therefore, to this day the Israelites do not eat the tendon of the hip which is on the socket of the thigh, because He touched the socket of Jacob’s thigh by the tendon of the hip.

    Genesis 32:22-32 (AMP)

    Footnotes

    [a]Genesis 32:24 This was God Himself (as Jacob eventually realizes in Gen 32:30; see also v 29 and Hosea 12:4), in the form of an angel.

    [b] Genesis 32:28 “He who strives with God,” or “God strives.”