…FREED FROM PRISON ON THE TWENTY-FIFTH DAY OF THE TWELFTH MONTH.

It was early December and as always we had entered the countdown to Christmas with the usual flurry of activities in our North American culture which I am increasingly feeling the desire to withdraw from, being very selective in what I engage in. So then I read these words in Jeremiah 52:31-34:

And in the thirty-seventh year of the captivity of Jehoiachin [also called Coniah and Jeconiah] king of Judah, in the twelfth month, on the twenty-fifth day of the month, Evil-merodach king of Babylon in the first year of his reign lifted up the head of Jehoiachin king of Judah [and showed favor to him] and brought him out of prison. He spoke kindly to him and gave him a seat above the seats of the kings who were [captives] with him in Babylon, Jehoiachin put off his prison garments, and he dined regularly at the king’s table all the days of his life. And his allowance, a continual one, was given him by the king of Babylon, a portion according to his requirements until the day of his death, all the days of his life.

Here’s some thoughts of what I believe the Lord is saying:

12th MONTH, 25th DAY The Holy Spirit used this date to capture my attention regarding this scripture. Although the twenty fifth day of the twelfth month is Christmas Day for us, I believe it’s the significance of what we celebrate on that day, not December 25th, that is of importance here. Jesus – Immanuel, God with us; Saviour, Redeemer of all mankind came to earth in human form to reconcile man to God. The focus is Him, not the date. The message is FREEDOM THROUGH JESUS CHRIST, Son of God, to those who have been taken into captivity, held in bondage far away from the place God intended for them. The king was RELEASED from prison! That is the highlight of this message:
YOU HAVE BEEN RELEASED FROM YOUR PRISON! Freedom from those things that have held you captive; released into that place of freedom and light the Father intended for you to live in. Make this a declaration over your life and the lives of those in your sphere of influence. No more prison clothes! That old identity is being removed! That which identifies you by that old place of bondage – the Father is taking that off of you. With it goes the old thought patterns and mind sets. New garments are being given to God’s children. A new identity! A renewed mind – the mind of Christ. New freedom in discerning the will of God.  (Rom 12:2 – Do not be conformed to this world (this age), [fashioned after and adapted to its external, superficial customs], but be transformed (changed) by the [entire] renewal of your mind [by its new ideals and its new attitude], so that you may prove [for yourselves] what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God, even the thing which is good and acceptable and perfect [in His sight for you].)

Another word is RESTORATION! Four more things happened to the king of Judah: his head was lifted up; he received favor; words of kindness were spoken to him and he was given a seat of authority above other exiled kings. What a day! From bondage, obscurity, hopelessness and defeat to all this? I try to imagine what he felt, what was going through his mind and how could he process all of this. Here is a classic example of God’s ability to restore – a life, a nation, a dream, hope, faith. It speaks loudly of the mercy and kindness of our God, not to mention His sovereig power.
Ps 3:3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. Ps 27:6a And now shall my head be lifted up above my enemies round about me: Prov 13:12 – Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing fulfilled is a tree of life.

Earlier this year, the Lord spoke these words to me in Hong Kong. Open your heart to receive the extrvaganza of the Father.   This is for all of us! I feel the Holy Spirit is shouting this! LET YOUR HEAD BE LIFTED UP above the mind sets, ideologies, belief systems of Babylon (world), above legalism, above fear, despair, shame, failures, hopelessness, unbelief. RECEIVE THE FAVOR AND KINDNESS OF GOD, YOUR FATHER!
This is the time of His favor upon His people and vengeance of our God upon our enemies. (Is 61:2) His favor and kindness will awaken our hearts with renewed love and passion for our heavenly Bridegroom.
TAKE YOUR SEAT! The next phase is the restoration of authority. God’s purpose for reconciliation and restoration is so that His Kingdom can be released on earth – the Government of Heaven to come here. Rev 1:6 – And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be
glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
YOU HAVE BEEN CHOSEN FOR SUCH A TIME AS THIS!

Then came PROVISION. What would the diet of a POW (prisoner of war) be? Maybe crumbs, certainly sub grade food. Jehoiachin shifted from that to dining on cuisine fit for royalty at the king’s table and received an allowance according to his needs for the rest of his life. The KING has provided open access to His table and His storehouse! Song of Sol 2:3b-5 I delight to sit in his shade, and his fruit is sweet to my taste. He has taken me to the banquet hall, and his banner over me is love. Strengthen me with raisins, refresh me with apples, for I am faint with love.
Is 55:1-2 “Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost. Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy? Listen, listen to me,
and eat what is good, and your soul will delight in the richest of fare.
Zech 3:7 Thus says the Lord of hosts: If you will walk in My ways and keep My charge, then also you shall rule My house and have charge of My courts, and I will give you access [to My presence] and places to walk among these who stand here.

ALLOWANCE? All the requirements for this end time generation – individuals and nations, to fulfill destinies and to bring in the harvest of the world has been provided and is being released. God is not speaking to us of material wealth, to pad our lives and make us comfortable while we wait for His return. Instead, it is the the CLOTHING, the SUSTENANCE and the EQUIPMENT we require now. This transition is essential for us to become fit to fulfill the purpose for which we were created…THE MANIFESTATION OF THE SONS OF GOD ON THE EARTH TO REVEAL HIS GLORY! In closing, it is imperative to understand the posture we need to have during this time of freedom and restoration: HUMILITY AND BROKENNESS. Jehoiachin, who had forsaken God’s ways, had been held captive in a demonic, pagan land for thirty seven years, far from his homeland but worse than that, far from the Presence of God. Maybe his brokenness brought him to a place of humility of heart and repentance, we don’t know, but highly likely. WALK FORWARD HUMBLY AND POWERFULLY INTO NEW FREEDOM!

Enjoy celebrating Jesus! Merry Christmas!

Donna Reinheimer

Life Lessons

Ever since I was a young child I knew that I had been gifted in the visual arts but I was puzzled regarding the purpose for this gift. Discouragement often set in because the visual arts are often been considered impractical (and, therefore, unimportant) by those having grown up in the scientific/rational paradigm of North America. I believe that in not knowing the high purposes God as a child, however, I was spared from growing in ambition and this enabled me to be lead by the Holy Spirit step by step.

A word of warning to any artist (or any Christian for that matter) who wants to be a vessel for God’s power- Duck! Throughout scripture almost anyone who had been used by God in a significant way went through a process of being humbled. For instance, Joseph was sold as a slave, left for dead, falsely accused and spent time in prison. David spent something like 14 years in the desert running for his life, and Moses was a fugitive. Even Jesus was, for the most part, misunderstood, rejected and eventually murdered.  It seems that God’s process of creating vessels that are capable of carrying His glory includes discipline. Our agendas (plans to make a name for ourselves and to ‘get ahead’) need to be completely stripped from our hearts (even the hidden parts that we can not see). This will give us the ability to start moving in whatever direction God wants us to go – In sincerity being able to say, “Whatever God!”  Something that has recently humbled my heart was seeking employment. At the beginning of this summer I was looking for a job in the graphic-design industry in order to utilize my God-given skills and was blessed with two favourable interviews. At the end of the interviews, both employers said, “Yes.” However, through a course of events, neither job offer resulted in employment. I was very tempted to get upset and allow frustration to poison my heart but I felt God say to me, “Don’t worry, I have something else in mind.” I was soon lead by God to start a job in a care home and the word he spoke to me that gave clarity to this decision was, “Jon, there is a piece of my heart that I want you to find in this home.” My word to you – Be ready for the unexpected and be willing to move in whatever direction God will direct you, especially if it does not seem to further your career/agenda. Only He knows what preparation we need for what comes next.

Another situation where God lead me in an unexpected direction was the subject matter that I was to produce for my University art classes. Originally, due to my zeal for the prophetic, I started to paint images with overt spiritual content. I was met with harsh criticism from professors who believed that faith was outmoded. I was frustrated by their response and was tempted to either forfeit my plans to continue engaging with an academic institution or to continue boldly throwing my pearls before swine. After spending time in prayer, however, God reminded me of how Jesus most often spoke in an indirect fashion because He did not want to give men with a depraved mindset the opportunity to trample things of great value. After listening to a friend of mine talk about art I was blessed with an idea (I believe God given) regarding the content that I could use for my work that would satisfy my professors. My sister had been working at a care home for the past year and I felt that doing a portrait series of these people would not only satisfy the academic institution’s values but it would also give me opportunity to speak something that was on God’s heart. Honour/esteem is seldom given to people with physical or intellectual disabilities and I felt it was important to take the opportunity to honour them in this way. I realized that I did not need to depict ‘spiritual’ content in order to communicate God’s love. Hopefully people would be aroused to ask questions such as, “Why would someone depict this subject matter?” or, “Why does this work strike me as being so unusual?” By being prompted to ask questions, it has been my hope that the audience would be prompted to seek more truth. I felt a greater peace regarding working with content that was not overtly faith-based after hearing from God regarding His seasons and set times. This series of work was important for the season I was in (God wanted me to stay in His camp of rest where I was to develop technical skills and proficiency) and He has since started to move me into a season where I am to start marching – working with content that is more overtly faith-based and speaks of things that are of a spiritual nature. I believe that the lesson of recognizing the season that God placed me in not only has ramifications for my artwork but pertains to the church as a whole.

While I was camping earlier this summer a friend and I went for a canoe ride and we came to a stop in a canal. As we listened to the twenty or more distinct birdsongs and the many others sounds of life teeming from the lake I realized that they were all working together in unison/harmony. It was as if all of creation was an orchestra that got progressively louder, softer, slower and faster as the great conductor directed the worship. I was caught up in this rhythm when, all of a sudden, a motor boat screamed by on the far side of the lake. I realized that, as God’s children, we need to know the timing of God so that we do not behave as the rude motorboat who does not respect His leading. We need to be in tune with His Spirit if we are to fulfill his greater purposes.

Thank you for listening to my life experiences/lessons because I believe they have positioned me (and will hopefully help position others) to participate in His greater purposes for the arts.

A High Calling for the Arts

Through watching documentaries that reveal the wonders of creation such as BBC’s Planet Earth I am struck by the revelation that God is, by nature, creative. Deep crevices in the ocean (largely unexplored by man) are teeming with life forms that look more alien than science fiction. (It is evident that God’s creativity far surpasses any of man’s wildest imaginations.) Also, according to many scientific theories, the universe is continually expanding and new galaxies, stars and planets are formed every day. Combined with awe-inspiring sunsets painted in the sky every night, I am led to believe that God creates beauty for the sheer enjoyment of creating. (Much of his beauty will never be appreciated by man). It is His nature to create and he, therefore, can not stop creating. If man is made in God’s image what is human creativity in its maturity? By being in relationship with a creator who has no limits I believe that the Church has only begun to explore its creative potential. Considering He is a God of creation, as more of His Spirit is manifested I believe a natural result will be a release of greater creativity.²⁸ “And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your old men will dream dreams, your young men will see visions. As God is releasing fresh revelation to the church, especially regarding her government, I believe He is also revealing new strategies that will empower us for a governmental shift. After listening to Ray Hughes (a speaker who has given much teaching regarding how God reveals Himself through creation) it is evident that one of these strategies is the arts. Hughes gives the illustration of how a song bird has three distinct songs: one to declare its territory and one to allure a lover. The third song is considered ‘the song of the dawn’ because, at the crack of dawn, before the first rays of sunlight appear on the horizon, the songbird sings a song that causes organisms (ie- plants) to open their pores. This enables the organisms to receive sunlight. If secular science has revealed this phenomenon, much revelation has yet to be understood by the church regarding the arts and the implications of this revelation are huge! I believe the arts are a powerful tool for communication that have been largely overlooked.

Hughes later explains how all matter is vibrating at the molecular level and this gives evidence that creation was spoken into existence. All matter is affected by the original sound waves that were emitted from the Word when He spoke the world into existence. “Let there be…” continues to echo throughout creation but because sin/darkness polluted creation this clear sound has been distorted. Is it possible that after a person has been communing with God and, therefore, positioned himself to be in sync with His sound, the individual is then able to transmit His sound to the world around him? I personally believe that the function that art has played in the past (such as being a conduit that God can speak through) is but a shadow of the fullness that God wants bring through the arts. I dream about an anointing being released where works will not only stimulate thought but will carry the atmosphere of heaven. People would be healed, delivered and even brought to salvation through this work.

I think about the example of Paul in Acts-  “¹¹God did extraordinary miracles through Paul, ¹²so that even handkerchiefs and aprons that had touched him were taken to the sick, and their illnesses were cured and the evil spirits left them.” (Acts 19:11-12) Once a person has been brought into alignment with God he would then be empowered to bring his world into alignment.

Another strategy that I believe God is releasing through the arts is an ability to communicate truth subversively. (Merriam Webster defines subversion as – “a systematic attempt to overthrow or undermine a government or political system by persons working secretly from within.”) In other words, when a person listens to or views an artwork his will and emotions are often impacted before his mind kicks into gear. Because of this, art has an ability to communicate to people that would normally not listen to a particular message. As artworks are anointed by God’s Spirit I believe they have the ability to ommunicate truth to places that were previously inaccessible. After such a person’s heart has been reached, that person would be provoked to ask questions such as, “Why am I feeling this way?” and, “What is it about this piece that is so different?” This subversive strategy in communicating the truth was used by Jesus when He ministered in Galilee⁴⁸   This is revealed by Him stating, “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”  (John 4:48) As the Galileans hearts were touched by seeing signs and wonders their hearts were softened to consider the truth that Jesus wanted to teach them.

Not only are the arts potential conduits of the supernatural but they can also speak/teach about the supernatural. I was shocked when I read an article in a Costco magazine (secular article) that fiction with supernatural content has revived literature consumption for young adults. The wild popularity of Harry Potter movies has contributed to this phenomenon and it is evident that a great appetite exists in the youth of North America for the supernatural. It is, therefore, vital that the Church matures in its supernatural gifts so that it is able to feed the hungry souls of this generation. If we fail in this ommission, these appetites will quickly succumb to the occult other demonic counterfeits.                                                                             One artist in particular that has been a great encouragement to me in using art to communicate truth (even issues regarding the supernatural) is an author. When C.S. Lewis was questioned regarding where he received the material for his books he described how he waited on God and he wrote whatever he saw. In an age where the prophetic was not understood, C.S. Lewis stood as a forerunner of the many prophetic artists that I believe will follow his example. His literature has fuelled blockbuster sensations that have taken the world by storm and have, therefore, spoken truth to people that were otherwise inaccessible. Considering  ⁹ ‘The glory of this present house will be greater than the glory of the former house,’ says the LORD Almighty,(Haggai 2:9) I believe that the artwork to come will surpass even Lewis’ legacy.

In conclusion, I want to emphasize that I do believe that church is in its infancy with regard to its creativity and that we are on the brink of new levels of creation being brought to the church that will leave a lasting impact on society. Considering Jesus is the captain of the guard, we, His children, first need to be disciplined to follow His lead so that we are not busy building our own kingdoms but that we are cooperating with Him in building His kingdom. “¹³ One [Jesus] who breaks open the way will go up before them; they will break through the gate and go out.  Their king will pass through before them, the LORD at their head.” (Micah 2:13) Also, nothing will affect a lasting impact unless it is He who works through us. “Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty.” (Zech 4:6) Also-  ¹“I [Jesus] am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. ²He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes^[a] so that it will be even more fruitful. ³You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. ⁴Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

⁵“I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. ⁶If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers; such branches are picked up, thrown into the fire and burned. ⁷If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. ⁸This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.  (John 15:1-8)

I have peace knowing that Jesus is the mastermind for affecting this generation and as long as we abide in Him He will release to us the necessary strategies to leave a lasting impact. I look forward to the day when a company of artists have arisen who are positioned to heed God’s call and are filled with His power. They would be vessels of His light and would be empowered to cooperate with Him in subduing this world of darkness. “¹⁴ For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.” (Habakkuk 2:14) It is time for His children to arise, realize the inheritance that Jesus paid for them and seize the day – Carpe Diem!

Jonathan Farrell