I recently sent this article to some of my co-workers and family and it has caused quite storm! I enjoy a little controversy, so I’m going to unleash this article on my blog. The article was written by Liz Pulliam Weston, a personal finance columnist. Her article can be found on MSN Money: Gift cards are not gifts.

I considered this article to be very thought provoking. The two main thrusts of the article are: 1) The art of gift-giving is quickly devolving into an entirely commercial exchange. 2) A gift card says nothing about the personality of the recipient — but it says lots about the giver. She closes with some practical advice to follow if you are going to buy a gift card.

One of my co-workers (I’ll call him Reggie) read the FIRST FEW paragraphs of the article and then shot back saying,

“This lady sounds like an idealist!!!! Who in the World has time to know that much about everybody???? I can’t answer all of those question about my wife??!!?!!!?!!!! I’ve only known her for 40 years but she has changed over time (numerous times) and so has her interests. So you see, these items this lady has pointed out are dynamic, always changing…….In conclusion, she is obviously out of touch or only knows 2 people. Ahahahahahahahah Thanks for sharing.”

For those of you who don’t know Reggie, he’s very opinionated! I also know that he’s a strong Christian too. So I didn’t have any problem bringing religion into the mix. My reply was:

“She is far from being an idealist. The point that she’s making is that people have lost the art of gift giving. The gift that is given often speaks more about the giver than the recipient. Not to make this a religious thing (but I am), but what does the gift of Jesus Christ speak about the nature of God? It’s speaks of God’s love, his desire to redeem the earth, he desire to dwell among us, his desire to heal, his desire to conquer sin and death, his desire right every wrong, and his desire to establish his rule and reign on earth as it is in heaven. Thank God He didn’t give us a gift card.”

So what do YOU think?

Reformation Means New Patterns Part 2
By Greg Crawford Apostle

Continuation from last weeks teaching…

The church and Body of Christ is now sitting now between two seasons. Like the Sons of Issachar, we are to know both the times and seasons. When we are in between two seasons, we need to realize God is forming a new pattern in our life and probably giving us a greater identity. We see this with almost every person in scripture. The problem is when we are in between seasons we question what is going on and if not careful we will be sitting between two opinions, stagnating our faith and our walk. What God desires is to change the place of prayer into plans, prophecy we are standing on to strategies for the future, faith igniting possibilities and hope into reality. The answers to all the questions are not in the present season but the next one. We need to learn to step out of what has been and into what shall be!

In this visitation God spoke to me concerning three current patterns He is bringing to the earth. Here they are briefly listed.

1. The Lord spoke and Said, “Pattern of Greater Eternal Identity is going to be released and realized in The Church!”

The question is are we looking through a perspective of going to heaven or heaven coming to earth?

Philippians 3:15-21 5 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you . 16 Nevertheless, whereto we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing .

17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them which walk so as ye have us for an ensample . 18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ : 19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things .) 20 For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ : 21 Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself .

Ensample means = to be marked and carry the exact mark of as impression made by pressure

Conversation means = civil or governmental affairs, administration or to manage

Fashioned means = to be patterned, a patterning of a glorious body — not glorified body (mean resurrected)

When we start looking at all of these, the definition actually comes to mean: a divine mode of being, a divine power and divinely seen by others.

Jesus said, “If you have seen me you have seen the father.” In other words, Jesus was a pattern expressed on the earth for us to have the correct identity of the Father. Part of the problem is we have gotten caught in establishing patterns of function more than patterns of being! The identity that is coming is the church 1st being and then out of that understanding of heavenly position will do and express the patterns of heaven. When we settle our identity of who we are and what God says about us, we can close a past season and begin a new one. Moses had a visitation in Ex. 3 and had to come to grips he was a deliverer closing the past season and beginning a new one. The new season Moses entered eventually led him to impact nations and bring heaven to earth by building a permanent dwelling for God. It is more than settling who we are and what we are to do today, but realizing it is about a decision of who we are for all of eternity.

The Bible says very little about going to heaven when we die but speaks lots of heaven coming to earth specifically. That is why even though our patterns seem correct the outcome is lacking. We are more concerned about entering into the pattern in heaven when we die, than bringing the pattern of heaven to the earth while we live. We are sitting at a synergy moment as the age of grace collides into the age of divine government and actually the age of divine government is invading the age of grace. Both are racing towards each other and desiring synergy! Jesus prayed that “Thy will be done on earth as it is in Heaven!”

2. The Lord spoke and said, “A pattern of the supernatural creativity of God’s expression is now being formed to be seen through the saints and the church!”

A creative God has new expressions of worship always being released. The patterns remain the same but the expression is different. Both Moses and David built according to the pattern shown. The outcome was the same – God’s presence manifest. But the elements and expressions were different. Today the pattern remains but the expression of it is shifting. The Lord said “New Expressions around my throne room will begin to come to earth.” The impression I got was something even beyond the prophetic worship that so many do. In some recent meetings, many have heard angelic hosts singing. This would be a new expression. When we worship in a heavenly pattern, we should expect heavenly results! As the supernatural creativity of God is released, the shame of The Church will be replaced with reverence and awe again. This comes by the proper understanding of the dispensation or administration of grace. Most only understand that grace enables us access into blessing. But grace is actually the ability of God to create change. Paul said he was given the ability to steward grace. We need to realize we can release the creativity of God by properly understanding who we are and then steward the creativity of God to bring both justice and blessing.

3. The Lord said “Patterns of revelation and revelatory truth unveiled will bring the operation and function of the church into a new approach. The great mysteries of Christ will unfold. The ability to hold to truth and not let it elude has a pattern that is about to be released that will allow The Church to truly capture truth in their spirits. This will allow them to function out of identity.”

One of the things we need to move from is fall mentality to creation mentality. I am not downplaying the cross and redemption but if not careful the mindset keeps us at the fall and not the original intention of God at creation. The determining factory all history moves forward from is not the cross but creation and God’s original intention. It affects all we know to be true!

A second mystery of Christ is the stewardship of second heaven. Without getting into this deeply (I have written a book concerning this) most of the church is living in earth realm, accessing second heaven (anointing) and never really accessing third heaven (revelation). This is why so many struggle in old patterns; they have not seen the heavenly pattern currently going on to transition their lives into it. What we should be doing is living in second heaven so we steward the spiritual realm and what God has released from third heaven. As we live in an eternal spiritual mindset, we then can access third heaven. In simple terms, living in second heaven, access third and affect earth with revelatory truth from a position of authority.

These are but a few of the mysteries of Christ starting to come. I want to end by looking at one more scripture.

Hebrews 8:5 Who serve unto the example and shadow of heavenly things, as Moses was admonished of God when he was about to make the tabernacle: for, See, saith he, that thou make all things according to the pattern shewed to thee in the mount .

Serve means = to worship

Shadow means = the interception of light

The key to shifting patterns is to do what Moses did. Ascend the mountain of the Lord (Is. 2:2-4) and worship with an expectation for God more than His blessing. It is about positioning ourselves to be interceptors of light and conduits of His glory!

This message may be forwarded, posted on your website or distributed to your news group as long as it remains unedited and all ministry contact information is included.

Greg Crawford Apostle
J. I. M. Ministry Base
116 W. Burlington
Fairfield, Ia 52556
641-472-9916

J.I.M. Ministry Base
Iowa Alliance For Reformation
Jubilee School of Ministry
Jubilee on MYSPACE

Reformation Means New Patterns
By Greg Crawford Apostle

With every reformation there are new patterns that emerge to bring greater understanding. This past week the Spirit of God visited me in a unique way. This visitation came in a dream form with a previous vision within the dream occurring.

He said to build the container according to the pattern shown you. Patterns exist to build containers of my Glory and presence. Containers are 2 fold, individual and corporate gatherings. Reformation is not so much about changing the people of God but about the container the people participate in. Most people are functioning based on what the container they have placed themselves in allows. The Church or ekklesia is not about the building but about the called out ones to rule and reign. What has been done today is to make it all about the container and not the people. The program is building the container, yet I say I will build My Church. My Church exists within the container, but is held back from being added to because they place themselves in containers that God has not built or do not allow Him to build. If you change the container to what I desire to build, the people will automatically function differently and will even grow up spiritually. The current container will not hold My glory and is designed to hold people back from true spiritual growth. Reformation is not based on maturity, but based on My patterns of things I have determined I will build upon. Josiah is a good example of a reformer. At age 8, he is given the task of being king over Israel. He has no natural knowledge to do such a task. The advisors he could draw from have been under the same idolatry spirit allowed in the nation. He went back and found the last established pattern that had been lost. He saw what his father David did. As he did this, he sees the blessing of God come upon an entire nation. Climb the mountain of the Lord and grab hold of the orbs of truth as they come by. Reach out to embrace while climbing ever upward.

Then a previous vision occurred within the dream with the Lord speaking to me. I was walking up a mountain with a group of people. There were many paths at the base of the mountain but all merged to one path. As we ascended, blue orbs were floating around us. On the first ascent, the Lord spoke to reach out and grab hold of these �Truths� as they came by. We were able to reach most but not all. He said some are specific and we must grab hold of those that apply to our lives. The Orbs or truths of God were lighting our pathway. We knew many had traveled this path and the more that traveled the ascent the more defined it was for others to follow. It seemed we had so many concerns. We reached a platform and had rested. The Lord said �transition�. We start the next ascent in a seemingly different way. We knew it was the final one. We did not look back like before and we did not have concerns about the enemy or even who was coming with us. This time the blue orbs were not just passing by but were surrounding us and even engulfing us at times. The truths of God were not just touching our lives but now became a part of our lives. The journey had been hard to this point but now the seasoning of God was upon us. We had new strength. We were warriors, proven, tried, a force to be reckoned with, ones who had beaten the pathway for others. I could see that we knew how to war and how to love. We were on a mission of the highest level. Nothing was to stop or distract us. Our faces were set as flint, seeing the price before us, knowing what we had endured. This was the final journey, the final quest; this was the finishing of all things and the beginning of all things.

The Lord then said �build the container with what I have already spoken, the mandates that I have placed within your heart. Look at Josiah and see how a nation was turned. The only thing you can pass on are MY patterns and containers built with my patterns! Only my patterns will I build upon. The patterns will always make a pathway for others to follow. They will always create life. They are the true riches and inheritance to pass to others.�

We see the story of Josiah in 2 Kings 21. Manasseh has done evil and causes a breach in the tabernacle. Josiah comes as a reformer. You see when ever you see a breach; the pattern of God is not in place to build the proper container! Without getting into the whole story, Josiah reforms a nation by changing the pattern they were living under. He first put the pattern of David back into his own life and then into the pattern of others. He removes idolatry, wickedness, and establishes worship and the reading of God�s word. In other words, he changed the container for God to dwell again by changing the patterns that were operating. We need to stop and look at the patterns we have established. Are they Godly?

As good leaders, we have built what seems good and acceptable. David did the same thing bringing in the Ark of God. In 1 Chron. 13, David consulted with the people, built a new cart, sought peoples approval and had worship. But the pattern was unacceptable. )Sounds a lot like today.) But he shifted and established the pattern God had ordained in 1 Chron 14-15. He becomes a spiritual leader, instead of a people pleaser, he carries the ark how God said, and his worship is not in form but now has joy! We must develop and move from what has caused the breach to what brings the presence!

The word �pattern� means in likeness, form, it refers that what is built must have God�s hand seen in it, To build in the divine order of what God has determined. Building is always associated with salvation. �Pattern� in the New Testament means, fashion, the mark of a stroke or blow, to have an image that all can see. David built according to pattern and that is what Josiah went back to.

1 Chronicles 28:10-15 Take heed now; for the LORD hath chosen thee to build an house for the sanctuary: be strong, and do it . 11 Then David gave to Solomon his son the pattern of the porch, and of the houses thereof, and of the treasuries thereof, and of the upper chambers thereof, and of the inner parlours thereof, and of the place of the mercy seat , 12 And the pattern of all that he had by the spirit, of the courts of the house of the LORD, and of all the chambers round about, of the treasuries of the house of God, and of the treasuries of the dedicated things : 13 Also for the courses of the priests and the Levites, and for all the work of the service of the house of the LORD, and for all the vessels of service in the house of the LORD . 14 He gave of gold by weight for things of gold, for all instruments of all manner of service; silver also for all instruments of silver by weight, for all instruments of every kind of service : 15 Even the weight for the candlesticks of gold, and for their lamps of gold, by weight for every candlestick, and for the lamps thereof: and for the candlesticks of silver by weight, both for the candlestick, and also for the lamps thereof, according to the use of every candlestick .

1 Chronicles 28:19-20 All this, said David , the LORD made me understand in writing by his hand upon me, even all the works of this pattern . 20 And David said to Solomon his son, Be strong and of good courage, and do it : fear not, nor be dismayed: for the LORD God, even my God, will be with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee, until thou hast finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD .

Like the sons of Issachar we must know the times and season that are upon us right now.

1 Chronicles 12:32 And of the children of Issachar, which were men that had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do; the heads of them were two hundred; and all their brethren were at their commandment .

Times = seasons Rt = perpetuity, for ever, continuing future, everlasting, eternal
It means to understand natural patterns
It means to understand one time event patterns
It means to understand God�s fixed or set time or pattern

Every season has a pattern to it. When we understand the season, we understand the pattern being formed. New patterns of heaven are now being established in The Church and the earth. Patterns always reveal the glory of God! The seasons of preparation we go through are about creating correct patterns so the Glory can be seen. So when we finally realize a season is finished, it also means a pattern has been formed and there is something God desires to show forth through us! You see it is not about laboring to be blessed but laboring to see heaven�s patterns on the earth.

God does not start a new pattern to do away with the old, but changes the expression of it! We must be careful not to get caught in old patterns that have no affect. We see Moses� and David�s tabernacles both operated at the same time but only one pattern was affective! The one that also carried God�s current expression! We have created earthly patterns copied to express heavenly patterns without accessing the revelatory realm to see the current patterns of God. Right now, not only does God have patterns for us in this moment but also is forming patterns for the future eternal moments of the endless age!

Next week we will contiue this teaching with three distinct Patterns God showed me coming to the earth right now!

This message may be forwarded, posted on your website or distributed to your news group as long as it remains unedited and all ministry contact information is included.

Greg Crawford Apostle
J. I. M. Ministry Base
116 W. Burlington
Fairfield, Ia 52556
641-472-9916

J.I.M. Ministry Base
Iowa Alliance For Reformation
Jubilee School of Ministry
Jubilee on MYSPACE

The Reformation In Prayer
By Greg Crawford

Even though we do many things naturally and with not really thinking, a better understanding always causes us to grow spiritually faster. This week’s teaching will focus on six distinct types of prayer that are used in Scripture and how we cannot seem to get breakthrough in prayer in one area we can get breakthrough by a different type of prayer. Each type of prayer expands upon the previous and allows us to see the vast ways of approaching God. With this understanding our prayer life will never be stale. We see that Paul told Timothy and also the church of Ephesus to pray with different types of prayer.

1 Timothy 2:1
1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men ;

Ephesians 6:18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints ;

With both types of prayer Paul specifically listed supplication and there’s a reason for this. Lets began the study by looking at the prayer of supplication.

1. Prayer of supplication.

Luke 11:9-13 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you . 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened . 11 If a son shall ask bread of any of you that is a father, will he give him a stone ? or if he ask a fish, will he for a fish give him a serpent ? 12 Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion ? 13 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children: how much more shall your heavenly Father give the Holy Spirit to them that ask him ?

Supplication means to petition or entreat someone for something. The prayer of supplication is more than just petitioning God with request. But every time that we see supplication in Scripture we see people coming first desiring to know who God is. Supplication begans as we ask God to give us a hunger for him. Without a hunger for him we will not receive the answers he wants to bring us. As I look back I see many people who did not have true supplication or desire for God in place first, when answers of God came second they were unwilling to receive those answers. By having a hunger for God first we then can ask him the petitions we requested them. At this stage we do not know the will of God concerning what we ask. They’re asking God to bring us the answers that we need in life. Without the desire for him first we only look at the answers like presents that have been given us and not God’s desire for. I am convinced that without the desire for God in place first, all the types of prayer that we pray sometimes have no result or fall short. Ask God to give you a hunger to seek his face a desire for him before what he can give!

2. Prayer of faith

James 5:13-16
13 Is any among you afflicted ? let him pray. Is any merry ? let him sing psalms . 14 Is any sick among you ? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord : 15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him . 16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much .

The prayer faith is not to be confused with the gift of faith. The gift of faith is a one time event. The prayer faith is rooted in our confidence on God’s Word and trusting God what he said will surely come to pass. Unlike the prayer of supplication, with the prayer of faith we know the will of God for we have found it in his word. This prayer is between you and God and is a declaration that you speak out loud concerning what God has promised you. Many times the prayer of faith, and the answer we are waiting for, originated out of the prayer of supplication. The best example of this is the woman with the issue of blood in Matthew 9. She had desire for God and for the answer of God. But she believed by faith to touch the hem of the garment and be healed. The greatest hindrance in the prayer faith is doubted and unbelief. You can have faith, doubt, and unbelief all at the same time. Doubt and unbelief are in direct opposition to our faith and trust. We have to both trust God and his word and have faith in God and his word. The prayer of faith is a positional prayer of standing until we see the answer manifest.

3. Prayer of agreement

Matthew 18:18-19 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven . 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven .

The prayer of agreement is when two or more people come together and agree with one another and with the Word of God that something specific will be done. The prayer of agreement is stronger at times because perhaps our faith is lacking. The reason two or more come together is to make up what is lacking in the others so the prayer can be unhindered. Really the prayer of agreement is the power of unity. It is a spiritual principle of multiplication that occurs through the prayer of agreement. God’s power, anointing, angelic force, and word is multiplied and we stand together concerning with what we have agreed to. The prayer of agreement is not so much a prayer as it is coming into agreement of what we have discussed, that we believe is the mind of God, and what he desires to occur. The prayer of agreement is not just the releasing of our faith like a prayer faith, but is the multiplication of faith, by those of like faith. At our ministry base for our intercession time we recently only discussed what we knew was the mind of God. We all came to conclusion or agreement and what we knew was truly to be. We did not pray a petition prayer to God but declared what we agreed to. This agreement was so strong that we had answers within 24 hours of what we had agreed to. If you cannot get breakthrough with a prayer of supplication or prayer faith and find someone else and come into agreement or have them come into agreement with you! The prayer of agreement brings the presence of Jesus Christ right into our midst!

Matt. 18:19 Jesus said, “Again I tell you that if two of you on earth agree on anything you ask for, it will be done for you by my Father in Heaven. For where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them.”

4. Prayer of intercession

Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them .

Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered .

To intercede means to plead or mediate on behalf of another person. Jesus is interceding for us and so is the Holy Spirit praying for us and through us as we pray in the spirit. To truly engage into intercession we’re back to the first model of prayer supplication. To truly intercede on behalf of others we must truly desire God and God’s desire for them. We must care about the things the Lord cares about concerning the outcome of others’ lives and situations. I believe today, many do not understand intercession, because once again many have not approached the prayer of supplication correctly. Intercession as seen in the Bible is primarily focused towards the church, the Saints, and the advancement of the kingdom of God. As a Spirit prays through us, we literally are allowing the mind of God to be spoken. The Holy Spirit knows the mind of God concerning the situations of others. When we no longer have words to pray what we know, and as the Spirit prays through us, the mind of God will be revealed. We literally are joining Jesus in his intercession on the behalf of others.

5. The Prayer of Binding and Loosening.

Matthew 18:18-19 Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven . 19 Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven .

Prayer of authority speaking into the spirit realm against the things that control lives. Here Jesus is telling us that whatever we as Christians do in His name here on earth, it will be carried through by the Father in Heaven. The prayer of binding and loosing is actually a spiritual warfare prayer. Unlike the other types of prayer that possibly may be petitioning God for answers in our life, we has stepped to a higher level and are taken authority ourselves, over the things that are hindering the spiritual climate. The prayer of binding and loosening is more prayer functioning as a Christian in a deep spiritual walk. Most of the time we spend focused on binding things and very little time on loosing things. I am beginning to get an understanding to bind doubt and unbelief in services and to loose faith and expectation. The prayer of binding and loosening is mainly focused not on our benefit, but on the benefit of the body of Christ as a whole.

6. Prayer of praise and thanksgiving

Psalm 100
1 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands . 2 Serve the LORD with gladness: come before his presence with singing . 3 Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture . 4 Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name . 5 For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations .

This is prayer of thanking God with the assurance you may not see fully but your confidence cause you to rejoice that the answer is sure and you thank God in advance of what you see! For our praise and thanksgiving is based upon the fact that we know that God is worthy to be praise. Actually when we start a worship service we’re conducting the prayer of praise and thanksgiving. Praise and worship brings us into the presence of God. It takes us out of the world and gets us focused on God once again. It opens the door for the prayer of supplication, a desire for God. And we thank God in advance of our answers, we show him that we trust him and that our confidence rests than him. The prayer of praise and thanksgiving is a testimony of who we believe God really is. It cements our faith and causes us to have a heart of expectation. The thing to remember is, a heart of gratitude will keep us from sin. A heart of gratitude is a heart hat take time to reflect on who God is, and what He means to them individually!

I trust this simple six part teaching has shown us different types of prayer and the application of them. I hope that you can see that prayer as a progression and that if we are struggling with one type of prayer, there other types that we could model in approaching God. We recently went through the six part model at our ministry base, teaching and then applying each type of prayer. People were able to see how each was applied in our life and the specific types of prayer that are needed, to accomplish specific types of breakthrough. Let’s be obedient to follow the Scriptures and pray without ceasing with all types of prayer!

This message may be forwarded, posted on your website or distributed to your news group as long as it remains unedited and all ministry contact information is included.

Greg Crawford Apostle
J. I. M. Ministry Base
116 W. Burlington
Fairfield, Ia 52556
641-472-9916

J.I.M. Ministry Base
Iowa Alliance For Reformation
Jubilee School of Ministry
Jubilee on MYSPACE