Are You Slow to Grow?
Do you feel that at times you are slow to grow into what God has for you? Do you feel spiritually immature and not established in your walk with Christ? Why do some Christians not grow, as they would like to? Do you have a desire to grow deeper into God’s ways but don’t know where to begin? Would you call yourself a spiritual baby or a spiritual giant? Have you checked yourself lately to see if you have grown more in the ways of God or are you actually slow to grow up in Him? Do you feel spiritually weak or spiritually strong like Jesus?
If we saw one of our family members not growing and having difficulty in maturing and developing we would quickly whisk them off to the doctors. We would want to find out why they were not growing and developing towards the physical functions appropriate to their age. As we grow and develop and become adults, we are encouraged to have an annual physical examination, which is a source of reassurance that we are growing healthfully and towards a well-fit maturity.
Why do we think it would be different spiritually speaking? Paul states in Ephesians Chapter 4:1-2 from The Message: “to get out there and walk – better yet, run! – on the road God called you to travel. He doesn’t want any one sitting around on their hands and he doesn’t want anyone strolling off, down some path that goes nowhere.”
“Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of men in their deceitful scheming. Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.” - Ephesians 4:14-15 (NIV)
The Message states these verses in this way:
“No prolonged infancies among us, please. We’ll not tolerate babes in the woods, small children who are an easy mark for impostors. God wants us to grow up, to know the whole truth and tell it in love – like Christ in everything. We take our lead from Christ, who is the source of everything we do. He keeps us in step with each other. His very breath and blood flow through us, nourishing us so that we will grow up healthy in God, robust in love.”
Well, I have the perfect prescription just for YOU! This is my personal prescription designed and intended for you, my dear friends. This prescription will give you greater strength, greater endurance, and greater stamina to increase and intensify growth, maturity, and development . . . it’s likened to spiritual steroids.
DOCTORS URGENT CARE ASSOCIATES
FREEDOM HOUSE MINISTRY
DIVINE SPIRITUAL CLINIC
SPIRITUAL CARDIOVASCULAR ASSOCIATES
Tommy & Mari Anne Andersen
Primary Care Provider: Jesus Christ
Open 7 days/week, 24 hours/day
Rx Course 201 School - no substitute or generics
Course 202 School - no substitute or generics
FHM – 708-6567-3658 for questions
Refills: 1x a month – Second Saturdays – September, 2016 thru May, 2017 (excluding Dec)
What Can You Expect By Taking This Course?
This prescription (Course 201 or 202) will help you discover spiritual answers to many searching questions about life, God, and yourself. It will give you clues to why you think, feel, and act the way you do. These schools will bring you into wholeness through true change and will help you break through long-standing areas of your life. Your Primary Care Provider—Jesus Christ—wants to equip you with greater vision and hope for the future . . . to take you into a deeper, more exciting and fulfilling love relationship with Him . . . and to prepare, empower, and release you into a new anointing of maturity.
With each lesson, you will gain understanding, be given principles of healing, and begin the healing process. Because we are dealing with the hearts of people, the school can, at times, be very intense. Personal responses to teaching and small group interaction may include, but are certainly not limited to, some of the following: expression of anger, prejudices and resentments; apprehension; anxiety; insomnia; depression; dissociation; etc. Because of time restraints and group process, all of your personal life issues will not be dealt with during the course of the school, but some healing will happen. This is a life-long process. We simply give you the tools to further your healing, restore your relationships, and minister to others. Many seek further ministry once the school is complete. If you feel there are already significant life issues that need to be addressed, prayer ministry or counseling prior to your enrollment in the school is advisable and always beneficial.
Vision and Purpose For Course 201 & 202 Schools:
In prayerfully planned, instructional, and ministry settings, we will impart keys of knowledge, opening the heart to receive truth and renewing the mind, that result in life transformation through Christ. Led by the Holy Spirit, we are co-workers with Christ, working to restore broken and hurting hearts, reconciling relationships. In keeping with the Elijah House mission, our vision for the Schools is to equip, encourage, and release Ambassadors for Christ (2 Corinthians 5:18 – 20), who will pick up His mantle and continue His mission of restoration and healing.
Sign up for an upcoming course:
Course 201 School
Course 202 School
Write Mari Anne Andersen with any thoughts, questions or comments you may have,
to write her an e-mail click here: marianne@freedomhouseministry.net
Come and Step into Jordan
A few weeks ago I wrote an article titled “Stepping into Your Next Step” and was sharing with you that God the Father is calling each one of us to “step into” our next step: our next season, our next miracle, or our next unknown adventure in Him.
This message is a sequel to that article, and for those who are taking the time in reading this, please know God has something very endearing and appealing for you. He is asking YOU, His child, to trust Him in this next step of your life. You are standing on the banks of the Jordan and in this precise place you are purposely positioned in a holy place—a place of transition, a place of changeover, and a place of significance and importance. For this place, the Jordan River, is a place of new beginnings for YOU. How many of us would like to have some new beginnings in our life? I know I would. What would your new beginnings look like for you? Would it be new challenges, new experiences, or new opportunities? Or maybe your new beginnings mean a new job. Or it could be a new home, being debt free, a new community of believers, or getting physically healed and cleansed like Naaman in 2 Kings 5 in the Jordan.
Friends, please hear with your heart and listen with your spiritual ears. There is a shift that is happening in God’s people. The Father is saying this is the hour and the day for YOU to come into the Jordan and be washed and cleansed as well as healed. This is a time when the Father is inviting YOU, to begin a new journey of hope and healing by “stepping into” the Jordan River. Though there have been many disappointments and you have lost some of your zeal and passion, the Father is saying He wants to rekindle your heart and life and renew your first love once again. This is a time in your life for cleansing, healing and new life; the Jordan represents for you a place of healing, hope and new life. A place in which to connect with the true Messiah, a place to be baptized in His presence of love and new beginnings. A place where we will gain new understandings and new revelations of our God.
There is a purification that is happening among His people, among the churches and even in our government. God wants you and me to have our new life in the Promised Land (on this side of eternity) and to enter into that place of new beginnings.
For many, like the Israelites, it has seemed like you have been in the wilderness—a place where life is just difficult, struggles seem to be a steady diet. In this wilderness, it seems all we do is walk, walk, and walk never seemingly arriving at our destination. This wilderness experience brings confusion, temptation, and exhaustion, as well as deep sorrow. Listen up friends! This wilderness experience is coming to an end! This wilderness is no longer giving room for you to wander because you are at the banks of the Jordan, ready and willing to “step into” the Jordan and ready and willing to experience new beginnings. These new beginning will set your feet to dancing, will cause you to arise and shine, and will release you into the Promised Land.
Your Jordan is the boundary between your wilderness and your Promised Land. It is the obstacle standing between you and the Promised Land. Your promised land is in sight. You know what God’s promises are, what His truth is, and what He has spoken through His Spirit to you. However, we are often like the Israelites who, standing at the Jordan, saw a river in flood stage, overflowing its banks. There was no low water crossing in sight. They could not go around the river; there were no bridges, so they also could not go over it. The way was blocked. The river was impassable.
Yet God the Father is calling you, inviting you, and encouraging you to “step into” the water so that HE can act on your behalf. You may have many questions, like the Israelites, but the Father is saying that all your questions, doubts, and fears will be washed away as you “step into” the Jordan River. The water will not part until WE step out in faith and “step into” the water.
One step is all it took for the Israelites! As soon as their feet were dipped in the edge of the water, God acted—the flowing waters stood still, there was dry land, and all the people crossed over. With that one step, they followed the ark of God’s presence into the Jordan, and we can, too.
Joshua 3:11-13 – Just watch the sacred chest that belongs to the Lord, the ruler of the whole earth. As soon as the priests carrying the chest “step into” the Jordan, the water will stop flowing and pile up as if someone had built a dam across the river. (Translation – CEV)
Now this is your divine moment! Your next step into the Jordan will be a game changer for you. Don’t hesitate, don’t vacillate, and don’t fluctuate for this is the hour, this is the day, and this is the moment when He is saying . . .
Come and Step into your destiny
Step into your Promised Land
Step into your wholeness
Step into a higher realm of His glory
Step into the unknown
Step into awaited favor
Step into your miracle
Step into the fullness of life
Step into maturity
Step into intimacy
Step into dependency
Step into God’s supply
Step into your blessing
Step into your future
Step into your physical, emotional, and relational healing
Step into your Jordan with Jesus!
Freedom House would love to bless you in this season and time in your life. We would like to place your Jordan River in front of you so that you may take that next step into the river. Freedom House will be having a Prophetic Conference “Stepping into Prophetic Destiny with Joseph & Heather Zupetz from Z Ministries Thursday August 11thr through Saturday, August 13th 2016.
FOR MORE EVENT INFO CLICK HERE
Write Mari Anne Andersen with any thoughts, questions or comments you may have,
to write her an e-mail click here: marianne@freedomhouseministry.net
Stepping Into Your Next Step
Have you ever wondered about the adage “stepping into?” These two words, I believe, are very powerful and commanding, as well as, a vivid description of what God is calling each one of us to do, at various times in our life, in our walk with Him. He is encouraging, wooing, calling, and cheering us to “step into” our next step: our next season, our next miracle, or our next unknown adventure in Him.
Where are you in your walk about “stepping into” your next step? The Israelites were called to “step into the Jordan” while the water was swiftly flowing past. That must have seemed daunting; after all, it would certainly be much easier to step into the Jordan after the Lord had stopped its flow, rather than while it was still flowing! What does the River Jordan represent for you, for me, and for our destiny? How can stepping into your Jordan make a monumental shift in your walk with the Lord? What can one little step do in our life, in our situation and in our spiritual journey no matter how daunting it might look?
I would like to invite you to “step into” the scripture below with me and explore together God’s heart as we unfold this life-changing word for you and for me in this season.
Joshua 3:11-13 – Just watch the sacred chest that belongs to the Lord, the ruler of the whole earth. As soon as the priests carrying the chest “step into” the Jordan, the water will stop flowing and pile up as if someone had built a dam across the river. (Translation – CEV)
Introduction – The two Israelite spies had returned from Jericho, having followed Joshua’s orders to check out the land and the city. They had escaped with Rahab’s help and now they are reporting all their experiences to Joshua. And with great delight and joy they told Joshua, “Yes! God has given the whole country to us. Everybody there is in a state of panic because of us.” (Joshua 2:23-24 CEV)
This was the news Joshua had been waiting for. The very next morning they would break camp and pitch their tents on the banks of the Jordan River.
Jordan’s literal meaning is “The Descender,” goes downwards. Jordan represents the line of distinction of the carnal life and stepping into the spiritual life, from death to life, and from the old to the new. Crossing the Jordan River for Joshua and the Israelites meant entering the Promised Land and leaving the leadership of Moses—a change from the old to the new. Another significant transition occurred when Elijah, just after crossing the Jordan, transferred the prophetic mantel to Elisha right before Elijah ascended to heaven, indicating a change to new leadership. Lastly, the Jordan was the place where John baptized Jesus but instead of the waters parting, the heavens did (Mark 1:10). This was the beginning of Jesus’ spiritual ministry. So we can see that Jordan is a place of TRANSITIONS, CONVERSIONS, and ALTERATIONS. It’s the place of decision-making to pursue God, to trust God, and to lean not in our own understanding even when to the natural eye there are clearly obstacles, barriers, and overwhelming currents to “stepping into.”
I believe that we all have times in our lives when we seem to reach the banks of our own spiritual Jordan River. We reach a point where a transition, a change, or a shift must take place in our lives; something needs to happen in a big way so that God’s promises are able to move into our reality. How many of you are on the banks of your Jordan in this moment of time, but yet you are hesitant to “step into” that Jordan? Perhaps your fear comes from unpleasant past experiences, and you do not want to be disappointed or hurt again. Maybe you have come to the end of your striving and figured out it’s not working for you any longer. Perhaps the same recording plays over and over in your mind reminding you of the past failures, or you are tired of walking in circles ending up at the same place.
The Jordan River always looked uncrossable—an impossible physical barrier to cross before the Israelites could reach their freedom, their promises, and their destiny. My question to you is what is stopping you? What options do you actually have? To go back, stay behind, or sit and wait another 40 years in your own personal wilderness?
Friends, realize that “stepping into” the next step will be a game changer for YOU and your life. Literally, a shift will take place—a suddenly of His majestic wonders will be unveiled and revealed. The Father reassures you not to fear, not to hold back, and not to put off taking that step of obedience and faith. This is a divine moment with your God for transition, conversion, and alteration.
Whatever your “stepping into” looks like, know that He is trustworthy to walk along side of you. He will give you strength, perseverance, endurance, wisdom, resources, and people to help. Obedience and faithfulness always glorify God. God the Father rewards our step of faith. Nothing pleases Him more than faith (Hebrews 11:6) because you are “stepping into” His plan and purpose, which is learning to develop, grow, and mature in the ways of Him. It’s living in His Kingdom glory on this side of eternity; it’s expanding our borders to be blessed, to be fruitful in all areas, and to increase in intimacy, dependency, and confidence with the one true King of kings.
Looking at Abraham, similar to the Israelites who had to “step into” the unknown when crossing the Jordan, God called him to “step into” his personal unknown, leaving all that was familiar like family, friends, and his home. He had to “step into the next step” of his journey, the next season of his life. He certainly didn’t know all the particulars, all the encounters he would have and where the journey would lead or end. Up to this time, Abraham was not a leader. However, he had God’s word and promise that He would not forsake him. Therefore, God called him to a new position, a new destiny—a place of leadership to fulfill his potential that God was calling him into. Did you know that is our same promise? When God calls us to “step into our next step,” He will not forsake us nor will He leave us. By “stepping into” the next step of obedience, reliance, and faith, Abraham was blessed and honored, and we too have been the recipients of those blessings. It is always His will and desire to bless us in giving us more than we could ever imagine, dream of, or ask for. That is the Father’s heart to pour upon us, to heap upon us, to overwhelm us with His abundance of blessings, goodness, and love.
In a word, God does not call the equipped; He equips the called. Paul said it best: “But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.” (2 Corinthians 12:9 NIV)
You are on the banks of your own Jordan and the Father beckons you to believe, to walk into a newness of life, and to “step into” your Jordan with Him!
Come and . . . Step into your destiny
Step into your Promised Land
Step into your wholeness
Step into a higher realm of His glory
Step into the unknown
Step into awaited favor
Step into your miracle
Step into the fullness of life
Step into maturity
Step into intimacy
Step into dependency
Step into God’s supply
Step into your blessing
Step into your future
Step into your physical, emotional, and relational healing
Step into your Jordan with Jesus!
Mari Anne Andersen would love to hear from you, write her an e-mail, click here: marianne@freedomhouseministry.net
To view Mari Anne's video and read her bio click here:
http://www.freedomhouseministry.com/our-staff/prayer-counselors/mari-anne-andersen/