Jul 10
The Finale of the Dark Night of the Soul (II)
“Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a live coal which he had taken with the tongs from the altar.” Isaiah 6:6
The Altar that you are kneeling before is a small (1 cubit X 1 cubit X 2cubit –or- 18 inches X 18 inches X 36 inches). Yet, it is an amazing piece of furniture. As is each piece of furniture in the Sanctuary, this Altar is covered with gold. This gold, is differentiated from the brass pieces of furniture in the outer court in so much as Gold is God created, while brass is man made
THE REFINER’S PURITY
In parallel, all the pieces of golden furniture represent a touch of something from God to you and from that touch of God, you then offer something back to God. You are not pure enough to give God anything – all your own efforts are in essence brass. But, gold, created by God is pure, and as such it represents God’s holy nature. Holy, not only in all He does, but also Holy in how He deals with you.
THE COAL OF ISAIAH
The coal, from the Altar, that touched Isaiah’s lips was from the coals burning on this Altar of Incense. Just as Isaiah encountered this Altar, at some point in time, you encounter this Altar. Here you are thinking you are doing God a service – you pray, you serve, you believe – yet God has something totally different in mind. That something is found in His unique touch. Yes, it was an angel that touched Isaiah with the coal, but it was done at God’s bidding and remember the Scriptures refer to angels as being holy. At some point you will have to be touched as well.
Why did Isaiah’s lips have to be touched with a coal of Fire? To purify them so when Isaiah prayed he would not pray anything of his own agenda or opinion. You might remember, prayer is spoken at every one of the seven pieces of furniture in the entire Tabernacle. But, here at the Altar of Incense, prayer is not only offered to purity ourselves, but more importantly it is for the sake of others. Isaiah was to “stand in the gap” and pray for others. But, before he could, his own agendas and thoughts had to change.
PRAYER AND JUSTICE
This is the beginning of the equity of Justice being prayerfully requested on the behalf of others. This moment is to be the finality of soulish, self-service and the beginning of prayerful service for others. You cannot enter the next Room of Mystery in your current condition – you are currently far too selfish to stand in the midst of a Holy God who in His extreme selflessness crucified His son so you might have everlasting life.
Therefore God will touch you because, God’s justice cannot be prayed if we have our own opinions about how Justice has to be administrated and/or fulfilled.
HOW LONG?
The Dark night of the Soul ends when you pray for others without your own opinions and thoughts entering in. How long does the Dark Night of the Soul last – as long as it takes to burn up your own thoughts, opinions, and agendas.
Blessings,
John Paul
31 Comments so far
Leave a comment
Loading ...
this is becoming exciting
It’s so wonderful to finally have some understanding as to what is going on in my life. Thank-you for sharing your insights.
This week, Jesus spoke to me about becoming a man without words. Just as you spoke above, we must speak with His words, not mix with ours. We can only do this when we truely become one without words. This will allow the Lord to feed or fill us and to increase our hunger.
Great talk and God bless.
Check out this Misty Edwards song/video – People Get Ready
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u9tQ7XGOCFw
HE Is Coming!
That was the LORD’s doing,
And it is marvellous in our eyes.
Thank You John Paul. I needed to know all of this. Your coffee Talks have been a blessing.
Love and Blessings
Keceya
Thank you soooo much for explaining all this it ties into Chuck Pearce’s prophecy about “getting narrower like Gideon”…..I can at least just focus on dying and know that the chaos that surrounds me is to a good end…God is merciful isnt he, without this info I am sure in my confusion I would have resisted EVERYTHING this has really really helped!! Thank you,thank you,thank you!
I am grateful that you have not posted for a while. Not because I don’t enjoy them, but because there is so much to sink in and absorb. And this time has also been good for me to realize how far on my journey I have yet ahead of me. I am in the midst of God peeling off another layer, and each time He does that it is just as nerve-recking as the last time. I always seem to be a bit shocked at the soulishness of what lies beneath that peel.
John Paul,
The quicker I learn to cooperate the sooner I get out, so help me Lord.
Oyinda
Right now, there is nothing left in me, but one thing I ask of the Lord in the land of the living and this is what I seek, words of encouragement that bring life, so that I can bring this zoe life to others. Thanks Lord. It’s very dry here upon the earth. Too many negative words not enough “LIFE BUILDER’S. Where are they, Lord? People are dying because of negative words that are spoken in the lives and hearts of individuals and in the atmosphere.
Shirley C.
“W E I G H T I N E S S”…………
After praying this morning,I read this article (blog) at 4:18am and that word came into my spirit. I have come back to this article different times today and I still hear the word “weightiness.”
It is like a heavy glory cloud comes down and the weight from it pushes you down and down until there is only the cloud remaining. You’ve disappeared in His Presence.
I think about the coal touching our lips as a “fiery” kiss from Him. Once He has kissed you–you would be forever changed. You could not forget the burning sensation that came from eternity. You would catch yourself touching your lips with your fingers–rubbing over them–knowing that as you allowed Him total control of that area–you are forever changed. You are marked forever and your only desire is Him speaking through you.
Brand us Lord!!!
Linda
this resounds with a deposit i have recently received from the Spirit who is the Lord. Also, I took a nap earlier today and just as i fell asleep a basketball was thrown at the back of my head in ‘dream land’. I woke up.
This prompted my thoughts to understand that i am being stirred up to play on the “courts” on the courts of justice. the Lord’s justice being prayed through me rightly. I want to hear more details from God about this. thank you John Paul, and those here.
I used to believe that i should not pray for others except in tongues, but God has shown me otherwise and that I can still pray God’s perfect will by prayer.
“And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15
To mature in God, we have to be constantly led by the Holy Spirit (Rom. 8:14). So how does the Holy Spirit lead us? There are a number of ways:
(1) The Holy Spirit quietly impresses.
(2) The Holy Spirit prompts gently.
(3) The Holy Spirit stirs you up.
(4) The Holy Spirit guides us by His peace.”
To me faith is an outlook in life, its a natural response to life circumstances. You would see Jesus always had a spiritual perspective, He was spiritually minded. Faith for miracles is a seperate kind of faith. We need to walk by faith, it could be as easy as knowing we have done the will of God. It could also be the confidence that God will bless me, God will guard the paths of justice, God’s face is towards/against me, i am a light in the room, angels are with me… Its a natural response to life circumstances. Its putting on another type of spiritual glasses to see the circumstances of life. Godliness is profitable for all things, there is a wisdom from God, His perspective but you need to search the scriptures for them. I like the way God judges the sinners like the vain, the covetous, the false prophets, the evil shepherds etc…bible history is so relevant to us today, people are still the same, the trends are so similar, even the judgments of God are similar. Not that i rejoice to see the Day of judgment, i grieve at times, but its also hard when i see God judge people. Anyway the Father prunes me, even if i should rejoice, He turns against me. Many times, victories become shame.
Studying the word diligently will often shed light on God’s perspective, its as though He is there right beside you to tell you His perspective right at the moment. I hope this helps. I am not perfect but He is working on me to become what He wants me to be. Until then, come back Lord Jesus.
A good many years ago, I was asked to be apart of the editorial team and to write articles for the monthly newsletter, for the church that I was attending at the time.
During my time on the editorial staff, I submitted numerous articles, only to find out later that my colleague’s, on the editorial team, severely edited almost everything that I wrote.
Being able to share my thoughts, here on this blog, and NOT having them ripped-to-shreds by an “editorial staff” has been quite refreshing. As a matter of fact – it has been life-changing!
It has breathed new-life, into something that I had almost let go of completely… writing.
As Samuel Clemens A.K.A. Mark Twain once said: “the difference between the ‘right word’ and the ‘almost right word.’ Is the difference between a lightning bolt and a lightning cloud.”
JP, I just wanted to say that the “words” you have been writing here on Coffee Talk have been like a ‘Lightening Bolt’ to my soul. They have been the essential tools that God has used to transform me. As you have noted on a previous post, they are “raw and un-edited.”
Somehow, in this “raw” form, they have imparted to me the truth that I had searching for. This in turn has allowed me to come to the place of understanding what it takes for me to live my life in a way – where spirit rules! And this has made all the difference in the world.
“In His light, is light.” It always amazes me how quickly prayers He has led me to pray get answered.
The ways of the Lord Jesus are perfect. All His ways on the earth even besides His ministry. You can be led to do likewise. He knows your sitting down and your thought afar off and He wants to come to you. He wants you to be Spirit-led. Somethings will not be dramatic, and will not be understood, but they are done and you have done the will of the Father. The Father is calling sons to be led by the Spirit. We think in terms of ministry, but God is rightfully God, everything we do everyday.
“For I determined not to know anything among you, except Jesus Christ and Him crucified…As it is written:
Eye has not seen
nor ear heard,
Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.
But God
has revealed them to us through His Spirit.
For the Spirit searches all things, yes the deep things of God.” (Read 1 Corinthians 2)
We each have a colored thread to sew into this particular tapestry (Coffee Talk blog.) This is a spiritual picture that God is revealing to us as we each do our part. I can’t wait for God to show us the other side that is already a completed work of art in eternity.
Thread your needles and add your needed viewpoint. Our picture will be incomplete without your participation.
A work in progress,
Linda
Wow, it’s as if you’ve been watching me all this time, since you last wrote…Because some things did happen in relation to what you said. You’re right, I don’t know what justice is…I am selfish, way too selfish…
……
The experience of being on the editorial staff was enjoyable to me. Although much of what I wrote back then was shredded by the editors, nonetheless it was still a great learning experience.
I think what I have discovered, has in many ways come to me through writing. So, that is why I’m thankful for this blog because it got me to start writing again. And it is through writing, journaling and reading these posts that I have been able to put the pieces together and find what I have been searching for. There is this phrase that I believe the Holy Spirit spoke to me just the other day, and it’s this: “understanding; by its very nature is transformational.” This agrees with scripture. Proverbs 4:7 is God’s clarion call to us: “Wisdom is the principle thing; therefore in all your getting – get understanding.”
Why would God say this? Because, if we read the passage in 1 Kings 3:9 where young Solomon asked God to give him a “hearing heart.” Like John Paul always says: “read the white.” So, what’s being implied here by the Spirit is the fact that if indeed Solomon could hear God Speak to him (which he could) what God is doing here, is revealing to young Solomon – ‘His ways.’
In essence He (God) was letting Solomon know that having a “hearing” or “listening” heart was/is tantamount to having and/or receiving understanding. The two are synonymous with one another. This is why it is imperative for us as believers to be able to hear God speak to us. Because, implied in this “being able to ‘hear God speak’ to us” - is the fact that we will then be able to understand and discern issues in our lives, in the lives of others and the world around us - in a way that we NEVER have before; simply, by being able to hear God speak to us. This is what “The Art of Hearing God,” 201, 202 and all of the Streams courses, are all about. Remember, God spoke to Solomon – in a dream!
The issue in all of this is: transitioning from “soul” rule - to “spirit” rule. Understanding; gives us the ability to “discern between what is good and evil” and what is God (Hebrews 5:14). The Apostle Paul said in 2 Corinthians 4:18 “So, we fix our eyes not on what is SEEN (soul) but on what is UNSEEN (spirit). For what is SEEN is TEMPORAL (soul) but what is UNSEEN is ETERNAL(spirit). Understanding; along with the Word of God (The Bible) gives us the ability to discern between what is, SOUL and what is SPIRIT (Hebrews 4:12).
So, here is the connection. If “understanding, by its very nature is transformational.” And, if having a ‘hearing’ or ‘listening’ heart is synonymous with receiving understanding. Then we can say that; hearing = understanding and understanding = transformation. And if I am not mistaken most of what JP has been writing about on this blog has to do with the transformation that we experience in the midst of transition or “Chaos.” And the benefits of Chaos are:
*Chaos - is God’s intricate plan to bring new things into your life – for me it was, writing.
*Chaos - saves you from Mediocrity.
*Chaos - marvelously inspires innovation, creativity in writing, ingenuity & imagination.
*Chaos - destroys old patterns in your life and escorts you into your destiny.
*And I might add: Chaos - frees us from the grip of any would be controllers.
*And I might say that: Chaos - thrusts us into a place of seeing issues in our lives that we have NEVER seen before. For me it was anger and the biggest issue of all; I had a ‘closed spirit’ because I did not trust in God’s inherent “Goodness.” In other words I went from having a CLOSED spirit to an OPEN receptive spirit.
*And Finally… How long does the “dark night of the SOUL” last? Until we make the transition from “SOUL rule” to SPIRIT rule?”
I was in Hobby Lobby with a friend. I went over and checked out the greeting cards. One of my ministries is giving “specific” cards to people.
I came across an INHERIT THE MIRTH card. It had a cartoon drawing of Lazarus talking to someone. (This is a paraphrase.) Lazarus was telling the person something like “Hey Man! I was dead!—That’s the reason my card was late…” Inside the card said something like “My excuse for being late isn’t that good…”
That little line “I was dead!” really struck something inside me…
So many times people don’t understand where we are coming from—Why do we intentionally march to a different drummer—Why don’t we fit in with the status-quo–Why aren’t you a normal Christian–etc.
The answer is simple. That little phrase “Look I”m dead!” (not in a morbid way) is where we are at. As God continues to crucify our flesh–we are dead in areas.
I don’t know that I would actually blurt out “Look I’m dead!!!” when questioned, but it is something I could think or say inside of me. Hallelujah!!!
“But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh. So that death is working in us, but life in you…Therefore, we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory.”
2 Corinthians 4:7-18
God bless y’all!!!
Linda
Thank you John Paul for your timely words.
I feel that the times when I pray that are the most “real” and during which I feel God’s presence more intimately and vividly are those when I come to the end of me in my communication to Him and then He takes over. When I am done with my request list is when the Holy Spirit begins to work in me and through me, and to me only that feels like real prayer, genuine time in God’s presence. The rest of the time is just all about me and my loved ones, me and more of me. When my brain and my own agendas cease controlling the prayer time is when I truly begin to sense, hear and discern what lies deep in God’s heart.
Thank you so much for all your teaching and for sharing your insights with us.
Blessings,
ransom33
God bless you John Paul, God bless yooou.
You have become a great help in my life, thank you for coming across in my life man of God…
I love you
I am seeing a decade of visions and promises take on new meaning through this blog and words cannot express my appreciation for its existence. Its dark, yes, but if you stay on the road there are lamps along the way with just enough light and at just the right time to keep you encouraged. Sometimes the stretch in between is so dark its beyond description. I am not where I need to be but I am better and better is good.
Your classes, books and media provide the something that is missing from many churches. We so don’t know God’s way. How did this happen that we are so far removed from our Father? The experiences I’ve had could not be explained, were so strange and were not believed by so many that I questioned my own sanity. I pray for a release of many others who can demonstrate the glory and presence of God. The world needs it!
I believe as the world gets increasingly darker our lights will so shine that we will become beacons to the young, the lost and the stuggling. Every time I am see you JP I am very much aware of the light you bare. It even shines from this blog so I know by example it is possible. You are an excellent teacher. May God continue to bless you and the readers of this blog.
Prophet as witness - honoring ALL in His Household.
The vision of the prophetic has to be honed through clarity.
Matthew 6:23 - “But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light that is in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!”
When the culture referred to the eyes as being full of light it meant that the person had charity, was a giving person, and had compassion.
So then we can see that our ability to see is directly related to our compassion.
It is like being a witness in a court proceeding. In order for a witness to be viable they have to have no stake in the outcome (verdict) or they will be seen as having a bias, as perhaps spinning the verdict.
The prophetic is as being a witness.
I had a dream once as a tutorial where the Lord showed me that my bias had actually created an image before me.
When we get our biases challenged by the Lord it can be offensive to us. I have found that for me, prophetic dreams and words have a built in failsafe to guard against using the information in a prideful manner. If the word offends my pre-justice then the very word itself will spin me, I will subconsciously react to justify, in a direction counter to the word given.
For instance if God tells me that Bill is being mistreated and the Lord desires justice for Bill - and I don’t like Bill - then the word once impacted my heart could sound to me like God desires Bills enemies to have justice, or what Bill is going through is justified.
A question was posed by a Sister about the nature of ‘tearing down’ - she said,”I do not think that’s the correct slant on “tearing down” which defines the prophetic. And then, where’s the opposing “planting and building”?
People only see one part of the function of the prophetic sometimes - wanting to lower the mountains (tear down) but there is another function equal to that as well - and that is to raise the valleys (places of low estate)
Only then will be able to truly see ahead.
DARK SAYINGS
Where the mountains are torn down, there is judgment. Where the valleys are lifted up, there is mercy. Mercy and judgment are not separated for the children of His Household. Those whom he loves he chastises. And those whom He chastises He Loves.
The unjust application of mercy and judgment is as the separation of authority and love. Those who honor ALL IN HIS HOUSEHOLD do not separate authority and love.
A dark saying is a mystery because a kindred language is not evident within it. Light & Love cannot be APPARENT to the person with a darkened understanding.
Isaiah 28
To whom would He teach knowledge,
And to whom would He interpret the message?
Those just weaned from milk?
Those just taken from the breast?
“For He says,
‘Order on order, order on order,
Line on line, line on line,
A little here, a little there.’”
Indeed, He will speak to this people
THROUGH STAMMERING LIPS AND A FOREIGN TOUNGE, He who said to them, “Here is rest, give rest to the weary,”
And, “Here is repose,” but they would not listen.
So the word of the LORD to them will be,
“Order on order, order on order,
Line on line, line on line,
A little here, a little there,”
That they may go and stumble backward, be broken, snared and taken captive.
Numbers 12
When they had both come forward, He said,
“Hear now My words:
If there is a prophet among you,
I, the LORD, shall make Myself known to him in a vision.
I shall speak with him in a dream.
“Not so, with My servant Moses,
He is faithful in ALL MY HOUSEHOLD;
With him I speak mouth to mouth,
Even apparently, and not in DARK SAYINGS.
And he beholds the form of the LORD.
Why then were you not afraid
To speak against My servant, against Moses?”
When we honor ALL in His household, He will not be seen as a FOREIGNER –With us he will be able to ‘speak mouth to mouth, even APPARENTLY.’
Blessings,
Vincent
My surgeon’s offices, waiting room, etc. have not had one picture on the walls or anything personal. The only “human” item I have seen is a basket of tootsie roll pops at the receptionist desk and one calender. This has really bothered me and I have been praying for my surgeon to have a little humanity about him. He’s a great doctor and I know God operated through him as he cut on me.
Today I went to him for another follow up appointment. As I looked around–there were pictures and wall hangings all over the place in different rooms…I complimented him on the pictures. He shrugged and said he doesn’t notice things like that. When he left the room, his nurse told me that he came up to her one day, out of the blue, and told her to go out and to buy pictures for the rooms.
That’s just a little answer to prayer. I never said a word–except in prayer to God–and somehow he was nudged to do something…..
I was hoping to be released today. He says I’ve done excellent (Jesus heals) but to come back in six weeks.
God told me he is not use to having patients like me in his office. He knows I pray for him and evidently God will impress me with other things to pray for him.
God still answers! Hallelujah!!!
Linda
Just so there is no misunderstanding, on the above post I was simply quoting John Paul from his teaching on “Divine Chaos” in the last seven points. Although I did add two points of my own.
I guess I got in a rush. I wrote that post in about half an hour and then I just posted it, without thinking.
Anyway, Divine Chaos is one of my favorite teachings, I think I have listened to it at least 5 times in the last 12 months and every time I listen to it, I get something more out of it.
As John Paul wrote in the last post on June 6th, “The term ‘Dark Night’ is descriptive of the directionless feeling we experience.” I could really identify with that statement.
I realize that we are all at various different stages of our journey, but it seems as though I have finally found some direction and I am moving forward with much clarity. Like I have mentioned before, I never claimed to be the sharpest tool in the shed, but a lot of things are finally coming together for me. In other words – I’m finally getting it! “It is because of Him (God) that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us, Wisdom from God.” - 1 Corinthians 1:30
PRAYER
(January 2008)
Forward marching as eternity salutes at us
gaining ground on knees, with tears, hidden
whispers and shouts, heartache and ecstasy
nothing of the self yet my fullness given
all of You enveloped in the colors and sounds of me.
A gentle touch pulling at the edge of the soul - fleeting, yet real
longing hiding impatiently behind polite manners- knock, knock, knock…
till the joy of recognition opens the door wide and
passion rushes in with fiery eyes, embracing arms-
the flaming dance of love starts-
then breathless the crescendo of fusion and explosion calms into soft cradle songs.
A dry sponge, particles soak in light, life
a bottomless pit, always hungry, not knowing the word “enough”
limitless expansion of being and never ending growing
a secret elixir activating the senses, erasing all separation
lost in a vibrant, swirling conglomeration of perception – I am home.
A sweet plunge into the depth of fragrances I take
Then wrap myself in the warm softness of a scenic sonata
With my tongue I taste Your unspoken Words hovering invisibly in the air
Inside and out filled with You my being slowly begins to pulsate with Yours – I am perfectly tuned
And the skillful musician is ready to play.
A little flute invaded by holy breath
words, melodies, groanings, laughs bubble forth as the two become one
I die in Your pain and You resurrect me with Your joy
From the abyss of tangible darkness into brilliant lights we fly -
It’s too much, I can’t take it any longer! - I want to cry…
But instead I let You enlarge my heart.
“DEEP CALLS UNTO DEEP at the noise of Your waterfalls; all your waves and billows have gone over me. The Lord will command His lovingkindness in the daytime, And in the night His song shall be with me–a prayer to the God of my life.” Psalm 42:7-8
Participating with y’all on this Coffee Talk blog is the closest I’ve come to “journaling.”
Over the years I’ve bought many journals. They remain either empty books or only have a couple of pages written on.
Daddy God always tell me—Keep your eyes focused in front of you–I’ve not called you to look backwards.
We each have to walk the way God has chosen us to walk for Him.
I look as this blog as a moving current. We are being carried by the Holy Spirit further and further out and the water level is getting deeper and deeper.
God has chosen the shipmates for this blog. Where do you think we will end up?
Going with His flow…………
Linda
How can one expect to be speaking for God when one beguile others with witchcraft of His own witness of him? Then God becomes a liar. One claims to be in the light, groping in the darkness is more likely the case. Is 59:9-19
This is written so that righteousness, truth, justice and equity can come here. Who will be ‘righteousness’, ‘truth’, ‘justice’ and ‘equity’ henceforth from now?
I am ready to hear about the the five ingredients of prayer!! No pressure…I know your busy advancing THE KINGDOM!!
Ironically God told Job to do the same thing: Offer a sacrifice(pray in our case)for his friends and after that Job got the double portion.
Later,
Shaun