All Posts
- Jun 9, 2023
- 5 min read
Closure – Romans 8
My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires. If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God’s Spirit you say “No” to your desires. Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. (Romans 8:12-15 CEV)
SHOCKING RELIEF STORY
Have you ever experienced a combination of relief physically and emotionally? I’ll never forget a season of intensely agonizing spiritual warfare during my church planting days in Nashville, TN. During this time, I felt like every conversation was an argument. I felt that everyone in my life was attacking me personally and always assuming the worst about my decisions and motives.
I was complaining to a close friend in Florida during this season, and he said, “You sound like you need a vacation.” He had a guest condo and invited my family down for a week to get away and regroup. In the moment, I hadn’t realized how exhausted I was emotionally, and how desperate I was for a vacation. Immediately I accepted his offer, knowing I needed a break from everything as soon as possible.
As we headed south, I was shocked to experience my stress, anger, fears, and frustration literally melting away mile by mile. The further we got away from Nashville, the more I realized how broken and wounded I was from all the spiritual battles we were fighting. The physical relief I experienced leaving my city led to incredible emotional relief that I didn’t know I needed.
I was so focused on trying to solve the problems right in front of me that I hadn’t noticed the crushing effects in my own life; the deadly toll of these spiritual battles on my own heart and soul. I found myself completely empty on the drive south. On one hand I was momentarily relieved of my burdens; on the other hand, all that was left was a spiritually-empty, beaten down, dried out husk of a missionary.
I remember going straight to the beach, even though we had been on the road for 15 hours. I needed to smell the ocean and hear the roaring waves. When I got out of the car, the ocean ambience flooded my body, mind, and soul with so much peace and joy that I hadn’t felt in months, and I wept uncontrollably. I had no idea how much I needed relief, and when I received the firstfruits of relief, my only response was to cry.
God used this experience to prepare me for CLOSURE. Sometimes when we experience seasons of intense spiritual warfare, the purpose is for pruning and refining. We need to persevere through the battles, but stay in the same fields. In other cases, the Lord allows us to go through spiritual warfare to confirm that we’re called somewhere else. The warfare is the sign that it’s time to uproot and replant wherever our Heavenly Father calls us to go next.
We can’t predict God’s will in each season, so we must walk by faith with the Holy Spirit through these storms and listen to his voice as he guides us through each stage of our journey to heaven.
Unknown to me at the time, God was preparing me to launch a new nonprofit ministry. If I hadn’t gone through that season of intense warfare and experienced the visceral relief on the journey to Florida, I don’t know that I would have been sensitive enough to the Holy Spirit to discern God’s calling on my life to move on to something new.
He used warfare to make me exhausted. Then, he ministered relief into my exhaustion to reveal something that was terribly wrong. Afterwards, he used this revelation to shepherd me into prayer and listening so that I could hear his calling on my heart to begin a new ministry.
In order to launch the new ministry, I needed CLOSURE with my previous ministry. And I couldn’t close the door until I knew God was trying to close the door himself. Only then, I realized I needed to embrace his plan for me and follow him into what he had prepared for my future.
WHAT IS CLOSURE?
Closure means the end of something in my life; shut down, finish, terminate, conclude.
Closure can be the peaceful end of a toxic relationship.
Closure can be genuinely forgiving someone for the first time in a way where you’re not angry with or hurt by them anymore. Or forgiving yourself and finding freedom from regret.
Closure can be laughing for the first time after an endless season of trauma and pain.
Closure can be deliverance and freedom from the presence and influence of evil in my heart and life.
Closure can be finally achieving a goal you dreamed of. This adventure is over; now is the time for new dreams and visions.
In 2023, we will see marvelous closure to the enemy’s influence in the body of Jesus Christ. For too long, we have held onto false beliefs and served addictive idols. We have tried to serve both Jesus and ourselves, or Jesus and demons.
John Baptizer said, “I must decrease; the Messiah must increase.” The decrease is closure; the increase is awakening.
The Holy Spirit will move in the hearts of Yahweh’s people this summer to bring closure to hidden covenants that we made with hell’s agents. He will shepherd us to walk in new heavenly covenants of righteousness, freedom, wisdom, and blessing. And he will give us the strength we need to defeat and remove the toxic influences in our lives, whatever they may be, that prevent us from experiencing more of Jesus.
DISCIPLESHIP QUESTIONS
Have I ever experienced closure of some kind before? What ended and how did it happen?
What did I learn from that closure experience? How am I different now that it’s over?
Holy Spirit, is there any closure that I need this year in my own life? If so, please reveal to me what I need to remove from my life.
Make a list of barriers to closure. Examples: selfishness, unwillingness to change…
In Revelation 3:20, Jesus speaks of open and shut doors. Sometimes he opens doors, sometimes he closes doors. In terms of closure, is God trying to close a door for me? If so, what is he trying to end in my life? And what do I need to do next to accept God’s will and embrace his plans for my future?
Sometimes closure is instant. Sometimes closure is a long journey. Why is closure so difficult to achieve when it’s a long journey? What’s one step I can take to end something that I know needs to end that’s still been going on in my life for awhile?
God will use me to help facilitate closure in the lives of others around me. When God puts someone in my life that needs prayer support in their closure journey, what’s a Scripture passage that can help encourage someone seeking to close a door?
- Oct 31, 2022
- 7 min read
2023 Prophecy, “The Year of Control Shift.”
I heard the Holy Spirit say, “2023 is the year of Control Shift, and you will see patterns of 1) Confirmation, 2) Closure, and 3) Clarity in your life journey throughout the next four seasons.”
Control Shift Passage
Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding.Agree with the LORD in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.Do not be wise in your own eyes. Fear the LORD and turn away from what is sinful.It will be healing to your body and medicine to your bones. (Proverbs 3:5-8 NLV)
Control Shift is all about recognizing my own worldly tendencies towards a self-centered lifestyle and learning through the Holy Spirit how to surrender my whole life, holding nothing back, into Abba Father’s heart and hands.
Control Shift is a three-step process. First, the Holy Spirit gives confirmation of parts of my life that are incompatible with the Gospel and the Kingdom of Heaven. I can trust that whatever he revealed is wrong must go. Second, the Holy Spirit guides me in closure with whatever I believed or practiced. He gives me strength to say farewell to whatever I used to think or do. Third, the Holy Spirit purifies me to be more like Jesus, which means I am able to receive more and more from God’s heart for my life, family, and future. He provides clarity to see myself and my life from his perspective, and he shows me each next step to take to be more like my Redeemer & Teacher.
Confirmation Passage
Dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice: the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him. Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect. (Romans 12:1-2 NLT)
Confirmation means the verification or authentication of revelation that has crossed my path. Once confirmed, the information becomes dependable Truth. After confirmation, I can embrace the Truth and put it into practice.
I live in an age of multiplying deception. Every day, I hear ten thousand voices competing for my attention and allegiance. The Bible says that God’s Word is complete, containing everything I need to follow Jesus and go to heaven. The Holy Spirit also speaks directly to my mind, and the Holy Spirit can speak to me through other trustworthy people.
I need confirmation. I need a decisive shift from studying to knowing. I can’t make that shift on my own, because I’m not a worthy judge of Truth. I need the Holy Spirit to be my Counselor, Teacher, and Helper. He helps me to know God’s Truth, and he confirms when I’m hearing lies and when I’m hearing Truth.
In 2023, the Holy Spirit will bring confirmation to the beliefs and habits of Jesus’ disciples worldwide. The Holy Spirit will unveil lies that disciples believe to be true. He will confirm what is True and confirm what is a lie. He will establish the Truth in our generation so we can live it and act upon it.
Closure Passage
My dear friends, we must not live to satisfy our desires.If you do, you will die. But you will live, if by the help of God’s Spirit you say “No” to your desires.Only those people who are led by God’s Spirit are his children. God’s Spirit doesn’t make us slaves who are afraid of him. Instead, we become his children and call him our Father. (Romans 8:12-15 CEV)
Closure means the end of something in my life. Closure can be the peaceful end of a toxic relationship. Closure can be laughing for the first time after an endless season of trauma and pain. Closure can be deliverance and freedom from the presence and influence of evil in my heart and life.
One of the greatest mysteries of following Jesus is continuing to sin after I’m saved. While Jesus saves my soul and fills me with his Spirit, I still continue to sin, battle temptation, and fail to live up to the new, eternal life he gave to me as a free gift.
I need to practice a culture of closure in my life. As the Holy Spirit reveals unseen idols, lies, temptations, and bad habits within me, it’s not enough to acknowledge they are real. I need closure with those influences in my life. I need to hold a spiritual funeral, say farewell, burn them in holy fire, bury the ashes deep in the earth, and walk in the new life and freedom Jesus gave to me through his death on the cross.
In 2023, we will see a lot of closure in the body of Christ. For too long, we have held on to false beliefs and seductive idols and tried to serve both Jesus and ourselves. We can’t. John Baptizer said, “I must decrease; the Messiah must increase.” The decrease is closure; the increase is awakening. The Holy Spirit will move in the hearts of countless disciples next year to bring closure to hidden covenants we made with hell, and shepherd us to walk in new heavenly covenants of righteousness, freedom, and wisdom.
Clarity Passage
Because the Lord is righteous and good, he teaches sinners the path they should follow.He leads the humble in the right way and teaches them his will. (Psalm 25:8-9 GNT)
Clarity is the supernatural ability to see someone or something through the eyes of Jesus Christ. I struggle with confusion, doubt, frustration, fear, worry, and rebellion. The Holy Spirit helps me to walk in the Truth, in the Light, and in freedom, victory, hope, peace, wisdom, joy, and blessing.
I am a disciple; I’m not and will never be a god. Jesus invited me into divine royalty as an adopted son or daughter of God, but I am not God. I need to be told what to do. I need special revelation for my desires and decisions. I need God to shepherd my soul. I need the Holy Spirit to show me each step to take. And I must posture myself to be led and let go of my addiction to control.
In 2023, we will see many disciples who have prayed for understanding, clarity, and discernment receive this clarity from the Word and the Holy Spirit. Questions will be answered. The light will shine in the darkness. The Holy Spirit will baptize confusion with wisdom. The Holy Spirit will change hesitancy to confidence. We will know what to do, where to go, and what to say. We will do it all through the Holy Spirit as we rest in his presence, listen to his trustworthy voice, and humbly follow his leadership.
2023 Control Shift Prayer
Abba Father, we praise and worship you. Almighty God, Ancient of Days, Great I AM, Beloved King of our hearts, the One who knows us better than we’ll ever know ourselves, we worship you. We want the whole world to know you and believe. We desire all the nations, every people group and culture, language and tribe worldwide to meet you, listen to your stories, embrace your Truth, receive your Holy Spirit, and join us wholeheartedly in Jesus’ Great Commission.
For too long, Lord, we have kept back doors open to the devil in our lives. It’s just a part of being human: we get comfortable, relaxed, established in a routine, and we don’t want to change. We only want to learn for a season, and then we want to be called “masters” and “teachers.” We want the seat of reputation, we want the titles of honor, we want to be celebrated by others for what we say and what we have done. Help us, Lord, we ask for a fresh release of humility and grace over our generation today in your name.
Father, let control shift from us to you in 2023. We pray for the body of Christ around the world: let your glory baptize us every day. Immerse us in the beauty, wonder, majesty, and splendor of your awesome love. Transform us from the self-centered, self-exalting rebels we are to the true disciples you’ve called us, created us to become since the beginning of time. Forgive us for getting comfortable, and forgive us for caring more about our own lives than your mission to restore all nations and tribes to yourself.
Father, show us your will; make it crystal clear so that we have no doubts. Cultivate unity in the body of Christ, because we live in a time of severe division and severing of ties that used to be strong enough to bind us together. Show us where we are distracted or deceived and lead us in your everlasting way. We will know the Way you want us to go because the fruit will be love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, righteousness, faithfulness, gentleness, discipline, courage, compassion, comfort, holiness, mercy, grace, empathy, forgiveness, freedom, friendship, and hope.
Father, we need clarity and discernment to move forward. We need you to show us what to do and where to go; what to keep and what to discard; what to believe and what to say. Help us, Father, because we are a corrupt generation that focuses only on what benefits us from a self-centered heart. We need a new heart, we need a new spirit. You are the Potter; we are the clay. Mold us and make us according to your perfect will every day.
Father, we entrust this next year into your care. We don’t want to live for ourselves, and we don’t want to make any decisions on our own. More than anything, we don’t want to show up on Judgment Day and discover we missed you and spent our time and passions on all the wrong pursuits. We need you first to change our hearts, and then transform our thoughts as we rest in your presence and listen to your voice. As you reveal yourself to us, we will hear you clearly, and your Spirit will confirm what we need to believe, understand, and practice. We posture ourselves to always be disciples; never masters.
We love you Lord. We give you this next year as an offering of worship and trust. We stand ready to be wrong. We stand ready to be changed. We stand ready to follow you Lord Jesus wherever you call. We choose today to be a people who depend fully on you. We first determine where you are working, and only then do we get involved. It’s in the mighty, matchless, marvelous name of Jesus Messiah we pray, trust, and believe, Amen, Shalom, Maranatha, Hallelujah!
<+>
+> Prophecy by James Harvey, Blazing Trees CEO/Founder.
James Harvey is passionate about freedom in the Holy Spirit and creates resources focused on helping every day disciples cultivate their passions and flourish in their spiritual gifts.
Perks & Possibilities
+> Book James for a free leadership consultation > info@blazingtrees.org
+> Subscribe to our Blazing Trees newsfeed @ blazingtrees.org/news
+> Invest in our team by purchasing our prayer handbook > amazon.com
+> Free 12-Week Holy Spirit Freedom Training Course, “Wild Frontier” @ youtube.com
+> Visit James’ personal ministry page > blazingtrees.org/maranatha
