by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D., Founding Director of School of Revival

In light of the Coronavirus outbreak which has been heavy on my heart, it has made me do some reflection to see how the revivalists of the past approached similar outbreaks.

Here's what I found by looking at the grandmother of the healing home Movement Dorothea Trudel from Switzerland, significant influencer in the Welsh Revival Rees Howells from Wales, and John G. Lake from Canada. Praying for breakthrough and the power of the Holy Spirit to cancel and heal all sickness in Jesus' name.

Dorothea Trudel

Dorothea Trudel (1813-1862) from Switzerland, is known at the grandmother of the healing home movement. Her ministry was initiated when several of her co-workers at the florist shop became very ill and could not be cured through medicine. She pondered the ‘James 5 prayer’ and decided to pray for her fellow employees. Soon after she prayed, they all recovered. Following their healings, the 1851 epidemic hit Switzerland. Trudel was flooded with people who came to her seeking healing. She responded by opening healing homes in Männedorf.

She was significantly influenced by the prayer found in James 5 and when she could not find any elders to pray for and anoint the sick, she stepped in to do the praying. This ‘James 5 prayer’ later played an important role not only in relation to Carrie Judd Montgomery’s personal healing but also in regards to her ministry that followed.[1]

Rees Howells

Rees Howells (1879-1950) was a revivalist from Wales who played a key role in discipling the converts from the Welsh Revival. He also served as a missionary in Africa for a season. Around 1915 when the influenza hit Africa, over 65 people in Rees Howells’ mission were stricken with it early on. Hundreds of people were dying all around them. Howells believed he heard from the Lord that no one in his mission base would die. To activate what he felt he heard from the Lord, he made a declaration of this over his mission’s base. A nearby chief heard about this and asked if he could bring his people there for protection from the disease. Word spread within a 20 mile radius of the mission that “the white man was able to keep death away.” The witch doctors could do nothing to help the people. Then, beginning with five of the most hardened men, people began to flock to the mission base for safety. There was not one single death at the base during this time of tragedy.[2]

John G. Lake

John G. Lake (1870) was significant apostolic healing evangelist from Ontario, Canada who had a powerful ministry in South Africa. After a season of support raising and recruiting others to join his mission, he returned to Africa in 1910 right in the midst of a deadly plague. During this busy time of ministering to the sick and dying, a doctor who was visiting his mission asked Lake how he was able to protect himself from the deadly virus. Lake replied that it was the “‘law of the Spirit of Life in Christ Jesus.’ I believe that just as long as I keep my soul in contact with the living God so that His Spirit is flowing into my soul and body, that no germ will ever attach itself to me, for the Spirit of God will kill it.” Then he did something extreme to prove this point to the doctor. He became a human experiment. He said,

If you will go over to one of these dead people and take the foam that comes out of their lungs after death, then put it under the microscope you will see masses of living germs. You will find they are alive until a reasonable time after a man is dead. You can fill my hand with them and I will keep it under the microscope, and instead of these germs remaining alive, they will die instantly.

When they did this experiment, they saw that what Lake had communicated before was right. He explained that “‘the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus.’ When a man’s spirit and a man’s body are filled with the blessed presence of God, it oozes out of the pores of your flesh and kills the germs.’” He continued on that if his “soul had been under the law of death” or if he was in “fear and darkness” then there would have been an opposite result. Lake then believed that “The result would have been that my body would have absorbed the germs, these would have generated disease and I would have died.” [3]

Jesus

Let's not forget Jesus and how He approached the then contagious lepers of the time. Rather than Him being contaminated, there was a reversal. Instead, the power within Him purified their and healed their sickness. See Luke 17:11-19, Mark 1:40-45, Matthew 8:1-4.

Apostle Paul

Or what about the apostle Paul who was bit by a poisonous viper and shook it off into the fire, remaining unscathed. Acts 28:3-6

In Conclusion

I don’t feel to add much commentary here because there is a real tension we are facing today with people getting sick and dying. I honestly don’t have many answers only deep hearted prayers and a belief that we can tap into and access a greater measure of the resurrection power and dominion over sickness available in Christ Jesus somehow.

There is something unique in each of these testimonies that offers hope for a better way and shows us a path of possibilities we can also tap into as we access that same resurrection Spirit that raised Christ from the dead living within us.  

So Holy Spirit come and do what only You can do. Give us increasing wisdom and revelation in how to demonstrate Your love, dominion, and healing power in the midst of this crisis. Come with Your power to destroy the works of darkness, eradicate deadly virus’s, comfort your people, and also release downloads from heaven to medical professionals to quickly discover solutions and cures for what we are facing today in Jesus’ name, amen.

Listen to Podcast I released on this topic

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UPDATE on April 24, 2020

A lot has changed since I first posted this blog. When I did, we were still living “normal life,” were not on lockdown yet, and the economy was still normalized. I wanted to share this video Heidi Baker recorded from Mozambique on March 27, 2020. During a really bad cholera epidemic in her nation years back, she felt the Lord lead her to go into the tent with all the sick people and hold, love, and pray for them. The results are phenominal. But during this crisis, she feels called to really honor the government and the regulations set before.

There is no cookie cutter definitive way to approach crisis and healing. We have to be led by the Spirit and respond to the now word of God in our lives. There may be times He calls us to run straight into the fire to bring love and other times He calls us to remain. Check out Heidi’s powerful testimony.

Notes

[1] Jennifer A. Miskov, Life on Wings: The Forgotten Life and Theology of Carrie Judd Montgomery (1858-1946), (CPT Press: Cleveland, TN, 2012), 31-32. Additionally, “Otto Stockmayer (1838-1917), of Berne, Switzerland, was introduced to divine healing on Easter day in 1867 when one of Trudel’s successors, Samuel Zeller, laid hands on him to pray for healing. Influenced by this experience and by utilizing the same methodology found at Trudel’s center of ministry, several years later, he opened up a faith home in Hauptweil, Thurgau, Switzerland.” See also Nancy A. Hardesty, Faith Cure: Divine Healing in the Holiness and Pentecostal Movements (Peabody: Hendrickson Publishers, 2003), 17-18. See also “Dorothea Trudel” on http://healingandrevival.com/BioDTrudel.htm

[2] To learn more about Rees Howells and also read this account, see Bill Johnson with Jennifer A. Miskov, Defining Moments (Whitaker House: New Kensington, PA, 2016), 189-210, Doris M. Ruscoe, The Intercession of Rees Howells (Blowing Rock, NC: Zerubbabel Press, 1983), 98-99, and Norman Grubb, Rees Howells Intercessor, (Lutterworth Press, 1952),168-169.

[3] John G. Lake, The John G. Lake Sermons on Dominion over Demons, Disease and Death, ed. Gordon Linsday (Dallas, TX: Christ for the Nations, 1949, reprint 1998), 107-108. For a similar account, see Kenneth Copeland in John G. Lake, His Life, His Sermons, His Boldness of Faith, (Fort Worth, TX: Kenneth Copeland Publications, 1994), xxi-xxii. To see this account and learn more about John G. Lake, see Bill Johnson with Jennifer A. Miskov, Defining Moments (Whitaker House: New Kensington, PA, 2016), 143-163.

*Photos found on the internet

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.

On this significant day in history, I want to introduce you to someone who has impacted my life tremendously. Though I have never personally met her, Carrie Judd Montgomery (1858-1946) has acted as a spiritual mother, kindred spirit, and beautiful pioneering friend along my journey. My life has been radically changed because of her yeses again and again over the years and I would not be where I am today without the deposit I received from Carrie Judd Montgomery.

It is quite fascinating how we met in the first place. Around 2005-2006 I was being drawn to England to pursue deeper studies. I wanted to study revivals and create a theology of living effectively through them. I wanted to learn how to burn for Jesus in all seasons and for that fire to continue burning stronger the older I got without burning out. When I took the leap of faith to move to England in 2007, I remember reading a small paragraph in my professor’s book about a woman I had never heard of before called Carrie Judd Montgomery. As I dug a little deeper, I realized that this pioneering woman preacher who had a powerful healing ministry was never researched beyond a master’s thesis twenty years before. I was drawn to her story any decided to dive in to research and recover it for today doing my entire Ph.D. on her life and ministry. I find it so much like God to send me from California all the way over to England just to discover a forgotten healing revivalist named Carrie Judd Montgomery who opened the earliest healing homes in our nation and made her base in California. I am so thankful that God allowed me to intersect with Carrie because I am forever changed, inspired, and impacted.

Her radical obedience to pioneer one of the first healing homes in our nation in 1882 at 23 years old with only a few month’s rent turned into healing homes being inspired across the nation. Eventually through her move to the West Coast, she also opened The Home of Peace in 1893 which is still there to this day. When God was leading me to a house on Placer street in Redding, California is February of 2012, Carrie’s courage and testimony ignite faith in me to step into birthing what would later become known as Destiny House. I had only one month’s rent to my name and it my situation felt impossible but I was encouraged in the Lord when I remembered Carrie’s testimony. If she could do it, then I believed I could also trust in God in a radical way too.

Carrie taught me how to live above the storms. She taught me the difference between operating in relation to truth versus facts. She taught me how to be led of the Spirit, not by my circumstances. What God begins, He will complete (Philippians 1:6). If God initiates something, He will sort out all of the details as we step out in faith to follow Him. If God calls me to go on a missions’ trip and I have no money in the bank, I learned from Carrie to set my heart on the promises of God and put my feet to stepping out in faith as I am led by the Spirit. Too many times I had made decisions based upon my circumstances. She taught me how to be led of the Spirit, not of circumstances. Carrie taught me to make decisions not based on facts, but upon the truth of God.

Another thing that marks me about Carrie’s life was her sustaining and deepening hunger for more of God. Even after she had a successful healing ministry, at the age of fifty, during the same time as the Azusa Street Revival, Carrie was open and hungry to step into the new move of God in her day. No matter how weird this new move of God looked, she was willing to risk her reputation to take hold of all that God had for her. Even after she was baptized in the Spirit and spoke in tongues, her hunger to encounter God in a deeper measure continued to increase. No matter what experiences or encounters she had in her past, if God was doing a new thing, she was willing to dive in.

She also taught me what it looks like to choose unity and relationships above dividing over minor doctrinal issues. Regardless of whether or not some of her friends spoke in tongues during the rise of early American Pentecostalism, that did not inhibit or deter Carrie from continuing to journey with these friends to advance the kingdom of God together. She chose friendship above denominational lines. She even got kicked out of churches not only because she was a woman preacher but also because she spoke to African Americans as well as spoke the unpopular message of healing at the time.

The reason today February 26, 2020 is so special is because it’s the 141st anniversary of Carrie’s miraculous healing (Feb. 26, 1879). Every year on this day, Carrie would remember and celebrate the anniversary of her healing by recounting the story and giving God thanks. In fact, her stewardship of her testimony was catalytic to shift Evangelicalism from believing God wanted people to endure suffering with a good attitude to the truth that God wants to and heals today. So on this special anniversary of Carrie’s miraculous healing, may you be encouraged to know the goodness of God in a deeper way and may you be inspired, just as I have, by a life well lived in complete surrender to Jesus.

To learn more about Carrie’s story, check out this mini-biography of her life which includes links to other free and original writings by Carrie as well or see the other resources below.

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.

George Müller (1805-1898) pioneered some of the earliest Faith homes in Bristol, England in 1835 when he was led by compassion to care for the orphans in his day. He never once asked for money but only prayed to God for all his needs according to the truth in Philippians 4:19. He sat amazed as he watched God bring in over 1.5 million pounds (which would rightly be 86 million pounds today) so he could fulfill the call of his life and take in the over 18,000 children who needed care.

In the last couple decades of his life, instead of choosing to retire and cease his ministry, he decided to itinerant preach around the world sharing testimonies of all God had done in his orphanages and releasing great faith and impartation for people to trust God and step into the fullness of their callings regardless lack.

It was such a privilege to be in Bristol and learn more about this man of great faith who inspired one of my heroes, Carrie Judd Montgomery, to model her healing glory homes also trusting in God alone to provide.

Blessing you today as you keep your eyes on Jesus and follow the leading of the Spirit regardless of opposing circumstances putting all your trust in a good Father.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians‬ ‭4:19‬ (NIV‬‬)

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*See also pages 29-30 in Life on Wings: The Forgotten Life and Theology of Carrie Judd Montgomery to learn more of the development of how this principal of trust in God alone to provide got weaved into the healing home movement.

Destiny House Ministry Trip Report: San Francisco and Livermore

On July 19, 2014 some of the Destiny House family loaded up in the van and headed out on our 1st ever Destiny House family ministry trip. The trip was marked by God encountering us every time as we simply made time and space to wait on Him (Psalm 46:10, Isaiah 40:31). It was the first of many more trips to come of blessing cities. We first met our hosts Chuck and Kenny, when they discovered Destiny House after Kenny was woken up by the Lord at 2 a.m. They later found us and attended one of our Friday morning worship sessions in early May 2014. They were touched and invited us to come and bless their city. Elisa, who lives at Destiny House, jumped on this opportunity and volunteered to coordinate this ministry trip which was such a gift. Our first stop was in Oakland at the Home of Peace to get filled up and soak in the glory there.

Home of Peace in Oakland, CA. This is the 1st ever healing home on the West Coast, founded by Carrie Judd Montgomery.

Our Destiny House family with William Booth inside the Home of Peace. Jenny, James, Nick, Lukus, Michael, Simona, and Elisa.

San Francisco, CA

Destiny in the City

On Sunday morning, we had the honor to minister at Revive Church in Miraloma. After a powerful time of worship, I had the opportunity highlight the destiny of San Francisco. By sharing about the history of the Golden Gate Bridge and my Miracle Flight to UK, I was able to encourage the saints to step into the impossible. Since we can’t step into the fullness of our destinies without God and the body of Christ, we did a prophetic act of holding hands and taking one step towards the impossibilities we felt God leading us to. Then Destiny House family members James and Jenny came and led the ministry time along with the others. They had the privilege of honoring Jake, one of the lead pastors by speaking words of life and destiny over him. Our Destiny House family ministered beautifully alongside the saints in San Francisco at the Miraloma campus.

Revive Miraloma campus in San Francisco

Preaching barefoot in honor of Saint Francis of Assisi.

Jenny and James ministering with lead pastor Jake.

Waiting on God with Hip Hop Dancers

We went from there to Revive Sunset in another part of town. This meeting was marked by the Holy Spirit invading the room and us simply waiting on the Lord for about 25 minutes together. It was powerful simply being in the presence of God together and allowing Him to minister to hearts, minds, spirits. God was releasing downloads and strategies from heaven. He was loving people powerfully as we waited on Him. After calling out the destiny of the city, we had the opportunity to minister to those we saw the Holy Spirit touching. I was immediately drawn to several young women hip hop dancers who use their craft to glorify God. I believe that day, He deposited powerful downloads of new dance moves that will release hope, freedom, and set the captives free. There were tears of freedom and healing released in the room. Our team had some powerful prophetic words released to the community there. Our time in San Francisco was such a gift. The work that the saints are doing in that city by being present and shining for His glory is incredible. We were honored to be a small part of what God is doing there.

Livermore, CA

Hope Restored

On Monday, after worshiping and soaking at the Home of Peace, we set off to partner with God in Livermore, California. With a beautiful ministry called Psalm 84, we got to spend time with the homeless of the city. In the service before the dinner, Elisa played anointed worship while Lukus went up to share some prophetic words. He pointed out one woman wearing a green shirt and start prophesying into her destiny. When he did this, the Holy Spirit fell upon her and she started to cry. I responded to what the Spirit was doing and went to pray for her. She shared her whole story with me. She was in her 50s and after a series of bad circumstances in her life, she found herself jobless and then homeless. She was very discouraged and hopeless when I first encountered her. I prayed for Vera and shared with her that many times right before one of our biggest breakthroughs, we have one of our biggest struggles. I encouraged her not to give up because I felt that hope and breakthrough was just around the corner. As I continued to spend time with her that evening and encourage her not simply to try and get by, but to dream again and to go after what really makes her heart come alive, God began to do a new work. Her countenance completely changed. Hope was infused in her. So much so that she shared with me that several people told her that she should write a book. Of course I found an extra copy of my book Silver to Gold and sowed it into her life. When I was about to leave, she was already on page 4. I love how God used the community at Psalm 84 to host the event, Elisa to lead worship which softened Vera’s heart, Lukus to speak a prophetic word over her, and me to follow up and instill hope. The body working together is a beautiful thing. I believe that what God did in Vera that day will act as a turning point for the rest of her life. Praise God for releasing hope to the hopeless!

Overflow Catches One by Surprise

One of my favorite stories of the trip happened at this same homeless outreach. When several of the team were connecting with some of the leaders there and praying blessings over them, one young man on his bike was standing nearby. A few of us noticed that the Holy Spirit was doing something in him so Simona, Crystal, and I pulled ourselves away from the group and went to see what was going on. There was such an overflow from when we were praying for a leader, that this young man on his bike got hit with the presence and glory of God for the first time in his life. He was fighting holding back tears. He didn’t know what was happening to him because he never felt that way before. For the first time in his life he said he was able to drop his barriers and defenses and feel God's love. He struggled to receive this love because he felt unworthy but Simona encouraged him to let God love him. We got to pray for him and explain a little of what was going on. When he left, we saw him walk outside the gate and lay down on his back in the grass, looking up to heaven and continuing to soak in the glory. I love that as we simply love each other, there is an overflow of God’s presence and glory that leaps upon people nearby.

Shepherd’s Gate: "Healing in my Right Hand!" and Glory

During our trip, we also had the opportunity to visit several locations of Shepherd’s Gate. This is a tenderhearted ministry for women who have been abused and are seeking refuge. During our time with these amazing women, we gathered together in their living room area and worshiped. We all got into God’s presence together just like how we do on Friday mornings at Destiny House. I shared some Scriptures as they were encountering God. Then after several of the Destiny House family released God’s heart, we simply lingered and spent time in His presence together. After blessing and anointing the whole house, we also got to spend time blessing the staff. At our first location with the staff, we played our Destiny House worship CD in the background and invited God’s presence (you can download this CD for free HERE). There too, we simply lingered in God’s presence together, waited on Him, and responded to the leading of the Holy Spirit to bless them.

When we were about to leave, we found out that another lady arrived who wanted prayer for her knee. I noticed that Jocelin, who we had prayed for earlier, had taken her off wrist brace. Her wrist was totally healed! We had her place her healed hand upon the other lady’s knee and then we all placed our hands on hers and prayed together. A few minutes later, when the lady stood up to try out her knee, she discovered that it was healed! Jocelin raised up her healed hand and said, “I have healing power in this hand!” It was beautifully seeing how one who had never experienced healing until that day freely gave what she freely received within moments. Jocelin later sent us a note saying, “I can’t thank you enough for today! My faith has grown so much stronger and I actually know what peace is suppose to feel like finally! I’m glad you were a chapter in my life.” Praise God!

Defeating Armies by Praise in Dublin, CA

On Tuesday night, we had the opportunity to hold a meeting for a variety of different church leaders in a room that overlooked the region. It was a powerful time of worship followed by us waiting on God and lingering in His presence once again. After some of our Destiny House family shared some wonderful testimonies, I released the word from 2 Chronicles 20 about Defeating Armies by Praise. I once again encouraged them to walk towards impossibilities, trusting that God will move the mountains and make a way. We had a wonderful time of ministry.

Psalm 84: Centennial Light and God Holds the Key to Our Destiny

Our last night we had the opportunity to minister at Psalm 84, the group that Chuck and Kenny are a part of. There, we saw the waitress we had met earlier that day come for the first time! Psalm 84 is a beautiful community of Jesus lovers who all have a heart for revival in the city. After a wonderful time of worship, we spent some time lingering in the presence of God together: praying, waiting, singing melodies to God, praying in tongues, listening, and simply being in His presence. God was releasing strategies from heaven and new songs. One of the women got a download of a song during our time waiting on God. When she sang out the song in Spanish over the congregation, God’s presence was magnified. I found out later, that she had never encountered God like that before.

After our time of being in His presence in a tangible and powerful way, I shared briefly about God’s heart for the city of Livermore. The world’s longest light bulb has been housed there for over 100 years. The reason that it has lasted so long is because it doesn’t get turned off and on, it simply remains shining bright. What a powerful picture of hosting the light of God in a city for 100 years. What would happen if just like the light bulb, God’s presence was hosted uninterrupted in one place for 100 years? How far would the circumference of hosting God’s presence and glory overflow just like it did to Steven during our homeless outreach? Could a city be transformed by a community simply being willing to host His presence continually for that period of time? And how many other cities nearby would be affected and receive its overflow? I can only imagine the ripple effects in the city and for eternity that would take place

After sharing about how God Holds the Key to Our Destiny, we did another prophetic act. Everyone gathered together in a large circle and was given a key. Since the keys to our destiny are released in God’s presence and also within members of the body of Christ, we had everyone exchange a key with someone in the room before they left. It was a powerful time as people prayed, prophesied, and encouraged each other during this exchange of “gifts” in the room.

After our final meeting, we loaded up in the “party van” and headed back to Redding, arriving just before 4 a.m. the next morning. The Destiny House family was blessed beyond measure by our hosts who loved, honored, and valued the gift of God that we are. They, along with the saints in the city, lavished love and blessings on us throughout the trip. It was a huge encouragement to see what happens when just one or two people decide they want to bless their city. Chuck, Kenny, and the community there desire to love their whole city well from the poorest of the poor to the most influential. We had the opportunity to minister in a wide range of areas in the city, from the homeless, to women seeking refuge, to church leaders from around the area, to a budding movement of Jesus lovers passionate about city transformation. It says a lot of the destiny of the city when two people invite us simply because they want to bless their city.

Me with our incredible hosts for these cities, Linda and Chuck.

Blessing the City

So, from our house (Destiny House Redding) to yours San Francisco, we bless you with being launched into a greater measure of your God given destiny for such a time as this. As the Golden Gate Bridge shines bright, may you arise as the crown jewel of the city and even the State. May everything you touch turn to gold. May you be a city of enduring hope and a forerunner for stepping into the impossible. May you be a gate for people from all spheres of life to enter in and encounter the living God (Isaiah 62:10). And to Livermore, we bless you from our house to yours. May you shine for generations to come, hosting the presence and the glory of God. May strategies be released from heaven to equip you to become a sustainer of revival in a powerful way that will create momentum for generations to come. May you stand tall as a lighthouse for people from all around to come and find direction, protection, salvation, truth, hope, and abundant life (Matthew 5:14-16). So from our house to yours, from San Francisco to Livermore and everywhere in between, we bless you and call for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit in your land. May you be flooded with a Tsunami wave of revival sweeping your land. May God grant you wisdom as you knit yourselves together with the body of Christ to become the net needed to receive and disciple the coming harvest. May He send His Spirit in even greater power for Jesus Christ’s sake. Thank you for loving us so well. You are welcome to visit Destiny House anytime. With love, Jen and the Destiny House family.

Kenny, Chuck, Linda and the Destiny family: Elisa, me, Crystal, Nick, Lukus, and Simona sending you blessings!!!

To learn more on similar topics by Jen see

Stepping Into the Impossible: Miracle Flight to England

God Holds the Key to Your Destiny

Defeating Armies by Praise

Revival History in Redding: Re-Digging Wells at Destiny House

Video of Jen sharing at BSSM about Carrie Judd Montgomery's Legacy

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D.

“This is what the Lord says,

He who made a way through the seas, a path through the mighty waters…

‘Forget the former things; do not dwell on the past.

See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up: do you not perceive it?

I am making a way in the desert and streams in the wasteland.’”

Isaiah 43:16-19

Seeds Sown October 27-November 2, 2013 will Emerge August 2014 and Beyond

In my own life, I am feeling that July 2014 is the final trimester in the 9 months of what is about to be birthed in August 2014 and beyond. I believe that seeds that were sown during the week of October 27-November 2, 2013 will come to see their fulfillment in a greater measure August 2014 and beyond. I see August 2014 not only as a time of birthing things that were sown 9 months previously but also even more fullness, synergy, and alignment from lifelong dreams and promises given by God in the past.

When I reflect back on what happened the week of October 27-November 2, 2013 in my own life, it was full of signs, wonders, declarations, clarity, shift towards alignment, new tongues, and other strange but profound experiences. I encourage you, too, to look back in your journal or your calendar and recall with the Lord what happened your life during that week. Then ask God if there was anything that happened then that will be birthed soon and how He wants you to prepare yourself to step into this upcoming season. If negative things happened that week, pray for God’s kingdom to come in that area and ask Him what He wants to sow into your life in this new season instead of those things.

One of the seeds I have seen develop and grow since that profound week in late October 2013 has to do with our Destiny House Redeeming Halloween event. Our Destiny House family set out to redeem and sanctify October 31 by worshipping and recounting what God did in history at that time. Besides this being a catalytic day for birthing the Protestant Reformation, it was also the day that Evan Roberts lit a fire for the Welsh Revival at Moriah Chapel in Wales. You can learn more what was released at that event in a blog HERE and soon be able to access a recording of the event on our PODCAST.

That same week, Destiny House Alumni Jenny Schoensiegle offered to do a painting of Evan Roberts as a fundraiser for Destiny House. Her painting received a bid from someone all the way in Wales named Darren who lives around the corner from Moriah Chapel. Seeds that were sown that night were only the beginning of what has begun to develop, grow, and increase these past nearly 9 months…

Not long after my MIRACLE FLIGHT to the UK in June 2014, Darren picked me and my friend Becky up at the train station in Wales to take us to the Moriah Chapel. While there, we met up with a few of our Destiny House family, Cornelius and Matt, who were present at the October 31st event and happened to be in Wales at the same time. Matt is the anointed Welshman who sang a Welsh revival song in his mother tongue during our October 31, 2013 event at Destiny House. It was incredible reconnecting with these friends in the land of revival. Through Darren’s connections, I also got to stay a night at the house Evan Roberts grew up in. Glory!

During this adventure in Wales, we also had the opportunity to visit revivalist Rees Howells’ Bible College. A year or two before this, I had studied about Rees Howells and learned about his great faith. In part, it was recalling some of his testimonies which inspired my own faith to step out and trust in God’s leading over my circumstances for breakthrough to get to England. At our June 28, 2014 Destiny House event, Cornelius and I shared testimonies of our time at Wales and I also released impartation of Rees Howells’ legacy. Cornelius also invited everyone to join in on a prophetic act of consecration.

Building on the momentum from of our October 31, 2013 Welsh Revival event, our trip to Wales, and our Rees Howells night of consecration at Destiny House, this August 8-10, Cornelius, I, and some of the Destiny House family are heading to Carrie Judd Montgomery’s Home of Peace in Oakland, CA for our 3rd Annual Healing & Revival Retreat. At this first and historic healing home and revival center on the West Coast, we will continue to build on this theme of Re-Digging the Wells of Revival. I can feel the momentum building from all from seeds that were deposited October 31, 2013.

Throughout this past 9 month season from October 2013 to August 2014, I have also seen some alignment and long awaited dreams fulfilled in my own life. In March 2014, one of my dreams came true when I got to release Carrie Judd Montgomery’s Legacy at Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry 1st Year Class in Redding. On May 1, 2014, alignment came together after nearly 2.5 years when all 3 floors of the Destiny House were released for us to rent exclusively for hosting the presence of God and releasing impartation, healing, and destiny. We started with one floor in 2012 and over the past few years God has continued to bless and add to our growing Destiny House family by sending people from around the world to run after the things of God with us in that place.

After 3 years, I also finally had the opportunity to return to England to reconnect with my friends and be there for my friend’s wedding. This miracle flight to get me there was influenced by Rees Howells’ faith. While all that happened these past few months leading up to August 2014 were so special and I am more than thankful, I remain hungry and I believe they were precursors of what is coming in even greater fullness and measures in this upcoming season. I believe these promises fulfilled are only just the beginning, the tip of the iceberg of what is going to hit us August 1st and beyond.

It’s a Time for Consecration: July 2014

I see July as a time of stretching, strengthening, purifying, and consecration. It’s like a time right before a snake sheds its old skin and awaits the new. Or a when a caterpillar has been in its cocoon and feels it’s ready to be set free but the wait is just a little longer. Or when a pregnant mother is ready to explode but has to wait just a little longer for the promise to be birthed.

I believe that the month of July 2014 is to be a time of consecration, refinement, and preparation for what is about to come upon us. A stripping off of the old, shedding old skin, getting rid of old ways of thinking, purifying our thoughts, lives, plans and being present before the Lord to hear what He is saying for this new season.

Rees Howells and Corporate Encounter

On March 29, 1936 at his Bible College in Wales, Rees Howells had a time of corporate consecration when he called his students to surrender their lives afresh before the Lord. The next day it was recorded in the diary of the College meetings that

“Fire fell on sacrifice. Holy Ghost descended on evening meeting. We went on knees and someone started the chorus, ‘Welcome, welcome, welcome! Holy Ghost, we welcome Thee.’ Liberty and power so great we continued singing this one chorus for a full hour.”[1]

Just over 9-10 months after this, a corporate encounter followed the act of consecration. The presence of God was so thick on the campus that the staff and students could only whisper to each other. The earlier act of consecration and surrender continued to yield an “increasing consciousness of God’s presence.” It became visibly manifest when a woman on staff broke down “confessing her sense of need and crying to the Holy Spirit to meet her.” Then “He came” and they experienced a corporate visitation for 3 weeks straight of His presence surrounding the campus. The headmaster of the school at the time recalled that God

“[He] did not come like a rushing mighty wind. But gradually the person of the Holy Ghost filled all our thoughts, His presence filled the place, and His light seemed to penetrate all the hidden recesses of our hearts. He was speaking through the Director in every meeting, but it was in the quiet of our own rooms that He revealed Himself to many of us…We were people who had left all to follow the Savior, and had forsaken all we had of this world’s goods to enter a life of faith, and as far as we knew we had surrendered our lives entirely to the One who died for us. But He showed us, ‘There is all the difference in the world between your surrendered life in My hands, and Me living My life in your body.’”

“There was no excitement or enthusiasm of the flesh those days. When His power had come upon us after March 29 we had been carried away and were singing and shouting our praises. But in these days we were so awed by the holy majesty of His Person that we hardly dared raise our voices in the meetings…Even the grounds outside seemed filled with His presence. Walking around together we would suddenly be conscious that we were speaking in whispers. The late hours came, but no one thought of bed – for God was there… 2 and 3 a.m. often seemed just like midday as we communed together, prayed with some who were ‘coming through,’ or waited before God in the quietness of our hearts.”[2]

May God do it again in this season. May the Spirit quicken our hearts and draw us to lay down everything at the feet of Jesus, trusting Him with our very lives. He is worthy of it all. May you have grace, strength, and endurance to enter into this new season with no strings attached, fully able to take hold of all that He wants to pour out. Ready your heart. Invite the Holy Spirit to clear away anything that is not meant to enter into this new season with you. I pray He invade your very being with the Father’s beautiful love and position you exactly where you need to be in this next season. All that you have surrendered and sacrificed in seasons past have not been a waste. He is waiting to pour out His Spirit in immeasurable ways. Be ready to receive all that He has for your today. He is so for you.

[1]Norman Grubb, Rees Howells Intercessor (Fort Washington, PA: Christian Literature Crusade, 1952), 208.

[2]Grubb, Rees Howells Intercessor, 218-219.

“They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations” (Isaiah 61:4).

Built in 1949 with the same materials used on the Shasta dam, the property on 2391 Placer Street, now functioning as Destiny House, was at one time a church in downtown Redding. The top floor was a wide open space where the children met for Sunday school. Later on, the city officials of Redding met there to declare laws over the city. A space that used to release goodness over the city later took a turn when it was vacated in the early 2000s and instead became a center where child pornography was filmed and released around the world. Witches and others later inhabited the home until 2007 when God led Jennifer Beebe and her family there. God gave Jenn a vision for it to be a glory house they called the Kabod House (Kabod means heavy weighty glory, honor, and blessing in Hebrew). Kris Kildosher and several young men who attended Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry felt led to live in the home. They helped sanctify the home spiritually and also began its restoration process. They regularly worshipped together in the open space on the top floor. As they did community together in the glory alongside the Beebe family, they saw many unique signs and wonders. One of the prophetic words released over this site during this time was that the salvation of the city is tied to this home. The Beebes lived in community here for 9 months until they had to move out in 2008. They owned the property for a total of 2.5 years until they went bankrupt and had to let it go.

After several years of the house being vacated, homeless people took residence there. A handful of people were drawn to put in an offer to buy the house but God protected it from being bought until Brad Coultier reluctantly put in a ridiculous offer. He secured the property for only $132,000 in September 2010. Fulfilling the prophetic words over Redding (Isaiah 61), he began to invest his time, resources, and heart into rebuilding the house. To learn more about Brad's journey go HERE.

In early 2012, shortly after finishing her Ph.D. in England on the life and ministry of Carrie Judd Montgomery, the founding mother of the healing home movement in North America, God divinely led Jennifer A. Miskov to the home. Through standing on testimonies of faith by Carrie Judd, Jen felt led to move into the house even though she had no car, no job, and very little money. All the resources she had would only cover the deposit and first month’s rent. God broke through in amazing ways and sent people every step of the way to help. She moved in February 15th. A few days later on her birthday on February 18th, 2012, Destiny House was officially dedicated for God’s purposes. At that time, it consisted of one floor with 3 people. To learn more about Jen's personal journey towards Destiny House and the incredible God story, go HERE.

Jenn Beebe was invited to a BSSM graduation party at Destiny House in the summer of 2012 by one of the girls who lived there whom she used to know many years before. It was at that party that Jenn Beebe met Jen Miskov for the first time. As they shared their hearts, they then realized that God had given them identical visions for the house years apart. Jen Miskov knew nothing of the Kabod house until after she had already moved in. At the party, Jenn Beebe saw a picture of Carrie Judd Montgomery and recognized her from one of her dreams. Her journey all began to start making sense.

Other threads of destiny began to be revealed as time went on. During one of the Friday morning worship and prayer times with the few girls in the house, there was a discussion of what the street name of the house, “placer,” meant. When it was discovered that it had to do with gold mines, Jen Miskov was sparked to share her favorite sermon by Carrie Judd Montgomery entitled “Life on Wings: The Possibilities of Pentecost.” As the sermon was read, unbeknownst to Jen at the time, there was a reference to placer mines! Within that very sermon originally released in 1910 was a tie to the street name of Destiny House, a home influenced and modeled after Carrie Judd’s healing home, the Home of Peace. Behind Destiny House is “Gold Street.” Jen Miskov’s life message can be found in a book entitled Silver to Gold. For Jen, there was prophetic destiny all over this house and she was tapping into something much greater than she had realized from the start.

By June 2012, the bottom floor of the house was also released. After the summer, God sent Jessica Phelps to steward the downstairs to have a total of 9 women in the house, all students attending BSSM. For most of 2012-2013, Destiny House operated as a community and glory home, centered around worship and God’s presence that also hosted and honored missionaries and leaders from around the world. Senior leaders from church movements in the U.K., a leader of the underground church in the Middle East who also works with the royal family there, Iris missionaries including one who works with rebel soldiers in the Congo, a movie star’s mother, brother-in-law to John Wimber, and many other saints stayed at or visited the home during this season.

By May 2013, God sent Angela Locke who would be the first full time missionary to be a part of Destiny House besides Jen Miskov. The two floors transitioned back to a community centered around God’s glory and focused on Friday morning worship and ministry times, Saturday night monthly Holy Spirit nights, and Monday night community meals. There was continued prayer for and release of destiny to missionaries and leaders as they joined the weekly and monthly gatherings. One lady who heard about Destiny House through her visit to the Home of Peace, drove up from Oakland for the Friday morning worship time. After being prayed for, she later received financial breakthrough of $217, 544.21 forgiven off of a house loan.

Besides ministering to many visitors, the young women who have spent a season living in this set apart atmosphere have received a great deposit for the rest of their lives, most importantly learning how to worship God in all circumstances. Many of these who have learned to live powerfully within a community centered around worship, have been transformed and launched into a greater measure of their destiny.

After over 2 years of praying, hosting God’s presence, worshiping Him in all circumstances, honoring missionaries and leaders from around the world, imparting destiny to all who enter, and Brad rebuilding the house and adjacent property according to city regulations, the top floor of the home was released May 1, 2014 for the Destiny House family to rent and have set aside for the whole ministry. God sent the Hess family with their two beautiful daughters to eventually reopen the missionary room that was open in phase one of Destiny House. This home that used to be a church, then the Kabod House, is now being restored to perfect alignment with heaven as a place set aside to host God’s presence and to learn to live in the glory within the context of community. It is becoming a prototype for restoring family worship and living a lifestyle in the glory. It is a model for future Destiny Houses centered on glory, honor, and destiny to be launched around the world.

Could the rebuilding and restoration process of the house on 2391 Placer Street in downtown Redding, once called the Kabod House, now called Destiny House, be a prophetic sign for the city of Redding based on Isaiah 61? Could Destiny House’s rebirth be prophetic in nature of what God is about to do in the church by bringing perfect alignment and convergence to prepare for what’s coming next?

With the full alignment of Destiny House, I release a prophetic declaration to the city, the church, and the world that this will be a season of long await dreams fulfilled, hope restored, broken parts fully healed, convergence, perfect positioning to step into all that God has, and destinies released. To the city of Redding, may you be called a Holy People, the Redeemed of the Lord. May you be called Sought After, the City No Longer Deserted (Isaiah 62:12). God will come in great power shortly, position yourselves to step into what He is about to pour out. May now be a time for us all to “Pass through, pass through the gates! Prepare the way for the people. Build up, build up the highway! Remove the stones. Raise a banner for the nations” (Isaiah 62:10).

Please pray for us as we enter into the next phase of what God is doing in our community here and around the world. Thank you for celebrating our journey with us.

While there are many who have played a part in this miracle over the past few years, this article is dedicated to the two hidden heroes and pioneers who have literally laid down there lives and given all they had because they believed in a dream from God. We would not be here if it wasn't for you two. To Jennifer Beebe and Brad Coultier, may this be your season of convergence, may blessings flood and overtake you, may honor chase after you for the things you have done in secret, may you experience God’s love beyond what you ever have before. Thank you for making a place for the Destiny House family. You have an inheritance and a direct part in everything God does in this place and you will never be forgotten for your great kindness.

See video below to learn more of our future direction and the 100 year vision to cultivate and release God's glory from this place. We are in partnership with Iris Global. All are welcome to join us for worship and receive ministry from our Destiny House family Friday mornings 8:00-10:00am at Destiny House.

To learn more of Jen Miskov's personal journey and some of the craziest breakthroughs of her life as she was moving towards Destiny House, go HERE.

by Jennifer A. Miskov, Ph.D., March 11, 2014

One of our Friday morning worships with the Destiny House family.

The Friday morning before I left for Springfield, Missouri, I had opportunity to meet with one of my favorite leaders who is incredibly inaccessible. The trouble was that the meeting time would have overlapped with our family worship Friday mornings at Destiny House which I did not want to miss. I chose family first and that Friday morning at Destiny House was powerful.

There was a new release of speaking in tongues. A friend and regular worship leader there, Cornelius Quek, gave a challenge to practice speaking in tongues more regularly and make it a discipline in the same way of fasting or reading the Bible. It was a beautiful time singing together in a heavenly language with the Destiny House family. Thankfully and miraculously, I was able to meet this leader later that day after hearing a talk at the conference about the importance of family. A few days after this, I headed on my next adventure to Springfield, Missouri.          

At Evangel University where the conference was held.

There was something unique and powerful about the 43rd Annual Meeting for the Society for Pentecostal Studies in Springfield March 6-8, 2014 that I will never forget. I have been to these annual conferences since I started my Ph.D. in England in 2007 but this was the most memorable one to date. I believe that what happened with this community of over 300 scholars of Pentecostalism from around the world is a foretaste of what God is going to continue to do within the church.

Preserving Heritage

Darrin Rodgers giving us a tour.

I flew out a day early so I could go on the tour of the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center led by archivist, Darrin Rodgers. It was very exciting for me to learn about some of the history within Pentecostalism and see the way they set up their museum and are releasing the power of the testimony. I also got to go inside the vault where they keep the very special materials. I was surprised, excited, and honored to see my book about Carrie Judd Montgomery on their shelves!

Following this, Glenn Gohr helped me in the research room to look at actual photographs of Carrie Judd from years ago. After that, he gave me box of Smith Wigglesworth’s writings to feast upon. I had the opportunity to look through original sermon notes, journal scribbles, and other valuable primary sources. I was like a child in a candy shop with all of these precious and powerful testimonies. I am so thankful to the Flower Pentecostal Heritage Center for digitizing so many resources I have used for my own research.

Me and my friend Smith Wigglesworth!

Special Session

One of my personal highlights of the conference was the special session for the history interest group that took place on Thursday afternoon. I was honored to participate in a session to review and discuss my book entitled Life on Wings: The Forgotten Life and Theology of Carrie Judd Montgomerywith Biblical scholar Craig Keener, Pentecostal scholar and advocate for women Kimberly E. Alexander, Christian and Missionary Alliance historian Paul L. King, former Provost of Fuller Seminary and Vanguard University Russ Spittler. I started the session with a short PowerPoint presentation of Carrie’s healing testimony and life story. Following this, Craig Keener shared how Life on Wings opened him up to understand healing in a new way and “come to grips better with the question of healing in the atonement.” Russ Spittler commented on it’s importance for the future, Kimberly E. Alexander shared how it was one of the best biographical studies on a person in early Pentecostal history, and Paul King was thankful for the contribution.

Paul King, myself, Kimberly Alexander, and Russ Spittler during the session on my book Life on Wings. Special thanks to Derrick Rosenior (not pictured) who chaired the session.

Following some questions and response in relation to the development of healing homes and such, I read an encounter that Carrie had following her Pentecostal Spirit Baptism encounter where she experienced God in a greater level than she ever had before. I then read one of my all time favorite prayers by Carrie Judd Montgomery taken from her “Life on Wings” sermon. I read this same prayer a year ago in a session and it was used as confirmation and inspiration to my friend Alicia Jackson to move forward to pursue her Ph.D. You can see her testimony from the year before in the video below.

Then in this academic setting, everyone stood up to receive a blessing and we opened up the session to pray for healing. It was such wonderful, honoring, and humbling time for me to be surrounded by all of these incredible, powerful, and legendary scholars commenting on my work and to see God move in the room.

Tongues and Interpretation

On Thursday night, we had a plenary session. Towards the end of worship, someone broke out in tongues in the congregation of scholars. Following this, someone else gave an interpretation. I could feel the presence of God powerfully when this happened. I remember hearing people speak in tongues and then waiting for the interpretation when I grew up in John Wimber’s church at the Anaheim Vineyard. However, for the past several years in my church circles, for whatever reason, I have not witnessed this happening much at all. I believe that what happened that night is a sign of more to come.

Spirit Break Out

The following day, our society was forever marked. It all began when Kimberly E. Alexander had to switch sessions to do a plenary address alongside powerful scholar at Pentecostal Theological Seminary, Cheryl Bridges Johns. That pairing was divine. After Cheryl gave a moving plenary address, Kimberly followed it up with a talk based on the research from her latest book What Women Want: Pentecostal Women Ministers Speak for Themselves. The Holy Spirit was brooding in the room over this topic of women in the ministry. Rather than closing the session himself which was the original plan, Kenneth J. Archer, the active S.P.S. vice president at the time, felt led to give space to Cheryl to close with a prayer.

With the conviction of a lifetime of paving the way for women in the academy and in the church, Cheryl was vulnerable in front of an audience of academics. Against all odds, she has pioneered the way for many when she was the very first woman to join this society years ago. She admitted that she was tired of having to continually contend in relation to the issue of women in ministry. Then, with tears in her eyes, she prayed in tongues over the whole group. When that happened, the presence of God fell powerfully in the room. I could feel the weight of His presence upon me.

The sound of one weeping could be heard in the audience. Women who have fought so long to have a voice, who were tired of being put on the sidelines because of their gender, were experiencing a release of that pain. Archer followed Cheryl’s prayer by inviting young women to stand who are called to the academy or to ministry. I responded. Through their tears, I saw the deep pain these women scholars had to endure for so long. Knowing the price they paid for me to have a place broke my heart. When I saw Kimberly pray for my friend Aliciaacross the room, I saw this as a passing of the torch.

Cheryl Bridges Johns speaking moments before the Spirit broke out powerfully.

The legendary Cheryl Bridges Johns, Estrelda Alexander, and Kimberly Alexander. I thank God for these women who have paved a way and created space for people like me to have a place.

I felt the power of God in that room more heavily than I ever expected to experience Him at an academic conference. Baptist minister and colleague from England, Tim Welch, offered to pray for me. I couldn’t stay standing. Tears streamed down my face. I could feel the burden being released and healing flood that room. Estrelda Alexander, one who has pioneered on behalf of women and the marginalized, came to pray for me as well. The transference that occurred between these legendary women scholars to the newer generation, along with the beautiful space shared between men and women in that room, stripped us all of our armor in the form of titles, letters, and Ph.D.’s and reminded us what it is like to be family.

As people started to clear out of the room, I could still feel the presence of God powerfully upon me. I couldn’t move and I didn’t want to leave that atmosphere. This was a holy moment and I didn’t want His presence to lift. I found myself alone in the hall. In a busy world where we have to fight for pockets of silence, He gave me a chance to linger with Him a little longer. I felt tingling on my whole body. Even as I write this now I can feel His presence upon me as I did in that moment. He came and I was undone. It was a sacred time.

Giving Space to the Anointing

Upon reflection, I recognize that it was moment Archer stepped back to share his platform with Cheryl that the Spirit broke out powerfully. He created space for one who was under great conviction and anointing to release the kingdom. In a similar way that A.B. Simpson created space for early Divine Healing Movement leader and Pentecostal pioneer Carrie Judd Montgomery to soar, Archer did the same for Cheryl. I praise and thank God for Archer’s sensitivity to the Spirit. If he did not yield to the Spirit right then, I feel our society as a whole may have missed out on what God wanted to release. This divine moment became the tipping point for the whole conference and maybe even the society as a whole.

This precious moment also moved our community from simply being members of a society to being a family in a greater way. Academics who sometimes don’t quite fit in the world or even in Christian institutions or the church, found comfort, understanding, and love amongst other forerunners, pioneers, prophetic voices for the church. The men in that room loved, honored, and gave space to the women. They sought understanding and stepped into our pain with us. This act alone brought such healing. Since I believe that artists, musicians, creatives, entrepreneurs, and even academics are prophetic voices for the church, I believe that what happened to us there is also a sign of what’s about to break out at in unprecedented measure within the church. See my article “Coloring Outside the Lines: Pentecostal Parallels with Expressionism. The Work of the Spirit in Place, Time, and Secular Society?” in The Journal of Pentecostal Theology for more on this.

Family

Me and Stanley Horton. "Praise the Lord!"

During the conference, I was also blessed with the opportunity to see many friends and colleagues who never get the credit they deserve for the incredible contribution they are to the Body of Christ and to the church. I was happy to see people like Azusa Street Revival historian, Cecil M. Robeck Jr., who shares a similar passion for Carrie Judd and was my external examiner for my thesis, Dr. Mark Cartledge, my friend and advisor from England who gave a wonderful plenary, Stanley Horton, who is nearly 98 years old and has contributed greatly to Biblical scholarship. Whenever I spoke with Horton, he regularly ended our conversations with “Praise the Lord!” He is such a powerful example of what it can look like to follow God even into our 90s. I, too, want to be full of the Spirit and saying “Praise the Lord” at every turn even as I near 100 years of age!

Me and my friend Mel Robeck.

While there are many more highlights to share including Lee Roy Martin’s presidential address on Psalm 107 beginning with a video of Martin Luther King Jr., I will close with a connection I had with Craig Keener. He is one of the foremost Biblical scholars in the world and does his work in such excellence that the glory of God is magnified just by him simply being a scholar as unto the Lord. He is also one of the most humble men I have met. I was very honored and humbled to have him be a part of the discussion on my book. Even more, after the final banquet for the conference, my friend Alicia and I shared a time of blessing, praying, and honoring Craig followed by him blessing us with an impartation of his writing gift. I am privileged to know a few people who after I spend time with them, I feel like I have just spent time with Jesus because the purity, humility, and glory of God in their lives. Craig has recently become one of these. This was a beautiful way to end this most memorable of conferences for the Society for Pentecostal Studies.

This is a picture of me and Craig when I met him for the first time at S.P.S. in 2013. We are exchanging each others' books here.

I am proud to be a part of a society that marries both the academy and spirituality and allows freedom and inspiration to not only love the Lord our God will all our hearts but also all our minds. With mixed views, denominations, genders, races, and other diversities, the society thrives because it is a family of believers who loves God first and foremost. When a bond of love is created within any community, love supersedes disagreements and also provides a safe environment for stimulating conversation to take place. Everything changes when a society, church, or community becomes family. This is my testimony of what happened when the Spirit broke out this year at the Society for Pentecostal Studies conference. I pray it blesses you and inspires you to speak in tongues more, give space to who the anointing is on regardless of gender or age, and invites you to move beyond structural barriers to become family with those in your circles.

I now leave you with my favorite prayer that Carrie Judd Montgomery released in Chicago in 1910. May her words inspire us all to rise above all circumstances and to soar with wings like eagles.

“Now, who is going to trust God for the winged life? You can crawl instead if you wish. God will even bless you if you crawl; He will do the best He can for you, but oh how much better to avail ourselves of our wonderful privileges in Christ and to ‘mount up with wings as eagles, run and not be weary, walk and not faint.’ O beloved friends, there is a life on wings. I feel the streams of His life fill me and permeate my mortal frame from my head to my feet, until no words are adequate to describe it. I can only make a few bungling attempts to tell you what it is like and ask the Lord to reveal to you the rest. May He reveal to you your inheritance in Christ Jesus so that you will press on and get all that He has for you.”

I want to thank everyone who prayed or sowed into my trip. Your support has made such a difference!

See also another view of this account I wrote that got published in Ministry Today.

See also article I wrote about my time in Toronto entitled "There's a Tidal Wave of Revival on the Horizon." To learn more about Carrie Judd Montgomery, check out the CJM Project, or to learn more about Destiny House, see video below. Thanks for joining me on this journey. Many blessings and impartation of God's love and presence to you!

OUR KING AND HIS KINGDOM

Carrie Judd Montgomery

Triumphs of Faith 8:12 (Dec. 1888)

“And he sware unto to her, whatsoever thou shalt ask of me, I will give it thee, unto the half of my kingdom.” These words of royal power and condescension were spoken by an earthly king, unto a young damsel who pleased him with her dancing at his birthday supper. Large power was thus granted her to take from his bounty, but even then it was a limited power, for if she chose to take the half of his kingdom she could not take the other half. But our blessed King does not limit us. He says unto them who please Him by their faith and loyalty, “All things whatsoever ye shall ask in prayer believing ye shall receive.” He does not add, “Unto the half of My kingdom,” for since He has given Himself, His life, His all, He can withhold nothing. The power which King Herod held forth to the dancing girl was accepted, but abused, for she asked for that which made even this wicked king “exceeding sorry,” and “yet for his oath’s sake and for their sakes which sat with him, he would not reject her.”

            Our King has also confirmed His promises to us with an oath, for we read, “Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew, unto the heirs of promise the immutability of His counsel, confirmed it by an oath.” But, unlike this earthly king, it is impossible for our King to be “sorry” for any promise that He has made, for he knew when He gave us the promises, every advantage we might be able to take of them, and yet He has in no wise limited us, but says, even when we think we have asked so largely, “Hitherto have ye asked nothing in My name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.”

            For the sake of his oath, and for the sake of his guests, Herod would not reject his niece even in her dreadful petition for the death of a just man, and our King surely will not reject us, in petitions inspired by His spirit, not only for His oath’s sake, but also for the sake of His dear Son, with whom we are joint heirs of His kingdom, and for the sake of His own blessed and holy character, which He cannot help but maintain, for with Him “is no variableness neither shadow of turning.”

            We read of another king in olden time who might be approached without fear if it pleased him to hold forth his royal sceptre, and as queen Esther “obtained favor in his sight” he held out to her his golden sceptre, and said, “What wilt thou, Esther? and what is thy request? it shall be given thee to the half of the kingdom.” Very rare were the times when it pleased this king to hold forth the token of his royal favor, but, praise God! the golden sceptre of our King Jesus is never withdrawn from us. We sometimes turn away from it, and sadden His loving heart, but still His love and mercy are extended, and His sweet voice says, “What wilt thou that I shall do unto thee?” “A sceptre of righteousness is the sceptre of Thy kingdom,” O beloved Lord, and Thy righteousness is held forth even unto us, and to all who will draw near and rest upon it.

            Again we read that “King Solomon gave unto the Queen of Sheba all her desire, whatsoever she asked beside that which King Solomon gave her of his royal bounty.” This is a true picture of our King Solomon, our Prince of Peace, for not only does He give us all that we ask of Him in faith, but because of the smallness of our asking, and because of the greatness of His generous love, He must needs pour upon us much of “His royal bounty” which we never would have had the heart to ask for. How much, then, do we need a receptive heart, in order that we may not grieve Him by turning away from His bountiful gifts.

            And how much do we need to meditate upon His gracious character as revealed in His word, that we may know His will and come boldly to the throne of grace. “And this is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us: and if we know that He hears us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of Him.” “And whatsoever we ask, we receive of Him, because we keep His commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in His sight.” “Fear not, little flock, it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the Kingdom.” Not a part of it, not half of it, even, but “the Kingdom,” in all the fullness of its grandeur and glory.