Dark Passage / Blinding Light . . . Journeying the Unseen Without Losing Your Way!
Joureyig the Unseen Without Losing Your Way!
Journeying the Unseen Without Losing Your Way!
Bio Link
Barbara Kankowske is an intense, passionate follower of Jesus Christ. She is equally passionate about equipping believers, desiring to see them mature in their callings. Her strong gifting in the prophetic and discerning of spirits has enabled her to speak into individual lives. She has helped many to find God's direction for their lives and has walked alongside them, providing intercession, instruction, and counsel. Barbara has served many years in the Chicago area as a Bible teacher, exhorter and, along with husband Dennis, led marriage ministry. In the nineties, God began to send her out to other states. Teachings on the experiential: the presence of God, spiritual reality, the spirit realm, and warfare have been and continue to be a strong emphasis. In 2000, she and Dennis founded Midway Ministries. It has served as a training and resource center, focusing on mentoring and releasing believers in the prophetic. A prophetic proclamation on July 4, 2008, declared that Barbara would function “like an apostle to build a prototype that will advance the armies of God,” thrusting new events into motion and producing a period of escalated growth and expansion. "The School of the Holy Spirit unto the Maturing of Sons," subsequent satellite schools, and other related ministries were formed. The school is providing a foundation for personal growth and is a "launching-off" place to develop gifts that function as they were designed to within the Body of Christ.
THE DYNAMICS of SPIRIT to spirit
SNAP, CRACKLE, POP
FAITH - AN OPEN SPIRIT - IMPARTATION
Spiritual substance is imparted spirit to spirit.
Faith creates expectancy, and an open spirit is quick to receive what God desires to reveal. The dynamics of spirit-to-spirit impartation require faith and an open spirit in the one giving and the one receiving.Revelation and anointing must flow out of your spirit to be of spiritual value. Teaching that is imparted from one mind to another only builds up the mind of the recipient.
When the Lord’s people come together, it is a time when God can pour out what is on His heart.
Whether the Lord can pour out revelation or not depends on the condition of the minister and the condition of the people gathered.
If either or both enter tired, distracted, or bothered by things that bring them down, the Holy Spirit is restrained and the meeting will be lifeless.
As God’s people, we need to prepare ourselves to receive from Him by releasing our burdens, worries, and cares. Worship, prayer, and exhortation at the beginning of a meeting can help with this. It can also help us to free our mind from distractions.
In the meetings I lead, we usually begin with individual prayer ministry during worship. We walk in the dust of this world and prayer ministry can be just the foot washing we need.
Having spent many years in prayer ministry, I recognize certain characteristics of the spirit. I have witnessed the process of an individual’s spirit opening, progressively, until it is fully open to receive. In meetings, I expound on the dynamics of an open spirit, helping people understand how to receive all God has for them.
An open spirit allows for a greater outpouring of the Holy Spirit, both individually and corporately.
Do you want everything God has for you? Prepare yourself in advance to receive.
He will not disappoint!
Learn more about walking and living in the Spirit go to Midway Ministries
Photo by tghunt
Deep places in the spirit . . .
Houston … WE HAVE LIFT OFF!
Lift off into deep space … into deep places in the spirit.
All of life is a process of growth. We mature physically, mentally, and emotionally. Our spiritual life is much the same. We are born of the Spirit and we are meant to grow into maturity. What does spiritual maturity look like …
But the natural, nonspiritual man does not accept or welcome or admit into his heart the gifts and teachings and revelations of the Spirit of God, for they are folly (meaningless nonsense) to him; and he is incapable of knowing them [of progressively recognizing, understanding, and becoming better acquainted with them] because they are spiritually discerned and estimated and appreciated.
But the spiritual man tries all things [he examines, investigates, inquires into, questions, and discerns all things], yet is himself to be put on trial and judged by no one [he can read the meaning of everything, but no one can properly discern or appraise or get an insight into him]. i
In order to enter the deep places in the spirit you need to lean very seriously into a spiritual view of your life here in this present world.
Remember, when you are born again, translation is complete. You no longer belong to this world. You belong to another kingdom, the kingdom of God. Like the believers in the book of Hebrews, you are looking for a country, a heavenly one, not one of this world.ii
What changes need to take place?
- First, it necessitates that you listen to God with an open mind.
- You need to leave ‘logical’ thinking on the back burner … the natural man cannot perceive the things of the Spirit, but the spiritual man perceives all things.
- Accept people at the level where they are, and wait for the Lord to bring correction, if necessary.
- Assume that others are doing what they are supposed to do, unless otherwise directed by the Lord.
- Recognize agendas . . . an agenda is an organized plan for matters to be attended to. Take note of the word plan … it is the way you think things should look or happen. It creates a block in you. It blocks the flow of the plans of God, as you have a preconceived idea of how it will look or what is to happen.
God created you to think spiritually. You must let go of your carnal, natural way of thinking. You have the mind of Christ. It is to replace the carnal mind. It is a progressive replacement as you learn of Him.
And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect, will of God.iii
Spiritual thinking can be difficult, due to your upbringing, the news, and the world around you. It may be difficult, but it is not impossible. Practice the above principles when you confront things that you do not understand.
Remember, God’s ways are not our ways, His ways higher than yours …
SELAH … Entrance into the deep places in the spirit requires a transition from
the thinking of this world!
*To learn more about walking and living in the Spirit go to Midway Ministries
Photo: evacuation complete by akshay moon
GOD'S SPECIAL FORCES
OVERCOMERS
God chooses the few to do the work of the many. Their work counts as the work of the whole church.
We see the principle of the overcomer throughout the Bible.
Exodus 19 tells us that God chose the people of Israel to be a kingdom of priests. The whole nation was to serve God and be His priests.
The people turned away from God's commands and worshipped a golden calf. Moses then called for those who were on the Lord’s side to come unto him.i All the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto Moses. God required these men to slay their own brothers with the sword. They were willing to serve God above all their human affection, so God chose them to be the priests.
This group, called Levites, God chose to represent all of Israel. What the children of Israel should have offered to God, the children of Levi offered for them. Their service counted as the service of the whole nation and all benefited from their priesthood.
During the time of Judges, the Midianites were oppressing the people of Israel. The responsibility to fight rested on the whole nation, but some were afraid and some were slothful. From one of their tribes God chose Gideon to lead a contingent of men and chase away the enemy. A group went forth into the battle on behalf of the whole nation and won their freedom.ii
We see another picture of the work of the overcomer in the crossing of the Jordan River. God instructs the priests carrying the Ark to stand in the water so that the people can pass through. iii
This is a picture of warfare. They stand against the water (the power of the enemy with Egypt behind Israel) with the authority of the Lord (represented by the Ark). The few stand in God’s authority against the enemy on behalf of the many.
In the New Testament, we see the seventy return telling Jesus that even the devils are subject to them through His name. Jesus responds by saying I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.iv
Jesus is speaking of what happens in Revelation 12 with the casting out of Satan from heaven. The continual resisting of the work of Satan causes his ultimate casting out of heaven. This happens not just by confrontation, but also by the removal of the work of the enemy through prayer.
Laying hold of the authority of the Lord and bringing the power of the Kingdom of God to bear in every situation will remove demonic power.
Do you desire to join the overcomers?
It requires that you embrace the following: - Live wholly for the Glory of God – nothing for self.
- Be fearful of nothing.
- Allow the cross to deal with your self-life – prayer originates with God not us; we must be broken in order to be used.
God causes an overcomer to see a truth and prove it first in their own life, so that they in turn may bring many into the obedience of that truth.
YOU decide whether you will be an overcomer. God then tests you, which causes you to see what is really in you. He shows you whether or not you will really be an overcomer.
It requires paying the price. You may be willing to pay something, but the real question is, are you willing to pay . . . everything!
GOD SEEKS OVERCOMERS — Stand up
and be counted in
GOD’S SPECIAL FORCES!
*To learn more about walking and living in the Spirit go to Midway Ministries
i Ex 32:26
ii Judges 7
iii Joshua 3:11-17
iv Luke 10:17-18
THE GREAT COSMIC BATTLE
Who will rule the earth that is the question!
Redemption is God's plan to restore everything back to His original intent . . .
God needs His church to restore the earth using the authority of His Kingdom.
God placed man in dominion over His creation. Man is now to overthrow the power of Satan. Man must bring the authority of the kingdom of God to bear and displace the kingdom of Satan.
It has not been fashionable to speak of warring against Satan and his wicked forces. We speak of various ministries and their impact on man. Who would want to be associated with demon chasers? After all, aren't they radical extremists?
And yet, that is exactly where Genesis brings us in the opening chapter. God gave Adam charge on the Earth with instruction to subdue it, which can also be translated to conquer, keep or guard. After man's fall, the Earth became Satan's sphere.
Jesus instructed his disciples to pray for the kingdom of God to come and His will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
If the kingdom of God is to come, then Satan must be cast out.
And we know [positively] that we are of God, and the whole world [around us] is under the power of the evil one.i
Stop for a moment and think about what you just read, the whole world is under the power of the evil one!
Those who walk according to the course of this world are defined as walking according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit now working in the children of disobedience.ii
Jesus told the religious leaders of the day that they followed their father the devil.iii
God is no respecter of man's titles or positions — — political, religious, or any other such man-made authority.
You are either walking in obedience to Him or you are walking under the prince of the power of the air, Satan himself. Could it be any simpler?
We as disciples of Christ are responsible to help bring forth the kingdom of God.
And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord even the devils are subject unto us through thy name. And He said unto them, I beheld Satan as lightning falling from heaven. Behold, I give you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy: and nothing shall by any means hurt you.iv
And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him. And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night. And they overcame him by the blood of the lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they love not their lives unto the death.v
His disciples came back amazed that even demons were subject to them in His name. Jesus chose that moment to speak these words:
I beheld Satan as lightning fall from heaven.
It is apparent that the casting out of demons connects with the fulfillment of Revelation 12.
As His disciples, (then and now) confront, resist, and remove the works of the devil and his angels, the time will come when that great dragon will be cast out. We will then hear the heavenly proclamation:
Now is come salvation, and strength, and the Kingdom of our God, and the power of His Christ.
We are to bring the power of the kingdom of God into the Earth . . . into our sphere of influence.
Let us be about meeting God's need by exercising Kingdom authority and adding to the measure that will cause Satan to fall like lightning from heaven.
To learn more about walking and living in the spirit go to Midway Ministries
i 1 John 5:19
ii Ephesians 2:1-2 Amp
iiiJohn 8:44
iv John 8:44
iv Luke 10:17-19
v Revelation 12:9-11
A MILLION SUNS and one son
The Great Globular Star Cluster in Hercules is a brilliant, shimmering ball of more than a million suns and yet . . .
When I consider your heavens, the works of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him? i
CONSIDER THE STAR CLUSTERS
NGC 6205 – As astronomers know it is the Great Globular Star Cluster in Hercules. It is a brilliant, shimmering ball of more than a million suns lying 25,000 light years away (a light year is 6 trillion miles) in our Milky Way galaxy.
The statistics: It is 25,000 light years distant, 150 light years across. A 747 jetliner traveling 24 hours a day would take 170 million years to travel across it and 150 quadrillion years to reach it. The fastest spacecraft built by man at the time (Voyager 2) would take 35 million years to reach it traveling at 2 million miles each day. An incredible distance, yet in our own ‘backyard’ by astronomers’ standards.
The Andromeda constellation Galaxy – NGC 224 is a ‘neighboring’ island of 200 billion suns lying 2 million light years (13 quintillion miles) from our Milky Way galaxy. Our fastest spacecraft would take 50 billion years to reach it.
If you counted one of its stars each second since the birth of Christ, you would have counted less than a third of its total.
Our earth is immense and yet is dwarfed by our Milky Way galaxy, and our galaxy is dwarfed by billions of other known galaxies. Man is a speck on a speck on a speck.
A million suns and ONE SON . . .
You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O Lord.ii
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.iii
My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place. When I was woven together in the depths of the earth, your eyes saw my unformed body. All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.iv
You number and record my wanderings; put my tears into your bottle; are they not in your book? v
Do not diminish God’s love for you. Do not allow anyone or anything to keep you from His presence.
One picture is worth a
thousand words. This video carries those thousand words far beyond with
its glimpse into space.
Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God hath prepared for them that love Him.vi
A glimpse into what God created when He spoke ... let there be light! Consider viewing this YouTube video ... The Hubble Ultra Deep Field in 3D
PRESS INTO GOD
HE CARES FOR YOU!
*To learn more about walking and living in the Spirit go to Midway Ministries
Photo: Great Globular Star Cluster Ngc 6205
[i] Ps 8:3-4
[ii] Ps 139:2-4
[iii] Ps 139:13
[iv] Ps 139:15-16
[v] Ps 56:8
THE WAIT is over . . .
TIME TO TOUCH
Praise, worship, music, exuberant cries ...
The cacophony of sound ascends from both small and large gatherings. This is the sound of expectant people waiting to experience the presence of God.Crowds gathered around Jesus in much the same way when He walked the earth. Some were curious, some hopeful, all waiting to see what would occur.
One woman pressed beyond hopeful expectancy. She did not wait; she refused to stop, even if it cost her life.i
Who touched me?
That woman made a demand on the anointing and Jesus felt the virtue leave his body. Our actions toward God can affect a response much like the woman with the issue of blood.
Have YOU touched Him?
It is legitimate to wait on God, expecting His presence, but it is not the only way. Scripture tells us to ask, seek, knock and continue doing so.ii Many other scriptures exhort our movement, intense and personal toward God.
Religion, however, can make us passive!
- We sit and listen to a message in meetings or through media, waiting for another to feed us.
- We wait to feel different; wait to see if anything changes.
- Wait for someone to recognize our gifting; wait before we will make a move.
- Wait, wait, and wait!
Many things in life help to press us into a passive mold. It is time to become aware of their damaging affects and break free!
THE WAIT IS OVER . . . time to touch!
Press through the crowds (busyness, difficulties, circumstances, wounds) and TOUCH HIM!
HE IS WAITING FOR YOU!
*To learn more about walking and living in the Spirit go to Midway Ministries
Photo by Cheo70
MAMA SAID THERE’D BE DAYS LIKE THIS . . .
Don’t look at me that way, I know you can relate!
Not exactly what you pictured as the helmet of salvation? Me neither, but it was all I could come up with in a pinch.
Give it your best shot … what do you suggest?
I am serious! I am seriously waiting for you to give me some suggestions for what to do on days like this! Come on, you know the days. You have been slogging through the battle and you are tired.Needless to say, it is not one of your more optimistic days.
No, you are not about to quit, but how about a break? How about just a little tiny bit of encouragement ... "Probably not going to happen" your bleaker side says ...
AND WHAT DO YOU SAY?
“Oh, so you never comment on blog sites?”
Never, and I mean never, say never!
I just saw this insightful little picture … you on Facebook?
I am seriously waiting for your help … and by the way I am not very patient!
Suggestions put in the comments box will be forwarded directly to ME!
The animal of WAR
God’s chosen people missed Jesus the first time because He did not come as a warrior. Will we miss Him when He returns because He does come as a warrior?
We all know that Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a meek and lowly donkey, right? Now let’s read that again:
And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem, and were come to Bethpage, unto the mount of Olives, then sent Jesus two disciples, Saying unto them, Go into the village over against you, and straightway ye shall find an ass tied, and a colt with her: loose them, and bring them unto me. And if any man say ought unto you, ye shall say, The Lord hath need of them; and straightway he will send them. All this was done, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying, Tell ye the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy King cometh unto thee, meek, and sitting upon an ass, and a colt the foal of an ass.i
Now just who was meek and lowly? Not the ass!
Smith’s Bible Dictionary says:
“The ass in eastern countries is a very different animal from what he is in western Europe. The most noble and honorable amongst the Jews were wont to be mounted on asses. The ass was an animal of peace, as the horse was the animal of war. …in fleetness, the wild ass equals the gazelle, and to overtake it is a feat which only one or two of the most celebrated mares have been known to accomplish.”
Wild, unbroken, still with its mother. Just imagine one of our current racehorses before he has received any training. Would you place a man on the back of this colt, without a bit in his mouth or a whip in the rider’s hand, and expect him to walk calmly into a city, with both sides of the streets crowed with people waving palm branches and shouting? This colt had the capability of speed greater than most of our modern racehorses. Wild, unbroken, still with its mother – and yet it gently submitted to the Son of God.
The ass represented peace, but remember, Revelation shows us Jesus will return mounted on a horse, the animal of war!
His own chosen people missed Him the first time He came because he did not come as a warrior. In part, due to our own fable of the wimpy, stupid donkey, we could possibly miss Him again when He returns riding on a horse . . .
Because He is a warrior!
*This is a guest post written by Donna Dozier
**To learn more about walking and living in the Spirit go to Midway Ministries
[i] Matt 21:1-5
The contender
Jesus chose to come to earth at a time when there were no major communication networks in place. . . What was He thinking?
The world has dramatically changed with the development of the World Wide Web. There are blogs, podcasts, video galleries, photo streams, twitter accounts, and many other social sites. Individuals and businesses can share a message with millions of people and never leave their living room.
Facebook Stats and Facts for 2011-2012 – With over 800 million users, Facebook is now used by 1 in every 13 people on earth, with over 250 million of them (over 50%) who log in every day.
The average user spends over 700 billion minutes a month on Facebook, 20 million applications are installed per day and over 250 million people interact with Facebook from outside the official website on a monthly basis, across 2 million websites. Over 200 million people access Facebook via their mobile phone. And this is just one form of media interaction via the Web.
Traditional media is being relegated to a back seat when looking for information. Social media is changing nearly everything about the way we live and communicate.
NOW CONSIDER THIS . . .
Jesus chose to come at a time when there were no major communication networks in place. Transportation was limited to foot, horse and donkey. No modern means of publicity … and why? Think about that!
Just perhaps it was to make a very relevant point …
- His impact and primary work was in the spirit.
- He entered a heavenly sanctuary with His own blood to make atonement for man.
- As He walked on earth, He did not contend for political rule. He contended with spiritual forces operating in the unseen realm.
His primary message was about the Kingdom of God, a kingdom not of this world. Yes, He touched the people, but that was secondary. His assignment involved a work and a battle in the unseen realm.
Is social media the contender when it comes to your spiritual life? As much potential as media now has, let us not lose sight of the fact that our primary work is in the spirit.
Check your own statics:
How much time do you spend on media sites weekly?
How much time do you spend in prayer weekly?
We need to pray, exercise spiritual authority, and declare the rule of heaven in the same realm where Jesus even now continues in intercession for us. We must contend with spiritual forces, enforcing the victory of our glorious King.
This is not a war waged on websites, blogs, facebook, or any other earthly platform. It is a battle waged in the spirit by the spiritually mature.
PERHAPS WWJD MEANS MORE THAN YOU REALIZE . . .
THINK ABOUT THAT!
*To learn more about walking and living in the Spirit go to Midway Ministries
Photo by dpstyles
RESURGENCE OF JOY
Joy is not just an emotion, it is a major spiritual force! The kingdom of God is righteousness, peace and JOY in the Holy Spirit.i
These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.ii
Jesus spoke to His disciples about joy that remained and was to be full in the context of the parable of the vine and branches. What things was He referring to when He spoke of this joy?
I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.
Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.iii
It is obvious that Jesus is the source of our joy. If we are detached from the source, we will lose the supply. Take note, however, that before He speaks of joy in full measure, he speaks of purging!
The book of James instructs us to consider it wholly joyful when we encounter trials and temptations. We are to consider it joyful because the testing of our faith will produce something of value.
JOY is a by-product that comes out of the revelation of our spiritual blessings.
And how does this revelation come to us?
It is only in the struggle, in the hanging onto God, that we begin to truly know Him, His grace, and His rich provision for us and in us.
Easy come, easy go, is an old adage. It is a fact of human nature that we do not appreciate the things that we have not paid a price to attain.
God allows and even orchestrates events in our lives to purge us of things that hinder. He causes us to cling more closely. He desires to bring us into a deeper revelation of and relationship with Himself.
THE LAW OF TRAVAIL
T. Austin Sparks addresses the law of travail, a law that will only end with the birth of a new heaven and earth. It is out of travail that God sees how much value we place on heavenly things. Whether we will press through to all He desires to give, things that we can only apprehend in and through travail.
This law of travail is written deep in creation and perhaps mostly in human history. It is one fact which no one can deny. It is there. We cannot get away from it. It is forcing itself upon our consciousness and recognition all through our lives.
The Bible, as we have seen, begins with the establishment of this law, both in human life and in the natural order. The Bible ends with the abolition of that law; its complete removal from every realm of creation. It can be traced through the whole Bible. In almost every book of the Bible, this law of travail can be found. And in the last book, the book of the Revelation which is the culmination of all the things that are in the rest of the Bible, we find that the outstanding feature of that book is this law of travail. In every connection and direction, it’s a book of travail. The Church is in travail. The overcomers are in travail. The nations are in travail. All the heavenly bodies are in travail. It is the culmination of this law which has been operating all the way through history. It began with the birth of the first child; it ends with the birth of a new heaven and a new earth.
It is therefore a very important thing that we should understand the meaning attached to this law - why God introduced it and established it and has never lifted it and never does; but holds all history of individuals, of families, of society, of nations, and peculiarly of the Church, to this law. I say its very important that we should understand the divine meaning attaching to travail. What did God mean man to learn by it? …
Every divine deposit, every divine deposit is on that basis, dear friends. Sooner or later, every divine deposit will take on this value. Anything that comes from God will sooner or later pass into the realm of suffering, into the realm of travail, to find out how much value we put upon it, how much it really means to us, how much we have seen of God in it. It will become a matter of life or death. Under this law all divine things have been put upon this basis.IV
Are you even now in the pain of the struggle? Do you wonder where your joy has gone?
Perhaps you have not lost your joy . . .
Perhaps you are just in the process of that joy coming into fullness!
*To learn more about walking and living in the Spirit go to Midway Ministries
Photo: dried tears by akshay moon
[i] Romans 14:17
[ii] John 15:11
[iii] John 15:1,2,5
[iv] Excerpts from the article: Joy Out of Travail, T. Austin-Sparks on-line library