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BENDING WITH THE WIND

Sandra Bontemps

In the coming New Year
May God’s Grace cover you.
May His Presence watch over you.
May His Love abound toward you.
Moment by moment.
Step by step.
Day by day.

“For I know the thoughts I think toward you,”
Says the Lord,
Thoughts of peace, and not of evil,
To give you a future and a hope.
Then you will call upon Me
And go and pray to Me,
And I will listen to you.
And you will seek Me and find Me,
When you search for Me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:11-13

“I will give you a new heart
And put a new spirit in you.
I will put My Spirit in you.”
Ezekiel 36:26-27

For several months now Holy Spirit has continued to gently speak, nudge, and inspire me to write this message. When I was in my early twenties, and my son, two years old, his father took a position with Agency For International Development (A.I.D.) with the State Department.

From New Orleans, Louisiana, we traveled to Washington, D.C. for a few months of orientation before our life-changing journey overseas. To help prepare many of us, as wives of these government officials with the State Department, Embassy and Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs, we were given encouragement with a course I will never ever forget, called, “Bending With The Wind.”

As we were being understandably carefully prepared to leave our beloved homeland, America, and travel to live in a new country across the ocean, I remember that we were greatly encouraged to be flexible and resilient, strong and courageous. We were told that many suffer ‘cultural shock’, especially on first arrival in a foreign land.

My husband had volunteered to go to Viet Nam and our son and I were going to live in Taipei, Taiwan, so his father could visit often. So not only was I preparing to leave my home, my family and my country, but also I would be ‘on my own,’ alone for two years, to raise and nurture my son. Needless to say, I certainly needed all the help and support I could get to prepare for this new challenging journey, that my Mother had greatly encouraged me to take.

I ‘grew up overseas.’ Looking back I am so thankful for these “windows of the world” God opened for me to embrace and see with a different heart and eyes. Not only did the experience change me, but most importantly God changed me. He changed my narrow, somewhat bigoted perspective on life, as He expanded attitudes, worldviews, and my boundaries with new horizons.

And He did something else! Because you see, I had never thought of myself as strong or courageous. He helped me to become a strong, independent young woman, in all the ways that He wants us women to be. And He also showed me time after time, moment by moment, day after day, every step of the way, how much I needed to depend upon HIM! That I could do nothing without HIM! My strength was IN HIM.

I truly learned the meaning of “The joy of the Lord is my strength.” Nehemiah 8:10

So many times, as in the natural the tropical typhoon winds blew in the South Pacific, God supernaturally protected all of us 150 women who lived alone with our children, on a very high beautiful mountain, covered with thousands of white poinsettias, called Wellington Heights, outside of the city of Taipei, and overlooking the luscious green valley below.

After one such storm we were without electricity and telephones for over a week. And I do not remember one single father being home for R&R. So all of us mothers were alone. The entire valley below was flooded, so we could not get off the mountain. And in these perilous times of learning to “bend with the wind,” in the natural, we were always prepared with emergency kits of supplies, food and water, enough to last for weeks.

Although ‘alone’, with our children, in our beautiful large Spanish style white stucco homes, all alike, with the bright red tiled roofs, we never felt alone. Because we women bonded, becoming so close, and all were very supportive, encouraging and helped to look after one another.

I remember so vividly as though it were yesterday, more than a week after the one of the worst typhoons ever to hit the small island of Taiwan, my son and I were walking up the road on the first bright sunshiny day, to a close friends home, so excited. We were taking a few jars of Peter Pan peanut butter, to exchange for cans of Sunkist tuna fish. And I smiled as I met many other mothers with their laughing children, running all up and down the street, exchanging other food items.

You certainly learn at times like these, to appreciate the ‘little things’. You learn a lot about yourself. And we were also learning while living on this beautiful, exotic jade green island, thousands of miles across the ocean from America, to greatly appreciate many things that we Americans so take for granted.

What life lessons! And through it all God showed me how to ‘Bend With the Wind of His Holy Spirit.’ Looking back in retrospect, I see what the LORD was doing, although I didn’t fully understand it all then. How lovingly He prepares us. He calls us. And prepares us for years and years to walk into our divine destines with Him.

It was to be many years later, in fact, only about nine years ago, that I received Baptism of God’s Holy Spirit. And that began an amazing journey into learning MORE about the supernatural power and authority of God’s Holy Spirit. And what a journey it has been, as God continues to teach me MORE on “Bending With The Wind of His Holy Spirit!”

It is amazing to me each and every time, how when God’s Holy Spirit reveals something to us, whether through dreams, visions, His still small voice, or through other people, and in many other different ways, as we pray into it, seeking God with all our hearts, souls and minds, and go to His Holy Word, how He will reveal deeper meaning. Although I do not know why it simply amazes me each time. Because His Word says, in Matthew 5:6 “Seek Me first and My kingdom righteousness, and all these things will be added unto you.” But each time I am completely overcome with gratitude for God’s love and how He chooses to so patiently and lovingly reveal MORE of Himself to me!

Time after time when He places something on my heart, or when He gives me what my sweet supportive husband calls, “God’s Headlines,” or dreams and visions, within a very short time, as I began to press in and seek God, and ask Him for more meaning - I will read something on The Elijah List, from one of the renown, very anointed prophetic men and women of God. Or I will receive further confirmation in a message from my pastor, or my prayer and ministry partners or other ways.

So I smiled last week, when I read Chuck Pierces’ prophetic call to our Nation for 2009, “CHANGING WINDS” and “PULL UP ANCHOR AND CATCH THE WIND FOR NEW BOUNDARIES.” (For more messages from Dr. Chuck Pierce, president of Glory Of Zion International Ministries and vice president of Global Harvest Ministries, go to www.glory-of-zion.org)

I am personally so grateful for Dr. Pierce’s messages and books that have inspired and encouraged me so much. I agree with Dr. Mark J. Chironna, who said, “ He is one of the most significant prophetic voices to our nation in this hour. He is a powerful servant of the LORD, who is used mightily to pull down strongholds and gain places of intercession for the glory of God.” And Paul Keith Davis said, “Chuck Pierce has emerged as a credible voice to this generation with strategic insight. His book, Prayers That Outwit The Enemy provides prayer secrets that will unleash the power of God to accomplish the heavenly mandates dawning in this hour. Life in the Spirit is a journey of intimacy, prayer and Christ like character.”

On my journey these past years, I am so thankful to God, for leading me to the renown prophetic anointed men and women who have inspired and taught me so much about how to ‘Catch the Wind of God’s Holy Spirit’ and “Bending With the Wind!” I wish to personally thank, Dr. Pierce and many others, including Paul Keith Davis, John Paul Jackson, Rebecca Wagner Systema, Patricia King, Bob Jones, Ryan Wyatt, Jill Austin, Cindy Jacobs, Jim and Michael Ann Goll, Dutch Sheets, C. Peter Wagner, John Bevere, Mark Chironna, Matt Sorger, John Eldridge, Graham Cooke, Joanne McFatter, Jeff Jansen, Larry Randolph, Cal Pearce, Rodney Howard-Browne, Kathie Walters, and Ann Platz, who have taught me so much. And I encourage each of you women all over the world reading this, if you have not done so, visit their websites, and invest in their books.

And I want to personally thank my Pastor Dr. Ron Phillips and his wife Pastor Paulette, who for many years, have so greatly influenced and touched my life and walk with God. They were my first pastors when I returned to the States with my children many years ago. They too have written some powerful books and preach the Good News Gospel, God’s holy Word, and the empowerment of God’s Holy Spirit, reaching out to bring people to the LORD all over the world, encouraging them to “Catch the Wave and Fire of God’s Holy Spirit,” with their books and television ministry.

The following is part of Dr. Pierce’s powerful message I read just last week, “Pull Up Anchor and Catch the Wind for New Boundaries,” and “Changing Winds”. I do not think he will mind me quoting him.

“This is a time that I will kindle a fire again, stir the embers, and return the flame of My People. I will have a people who burn again. This will be a season like none other you have known. This will be a season of resetting new boundaries. I AM coming into your life and sphere to set your boundaries in new ways. I will be reordering the way you have walked. Your finances will have new boundaries. Your vision will have new boundaries and many will be positioned in new territories.

The way you love and express My love will have new boundaries - Your passions must have new boundaries. This will cause you to burn again. I must have a fire in My people this hour!

Do not resist new boundaries. Your passions must have new boundaries! I must gather the embers, because this last season you have been scattered in many areas. I must gather the embers so I can blow them and create a new flame.

Do not resist the way I will have you doing your assignments this season. I AM the FIRE. So give me liberty to BURN! I will release the WIND that will blow on the coals and embers that have lain dormant, smoldering within you.

The WIND will come gently to you, but by March it will be a torrent upon you. Have your feet planted. Whirlwinds will come by March. Refocus your vision! There will be a new roar of the Lion of Judah. The Lord said I am reordering your boundaries, for you have let down the sail in your old boundaries. This WIND will catch you and take your further than you ever thought you could go, into places you have never ever dreamed possible.

Get into My purpose as I move My people forward. Get up and get in new boundaries no matter how small or even if they have to start over. I have new assignments! Flow to a new shore!

Because of My call, you will shine in new ways. The times have changed. Change with Me. Those who line up, those who bow down, those that come in will say, ‘I am getting new revelation. I am reforming the way I am doing things. I must let go of the system I have been part of and align with the system God is giving me. I will gain the revelation. I need and have ear to hear what Father is saying to me.’ ”

As I read this prophetic word from Dr. Chuck D. Pierce, I rejoiced in the LORD. And knew that I was to write “Bending With the Wind,” for ASPIRE’S New Years 2009 message.

Again this morning, on Dr. Pierce’s website I was completely overwhelmed when I read “Key Prophecy For Now ” by Raymond Banks, from Israel.

“This is a year that I must see who will BEND. Those nations that are re-aligning into a new kingship of the future, if they are unwilling to BEND THEIR KNEE BEFORE ME, I WILL BEND THOSE NATIONS. I am bringing in My ways of justice and judgment in a heavenly realm and waiting for My people to agree with Me and called down into the earth the tools that will BEND THE UNJUST.

BEND WITH ME! BEND WITH ME! The serpent that is bent, waiting to strike will be overcome by a submitted people who have drawn near and become My FIREBRAND in a day of the spirit of burning.”

God has told us that if His People will repent and come to Him He will heal our land. When I read what Chuck Pierce said, “The way you love and express My love will have new boundaries,” it reminded me of a powerful prophetic word I was given a few months ago.

God loves our passion and love for Him and for others. But Holy Spirit spoke powerfully into my life, and said, “Sandra, I love you. I love your passion, surrender, submission, willingness and obedience to serve Me. These are good motivations. But I AM teaching you new things. I AM calling you deeper! I AM changing you and your personal ministry. Sandra, I want you to minister from My Heart, My Passion and My Love!

There is a new FIRE and WIND blowing of My Holy Spirit! I AM calling My people to repent and bow on bended knee! Come into My Holy Presence with praise, worship and thanksgiving for what I have done and for what I AM GOING TO DO IN THIS NEW SEASON...

Catch My FIRE! All consuming flames. Catch My WIND. And, I AM going to give you new deeper meaning, wisdom and revelation to “BENDING WITH THE WIND OF MY HOLY SPIRIT!”

Talk about new meaning and boundaries of God’s LOVE for us!

Talk about ‘Seeing Jesus As He Really Is!” Talk about the supernatural resurrection power and authority of God’s Holy Spirit!

Jesus told us, “I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance; but he that cometh after me is mightier than I; he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire.” Matthew 3:11 He said, “With the Holy Ghost AND WITH FIRE!” Jesus did not leave His disciples nor us as believers alone to continue doing the work He did! . He sent God’s Holy Spirit, our comforter. Our guide. Our teacher. Our advocate. Our Intercessor. Our leader.

“But the Comforter is come,
Whom I will send unto you from the Father,
Even the Spirit of truth, which proceedeth from the Father,
He shall testify of me.”
John 15:26

“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come,
He will guide you into all truth.”
John 16:13

God promises to fill us with His Holy Spirit and the Fire of God! To guide us into ALL TRUTH! And Jesus our Divine Warrior is going before us!

When we seek God, and all that He is, and “CATCH THE WIND OF GOD’S HOLY SPIRIT,” and are filled with His Holy Spirit - and when we are filled with GOD’S FIRE, PASSION, AND LOVE burning within us anew then He wants us to become more sensitive to His Spirit. And “BEND WITH THE WIND OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT!” In this way we will be more sensitive to Holy Spirit’s prompting and leading.

God is forging us in His Fire, melting and molding us, after His Image. He wants to strip away anything not of Him, and create a NEW FLAME.

And in preparing for the strong whirlwinds that Chuck Pierce prophesied for March, 2009, we must allow God to BURN away all the things that would block our hearts from God’s Spirit of Grace. We so underestimate the supernatural power of God’s Holy Spirit! Jesus said we needed the power of the Holy Spirit to empower, equip, and enable us. God wants to give us His Holy Spirit Grace and anointing.

I was taught in my young years that the gift of God’s Holy Spirit passed away, because it was only for that time. But God’s Word says, “The promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.” And God is still calling His People now! He is the ALPHA and OMEGA, the Beginning and the End, the same yesterday, today and forever.

For many years, because I did not understand the truth of these scriptures of God’s promises, I tried to serve God, teach, mentor, minister, and to live a godly, holy life, in my carnal flesh. When we are filled with the Holy Spirit, and ‘BEND WITH THE WIND OF HOLY SPIRIT,’ we will not yield to sin and temptation as we used to do. The power of God’s Holy Spirit indwells us, rises up within us with FIRE, and then flows out of our innermost being like a mighty rushing river.

And through these past years, as I have spent more intimate time in a closer relationship with Jesus, seeking Him first, spending more time reading and meditating on God’s Word, and in prayer in the secret place, the more I find God’s Holy Spirit rising up within me.

God delivered me from fear. And we know that fear is the opposite of faith. When we are filled with God’s Holy Spirit, and pray to be led by His Spirit, we are empowered and equipped to follow Jesus and His example. And we take on the character and nature of Jesus.

When we know God in this way, we can do great exploits in His name, for His glory and honor. Jesus came so we might have life more abundantly. (John 10:10) If you are depressed, brokenhearted, oppressed and bound, you do not have to be any longer!

Jesus came and gave His sacred lifeblood on the Cross of Calvary, so you can live and walk in great victory. Oh how we all need new revelation to know Jesus MORE. In His Holy Presence there is such peace, joy, comfort, refuge, source of strength, glory and grace.

As we go into this New Year, 2009 we need to PRAY AND PRESS INTO JESUS! And pray for the infilling and indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit. We need to REST IN THE LORD, SO HE CAN REST UPON US! Then we may LEARN MORE HOW TO TRULY KNOW AND HEAR THE CLEAR CLARION VOICE OF GOD.

When we learn to “Bend With the Wind of God’s Holy Spirit,” we will become wiser, more insightful, discerning and sensitive to LISTEN AND TRULYHEAR GOD’S VOICE, so we will do only what He tells us to do, speak only what He tells us to speak, and go only where He tells us to go. Holy Spirit does and says to us only what God tells Him to, teaching us the truth of God’s ways. We can truly live and move and have our being IN HIM. BECAUSE OF HIM. BECAUSE HE LIVES! AND HE LIVES WITHIN US!

And precious women, let me tell you that God wants you to stop living in the past! God wants you to reach forward toward your divine future destiny IN HIM. He wants to do a new thing within you. He will give you new hope. New vision. No matter where you have been. No matter what you have done you can have FREEDOM IN CHRIST. HE WILL FORGIVE YOU AND SET YOU FREE. HE WANTS YOU TO CATCH THE WIND OF HIS HOLY SPIRIT SO HE CAN TAKE YOU TO NEW SHORES, INTO A SAFE HARBOR.

He promises that He will turn your life around! But it is up to you to press in, pray and seek Him with all your heart, soul and mind.

If you have not received Jesus Christ as your personal Lord and Savior,
pray this prayer.

"Father God, I come to You confessing the Jesus Christ is Your Son.
I want to accept Him into my life, as my Lord and Savior.
I ask You to forgive me of my past.

I repent and place my trust in You.
Thank You for sending Jesus to shed His precious sacred blood for me,
dying on the Cross of Calvary,
so that I might be forgiven of my sins.
Thank You for the supernatural resurrection power of Your Holy Spirit,
that raised Jesus from the dead.

I want to be filled with Your Holy Spirit.
So I may live and move and have my being in You.
Thank You Lord Jesus for saving me
and I accept by faith Your free gift of salvation.”

If you have prayed this prayer, you now are a beloved Child of God. Find a Bible believing based, Holy Spirit filled church to worship and be taught how to get to know Jesus MORE. Spend time with God, and read your Bible each day. Pray to Jesus. You know you can talk to Him about everything. Pray that God will bring strong believers around you, to mentor and encourage you in your daily walk with Him.

If you need to pray a prayer of new commitment to God.

Loving Father, God.
In this New Year, 2009,
I come to you, in great humility and repentance.
Forgive me for wandering away from You.
I surrender to you anew.
Refresh and fill me with Your Holy Spirit.
Restore me to my first love, Jesus.
Give me back the joy of my salvation.
Give me a new heart of love Father.
Open my spirit eyes, ears, heart and mind.
I know Father that the joy of the LORD is my strength.
(Nehemiah 8:10b)
Thank You Father as I press into Jesus,
You restore my joy.

I surrender my all to You.
Teach me Lord to pray with more power and authority,
so I will have a more effective, stronger prayer life,
making Your Word my first line of defense.
I offer prayers of complete submission and faith to You, O LORD.
I will STAND and put on Your full armor
and pray with greater faith, without ceasing.
(Ephesians 6)

Fill me with Your passion, love, grace and mercy,
so I may serve You more effectively with new found faith
and draw all men to You.
In total submission and reverence I cry out to You Father
on bended knee!
I seek Your Holy Presence.
Help me Father to
BEND WITH THE WIND OF YOUR HOLY SPIRIT,
so I may obey your perfect will and purpose for my life.
Let Your thoughts be my thoughts and Your ways, my ways.
Your Word says that I am more than a conqueror through Jesus Christ.
I pray that You will release
YOUR BURNING ALL CONSUMING FIRE WITHIN ME.
I thank You LORD for this new life in Your Spirit,
and the new journey in intimacy WITH YOU,
as “I live and move and have my being IN YOU.”
Acts 17:28

Bend - Definition from Dictionary- “To turn or incline in a particular direction. To direct one’s energies. To incline mentally, bending one’s thoughts. To bend a crooked thing straight. To divert, deviate, turn, steer, persuade, mold, change, influence. To bow in submission or reverence.

Unity Through Humility

“Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ,
if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit,
if any affection and mercy,
fulfill my joy by being like-minded,
having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind.
Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit,
but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself.
Let each of you look out not only for his own interests,
but also for the interests of others.”
Philippians 2:1-3

The Humbled and Exalted Christ

“Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus,
who being in the form of God,
did not consider it robbery to be equal with God,
but made Himself of no reputation,
taking the form of bond servant,
and coming in the likeness of men.
And being found in appearance as a man,
He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the cross.
Therefore God also has highly exalted Him
and given Him the name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,
of those in heaven, and of those on earth,
and of those under the earth,
and that every tongue should confess
that Jesus Christ is Lord,
to the glory of God the Father.”
Philippians 2:5-7

Our confession of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior invites and receives His Presence and Power. As we declare and confess Jesus, His Lordship in faith ~His rule enters every setting, boundary, situation and circumstance today!

And when we thank God throughout all circumstances, this releases the supernatural power of His Holy Spirit to work on our behalf to accomplish God’s will and purpose. God’s Word will not return void.

Declare His LIVING WORD out loud over any area in your life where you need healing spiritually, emotionally or physically.

“Behold He is coming with clouds,
and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.
And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him.
Even so. Amen.
‘I AM the Alpha and the Omega, ,
the Beginning and the End.’
says the Lord,
‘who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.’
Revelation 1:7-8