Ascending to the Council Made Simple

by | April 2, 2023 | Blog, Courts & Council

 

Ascending to the Council Made Simple

If Father was inviting believers to occupy their seats in heaven as sons, would you want to be at that banquet? Would you really tell the Lord, “I think I’ll pass, thanks anyway?” Ascending & Experiencing the 7 Spirits in Father’s Council has made a huge difference in my prayer life – conversations with Father, et. al.

The cosmic storyline you’re being invited into has this Biblical progression of God’s Kingdom:

  1. The original sons in God’s Council who fell (Gen 6:2)
  2. Those fallen sons still govern; why the nations rage (Deut 32:8-9, Ps 2:1, Acts 4:25)
  3. They are being replaced by us/Sons (Rom 8:19)
  4. In the Council/Ecclesia (Heb 2:10-12)
  5. So, sons can bring Heaven to Earth; Reformation to the Nations (Mt 28:19)
    The 10-minute summary video explanation of these 5 points is here, https://youtu.be/W3rcNQcDhdA

Where do I start? Here is a list of additional resources I recommend:

God is repopulating His Council with Sons who use Jacob’s ladder (Jesus the bridge, Jn 1:51) to ascend to heaven so they/we can bring Heaven to Earth (Reformation to Nations)… the real definition of Ecclesia is sons and daughters who are in the Council; returning with Purpose for the 7 mountains; Working with people who share Kingdom purpose.

Ps 84:7 – They (sons of God) go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion. NASU

Rom 8:29-30 – For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those he predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified.

Heb 2:10-12 – In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. 11 Both the one who makes men holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers. 12 He says, “I will declare your name to my brothers; in the presence of the congregation I will sing your praises.” NIV

Rev 4:5 – Before the throne, seven lamps were blazing. These are the seven spirits of God. NIV

Rev 5:6-7 – Then I saw a Lamb …He had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. NIV

More questions? – Why would business leaders want to go to the Council?
1) It provides a format to revolutionize your prayer life, and
2) the Courts of Heaven is a big part of setting captives free, and
3) leadership itself has a priestly function in Business that blesses people.

 

Q&A about the Courts and Council

#1. Are there any prerequisite spiritual conditions, experiences, or beliefs?
A – Salvation, Baptism in Holy Spirit; some background in prophetic discernment helps, but His people hearing His voice is the real principle at work.

#2. Do I need a mentor, or can I start by myself?
A – Beverley Watkins accidentally mentored me. She did a court session for me during a stressful period of my life. Then, I got her to help people from my circle on Skype calls. After about the 3rd person she asked me what I was seeing. “Nothing.” After about 10 people I started to connect and share what I was getting/seeing. After Court sessions for about 20 of my friends over two years, Beverley quit, and I had to do it myself. It worked great to my surprise. Mentoring does help if you have that option. If not, trust the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth and go for it (some of our resources will help). BTW, no mentors were available for the council. I chatted with Beverley about it, and she was supportive, but it was learn-as-you-go. I did have live council sessions via the Seers and Doers zoom course for a couple of years to help others. Seers and Doers on Amazon was the textbook. We’ve since written Intentional Reformation to put it in the business Context.
Our goal is the mentor the CEO in a business and a few of their leadership team, such that they can instill Courts and Council themselves and build their own Kingdom Business Culture.

#3. What preparations should I make?
A – Realize heaven is thrilled to have you and Father loves to share his heart with sons who seek Him. Come to the council prepared to be part of, even start, the conversation. Come with questions and some awareness of what is already in your book. Your role in doing what Father is doing and sharing his purpose is the overarching theme (Reformation). You will bring back “purpose.”

#4. What should I expect to hear/see?
A – Create an opportunity for Father, Son, Holy Spirit – 7 Spirits to speak. Be willing to listen until you hear or see; Have faith for it, an expectation that Father wants to show you His business.

#5. Is it more valuable to ascend to the council alone or with others?
A – It can be either devotional or as a team. I think the primary application is personal. However, learning in the presence of a mentor or group, or gaining the balance of a team of 2 or 3 peers can be good. Allow Father to lead you to different places in different seasons.

#6. How do I deal with the thoughts that going on behalf of my business is selfish?
A – Father wants to make your name great (Gen 12:2). He is equally interested in blessing your business in regard to its role in the Kingdom. Concern yourself with putting the Kingdom first, and Father will put you first.

#7. How do I know that what I hear in my heart Is not my imagination?
A – I take notes during the session and type them up when I’m done (1-2 hours). Seeing it in writing is a great opportunity for discernment. You can also share it with others and see if it resonates. It’s no different from discerning anything prophetic on the fly.
A2 – Learning to discern, yet not rely on intellectualism, is a huge bridge in this prophetic realm. We are coming out of our heads/minds and experiencing the prophetic ring that comes through our spirit. Intellectualism is one of the big religious strongholds we have to defeat.

#8. Where can I go or what can I view to see this in action?
A – We see sonship, Courts, and Council as kingdom key Father has given us to bring heaven to earth in practical areas like business. We are not trying to sound spiritual or serve as tour guides to heaven. This is the lunch bucket version that works on earth in the 7 mountains. We want the Kingdom fruit on earth to show itself in business.
A2 – We have been working with Tobe Finch (Happy Day Restaurants). David Harris interviewed Tobe about coaching with John and made the following short clips. You’ll find them helpful and insightful.

#9. Do you have any case studies from other businesses?
A – No, But Tobe does have 13 restaurants, a catering business, and 550 employees. We’re planning on expanding this theme of coaching people into Kingdom Business Culture in thousands of businesses. Want to help?

#10. What common mistakes can I avoid?
A – When in the council with others, it’s a challenge for people not to turn it into a Home Group where everyone is invited to speak. The goal is to say what Father is saying and hear from Him, not one another. People naturally want to contribute opinions, verses, and exhortations… none of which are appropriate in the Council.

#11. What are some practical follow-up steps/how should I treat Council information?
A – I try to journal it, then type it up and save it. That process helps me discern it and implement it in my own life. It’s also a prophetic format that can be shared with others when appropriate. Since it’s devotional (My communication with Father). I’m not trying to publish it.

You are invited to add more questions in the comments.

 

Cutting Room Floor (Verses on Ascension)

“Ascending” and “Mountains” are often code for the Council.

  • Ps 24:3 – Who may ascend the hill of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place?  NIV
  • Ps 43:3 – Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell.  NIV
  • Ps 84:5 – They go from strength to strength, Every one of them appears before God in Zion. NASU
  • Ps 132:13 – For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling: 14 “This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it NIV
  • Jer 31:5 – ‘Come, let us go up to Zion, to the Lord our God.’” NIV
  • Matt 3:16 – As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened NIV
  • Matt 5:1 – Now when he saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. NIV
  • Matt 14:23 – After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. NIV
  • Matt 15:29 – Jesus left there and went along the Sea of Galilee. Then he went up on a mountainside and sat down. NIV
  • Matt 16:18 – on this rock (Mt Hermon) I will build my church ESV
  • John 1:51 – Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man, the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.” NLT
  • John 20:17 – Jesus said, “Do not hold on to me, for I have not yet returned to the Father. Go instead to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am returning to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” NIV
  • Acts 10:9 – About noon the following day as they were on their journey and approaching the city, Peter went up on the roof to pray. NIV
  • Heb 12:22 – But you have come to Mount Zion, to the heavenly Jerusalem, the city of the living God. You have come to thousands upon thousands of angels in joyful assembly, 23 to the church of the firstborn, whose names are written in heaven. You have come to God, the judge of all men, to the spirits of righteous men made perfect NIV
  • Rev 4:1 – After this I looked, and there before me was a door standing open in heaven. And the voice I had first heard speaking to me like a trumpet said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.” NIV

Rapture vs Ascension

1 Thess 4:17 isn’t about rapture after all!

1Thess 4:17 – Caught up together with Him in the air (is Ascension not Rapture)
Caught up (G726 Harpazo) to seize, prefer

  • Acts 8:39 – And when they were come up (G726) out of the water,
    the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip
  • 2Cor 12:2 – Caught up (G726) to the third heaven
  •               4 – Caught up (G726) into paradise
  • Jude 1:23 – Pulling (G276) them out of the fire
  • Jn 14:2 –In my Father’s house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you.
    I go to prepare a place for you.
    Jn 14:3  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,
    and receive you unto myself; that where I am,     there ye may be also.
  • Jn 14:6 – no one comes to the Father except me (context is ascending to Father)
  • Jn 1:51 – Then he said, “I tell you the truth, you will all see heaven open
    and the angels of God going up and down on the Son of Man,
    the one who is the stairway between heaven and earth.” NLT (ascending and descending KJV)
  • 1 Thess 5:10 – Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Lord, what are all the substitutes for hearing God in the Council, including the 7 Spirits?

#1.  A mosaic view of Biblical promises (hearing a Biblical proof text without hearing Father)
Pharisaic, forcing yourself to believe, have faith, measure up to others who claim it works.

#2.  Doing what is right in your own eyes

Ju 21:25 – in those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes
Ju 17:26 – Everyone did what was right in his own eyes
Pro 26:12 – Do you see a man who is wise in his own eyes?
There is more hope for a fool than for him.
Deut 12:8 – You shall not do according to all that we are doing here today,
everyone doing what is right in his own eyes

#3.  Trust in the Traditions of men

Mk 7:8 – You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men

#4.  Trusting doctrinal myths (Pet doctrines, teachings, and teachers that scratch our itch… rapture, etc.)

2 Tim 4:3 – Will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passion
and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths

#5.  Vain Philosophies (secular humanism, environmentalism)

Col 2:8 – See to it that now one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy,
which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ

#6.  Substitute Charismatic Crumbs for conversations (words, phrases, dreams, visions, other people’s prophecies)

#7.  Substituting devotionals, verses, guidelines, commentaries, lists of promises, decrees, etc…. instead of conversations in the Council… “collections of charismatic crumbs”

#8.  Substituting religion, prayer, “serving” someone else’s vision, faithfulness, doctrinaire, pedantic, sectarian, compliant, and busyness… instead of hearing Father yourself in the Council

#9.  Substituting prophetic ministry to others. Getting words (crumbs) for others and staying busy giving them without conversations in the Council about your role, book, and business.

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