What is Quickening

Jesus said that it is the Spirit that quickens and the flesh profits nothing: the words that He speaks to us are spirit and life.  John 6:63

The word “Quicken” is an obscure Biblical word, but without its power, our relationship with Him is limited to a dead language.  The literal Greek meaning of the word quicken is to “make alive, give life or vitality.”  (Strongs #2227) To be made alive or given life is very personal and applicable!  When you are given life you know it!

THE EXPERIENCE OF GOD’S QUICKENED WORDS  HAS TO BE PERSONAL

I remember hearing a story about a woman who brought her shy, unbelieving husband to church. He quietly listened to the entire sermon. Many things he heard related to his personal life (were quickened). Later, when confronting his wife, he said how embarrassed he was that she had told the pastor all about his personal problems. She was astonished because she hadn’t said anything.

Quickening happens when you hear a story, etc. and all of a sudden it connects with your personal life. His quickening power says, “Listen to this, I’m talking to you!”

His quickened Words are like a puzzle piece that perfectly fits the shape of your life — You could have a need, or be in a set of circumstances, or whatever, and when the Lord quickens something it becomes applicable, it has a niche — a place to fit.

Sometimes a puzzle piece will appear to have the right shape and size but when you apply it, it is not a perfect fit.  Quickening is not what appears to fit.  Quickening is a realization that it DOES fit.  When it fits, your heart knows it.
We can go through life reading words and looking at signs, but it isnt until they are personal that they give us life.  The words are just flat letters on paper until they are quickened and we finally realize they apply to us. It is the Holy Spirit’s quickening power that makes His Words come alive to us and apply to us personally.

When God speaks to us, He can use anything in life to speak!  The easiest way we know it is Him is if it is quickened with life and fits the exact need at that time.  The following are some examples of God quickening something with life.

EXAMPLES OF A “QUICKENED” WORD

4/29/97  QUICKENED TIMING

Today I heard the Lord say,  “Bucket.  Rich.  See for yourself.”  I had been complaining because I wanted to hear the Word of the Lord and He was telling me I was rich with His Word.

Later that day Wayne and I were walking at the mall.  I was very tired at the end of our walk so I planted myself in front of the Radio Shack bench as Wayne continued walking.  I was sitting next to a children’s toy train.  I said to the Lord, “Maybe You have a Word for me while I sit here.”  Then I glanced at the TV screen that was playing a Radio Shack ad.  I watched for quite a while and saw nothing quickened at all.

Then all of a sudden there was a rope dangling near the top of a lady’s head on the screen.  She looked up, and pulled the rope.  At the EXACT second she pulled it, the children’s train next to my bench blew a LOUD whistle.  At the EXACT second that the whistle stopped, she finished tugging the rope and a bucket full of gold coins from the sky fell on top of her head!!!!

Well I guess I got my “quickened” Word for the day!!!

Ps 68:19 NKJV

Blessed be the Lord, Who daily loads us with benefits, The God of our salvation!

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11/09/00  QUICKENED EXPERIENCE

We have been in a season where the Lord has been talking about opinions, judging and criticizing.  He said we need to be discerning and pray over our opinions before speaking them.

Today, the huge box of individual labels fell out all over the floor. I was shocked at the parable concerning the Lord dealing with opinions, which are labels we place upon ourselves and others. He is turning our mindsets and opinions upside down!  I got the point!

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6/12/05  REPLENISHING THE BARREL

QUICKENED PARABLE:  I took a month off writing and now it is time to play catch up on my rhema.  I have been fussing that I needed my storehouse filled again praying about it for a week.

Yesterday I drove to graduation and I fussed whether I had enough gas.  We made it fine.  Now I am on my way out to church and don’t have time to get gas.  I prayed that the Lord would remind me to get it on the way home, and it suddenly hit me that I was fussing over the same idea with my rhema.  My fuel tank was low and I needed re-fueling!

WORD TO PONDER:  PROVISION WHEN YOU NEED IT  6/12/05

I AM more than aware of the timing of your needs, precious one.  I see you spend out of your resources; spiritually, physically, financially, emotionally and all ways.  I hear your cries that your well is getting low.  I hear you, your heart and your needs.  I AM dispatching what you need and you shall have what you need, when you need it.

Sometimes you need to prepare and do your part.  And sometimes you need to be in the right place at the right time in order to receive.  In those times, ask Me for help to prepare and move.  There is nothing in this life I intend for you to do on your own, but instead go forth as My beloved partner and wife in our kingdom business.  I rejoice over you, My love!  I love to put My arm around your learning heart and draw you in to snuggle close to My side.

2 Chron 26:5 NKJV

He sought God in the days of Zechariah, who had understanding in the visions of God; and as long as he sought the LORD, God made him prosper.

1 Kings 17:8-14 NLT

Then the LORD said to Elijah,  “Go and live in the village of Zarephath, near the city of Sidon. There is a widow there who will feed you. I have given her my instructions.” So he went to Zarephath. As he arrived at the gates of the village, he saw a widow gathering sticks, and he asked her, “Would you please bring me a cup of water?” As she was going to get it, he called to her, “Bring me a bite of bread, too.”  But she said, “I swear by the LORD your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die.”   But Elijah said to her, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and cook that ‘last meal,’ but bake me a little loaf of bread first. Afterward there will still be enough food for you and your son.  For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: There will always be plenty of flour and oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!”

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10/02/07  QUICKENED WORD:  MIDDLE AGE

I am overcoming what I guess is mid age crisis, although I am not sure what that really is.  For me it means looking forward to living in an uncooperative body.  It seems to have hit me all at once from many different angles and I have even wondered if I have finished my calling as a scribe.  He is reassuring me that is not so, He is not done with me yet.

Today a friend prayed for me and was impressed that an angel was taking a pen and started writing in the middle of the book.  That was very applicable where I knew the middle of the book represented my facing middle life and I have only written half the book!

Quickened PARABLE:  When I typed the above, in highlighting “Word from friend” to make it CAPS, I accidentally pushed justify.  As it strrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeetched across the page, 2 things came to me.  It is strongly quickened to me that the Lord has given me a visual parable that I have not completed my second half yet.  Secondly, He is wanting me to stretch forward to the second half of my life and not stay stuck in the same place I am today, but strive to make my life better in places where I can make better choices.  What I plant today becomes a harvest tomorrow.  The kinds of seeds are my choice.

WORD TO PONDER:  MID AGE CRISIS?  GUESS AGAIN  10/02/07

Yes I see those gray hairs sprouting.  And yes I see those joints stiffen.  But that does not mean I AM done with you.  Loved one, I AM taking those with gray hair and removing them OFF the shelf and into service.  So why would I put you on the shelf?  Stretch past your mindsets that gravity is taking your life downhill.  Stretch your smile muscles UP as you remember that – on purpose, I saved the best wine til last!

John 2:10 NKJV

And he said to him, “Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine , and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!”

QUICKENED MAGNETIC SIGN ON CHURCH:  “When all else fails…DON’T QUIT. Remember Moses. He was once a basket case too. :)”

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11/05/03  A BOUNCE IN YOUR STEP

DREAM VISION:  I was pushing down my recorder button.  I said, “When it springs back, as you push down, it’s like putting a bounce in your step.  (Then I could feel the button under my foot springing me up for a lighter walk).  That’s how you can tell whether it’s the Lord.”  

WORD TO PONDER:  MY QUICKENED WORDS  11/05/03

The Words that I speak are alive.  They give life.  Sometimes you question if what you hear is My Word for your life.  If I were to hook you to a jumper cable and charge you back to life, does it charge someone else?  No, it is meant for your life. Does the battery question the Source of the charge?  No, it simply detects life and energy and receives it.  My Word connects with your heart and charges you with belief.  My Words put a bounce in your walk of faith, by giving you a momentary lift off for the next step.

John 6:63 NKJV 

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.

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OBEDIENCE SCHOOL 12/01/03

QUICKENED PARABLE: While on my prayer walk today I saw a doggie being trained by his master in the school field. He was being told to walk, sit, stay, lay. Then he threw a ball way out in the field. The dog saw him do this and remained in a ready position. When the master told him to go, the dog ran as fast as he could to go retrieve it.

This is what He is doing with me right now. He gives me the Word, and then I wait for the right timing and how to deliver the Word.

It is very hard to be in a place where you are submitted to the Holy Spirit, tender and meek and willing, but at the same time not yielded to men wanting to push you into their agenda for timing.

Numbers 16:28 NKJV
And Moses said: “By this you shall know that the LORD has sent me to do all these works, for I have not done them of my own will.”

John 5:19-20 NKJV
Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner.

WORD TO PONDER:  OBEDIENCE FOR YOUR SAFETY  12/01/03

You have come a long way in your journey of maturing in Me.  How proud of you I AM, beloved.  Your heart has become tender and willing.  It is vital that you follow your conscience and stay in obedience.  Do not harden your heart towards My voice. This will safe guard you from falling out of the nest.

It is much easier to be self disciplined than to be God disciplined and also the enemy is wanting any access you will unwittingly give him. I will discipline and do what is necessary to get your attention for your protection.  Stay light on your feet by being flexible and willing to follow My voice.  When in doubt, always obey.

Heb 12:7-9 TLB

As you endure this divine discipline, remember that God is treating you as his own children. Whoever heard of a child who was never disciplined? If God doesn’t discipline you as he does all of his children, it means that you are illegitimate and are not really his children after all. Since we respect our earthly fathers who disciplined us, should we not all the more cheerfully submit to the discipline of our heavenly Father and live forever?