May 18, 2007

Hello my friends,

I am currently in the city of Recife. We are here for 18 days, and are enjoying the fresh rain of God.
Recife is a city of over 1.5 million, and is located on the coast in the farthest eastern region of Brazil. The city is one of the oldest, and its history is rooted in war. In the 1500's the region was fought over in armed conflict between the Dutch, and the Portuguese along with their Indian and Black allies. The Dutch were driven from the land, and the Portuguese became the predominant land owners.
Recife is still at war with occupying powers. The war in no longer on the beaches and swamps, it is in the heaven-lies, and on the streets every day, and every night. The war is no longer between the
natural forces of men, but against the powers of darkness that have claimed this land since the fall of man.

Jesus is the real power in the heavens, and it is He that sits on the real throne. His people here in Recife are wonderful and sweet. There are the prayer ministries, the street ministries and the regular churches that fight in this realm. There is also the regular presence of the dead and traditional churches that are more at war with spiritual progress than anything else. Babylon is very much alive here my friends and it is found in the religious setting of much that happens here. It is also found in abundance just by walking the beautiful beaches two blocks from my hotel. Although I am in one of the best places in the city, prostitutes line the main street outside my hotel, and crowd up on the corners. The city is a party place, and a place given over to the spirit of the world. The chief spirit of
Recife seems to be greed. It is the root of their culture since they repelled the Dutch so many years ago. Spirits of control and lust follow after the greed.

The church here has its work cut out for it. The churches we have been in so far are good people.
They are hungry and thirsty for a deeper time, and for a good battle plan. One thing they all have in common is the need for a deeper and more tangible relationship with the King who sits on the throne of Heaven. That is where the rest of spirit, and the strength for the long victory are found.
When the rain falls from heaven and the river of God begins to flow, anything it touches is healed
and strengthened. Ezekiel said that anywhere the river goes, it heals. In the first church we
ministered to, the impact of the outpouring set free many saints who are already busy in their Fathers Kingdom. It is amazing to me that so many who take the Scripture literally, and war with all their hearts, are so dry and so thirsty. They are winning souls, studying their bibles, ministering to the prostitutes and sinners all around them. Some of them have given their entire lives over to Kingdom excellence, yet are so overcome by revival and the presence of God that when He comes, they just fall over and weep...or laugh...or just pass totally out. In the simple message of revival, the altars literally fill up with repentant souls. Sometimes there are only a few left in the pews. Lately the altars have been full of the pastors and leadership. What a healthy sign of good things to come!

One Pastor told me that she did not know how she got so sad. This is a true saint and powerful
intercessor. She had become overwhelmed by the constant burden she felt. What really happened is
that she embraced a spirit of heaviness, and it took her over. Her entire life became a burden, which she imagined she was caring for the Lord. That is not intercession, that is demon oppression. When the Lord touched her in the meeting, she heard something break, and the joy of God swept her away. You should have seen it! In less than a moment, the Lord freed what had taken the enemy years to bind. All it took was for someone to come and open the heavens with an anointing, and pass it on to her. What she heard was the sound of her chains breaking. That is our life my friends. We are sent to open the heavens, and empower the hungry and thirsty, free the ones bound by religion and oppressed by devils. The entire church here has been impacted with life giving rain from God. That is what the Lord sent us here to do, and that is what our lives have been dedicated to. We are committed to the Kingdom of Heaven. We are committed to our calling and anointing. We are committed to life, and to the tearing down of strongholds. We have declared war on poverty and the life that accompanies it. We are committed to the revival outpouring, and to the reformation that surely follows it.

How about you?

Every day someone tells me why they can't do the will of God, or give into the
Kingdom, or keep their victory. Every day. I simply do not have patience for this kind of ignorance and unbelief any more. If we all took that position, nothing would ever be accomplished. Victorious life in the Spirit is not easy, and it is not supposed to be. It takes a fiery offering, and a life of dedication and sacrifice. It takes a real relationship with Jesus! Only He can show you the treasures hidden in the field, and the value of selling all to possess it.

Candi and I are happy, healthy and doing well. We are passed the simple offerings that most of us
are willing to give, and have become the drink offering itself. Jesus has kindly included us in His plan for this nation, and we are totally given to it. Pray for us! We need a stronger partner base, an increase of dedicated intercessors, and the wisdom to know where to go in this vast and wonderful
nation. We are filled with invitations, and could easily plan our next year or two head. That is not the counsel of God. We need to know where to invest ourselves accurately, and with the most impact. I need the partners in finance and prayer that will be willing to take responsibility with us in these issues. Nothing I have seen in my lifetime can compare to these days.

Thanks to our partners who have accepted the calling to financial investment with us. I have not been more aware of the need for faithful partners than I am right now. Thanks to the intercessors that open the heavens over our heads and keep the vultures away. As you know from our prayer partner updates, you have put us over time and time again. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.

Stay in the River of God my friends,
Jeff Martin