Dear Pastor Greg,

 I just want to thank you for being so open and humble to the Holy Spirit, and for allowing us to take part in all the Spirit is doing in you, too! I just want to praise God, because after being on anti-depressants for 18 years on and off, and for the last 7 years non-stop, I can honestly say that I am healed of depression, and has been off the medication since September last year. I just claimed the healing for myself every time you prayed in church. I must confess that I did in the past try to just go off my medication, but after about three days I would be almost crippled by feelings of depression , hopelessness and tiredness.Well, after going forward for healing for about a year over this, I one day realized that I had been forgetting to take my pills for more that 3 days, and I felt fine! So, I decided to wean myself off the medication slowly, as I know you should, but I just felt so good, that after two weeks I was completely off the medication, and have been feeling fine ever since! This is a generational curse from my mother`s side, as all three my sisters are/ have suffered from it, ass well as my mom in a bad way.I praise God.It is so good to have normal emotions again.To be able to feel and cry when I want to, but not to feel hopeless and isolated all the time.Thank you for being sensitive to Holy Spirit.We are so blessed to be part of Skyway! This healing was just one in a row of awesome miracles the Lord is doing in our lives, past and future! Watch this space for even more still to come! 

Love in Him,

Suzanne

Valerie, 

Wow!  How exciting!  Of course, we would be so sad for you to move, but you would go with our blessing with God in it!  We would be so excited for you and the Kingdom! 

Here’s how my dream went: 

Charlie, me, you and Tom Swapp were with a group of other people.  I don’t know who the others were but we were all in ministry together.  We were on scooters – not the motorized kind – and we were going fast.  We had really gained momentum.  We were going up this high overpass, when at the top we realized that the road ended.  I thought, “Where were the road signs, where were the road blocks!”  Then I thought, “We’re going to die,” but God said, “No, you’re not going to die.”  Then we just kind of floated to the bottom and landed lightly on the ground.  When we landed, we all had bags of cash.  We were holding some of the bags and others were just sitting on the ground.  I looked at Charlie and said, “Will we have to report this to the IRS?”  He just looked at me as if to say, “Of course you would ask that.”  (I think God was telling me here that the money would come from unexpected places, not through an employer that would fill out a W2 or 1099 or something.  Of course, we will always obey the laws and claim income.  J)  I knew this money was for us to fulfill the desires of our hearts.  So, all of a sudden I was at this coffee shop and you handed me a cup of coffee.  It was so delicious.  It was black but it tasted sweet and with a flavor like a flavored creamer gives.  (Probably because that’s how I like it.)  I was also aware that it was a large cup and very full.  (Don’t know the significance of that.)  I also knew that this shop was yours and the cash had provided for it.  I don’t know what anyone else did with their money.  Then I walked into a classroom with other believers and they said, “We thought you died!”  I said, “I thought I died to, but I didn’t.  I’m here.  I’m alive.”  

For me, the interpretation is that when things look financially the worst they could possibly be don’t be afraid because God is going to bring His provision, not just to get by but enough to bless the

Kingdom of
God – nationally.  Charlie and I have been like the widow with the flour and oil.  God has supernaturally been paying our bills every month.  (We have two very large house payments.  We got caught in this housing down turn.)  Anyway, for us He was speaking to our situation.  But I believe the dream was for you, Tom and others.   

For you, I don’t believe God is speaking about the hospitality ministry at Skyway.  In my dream, it was a coffee shop and it represented a long time desire of your heart.  I say, “Keep this before the Lord and ask for His direction.”  I believe He will provide for this. 

I am so excited for you!

Pastor Loraine

hello Loraine I wanted to tell you what God has been doing in my life.  As you know I found out 3 weeks ago that I would be deploying to
Iraq.  I didn’t have much information on my mission at first, but I was excited to serve and to spread the

Kingdom of
God to other nations.  As time went on I discovered what my mission would be while in
Iraq, I would be building up the first ever hardend shelter Insurgent prision.  But I didn’t waiver in my Faith.  I knew God had chosen me for a reason and I was determined to complete the mission with God on my side.  I kept declaring a finishing faith, prayer for the iraqi nation, prayer for the soldiers, prayer for a new iraqi generation, prayer to take down their mindsets, and the muslim religion.  All the way up until last Thursday at 3pm, I had put the house up for sale, packed up my belongings, got my body armor, 6 different shots, my weapons, and I was headed over to
Iraq.  At 1500 my Commander stopped by my office and told me, “you are not going”.  The Joint Forces commander determined that I am far to young, inexperienced to fill that position.  I discovered that position was set for 3 ranks above me and required 12 years of service time ( I don’t even have 2 years of service).  I couldn’t believe it.  (I still cannot).  I never once asked God to take that mission from me.  I prayed always that He would strenghten me.  I still believe that I will be deployed at some point.  I have a huge heart for the mission, but I know that God will provide the right timing, mission, team, place.  He is a good God!  A God who can move that mountain!  A God who Saves! So as for now, I will be here June 29th, if you would still like me to speak.   Have a blessed week!Peace and Gracemegan

Pastor, this is Mike.

  I have to tell you what a service we had today.  I loved it so much.  The Lord was moving unbelievably.  I was hoping it would go on forever.  It felt so good to be in that atmosphere.  Me and Lisa are calling people and telling them they need to get to Skyway, people that we have not talked to in a long time.  I believe that today was a revival meeting not a regular Sunday service.  God was in charge today. I could feel his spirit moving through there like winds blow during a dust storm. It was wonderful, I have seen such a wonderful change in you.  It so great to see our pastor in the Glory of the Lord.  Have a great visit with Chuck Pierce.  Bless you and Dawn. 

- Mike 

Behold, I saw a great and shining eagle, enormous in size coming down from heaven and gliding just a few feet off the ground. One wing was wrapped around and holding every woman and child, the other was wing was stretched out and covered every nation and an uncountable multitude of men from every race, young, and old were riding upon it, some men were still climbing up on to the outstretched wing. Just before the Eagle was about to ascend I saw a man running behind with an outstretched arm reaching up. A man on the back of the wing reached down grabbed his hand, pulled him up onto the wing and said “The last shall be first” and they soared into heaven. Praise the Lord pastor Greg -

Brother Tim

Hello Pastor Greg,  Okay – with all of God’s miracles going on, I’m going to keep it pithy:

1)  Within 10 days of placing my application with the Avondale School District I received TWO job offers!

2)  We just paid off our 6-year jeep loan 

3)  We just made our final student loan payment (12 years following graduation) 

WOW!  God’s blessings are pouring out!  -Emily and Jordan

Hi Pastor Greg,
 
I wanted to share with you an awesome financial testimony to go along with your series.  I was laid off from my job in early March.  I actually have never been laid off before so it was a new experience.  Bob and Karen prayed for me up at the altar one Sunday, and there was a strong anointing.  I had to lock my knees together because I could barely stand in the Lord’s presence, and I didn’t want to fall without someone to catch me. 
 
I am an accountant and it was difficult to find work.  I sent my resumes off (probably 40+) over the next couple of weeks and heard nothing.  I signed up with three different temp agencies and nothing.  I remember them saying that they hoped that after Easter things would pick up because they were not getting any orders. 
 
In the meantime there was an ad in the West Valley View want ads for Macy’s Warehouse in Goodyear.  Something in the ad mentioned clerical, so out of desperation I decided to apply for it.  At first I couldn’t even find the place on any of the computer websites like Mapquest.  Macy’s website had a location that was in the middle of one of the Canyon Trails neighborhoods.  I decided to just drive around and see if I could find it.  I did find it off of Sarival and MC85.  I went up to the door to apply but they had a big sign outside stating “Employees Only” and so my thought was that I am not an employee so I can’t get in.  So I walked back to my car to leave.  As I was opening my car door I noticed a man walking up to the same door rather hesitantly and then he went in.  So I thought well if he went in I’ll be brave and do the same.
 
I went in and there was a bank of 15 computers in the lobby set up to apply for jobs at Macy’s.  So I applied but figured that it would be a dead end.  I got a call on Wednesday, April 2nd to schedule an interview.  I figured it would be an interview for an $8.00 clerical warehouse position, and wondered if I should just wear jeans to the interview.  I decided to dress my best and err on the side of being overdressed.  I interviewed on Thursday April 3rd with the Operating Vice President for a finance position, and was offered the job starting at $15.50/hr on Friday April 4th.  I took the drug test the same day.  I passed my drug test and background test.  I started on Monday the 14th.
 
I am so thankful because this job has more benefits than any job I have ever had.  They even have a retirement plan, in addition to a 401(k) plan.  Very few companies have that.  I am very thankful that it is in the

West
Valley and a short commute.  I am thankful that I was able to drive around and find it (the ad had no phone number).  I am thankful I got brave and walked through those doors.
 
We have been tithing ever since we became members last November and I believe God has blessed us because of that.  I also gave $10.00 which was pretty much all I had in my checkbook to the first fruits offering, with joy in my heart, not expecting anything in return. 
 
What you are speaking on is fresh and new and anointed.  God has really given you some amazing insights that have been in the Bible all along.  Thank you so much for speaking them to us!
 
Sincerely,
 
Alison
Judah Means “Praise”

1 Kings 17:8-14 (NASB77)
8 Then the word of the Lord came to him, saying,
9 “Arise, go to Zarephath, which belongs to Sidon, and stay there; behold, I have commanded a widow there to provide for you.”
10 So he arose and went to Zarephath, and when he came to the gate of the city, behold, a widow was there gathering sticks; and he called to her and said, “Please get me a little water in a jar, that I may drink.”
11 And as she was going to get it, he called to her and said, “Please bring me a piece of bread in your hand.”
12 But she said, ” As the Lord your God lives, I have no bread, only a handful of flour in the bowl and a little oil in the jar; and behold, I am gathering a few sticks that I may go in and prepare for me and my son, that we may eat it and die.”
13 Then Elijah said to her, “Do not fear; go, do as you have said, but make me a little bread cake from it first, and bring it out to me, and afterward you may make one for yourself and for your son.
14 “For thus says the Lord God of Israel, ‘The bowl of flour shall not be exhausted, nor shall the jar of oil be empty, until the day that the Lord sends rain on the face of the earth.’”

When Elijah the prophet declared that the judgment of God was going to bring a drought upon the nation he suffered the natural effects of the drought along with everyone else. This did not stop God from supernaturally providing for his servant and those who would care for him during this time of no rain. This should encourage everyone in the family of faith that God moves beyond the natural realms of economy. He is able to meet all of our needs in ways that are supernatural. He has created the principle of First Fruits for us to be able to see this happen in our lives. In this passage of scripture, we see that God saw a woman who was not an Israelite but she was someone that had a destiny in God. Elijah was glad to hear that God had “commanded a widow” to take care of him. Little did he know how bad her natural circumstances were when he arrived in her town. She was in a place that was so bad she thought she was about to cook her last meal before her and her son would die. What would you have done if you were Elijah seeing her in this state of poverty? Would you have looked for another widow? Would you have given her something instead of asking for her to “give first?” Elijah knew this woman needed supernatural help and he knew the principle of the First Fruits. When she gave to God first she opened the door for God to give her a continual supply that was she could not have accessed any other way. First Fruits is a principle everyone needs to tap into; especially those who are down to their last natural means. I encourage everyone to move beyond their natural circumstances and into a realm where God can command his supply to come into your life this year.

Malachi 3:8-17 (NASB)
“Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, How have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. You are cursed with a curse, for you are robbing Me, the whole nation of you! Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, so that there may be food in My house, and test Me now in this,” says the Lord of hosts, “if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you a blessing until it overflows. Then I will rebuke the devourer for you, so that it will not destroy the fruits of the ground; nor will your vine in the field cast its grapes,” says the Lord of hosts. “All the nations will call you blessed, for you shall be a delightful land,” says the Lord of hosts. “Your words have been arrogant against Me,” says the Lord. “Yet you say, What have we spoken against You? You have said, It is vain to serve God; and what profit is it that we have kept His charge, and that we have walked in mourning before the Lord of hosts? So now we call the arrogant blessed; not only are the doers of wickedness built up but they also test God and escape. Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord gave attention and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who esteem His name. “They will be Mine,” says the Lord of hosts, “on the day that I prepare My own possession, and I will spare them as a man spares his own son who serves him.”

Tithing can be an area that creates discomfort in church settings. Most people know something about the topic but few like to discuss it. To some, it means giving money to the church and having less money for their personal use. Others might say that, “I don’t need to tithe because that was part of the Law.” But let me ask you if this is really the truth or are these mind sets contrary to God’s plan to allow us to be financially free? God created the principle of the tithe over four hundred years before the Mosaic Law was given. The first person to tithe was Abraham and he gave a tenth of all in Genesis chapter twenty two. One of the most frequently quoted scriptures about tithing comes from the book of Malachi which is listed above. Many pastors only read verses eight and nine to their congregations and emphasize the part about the curse. When the passage is read in context we see the end portion giving us a better picture of God’s heart regarding why He wants us to tithe. God starts out by clearly stating that the tithe and offerings which He has required really do belong to him. If we are a child of God then He says that we are keeping His money when we refuse to tithe and give offerings. Why is it important to give? The tithe and the offering moves us into the Kingdom of God economy where we allow God to supernaturally watch over our provision and needs. He tells us that there are windows in heaven that can be opened when we give out of our finances on the earth. He wants to bless us. He wants to protect us from financial curses that devour our income and keep us filled with stress and anxiety. The biggest problem we face is our own belief that we know more about this than He does. He actually calls this arrogant thinking when we say that tithing does not work and people who disrespect God are more blessed than those who honor and obey him. He has been working with mankind a lot longer than we have been around. His method is tried and proven. I love the final part of the passage. It says that when those who feared the Lord began to talk about obeying Him, He wrote their names down. This is a wonderful scripture to meditate upon. God is asking us to take time to discuss His plan for finances with an open mind and respect for His heart towards us. He makes a promise to all who will be humble and teachable to His ways. He says that when the day of trouble comes He will protect these individuals like a father protects the son He loves. Wow! Now that is a beautiful picture! I am a father and I love my kids. I know that if trouble ever came their way and I was around I would step in and protect them from harm. God is explaining His plan to us in this same way. The world economy we are living in will have some perilous times. It can destroy individuals and families. We simply cannot trust it. We can trust God. He is a loving father that will protect and provide for His children. This is why He wants us to give our tithes and offerings. This step of faith opens the windows of heaven and allows us into a different economic experience for our lives.

I am moving away from the single topic of First Fruits to the general topic of biblical economics in today’s study. The First Fruits is one of the four key ways God has instructed us to give from his word. God wrote to us in Deuteronomy chapter twenty eight all the ways he wanted to bless his people financially. He started the chapter with the admonition that we should be careful to obey him in all the ways he has instructed. For most people who do not have an upbringing with biblical knowledge we do not know all the ways God wants us to participate in giving. When you put all the scriptures together on this topic they will fall into one of four different categories; The tithe, First Fruits, Offerings, and Alms. Most of us would think that giving any amount to any place would suffice as “giving to God.” But God is very specific on what to give. He even wrote down the key areas that we should give and what we should pray when we are obedient. Read the following scripture:

Deuteronomy 26:12-15 (NLT)
12 “Every third year you must offer a special tithe of your crops. In this year of the special tithe you must give your tithes to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, so that they will have enough to eat in your towns.
13 Then you must declare in the presence of the Lord your God, ‘I have taken the sacred gift from my house and have given it to the Levites, foreigners, orphans, and widows, just as you commanded me. I have not violated or forgotten any of your commands.
14 I have not eaten any of it while in mourning; I have not handled it while I was ceremonially unclean; and I have not offered any of it to the dead. I have obeyed the Lord my God and have done everything you commanded me.
15 Now look down from your holy dwelling place in heaven and bless your people Israel and the land you swore to our ancestors to give us—a land flowing with milk and honey.’

God wants us to make sure the finances he has told us to set aside are actually given by taking them from our house and presenting them at his house. Then we are instructed to say to him in prayer, “I have obeyed you completely with my finances. I now ask that you allow me to possess my earthly inheritance in full.” Wow! What an incredible scripture. Next week I am going to discuss God’s heart for us in establishing his reason behind requesting we give in these different ways.We are continuing our fifty days of collecting the First Fruits offering. I hope these short teaching are equipping you to make a good decision about what you are presenting to God this year. Thank you for allowing me to speak to you from my heart.