1st Row From the Pulpit

Let the River Flow (November) 2010 Conference

2010-10-25T20:06:00.002+08:00

For the last ten years or so, the Maranatha Christian Fellowship has been holding an annual revival conference called ‘LET THE RIVER FLOW’ with prominent and world-renowned Christian revivalists, prophets and generals of intercession as guest speakers and ministers.

Maranatha (a Hebrew word which means ‘Come, Lord Jesus!’) is a Christian church established 30 years ago by a missionary couple from Buffalo New York who heard the call of God in their lives to come and start a ministry here in Cebu city. Reverend Joseph DiSarno and his wife Doreen (who heads the Intercessory ministry of Maranatha) have labored and have faithfully ministered to countless lives bringing the message of the kingdom of God and demonstrating God’s love to thousands of street children through the Simbahang Pambata Ministry (SPM). SPM feeds around 800 street kids every Saturday and pray for them and their parents as well as teach them the Word of God.

Ten years ago, Maranatha experienced a mighty visitation from God, which has resulted in many changed lives. Drug addicts were set free without rehab but just by the mere Presence of God in meetings in the church. Out of those encounters, one drug addict has now become a pastor and is living for God. Many other miraculous events have taken place as well as many challenges and attacks but the Presence of God remains strong in the church services to this day.

It was in the first ‘Let the River Flow’ Conference that a pastor from Manila caught a vision from God to start Jesus Revolution, a prayer movement that has since then impacted many cities all over the world.

LTRF (Let the River Flow) is a three day conference with the sole purpose of inviting God to minister to broken lives, to weary servants of God from all denominations, to those who are bound spiritually, emotionally, mentally and even physically. The Holy Spirit is given the freedom to move freely which means that there is no set program or timetable as to the flow of the conference. LTRF speakers are used to hearing from the Holy Spirit and allowing Him to do what he does best: change lives, renew and refresh ministers and even those who have never had a personal encounter with God. LTRF is for all people who are seeking God’s manifest presence and longing to experience his love and his power.

The LTRF conference will be on November 1, 2 and 3 at the UPPER ROOM, Maranatha World Outreach Center. Our main speaker/minister is Pastor Herman Martir, a Bacolod born preacher who now has a church in Texas. He has a reputation of bringing God’s glory down wherever he ministers. He also is the organizer of many Christian gatherings of such ministers as Cindy Jacobs, Lou Engle, Stacey and Wesley Campbell and many others. The conference will start at 9am. There will be morning, afternoon and evening sessions. General registration is P350.00; student registration is P200.00. For more inquiries, please contact Mary Ann at 2532491 and 2535939.

November 1, 2 and 3, 2010 / Monday to Wednesday.
General registration = P350.00
Student registration = P200.00

Monday, November 01
8am - Registration
9am - Morning Session
2pm - Afternoon Session
7pm - Evening Session

Tuesday, November 02
8am - Harp and Bowl
9am - Morning Session
2pm - Afternoon Session
7pm - Evening Session

Wednesday, November 03
8am - Harp and Bowl
9am - Morning Session
2pm - Afternoon Session
7pm - Evening Session

Plant in Worship, Reap In Answers

2010-07-07T11:25:00.002+08:00

Eileen Fisher: I Am More than Able to Be Your Burden-Bearer

The following corporate prophetic word was given by Eileen Fisher on June 15, 2010 during her weekly Prophetic School of the Holy Spirit meeting in Colorado Springs, Colorado:

"As You Plant in Worship, You Will Reap In Answers"

I heard the Lord say, "As you pour out to Me, I pour into you." He said, "Have I not said in My Word, 'Seek first the Kingdom of God and My righteousness'? When you worship Me, you are allowing Me to fill you with My righteousness. And when I fill you with My righteousness, I am making 'right' that which has been 'wronged.'

"For I would say learn the secret of the inner chamber; learn that it is about Me. Learn that I have said build the ark; know that I have said I will dwell within My people; do not run to and fro, but enter in. For I want to train you up and raise you to where you will become worshipers in Spirit and in Truth—in Spirit of My Word, in Spirit of My power, in Spirit of all that I have called and commanded you to do, to become abiders in My Word that My Word may abide in you—to where you will be 'blended' with My Spirit and My Word. For I have said, 'Worship Me in Spirit and in Truth.'

"I know the pain you are going through, I know the stress, the worry, the sicknesses, the disease; the burdens, the doubts, the unbelief, and I am more than able to be your Burden-Bearer. But how can I bear your burdens if you do not come unto Me? Have I not said in My Word, 'Cast your cares upon Me'? Cast your cares from a place of worship, draw from My presence, pour out into My presence; for as you plant in worship, you will reap in answers.

"You Do Not Stand Alone in the Battle, But I Am Raising You and Training You to Stand in Me"

"Look at My Word, did I not command the people of old to come forth with rejoicing and singing in their hearts? Even though they did not receive the answers, I required obedience better than sacrifice. Have I not commanded you to come into My presence with praise and thanksgiving? That means in every moment; that means when you are alone; that means when you come together; that means when I've called you to assemble, that I might pour out My Spirit upon you. For I am looking for a thirsty people who will come and drink of My presence, so that they may be the carriers of My presence.

"So, tonight I have come to be the lifter of your head... Thank you, thank you, for as you worshiped Me the angels danced. For I tell you this night, you will start to reap answers, for you chose to leave heartache, disappointment, fear, unbelief, pain...and have focused upon Me. I am raising up a military army who will be militant with My Word and will have the sound of worship upon their lips. When the trumpet will sound, they will not hear it as a strange sound, but they will recognize the breath of an angel, and they will know My Bride is about to see answered prayers. For I am not a God who sleeps, though I am a God who stands, and I am requesting this night that you stand.

"As you have stood, I want you to realize Christ Jesus in you is standing up, also. You do not stand alone in the battle, but I am raising you and training you to stand in Me. When the enemy comes he will not find you standing, but he will have found that I have stood, and he will tremble and leave. Worship defeats warfare, worship declares and establishes, worship is the cloud of glory that you create with your very breath and lips and walk under. Learn to flow with the cloud of glory, for in there lay your answers. For I am Thee Glorified, the King of Glory," says the Lord your God.

Eileen Fisher
Eileen Fisher Ministries
Email: Eileen@eileenfisher.org

God Speaks: from reading Nehemiah 4

2010-06-10T15:59:00.005+08:00

I have challenged my cell group members to get a revelation from God while reading passages of scripture. Here's what the Lord has spoken to me after reading the 4th chapter of Nehemiah...

There is a rebuilding going on in individual lives and in our nation as well. We must be aware of the areas in our lives where walls have been breached and start the work of rebuilding these.

Friday night (June 4) God spoke to me about to me about restoration; Sunday night (June 6) Kim John talked about reformation. This is the time to be militant and be aware of the threats to our spiritual security. The devil has not relaxed from his work of sowing seeds of rebellion, disobedience, complacency, hatred, anger, bitterness, unforgiveness and offense. Yet we act like all is well and many of us WILLINGLY ALLOW THE DEVIL TO PLANT SEEDS IN THE GARDEN OF OUR HEARTS. We don't even PUT UP A FIGHT!

We need to wake up and realize that the walls of our lives have been breached. We need to realize that God wants to rebuild these walls, but that He won't do it without our cooperation. We have to be willing to be restored and our walls rebuilt if we are to ever live lives of victory against the devil; otherwise the destroyer will keep coming back to steal and kill using his all-access pass through the walls of our garden.

Our God is an awesome, powerful Protector, but if we neglect to take dominion over the open doors and the broken walls of our lives, HE won't be able to help us because HE has already given us authority to tend the garden of our hearts. HE RESPECTS WHAT WE DO WITH FREE WILL.

However, the choice between LIFE and DEATH, BLESSINGS and CURSES has already been given to us. So we will either repair and rebuild the broken walls with God or leave the fortress breached and allow the enemy of our souls to waltz in and out of our lives freely.

YOUR CHOICE!

Deep is Calling Unto Deep

2010-06-04T12:23:00.000+08:00

Wade Taylor:

Walking in the Spirit, Entering the Depths of God

If We Live in the Spirit, Let Us Also Walk in the Spirit

Christianity is a way of life that is both practical and mystical in its outworking. The Scripture expresses both aspects of this truth in Galatians 5:25:

If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.

"Living in the Spirit" lifts us into a realm of revelation and intimate communion with our Lord. But these experiences in heavenly realities must find expression in, and give direction to, our daily walk in temporal reality. Therefore, we are exhorted to "walk in the Spirit," which relates our spirituality to our everyday practical experiences.

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us...—John 1:14

The manifestation of God in Jesus Christ was not limited to an intellectual concept or rational understanding. The Eternal Word that created the universe came down to a manger and lived out a human pattern of life and experience, through which He gained total victory and brought Salvation to mankind. He maintained an intimate fellowship and communion with His Father (living in the Spirit), yet He lived among men (walking in the Spirit).

Jesus taught and ministered in very practical ways. He related Eternal Truth to the practical things of His day, which the people were familiar with and could easily understand. Then He said, "Let him that has an ear hear." He was not speaking of our physical ear, but rather He was saying, "There is a deeper vein of truth that is available to each one whose heart has been prepared to understand and receive."

Hidden Treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge

Jesus hung openly visible upon a cross for all to gaze upon. Yet of this same Jesus, the Scripture says: "In whom are hid all the treasures of Wisdom and Knowledge" (Colossians 2:3).

There is a basic level of truth in the Word of God that can be seen and understood by all who have a desire to know the Lord. But, parallel to this is the mystical aspect of the Gospel, the unfolding of "hidden" spiritual treasures. Type and shadow fade as the "Light of His Presence" ushers us behind the veil of printer's ink (the letter of the Word), into the glorious revelation of His being (the spirit of the Word).

In the Lord's dealings with His Bride in the Song of Solomon, there is a beautiful progression that leads her from being satisfied with having the "things of God," to a desire for the "Lord Himself," until finally, all of her self-desire is lost and merged into "His desire for her." She has come to the place where she is "living in the Spirit." Now He could say to her,

"Come, My beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages" (Song of Solomon 7:11).

The time had come for her to enter into the depths of God, and begin to "walk in the Spirit" with Him. She must first come to Him, before they can go forth together. A beautiful Scripture in the Psalms expresses the outworking of this process, as the Lord draws us to Himself.

Deep calls to deep at the noise of Your waterspouts: all Your waves and Your billows are gone over me.—Psalm 42:7

"Deep calls to deep." This "Deep" desire of the Lord is calling forth the "potential," which He formed within us, to enter into and experience deeper realms of communion with Him. The Lord longs for our fellowship, and He seeks to fill this created "deep" that is within us, with Himself.

"At the noise of Your waterspouts" speaks of the Lord giving His full attention to bringing us into this personal relationship with Himself. This "waterspout" is as a whirlpool that sweeps all temporal things away and leaves us with God alone. In the beginning, all this may seem as being "noise," but as we continue to walk with the Lord, it will become a song.

"All Your waves and billows are gone over me." Now, my feet can no longer touch bottom, where I once was in control and walked as I pleased. I am committed to the "depths of God" in total trust, and all control has passed to Him. Jesus has become Lord of my life, and has set before me the realm of spiritual life and fellowship that He so desires to share with me.

"Launch Out into the Deep"

And He entered into one of the ships, which was Simon's, and prayed him that he would thrust out a little from the land. And He sat down, and taught the people out of the ship. Now when He had left speaking, He said unto Simon, "Launch out into the deep..."—Luke 5:3-4

There are two different realms represented here, the "land" and the "deep." The land represents our "self-life" where we once walked as we pleased. The "ship" that He entered represents our life set apart for His purposes. Our being "thrust out a little" speaks of the preparation that is necessary to enter into the depths of God. The "deep" represents the outworking of this, where we begin to walk in the Spirit in union with Him.

As we respond to His desire for us—"Deep calling to deep," Jesus will enter our life's "ship" and push us out a short distance from the land. Here, He will teach us the principles of "living in the deeper realms of God."

As soon as these principles are established, the Lord will be able to say to us, "Now you are ready, it is time for you to begin walking in the Spirit. Launch out into the deep and let your nets down for a draught."

If you desire to go beyond your present spiritual experience, say "yes" to this desire of the Lord for you. Then, invite Him into your "ship" and allow it to be pushed away from the shore line of shallow Christian experience, and launch out into the deeper realms of divine activity with Him.

As we enter into the "depths of God" and begin to "walk in the Spirit" with Him, we will receive all that He has for us.

That I may know Him, and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death... Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus.—Philippians 3:10-12

Wade E. Taylor

Wade Taylor Ministries

Email: wade@wadetaylor.org

Be Still and Know

2010-06-04T11:32:00.000+08:00

Francis Frangipane:

Cease Striving and Know That I Am God

Among the many complex and sublime faculties of the human soul, one attribute functions as a servant to all: the nature of the soul is porous. This means that in addition to latent strengths and talents, the soul is also shaped and developed by external stimuli: we learn customs and language, habits, virtues and vices largely by importing reality as it surrounds us. Indeed, the marrow of life itself, as we subjectively know it, is created by the inward flow of these outward realities.

Thus, the soul, while it is born with innate powers, it is also the product of its times and circumstances. Because we live in unprecedented, prophetic times, individuals born during the last five or six decades are impacted, not only by the common struggles and joys of life, but also by the unspeakable disasters as they occur around the world. As a result of live media coverage, we vicariously experience repeated participation with human suffering. We see the actual faces of those traumatized by earthquakes and tsunamis, famines and wars. Again, because of the porous nature of the soul, when we view life's terrors, we are repeatedly absorbing these fearful realities into our consciousness. We cannot help but be affected.

How do we erase from our minds the faces of earthquake and tsunami victims? How is it possible to forget the horrific memory of people leaping to their deaths from flaming windows high on the Twin Towers on 9/11? What happens to our souls when we view news reports of Iraqis and Israelis being blown apart by terrorists' bombs?

If you are an intercessor, or even one who possesses just basic, human compassion, the flood of sorrow and terror rising from terrible disasters cannot be stopped by a levee of human intellect. Life's pains, even when they aren't our own, are still absorbed at some level into our soul, and more so if we know the one suffering.

To cope with our vulnerabilities, we have created some positive remedies: hospitals, relief agencies, first responders and charitable giving all are relatively new means of dealing with human sorrow. We are compelled, not only to help the victims, but to help ourselves digest and respond to the emotional overload of our times.

Media Manipulates Our Fears

It is important to remember that the main goal of the news media is not to communicate current news but to make money doing so. Thus, even minor stories are often sensationalized to bring back viewers. I, for one, am worn out by the highly publicized scandals and moral failures among leaders, whether political or religious. If I am not careful, the flood of these realities can jade my heart, harden my soul and make me cynical.

Added to these things we are daily reminded of current economic pressures, plus the threats of disease and the advance of crime and lawlessness in our communities. Our souls churn with the added news. How can mere man cope with the fearful conditions of the world?

Magnify the Lord

It is here, in this valley of pressure, conflict and fear that would-be saints lose heart and fade from the race. Yet, it is also here that the God seeker is driven closer to the Lord.

The psalmist cries, O magnify the Lord with me! (Psalm 34:3). The closer we are to God, the more we are infused by His strength. The world around us may not get any better, but through the Holy Spirit, we gain new strength.

In His presence, the demons of our world shrink in proportion. Beloved, in these very circumstances, let's magnify the Lord! We have read the final chapters: every knee shall bow and tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord! (see Philippians 2:10-11).

When our enemies multiply and pressures mount, retreat—yes, retreat into the stronghold of God. Are you anxious? Fearful? Remember: He who sits in the heavens laughs (Psalm 2:4). Are you being accused by the enemy? Again, the Lord says, In repentance and rest you shall be saved, in quietness and trust is your strength (Isaiah 30:15). When the accuser comes to incarcerate you in your sin, shame and regret, you do not have to defend yourself. You have a right to remain silent. God Himself has appointed an advocate for you, and it is His very Son, the One who died for your sins.

Do not magnify your problems; let God be exalted over all the earth. Do not let your unbelieving words deplete your soul of life, for the more you talk, the more peace you lose. Be slow to speak. Before you can learn to speak for God, you must learn what NOT to speak. This battle is not about overcoming difficult circumstances around you; it is about listening to the Lord, hearing what He intends to do, then following Him to victory.

Remember, dear friend, the words of Paul: "Be anxious for nothing." The true battle you are facing is not one of action, but direction: you must ascend vertically to be successful horizontally. Secure your soul in God and you will secure victory in your life. In the presence of God, the porous nature of the human soul is a great advantage. We can escape the stresses of life. We can actually be saturated with the life-restoring substance of God!

Psalm 46

God is our refuge and strength,

A very present help in trouble.

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth should change

And though the mountains slip into the heart of the sea;

Though its waters roar and foam,

Though the mountains quake at its swelling pride. Selah.

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,

The holy dwelling places of the Most High.

God is in the midst of her, she will not be moved;

God will help her when morning dawns.

The nations made an uproar, the kingdoms tottered;

He raised His voice, the earth melted.

The LORD of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

Come, behold the works of the LORD,

Who has wrought desolations in the earth.

He makes wars to cease to the end of the earth;

He breaks the bow and cuts the spear in two;

He burns the chariots with fire.

"Cease striving and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth."

The LORD of hosts is with us;

The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Selah.

Francis Frangipane

Ministries of Francis Frangipane

Email: francis1@frangipane.org

GOD's Kingdom Expands

2010-05-26T14:07:00.000+08:00

Mark Chironna:

For the Tribulation You Are Enduring is Proving that My Kingdom is Expanding
[from the Elijah List website]

The following was prophesied by Bishop Mark Chironna on May 11, 2010 at The Master's Touch International Church in Longwood, Florida:

Word of the Lord: "Believe also in Me. For I see the days of your journey in this season and I hear the cries of your soul. I know the threats of the enemy, for he has come more subtly to you than he has in the past—and it has made you more aware of your need for absolute dependence on Me for victory. For I would have you to operate at a deeper level of intimacy with Me and I would have you consider the sufferings in this season as momentary, light afflictions.

"For an hour is coming on the earth when those who do not know Me will reel and stagger like a drunken man. For I have allowed judgment to begin at the house of My people, and I have seen your warfare, and I have seen those that have come against you in the Spirit, and I have felt your infirmities.

"But allow the love that I have placed in you, My love, to constrain you. The enemy knows no sacred territory. For him, everything is permissible and he will touch even the most sacred places in your life to see and test and examine if you will walk in the love that I shed abroad in your heart. For I know the warfare you are enduring and I know the affliction with which you are afflicted.

"And I have heard the cry of many that have said, 'Lord, how long the night?' It matters not how long the night, it does matter how great your trust in Me is. For weeping may endure for the night, but know this, I am God and there is none beside Me! And while weeping may endure for the night, I want to assure you, joy will come in the morning.

"I Am Going to Sovereignly Deliver My People From this Season"

"I am going to sovereignly deliver My people from this season that has been prolonged; but it will be out of the purifying of their faith out of the furnace of affliction, as it was in the days of Daniel and the three Hebrew boys, as they fought the forces of Babylon and the princes and powers that ruled in that realm.

"I am ultimately in charge and the fire will not harm thee, neither will there be the smell of smoke; for I will deliver you from the fire, as I did the three Hebrew boys, and I will shut the mouths of the lions as I did for Daniel.

"Walk before Me and be thou mature and perfect, for I will display My strength through you even in your seasons of seeming great weakness. For the tribulation you are enduring is proving that My Kingdom is expanding. For I will not allow lesser gods to reign and rule over My people. But know that the power of My Cross is equal to any challenge and the Blood that I shed cannot be resisted by Hell itself. I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions. Walk the walk of faith, you are more than a conqueror," saith the Lord.

Prayer: "Father, I pray that You would attune our ears to what the Spirit is saying to the Church in this hour. I pray You would establish us in Your Word that we might even now recognize that in the dealings and processing we endure, we are in training for our ultimate reign and rule with Jesus in the ages to come. And remind us that, he that endures to the end shall be saved.

"I bless You, Father. Seal this word to our hearts, glorify Your Almighty Name."

Dr. Mark J. Chironna

Mark Chironna Ministries

Email: markchironna@markchironna.com

About to Break Out

2010-05-18T17:11:00.002+08:00

Chuck Pierce: You Are on the Verge of Breaking Through the Warfare!
[from the Elijah List website]

This is such a key time for us as we transition from Passover to Pentecost. Sivan is recognized as a month of receiving your boundaries, and is when the Israelites received the 10 Commandments. We also celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit during this month—the gift and promise that Jesus instructed the disciples to wait for. This is a time of giving and anticipation, and a month of great rejoicing.

Below is a prophetic word from our recent Wednesday prayer given by Anne Tate, Raymond Banks, Deborah Degar, Acijam Otxoa, Chuck Pierce, Sarah Vaughn, LeAnn Squier:

You Are on the Verge of Breaking Through!

"Even in this past week you have been struggling and the enemy has tried to discourage you over the vision and the warfare that has been circling around you. You are on the verge of breaking through that warfare and into a new joy movement. This will cause that which has been plugged up to let go. You will break through and instead of being discouraged and instead of not knowing who you are in the situation you're in, this wind of joy will raise you up above your enemy. Abide in Me. Abide in Me. The enemy has been causing you to lose your stance. But I am bringing a word down upon you. This word will cause your root to go deep. This word will make you flexible. When this adverse wind that has been blowing makes you think you will break, like a tree you will bend and you will rise up stronger in this next season.

"Don't fear the same things you are fearing right now. I am not blocked by the same things that are blocking you. In the favor that I am giving and bringing upon you now, you will begin to be raised with your head above the fellows around you. The waters won't overtake you. The fires won't burn you. You will raise your head up and you will say, 'I see the way that those with me are to go. Put a new leadership mantle on me that I may walk in this way.'

"You've been concerned with things higher than I've asked you to be concerned with. The legalities around you have tried to quench out My flame. Concerns of the world have attempted to stop Me from burning in you. Your light and your lamp are on the verge of going out.

"Now I will cause that first love in you to come alive. From this first love you will shine and those things around you will begin to melt. You will worship Me in a way you've not worshipped Me. Those things that have been too high for you to overcome will become lower in your midst. They will become a stair step to your next place. So get ready, for My love is beginning to burn now in you.

"The darkness around you, that darkness that tried to stop you, is now becoming the steps and the ladder for your next vision. Yes, I know you came today with warfare in your heart saying, 'I've got to have some sort of breakthrough.' But as you rejoice and as you worship and as you feel the wind that will cause you to shift and as you feel the finger that will light the lamp within you, you will cause the darkness around you to turn because the light within in you will dispel this darkness."

You Must Cry Out For Mercy!

"Not until My people cried out when Egypt was trying to overcome them could I hear their determination to move forward. This released Me to come to their aid. Now there's a cry in the place where you've been halted. That cry is causing that which has been around your ankle to be untied. That cry that is coming up to Me will cause the snare around your foot of progress to let go of you. There's a sound rising up in My people and I am hearing this sound. Where you have been halted between two opinions, the cry will clarify your thoughts.

"This is a season that I am calling some of My people to begin to cry out for mercy and others for blessing. This is a season that many of you must cry out for My mercy, for it is a kindness that I will extend to you. Though you have needed My forgiveness, and though you have needed for Me to intervene on your behalf, you have not cried out for My mercy. So this is a season that you will cry for mercy. For some of you it is the season to cry out for your blessing for you know that you have traveled in My direction. You have done what I have called you to do, so I am about to stamp My approval on that which you have done in the past season. So some of you will cry for mercy and some of you will cry for blessing but cry, cry, cry, cry, cry.

"When you cry out, I will light you like a match in the darkness. You will begin to burn with the truth. You will begin to burn with My answers. You will begin to burn and light up the darkness. The sound of mercy is greater than that of justice. The sound of mercy is greater than that of judgment. You've been contending over being right, but I say to you when you cry out mercy, I will send the light. So cry out with mercy and watch Me light your way for the cry of mercy will be as in the days when the blind cried out when I was on the road. That cry gave them sight. Cry now and receive the vision you need. 'Ho, come to the waters for what I have for you is free. You've been trying to work and buy your way into what you have need of. But I say ho, come to the waters and you'll step into freedom that will make you free and cause you to receive what I have for you today.

"I hear many that are crying. There is a need of My love. Their hearts, in their woundings, only can be filled by Me. No relationship can fill this place. No amount of finance can fill this place. But the release of My mercy is a filling force that causes them to arise. If you will receive this filling force you will have both creative ability and forming ability. So I say to you now in your lack of creative power and in your ability to form the plan that I have caused you to form that is not coming to completion, cry now and watch Me bring a filling power within you that cannot only form, but can create what needs to be created for your success."

Come and Look Deep

"If your eyes and My eyes become one you can see what I see. I can show you one line of a contract that is wrong. I can show you one ad that you missed. I can cause others to see you. I can show you how to reconcile quickly with your adversaries and move even into a greater purpose than you've seen. I can cause you to look into the depths of hearts and see their intentions.

"Come to the waters, for there is a reflection in the pool that you've not seen. Come and look deep and watch that reflection change and ripple and flow. That reflection is the vision you've been longing to see. But I must see the vision through you. So come to the waters. Come to the pool. Look deep and see again in a way you've not seen."

Prophetic Song from LeAnn Squier and Sarah Vaughn:

I feel my first love is burning.
I see the darkness is turning.
It knows my first love is burning.
I see the darkness is turning.
Come and drink at the water's edge.
Come and drink, come and take a drink at the water's edge.
Come down deeper now.
Take a cool drink of My Word.
Let it wash over you.
Let it wash through you.
Let it wash over you.
Refreshing waters flowing through my soul.
Come and take a drink.
Look into His redemption.
His eyes are a deep pool of grace you can never exhaust.
You can never undo.
You can never erase.
So look to Him.
He is the source.
Why should we drink downstream?
Why should we look downstream?
He is your source.
He is your wellspring.
Why should you drink downstream when you can kneel at the fountain?
Look to Him.
Look into His eyes of purity.
Into His eyes of holy fire.
Go to the source.

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries
Email: chuckp@glory-of-zion.org

See Your Future and Shift!

2010-05-14T19:19:00.002+08:00

Sandie Freed: Prophetic Insight: See Your Future!
[from Elijah List]

The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that My word is fulfilled."—Jeremiah 1:12 (NIV)

Dear Believers,

I am writing today to give you hope again! Though we are in the midst of much shaking, God has a divine plan for our future. Allow me to encourage you in the midst of change. In order to leave the past, there must be a shift. We are leaving an old season and shifting into a new season. God desires to give us prophetic insight to see our new season.

When the Lord revealed to Jeremiah his future and his time to shift into a new season, Jeremiah could not see it at first. God was prophetically calling him forth as a prophet and Jeremiah could only focus on his weaknesses. Isn't that like us—especially whenever we can't see? I love God's persistence with Jeremiah. No matter what excuses Jeremiah gave God concerning his calling and his new season, God continued to speak to Jeremiah's potential. Maybe you can relate to my recent experiences. God has been speaking to me about advancement and I've been very consumed with excuses. My excuse is, "It's too hard! I can't move forward. My past season was too difficult. How can I possibly move forward into a new season? Sure, I want a new season, but promise me first it will be easier!"

Unfortunately, the Lord did not answer with, "Sandie, the next season will be a breeze...you'll see; it will be easy this time." Nope. Nada. Instead, I got the same word that Israel did when they complained...

For this commandment which I command you this day is not too difficult for you...—Deuteronomy 30:11 (AMP)

I quickly grabbed my Bible after I heard this Word again today, and I was reminded that the breakthrough is in my own mouth! Yes! Read what the Lord said to Israel:

But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your mind and in your heart, so that you can do it.—Deuteronomy 30:14 (AMP)

The Lord is saying the same to you and me! He is saying the word of breakthrough for your new season is in your own mouth, in your mind and in your heart so that you can do it! Yes, Beloved, you can do it! Do what? All that He is commanding! Wow, isn't that encouraging?

God is Going to Touch Our Mouths

The Lord had to touch Jeremiah's mouth so that he had a good confession concerning his future.

Then the LORD put forth His hand, and touched my mouth. And the LORD said unto me, "Behold, I have put My words in thy mouth."—Jeremiah 1:9 (KJV)

Believers, the Lord is stretching forth His hand and touching our mouths and putting His words in our mouths. He is not going to open up doors to our future without His supernatural empowerment. The word touch in this passage implies a supernatural bestowment of divine grace and help. The Lord desires that we have the God kind of faith—which is faith like His!

To move forward into our new season will require that we develop faith for more of His grace. God is imparting grace to whatever weakness we believe that we have which keeps us from moving forward. Jeremiah told God that his weakness was not being one of eloquent speech. Jeremiah did not believe he was mature enough or eloquent enough to speak for God. Therefore, by touching Jeremiah's weak area, God imparted a divine grace which overrode Jeremiah's weakness. Believers, God is doing the same for us so that we can fully shift into our next season!

Dear ones, God believes in us and He is promising that if we will have faith in His divine empowerment, He will provide what is needed for us to fulfill our future.

We are not alone in our walk. God promises to go before us and defeat our enemies; plus, all the while, He walks beside us—constantly encouraging us each day. Each new day is fresh and we can receive fresh grace. When satan lies to us and says that we are neither equipped nor anointed, we can believe God for grace to touch the area in which we feel weak.

Being Overshadowed

Each day we can become overshadowed by the Holy Spirit and conceive our potential. Just as Mary was overshadowed, she also conceived. When Gabriel announced that she was to birth the Son of God, she said, "Be it unto me according to Thy word." (Luke 1:38). God touched any doubt and unbelief she had and then imparted a supernatural grace to empower her for her future. The Holy Spirit is teaching us as we shift into every new season. He is promising to equip us for our future. Plus, just as He promised to be watching over His promises to Jeremiah, He will be watching over our promises also!

The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that My word is fulfilled."—Jeremiah 1:12 (NIV)

When the Lord says He will watch over what He has promised, He is explaining His faithfulness. I tell people that God is back from the future—meaning that He has gone into our future, witnessed the fulfillment of our promise and then comes back to NOW to encourage us with a present-day word.

The word watch in this passage is the Hebrew word shaqad, which means "to be alert, keep watch of and be wakeful over." The same word for watch is the same Hebrew word used for "almond blossoms." After the Lord put His words in Jeremiah's mouth, He asked Him once more, "What do you see?" Finally, Jeremiah did not answer with another excuse (or infer to God "It's too difficult"), but said, "I see an almond branch budding" (see Jeremiah 1:11). There is tremendous significance in this passage. Let's read it more thoroughly together, and please pay attention to Jeremiah's shift in an ability to see his future. Remember now, before this passage Jeremiah could only focus on his weaknesses.

Then the LORD reached out His hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put My words in your mouth. See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."

The word of the LORD came to me: "What do you see, Jeremiah?"

"I see the branch of an almond tree," I replied.

The LORD said to me, "You have seen correctly, for I am watching to see that My word is fulfilled."—Jeremiah 1:9-12 (NIV)

Jeremiah's Shift

Finally, Jeremiah saw what God saw! After imparting grace to his weakness, Jeremiah was able to see his future. Beloved, if we receive His grace, our eyes will also be open to see what God sees concerning our ability.

Interestingly, Jeremiah was able to see "the branch of an almond tree." Remember, the word used for almond tree is the same Hebrew word, shaqad, which is also the word used for "watching." Shaqad is further translated to imply "the awakening one." The almond tree had blossom cups that are shaped like almonds and are the first to bud forth in its new season. One might say that the almond tree "awakens" to its new season.

Jeremiah was "awakened" to his new season. He received grace to fulfill his divine calling and then was awakened to his future. To become "awakened" means to open our eyes and see. Beloved, receive fresh grace and become awakened to your new season. There is faith being imparted from Heaven for you to fulfill your destiny.

When the Lord promises to watch over your promises, He is also committing to "protect" what He has promised. This means He will go to war for you and guard your potential. He promises to give His angels charge over us to protect us and keep us from harm. Just as He provided for Israel a cloud by day and fire by night, He will do the same for us as He leads, guides and protects us.
See Your Future!

Beloved, it's time to see your future. You can fulfill your divine destiny. In my book Destiny Thieves: Defeat Seducing Spirits and Achieve Your Purpose in God (available through The Elijah List), I devote the entire book to discussing our ability to conceive our future and fulfill divine potential. In this particular book, I expose the seductions of the enemy and how he attempts to abort our future. One of the evil spirits that steals destiny is the Amalekite spirit. It not only aborts destiny, but also targets leaders and those who are called to hold up their arms. This book will empower you to see your future and possess it!

Allow me to pray for you to receive God's grace to see: Lord, I lift up each reader to You and ask that You touch each area in which they feel weak. I declare, "Let the weak say I am strong!" I thank You for imparting supernatural grace that will overcome fear, doubt, loss of vision, physical infirmity and generational strongholds as well as lies and the seductions of satan.

Lord, empower us as You did Jeremiah. Jeremiah was empowered to see His future and shift into a new season. Lord, I declare the old season is past and that each reader is shifting into a fresh new season. I declare that we are victorious because of the Blood of the Lamb. We apply the Blood of Jesus to our minds, mouths and our hearts. Thank You for renewed minds, hearts ablaze for You and a positive confession. In Jesus' name! Amen.

Now, dear Believer: Shift!

S ee
H im
I nstead of
F ear and
T error.... He fights for You! Hallelujah!

In His Service,

Sandie Freed
Zion Ministries
Email: zionministries1@sbcglobal.net

Stuff We Learn from Jehoshaphat

2010-03-10T12:32:00.009+08:00

Text: 2 Chronicles 20:1-30

Jehoshaphat was the fourth king of Judah and the son of Asa. As one of David's descendants, he had a lifestyle of devotion to God, seeking God, crying out to God, and instructing people in the ways of God. 2 Chronicles 17:3-6, 18:4, 31, and 19:9, 10 give glimpses of this.

Here are seven things we learn from Jehoshaphat's life, particularly during an impending war described in 2 Chronicles 20:1-30.

1. WAR WILL ALWAYS COME UPON YOU (v. 1-2)

Life is a battlefield between two kingdoms -- the kingdom of darkness and the kingdom of God. Whether you seek it or not, ask for it or not, expect it or not, some other "kingdom" will always want to come and invade your life.

2. MAKE A HABIT OF GOING TO GOD FIRST (v. 3-4)

Jehoshaphat made a lifestyle of seeking God and inquiring of Him, which is a good thing to do because He knows the best way out of a tight situation.

3. MAGNIFY GOD, NOT YOUR PROBLEM (v. 5-12)

When Jehoshaphat started praying to God, he recalled all the mighty things the Lord had done for him and his people in the past. He focused on the size of his God, not the vastness of the army coming to attack him.

4. WHEN YOU SEEK GOD, YOU WILL FIND HIM (v. 14-17)

The king called a fast over the nation and they sought God. The Spirit of the Lord filled the prophet Jahaziel and he spoke the Lord's counsel over the nation. They got instructions from God because they asked for it. When we pray and asked the Lord for wisdom, guidance, etc, we should have expectant hearts to receive His answer.

5. WHEN YOU GET A WORD FROM THE LORD, YOU WILL BE EMBOLDENED TO MOVE FORWARD (v. 20)

Getting a word from the Lord, especially a word of instruction, gives us courage to go forth and do what it is that God calls us to do. In this case, God's counsel gave Jehoshaphat the boldness to encourage his army and go to the battlefield.

6. WHEN YOU TRUST AND OBEY GOD, HE WILL TAKE CARE OF YOUR ENEMIES. (v. 22-24)

God keeps His promises. Always. He promised the people of Judah they won't have to fight this battle and that they will see their deliverance; He did just that. He took care of their enemies and He will take care of our enemies if we put our trust in Him and obey His commands and instructions.

7. THE VICTORIES GOD GIVES YOU, PAVES THE WAY FOR HIS NAME AND FAME TO BE KNOWN (v. 27-30)

When God delivers you and takes you through your battle, reports of it point the glory to God and lifts up faith in others.

Resurrection Power

2010-03-01T18:17:00.001+08:00

Bill Yount: 2010: A Year of Germination of Seeds that Have Been Planted Over Many Years
from the Elijah List

John 12:24 Verily, Verily, I say unto you except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.

It's as though these Seeds were Shouting, "Our Season of Death is Over!"

In the Spirit I am hearing a sound I have never heard before. It's a sound from seeds that God had planted through us that have died inside the stony hearts of many people. There had been a long season when these seeds were not heard from at all. They were silenced by death. But in spite of death, these seeds now were beginning to groan as though death itself could not keep them any longer. The very life of Christ within these seeds was now beginning to overcome death and I saw a sprouting taking place that seemed to begin to shake the gates of Hell off its hinges! It's as though these seeds were shouting, "Our season of death is over! Hallelujah, we are now coming alive!" Seeds that had died with unfulfilled dreams of God inside of them were now beginning to come alive, worshiping their Creator, as they were beginning to sprout.

"Fields of dreams" were coming true! Seeds that were planted many years ago up to this present day were beginning to germinate. Seeds we had sown of the Word of God, acts of kindness and even smiles were bringing in a harvest as germination was taking place inside of many for whom we had forgotten and given up hope.

Pregnant with God's Dream!

Ecclesiastes 11:4-6 He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap. As thou knowest not what is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: even so thou knowest not the works of God who maketh all. In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Both of our daughters are expecting our first two grandchildren a month apart this year. We have been saturated with ultrasounds. Ultrasounds are amazing to look at. You begin by seeing something so small at first, and then the little members of the body begin to grow. We can't figure out how that happens, but it's the seed that makes it all happen! I believe this year will be a year of record-breaking germination taking place in the wombs of many women...even a year of surprise babies!

To germinate means "to begin to or cause to grow, or sprout." When a seed falls into the ground and dies it looks different as it begins to sprout and surface. Many ministries, jobs and dreams that have seemingly been terminated will begin to germinate and spring forth suddenly, appearing different with new dimensions this coming year. The enemy is not cutting anything away from you, but God is pruning us all to look to Him for everything.

Don't focus on your dead dream, dead job or dead ministry; listen to that seed that is now groaning to come forth in newness of life. Some jobs that have been terminated in one place will germinate in another place. Your gift will make room for you. Your gift has outgrown the room you were in! You will now need a larger room for your gift. The place where you get pregnant with God's dream is not always the same place where you give birth to it.

Seeds Have Died Forever (so you thought)!

Many seeds that have been planted inside of us by the Holy Spirit and have seemingly died forever (so you thought) are now beginning to make a noise and groan. Even things that we "thought" God had told us were over...aren't.

Twenty-five years ago I had co-written a song with a brother, which was recorded by several people, and was a blessing to many. After several years the song seemed to have finished its course of being heard. Once in a while I would type in the name of the song to see if its season was really over. I became convinced that the song had a certain season and that was it. Just two months ago, I typed in the name of the song on the iTunes store and up came the song "It's All Taken Care of, Thanks to You" just recorded by Claudelle Clarke, the queen of Reggae Gospel music from Jamaica who has been singing for forty years now. I contacted her, and since the publishing company I had signed with closed down fifteen years ago, she was unable to find the authors of the song. Sometimes when our name is overlooked or forgotten, God often uses a seed we planted to cause others to reap blessings where they did not sow and to take it further than we ever could.

In 1 Corinthians 3:6, Paul says, "I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase."

Galatians 6:9 "And let us not become weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not."

I am learning it's when I feel like fainting—is when I am actually doing well from God's point of view, and that a seed that I have sown is beginning to groan and sprout somewhere in some place, or in somebody, or in some nation!

Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministries
Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com

Transition to Position

2009-12-30T17:07:00.002+08:00

Paulette Reed: The Hall of Faith: He is Moving You From Transition to Position
from the Elijah List website

Does it ever seem like you're somewhere and perhaps should be elsewhere, but seem to be going nowhere? Are you waiting for doors to open, but can't find the keys? Well, beloved, I believe I have good news. You may be in the "hall of faith." Please allow me to explain.

Recently, I had a dream about being in a long hallway. When I asked Holy Spirit for the interpretation of the dream, I saw hundreds of Believers "in the hallway." Oh, friends, don't turn back and don't get stuck. The Lord is up to something, so keep moving forward, as He is about to show you the way, the truth and the light!

As I was walking down the long, narrow hallway, I remember sensing perplexity. I looked backward, then forward...waiting, wondering. If I peered ahead long enough I realized the dimly lit hallway became brighter way off in the distance. Next, an honorable, international church leader joined me in the hallway and took my hand. The leader was silent as we walked forward together, and suddenly I could see several doors—one was open. We walked through the open door and entered an office that housed a beautiful, large couch covered in exquisite gold brocade fabric. I felt an amazing peace in this new-found office, a resting place and dwelling for the glory of God.

Symbolism

The length of a hallway can indicate the duration of a transition period, and the light speaks of the degree and nature of revelation we receive along the way. The width gives insight on the space available for maneuvering as we walk. In this dream, the hallway was quite narrow. In fact, I felt as if I almost had to turn sideways to squeeze through. However, I knew it was extremely important to go through the hallway rather than try to escape it. The narrowness seemed uncomfortable due to limited movement, but actually kept me from going to the left or the right, and it compelled transition.

The walking indicated progress or living in the Spirit. It also seemed to represent a trip or traveling. The Great Commission, I presume—Go!

When the cherished leader took my hand, it was a symbol of strength, power, action and possession. Hands are also instruments of work and service, and they indicate ministry activities that fulfill the word and will of God. Of course, an open door indicates a transition, an opportunity. And, the office we entered represented a position of trust, where agency and representative powers are granted for one's service to another. It also represented the five-fold ministry: apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor and teacher.

The gold color of the beautiful cloth on the furniture represented the riches of the glory of God. Gold also symbolizes an enduring capacity of Believers as overcomers, an unchanging holiness as well as wisdom and righteousness. And, brocade is a fabric woven with an elaborate design, especially one having a raised overall pattern. In dream interpretation a couch indicates a safe, comfortable place to sit and rest. Sitting can represent rulership; position; concentration; receiving; place of authority; power; a business contract or agreement and the Kingship of the Lord.

The Obscure Hallway

Beloved, in the hallways of life, the Lord redefines and adjusts the rules necessary for us to be changed from glory to glory. While we're in the corridor, Holy Spirit gives us time to focus and pray for accurate direction. We may feel bewildered because we've never been this way before. But how marvelous that the King of Glory takes our hand and teaches us a new way. A way we have not been before.

The hallways of God are, of course, transition. They are a place where the Lord connects where we have been with where we are going. Although the Word tells us not to look back, it also tells us, "don't forget." Don't forget from where we have come, Church. Don't forget how much God has done for us. Remain grateful, knowing that if you suffer with Jesus you shall also be glorified with Him. The Lord wants to build a bridge between your past and your future in order to catapult you into destiny.

Keys to the Kingdom

Here are some keys to unlock those doors at the end of your Heavenly Father's hallway. These are doors only God can open and no man can shut (Revelation 3:8). Oh, this is so crucial to grasp as the Church moves forward into new offices.

• No murmuring, or we may be in the hallway for 40 years.

• Stand on the promises of God. We can't see well in a dimly lit hallway, but we live by faith and not by sight.

• Stay focused on the King—when He gets our attention He can adjust our vision and illuminate our path (Proverbs 4:18).

• Don't stop—keep movin'! We can't sit down in the hallways of life...transition times. We may even find ourselves pacing back and forth in intercession. It's okay, as there's an inner rest, a peace that passes all human understanding.

• Two things we can do while in the hallway—eat and drink of the Living Word.

• Go forward! Look back only briefly, when prompted by Holy Spirit, as He uses your past experiences as connections to your future. Let the Master Potter mold your trials into bridges, crossing over to wholeness and holiness.

• Trust Jesus—He works in us for His will and His good purposes (Philippians 2:13).

• Be adaptable, allowing the restoration (recovering) process. The Lord cannot put old fabric on new wine skins or it tears. He will perfect love in us, not half way, but unto completion.

• Find your identity in Christ when it seems you're alone in the hallway. God expounds all things to His disciples privately (Mark 4:34).

• Listen for your Shepherd's strategy, not stepping out until you have direction. When in doubt—don't.

• Watch for the doors God opens, not man.

• Follow the King! When we feel a bit squeezed, in narrow places, we're compelled to seek the Lord. Then He takes us by the hand and fills us with hope, expectation and revelation.

• Remain grateful, and when you see the open door go through it with no fear, only gratitude and joy-unspeakable.

Your Personal Hall of Faith

You might ask yourself where you are at in the hallway...the beginning, the middle or the end? This discernment helps because when a footman knows the distance of a race, he's prepared to pace himself and use keys as needed. He keeps his eye on the prize, knowing that tenacity is increasing as he receives glimpses of a radiant rainbow of light at the end of the corridor.

Friends, it's in the hallways of life that faith becomes our personal possession. It's in the hallway that Jesus increases patience, perspective and purpose. If your hallway seems a bit dim just now, remember, light shines the brightest when it's the darkest. And, you need both dark and light in order for your shadow to be cast...just like Peter.

I saw so many weary in the hallway...at the end of a year (cycle), the end of one portion of their journey with Jesus. Hold, beloved! You're a champion of the Most High God! Let Isaiah 57:10 speak life to you today. "You were tired out by the length of your road, yet you did not say, 'It is hopeless.' You found renewed strength, therefore you did not faint."

Oh rejoice, dear one, and again I say rejoice! The King is coming to take you by the hand, and you shall walk as He walked, in the light of His glory. Jesus is the door. He is taking you from transition to position—into apostolic Christianity.

Paulette Reed
Extreme Prophetic Ministries
Email: info@xpmedia.com

About Paulette Reed: Paulette is operations manager for Patricia King and Extreme Prophetic Ministries, in Maricopa, Arizona. She is a powerful preacher, prophetic minister, encourager, and author. Her passion is to share the love of Christ and unite people to the inexplicable love of our Heavenly Father, exhorting them to arise and reach for their destiny. Paulette loves to see God's people awakened and proclaim the active extension of the Kingdom on earth as it is in Heaven. She ministers in the revival anointing accompanied by revelatory ministry, healing, miracles, signs and wonders.

Maranatha Demonstrates the True Essence of Christmas

2009-12-28T12:40:00.005+08:00

When a heart is full of love, it will always have something to give. If this statement is true, then the folks at the Maranatha Christian Fellowship (MCF) must have hearts overflowing with love as demonstrated by their recent gift-giving activity.

On December 19, the Simbahang Pambata Ministry of MCF gave some 8,500 bundles of joy to street children and urban poor families at their church building at the Maranatha World Outreach Center on V. Gullas corner P. Burgos streets. It was on this location that the true essence of Christmas was demonstrated as ministry workers and volunteers handed out gift packs that contained simple, daily necessities such as rice, noodles and sardines to men, women and children who flocked to this local church.

The gift-giving activity has become an annual event for the Simbahang Pambata Ministry (SPM) team, as well as the street children and their families who come to receive their Christmas presents from Maranatha.

For its eleventh year of giving, the SPM was able to expand its goals and extend its borders. SPM Head Jesse Saberon said they intended to give 7,000 bundles of joy this year but ended up with more than they expected as donations came in from businessmen, students, ministry members, people who wanted keep their anonymity and people who wanted to give to their less fortunate brothers and sisters in the community.

This year's gift-giving event was also the first time local media covered Maranatha's annual activity. Broadcast journalist Leo Lastimosa and his team from the Halad sa Kapamilya TV program was on hand to witness the occasion and to air the SPM activity to thousands of ABS-CBN televiewers in Cebu and parts of the Visayan region. The media attention widens the exposure of the Simbahang Pambata Ministry beyond the four walls of the Maranatha building and way beyond the confines of Manalili Street.

The demonstration of the true essence of Christmas -- the spirit of love, giving and sharing -- has reverberated from the hearts of the folks from the Maranatha Christian Fellowship through their outreach to the urban poor. Indeed, when a heart is full of love it will always have something to give.

- - - - -

a post Christmas look by Michael Anthony Machacon / photo by Ingrid Mae Codilla Tadlas

Friends Are Friends Forever in 2010

2009-12-21T17:53:00.001+08:00

Bill Yount: The Power of Being a Friend Will be Unleashed in 2010
[from the Elijah List website]

Do you know why internet communication is taking the world by storm? It is bringing friends together—old friends, new friends, future friends. I have met one friend on there I hadn't seen or heard from in twenty years! Some people with whom I thought our relationship had come to an end are now adding me as a friend on their venue. I realize "adding me as their friend" may be through some mistake or through another person's suggestion, but nevertheless I see the hand of God bringing people together.

We were born for relationships, and as the earth is being shaken and men's hearts are failing, I hear the world crying out for "a friend in 2010!" I believe the key that unlocked the hearts of people when Jesus came to earth was Matthew 11:19: "Jesus was a friend of publicans and sinners"—and He still is! I believe just being a friend to someone begins to open the Heavens over that person's life for God to reveal Himself through.

Your Enemy Today Could Very Well Become Your Best Friend in 2010

The first sign of a strained relationship is often a lack of communication through words. We often hear offended people say, "We had words between us." And it's words that can bring a broken relationship back together again. I am reminded of an old song by the Bee Gees: "It's only words, and words are all I have to take your heart away!" In spite of strained relationships, ongoing communication with words will often breakdown walls of division and strife.

God often puts something we need in the person we don't like. Don't count anyone out in your relationships, even the hurtful ones. Your enemy today could very well become your best friend in 2010! In the words of Abraham Lincoln, "The best way to destroy an enemy is to make him a friend." Proverbs 16:7 says, "When a man's way please the LORD, He makes even his enemies to be at peace with him."

On the Internet you get to think before you say something, and that probably gives all of us a friendly edge in communicating. I am sure many family and friends of soldiers at war treasure the words of their loved ones through writing although they don't get to see them. I then realized how we don't literally see God face to face either, but it's His written Word to us in the Bible that draws and reveals His face to us in intimacy.

How important are His words? Psalm 138:2 says "You have magnified Your word above all Your name." It's through the words of Jesus that we truly get to know Him and what He is like. It's the same with people. If we saw the person's face but they were wordless, we could never get to know who they really are. You can tell who a person is through their words.

Even what seems to be frivolous internet communication, like someone telling us what they are doing right now or thinking about, is building bridges in everyday life. We get to know people in their everyday lives and begin to discover we all are so much alike and have the same needs to be loved and feel needed. I know a few people who, in person, don't say much and they are hard to get to know, but through the Internet their words light up the screen expressing their heart, and I have gotten to know what makes them tick. One person whom I know, who in person is so quiet, has just released a book that she has written. This person is full of creative words of life that reveal her significance.

2010 is the Year You and Your Best Friend Were Born For!

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

I would like to share about a true earthly friend that seems to surface once in a life time surpassing all internet and earthly communications. That once in a life time friend who knows all about you and yet loves you no matter what. They discover the worst about you and yet nothing surprises them for you have gotten to know their shortcomings too. That friendship is Heaven sent and reminds us of God-given friendships throughout the Bible, such as Jonathon and David and Ruth and Naomi. They were born for each other's adversity as well as their destiny.

1 Samuel 18:1, "...Jonathan loved David as he loved his own soul." And Ruth said to Naomi in Ruth 1:16-17, "Where you go I will go and where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and thy God my God. Where you die, I will die and there will I be buried."

By now, through all of your relationships on earth, a best friend has surely surfaced. If not, I believe a best friend is coming forth to be with you in this coming year to help you through to your victory against impossible odds. And you were born to help your best friend through whatever they may face. 2010 will be a defining year for friendships that will prove "two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him that is alone when he falls; for he doesn't have another to help him up" (Ecclesiastes 4:9,10). Perhaps in many of our ministries and lives our greatest need is not for finances but friends. Friends just naturally want to help each other no matter what the need may be.

Even Jesus, on earth, seemed to have a best friend who seemed closer to Him than any of the other disciples. It was John, the "Beloved." He leaned on Jesus' breast at the last supper and showed up at the crucifixion when the rest had forsaken Him. Jesus' love for John had cast out all fear in Him, even the fear of death. Jesus even trusted John with the care of His mother as He was dying.

John had such a relationship with Jesus that he wrote a whole book about Jesus called Revelation. This book is a revelation of Jesus and how we overcome in the midst of a chaotic world. "And they overcame him (the devil) by the Blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they loved not their lives unto the death" (Revelation 12:11). It's interesting that John was not afraid of death, and yet he ended up living the longest of all of the disciples. John had the heavenly attitude of "Whatever happens, we win!"

Proverbs 18:24 "A man that has (or who wants) friends must show himself friendly: and there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother."

Father, in Jesus' name we thank You that You no longer call us servants but Your friends if we love You and love others (John 15:14, 15). Even when we were lost, You were our best friend who came and found us. Help us to show ourselves friendly to this hostile world. Help us to be God with skin on for those who don't know You. Help us to allow You to love through us that many will find You as their best friend forever in 2010!

"What a friend we have in Jesus!"

Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministries
Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com

Greater Things Are Still Come!

2009-12-16T15:36:00.001+08:00

Jeff and Kathi Pelton: God's Gracious Dealings: Another Great Move of God Will Be Birthed in Great Humility
[from the Elijah List website]

"All the commandments that I am commanding you today you shall be careful to do, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the Lord swore to give to your forefathers. You shall remember all the way which the Lord your God has led you in the wilderness these forty years, that He might humble you, testing you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not."—Deuteronomy 8:1-2

"Why, God?" are two words that both of us have heard and spoken many times this past year. Since 2009 began, it has been a year of "whys" for many of God's people who have gone through a deep and extended time of testing—lasting years in some cases. But, for all of our questioning "why," the only answer the Holy Spirit has given us has been, "Trust Me."

Deep within our spirits, we knew that God's people were being tested and prepared for the days ahead. But what we haven't understood has been the severe and total stripping of resources. For our family, we are experiencing a life of praying and watching for our daily bread, since every natural resource has dried up. We never have the comfort or security within our own strength to know where the next meal or next day's provision will come from. After seeking much counsel, after countless hours of prayer, and after exhausting all human reasoning, over and over we still hear: "You are right where God wants you to be; continue to wait upon the Lord."

But now, the last month of the year, it seems that the Lord is giving us greater understanding into the work that He has been doing within our hearts. The answer is found in chapter eight of Deuteronomy.

You Are Not a Failure

Recently we were with a Christian man whom we know quite well. He stated that he had failed his family because of circumstances they have encountered. This man has worked hard all of his life and has followed the Lord in all that He had asked of him, but still has lost his job and all of his resources to provide for his family. We knew that this man was not a failure, but he believed it so strongly that it began to be the reality of his identity in his own eyes, rather than what his family knew to be true. It was a devastating conclusion. God loved this man deeply as a dear son, but he was not able to perceive that love, or really recognize his sonship.

As we have thought and prayed about this, we realize there must be many other men and women dealing with similar thoughts. They look into the eyes of their loved ones and realize they have nothing within themselves to offer their families or change their painful situations. (This is especially discouraging during the holiday season, when the pressure to have provision escalates.) Many others have stepped out in faith, believing for great things, only to find their best efforts have seemingly produced no fruit.

In trying to find some insight regarding the difficulties in our lives and the lives of others, the Holy Spirit led us to Deuteronomy eight as an answer to the question, "Am I a failure?"

Let's read further into Deuteronomy 8 and see what the Lord says: He humbled you and let you be hungry, and fed you with manna which you did not know, nor did your fathers know, that He might make you understand that man does not live by bread alone, but man lives by everything that proceeds out of the mouth of the Lord... (Verse 3)

Thus you are to know in your heart that the Lord your God was disciplining you just as a man disciplines his son. Therefore, you shall keep the commandments of the Lord your God, to walk in His ways and to fear Him. For the Lord is bringing you into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and springs, flowing forth in valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, of vines and fig trees and pomegranates, a land of olive oil and honey; a land where you shall eat food without scarcity, in which you will not lack anything; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills you can dig copper.

When you have eaten and are satisfied, you shall bless the Lord your God for the good land which He has given you. Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments and His ordinances and His statutes which I am commanding you today; otherwise, when you have eaten and are satisfied, and you have built good houses and lived in them, and when your herds and your flocks multiply, and your silver and gold multiply, and all that you have multiplies, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God who brought you out from the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. (Verses 5-14)

Here's the dilemma: if you believe that your weakness can make you a failure, then you probably also believe that it is by your strength that you can be a success. The people of Israel were disciplined and humbled by their time in the wilderness, but were they failures as they followed the cloud and pillar of fire, or gathered manna for their daily sustenance? Then, was it their strength that ushered them after forty years into the Promised Land and won the battles they fought to posses the land? No—it was God's strength that provided for them, led them, and gave them victory and prosperity.

Does a parent discipline his child because he believes his child is a failure? No! We discipline because we know that our children were created for great things, and we want them to know how to listen and obey our words so that one day they will listen and obey the word of the Lord. So, to all of you men and women who have believed that this season of discipline has been due to your failure: You are not a failure. You are a loved Son or Daughter whom the Lord is teaching to hear and obey His voice.

God Alone Gives the Power to Make Wealth

In the wilderness He fed you manna which your fathers did not know, that He might humble you and that He might test you, to do good for you in the end. Otherwise, you may say in your heart, "My power and the strength of my hand made me this wealth." But, you shall remember the Lord your God, for it is He who is giving you power to make wealth, that He may confirm His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day. (Verses 16-18)

This season, in which many Believers have wondered if it was their end, has actually been the threshold to the greatest move of God we have ever seen. The wilderness has been the beginning of the move of God we have all been praying for; it has just come differently than we expected.

Why did people have a hard time receiving Jesus as the Messiah? Because He came in very humble means. His life began in a manger made for animals and ended on a cross made for thieves and murderers. His coming was the pivotal point of history for all mankind. But many did not see, and still have not seen, who He really is.

Will we not see that we are in the beginning phase of another great move of God that has been birthed in great humility, as well as adversity? Whether we are entrusted with great wealth or many souls saved (or both), our hearts must be prepared in humility, so that we can truly say in the midst of what many would categorize as "success" that it is God alone who gives us the power to do all things! We have been and are being tested so that in the end we will not believe that it was our strength or power that caused these things to come about.

Do Not Touch

"It shall come about if you ever forget the Lord your God and go after other gods and serve them and worship them, I testify against you today that you will surely perish. Like the nations that the Lord makes to perish before you, so you shall perish; because you would not listen to the voice of the Lord your God." (Verses 19-20)

We cannot count the times in raising our children that we used the words, "Do not touch!" They wanted to touch everything and own everything. It seems one of the first words all of them learned was "Mine!" Everything we owned was "mine." In their little perspectives, all items in the house were theirs to touch and possess. It took our parental discipline to teach them not to handle something when we said, "Do not touch!"

The same is true of us during this time. God is teaching us what He means when He says, "Do not touch!" We are not to say, "Mine!" about the move of God that will bring forth salvations, wealth, and influence. We are to remain humble and not become our own gods or worship the success.

The story of King Nebuchadnezzar in Daniel chapter 4 is an illustration of the results of claiming honor for ourselves. The Lord graciously gave Nebuchadnezzar a dream warning him against pride. Daniel interpreted the dream and offered the king sound wisdom as to how to avoid the scenario he had seen. Obviously, Nebuchadnezzar did not take the warning seriously enough to allow any lasting heart change, for as the story continues, we read what happens to him:

Twelve months later he was walking on the roof of the royal palace of Babylon. The king reflected and said, "Is this not Babylon the great, which I myself have built as a royal residence by the might of my power and for the glory of my majesty?"

While the word was in the king's mouth, a voice came from Heaven, saying, "King Nebuchadnezzar, to you it is declared: sovereignty has been removed from you, and you will be driven away from mankind...until you recognize that the Most High is ruler over the realm of mankind, and bestows it on whomever He wishes." (Verses 29-32)

We all know what happened next. After the voice spoke, Nebuchadnezzar lost his sanity and lived like an animal for seven years, as the Lord had warned him. When that period of humbling was completed, Nebuchadnezzar's reason, his sovereignty and his splendor were restored, but he now had a completely different perspective:

"Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, exalt, and honor the King of Heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride." (Verse 37).

Most of us have not come to the place of testing because we were overtly proud and cruel, like the king. Nevertheless, God knows the preparation that must take place within us before we are entrusted with great success in any arena. The most seemingly humble men and women have fallen prey to the seductions that come with power, wealth and accomplishment. While it is true that God desires to work in us and through us for astonishing purposes, it is by His power that we succeed. Because we are in the beginning of an unprecedented move of God's Spirit, it is absolutely vital that we understand this truth. He will not allow us to carry any trace of pride in our own efforts or strength into this new season.

So, we would say to you: if you feel that you have been stripped of everything, and all your best efforts seem to amount to nothing—rejoice! Begin to thank God for His discipline and humbling because it proves your sonship. Ask Him to forgive you for believing the lie that you are a failure, or that He has failed you. He is preparing you for the greatness that was always meant for His children. Remember, it is in our weakness that He manifests His strength.

Prayer

Father—
In my weakness manifest Your strength
In my pride manifest Your humility
In my lies manifest Your truth
In my need manifest Your power
In my poverty manifest Your riches
In my sickness manifest Your health
In my hunger manifest Your fullness
In my loneliness manifest Your presence
And in my death manifest Your life!
Amen

Merry Christmas. Rejoice in this wonderful season—Jesus truly is the humble King!

Jeff and Kathi Pelton
Light Streams Ministries
Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net

Keys to Breakthrough in 2010

2009-12-16T14:26:00.001+08:00

Paul Keith Davis: A Key to Breakthrough in 2010: A Broken and Contrite Heart
[from the Elijah List website]

Unquestionably, we are entering times of heightened spiritual activity and confrontation. We believe 2010 will be a year considerably different from the past, with measures of breakthrough experienced by the remnant who qualify: those having positioned themselves before God with humility, contrition and who tremble at His Word.

This truth was recently re-emphasized to me while conducting meetings in New Zealand. While there I was reminded of a story recorded in the life of the notable healing evangelist Smith Wigglesworth. It involved a key secret in his walk with God and the release of divine power through this great champion.

In 1922 Wigglesworth journeyed to New Zealand for a series of healing campaigns. At the time, he was unknown to New Zealand's leadership, but with great confidence various pastors rented the Wellington Town Hall to host the meetings. To everyone's delight, the Lord was wonderfully present in power, bringing healing and salvation to scores. The services were so successful that additional meetings were arranged and each was filled to capacity with God healing the most difficult cases of sickness and disease.

At the conclusion of the campaign one of the host pastors, while walking along the seashore with Wigglesworth, asked what his secret was to walking in demonstrations of God's power. Wigglesworth responded, "I am sorry you asked me that question, but I will answer it. I am a brokenhearted man. My wife who meant everything to me, died 11 years ago. After the funeral I went back and lay on her grave. I wanted to die there. But God spoke to me and told me to rise up and come away. I told Him if He would give me a double portion of the Spirit—my wife's and my own—I would go and preach the Gospel. God was gracious to me and answered my request. But I sail the high seas alone. I am a lonely man, and many a time all I can do is to weep and weep."

A broken and contrite heart was the secret to Wigglesworth's success with God. It is written in Psalm 51:17, "the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

As the two men continued walking along New Zealand's seashore, Wigglesworth emphasized what he carried in God was not to be envied, but instead he envied what the last generation will see. Wigglesworth explained that he had experienced three open visions with the Lord. Two of them were already fulfilled at the time of these meetings in 1922. However, he expressed the third would take place after his death. Wigglesworth explained, "Oh it was amazing! Amazing! I cannot tell God's secrets, but you will remember what I say—this revival we have had is nothing to what God is yet going to do."

The pastor to whom these comments were made recorded that he clearly understood Wigglesworth's comments were directed towards the spiritual outpouring within the generation preceding the Lord's return. He said, "It was quite evident that the evangelist had a special vision granted to him of the coming outpouring of the Spirit in an unprecedented effusion in the days just before our Lord comes to snatch away the Church."

Taking it to Another Level

Clearly, Wigglesworth was given a glimpse of God's plan for this present hour. It is also recorded that while in South Africa in 1936, Wigglesworth accurately prophesied what has now become known as the Charismatic renewal. He along with many other prior champions was allowed to prophetically observe and forecast what we as a generation can enjoy in God. Even so, the same qualifications are necessary for us that existed with Wigglesworth and the others.

It is incredibly sad that Wigglesworth lost his precious wife Polly. Nevertheless, it produced something in him that God was able to use to change a generation. Although we may not go through the precise loss that Wigglesworth experienced, our ultimate goal is to present ourselves before God in humility and genuine brokenness of heart because of our condition and the present need for godly character. Such a heart God will not despise and will powerfully anoint with demonstrations of His Spirit.

Following the meetings in New Zealand I felt a profound challenge being placed upon my life and that of God's leadership to take our consecration and devotion to a higher level. He deserves greater than we have been able to present thus far. Clearly there are many who have sacrificed notably throughout the Church to see His Kingdom revealed. Even so, for the most part—on the corporate level, we must aspire to something more.

Our Need for True Leadership

There is a present need for clarity and honorable leadership to emerge with a credible prophetic voice to provide direction and divine wisdom. With an increasing emphasis on the emergence of God's divine government there is an equal demand for Biblical understanding of God's promises for the end-of-the-age generation. There are clear spiritual endowments being imparted to those groomed and prepared for governmental responsibility. Never before has there been greater need for the spirits of wisdom and revelation promised in Ephesians 1:17-19 saying:

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints, and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe.

Like Daniel and his three friends in Babylonian captivity, we desperately need the impartation of heavenly wisdom and knowledge as well as intelligence in all manner of writing and literature. We desperately need insight and interpretation of our dreams and visions (Daniel 1:17).

It is my perspective that all true spiritual leadership is birthed out of friendship with the Lord. He once told His disciples that He no longer considered them servants, but friends. From that place of intimacy, God's mysteries, secrets and strategies are imparted that convey the Father's thoughts and aspirations for this generation. Therefore, our foremost pursuit should not necessarily be a spiritual office, but friendship with Jesus. Who we are and what we are called to be will become clearly recognized as we delegate Kingdom authority and walk with God like Enoch.

Supernatural Endowments

I have often studied and written on the life of Daniel; a man highly esteemed and greatly beloved in Heaven. The Lord told me years ago that Daniel was a prototype of the generation he foresaw. In many ways, Daniel and his three friends provide a prophetic picture of the manner by which the Lord will equip His people for special end-of-the-age assignments. The Babylonian captivity of natural Israel provides a forecast of our present condition and the Lord's promise for deliverance.

Daniel 1:17 describes Heaven's special empowerment imparted to these loyal young men. God gave them:

Knowledge and skill in all learning and wisdom, and Daniel had understanding in all (kinds of) visions and dreams.

The Lord gave them by inspiration, revelatory knowledge and intelligence in various matters of writing and literature. The Lord quickened in them special skills to apprehend and articulate spiritual understanding and Heavenly wisdom. Daniel was notably gifted with supernatural perception into all manner of visions and dreams.

There was a specific impartation from God that empowered them to excel in the apprehension of wisdom and governmental scholarship. The Lord bestowed by spiritual transference the blessing of unique knowledge and exceptional capacity in literature and all manner of written work.

This pattern will also be followed in this day when the Lord discovers devoted hearts of obedience and loyalty. There are vast storehouses of revelatory insight and supernatural knowledge involving Scripture, creation, science, the arts and many other subjects that will be entrusted to saints who follow the model established by Daniel and his three friends.

A Prophetic Standard

These four young men provide a prophetic standard for the spiritually strong who know their God and carry out great exploits. They will intimately know God and engage the revelatory realm of Heaven. In them will be an excellent spirit granting acute perception and understanding to interpret dreams and visions, clarify revelatory experiences and solve difficult and enigmatic problems. They will be people who apprehend insight from the throne room and respond to the invitation to "come up here" to be shown things to take place in the future.

A few years ago during a prophetic experience, the Lord specifically stated to me that Daniel 1:17 was spiritually linked to Ephesians 1:17. These are parallel passages stating the same promises from different time frames. One is from the Old Covenant outlining God's dealings during difficult times but also pointing to a future day of supernatural intervention into the lives of mankind. The other is expressed in the New Covenant recording for all generations the heritage of the saints.

Despite our perceived personal limitations, the Lord is a quickening Spirit. He has promised to give life to our mortal bodies with His Spirit and grant to us the spirit of revelation that will access mysteries, secrets and revelatory knowledge as our legacy in Him.

Tokens of the Past

Many who attended Maria Woodworth-Etter's meetings at the turn of the 20th century would be caught up in the Spirit to experience visions and revelations of the Lord. These accounts are well documented and verified. Some would be commissioned in their encounter as missionaries to foreign lands and emerge from their visionary revelation capable of fluently speaking the language of the nation to which they were called.

It is the Father's good pleasure to reveal to us the Kingdom and perform awesome deeds that only He can achieve. It was a small thing for Him to rejuvenate the bodies of Abraham and Sarah and quicken them with strengthening virtue. Even after Sarah's death and well over one-hundred years of age, Abraham continued in the strength imparted to him by his encounter with El Shaddai and bore many more sons through Keturah.

Likewise, the Lord is more than able to equip us to access the unfathomable treasures hidden in Him that require supernatural gifts like those entrusted to the apostle Paul. As the Bible also clearly promises, the Holy Spirit knows what is hidden in darkness and reveals the deep and secret things. Light dwells with Him bringing illumination to that which has been set apart and reserved for the generation of destiny (Daniel 2:22).

Even now there are individuals engaging the revelatory realm of Heaven receiving downloads of insight into physics, light, sound and spiritual colors. The visitation of the apostle John to the throne room was both visual and audible. His experience disclosed awesome sights, sounds and vibrant colors surrounding the Lord's seat of dominion and victory. The more understanding we have of that realm the greater our ability to cooperate with Heaven in the demonstration of the Kingdom dominion on the earth.

Mysteries and Secrets of God

In like fashion, the Lord is releasing by the spirit of revelation, keys of understanding and interpretation into Kingdom mysteries and secrets reserved for the Last Days. Passages that have been present all along but with limited understanding will become illuminated and saturated with Spirit and Life. There is now being released from Heaven a spiritual endowment that will provide divine wisdom and revelatory insight. The prophecies of Isaiah point to this saying:

You have heard (these things foretold), now you see this fulfillment. And will you not bear witness to it? I show you specified new things from this time forth, even hidden things (kept in reserve) which you have not known.

They are created now (called into being by the prophetic word), and not long ago; and before today you have never heard of them, lest you should say, Behold, I knew them!—Isaiah 48:6-7 AMP

During the days of the early Apostolic Church, unprecedented events were taking place. The disciples were compelled to examine the prophetic writings of the prophets to provide a Scriptural basis for their experiences. No one could have anticipated the prophetic fulfillment that transpired on the Day of Pentecost. The Scriptures pointing to Pentecost were present all along but now the experience itself unlocked revelatory insight into the mysteries of the Kingdom that were imparted during the early Church.

There are notable thoughts and plans resident in God's heart that have been sealed and held in reserve until the appointed time. That day has now arrived and the Lord is releasing spiritual impartations that will be dynamic in their applications. The Scriptural truths and Kingdom mysteries that are imminently before us will have as much impact today as Martin Luther's ninety-five theses nailed to the Church door in Wittenberg, Germany, did in the early 16th century.

Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
WhiteDove Ministries
Email: inquiries@whitedoveministries.org

Press in. Press on. Don't Give Up.

2009-12-10T16:57:00.004+08:00

Wendy Griffith: Never, Never, Never Give Up!
[from the Elijah List website]

And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.—Galatians 6:9 (King James Version)

As much as we look forward to the holidays, it can also be one of the toughest times of the year. For me, I often look back at the year and ask, Did I accomplish my goals for this year? Did the things I was believing God for happen this year? If they didn't, it's tempting to let disappointment and despair come in. But, the good news is: God has an answer! Don't give up! Don't lose hope! Don't lose your confidence! The thing you're believing God for could be closer than you think.

God has an appointed time, and He says in Galatians 6:9 (AMP): "And let us not lose heart and grow weary and faint in acting nobly and doing right, for in due time and at the appointed season we shall reap, if we do not loosen and relax our courage..."

The NIV Bible says it like this: "Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we WILL reap a harvest if we do not give up."

My friends, that is a promise you can take to the bank. God has an appointed time to bless you. You may think it's long overdue, but God says, "If you don't give up and throw in the towel...I promise...I am going to bless you."

God is Not a Slacker

In 2 Peter 3:9 the Lord says, "I am not slack in the promises I have made toward you, as some men count slackness," but He is "longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance."

I love the definition of slack: moving slowly; sluggish; lacking in activity, not busy, loose, not tense or taut, lacking in diligence or due care or concern; negligent as in a slack worker or a slacker.

Friends, God is not a slacker. Especially when it comes to those things that He has promised you. You may be one more hour, one more prayer, one more step of obedience away from your promise. God is faithful! Resist the temptation to doubt, resist the temptation to think the Lord has forgotten you—because deep down inside, you know you are closer than it may look or feel.

Then (Jesus) spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart.—Luke 18:1

I want to remind you about a woman in the Bible who knew how to pray and refused to give up until she got her promise. Her name is Hannah, and she was married to a man named Elkanah and He had another wife named Peninnah. Peninnah had children, but Hannah had none.

In 1 Samuel, Chapter One, it says Hannah was a woman of sorrowful spirit. In fact, it goes on to say she was at the point of grief and bitterness of soul. The other wife had tormented her constantly because of her barrenness, and she just couldn't take it anymore. Maybe you can relate. Maybe you feel you are just hanging on by a thread. Well, hang on brother or sister! This story and your story have a happy ending.

The Bible was clear, Hannah was deeply grieved. 1 Samuel 1:7 says, "She wept and did not eat." Fortunately, Hannah knew what to do. The Bible says she went to church and she prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish. Then she made a vow and said, "O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head."

Now, because of her grief, Hannah prayed in her heart, only her lips moved but her voice was not heard. Therefore Eli the priest thought she was drunk and said to her, "'How long will you be drunk? Put your wine away from you!' But Hannah answered and said, 'No, my lord, I am a woman of sorrowful spirit. I have drunk neither wine nor intoxicating drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord. Do not consider your maidservant a wicked woman, for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief I have spoken until now.' Then Eli answered and said, 'Go in peace, and the God of Israel grant your petition which you have asked of Him.' And she said, 'Let your maidservant find favor in your sight.' So the woman went her way and ate, and her face was no longer sad."

The Waiting is Not in Vain

Did Hannah have her baby yet? No! But the Bible says she was no longer sad. She hadn't conceived the baby in the natural yet, but she had conceived the baby in the spirit. She had the word of the Lord, and she knew that baby was on the way.

Here's the lesson: whatever the burden, whatever that thing is that you've been asking the Lord for year after year after year, be like Hannah. Call on the God of the Universe! Call on the One who can take your barrenness away and give you new life! The One who can give you the desires of your heart. Maybe, like Hannah, you're crying out for a baby; or a husband, a wife, a job, a ministry, a loved one to get saved, or for a healing. God remembered Hannah and at the appointed time, He will remember you too!

Hannah wanted a son, but God wanted a prophet to Israel. Her waiting was not in vain. God had to get her to the point of desperation where she was not only crying out to the Lord for a child, but she was willing to give him up for the Lord's service. She wanted a son, but God needed a prophet. God had to get her to the point where she wanted what God wanted. See, God has a purpose in your waiting.

And here we are, three thousand years later, and we're still talking about Hannah's son Samuel. Hannah's determination, her willingness to never give up, to press in and get her promise, is what makes her still a hero today. God remembered Hannah, my friend. Today, I believe God is remembering you, too. He has a set time, an appointed time.

In Psalm 102:13 God says, "You will arise and have compassion on Zion (put your name here): for the time to favor her, yes, the set time, has come."

Wendy Griffith, Senior Reporter
CBN News
Email: wendy.griffith@cbn.org

Wendy Griffith is an anchor and senior reporter for the Christian Broadcasting Network based in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She co-anchors several shows: CBN Newswatch, a daily 30-minute newscast seen throughout the United States; Christian World News, seen weekly around the world on the Trinity Broadcasting Network; and CBN News Tonight seen every evening on cbnnewschannel.com. She also frequently anchors the news on CBN's flagship show, The 700 Club.

In addition to her news duties, Wendy also has a passion for preaching the Gospel and encouraging and empowering women to fulfill their destinies in Jesus Christ. If you'd like Wendy to speak at your Women's Conference or other event, please contact her at: wendy.griffith@cbn.org.

Let Go of Past Hurts. Move On to Your Future.

2009-12-09T13:08:00.003+08:00

Luke Holter: Back to the Future: Jesus is Healing Our Past and Setting Up Our Future
[from the Elijah List website]

Hope, Identity and Breakthrough

I have found myself charged by the Lord as of late to call the Church into a place of hope, identity, and breakthrough. Many in the Body are dealing with great grief, and are looking to their past and letting hurts, failures, and mistakes determine where they go in their future. God is committed to us coming into a place where we align ourselves with our true identities as children of God. God desires to give us good gifts, to bless us, and to give us a future.

God wants us to be healed from our painful history and to find our identity in Jesus. "The issues" that make up who we are and how we live are found in "how we relate to our past and what we think of Jesus." Finding the grace in God to overcome your past is the key to what will unlock our hearts to move forward and into 2010—with wholeness. The Holy Spirit will reveal to us the places where we are held captive by bitterness, anger, and shame.

Our identity must first be established in our relationship with God or in intimacy with God. Our relationship with God is grounded as we encounter His thoughts and affections toward us. You have to know that your current circumstances are not punishment for some way you have failed God. If we have a confident relationship with Papa, we will not be waiting for the other shoe to drop, but instead we will overcome the negative aspects of our history and start to walk in confidence and purpose. If we agree with Heaven and literally start speaking the biblical truth of who we are before God, we will begin to soften and become accessible for healing.

A Vision of Healing the Past

The Holy Spirit walked me through a vision, where I saw a large group of people lined up in front of me, and showed me how He literally went into each person's past.

In one instance the Holy Spirit went in through the eyes of a woman in front of me, and He took me to this woman's bedroom when she was a child. She was lying on her side, crying in bed, and I watched as Holy Spirit started to cup His hands around her feet and breathed into His hands. This little girl started to slowly light up with a warm glow as if light was coming from inside of her and glowing through her skin.

I was then pulled back in front of this grown woman, tears were rolling down her face as she said, "I forgive you, dad." The Holy Spirit had literally gone back in time to when she was an abused little girl, and He healed that place in her heart.

Next, I saw an older man standing in line, and again I went on a journey with Holy Spirit and saw this man much younger sitting on his sofa, sobbing. His wife was explaining to him that she didn't love him anymore and was leaving him for another man. The man was left alone sobbing on his sofa as she said goodbye.

Then I watched as Holy Spirit rushed to him and started to put His hands around this young man's heart and breathe. The same event took place as above, and I saw this young man with a warm glow. Then again, I was pulled back and saw the older man now with tears rolling down his face. The man was looking straight forward and said, "I forgive you, sweetheart."

This was what was taking place with everyone in line. They were all allowing the Holy Spirit to go deep into their pain, hurts, and disappointments to heal them. God then said, "I am literally going back in time for the sake of your future."

Everyone in this line had luggage in their hands, and now at the front of the line was an airplane. Written on the side of the airplane was the phrase, "Acceleration to 2010," and I heard a voice in Heaven say, "If you're boarding the promises of God, you have to check your baggage." The luggage was too big and heavy to take on board this airplane of acceleration and had to be handed over to Jesus before boarding. As people chose to hand the luggage over to Jesus, He took their baggage from them.

We need to let go of the baggage in our lives and move forward with Him. God is dedicated to us going into our future—healed up and restored. We have so many wonderful things in our future as we grow in Christ Jesus, and our heart responses to situations that have hurt us are vital in our journey.

Let's choose to be brave and allow the Holy Spirit to go into our past so we can be made whole and released into our future! Make a decision today to not hold captive those past wounds and failures, but to trust Jesus with our past, present, and future. Today the Father wants us to choose to forgive.

Declarative Prayer: Father, we trust You and give You permission to go into the deep places of our history and do a work of healing. Jesus, we forgive those who may have hurt us out of ignorance or even malice and we choose to give them to You.

I want you the reader to literally say, "Jesus, I give You 'person's name' and everything that this person did to me, Lord please forgive them." We invite You, Holy Spirit, to even now begin a work in our own hearts toward daily forgiveness. We choose to let these past hurts go for the sake of our future. In Jesus name, Amen.

Luke Holter
Prophetic Sheep Ministries
Email: propheticsheep@yahoo.com

Shut the Door; Keep the Devil Out

2009-12-03T16:36:00.002+08:00

Chuck D Pierce: Come Up - Shut the Door and Keep Out the Devil!
[from the Elijah List website]

Changing our mind and realigning our thoughts is a process we go through. Now is a time we must learn to see the "whole picture" and not divide everything into disjointed parts. Don't miss the prophecy below. God's timing is perfect. I have been waiting to receive the next plan for us as we all advance into this new season.

The ARROW of Victory

This is the best month of the year to gain strategy and victory over your enemy. We will soon enter the beginning of Chanukah. Chanukah is an eight day celebration that commemorates the rededication of the Temple. During the Feast we celebrate that the oil and light never go out.

Kislev is the month of Benjamin—the most gifted with the art of the bow. He was the only one of Jacob's children born in the land of promise. Watch Israel carefully during this month. Think of the bow and the arrow. This is a month to develop your warfare strategies and receive prophetic revelation for war. Shoot straight this month and move quickly. As we presented the ARROW for our First Fruits gathering, remember not only to strike your enemy and take victory, but extend that victory into the years ahead and to the generations to come.

In this time to fight we must enter into a new level of trust and rest. Let your trust, confidence, and support go to a new level. Be sure you have snipped off all tendrils from the past season, come full circle, and are moving with clarity in this next season. Watch for rainbows this month. They indicate that peace is coming into your warfare. Record all of your dreams this month. This is a month of night vision or the "month of dreams" where your future is being revealed or aligned.

In a year of digging new wells, this is the time for the belly/womb/abdomen/river of God to break into a new level of fullness. We are asking the Lord to develop new relationships so we each have the ability to understand our next measure.

Prophetic Word of the Lord

The Lord is saying, "Come up here and I will show you things you have never seen before. Do not come up in the old way. In this last season you strove in what you did, so do not try to follow your old way of sacrificing. Let Me put a new, fresh sacrifice in your heart and hand. Do not observe the heavenly realm around you in the old way.

"I will press out a new portion in you; there is a new measure of faith and vision that I will open to you. You will hear one word from My mouth and faith will explode. The enemy has tried to attach to your failures and mistakes from the last season, but I will remove them from you. I will clothe you with a new mantle and you will wear the shine of Heaven.

"Some of you are lagging behind in the old because of your emotional need. You are refusing to come to the table and sup with Me. I have positioned you one way, but you are still longing to be established in another way. Come up! Get in position and don't look back. Come up! Get positioned and don't turn back. You have been seated with Me in heavenly places. Come UP, receive this new mantle and go back.

"Shut every door and keep out the devil. Block his forward movement. Do not let certain things come with you into your land of promise. Express thanksgiving with your will. I will fill you with new strength if you will just shut the door and say, 'That will not cross over this season.' I will end this season for you in surprising ways and you will move with new confidence into the place I have positioned for you.

"I am shutting the door on vain imaginations. Get control of them by the Spirit and move into what I have for you. This is a time for your eyes to be opened to My plan. I am going to show you how the devil has been working to subtly distract and keep you out of victory. More importantly, I will show you his plan to keep you from entering into a mindset for victory. When you recognize his strategy to block you, say, 'I have shut the door on you. I am choosing to move forward in a new way!'

"Do not belabor the last season or what the enemy did to you. Do not belabor how you've been ensnared. Shut the door and say, 'Now I see.'

"Move on. I have been taking you through emotional stresses and strains. I am straining out that which has been vain, causing you to have sure vision. I can cause you to see and be prepared to advance quickly with Me. I am readying you to move forward into new opportunities. Ready and train yourself with Me. I am ready for you to shut the door of LOST HOPE and open and enter into another door of HOPE REALIZED.

"Release your reins from the past. Release your reins from the past! Some of you have moved on but are still holding a rein from the past for security. This rein is affecting your kidneys. The power of its directing force is causing spirits of fear to attach to your inward parts and stop the river of confidence that I have for your future. You think that you are tidying up past mistakes and trying to work out missteps, but that rein from the past is actually pulling you in a wrong direction.

"LET GO of the reins from your past and I will ease your way and accelerate you into a new path. I will bring things into your path so you can clearly see what is still trying to pull on you. There are still pulls, there are still tendrils, there are still tentacles, and there are still reins that are keeping you from hearing Me say, 'GET UP AND GO'.

"Like a horse, I am slapping you on the behind and saying, 'Get up! We must advance more quickly. We have much ground to cover in this earth and many atmospheres to change. We have transformational assignments waiting.'

"Therefore, let go, be transformed and renewed, and move with Me."

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries
Email: chuckp@glory-of-zion.org

Harvest Time. Payback Time.

2009-11-20T12:12:00.004+08:00

Matt Sorger: "It's a New Season of Restoration! The Thief Has Been Discovered – Get Ready for Your Harvest!"
[from the Elijah List website]

The Church is entering into a new season. Many are about to experience great restoration and harvest in their lives.

John 10:10 declares, The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows). Amplified Version

It may feel like the enemy has come in like a thief and tried to rob, steal, kill and destroy. But I have a word from the Lord for you: THE THIEF HAS BEEN FOUND OUT!

But if he is found out, he must restore seven times [what he stole]; he must give the whole substance of his house [if necessary – to meet his fine].—Proverbs 6:31, Amplified Version

Once you have discernment on where and how the enemy has been stealing from you, you can rise up and use the authority God has given you as a Believer.

When it has been discovered that the thief has stolen something, he must not only return what he stole, but he must give back seven times as much. Not only that, he must give his whole house away if necessary to pay back the fines he owes. The devil has a lot of fines to pay! Not only does he have to give back seven times what he stole from you, but we are plundering his entire house!

If he has tried to put depression and heaviness on you, get ready for seven-fold "joy." If he has tried to put sickness on you, get ready for seven-fold "health." If he has tried to put debt and lack on you, get ready for seven-fold "prosperity and provision." If he has tried to put fear and anxiety on you, get ready for seven-fold "faith." If he has tried to put bondage and addiction on you, get ready for seven-fold "freedom."

IT'S HARVEST TIME! LOST YEARS WILL BE RESTORED

God is a God of the second chance! He is about to restore to you the years that the locust has eaten. Some suffering is unjust. However, some of our suffering is the result of bad choices we have made. Some of you today are experiencing a negative harvest in your life because of bad seeds that have been sown. When we make sinful choices we are sowing negative seeds in our lives that will ultimately bring a bad harvest.

However we serve a God of the second and third and fourth chance! If you will decide to begin to sow good seeds in your life today, your harvest will begin to transform. God is in the restoring business and the Body is about to experience some glorious restoration in many areas of their lives. We cannot always get back lost opportunities, but God is able to restore the years that were lost to you and cause the glory on your latter house to be greater than your former.

Here's the word of the Lord for you in this new season:

Joel 2:23-26, Be glad then, you children of Zion, and rejoice in the Lord, your God; for He gives you the former or early rain in just measure and in righteousness, and He causes to come down for you the rain, the former rain and the latter rain, as before. And the [threshing] floors shall be full of grain and the vats shall overflow with juice [of the grape] and oil.

And I will restore or replace for you the years that the locust has eaten—the hopping locust, the stripping locust, and the crawling locust, My great army which I sent among you. And you shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord, your God, Who has dealt wondrously with you. And My people shall never be put to shame. Amplified Version

It's harvest time. Your threshing floors will be full of wheat and there will be an overflow of wine and oil in your life. Wheat and grain always speak of harvest and the wine and oil speak of the overflow and abundance of the anointing of the Holy Spirit in your life. Years that were lost during past seasons of wilderness wanderings are about to come back to you and be replaced with harvest and blessing. Some of you will even experience an extension of your lives as lost years are restored!

LET'S DECREE AND DECLARE:

Heavenly Father, I humble myself and repent for any bad choices I have made over the years. I ask that You would bring full restoration into my life and restore my lost years. May the glory on my latter house be greater than my former. I command everything that was taken from me and everything that was stolen from me to be restored in Jesus name. I command the thief to repay seven times what he stole. In Jesus name I command every fine to be paid and I empty the storehouse of the thief! I command the thief to restore seven times everything that he has ever taken from me, in Jesus name.

Father, I thank You for the abundant harvest and fresh anointing that is coming my way! In Jesus name. Amen.

Matt Sorger
Matt Sorger Ministries
Email: info@mattsorger.com

10 Keys to No Limits

2009-11-04T16:18:00.001+08:00

Chuck D. Pierce: "10 Revelatory Keys for You! Take Your Limits Off Of Yourself!"
from the Elijah List website

Dear Heavens Shifters:

Take your limits off of yourself! This is a time of enlargement and fulfillment. Your testings have produced new boundaries of authority in your life. Break old judgments that you have levied against yourself and others. See yourself and describe yourself the way God sees and describes you. You are fearfully and wonderfully made! Yes, times have been difficult, but in the midst of your testings the Lord has done a great work in you. You are not the same this season as you were last season.

Resist legalistic tactics that prevent you from worshipping in a new way. Robert Heidler says this: "We must learn to discern between the wheat of grace and the tares of legalism. They look alike. They grow together. Grace is based in faith working through love. Legalism is based in fear and control which are workings of witchcraft. Religion and legalism will morph together to form witchcraft. Legalism 'bewitches' people into believing that after beginning by grace they can advance through legalism."

Receive the Word of the Lord and Plant It In the Heavens

Resist the old. Do not agree with the lack of freedom that is attempting to stop your gift from working. Submit your gift and be disciplined. Let the Lord prepare you for this season of great change. Things are changing around us so rapidly. The reason changes are accelerating in the earth and the societal structures that we know is because the heavens are changing. Many never understand that there are seasons when the Lord changes the heavens. The heavens are changing and the earth must reflect the changes of Heaven. As we receive the Word of the Lord and plant it in the heavens, they will change according to the Word of the Lord. As the heavens change, then the earth will change.

Here are some key Scriptures for meditation:

Isaiah 51:6, 11, 15-16: "Lift up your eyes to the heavens, and look upon the earth beneath; for the heavens shall be dissolved and vanish away like smoke, and the earth shall wax old like a garment, and they that dwell therein shall die in like manner [like gnats]. But My salvation shall be forever, and My rightness and justice [and faithfully fulfilled promise] shall not be abolished.

[The Lord God says] And the redeemed of the Lord shall return and come with singing to Zion; everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

…For I am the Lord your God, who stirs up the sea so that its waves roar and who by rebuke restrains it—the Lord of hosts is His name. And I have put My words in your mouth and have covered you with the shadow of My hand, that I may fix the [new] heavens as a tabernacle and lay the foundations of a [new] earth and say to Zion, You are My people." (Amplified Version)

See also Matthew 24:35, Hebrews 1:11, 2 Peter 3:10, Revelation 7:17 and 21:1,4, Isaiah 65:17 and 66:22, Revelation 21:1.

Ten Key Revelatory War Points

In this season you must rehearse the Word! We must meditate on what God says until the power of that revelation enters our bloodstream and cell structure. We must learn to worship and minister in our homes. This is allowing our gifts to be activated in new ways in small groups. When the time comes that we are not free, we will already know how to continue in our homes. Take the points below and use them to speak into your life and the environment around you.

Linda Heidler is a Scribe in God's House. She tries to capture the revelation that is coming forth each time we meet for corporate prayer, discuss in meetings what the Lord is saying from Heaven, and when someone is prophesying. We then "watch" with this revelation. You do war with the prophetic word God gives you. Now, we will attempt to encapsulate 10 Points to help you war.

Here are TEN KEY REVELATORY WAR POINTS for you to decree into your atmosphere:

1. In the season of "AYIN or "The Eye", when God opens your eyes to the demonic realm in a greater dimension, we must see beyond the dark structure that we have discerned and view into the realm of God. The Lord is showing you the demonic so you will know what is resisting you or that which will attempt to block or discourage you. When you see these foes, do not be overwhelmed. Remember Elijah saw the "word and the demon gods" that Jezebel was aligned with and ran from his position of authority (1 Kings 19:1-2). This postponed the Lord's plan to change the government of Israel.

2. The Spirit of God is giving you the prophetic revelation you need before you need it. Be alert to LOOK AGAIN at what He has already said to you in the past seasons. He will now refresh His voice so you can gain the revelation you need now and see a manifestation of His grace and promise in your life.

3. Like on a train, God has released engineering and conducting angels. The Spirit of God wants many things engineered (as in construction) and conducted (as in electricity) in this season. We are entering into a new 16-year Building Season. The apostolic leaders that are being raised up today will be downloading Heaven's building plan for His Kingdom projects. Invite these angels as messengers to bring God's plans.

4. God will be sending some of His people into dark structures. Do not fear the darkness. He will give you "night vision" to see a path of righteousness through any unrighteous structure. This will be like moving in the Gulf Stream through the normal ocean currents. The Gulf Stream is a warm stream that originates in the Gulf of Mexico, goes through the Florida Straits and into the colder waters of the Atlantic Ocean. The demon forces will part like the Red Sea and will be held back while God's children go into their new assignments. Look at all GIANTS as your food.

5. We must go up to the source of the river. Just do not be looking at "jumping in the river" this season, but go to the source where the river is beginning. Go to the high places. Topple old thrones of iniquity, follow the river down, and break all dammed structures. Find your supply sources that have been held up in the last season. God is opening our eyes to see those in need and is filling our mouths with the word that will bring them past the plan of the enemy.

6. There is a shout rising from us that will cause God to meet us with His shout. He will open the fountains of the deep to release the revelation for how to enlarge our tents and walk forward in this season. There is a shout deep in your belly where the "springs of living waters" exist. Play skillfully with this shout as it rises and flows from your mouth (Psalm 33).

7. There is a new drink bubbling up within us that will expel bitterness, pain and sorrow.

8. God will open our eyes to things we could not see in the last season so that He can activate the vision within us and finish what He has begun in us. He is Alpha and Omega. Alpha will show you what needs to be finished. Omega will show you how to walk things to the end.

9. God is making our minds new. The crowns you received in the last season need to be cast at His feet. Those crowns were meant to be given to our Lord and not worn into this season. He is fitting us and giving us new crowns to present to Him. He is putting new turbans on our heads and developing a new mindset for a new season. Read Zechariah 3.

10. You will see Babylon arise in a new way. Do not fear. The kingdoms of the world are becoming His. This happens by us being sent like Daniel to be the greatest influencers in the Babylon system.

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries
Email: chuckp@glory-of-zion.org

Walk in the Spirit of Understanding

2009-11-04T16:04:00.002+08:00

Keith Miller: "Be Filled with Spiritual Understanding!"
from the Elijah List website

I believe God is releasing both a Spirit of understanding and wisdom from some of our past visitations and impartations and bringing new impartation. I'm in the place where I don't just want to know God's prophetic word; I want to walk it out! With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding (Proverbs 8:14).

Isaiah 11:2 says the Spirit of the Lord came upon Him, and the Spirit of wisdom and understanding, the Spirit of counsel and might, the Spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. And the kind of understanding God is talking about is a river of understanding, not just a small stream.

Do you want to build your life according to Heaven's blueprint? Do you want to be a wise master builder? "Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths" (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Do you want the Lord to burn up the wood, hay, and stubble of your life so you can offer Him the pure silver and gold? I don't want to trust in my own understanding, I want the Lord to direct my paths. From this day on, say, I'm going to press in. I want wisdom and understanding for my life. I don't want to operate in a measure, but an increase from glory to glory.

This Spirit of understanding comes in many forms. In Exodus 35:34, you'll find that the Spirit of wisdom and understanding will give you that ability to teach. Remember, it's not you, but Him. The best teaching flows out of the anointing—that way it won't dull the ears because it won't be powerless, it'll be powerful!

God wants to open up a river of understanding of the things that He has spoken to you for your ministry, for your family, for all areas of your life. I know that you have something burning in you, but you can't articulate it. God will impart the Spirit of understanding to you and bring understanding of the words and visions He has already placed inside of you! The words that have been spoken by God into your life are being imparted to your inner man.

The Spirit of Understanding Gives Clarity and Boldness

The Spirit of understanding gives clarity. Colossians 1:9 says, "For this reason we also, from the day we heard of it, have not ceased to pray and make [special] request for you, [asking] that you may be filled with the full (deep and clear) knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom [in comprehensive insight into the ways and purposes of God] and in understanding and discernment of spiritual things." (AMP)

Paul didn't say, Get more information! He said, I'm going to pray for you to receive knowledge, wisdom and understanding. He said, I do not cease to pray for you, to ask that you may be filled. I want to walk in spiritual understanding, to walk out what the Lord has spoken to me. God is bringing forth the Spirit of understanding, filling us with the knowledge of His will.

...in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.—Colossians 1:9b-10

It's not fumbling and hoping, it is God. It's authority and confidence. The disciples, in the Book of Acts, said they wanted to know God's predetermined will before the foundations of the earth so that they could speak with boldness. They didn't want to just speak the word; they wanted to know what they were talking about! The word boldness is confidence!

When We Walk in the Spirit of Understanding, We Please God and Become Fruitful in Every Good Work

When we walk in the Spirit of understanding, we walk fully pleasing the Lord, being fruitful in every good work because we are not walking in our own understanding—we're walking in His understanding, and it releases authority! And wherever you're from and whatever you do, God wants to remove all limitations and do something through your life that demonstrates His power!

We need the Spirit of understanding, don't we?

When God imparts understanding it comes to your inner man. Ephesians 1:18 says it causes the eyes of your understanding to be illuminated. You know what that means? Awakened, understanding, the hope of your call, and your inheritance. It causes a confidence and a holy boldness. Isaiah 32:15-17 says when the Holy Spirit is poured out from on high, you dwell in that quiet assurance.

A few years ago I was in a meeting, and as I watched the speaker I thought he was one of the most arrogant persons I'd ever heard. And all of a sudden I heard the Lord say, "You call that pride? I call it confidence, and what you've been calling humility has been a stench to my nostrils."

God wants us to operate in boldness and confidence! We are plugged right into the best Connection; we are getting our information from the best possible Source! We are receiving understanding from the One who can just speak a word and change the whole world. That should give us confidence. If God is for us, who can be against us?

It's Time for Us to Become the Light on the Hill that Raises Up a Standard

This new season you are going into, you are not going in blind. God is going to give you the Spirit of understanding with strategies and clarity. The Spirit of understanding, it breaks off fear! Jesus operated in both the Spirit of understanding and the Spirit of wisdom. Even as a 12-year-old boy He had more understanding and wisdom than the learned Pharisees and Sadducees. When they heard Him, they marveled at His understanding. His understanding greatly exceeded theirs. He was blowing their minds.

It is time for us to become the light on the hill that raises up a standard. It's not by our ability but by being connected into the Spirit of understanding. It is through understanding that authority is released. Don't you want to get plugged in like that? You can!

Happy is the man who finds wisdom, and the man who gains understanding!—Proverbs 3:13

Keith Miller
Stand Firm World Ministries
Email: info@sfwm.org

We Breathe Again

2009-11-04T16:00:00.003+08:00

... this prophetic word confirms what the Lord spoke during our Revival Service last Tuesday...

Kim Clement: "You Are Coming Out of a Season of Suffocation"

Prophesied on October 16, 2009, in Philadelphia, Mississippi:

The Spirit of the Lord says, "Hear the word of the Lord: Throughout this nation a spirit of divination has rested upon My people. The spirit of divination, which is a python that suffocates, this force has suffocated you and strangled you.

And the Spirit of God says, "Tonight the strangulation, the suffocation has been dealt with by My word. I'm giving you back your breath, I'm giving you back your energy; I'm going to fill your houses with delightful delicacies from the house of the Lord."

For the Spirit of God says, "Men have complained and they have come to Me, and they have acted unwisely with their money and with their finance. And the enemy has come in and he's got close to you, and this familiar spirit has come and suffocated—has suffocated and taken the very breath and life away from My people. Enough!" says the Lord. "You are coming out of a season of suffocation. You are coming out of a season of suffocation."

The Spirit of God says, "I have taken the python. This python is a spirit, it does not bite; it gets close to its prey by the sense of dust and chemicals in the air. There has been too much dust, which speaks of flesh. And this python has come close to My people and it has begun forces of suffocation. Your energy has been lifted, your faith has been suffocated, your finances have been suffocated, but," God said, "some have recognized it. I have brought this beast to a place where it is now no longer able to suffocate. The beast has become My feast!" says the Spirit of God.

"I'm Going to Revive You in a Way that You've Never Seen or Felt Before"

"Do not think this strange, for the courts have come to a conclusion and a decision. The Courts of Heaven have watched the people as they have suffered suffocation. Your breath has been taken away, but," God says, "you have survived, and because you have survived I will release you. I will bring signs and wonders back into My house," says the Lord.

"Great revivals have been suffocated. Great movements that I sent have been suffocated. Men have suffocated as this familiar spirit has taken them away from family and friends." God says, "Families have suffocated. The suffocation has caused men to say, 'We give up.'"

God said, "Do not fear, for I am breathing on the land that has been plowed by praise. I am breathing upon the land that seems dry, and my breath is going to revive you in a way that you've never seen before or felt before," says the Lord!

Kim Clement
Prophetic Image Expressions
Email: hope@kimclement.com

Song of the Season: Hold On

2009-11-02T10:46:00.001+08:00

by Tye Tribbett & G.A.

CHORUS
Every little things gonna be alright
Weeping can only last one night
You gotta endure till' the morning sun
You're gonna win the race but you have to run
Trouble can never last always
It looks like I can see a brighter day
My brother if you can jus hold on
The Lord's gonna make a way I know
Every little thing is gonna be alright

VERSE 1
The God that we serve is Lord of all
Of the big as well as the small
And yes He's in love with everyone
No matter how many times we fall
Every detail that entails your life
He's already worked it out
I know that life gets rough sometimes
But trust and never doubt

Yes He sees sometimes you cry
In the room when your by yourself
And when the kids need money just to bust a grub
He sees nobody is there to help
Even though sometimes you feel like giving up
And throwing in the towel
Daddy's brought you out many times before
why should it be any different now

PRE-CHORUS
All of my needs he will supply
He knows the plans he has for my life
He's El Shadai He's more than enough
He's in control [That's how I know]
Every little thing's gonna be alright

VERSE 2
I know it seems that the Lord forgot
About all that your going through
The doctor said that there may be something wrong
On top of that all yuor bills are due
And the kids are growing up so fast
They think that they are grown
The job is talking bout' laying you off
Can't make it on your own

Well allow me to take the time right now
To echo the word of Christ
Matthew six verse twety five
Take no thought for your life
So you might as well look to the hills
Cause your help is on the way
Rejoice in the Lord and be glad
This is the day the Lord has made

PRE-CHORUS

CHORUS

Song of the Season: Stand Out

2009-11-02T10:34:00.002+08:00

by Tye Tribbett & G.A.

VERSE 1
It's about to go down. The battle has begun.
It's time for you to choose, whose side you gonna be on.
The devil is recruiting, temptin' every man.
But he's already defeated, all we have to do is stand.
No time for mixing light with the darkness.
Be black or be white, no more shades of gray.
Be separated, be holy, no matter what you do, don't bow.
And even if you stand alone, stand anyhow.

CHORUS
Rise up people, put on your strength.
There's a war going on and we will win.
Stand up and fight, let the kingdom prevail.
With power and might, we will stand out.
Stand out!
[Stand out!]
Be not conformed to this world.
[Stand out!]
Be transformed, renew your mind.
[Stand out!]
Just like the three Hebrew boys,
[Stand out!]

VERSE 2
God is playin' it cool, don't wanna rub nobody the wrong way.
Almost like we're trying to fit in. Acting like we don't know the name.
It's time for us to stand out and go against the grain.
Forget tryin' to be down, let the world know you've been changed.
How you gonna be the praise leader? But you listen to R & B?
And hip-hop is on your ringtone. I'm try to tell you God ain't pleased.
And since when did it become cool for you to live together unmarried?
Men with men? Women with women? I'm tellin you God ain't gon' have it.

CHORUS

BRIDGE
It's time to recognize.
The war it's in disguise.
No time for compromise.
Wake up open your eyes.
[together:] The devil is a LIE!
You must be hot or cold.
You can't blend in the crowd.
It's time for God's people to...

CHORUS

Time to Move With God

2009-10-30T16:04:00.002+08:00

from the Elijah List website

Paul Keith Davis: "The Cloud is Moving"

I love it when God confirms His word! Around September 11, I was given an extraordinarily vivid dream that has since provided a source of great encouragement. In the dream I saw a hand being extended holding an open Bible. I was told to turn to a certain chapter of the Bible and begin to read. After reading several verses in this passage I came upon a "Scripture" that simply said, "increase, increase, increase, increase, increase."

Obviously, there is no passage of Scripture that says this precisely, but it was a symbolic representation of God's desire to release escalating measures of increase for the coming days. The passage that I was reading was from Numbers 10. Admittedly, Numbers was not a book that has been on my radar in recent days. I have focused much of my attention on Revelation, Daniel, Zechariah and the Gospel of John. Therefore it was a seemingly random and obscure passage for me to read at the time, yet I knew the dream was from the Lord.

As a result, I determined not to tell anyone the specific passage that I was given so when the confirmation came I could have complete confidence that it was from the Lord. The following week I participated in a conference in Knoxville, Tennessee, that included Bob Jones. I thought perhaps the Lord would activate Bob's revelatory gifting and speak to me from Numbers 10. However, by the time I left the conference no mention was made of this passage.

I then flew directly from Knoxville to Dallas, Texas, to participate in a Rosh Hashanah conference with Chuck Pierce and Glory of Zion ministries. I was quite excited to be a part of this gathering and felt a certain sense of appreciation to the Holy Spirit for His quick fulfillment of a prophetic word the Lord directed me to give Chuck the year before. It was a revelatory experience involving a huge white tent and the release of the healing anointing comparable to that demonstrated during the tent revivals of the 50s.

This was the first tent meeting they had conducted on property they purchased outside of Denton, Texas. When I arrived the tent was exactly as I had seen in the experience the year before. I still carried in my heart a desire to understand the implications of Numbers 10, but admittedly was not focused on it when the service began that evening.

To my amazement, following worship, Chuck brought forward two individuals with silver trumpets to inaugurate the Feast of Trumpets and the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. This of course is taken from Numbers 10:1-3 and the declaration given to Israel for the purpose of calling a holy assembly and alerting the people for times of movement.

Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work you shall make them; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for having the camps set out. When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

I was even more amazed when Chuck declared that he was going to do a brief teaching from Numbers 10 as a prophetic announcement for the services and the coming season in God. There was my confirmation!

Moving With God

Numbers 10 is a chapter devoted to the preparation of God's people to move with the cloud of His Presence into a place of promise. Very specific and meticulous instruction was given to Moses when the time came for the cloud to move to another location. Clearly, from this prophetic insight, the Body of Christ is being called to a holy assembly and preparing to follow the movement of His Presence. The cloud is moving!

The specific verse that I was reading in my dream that was translated "increase, increase, increase, increase, increase" was actually Numbers 10:28 saying, "This was the order of march of the sons of Israel by their armies as they set out."

My interpretation of this passage as it relates to the coming increase is derived from our necessity to follow God's meticulous order outlined by His Spirit. The Lord has a prescribed way that He desires for us to align ourselves with Him in order for His blessings of favor and grace to accompany us, resulting in progressive measures of increase. Much of that order can be found in Isaiah 66:1-2 saying:

Thus says the LORD, "Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for Me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being," declares the LORD. "But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.

Three things will help align us with God for the coming days:

1. The Spirit of Humility
2. A Broken and Contrite Heart
3. Trembling in Reverence and Awe at God's Word (Rhema and Logos)

Praise, Times and Seasons, Habitation

The Lord clearly instructed Moses to have three tribes precede the Tabernacle as they began to march—Judah, Issachar and Zebulun (Numbers 10:14-16).

The standard representing Judah was that of a lion. Clearly, the Lord is presenting Himself as the Lion from the tribe of Judah. He came once in a manger and offered Himself as a suffering lamb. However, now He comes roaring in resurrection power to appropriate His overcoming victory through a Body of people identified as the Bride of Christ. Praise must go before us along with a clear understanding of times and seasons as depicted in the blessings of Issachar.

We are now entering an "appointed time" for advancement and especially the recovery of lost heritage. While in South Africa following Rosh Hashanah very clear revelatory insights were given concerning Zebulun and the blessing of Moses found in Deuteronomy 33:18-19 saying:

Of Zebulun he said, "Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going forth, and, Issachar, in your tents. They will call peoples to the mountain; there they will offer righteous sacrifices; for they will draw out the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the sand."

The name Zebulun means "a habitation" but the land of Zebulun was once ostracized for its darkness and apostasy. However, one visitation from the Lord Jesus and it became known as a land of illumination and a source of great Light (Matthew 4:15-16). This blessing provides a prophetic picture of many places being positioned for divine visitation. I believe this will be especially true along certain coastal areas that have received prophetic promises through the blessings of Zebulun. Naturally, that is not to say this will be limited to coastal areas, but this word is identifying those places with this promise.

A New Season

I believe this past fall festival season has been one of the most important in recent memory. Very clear and precise revelations have been granted concerning God's desire to release not only demonstrations of His Spirit but also a more pronounced measure of His Presence. We are called and commissioned in this season to bring in a wave of harvest that will consist of future harvesters; the Cloud is moving in that direction. Along with our emphasis on evangelism there must also be a corresponding emphasis on equipping, mentoring and preparation.

Paul Keith and Wanda Davis
WhiteDove Ministries
Email: mailto:inquiries@whitedoveministries.org?subject=Inquiry

When It's God It Won't Let Go

2009-10-30T15:39:00.001+08:00

from the Elijah List website

Cindy McGill: "Missions Accomplished: When It's God It Won't Let Go"

God is designing our paths—there are things being prepared for us that we have not yet seen and have not been revealed. Our future days are full of hope, power, discernment and peace. He is the God of all hope and the God of all peace. When we can rest in His ability to guide us, we can stay in an attitude of peace and receive the revelation we need for the days ahead.

Our citizenship is in Heaven. I used to picture my seat in Heaven next to Jesus looking like a theater seat, but now I think it's a couch. It is the place to stretch out, knowing that He is in total control. He is able to do things in us and through us that we have absolutely no ability to do. Our job is to cease striving and His job is to accomplish exceeding, abundant things for us, in us and through us.

He is Financing Kingdom Projects

He is financing His Kingdom projects. The resources in Heaven are not limited. There are ideas being birthed to reach the world with the message of truth and God is dispersing the necessary finances to do them. Some have been given assignments of creative things to bring to life, but have been hindered by the perceived "lack of funding." If we will just begin, then the money and people will be in place to help birth it.

It is faith-building to watch God's hands at work, bringing all the pieces together to advance His Kingdom to reach this world searching for truth. Our confidence is strengthened in these times to give us faith for the days ahead.

When It's God, It Won't Let Go

When God is directing us to do something that will build His Kingdom, it won't let go of us. Recently, we completed a documentary on dreams that we had been working on for seven years. We took our cameras on the streets and captured people telling us their dreams and gave them interpretations as we listened to God regarding the dreamer and the dream.

Often the weather conditions were extreme. I remember one year being in the temperature of six degrees on the streets. There were times I wanted to give up, having no money to work with, opposition from people who didn't understand what I was doing, and discouragement when I wasn't allowed access into places where I felt God wanted us to go. I was learning some serious lessons about overcoming and persistence.

But this assignment WOULDN'T LET GO OF ME. Each year I was compelled to keep going, and each year we gained more favor and we found more and more people with TRULY God-given dreams that we were able to capture on film. I remember at one point just sitting down on a couch during the outreach, discouraged and cold. Our camera people were with us and it just seemed like we couldn't go on. I laid my head back on the couch and sighed, and then I heard the Lord say to me, "Don't let another year go by."

I have to tell you, that statement didn't comfort me. It was like, "Lord, I am doing all I can and I am getting so weary." But little did I know that God had all the pieces in place, and within a two month period of time, we had a producer and everything we had need of to accomplish this task—and it was completed WITHOUT OUR EFFORT. I now look back and wonder what would have happened if I had given up because I didn't "see" everything, or if I had let people's opinions stop me from completing my assignment from God.

Hearing the Voice of the Good Shepherd...

...and the voice of another we are not to listen to. Often times we are set back or hindered from moving forward because the opinions of others speak louder than the direction of God. People who don't receive the assignment don't understand the vision. In order to accomplish what God is asking us to do, we must follow His voice and direction above all else.

Consider Noah—a man who walked with God and was asked to do the most unusual thing in a time of impending disaster. Genesis 6 has the account of his obedience to the Lord in spite of peoples' opinions and mocking. Noah walked with God and found favor with Him, and God could trust Noah to do something that had never been done before. Noah received instruction and did EXACTLY what the Lord was asking him to do. I'm sure Noah was a bit perplexed as God asked him to build an "ark" which, to that time, had never been built before. But, what God asked Noah to do he did, and God's plan was carried out as Noah obeyed.

Don't Limit God in the Coming Days

God has things up His sleeves to surprise us. We are in a time of incredible revelation and creativity being released. Being one with the Creator makes us the most creative people on the planet. Demonstrations of God's Kingdom are going to astound the world. It is the GREATEST SHOW ON EARTH with signs, wonders, miracles; signs in the heavens and wonders on the earth.

God is making His voice known and the Holy Spirit is fueling us to make it happen. Dream big and keep pressing on. The biggest results require the biggest risks. God is cheering us on to greater things. The Kingdom of God is not a boring Kingdom, and He is looking for people who will let Him create through them.

Dream on,
Cindy McGill
Hope for the Harvest
Email: mailto:dreaminslc@hotmail.com?subject=Inquiry

No Plan B

2009-10-19T13:08:00.002+08:00

Bill Yount: "There is No Plan B... You Are My Plan A"
from the Elijah List website

Isaiah 54:2-4 (MKJV) "Make the place of your tent larger and let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings. Do not spare, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes; for you shall break out on the right hand and on the left. And your seed shall inherit the nations and people will inhabit ruined cities. Do not fear; for you shall not be ashamed, nor shall you blush; for you shall not be put to shame; for you shall forget the shame of your youth, and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood any more."

Recently while praying, facing a great challenge, I heard the Father say, "There is no Plan B." It dawned on me that since God was saying there is no plan B, that this means I am not plan B either...I am still God's plan A. A great burden lifted off of me as all my doubts over the many years, where I thought I had missed God or made too many mistakes and failures, just vanished as He spoke those few words to me. I believe right now the enemy is trying to convince many in the Body of Christ that they have missed God's plan A for their lives. All through the Bible God's chosen battled with that lie. As long as the enemy can get you thinking about a possible plan B, you will be double-minded in all you do and you won't be able to focus on God's plan A for your life.

"For the Gifts and Calling of God are Without Repentance" Romans 11:29

I wonder when Peter denied Christ three times if he thought plan A for him was out of the question? But look whom God chooses to preach the first sermon on the day of Pentecost to bring in 3,000 souls! Peter allowed his denial to drive him deeper into Christ, and as a result Peter became a strong tent stake in the New Testament Church as God added to the Church daily (Acts 2:47).

I wonder if Joseph wondered where God's plan A went as he looked up out of the dark pit that his wicked brothers threw him into. Perhaps he lived with the regret of the mistake of telling them his dream. Later sitting in prison for about 12 years, in spite of his innocence, must have given him some doubts if God's plan for his life had actually changed to plan C. But as he goes from the pit to the prison to the palace, he discovers it was God's plan A all along! God was in all of the above!

Jonah runs in the opposite direction of God's call to go to Nineveh to preach repentance to them. He ends up in the belly of a whale. He saw the plan of death beginning to take place for him, but the whale gets sick because God's plan A is in its belly, and as Jonah cries out to the Lord, the whale spits him out so he can still get to Nineveh! (See Jonah 2.)

It's Time to Drive a Stake in the Ground and Proclaim, "I Am God's Plan A"

I believe the Lord sees our mistakes differently than we do. A friend of mine was sharing about a retreat he went on with the Lord. The first couple days He was confessing to the Lord his shortcomings and was telling the Lord that he felt he had made too many mistakes in his life and ministry. He was telling the Lord how He should have been more cautious and made less mistakes. A day later the Lord spoke to him, "Son, I can turn a mistake into a miracle."

As the Lord spoke to me that there is no plan B, I saw the word mistake highlighted in the Spirit. I could see that the word "mistake" has the word "stake" in it, and it also has the letter A in it. I believe the Lord is showing that in spite of many mistakes and adverse situations, we still have a stake with plan A in it, and we need to drive that stake into the ground and proclaim, "I am God's plan A!" I believe this stake can become the tent stake in Isaiah 54:2 "strengthen your stakes..." in order for God to expand His Kingdom.

As you drive your tent stake into the ground you will discover it has to be pounded hard to go deep into solid ground to make the place of your tent larger. I believe the reason we have lost focus of our lives being plan A is because of the pounding of everyday life, the enemy, and certain people who have come against us who have helped to pound us deeper into the ground.

I saw the imprint of plan A on the head of the stake to be driven into the ground, which represented our purpose and destiny so the tent could be stretched out. But through the many years of being pounded, the letter A has worn off of the head of the tent stake and we have lost focus of God's plan A and become weary and seemingly have lost our identity. Now we must see by faith that we are still plan A and be willing to be driven even deeper as we give God the permission to use whatever and whomever He chooses for us to go deeper. How deep? All I know is that the tent peg or stake is the most hidden part of the tent, driven so deep in order to hold the expansion of our tent that God has in mind.

"Let 'Them' Stretch Out the Curtains of Your Dwellings..." Isaiah 54:2

As I was pondering this Scripture, I was wondering who "them" was. I sense the Lord showing me that "them" are "whoever will" may come to stretch the curtains of our habitations. Stay alert, "them" could represent your neighbor, your community, your city, and your nation, who will challenge you to be stretched. We must be open to different faces, different places and different ideas that are coming our way from those who are coming to pull the life of Christ out of us!

Make sure your tent peg or stake goes deep into solid ground. Be open, because their pulling on the Christ in us will result in stretching us into their arts, their music, their media and their world. We must allow them to pull on us and stretch us into their dark habitations in order for us to be the light rising in gross darkness. Different faces and all kinds of people are coming to stretch us. The governments of our cities and nations will be pulling on us for answers. We must grant God permission to allow them to stretch us.

Endure the pounding, the stretching has begun!

Bill Yount
Blowing the Shofar Ministries
Email: theshofarhasblown@juno.com

The Downward Spiral

2009-10-16T17:37:00.002+08:00

Choir Bible Study Notes
October 10, 2009
from UBS's sharing...

Passages lifted from the letter to the HEBREWS

The discussion outlined the steps that take place that leads a person to fall away from God...

...first, a person DRIFTS FROM THE WORD

...then he DOUBTS THE WORD

...after a while his spirit becomes DULL TO THE WORD

...which subsequently leads the person to DESPISE THE WORD

...finally, the person DEFIES THE WORD

Revival Service Notes: October 6, 2009

2009-10-16T17:17:00.002+08:00

from HWL's preaching...

- God is putting a stop to things that are unproductive in our lives

- 2010 is a year of being launched into something long term

- there will be deliverance from demonic things

- God has blessed us with EVERY spiritual blessing in CHRIST

- GOD is a Planner, Preparer, God of freedom, Predestinator, Positioner and Workout-er

- HE chose you and me in His SOVEREIGNTY

- it's really, REALLY, REALLY all about HIM

- DO NOT SETTLE FOR LESS because God wants to give you THE BEST

- do not allow the FLESH to DISTRACT you from GOD'S PURPOSES

- Romans 8:26... God helps u in our weakness

- lift your vision higher to the spiritual

- stop focusing on your weakness

Revival Service Notes: September 22, 2009

2009-10-16T16:49:00.002+08:00

from JBD's sermon...

- the WORD of God has the POWER to ADJUST your LIFE

- God release the Holy Spirit to enable you to live SUPERNATURALLY

- everything is in the SPIRIT

- the entire BIBLE reveals JESUS CHRIST

- the forces of darkness will assail but they will never prevail

- the wisdom of the world is foolishness to GOD

- HIS purposes will prevail but we have to partner with HIM

- the BATTLE is in the MIND; once the MIND is set, get your sails ready

- the WORD cuts both ways -- it slices the speaker and the hearer

- do not worry about money because JESUS is your SHEPHERD

ADTT Lesson on the Dominion Mandate

2009-10-06T15:15:00.002+08:00

ADTT Lesson on the Dominion Mandate As taught by Pastor Joseph B. DiSarno To Batch A3 of the Apostolic Discipleship Training Track November 5, 2008

- Jesus is the second Adam but He was able to tend the “garden” without failure

- JBD mentioned the difference between “foreknowledge” and “pre-destination”
-----> Jesus “knew” Judas but He still loved him

- Jesus received ALL authority and He commanded us to GO

- Jesus used that authority and He took dominion…
-----> over His flesh [Mark 1:12-13]
-----> over temptation and the devil [Mark 1:12-13]
~~~~~~~~~> Jesus did not believe the lies of the devil
~~~~~~~~~> the devil tempts us with things that God already gave us
-----> over unclean spirits [Mark 1:23-27]
-----> over sickness and diseases [Mark 1:29-33]
-----> over leprosy [Mark 1:41]
-----> over sin by releasing forgiveness [Mark 2:1-5]
-----> over legalism [Mark 2:28]
-----> over the elements (wind, waves) [Mark 4:39]
-----> over death [Mark 5:41]
-----> in producing after His own kind [Mark 6:7-13]
-----> over poverty and lack [Mark 6:37]
+ cooperate with whatever you have left. He will multiply it
-----> over the laws of science [Mark 6:48]
-----> over deafness and blindness [Mark 7]

ADTT Lesson on the Dominion Mandate, part 2 As taught by Pastor Gertrudes C. Hinampas To Batch A3 of the Apostolic Discipleship Training Track November 12, 2008

- Matthew 28:16-20, the Great Commission
-----> Jesus gave instructions
-----> He reminded and assured His disciples of His presence
-----> He commissioned them to GO to ALL the NATIONS to…
~~~~~~~~~> Make disciples – teach, train, equip and disciple
~~~~~~~~~> Baptize them
~~~~~~~~~> Teach obedience to His commands

- A parallel account of the Great Commission is in Mark 16:14-18, where Jesus says…
-----> Signs will accompany His disciples. They will
~~~~~~~~~> Drive out demons
~~~~~~~~~> Speak in new tongues
~~~~~~~~~> Pick up snakes and drink poison without being harmed
~~~~~~~~~> Lay hands on the sick and they will be healed

- We are to step out in faith and take dominion over the things around us

- Jesus promised the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Acts 1:8 and fulfilled in Acts 2:1-6

God is Raising Up the Men

2009-09-25T11:45:00.001+08:00

Kim Clement:"There is About to Be a Huge Revival with Men in the Kingdom—Fathers, Husbands, Entrepreneurs and Leaders All Included"

[from the Elijah List website]

"God says there's an unusual movement that's going to take place with men. Wholeness will be restored so that once again industry can be laid aside for the hands of those who are righteous and diligent; to bring purity once again to the pulpits across the Earth. It's going to take a man, just like you. Show me that man."—Spoken in Chicago, Illinois, August 28, 2009 (for the full versions of the prophecies, see the bottom of this article)

Dear Friends,

After a short absence from my ministry duties, I have returned and hit the ground running. My son Caleb entered the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in August, and after settling him in to his dormitory with mixed feelings, I went to San Jose on Sunday morning and ministered at Pastor Dick Bernal's church, Jubilee Christian Center. What took place that morning was nothing more than an outpouring of divine knowledge, and what resonated out of my spirit and my mouth was probably more of a surprise to me than anyone else.

I have discovered over the years that if God wants to address difficult subjects or controversial issues, He will not share it in advance but simply wait for the perfect moment, then breathe on His servant and release the word that has been dormant within. Sunday morning, August 16th, I woke up with unusual anticipation and expectation. I had prepared a great message in the hope that God would bypass the usual "surprise" revelation that so often accompanies the prophet's ministry and allow me to expound my "vast" theological knowledge with structured exegesis. But no, it was not to be. He had something to say and He was not going to tell me in advance. So during the music, and under a tremendous anointing, I began prophesying about an incredible move of God that would take place amongst the men in the Kingdom—fathers, husbands, entrepreneurs, leaders, etc.

Soon, an excitement arose as I declared from the Holy Spirit how God was going to restore the priestly anointing to the men of this nation again. I felt a deep compassion in my heart as I felt the pain that men were feeling because of their feelings of inadequacy and the awareness of their flaws and failures. Then came a moment I will never forget. Under the influence of the Spirit of God, I began singing a song that God the Father was singing to the thousands of men who had now gathered around this vast altar. The song was about how God felt when He had to turn His back on His only Son. It was such a moving moment for any father and for us as the benefactors of that incredible moment in history. (You can view this song on my website on KCTV Videos on Demand from San Jose, CA — August 16, 2009.)

The Lord is Going to Move Upon the Men and Restore Them Back to Their High Priestly Positions

Christ predicted that "men would be lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God," and I believe that this would be a sign for us to look up for the redemption to come. Presently, it seems that there is a preoccupation with the need to fulfill emptiness with various kinds of material pleasures. There is no problem with enjoying our life and the various toys available for our enjoyment, but when it removes our love for God and the desire to be with Him, then it is a problem.

When he was a lad, long before he was anointed as the King of Israel, David would use his harp to worship God. And when he became King, he always found time to play his songs and write the inspirational psalms to God as he did when he was in the fields and caves. Sure he enjoyed hunting, sport and whatever recreational activities there were at that time, but his legacy were his songs and psalms that he wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit and his ability to protect Israel from their enemies as he did when he was a young boy—protecting his father's sheep from wolves, lions and bears.

David sinned, but when he was confronted with the sin, he took full responsibility for it and rose to the occasion by sorrowful repentance. God used David to bring Christ into the Earth as a result of his heart and faithfulness towards God. Samson, on the other hand, found more pleasure in the Philistine women than he did in God's destiny and plan for his life. His eyes were torn from their sockets, which represents spiritual blindness to us in this day. He spent most of his days working a mule's job at a grinding mill, basically going around in circles. Eventually he did fulfill God's purpose and will, but only after he had lost everything, and with great shame and embarrassment.

Today, very seldom will you hear someone refer to Samson as the great deliverer of Israel, but rather as the Samson of "Samson and Delilah", sadly. It appears to me that there are many men that are in this position today and I believe that God wants them fully restored and anointed. Marriages are falling apart, churches are shutting their doors, attorneys are getting richer from unnecessary bankruptcies, and women are having to step up to the plate and salvage the mess (no disrespect to women).

When I heard the Lord say He was going to move upon the men and restore them back to their High Priestly positions, I knew that it was going to be a huge undertaking. Over the years there have been wonderful movements involving only men; Edwin Cole and Bill McCartney were instrumental in reaching into the hearts of men and bringing an awareness of their role as High Priests of their homes. It seems that since these movements have ended their season, now the lack of "watchmen on the wall" has caused many of the problems we are facing in the Body of Christ today. Please don't think that I'm judging in any way; I am simply obeying what I heard in San Jose on that Sunday morning. Men need a breakthrough! I didn't plan what was spoken on that Sunday morning; it was the cry of God's heart.

God is Crying Out and Looking for a Man After His Own Heart

Thank God for the great movements with the youth so graciously and powerfully led by men like Lou Engle and Che Ahn, just to mention a few. These moves of the Spirit are vital and we must continue to bear them up in prayer so that this never dwindles. My burden, however, is if the men do not fulfill their role as fathers, husbands and spiritual leaders so that God can strengthen the Church and the values that we represent in this Nation, the youth will be morally stifled and spiritually dysfunctional.

Mothers have had to become fathers and fathers have had to become mothers to accommodate the infidelity and incompatibility that now seems to be rampant in so many marriages. Young men look up to the spiritual leaders to follow in their footsteps, and in many cases these spiritual leaders have abandoned the simple responsibilities of being fathers, husbands, Priests and Kings because of, in most cases, the love of pleasure. Those who have failed in this area are not condemned but are able to be spiritually restored, not only by the power of God's grace but with a spirit of meekness from their spiritual peers. I am fully aware of the fact that any one of us could fall, and so with fear and trembling I approach this very sensitive subject.

Galatians 6:1 says, "Brothers, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted."

Please notice what Paul says here: "Considering yourself lest you also be tempted." In other words, if you would dare to judge or condemn someone who has fallen, instead of approaching them with humility and gentleness, it is possible that you will be tempted and more than likely fall. We have seen this happen time and time again with leading ministries in America.

I am honored and privileged that God chose to speak this powerful prophetic word through me and I claim it for myself, my sons and the men of God surrounding me. I have attached below the words to another prophetic song that the Spirit of God sang through me in Chicago—"Give Me a Man." In this song, God is crying out and looking for a man after His own heart.

I encourage you, and even challenge you, to grasp a hold of this for yourself, your husband, your father, your son, and let the chosen men of God rise up and claim their position and promise from God. I pray that God would continue to ignite the hearts of men across this Nation and the nations of the world and that this movement would continue and spread throughout the Earth.

Give me a man who will show his son My hand
Give me a man who will pray for his nation
Give me a man who will love his wife
I'll show you a man after My heart

Give me a man who will reach into his daughter's heart
And show what life will be
When she finds a man and she changes to a woman

Give me a man who will find the place on his knees
And I'll show you a man after My heart
Give me that man

I'll find a man who will cry out for the priest
Give me a man who will shed a tear as he worships Me
I'll show you a man, just like Me

In This Nation There Will Be an Extreme, Unusual Movement Amongst the Men

Prophesied on August 28, 2009 in Chicago, Illinois:

The Spirit of God says there is a mighty army coming forth. God says, "There is about to be a huge revival with men. Men should be greatly touched. Men will begin to shout out, men will begin to dance like David danced, and pray like Daniel prayed."

When Edwin Cole died, many men began to pull away from the great truth that he taught. Ed Cole nurtured men, and then there was a great men's movement again. Suddenly it went. But the Lord says, "This time I shall raise up men, gather them together, and Priests of the Most High God shall be raised up," says the Lord.

Prophesied on September 1, 2009 in Tampa, Florida:

The Spirit of the Lord says, "Hear the word of the Lord tonight. For I am not here to bring shame to anybody, I'm not here to bring anybody down. There has been a theft and the priestly garments that once stood to sanctify the pure have been defiled; ashes have come upon them.

"This nation is about to have an eruption of the priestly anointing. Men shall rise to the occasion. I'm not talking about the men in the pulpits; I'm talking about men in industry, men in artistry, men in ministry, but most of all men in family. I'm about to bring together men from all over the nation. I will cast upon them an anointing. They will pray again, they will seek My face, and the authority shall arise back into this nation. Men shall take their stand, they shall say, 'We will pray,' and they will fight."

God says, "Because they have chosen to do that, I will bring a fresh new anointing into the house. This is My promise," says the Lord. "You shall see fallen ones raised up. You will see young men who have gone away come back. I cast upon you a mantle as I walked into the field of rejoicing, where Elisha stood and I cast My mantle upon him, so," God says, "tonight I will cast my mantle upon the men that stand for their families and will pray. In this nation there will be an extreme, unusual movement amongst the men. Ed Cole brought it before, T.D. Jakes brought it to the women, many came to speak to women and men, but this thing that I am about to do will shake the very core of this nation. Shake it."

With love and prayer,

Kim Clement
Prophetic Image Expressions
Email: hope@kimclement.com

Breaking Through Into A New Thing

2009-09-22T15:45:00.002+08:00

from the Elijah List

John Belt: "Breaking Through Into A New Thing"

Isaiah 43:18-19, Remember ye not the former things, neither consider the things of old. Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert.

The Number Three

Three is a very significant number in Scripture. Three times is fullness. Three times represents completion. The Godhead—Father, Son and Spirit, is the fullness of God. We are composed of spirit, soul and body. There is completeness as all of these function together in unison in worship to God.

It was three days when Jesus came forth from the grave. The third day represents resurrection, a divine release of the Spirit and power, for it was the Spirit that raised Jesus after three days. Jesus was tempted three times by the devil, then He was released into His power ministry on the earth. Because Jesus walked out a life of faithfulness to His Father He was launched into the new place of power ministry. As we have been faithful to the Lord, He is taking us and causing us to break through into a new season. God has new things in store. His timing is perfect. He is ready to release a fresh wind and glory of His Spirit.

1 Samuel 2:35, And I will raise Me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in Mine heart and in My mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before Mine anointed for ever.

New Shoes to Run

Hebrews 12:1-2, Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith...

God is giving us new shoes to run for His purposes. There is work to be done for the Kingdom of God. For the next round of obedience new shoes are being given. There is something about a nice new pair of tennis shoes. I love the fresh smell of them. There is a nice bounce from a pair that has not been worn. God is ready to put a bounce in our step as we obey Him, forerunning for His purposes without compromise. As we do, His glory will be released, His Kingdom will be expanded, and His Church will be built.

Warriors, Defenders, Purity and Revelation

God takes us on a journey to come to a place of purity, revelation and glory. He is now releasing those who have been prepared as warriors and defenders of the faith. We are to be continually taking ground for the Kingdom of God as we position ourselves in the place that He has called us to. It is a time to be sober, diligent, given to excellence, walking in Godly character, shunning manipulations and corrupt motives of the heart, being filled with grace and walking in the light of His love and goodness.

The pure in heart shall see God. Those who love the pure Word of God, His promises and His Presence, will be those He can trust with the riches of His glory and power.

Psalm 24:3-6, Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in His holy place? He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation. This is the generation of them that seek Him, that seek Thy face, O Jacob. Selah.

As our hearts are washed in His pure waters the revelation of His goodness, blessing and grace will rest upon us as we continually experience His person, opening our eyes to see from His heavenly perspective.

Revelation 1:10-11, I was in the Spirit on the Lord's day, and heard behind me a great voice, as of a trumpet, saying, "I am Alpha and Omega, the first and the last..."

Glory

The glory of the Lord will fill the earth as the waters cover the sea. We are the vessels of His glory. As His glory, the manifested presence of God fills us, and we act as conduits of the substance of Heaven wherever we go.

2 Peter 1:17-18, For He received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to Him from the excellent glory, "This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." And this voice which came from Heaven we heard, when we were with Him in the holy mount.

With the weapons of worship and wielding the Word of His authority, we will war in the spirit to accomplish the purposes of God. He gives us all the backing we need as we place Him first in our heart without common ground with the enemy. It is in this place that we will obtain the victory in our hearts, and then into the earth where He will draw men to Himself. It is all for His plan, Kingdom and glory—that Jesus Christ would be magnified in the eyes of all.

For His Glory!

John Belt
Live In His Presence Ministries
Email: admin@liveinhispresence.com

NASA and the Bible

2009-08-28T11:41:00.003+08:00

From a forwarded email.

I thought this was pretty amazing and interesting.

For all the scientists out there, and for all the students who have a hard time convincing these people regarding the truth of the Bible, here's something that shows God's awesome creation, and that He is still in control.

Did you know that the space program is busy proving that what has been called A 'myth ' in the Bible is true?

Mr. Harold Hill, President of the Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore, Maryland, and a consultant in the space program, relates the following development

I think one of the most amazing things that God has done for us t today happened recently to our astronauts and space scientists at Green Belt, Maryland .

They were checking out where the positions of the sun, moon, and planets would be 100 years and 1,000 years from now. We have to know this so we won't send up a satellite and have it bump into something later on in its orbits.

We have to lay out the orbits in terms of the life of the satellite and where the planets will be so the whole thing will not bog down.

They ran the computer measurement back and forth over the centuries and it came to a halt. The computer stopped and put up a red signal, which meant that there was something wrong with either the information fed into it or with the results as compared to the standards.

They called in the service department to check it out and they said, "What's wrong?" Well, they found there is a day missing in space in elapsed time.

They scratched their heads and tore their hair out. There was no answer.

Finally, a Christian man on the team said, "You know, one time I was in Sunday School and they talked about the sun standing still." While they didn't believe him, they didn't have an answer either, so they said, "Show us." He got a Bible and went to the book of Joshua where they found a pretty ridiculous statement for any one with 'common sense.' There they found the Lord saying to "Joshua, Fear them not, I have delivered them into thy hand; there shall not a man of them stand before Thee."

Joshua was concerned because he was surrounded by the enemy! And if darkness fell, they would overpower them. So, Joshua asked the Lord to make the sun stand still! That's right.. 'The sun stood still and the moon stayed and lasted not to go down about a whole day!' (Joshua 10:12-13)

The astronauts and scientists said, "There is the missing day!" They checked the computers going back into the time it was written and found it was close but not close enough. The elapsed time that was missing back in Joshua's day was 23 hours and 20 minutes, not a whole day.

They read the Bible, and there it was about (approximately) a day. These little words in the Bible are important, but they were still in trouble because if you cannot account for 40 minutes, you'll still be in trouble 1000 years from now.

Forty minutes had to be found because it can be multiplied many times over in orbits. As the Christian employee thought about it, he remembered somewhere in the Bible where it said the sun went BACKWARDS.

The scientists told him he was out of his mind, but they got out the Book and read these! Words in 2 Kings that told of the following story: Hezekiah, on his deathbed, was visited by the prophet Isaiah who told him that he was not going to die. Hezekiah asked for a sign as proof. Isaiah said, "Do you want the sun to go ahead 10 degrees?"

Hezekiah said, "It is nothing for the sun to go ahead 10 degrees but let the shadow return backward 10 degrees."

Isaiah spoke to the Lord, and the Lord brought the shadow ten degrees BACKWARD!

Ten degrees is exactly 40 minutes!

Twenty-three hours and 20 minutes in Joshua, plus 40 minutes in Second Kings make the missing day in the universe! Isn't it amazing?

References: Joshua 10:8, 12, 13 and 2 Kings 20:9-11.

Forward this to as many people who you believe would think this is equally as cool.

If God could do this then, how much more can he do for us today if we only believe in his word?

Kathi Pelton: The Blessings of an Obedient Life

2009-08-24T13:38:00.001+08:00

from the Elijah List website [www.elijahlist.com]

Now it shall be, if you diligently obey the LORD your God, being careful to do all His commandments which I command you today, the LORD your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. All these blessings will come upon you and overtake you if you obey the LORD your God...—Deuteronomy 28:1-2

It is the Lord's desire to bless His people! His blessings upon our lives are not just "wishful thinking" in the minds of Believers, but they are God's promises to His children who will live according to all the words that He has spoken to us. If you have been in a season of testing and refining (and I'm sure that most of you have), then do not lose heart, because your season of testing is unto a release of a lifetime of blessings.

Though I cannot speak to each of you individually, I can speak to the larger Body of Christ and say that we have sometimes been a bit "hard of hearing" in the past season. Though I know that we have walked in the level of discernment that we have known, there is a maturing coming upon us which is releasing a greater ability to hear.

In the past season, there has been grace to walk in a mixture of natural logic and understanding as well as God's knowledge and wisdom. But as we are going through this season of refinement, I have found that many I talk to these days are not satisfied with any mixture, but in each decision they only want God's wisdom. It is as if there has been a "crossing over" from the wilderness into the Promised Land; but before possessing the land there had to be a circumcision in our lives in order to prepare us to walk only by His instructions.

God's Ways Are Not Our Ways

Now Jericho was tightly shut because of the sons of Israel; no one went out and no one came in. The LORD said to Joshua, "See, I have given Jericho into your hand, with its king and the valiant warriors. You shall march around the city, all the men of war circling the city once. You shall do so for six days.

"Also seven priests shall carry seven trumpets of rams' horns before the ark; then on the seventh day you shall march around the city seven times, and the priests shall blow the trumpets.

"It shall be that when they make a long blast with the ram's horn, and when you hear the sound of the trumpet, all the people shall shout with a great shout; and the wall of the city will fall down flat, and the people will go up every man straight ahead."—Joshua 6:1-5

Let's face it—there is no mixture of man's logic or wisdom in these instructions! But, God's ways are not our ways. God had a plan to reveal His power as His children obeyed His voice—not the voice of logic but the voice of God.

God's instructions to Joshua were ridiculous in the eyes of men. What kind of strategy is there in marching around a city for days, and then letting out a shout? If your goal is to be mocked by those on the walls of that city, it is a great strategy! But, God wasn't concerned about showing the strength of men, but rather showing His glory and power in the midst of the weakness of men who were simply willing to obey.

My husband and I feel a bit like those who marched around the walls of Jericho right now, because what the Lord has asked us to do looks like absolute foolishness, even to us. But, like Joshua, we know that we have heard the voice of our God, and so we obey. The amazing thing is that, just as the walls of Jericho fell, all that God has spoken to us will happen too. Obedience releases miracles!

The Blessings

Deuteronomy 27:9-13 recounts how God separated the tribes on two mountains to release both the curses of disobedience and the blessings of obedience:

Then Moses and the Levitical priests spoke to all Israel, saying, "Be silent and listen, O Israel! This day you have become a people for the LORD your God. You shall therefore obey the LORD your God, and do His commandments and His statutes which I command you today."

Moses also charged the people on that day, saying, "When you cross the Jordan, these shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin. For the curse, these shall stand on Mount Ebal: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali."

This did not happen prior to the crossing of the Jordan River; but as soon as the crossing over had taken place, God "raised the bar" of obedience. The consequences of disobedience were greater, but the blessings of an obedient life were (and still are) amazing. Let's look at the blessings that God releases upon those who keep His commandments:

Deuteronomy 28

If you will listen diligently to the voice of the Lord your God, being watchful to do all His commandments which I command you this day, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you if you heed the voice of the Lord your God.

Blessed shall you be in the city and blessed shall you be in the field.

Blessed shall be the fruit of your body and the fruit of your ground and the fruit of your beasts, the increase of your cattle and the young of your flock.

Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading trough.

Blessed shall you be when you come in and blessed shall you be when you go out.

The Lord shall cause your enemies who rise up against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways.

The Lord shall command the blessing upon you in your storehouse and in all that you undertake. And He will bless you in the land which the Lord your God gives you.

The Lord will establish you as a people holy to Himself, as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the Lord your God and walk in His ways.

And all people of the earth shall see that you are called by the name (and in the presence of) the Lord, and they shall be afraid of you.

And the Lord shall make you have a surplus of prosperity, through the fruit of your body, of your livestock, and of your ground, in the land which the Lord swore to your fathers to give you.

The Lord shall open to you His good treasury, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its season and to bless all the work of your hands; and you shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow.

And the Lord shall make you the head, and not the tail; and you shall be above only, and you shall not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you this day and are watchful to do them.

And you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right hand or to the left, to go after other gods to serve them.

I believe that over the past couple of years the Body of Christ has experienced a time of "crossing over," a time of circumcision, and a time of consecration that requires a higher level of hearing and obeying the voice of His instructions. Hearing and obeying is the key to great blessings. This is a time that we need to flee from any place of presumption in our lives. We cannot just go about our days in the ways that we used to. We must stop, listen and obey, even when we do not understand His instructions.

The Purification

Now that I have your attention with all of these wonderful blessings in store for us, let me address the process of purification that we have been going through leading up to this point in time. Let's go back to when the Israelites crossed the Jordan in Deuteronomy 27:2-7:

So it shall be on the day when you cross the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God gives you, that you shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime and write on them all the words of this law, when you cross over, so that you may enter the land which the LORD your God gives you, a land flowing with milk and honey, as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you.

So it shall be when you cross the Jordan, you shall set up on Mount Ebal, these stones, as I am commanding you today, and you shall coat them with lime.

Moreover, you shall build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones; you shall not wield an iron tool on them.

You shall build the altar of the LORD your God of uncut stones, and you shall offer on it burnt offerings to the LORD your God; and you shall sacrifice peace offerings and eat there, and rejoice before the LORD your God.

Prior to the release of the blessings of obedience in Deuteronomy 28, God first gives instructions of how to build an altar of stones to Him on which His law will be written. I believe that these verses are a picture of the "living stones" that God is preparing at this time.

In verse 2 they are instructed with these words, "...shall set up for yourself large stones and coat them with lime..." These were large stones because they were not to be cut by the tools of man, but they were to remain uncut. Even today, God is restoring us back to the form that He originally intended for us. He is healing us from the areas in our lives that have been distorted by the hands of man's "tools" or religious ways.

Then the stones were "coated with lime" (which makes a plaster to hold them together). Here is the Hebrew definition of lime:

The Hebrew word so rendered means "boiling" or "effervescing." From Isaiah 33:12 it appears that lime was made in a kiln lighted by thorn-bushes. In Amos 2:1 it is recorded that the king of Moab "burned the bones of the king of Edom into lime." The same Hebrew word is used in Deuteronomy 27:2-4, and is there rendered "plaster." Limestone is the chief constituent of the mountains of Syria. (Easton's Bible Dictionary)

Once again, we as living stones are being coated with lime as the plaster that will usher in the unity that Jesus prays for in John 17:20-21: I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word; that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.

The lime is made in a kiln lit by thorn-bushes, and this represents the fiery kiln that we have been in to prepare us during this past season. The "thorn-bushes" in our lives are being burned away and creating the fire for this preparation. I know that personally I have been quite surprised by the "thorns" that I became aware of in this past year that I had no idea were present in my life. I also have experienced a "burning away" of these thorns in my life that could have posed a threat to God's plans for me in the days ahead. Plus, how can you be "one" or in unity with someone whose life is like a thorn bush? Have you ever hugged a rose bush? They are beautiful to look at, but not to embrace.

I remember when my youngest son was four or five years old, he was learning to ride his bicycle without training wheels. On his first loop around our cul-de-sac he did great, but the second time around he crashed straight into a rose bush. We could barely see his little body that now was "one" with this thorn bush. If it wasn't bad enough seeing him crash into it, it was even worse getting him out of it. His entire body was scratched and bleeding from the thorns tearing into his flesh. Sometimes interacting with others has been like crashing into a thorn-bush; it rips and tears going in and coming out. This has been a huge obstacle in seeing the desire of Jesus to have us "be one as (He) and the Father are one."

In God's mercy and love He has allowed the thorn-bushes in our lives to become the fuel to refine us into what the Master Potter desires us to be. We will not be vessels formed by the hands of man but by the hands of God. I hope that I am painting a picture through the Word of God regarding what His people have been facing in this past season. It is not unto despair but unto great blessings and promises fulfilled.

Move into the Blessings

Beloved, now is the time to allow the completion of this refining process and preparation. Surrender to the Potter's skilled hands, allow yourself to be restored to being an "uncut" living stone, allow the thorn-bushes to be burned away and the lime to be poured over you for the sake of unity. Then let the "blessings" that the Lord desires to overtake you be released upon you as you live by every word that He speaks to you. Remember—all of His promises are "Yes and Amen!"

I would like to encourage you to read and declare the blessings in Deuteronomy 28 over your lives, your families, your relationships, your work and ministries each day. This is a time to offer a sacrifice of rejoicing to Him and to agree with every promise and blessing that He has offered His children.

I call Heaven and earth to witness this day against you that I have set before you life and death, the blessings and the curses; therefore choose life, that you and your descendants may live.—Deuteronomy 30:19 (Amplified Bible)

Today...choose blessings and choose life!

Kathi Pelton
Light Streams Ministries
Email: jkpelton@sbcglobal.net

Love in the Form of a Rebuke

2009-08-20T12:31:00.003+08:00

One of the more difficult aspects of being a cell group leader based on my experience is in the area of correcting and rebuking the young men under me. The frequent questions that come to my mind whenever I sense that one of the guys need 'a talk' are: "Lord, is this you wanting to correct them?", "how do I rebuke in love?", and "how far does the spiritual spanking go?"

I'm still somewhat getting used to the truth that discipline is a part of loving someone, and being a single guy with no biological children pretty much lends itself to the challenge of learning how to dispense rebuke with a father's heart. But as a leader and a maturing Christian who continues to learn daily, I want to immerse myself in all the ways that I can grow. This area of rebuking the ones I love is definitely one I need to learn more of.

Being submitted to a cell group leader myself has taught me that receiving rebuke is part of the discipleship process. As I have several times been corrected by my leaders, I have not only become better in the areas where wrongs were set straight but I have also become wiser and more equipped to administer admonitions.

I have had the privilege of talking to some of the guys in the cell group to point out certain behaviors and attitudes that are not in alignment with God's word. Most of the time I approach this situation with fear and trembling. But whenever I ask the Holy Spirit to check the motives of my heart before taking time to rebuke someone, I get reminded that the Bible tells us to teach a child what is right so that he will not deviate from it later on (Proverbs 22:6), and that even God the Father disciplines us when we go wrong because He loves us (Proverbs 3:11-12).

When these words come alive in my heart, I begin to get the assurance that, like my Father in heaven, I am correcting one of my guys out of love, out of the desire to see them become better than they are now and become the men God made them to be. I believe that when I admonish them in accordance to God's word, I am doing what I see my Father do - showing love in every possible way, even if it means meting out reproof.

There is still a lot for me to learn about the whole "discipline-the-ones-you-love" aspect of leadership, but I find encouragement in Proverbs 27:5, which says, "Open rebuke is better than secret love." I hope you do too.

Notes on ADTT Kingdom Series

2009-08-13T14:23:00.004+08:00

- from the Kingdom Series lessons taught by Pastor Joseph DiSarno during the Apostolic Discipleship Training Track classes of batch A3

Introduction to Kingdom Concepts
June 18, 2008

- Jesus starts His ministry by declaring, “The Kingdom of God is at hand.”

- later on He says, “the Kingdom of God is among you.”

- the Kingdom of God is NOW but NOT YET

- the Kingdom has to be PROCLAIMED and DEMONSTRATED

- the word “kingdom” in Greek is VASÍLEION, which means “a political domain with boundaries and borders”; the rule of the King”

- Jesus demonstrated the Kingdom by exerting His authority over the elements, sin, demons, sickness, the harvest and different aspects of life on earth

- the purpose of bringing God’s Kingdom to the earth is to restore His ORIGINAL INTENT for Creation

- KINGDOM, COVENANT and the HOLY SPIRIT are important concepts in getting a complete understanding of the Kingdom of God

Kingdom Concepts
July 8, 2008

- LOYALTY
o Genesis 39 – the life of Joseph
o Be LOYAL to those above you
o Loyalty is required in the Kingdom
o Loyalty picks up the one who is down

- LEADERSHIP
o Servant leadership is doing what is good for many
o Serving the people, but not servants of the people
o Matthew 20:29
o We must lead to make those under us great

- SUBMISSION
o Stay under authority to be in authority
o The centurion, who was a man under submission, understood the concept of authority
o Matthew 25:14, Luke 19:11-27
o People under submission are covered

- FAITHFULNESS
o Trustworthiness
o You must increase what God gives you
o Use the little that you have and God will give you more
o Faithfulness leads to promotion

The Parable of the Sower
July 16, 2008

- Matthew 13

- Jesus used parables to CONCEAL and REVEAL the secrets of the Kingdom

- John the Baptist announced the coming of the Kingdom

- People were expecting the Kingdom of God to be a political one

- Parables reveal the state of one’s heart and show what Heaven is like

- Jesus left the earth promising the seed of the Kingdom, the HOLY SPIRIT

Discipline + Correction = Life

2009-07-29T10:35:00.002+08:00

Proverbs 10:17
Pick your translation; the principle remains the same.

(New International Version)
He who heeds discipline shows the way to life, but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

(New American Standard Bible)
He is on the path of life who heeds instruction, but he who ignores reproof goes astray.

(The Message)
The road to life is a disciplined life; ignore correction and you're lost for good.

(Amplified Bible)
He who heeds instruction and correction is [not only himself] in the way of life [but also] is a way of life for others. And he who neglects or refuses reproof [not only himself] goes astray [but also] causes to err and is a path toward ruin for others.

(New Living Translation)
People who accept discipline are on the pathway to life, but those who ignore correction will go astray.

(King James Version)
He is in the way of life that keepeth instruction: but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

(English Standard Version)
Whoever heeds instruction is on the path to life, but he who rejects reproof leads others astray.

(Contemporary English Version)
Accept correction, and you will find life; reject correction, and you will miss the road.

(New King James Version)
He who keeps instruction is in the way of life, but he who refuses correction goes astray.

(New Century Version)
Whoever accepts correction is on the way to life, but whoever ignores correction will lead others away from life.

(21st Century King James Version)
He that keepeth instruction is in the way of life, but he that refuseth reproof erreth.

(Darby Translation)
Keeping instruction is the path to life; but he that forsaketh reproof goeth astray.

(Holman Christian Standard Bible)
The one who follows instruction is on the path to life, but the one who rejects correction goes astray.

(New International Reader's Version)
Anyone who pays attention to his training is on his way to life. But anyone who refuses to be corrected leads others down the wrong path.

Greater Things Are Yet to Come. Greater Things Are Still to be Done.

2009-07-28T16:28:00.002+08:00

Barbie Breathitt:

"2009: New Leaders, New Voices and Resurrection Power"
[from the Elijah List]

The restoration of ancient wells and mantles, in addition to the new level of anointing God is releasing in the earth, will cause a "healing river" to overflow its banks. The healing revival of the 1950s still holds a standard of miracles we seldom see today. But, as we move into this new season of exchange, the glory of God will far surpass the healing anointing He poured out in the past. This Holy Spirit revival of fire will trump the 1948-50s healing revival. We will see more extreme miracles and deliverances take place than ever before. Ministering angels have been assigned to ensure those who move in this new level of love and healing don't repeat the same mistakes from past generations.

William Joseph Seymour, of the 1909 Azusa Street Outpouring, prophesied the "glory cloud of healing" would return in 100 years (2009). We are witnessing the glory explosions and healing miracles in our Breath of the Spirit's meetings weekly. God is releasing specific words of knowledge that are opening deaf ears, straightening backs that have been twisted with scoliosis, restoring torn ligaments and joints, removing cancerous tumors and healing cancer ridden organs. The anointing is stabilizing hearts with arrhythmias, healing chronic issues of pain and much more.

See What the Father is Doing

The New Testament passage in John 4 speaks of the Pool of Bethesda, which is translated "outpouring." The healing angel would come and trouble the water. When the anointing began to pour, the first to step in was healed. Those who weren't able to step in became bitter, murmuring and complaining of those who were more fortunate than they. Jesus approached a particular crippled man that His Heavenly Father had shown Him in a vision. This man's crippled identity was enslaved to sickness for 38 years. After one supernatural encounter, strategic appointment or divine confrontation with Jesus, his life was healed.

In the place of outpouring we will overcome the victim mentality by renewing our mind to become "victors." Ephesians 4:23-24, "Be renewed in the spirit of your mind, and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth." If we will come to Jesus for healing during this time of outpouring we won't have any more excuses for our crippled, weakened conditions.

The new move of God will usher in a new breed of leaders who will only do what they see the Father doing. John 5:19-21, "Therefore Jesus answered and was saying to them, 'Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner. For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself is doing; and the Father will show Him greater works than these, so that you will marvel. For just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, even so the Son also gives life to whom He wishes."

The realm of vision is so powerful it ignites passion and clarity of purpose in the heart of the beholder. To walk into the greater works we must see what the Father is doing in Heaven and allow it to flow through our lives here on earth.

New Voices Will Be Heard

God is opening doors to release new voices in 2009 that have only been heard on a limited level. This new breed of leadership will be full of godly wisdom, knowing the seasons and proper timing like Issachar. The Daniel and Joseph anointings of understanding mysteries, dreams and enigmas will also operate on a governmental level.

New faces will grace the conference and media arenas with an authoritative Kingdom message and the power to back it with signs, wonders and miracles. These hidden ones will emerge out of the wilderness carrying the mantles and wisdom of past generations.

The Kingdom that is within us is expanding and beginning to flow like a river, watering the barren places. We will continue to increase and expand if we will focus on unity and God's Kingdom business and mandates first. Isaiah 55:11 says that every word that goes forth from His mouth shall not return to Him void, but will accomplish what He pleases, and it shall prosper in the thing for which He sent it. The sound of God's voice shatters darkness. Psalm 89 tells us that we are blessed if we know the sound. The sound is God speaking. Everything He says He will do; He will accomplish everything.

Great Grace and Favor

2009 is a season of a supernatural endowment of great grace. Grace and favor gives us the capacity to live as an overcomer, or a victor, not as a victim who is overcome by the enemy of their soul.

The Shekinah glory descended upon the Tent of Meetings and Moses met with God face-to-face, but that glory faded. Moses died in the wilderness but Joshua continued to walk with God in the glory. He received Moses' mantle, crossed the Jordan and entered the "Promise Land."

Throughout history we see men and women who learned to walk in a "spirit of holiness with God." The Spirit of holiness is the divine nature of God manifesting in maturity with resurrection power! Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him. Enoch walked in resurrection power and never experienced death.

Romans 1:4-6, "Who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for His name's sake, among whom you also are the called of Jesus Christ."

Enoch's anointing or mantle was to walk and talk with God in the Spirit of holiness. He displayed the divine nature of God in its fullness, walking in resurrection power! Genesis 5:23-24, "So all the days of Enoch were three hundred and sixty-five years. Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him." Enoch's earthly walk was the same as his walk with God in heavenly places. He was not double-minded. Enoch was renewed in the spirit of his mind. He put on the new self, in holiness and truth in the likeness of God. Enoch was a forerunner of what we are called to be in Christ. It is the Christ in us that gives us the hope of glory.

Intimacy learned in the Song of Solomon will enable the hidden ones to emerge from their wilderness wanderings with their hearts panting for the Lover of their souls. Their ears are tuned to hear the whispers of His voice leading every step of the way.

Deliverers to Set the Captives Free

God is equipping deliverers to set captives free. His eyes are searching for those who will walk in His ways of truth. Isaiah 42:22-23, "But this is a people plundered and despoiled; all of them are trapped in caves, are hidden away in prisons; they have become a prey with none to deliver them, and a spoil, with none to say, '"Give them back!' Who among you will give ear to this? Who will give heed and listen hereafter?"

Kingdom revelation builds faith producing Kingdom power through which many people will be set free. Psalm 9:9-14, "The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And those who know Your name will put their trust in You; for You, LORD, have not forsaken those who seek You. Sing praises to the LORD, who dwells in Zion! Declare His deeds among the people. When He avenges blood, He remembers them; He does not forget the cry of the humble. Have mercy on me, O LORD! Consider my trouble from those who hate me, You who lift me up from the gates of death, That I may tell of all Your praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Your salvation."

Salvation has the power to save and heal us completely in our mind, emotions, body and spirit.

Resurrection Power to Do Miracles

On January 11, 2009, I awoke from a dream of resurrecting four men from the dead:

I found myself in a room with four dead men. Several more who knew them were present, grieving for their loss. The Holy Spirit spoke to me as I entered the room and said, "Their spirits are still in the room at ceiling level." In the vision I saw myself lay hands on the stomach of one of the dead men and commanded life to enter him. His spirit manifested in the form of a transparent spirit skeleton. It lay on top of the man's dead body. As it entered his body the man's breath or spirit returned and he resurrected from the dead. When the men in the room observed what had happened they followed suit. The other three men were raised from the dead too. Then I was transported to another state to raise a woman from the dead in the same manner.

Leaders are to demonstrate and teach so the Body can learn to do the works of Christ. Jesus is looking for a place to lay His head. The Body of Christ must arise in the Church so His head will have a resting place. I am learning about resurrection power through the dreams God has been giving me. Resurrection power operates the best outside the four walls of the Church.

Paul went down to the street to resurrect Eutychus from the dead. Acts 20:8-10 tells us, "There were many lamps in the upper room where we were gathered together. And there was a young man named Eutychus sitting on the window sill, sinking into a deep sleep; and as Paul kept on talking, he was overcome by sleep and fell down from the third floor and was picked up dead. But Paul went down and fell upon him, and after embracing him, he said, 'Do not be troubled, for his life is in him.'"

Paul left the safety of the four walls of the Church. He went into the streets to embrace the broken and the dead. He released resurrection power and brought Eutychus back to life. We are called to do the same. Matthew 10:8 says, "Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse the lepers, cast out demons. Freely you received, freely give." When Paul stepped outside the walls of the Church, resurrection power was released.

During this time of transitioning into the resurrection power, God is calling the Church to pray as never before. We are to seek His face while he may be found. Psalm 105:4-5, "Seek the Lord and His strength; seek His face continually. Remember His wonders which He has done, His marvels and the judgments uttered by His mouth." It is time to seek the Lord for increase.

A Plentiful Harvest: Gifts and Fruits

Hosea 10:12 says, "Sow with a view to righteousness, reap in accordance with kindness; break up your fallow ground, for it is time to seek the Lord until He comes to rain righteousness on you."

His rain will bring forth a plentiful harvest. This speaks of continuing to seek the Lord until breakthrough is obtained. Isaiah 55:6 further exhorts us to seek the Lord while He may be found and to call upon Him while He is near. We must enter the presence of the Lord to access His power. A clear, clean conscience will bring forth a new level of boldness and power to enter His presence. 2 Timothy 1:3, "I thank God, whom I serve with a clear conscience the way my forefathers did, as I constantly remember you in my prayers night and day."

We are told in 1 John 3:21-22, "Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence toward God. And whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do those things that are pleasing in His sight." As long as we are asking in the name and character of our Lord it shall be done for us.

2009 is a year of developing the nine fruits and the nine gifts of the Spirit with divine great grace!

1 Corinthians 12:4-11, "Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit. And there are varieties of ministries, and the same Lord. There are varieties of effects, but the same God who works all things in all persons. But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.

"For to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, and to another the word of knowledge according to the same Spirit; to another faith by the same Spirit, and to another gifts of healing by the one Spirit, and to another the effecting of miracles, and to another prophecy, and to another the distinguishing of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But one and the same Spirit works all these things, distributing to each one individually just as He wills."

The fruit of the Spirit listed in Galatians 5:22-25 enable us to walk in the Spirit and not in the flesh, "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit."

When we mix the fruit of the Spirit and the Gifts of the Spirit we release the resurrection power in our lives.

Power Evangelism

This season of great grace is a call for us to walk in Power Evangelism releasing salvation to the lost as a free gift of God.

Ephesians 2:4-10, "But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), and raised us up with Him, and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.

"For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

God's great grace is releasing a flow of testimonies that demonstrate God's great power to save, heal and deliver.

Acts 4:33-35, "And with great power the apostles were giving testimony to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and abundant grace was upon them all. For there was not a needy person among them, for all who were owners of land or houses would sell them and bring the proceeds of the sales and lay them at the apostles' feet, and they would be distributed to each as any had need."

Signs and wonders are increasing as the proceeding Word of God leads us into abundant life. Matthew 4:4, "But He answered and said, 'It is written, "MAN SHALL NOT LIVE ON BREAD ALONE, BUT ON EVERY WORD THAT PROCEEDS OUT OF THE MOUTH OF GOD."'"

New Wine: Drink Deeply of His Joy

This is a year to be filled with the Spirit of God and His new wine in 2009. Drink deeply and abundantly of his joy and grace. Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice. It is time for us to rejoice, not fear.

Philippians 4:4-7 instructs, "Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Adjust your mindset to think positively, count your blessings and taste and see that the Lord is GOOD! Be focused on and totally dependent upon God to meet your needs supernaturally this year. Psalm 34:8-9 tells us to, "taste and see that the Lord is good; how blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want." He will abundantly satisfy.

Our old dry wine skins are fading away and they will be exchanged for a new flexible wineskin, shining with the glory anointing. Our focus will change from the past moves of God to the present "Now" new move, and we will have vision for the future. When we prepare our hearts to become a new wineskin God will fill us with the new wine. The New Wine is God's dunamis power releasing His glory, demonstrating His goodness, manifesting His presence and the commanded blessings of unity coming forth.

Good wine is a blend of the finest of grapes confined in a barrel for a specific time to blend and meld together. The winery test and tries each vat of wine until it reaches its peak or premier taste. The dregs settle to the bottom and are poured off. Every person has their own taste or flavor, but when we come together in unity—no one stands out but we blend to perfection.

Isaiah 65:8 spoke of the new wine in the cluster or in the spirit of unity, "Thus says the Lord, 'As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, "Do not destroy it, for there is benefit in it," so I will act on behalf of My servants in order not to destroy all of them.'""

God's Breath to you,

Barbie Breathitt
Breath of the Spirit Ministries
Email: Barbie@BreathOfTheSpiritMinistries.com

NLSC Notes on Gifts to Believers

2009-07-27T15:18:00.001+08:00

Notes on the Bible study on the Gifts of Christ to Believers
held during the New Life Sounds Choir practice, July 25, 2009

1. Rest - Mt. 11:28

2. Keys of the Kingdom - Mt. 16:19

3. Power over evil spirits- Luke 10:19

4. Living Water- John 4:14

5. Bread of Heaven - John 6:51

6. Eternal Life - John 10:28

7. Legacy of Peace - John 14:27

We must get a hold of these gifts and act and speak as believers.

Kingdom Entertainment Industry

2009-07-21T11:04:00.001+08:00

[from the Elijah List website]

Patricia King:

A Prophetic Word from Patricia King: "Body of Christ Will Establish New Kingdom Entertainment Industry"

The Lord has been speaking to me for a number of months regarding the entertainment industry and His plans for the release of inspired media and strategies. There is coming (and has already begun) an invasion of Holy Spirit inspired entertainment media that will transform nations and mindsets for His glory. God is raising up a media army that will truly conquer the media mountain of influence in the nations. I saw this army arising to communicate, facilitate and greatly influence music, movies, television programs, webisodes, advertisements and creative media festivals.

I Saw Angels

I saw "angels of creativity" being loosed to come along side of chosen vessels. Every dimension of media is going to explode with creativity and with favor. I also saw a specific company of angels being dispatched to bring in the provision and wisdom needed to spread the media.

A New Structure—Not A Replacement

God will continue to send His people into Hollywood to bring light and life, but Hollywood (the system behind the entertainment industry including spirits of mammon, greed, pride, self exaltation) will not be conquered or replaced. The system will eventually crumble and fall. God is building a brand new realm for media that is not aligned to Hollywood or the demonic system that controls it. It is not a replacement but something brand new. It's Builder and Maker (Architect) is God.

Many Christians will receive this revelation and will move forward to follow Him and find each other in the process. This company of reformers will not be bought or sold. Their hearts will be set apart for their King and not for their own agendas. They are surrendered vessels and money is not their God or their motivation. Fame is not their passion. They will be like David's mighty men and do whatever it takes to serve their King and give Him what He longs for.

Blueprints and Scrolls from Heaven

God is delivering blueprints and scrolls in the spirit that contain the wisdom to BUILD a foundation of Kingdom values that will create a container for the times. This is not for just a few, there will be many. I saw thousands of scrolls being dropped from the hand of God out of Heaven into the hands of the faithful stewards He is calling. The scrolls were falling into strategic regions.

I saw hundreds of red dots on a map and specifically identified Phoenix, Kansas City, Redding California, numerous cities in Texas, Ottawa, Calgary, London, and Sydney, Australia. There were many other places. Some seemed more pronounced than others, but they were too numerous to count and to identify the exact locations. They were in many nations. These blueprints and scrolls are falling now. The Spirit revealed to me that this specific season and wave of media blueprints and scrolls began in September 2008. There are many who already have them in their hand.

A Celebration, Not a Competition

I saw leaders in the media realm laying their lives down for others. There was no competition and everyone was being celebrated. Many networks were forming. The vision was so beautiful. Everyone was serving each other in order to bring forth glory for the King. Standards of humility, grace, love, camaraderie and faith were being lifted up.

Church Buildings

I saw churches hosting films, movies, documentaries and arts and media festivals. I saw the face of many churches changing and media centers were springing up everywhere. Church buildings were continuing to be houses of worship, but in addition to hosting church families, they were literally being changed into production houses, music, art, dance studios and theaters. Some were also hosting film and arts festivals. Christian Film and Art Festivals were springing up everywhere. Entire communities were impacted as the masses flooded into the churches to watch various forms of media.

More people were watching entertainment media in church buildings than in movie theaters. I saw these centers spring up in many cities around the world. I specifically saw California, New York, Texas, Oregon, Nashville and Knoxville, Arizona, New Mexico, Kansas City and region, North Carolina, Florida, Oklahoma, Ontario, B.C. and Alberta in Canada. I saw London, Paris, Hong Kong, Tokyo, Singapore, and many places in India, China, Australia, Germany, Holland and South Africa.

These centers were in many places around the world and not confined to those just mentioned. They were truly too numerous to count or identify. There will be many church leaders who will receive specific assignments to launch into media building projects to facilitate the vision. I saw building expansion projects and enlargement of existing facilities. The Lord will release great amounts of provision for these projects. Christian College and University campuses will also host entertainment media.

I also saw Albany, Oregon being used as one of the media centers...some new things are coming.

Movie Theaters Go Christian

Many secular movie theaters will see the success of what God is doing in the Church and will start to host Christ-inspired media. Some theater owners, due to financial sufferings, will actually give their theaters to the Church. These theaters will turn into churches and houses of prayer and worship as well as media houses. There will be many salvations, healings and miracles in these sanctified media houses.

Advertising Agencies

God is going to give Christians creative and anointed revelation for advertisement development for godly and wholesome products and companies. These advertisements will carry great favor and influence. The agencies will prosper but will not be focused on the "profit" but on the "Prophet." They will be used to saturate the hearts of the viewers with the presence and conviction of the Spirit.

Resurrections

I saw many media pioneers who had been taken out of the race in the past through discouragement and spiritual battle rising up in resurrection power and completing their mandate. They were the forerunners of what is breaking forth now. Their reward is at hand.

Media Intercessors

An exponential increase of media intercessors is emerging. I saw them in the vision. They were tenacious and many were praying for over 6-8 hours at a time. They were up in the night and in the day. The intercessors who had been praying for many years will see the reward of their labor. More intercessors will join them. New prayer companies carrying specific media assignments will also rise up in the nations for such a time as this.

Music Explosion

New God-inspired music is about to burst into visibility with accompanying choreography and dramatic expressions. Christian recording artists who will not bow their knee to the lusts of the flesh or the world and its system will come into visibility and will have great favor with the masses. Many will follow their examples of godliness. Many church buildings will host recording studios that will birth anointed worship and entertainment music for the Church and the world.

God is Moving NOW

I recently spoke with Darren Wilson (Producer of Finger of God and Furious Love). He mentioned a clear download he received from the Lord regarding churches being used for movie houses that would facilitate the distribution of family entertainment media and Christian documentaries and movies. He explained how God was going to use church buildings to bless entire communities in this way. I had also heard a similar insight from an article that Sondra Martin had forwarded to our office within the last month.

God is on the move. Many are receiving the vision, witness and confirmation. Many are already receiving their mandates and blueprints for this hour. Lets move forward. Now is the time. God's Media Army is Arising!

Join our Media Prayer Team! We have been mandated by the Lord through a prophecy given to our ministry by James Goll in June 2009 to raise up 777 media intercessors via email. If you desire to join this team please email: mediaprayer@xpmedia.com.

There is more to come...

Patricia King
Extreme Prophetic Ministries
Email: info@extremeprophetic.com

Read Your Bible [and Pray Everyday] and You'll Grow, Grow, Grow

2009-07-16T15:19:00.002+08:00

"I believe in our day we need to practice the Word of God or to practice God’s principles outlined in the Word. We need to practice what we have been taught from the pulpit, from ministry programs, from teaching tapes and videos. We need to prove the Word of God in our lives in times of little stress so we can be better prepared when the times of pressure, the times of need are at hand.

As with all things that we practice, initially, we might not be very good at what we are practicing, i.e. piano, painting, etc. We miss the correct keys, we paint outside the lines, we falter, we fade, we fail. But it is only through our practice that we can become proficient at anything.

So it is with the Word of God; we initially might not be successful at the Word which we practice, but as we keep trying, as we grow in understanding of Bible principles, we become stronger and our practice more sure. Then our success in the Word becomes greater and greater, and our faith becomes stronger and stronger."

-- Roberta Palmer Grummond, author of the self-published book Practicing the Word of God

Sunday Notes: JBD on Faith

2009-07-15T13:10:00.004+08:00

notes from Pastor Joseph DiSarno's preaching on FAITH
July 12, 2009
[with some personal revelations]

- do not live your Christian life through the flesh because that will bring you to legalism

- NO SPIRIT = NO POWER to live the WORD out

- God CREATED the NEED so that we would SEEK the SUPPLY

- when you take a step of faith and there's nothing under your feet, GOD WILL PLACE SOMETHING UNDER IT

- WHAT YOU HEAR in the SPIRIT becomes WHAT YOU SEE in REALITY

- "you shall have whatever you see"

- John 15:7-8 = If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you. This is to my Father's glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples.

- ingredients to faith: (1) ABIDE IN HIM + (2) LET HIS WORDS ABIDE IN YOU

- DESIRE has a definitive power

- channel your passion TOWARD GOD

- we need to have a DEFINITE, BURNING, PERSISTENT desire FOR GOD
+ a DEFINITE desire keeps you CERTAIN
+ a BURNING desire keeps you FOCUSED
+ a PERSISTENT desire keeps you DETERMINED

TKB Notes on Excellence

2009-07-14T17:28:00.004+08:00

as shared by Augusto Santos Jr.
on The Kingdom Builders cell group meeting
July 11, 2009

- Jesus is our model of excellence

- Matthew 12:28; Matthew 17:24-27 shows us that Jesus walked in excellence by demonstrating the Kingdom with signs, wonders and miracles

- GOD CREATED US FOR EXCELLENCE, not for mediocrity

- Romans 12:6 says that God gave us different gifts; we are to use them excellently

- we are not created equal in terms of giftedness, as each one of us has our own uniqueness, but we are created equal in the sense that we all receive gifts from God

- we are negative in nature and we tend to take our strengths for granted

- we should IDENTIFY OUR STRENGTHS and talents and FOCUS ON THEM instead

- we must shift from focusing on the negative to focusing on the positive

- in identifying our strengths we should ask these questions: What am I good at? What do I enjoy doing? What is it that I find easy to do that other have a hard time doing?

- in pursuing excellence, it is more important to know WHOSE WE ARE or WHO WE BELONG TO, rather than who we are

- God MADE us; we are made FOR A PURPOSE; we are UNIQUE

- KNOW your IDENTITY. DEVELOP your RELATIONSHIP with GOD. KNOW your PURPOSE. PURSUE EXCELLENCE.

- submitting to discipline and training enables us to hit the mark of God’s purpose for our lives; therefore, excellence!

- FULFILLING GOD’S PURPOSE FOR OUR LIVES MAKES ONE TRULY SUCCESSFUL AND EXCELLENT!

The Way is Narrow.

2009-07-13T17:15:00.002+08:00

Chuck Pierce: "A Very Narrow Way Beginning This Week"
[from the Elijah List website]

Dear Passionate Ones:

I bless you and thank God for you. Recently at Early Morning Prayer I began to prophesy about a very narrow way coming for us. When Norma Sarvis listened to the prayer time in Israel, she was amazed. She wrote the following:

"In traditional Judaism the time period between the 17th of Tammuz and the 9th of Av is called 'bein ha Metzarim' which is translated between the narrow places or dire straits. It comes from Lamentations 1:3: 'Amidst affliction and harsh labor, Judah has gone into exile. She dwells among the nations; she finds no resting place. All who pursue her have overtaken her IN THE MIDST OF HER DISTRESS.'

"This phrase IN THE MIDST OF HER DISTRESS can also be translated "between the straits or narrow places." It is traditionally a 3-week mourning period in Judaism commemorating the breaching of the walls of Jerusalem on the 17th of Tammuz and the destruction of the Temple on the 9th of Av. It is a time of mourning with no weddings occurring during this season along with other mourning traditions.

As I was praying this morning for the word which came forth on Tuesday morning (about walking in the narrow places so we can go higher), I realized that the 17th of Tammuz begins July 9, and that even in Judaism it is a 'narrow' place. We must watch that there are no breaches in our walls during this season. We must walk in faith and not in fear and grief. But just be aware of the narrow place and God's goodness in the narrow place."

A New Corridor is Forming

Here is a portion of the revelation that came forth prophetically on Tuesday morning. We could hear the Lord saying:

"A new corridor is forming and I will narrow your way. You must narrow your desires. I am sanctifying desires and narrowing the corridor through which you will walk. You are entering into new alignments and assignments, and coming into a place that will bring you forth into a realm you have not known. You will come from a dark place into light, but the corridor that you have been in is beginning to narrow—to push you through into the new.

"This is the day of 'My Gideon's call.' There is a clarion, Gideon call being released into the earth. It is urgent for My Gideon call to be heard. There is a call coming now into the earth realm to separate the desires of My people. My people's desires have been muddled with their own desires. In the next 3 months, I will begin to separate the desires of My people so that they can follow Me.

"You started out with My desire to get to a new place, but your desires from the past season are coming up and you are being muddled in the call I am extending to you. You must separate your desires, beginning now, so that I draw you out and into that place."

A Narrowing Time

"The teams and troops that I have will be narrowed down, for this will be a narrowing time. The corridor is narrowing in the midst of this sound. Listen! Listen carefully, for this clarion call is now being extended and it will look like the days of Gideon. The anointing I will release will be a Gideon anointing that will overtake the Midianites that have robbed in the past seven years and stolen at the time of harvest.

"Know that there is a great separation that must take place to overthrow the enemy ahead who has been coming in and taking away at an opportune time. I must rearrange My people's call so that their opportunity will be seen in a different way. Hear, today, the clarion call and know that it is a Gideon time upon My people.

"Heed the call and rise up today and enter in through the corridor that is a narrow way. Many things will fall to the left and to the right and even your body will change to get you through these next three months so that you break into that place that I have for you."

To Those of African Descent:

"I brought you from the shores of Africa into this land to cause you to rise up at this time. But now I say to the Africans that are in this land: I will cause you to hear the call of this land that I brought you to. You have been longing to go back to father's land and recoup that loss and that fragment and that bitter hole that has been in you. Now your call will come from this land. You will rise up and begin to move in a way. You won't move in a political realm like you thought, but you will move from a heavenly realm that I have been waiting to extend to you."

To Those From Spain Who Have Spanish Descent:

"Your call will rise up now. I meant for you to explore the things of the Spirit in this land so an exploration would begin in you. Therefore, the adventure that is deep within you will now awaken in a new way. The prophetic call and passion in you will intermingle and produce a new favor. I will cause the worship leadership gift in you to arise and lead My people."

Blessings,
Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries

Cruising Together

2009-07-03T14:44:00.002+08:00

John Wallace: "Cruising or Coasting?"
[from the Elijah List website]

Recently on the way to the fitness center, I was having a good time with the Lord. Praying and humming a worship song, I was interrupted by the Great Interruptor as He said, "So, are you going to coast in?"

I just turned 62 years old, and with 40 years of following our Lord, 24 of which have been as a pastor of a local church, I was stunned by the implication of the Lord's gentle rebuke. "Coasting? Coasting? Is that what I'm doing, Lord?" I asked. The dawning realization struck me beyond a gentle rebuke—to not allow the past ministry years carry me for the rest of my life. What God said was a warning...and a promise.

The warning is I can let "coasting" be my default setting in life with God. The promise is that I have the option to "cruise" not coast. Cruising (definition: to travel at a speed providing maximum operating efficiency for a sustained period) fits the advancing nature of the Kingdom of God much more than coasting. God made me and you to live life at "maximum operating efficiency." Jesus called it as having "life, and life abundantly" (John 10:10). It fits because the Kingdom of God, His expanding rule over all created things, starts first with my heart and then moves. It moves ahead. The Kingdom doesn't stall, doesn't idle in the parking lot, and doesn't lose energy. The Kingdom doesn't "coast."

When Jesus told Peter, on his confession, that He would build His Church (Matthew 16:18), the Lord added that the gates of Hell shall not prevail against it. This implies that the Church is advancing, taking the offensive against the forces of darkness. The Kingdom parables (Matthew 13) of the mustard seed and of the leaven both speak of an expansion, of growth, and of movement. The Kingdom of God is advancing, moving forward...always. Am I (are you) going to try to coast or to cruise, operating at maximum efficiency in it?

I want to be, and stay, at the forefront of Kingdom activity—all the days of my life. I want to see the supernatural workings of God: from supernatural loving to supernatural healing. I want to live in this ever-moving Kingdom. In His interaction with Pilate (John 18:36), Jesus answered, "My Kingdom is not of this world. If My Kingdom were of this world, then My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My Kingdom is not of this realm."

Literally, in the Greek language, Jesus said, "My Kingdom is not from here." A not-from-here Kingdom has invaded the earth. That's the Kingdom I want to participate in. Our friend Bill Johnson, in commenting on why Jesus was able to sleep in the front of the boat during the terrible storm on the Sea of Galilee, says, "Jesus could sleep because, in His world, there are no storms."

In His world—the not-from-here Kingdom—that's where I want to live! I want to live out of that Kingdom. I want to see out of that Kingdom, to hear out of that Kingdom, to taste and touch and feel out of that Kingdom. I want to love out of that Kingdom. I want to heal out of that Kingdom. That sounds more like cruising than coasting, don't you think?

It's more important to operate at maximum efficiency in the Kingdom than ever before—that is getting up each day and asking Him to help you be aware of the Kingdom-current of activity going on around us—and jumping in.

Lord, give us grace and sensitivity for Kingdom cruising!

John Wallace
Blood n Fire - Dallas, Texas
Email: jwallace4u@me.com

John's Bio: Currently, John and Suzanne are Community Leaders of Blood n Fire Dallas, a community with a vision "to reach, raise up and release the younger generations to advance the Kingdom of God among the poor of the earth." John Wallace was born and raised in Shawnee, Oklahoma. After graduating from Shawnee High School, he attended and received a B.B.A. from the University of Oklahoma. While at OU, John and his future bride, Suzanne Martin, met. John then graduated from Baylor College of Dentistry in Dallas, TX. After graduation John served as a dentist in the U.S. Army for two years. John and Suzanne moved back to Dallas for almost 10 years of private dental practice. From 1981 to 1986 John attended Dallas Theological Seminary, graduating with a Master of Theology degree. He has, subsequently, pastored local churches for the last 24 years. John and Suzanne have 6 children: Jason (wife Alison), Brennan (wife Lisa), and Lindsey (husband Chris), and two grandchildren, Austin Wyatt Wallace and Caleb Sage Wallace.

The Wave

2009-07-01T15:26:00.000+08:00

There's a wave coming that has never come before. Be ready because it is going to wipe out Asia. For a mighty glory that has never been seen before. So warriors, watchmen arise; be prepared for a kingdom is going to arise in our mids as awesome and as glorious as a wave of fire. Water is going to come and entirely wipe out Asia. Be prepared. Be prepared or you will miss out on a very important event in the history of human kind.

Follow the footsteps of the Lord. Make the right choice for there will be a super grace that will overtake you.

Choice is the most important thing you can make in this world.

Prophets, be prepared for the Lord will be giving new pictures, words, and ideas that have been kept for a long time. All wells will be opened at the right time, so be prepared. Don't miss a lifetime event; a life changing event that is more than the greatest ideas of men; more creative that what your eyes have ever seen. So be prepared!

As you see this wave, you will never cease to say that our Lord is holy as every tongue will really confess He is God; every knee will tremble and fall. No matter how you try to stay stong, you will see and tremble because of the awesomeness and greatness of the power that will be unleased upon this earth.

[from a nameless, faceless prophet]

Walk Into Your Future

2009-07-01T15:08:00.002+08:00

Carol Kelley: "Walk Into Your Future and Your Promises"
[from the Elijah List website]

"It's Time to Walk Into Your Future"

I had a dream recently about being back in different houses that my husband Dave and I and our kids had lived in over the years. There were various homes and geographical locations represented from different phases in our lives. I realized that I couldn't go back and live in any of these houses again, or try to recreate any of the situations. There was a sense that I needed to commit these past situations, both positive and negative, into the Lord's hands so that I could move forward into what was ahead.

Then the scene shifted to the future. There was an enormous, new bridge spanning across a river. We crossed over and traveled on new highways which had also recently been built. There were new inventions and new ways of doing things in this glimpse of the future.

I woke up and heard the Lord say, "It's time to walk into your future." I knew in the dream that the bridge represents God's provision and direction to cross over into the future. The bridge is the link or the transition between the past and the present. The Lord is at work building new structures—the bridge and highways—to move His people to where they need to be.

Then He had more to say: "Leave behind your past (Philippians 3:13); I am showing you new things, and leading you into your future. Old ways and old patterns won't work any longer. I have a new thing for you (Isaiah 43:19). Move into My 'new,' for I make all things new (Revelation 21:5). Move into the new with confidence and boldness (Joshua 1:6-7, 9, 18) and grace (Ephesians 2:8-9). As I was with Moses, I will be with you (Joshua 1:5); only do not fear (Joshua 8:1). Come before Me boldly (Hebrews 4:16). Claim My promises to you.

"You are My warrior, clothed in the armor of My righteousness (Ephesians 6:14), not your own righteousness (Philippians 3:9). Fight the battles I show you to fight (2 Timothy 4:7); leave the rest for Me to fight (2 Chronicles 20:17).

"Do not fear or look anxiously about you; I am your God (Isaiah 41:10). Peter asked about John, 'Lord, what about this man?' (John 21:20-22). I have a unique plan and purpose for YOU. Persevere and don't give up. Walk into your future, a step at a time. I will show you what steps to take, and where to walk (Isaiah 30:21). I will direct and counsel you, with My eye upon you (Psalm 32:8).

Every place where the sole of your foot treads I will give you (Deuteronomy 11:24; Joshua 1:3). I have stationed angels around you (Psalm 34:7; 91:11). My glory is your rear guard (Exodus 14:19; Isaiah 52:12; 58:8). Do not fear, for I am with you (Isaiah 43:5).

"Sing a song of praise to Me (Psalm 40:3). Raise a shout of victory. Sing a new song to Me (Psalm 33:3; 96:1; 98:1), the song of the Lamb (Revelation 15:3). I am the One who overcomes (John 16:33; Revelation 5:5). You also can overcome in My name through faith (1 John 5:4-5; Revelation 3:21; 12:11).

"I am making strategic alignments for you. Walk into them at the time that I show you. I do not intend for you to be alone (Genesis 2:18; Ecclesiastes 4:9-11; Hebrews 10:25).

"I have a place for you, a place of fullness, joy and blessing. You are not being 'put in your place' (demotion), but are being raised up to your place (promotion and favor). Don't live in a narrow place (2 Kings 6:1; Isaiah 49:20), but in the broad place I have for you (Psalm 18:19).

"Walk into your future. Forget the former things (Isaiah 43:18); I will do something new!"

Promises, Promises

When I woke up another night not long ago, the clock read "6:33." I had a sense the Lord wanted to communicate something to me through this, and so asked Him what it was. He showed me two things:

(1) Matthew 6:33 – "Seek first His Kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be yours as well."

(2) The number 600 represents warfare, and 33 represents "promise."

Then He started speaking to me: "Claim My promises in every area of your lives. Seek My Kingdom first of all; allow Me to purify you, and fill you with My righteousness. I am constantly at work, transforming you into the image of My Son (Philippians 3:21). I will bring My good work in you to completion (Philippians 1:6).

"You can trust Me with all the things you worry about! Commit them into My care. I love you and will help carry your burdens (Matthew 11:28-30). I will do what I promised; I will not disappoint you (Romans 5:5). You will not be disappointed in Me (Romans 10:11) or in My plans for you, because My plans for you are for good, not for evil (Jeremiah 29:11).

"Yes, there has been a season of warfare. There is a time for war and a time for peace (Ecclesiastes 3:8). I will keep My promises to you; I will not fail you or forsake you (Joshua 1:5; Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Hebrews 13:5). I have a call on your life, which I am confirming to you. My gifts and calling are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). My promises do not fail (Joshua 21:45; 23:14; 1 Kings 8:56).

"I will do what I have promised!"

Carol Kelley
Email: opendoor2009@gmail.com

About Carol Kelley: Carol and Dave Kelley are prophetic leaders in Newberg, Oregon, teaching prophecy classes and mentoring younger prophets. They received a call from the Lord in 1985 to minister prophetically, and have a vision for active schools of prophets to emerge within the Body of Christ. Their passion is to help others hear and recognize God's voice. Carol, a musician, published composer, teacher and sixth-generation Oregonian, has a heart to intercede prophetically for Oregon and the Northwest, as well as cities and nations. Dave is Assistant Vice President of Finance at George Fox University, moving in an apostolic anointing to help God's people become empowered as conduits of financial blessing. Dave and Carol are the parents of two sons, two daughters, and a daughter-in-law.

Choose Life

2009-06-30T17:31:00.001+08:00

Bobby Conner: Follow the Helper—and Choose Life!"
[from the Elijah List website]

"There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit."—Romans 8:1

Life is filled with choices! Studies report that we make more than 2,500 choices every day! Imagine just the first ten minutes of your day. What do you choose to think as soon as you wake and your eyes open? What do you choose to do as soon as your feet hit the floor?

Without question, we determine the quality of our lives by the quality of our decisions. This is an immense responsibility, yet we are not left alone in this matter of choice: God has offered us great wisdom in understanding how to make quality choices and empowering us to make them!

Meditate on one of the most important invitations given to us by God:

"I call Heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live."—Deuteronomy 30:19

This is the law of the universe: God has set before us blessing if we choose life. But what does it mean to "choose" life?

The Most Important Decision You Can Make

This Hebrew verb translated choose is a profoundly important verb for us to understand. This verb, as often as we seem to use it, does not suggest a mundane, dispassionate choice as if we were choosing between having our eggs scrambled or hard-boiled. This is not the verb used to describe a choice to turn right because the road to the left is blocked by traffic.

Not at all! The Hebrew word bachar has three significant meanings—all of them suggesting a relationship with the choice. The first meaning of bachar suggests the action of rubbing on a "touchstone"—or the gesture of dividing and examining, as if proving to oneself the truth of a matter. When we choose, according to this verb bachar, we are affirming that we have examined our choice and found it to be true.

The second overtone of this marvelous Hebrew verb is to approve of, as one approves of a beloved—one whom we have chosen because the choice is excellent, surpassing all others! As we "choose life," then, we are declaring that we love life, approving life as surpassing all other options.

In fact, the third translation of the Hebrew bachar actually means to love, to delight in any thing. This is the same verb for choose that we find in Isaiah 14:1, when God declares His profound love for Israel: "For the LORD will have mercy on Jacob, and will yet choose Israel, and set them in their own land..." Young's Literal Translation renders the verse thus: "Because Jehovah loveth Jacob, and hath fixed again on Israel, and given them rest on their own land..."

To choose life is to fix ourselves on life with a passionate love! To choose life is to examine and prove the truth of life as a surpassing, excellent choice. To choose life is to love life as we love a person, to take great delight in life as the Lord Himself delights in His people Israel—fixed on them, without shadow of turning. But in John 14:6, didn't the Lord Jesus say, "I am the way, the truth, and the life"? John 1:4 explains that "In Him was life..."

Choosing life is indeed choosing to "live and move and have our being" in Christ (Acts 17:28). As one, we affirm and prove to be true as our Beloved, who surpasses all others, is the One and only in whom we delight!

This is how the Lord empowers us to make quality decisions during the day. As we continue to choose Life, delighting ourselves in Christ, we will "walk according to the Spirit." We will be moved and directed in our other choices by the Spirit of Christ because we have an intimate relationship with Life itself.

This relationship of abiding in Christ, choosing Him moment by moment, is vital, imperative and necessary. We must be prompted by the Holy Spirit continuously, for that is the only path of blessing. We must allow the Word of God, who is Christ Himself, to influence and direct every choice.

Consider the consequences of choosing anything or anyone other than Christ or not following the Word. Deuteronomy warns us that choosing "death" leads to curses. Read the entire chapter of Deuteronomy 28 to gain a deep understanding of the life that is blessed and the life that is cursed. Make no mistake: choosing Life, choosing to live following the Spirit of Christ and the Word, is the most important decision you can make.

How Exactly Does this Precious Spirit of Christ Speak to Us and Prompt Us to Make Quality Decisions?

In 1 Kings 19, Elijah, the mighty prophet of God, listened for the voice of the Lord in an earthquake and the fire—but could not hear Him, despite the volume of natural sound. Meditate for a moment on this life-changing lesson: the Spirit speaks to us as a Friend speaks with a friend, walking with us in the cool of the day—not shouting to us like a deafening bullhorn (unless we're in grave danger and aren't paying attention)!

One day, the Lord confided this truth to me: He may shout His truths to strangers, but He whispers His secrets to His friends. He is an ever-present help, a constant Companion and the Lover of our soul! One important way God speaks to us is through our spirit. His whispered voice inside of us prompts us when we should or shouldn't do something.

Consider the almost imperceptible reminder, for example, to take your keys or to pack an umbrella! The Maker of the Universe knows when you might be locked out or rained upon. Believe with all your heart that there is nothing, absolutely nothing, too insignificant for His care. He is concerned with every single choice and situation, no matter how minor, from the time we awake to when we sleep. If we turn to the Beloved Counselor, Guide and Teacher, the Holy Spirit of Christ, He will, without fail, lead us into all truth. His name is the "Spirit of Truth"!

Having this inner Counselor is a gift beyond compare. He is the treasure of Whom Jesus said, "Nevertheless I tell you the truth. It is to your advantage that I go away; for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you; but if I depart, I will send Him to you" (John 16:7). It was to our advantage that Jesus departed this earth in the flesh—because we now have His wonderful Spirit within our very being!

This Spirit, this Helper, is the parakletos of God. Meditate on all this beautiful name Paraklete suggests: He is One who is summoned, called to our side and present to aid, the counsel for our defense, an assistant, an advocate, an intercessor, a pleader.

When we choose to obey God's leading—His inner prompting—we will always, without question, make the right choice because we have the Helper guiding us.

Remember, there is a way that may seem to be right, but that way will be harmful to us, bringing curses and death. We must choose God's ways, as they are always the best ways. God's ways are always higher and lead us into paths of peace (see Isaiah 26:3).

Are There Any Conditions to this Walk? What Other Choices Must We Make?

Above all, we must choose to keep our thoughts pure and upright (see Philippians 4:8). With holiness and the fear of the Lord, we will be free from guilt and shame—fearing God and not man, pleasing God and not man. We will be fearless to make the right choices, no matter the consequences.

Choosing to keep our conscience clear, in fact, is the only way to maintain this clear communication with our Beloved Heavenly Father. In 1 John 3:21, we read that guilt robs us of this communication. We must repent—and repent quickly—as soon as we feel the conviction of the Holy Spirit and realize we have made a mistake.

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."—I John 1:9

Finally we must remember Jeremiah 29:11. The LORD Almighty, King of the Universe, promises that He has great plans in store for us when we choose to follow His leading: "For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

This word "future" in this verse is also translated "expected." The word is translated from a Hebrew root qavah, which means to twist or bind together, as with a rope! The Lord will literally "rope us" to His future plans for us, binding us to Himself and the blessings He has ordained through Christ—as we choose Life and walk according to the Holy Spirit of Truth.

He Will Guide Us on a Path of Victory in Every Area of Our Lives

You are born to win, fulfilling the great plans and purposes that God created for you before the very foundations of the world (see Ephesians 2:10). In fact, you are more than a winner—you are an overcomer!

"But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us."—Romans 8:37, NASB

Pray with me today: "Precious Heavenly Father! Thank You for Life in Christ. I choose Life today. I choose to follow the Holy Spirit today. Thank You for Your promises to lead and guide me by Your Spirit. I ask You to teach me to hear Your Spirit within my spirit—distinctly and clearly—and the grace to obey with all my heart. I quiet my heart to hear Your still, small voice and trust that You will guide me as my Shepherd. I shall not want. Thank You for setting me free to walk in the power and victory of Your Spirit today!" Amen! So be it!

Many Blessings!

Bobby Conner
EaglesView Ministries
Email: manager@bobbyconner.org

Listen. Because He Speaks.

2009-06-30T10:05:00.000+08:00

Job 5

1 Call now; is there anyone who will answer you? To which of the holy ones will you turn?

2 Surely vexation kills the fool, and jealousy slays the simple.

3 I have seen the fool taking root, but suddenly I cursed his dwelling.

4 His children are far from safety; they are crushed in the gate, and there is no one to deliver them.

5 The hungry eat his harvest, and he takes it even out of thorns, and the thirsty pant after his wealth.

6 For affliction does not come from the dust, nor does trouble sprout from the ground,

7 but man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.

8 As for me, I would seek God, and to God would I commit my cause,

9 who does great things and unsearchable, marvelous things without number:

10 he gives rain on the earth and sends waters on the fields;

11 he sets on high those who are lowly, and those who mourn are lifted to safety.

12 He frustrates the devices of the crafty, so that their hands achieve no success.

13 He catches the wise in their own craftiness, and the schemes of the wily are brought to a quick end.

14 They meet with darkness in the daytime and grope at noonday as in the night.

15 But he saves the needy from the sword of their mouth and from the hand of the mighty.

16 So the poor have hope, and injustice shuts her mouth.

17 Behold, blessed is the one whom God reproves; therefore despise not the discipline of the Almighty.

18 For he wounds, but he binds up; he shatters, but his hands heal.

19 He will deliver you from six troubles; in seven no evil shall touch you.

20 In famine he will redeem you from death, and in war from the power of the sword.

21 You shall be hidden from the lash of the tongue, and shall not fear destruction when it comes.

22 At destruction and famine you shall laugh, and shall not fear the beasts of the earth.

23 For you shall be in league with the stones of the field, and the beasts of the field shall be at peace with you.

24 You shall know that your tent is at peace, and you shall inspect your fold and miss nothing.

25 You shall know also that your offspring shall be many, and your descendants as the grass of the earth.

26 You shall come to your grave in ripe old age, like a sheaf gathered up in its season.

27 Behold, this we have searched out; it is true. Hear, and know it for your good.

The FRUIT of the Spirit

2009-06-25T17:44:00.005+08:00

A friend of mine and I were exchanging email correspondences last week and she asked me if a person can be considered Spirit-filled if they do not have the nine fruits of the Spirit, as mentioned in the book of Galatians. It was an interesting question that made me go back to that passage of scripture and study and meditate on it.

I told her the following through my email reply:

- - - - -

"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law." -- Galatians 5:22-23

Since the Bible uses the term FRUIT for all nine, I think it is an all-or-nothing deal. They are part of a package that I believe Holy Spirit gives to us once we receive Him. But like the fruit of earthly plants, some take more time to ripen than others.

So, I believe that we get the FRUIT of the Spirit [all nine of them] when we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, with some of the nine maturing faster and manifesting earlier than others. You are a Spirit-filled Christian even if some of the nine aspects of the FRUIT, which I believe are already in you, have not matured yet. You are Spirit-filled because you are filled by the FRUIT of the Spirit, though maybe wa pa lang ni ripen ang tanan.

Remember, we are a work in progress. But God has already given us everything we need for life and godliness [2 Peter 1:3-11]. So that means it's all there already but we just need to cooperate with God to perfect what He has already deposited in us. That's why that passage in 2 Peter encourages us to "make every effort".

Some people may have already matured in the area of patience but may lack the manifestation of joy. That doesn't make them not filled with the Spirit. It just means they need more work in the area of joy. The fruit of joy is in there but perhaps it just needs to mature more.

- - - - -

All of us seriously need to mature in the fullness of the Spirit. It takes time for the FRUIT to mature but if we cooperate with God and allow Holy Spirit to do what needs to be done, we'll get there much faster.

In Every Season, Things Will Be Alright

2009-06-12T15:00:00.002+08:00

Chuck Pierce: "It Will Be Alright"

"Times might be dark but I say, 'It will be alright!' You have eyes to see light, so it will be alright! You have been up and down and all around because I am stretching you to use you in a new way. Even though your emotions have been ruling you, hear the sound of Heaven. I am stretching out the emotional structure that has been ruling you in the past so I can use you in days ahead.

"I have a larger bow to string you on, so I have needed to allow stretching times to occur. You will be MY bowstring that shoots forth in days ahead. You will hold the arrow and withstand the stress of the seven years ahead because you endured the stretching this year. This stretching will come to an end, and though you've been unstrung, watch Me string you again.

"Come up higher! I have a place of sacrifice that you have not known. Come up to My throne and you will rule the thrones that have been rising around you and contending for the blessings that are yours.

"There is a rumbling in the earth and there is an eruption on the way. Watch the eruptions that come forth. I have held up much in the past seasons, but there is an eruption that is brewing. Many things in the government will erupt and blow up now. Many structures are vying and contending in the earth, but I tell you I can go to the core of things. I can go deeper than any other structure to shake the depth of an issue. I am going to blow some things fully loose and into a new place.

"What you have seen in California is going to cause an eruption in this nation. I am allowing My covenant to be tested in this land. In the midst of My covenant tests, watch the lands that realign. Lands and peoples that resist My covenant plan will have an eruption and shake!"

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries

Cindy Trimm: "What God is Saying to Us Now"

We are living in a prophetic hour where I believe the earth is groaning and travailing for the real sons of God to stand up according to Romans 8:22: "For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now."

God is birthing you out on purpose into purpose. It is my prayer that in this season you will be able to find your purpose and prophetic coordinates. Ecclesiastes 3:1 states, "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven." In the natural there are four seasons, but in the supernatural there are five. Since every season was created by God all seasons are good.

The Winter Season

Winter: This is a prophetic season when God gives inspirational thoughts, visions and dreams. This is the season when you should drive your spiritual roots deep through prayer, meditation, worship and praise. This is also a season of rest from the old season and preparation for the next seasons.

I pray that your visions will be solidified and your roots will go deep. If this is the current season you are in, I pray that you will reflect on the past, adjust, and prepare yourself to move on to all God has in store for you. This is a season you will be enrolled into the School of the Holy Spirit.

The Spring Season

Spring Season: This is a season of seedtime: plowing, planting and cultivating your seeds (ideas, visions, financial, relational, ministerial investments, etc.). Make certain you get enough seed in good ground. In this season you will have to fight the enemies of prosperity, and de-weed the fields you are cultivating. You will also have to war against the spirit of abortion designed to prevent purpose in your life from being realized. This is the season for seed-time.

The Summer Season

Summer Season: This is a time of favor; it is a time of birthing, harvesting, sweating, labor and great exposure. Do not fear in this season; do not look to the right or the left, but make up in your mind to PUSH. Push through doubt, push through ill-spoken words, push through the unseen, push through trials, you have to PUSH!

Proverbs 6:6-11 gives us an invaluable lesson on the ant and reminds us that the ant stores up for the winter months in the summer and beginning of fall.

The Fall Season

Fall Season: This is a time when you need grace; you may become discouraged as there will appear to be a reduction of resources. This is a season of clearing away, purging, and getting rid of some things; a season of great sacrifice; a season where you will be required to give up your "Isaac." It is a season for a Job experience—but, I am happy to announce that you will come out and you will come out with more—double.

Due Season

Due Season: This is the season when the harvest from seeds that have been planted in other seasons will be payable on demand! This is a season of decreeing and declaring! A time when you will be synchronized and syncopated to the prophetic will of God. May the anointing of the Sons of Issachar descend upon you this day, empowering you to accurately determine and walk in the timing and season of the Lord.

"Be not weary in well doing, for in due season, you shall reap if you faint not"—Galatians 6:9

Blessings,

Dr. Cindy Trimm
Cindy Trimm International
Email: info@cindytrimm.com

- - - - -

From the Elijah List website.

Neverending Promises: June 2-09

2009-06-02T17:20:00.002+08:00

Isaiah 54 [NIV]

1 "Sing, O barren woman,
you who never bore a child;
burst into song, shout for joy,
you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman
than of her who has a husband,"
says the LORD.

2 "Enlarge the place of your tent,
stretch your tent curtains wide,
do not hold back;
lengthen your cords,
strengthen your stakes.

3 For you will spread out to the right and to the left;
your descendants will dispossess nations
and settle in their desolate cities.

4 "Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame.
Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated.
You will forget the shame of your youth
and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood.

5 For your Maker is your husband—
the LORD Almighty is his name—
the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer;
he is called the God of all the earth.

6 The LORD will call you back
as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit—
a wife who married young,
only to be rejected," says your God.

7 "For a brief moment I abandoned you,
but with deep compassion I will bring you back.

8 In a surge of anger
I hid my face from you for a moment,
but with everlasting kindness
I will have compassion on you,"
says the LORD your Redeemer.

9 "To me this is like the days of Noah,
when I swore that the waters of Noah would never again cover the earth.
So now I have sworn not to be angry with you,
never to rebuke you again.

10 Though the mountains be shaken
and the hills be removed,
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken
nor my covenant of peace be removed,"
says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

11 "O afflicted city, lashed by storms and not comforted,
I will build you with stones of turquoise,
your foundations with sapphires.

12 I will make your battlements of rubies,
your gates of sparkling jewels,
and all your walls of precious stones.

13 All your sons will be taught by the LORD,
and great will be your children's peace.

14 In righteousness you will be established:
Tyranny will be far from you;
you will have nothing to fear.
Terror will be far removed;
it will not come near you.

15 If anyone does attack you, it will not be my doing;
whoever attacks you will surrender to you.

16 "See, it is I who created the blacksmith
who fans the coals into flame
and forges a weapon fit for its work.
And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;

17 no weapon forged against you will prevail,
and you will refute every tongue that accuses you.
This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD,
and this is their vindication from me,"
declares the LORD.

Give It Away, Give It Away, Give It Away Now!

2009-06-02T13:49:00.001+08:00

Denny Cline: "Elisha Rising—What Do You Have that the Next Generation Needs?"

Remember the story of Elijah and the prophets of Baal? What an amazing encounter and kingdom confrontation. It was clearly one of Elijah's most memorable feats and what many see as the high point of his ministry. Yet, when John the Baptist comes on the scene as a forerunner to the ministry of Jesus, he was said to have come in the spirit of Elijah. What was the purpose? It was to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children and the hearts of the children to the fathers. This turning was seen as essential to the release of the ministry of Jesus Christ who would both teach and demonstrate the Kingdom of Heaven on Earth.

After his great victory at Mount Carmel, Elijah experienced a demonic attack, sending him running in fear and despair to a cave with a death threat over his life. In his state of mind, Elijah felt alone, finished and hopeless. But God finally opened his heart to see that the most important influence he would have was yet to come. Elijah would then go on to form four schools of the prophets, and in particular, mentor a young man named Elisha. I believe this story represents something very important for the Church—the Body of Christ today. Jesus is leading many sons and daughters to glory as it says in Hebrews 2:10, and He is doing it in partnership with fathers and mothers in the faith who have been experiencing the glory of God in this present generation.

The Ministry of Elijah and the Ministry of Elisha

More was accomplished by Elijah pouring into the next generation than his own personal ministry exploits had recorded. So too, will more be accomplished by fathers and mothers in the Church by pouring into the next generation—helping them step into their calling with wisdom, support, and loving relationships to fall back on.

In this day and age of so much "fatherlessness" it is ever so crucial for the Church not to mirror our modern-day culture in this regard. So, here are some questions we must ask:

• What are some of the things we can do to help young leaders emerge and succeed?

• Is the Body of Christ aware of how many young leaders are already stepping into their callings with a great deal to offer now—not just in the future?

• Are we ready to put our money and time where we say our hearts are?

• Do we realize what a double portion really represents?

Although both Elijah and Elisha worked signs and wonders, Elisha was more prolific. Further, Jehu, a spiritual son of Elijah's ministry, brought down Jezebel—something Elijah was unable to do on his own. By the time Elisha came on the scene many other prophets were rising up into their callings—unlike Elijah, who was recorded as feeling all alone (although, in fact, he wasn't), showing us just how few relationships there were between Elijah and his contemporaries.

This was not so by the time Elisha received the mantle of Elijah and began to move in power and influence in the nation. Elisha was the most prominent of the spiritual sons of Elijah, and we notice that when Elijah was taken up, Elisha and many of the other prophets who received mentoring in Gilgal, Bethel, Jericho, and Jordan seemed to know each other. Elisha was clearly respected and already recognized as a leader in his generation—moving quickly into a ministry which carried double the miraculous power of Elijah.

I would liken the ministry of Elijah to that of John the Baptist, and the ministry of Elisha to that of Jesus. And it is the ministry of Jesus that we are really after—isn't it? There will always be a need for the forerunner ministry to call people to the next level. But as much as we love, thank God for, and honor the ministries of the saints of the past, we need to reach for the ministry of Jesus in His Body—in the fullness of redemptive character and power today. The entire earth is groaning in anticipation to see this type of ministry in the sons and daughters of God.

We can talk all about the next generation and tell them what they should become until we are blue in the face, but unless we commit ourselves to them and the cause that faces them today (not in the future), they will continue to be held back—or like many of us, try it alone. It's a long, lonely journey without fathers and mothers in the Church who really love and are committed to help you rise up into your calling. I am not suggesting this is not going on now to some degree, but I do believe it is certainly a now priority.

Tell the Youth "Elijah has Come"

I had a spiritual encounter in Germany while doing a conference with Steve Shultz for the first German ElijahList Ministries conference in 2005. My wife Ann and I were resting between sessions on Saturday afternoon. She was reading and I was soaking to worship music in our little room. Suddenly I sat straight up in bed thinking I had just awakened, and said, "Why did you wake me up?" Ann's response was, "I didn't wake you up." And then suddenly the vision I was in came right back at and into me. In the vision a man walked up to me and said, "Tell the youth, 'Elijah has come!'" It exploded in my spirit, awakening something within me.

I had no idea what this could mean at the time and asked Stacey Campbell that afternoon. She said, "Well, the Bible indicates he has come, and he will come. But I am not sure either." Over the next couple of years I watched young men and women intentionally looking and asking for mentoring—father and mother-type relationships in the Body of Christ. They want what Elisha had—relationship with those who have experience in their calling to help them step up and into theirs. They honor and want the experience of mothers and fathers.

They also want to go further than we have gone—but not without a safety net. It's amazing to me the quality and heart of these young leaders—not just their giftedness, which is also incredible. One of the saddest messages I ever saw was on the back of an RV. It said, "We are Spending our Kid's Inheritance!" How heartbreaking and unbiblical. Parents are to lay up for their children—not the other way around.

Freely You Have Received, Freely Give

My prayer for this year and the next few years is this: I pray that fathers and mothers will recognize the emerging leaders in the Body of Christ and reach out to them like Elijah did to Elisha.

Elijah made a commitment to help Elisha rise up into his calling, and Elisha stuck close to Elijah for as long as he could—serving, gleaning, and ministering alongside of him—and then received a double portion. It's time for the next generation to rise up and begin to step into their inheritance. If we do it right, perhaps they will do the same for the next generation. Sadly, Elisha did not. The result was his anointing went to the grave with him instead of being imparted to the next generation. Each generation has its own particular calling and anointing—but the next one needs what the former has.

What do you have that the next generation needs? Is it wisdom in business, a prophetic mantle, gifts of worship or a deep understanding of the Kingdom, etc.? Whatever it is, give it away and insure that it will multiply until we see the fullness of Jesus in His Body.

Denny Cline, Senior Leader
Vineyard Christian Fellowship of Albany
Email: denny@vcfalbany.org

Denny Cline and his wife, Ann, have pastored in Oregon for 20 years. With a team of 27 adults, they planted the Albany Vineyard in 1994, where Denny continues to serve as senior pastor. They have been privileged to experience several awesome visitations of the Holy Spirit, impacting youth and adults alike with healing, salvation, and deliverance.

Denny is known and loved for his simple, compassionate, and yet extravagant approach to Kingdom life. A notorious "God-chaser," he has also led the Albany Vineyard in a bold direction that has birthed many developing ministries and produced a rich harvest of fathers, mothers and children filled with the zeal of the Lord.

They Are On the Way

2009-06-02T13:21:00.001+08:00

"Those Things We Think Will Never Come to Pass are on the Way!"

I want to share a little something that happened to us recently, because I think it will encourage you. The Lord encouraged me that we are going to begin seeing things that we say we never see. The things we say never happen are going to suddenly happen.

One morning, my husband Mike and I were sitting in our backyard enjoying the sun and the birds! We were discussing things of God and asking questions about different things. We started talking about the birds singing and how there are so many different kinds. As I was naming all the different types that we have seen or heard, Mike mentioned our resident eagle (he lives in our area). I said, "I have NEVER seen that eagle while sitting in our backyard. I see him while I am driving in my car, but I NEVER see him when I am just sitting here enjoying our backyard." Well, what do you think happened next? That eagle decided to fly directly in front of us from our left across the field to the right. I was in shock.

The next evening we had our home group in our backyard because the weather was so nice. While I was setting up, guess who decided to fly by?...Mr. Eagle again. I knew that God was trying to get our attention.

The Things We Think We Will Never See Come to Pass are on the Way!

The next day on Wednesday, as I was praying for someone and talking about suddenlies, the Lord spoke to my heart and conveyed this: The things that you and I catch ourselves saying never happen (concerning God, etc) are going to begin to happen.

I shared on Luke 13 recently...the story of the woman who was bound by the devil for 18 years and hunched over; suddenly, Jesus showed up and things shifted in her life, in her body and in her perspective. Who would have thought that after 18 years her healing would come? It says she was a daughter of Abraham. Her promised blessing finally came! She didn't even do anything that particular day, but just show up! That seems easy enough.

So, expect some suddenlies. Those things we think will never come to pass are on the way!

Lori Salley
Show Mercy International
Email: info@showmercy.org

About Mike and Lori Salley: Mike and Lori Salley are the founders of Show Mercy International. They reside in Albany, Oregon, with their two daughters. Mike and Lori were married in 1995 after meeting while attending Louisiana State University. They have a passion to assist the poor and hurting, specifically focusing on the orphaned and abandoned children in third world countries such as Uganda. They also have a desire to encourage people right here in the United States to pursue the dreams that God has placed in their hearts and to know that with God everything is possible. For more information on Show Mercy, go to www.showmercy.org.

Light of the Word

2009-05-27T17:58:00.003+08:00

Last night's revival service confirmed what the Lord has been repeatedly yet gently speaking to me. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path." Several times before last night, God has been impressing on my heart the importance and urgency of having a daily intake of His word.

Pastor Joe stated that without the guidance of the Word in the church and in one's personal life, it is so easy to stray -- and stray far -- from the truth. This confirmation shook me awake from my insufficiency in the area of voraciously consuming the Word on a daily basis. Yes, I read the Bible and hear on my iPod, but I realized I don't do it deliberately enough. Changes are going to be implmented, by God's grace.

I now feel a greater sense of urgency to really immerse myself -- and the guys in the cell group with me -- in the Word. So help me God.

The Bible is our daily bread, our source of joy and strength, our light, our guide, and without it, living life would be like using a technically complicated equipment without reading the manual.

2 Kings 23:2 says that King Josiah, when he found the Book of the Covenant and realized how far off the nation was from God's standards, read the Book of the Law to all the people "in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant." When they learned of what God said was right, they made restitution -- they repented, stopped sinning and took corrective action. We who read the Bible now should have the same response.

God's Word IS a lamp unto our feet and a light unto our path. Why stumble through the darkness of ignorance, uncertainty and sin when we can shine His truth on our lives and live in perpetual brightness?