Where The Streams Converge

The Scribes of Heaven

2012-01-15T17:16:00.000-08:00

Recently as I was communing with the Lord I was reminded of a vision that I had a few years ago. In this vision I was shown a room in the heavenlies. This room was setup as a library with volumes of books on shelves around the room. In the center of the room were rows of tables and chairs. At these tables were seated angels who were writing in books that looked just like the volumes upon the shelves. I was told that these angels were scribes and were recording the exploits of the saints.

Every deed of the saints are recorded in the chronicles of heaven. The history of the Kingdom can all be found there without omission. These are the works of God done through His children. It is the worship of the scribes to record them. Each one of these volumes were recording a different person. Some people had more than one volume because of the size of their ministry. Heaven celebrates at our Kingdom work. I asked if my sins and shortcomings were recorded as well. I was told that they had been covered by the blood of the lamb and are remembered no more. Heaven rejoices in you!

Ending Financial Lack

2012-01-12T14:07:00.000-08:00

God is bringing financial breakthrough to His people this year. We are going to see a transfer of wealth come from the unrighteous into the Kingdom. God does not want His servants to have to struggle financially. He doesn't want them to live in poverty or wonder where the money for their next meal is going to come from.

God is going to be releasing many of the keys to financial breakthrough over the next 7 months to His people. It is our responsibility to pray into these keys and ask God for greater revelation. But there are a few things that He has already highlighted to me.

1. Break off the poverty spirit. God feeds the ravens. He will take care of you. Don't worry about where provision will come but trust that it will be provided by the Father. Simply listen to Him and let Him guide all of your steps. Believe that God wants to be your provider.

2. Don't speak words of lack. This is critical. There is a power of the spoken word. Don't say things like "I can't afford my rent" or "I won't have any money" or "I'm poor." Declare provision over your life. I have less than I have ever had in my life. I don't know where money is going to come from but I am declaring God's provision over my life.

3. Have faith in God's plan. God is the perfect Father. He only has good things for us. He might want us to eat rice and beans for a season. He might choose for us to go without a car for a time. But when we need something He will provide. Break off the spirit of materialism but don't live like a pauper either (I'm talking mindset and not as much the actual spending habits). If God tells you to buy a brand new car then do it- He will provide the payments. If God tells you to go without a car- then do it. God's plan is perfect. If God desires for you to eat steak and lobster then He will provide it. God will give you the lifestyle that He desires for you in that season. But whatever that looks like your needs will be met.

January Newsletter

2012-01-09T13:27:00.000-08:00

The following is my January Newsletter. If you want to be on my email list of prayer and financial supporters then message me your email.

Matthew Prewett

Missionary to Hollywood, Los Angeles, CA

PO Box 3693

Hollywood, CA 90078

Email: matthewprewett(at)gmail.com

January 2012 Newsletter

My first week:

I have just started my first week as a full-time missionary in the house of prayer. It has been an awesome time of transition as I am easing into my responsibilities here. Right now I am focusing on my prayer sets and developing a partnership with the worship leaders on those sets. God is good and has been moving powerfully in these prayer times.

I’m also heading up our marketing and communications department, which right now, consists of mainly just me and a couple of volunteers who run our website.

Another endeavor that I started this week is working with the Saigu Campaign. The Saigu Campaign is raising awareness of the LA Riots and seeking to bring about healing and reconciliation as we approach the 20^th anniversary this April. Radiance International has partnered with them to provide prayer support throughout the campaign.

In these next few weeks we are going to be launching our healing rooms and prophetic rooms for those who are in need of healing prayer and personal prophecy. I am part of a small core that will be spearheading that project along with our street ministry as we take the gospel out of the four walls of the church and onto the crowded sidewalks of Hollywood.

Looking forward to 2012:

2012 is going to be a great year filled with advancement and victories. I believe that it is a year of restored vision and remembered dreams. Ask God to bring to remembrance His promises that you gave up on. Enter into the celebration of fulfilled promises!

Another thing that many of God’s people have been talking about is financial breakthrough. Focus on God’s provision during this season. God feeds the ravens and He takes care of everything that we need. Declare breakthrough over your finances. God does not intend for His people to experience lack.

Financial Needs:

Currently I am working part-time. as I am still raising support. I need to raise a team of supporters who can commit to funding me on a monthly basis so that I can focus solely on the ministry at hand. If this is something that you feel led to do then please let me know what amount you can commit to (this is for my tracking purposes and budgeting) and mail any checks (put my name on the memo line) to:

Radiance International

6121 Sunset Blvd, Studio 205T Hollywood, CA 90028

2012: The First Few Months

2012-01-07T19:40:00.000-08:00

Those, who have been following the prophetic words spoken about 2012, will know that this is the year when the apostles will arise. This is the year of governmental authority. This is the time when the Church is going to be realigned. This shift is going to take place throughout the year. It is a year of breakthrough and fulfilled promises. It is a year of resurrected dreams. The first few months are very key.

During these first two months God will be speaking to His people. He is going to be instructing us. This is a time of the secret place, but it is also, a time of stepping out. During this time He will be giving us the strategies for the rest of the year. These strategies are going to be the keys that we need to unlock our destinies and to walk out our calling for 2012 and beyond. This is also a time of remembering the forgotten dreams. Ask God to bring those dreams and promises to remembrance. Resurrection is here for those who are willing to believe once again.

March will be the time to march! Remove all things that are holding you back. Cleanse yourself of those things that keep you from pursuing God like you should. Cleanse your home of junk from the past that you don't need anymore. This is a time of cleansing and purification. God wishes us to be unhindered in the coming season. This coming season is to prepare us for the end-times. We are at the beginning of the end-time move of God. We can't survive the end-times with impurity and compromise. This is the time to take a reckoning of our lives and of our households.

The Tension Between Pastoring and Releasing

2012-01-03T12:30:00.000-08:00

Currently, in the Church today, we see the gift of pastoring exhibited far more than the gift of apostling. Yes, I am using apostle as a verb and not a noun as it usually is. I'm doing this for discussion purposes as I couldn't think of a good term for it that didn't overlap with what a pastor does.

The term pastor can also mean shepherd. The role of the pastor is to tend the sheep. He (I will use the male pronoun but this is not necessarily meant to be an exclusion) is to protect them from outside influences and guide them in the Christian life. Pastoring is very nurturing. When I am going through a rough time in my life I want to be ministered by someone who knows how to pastor. In this way pastoring can be thought of as mothering.

The role of the apostle is to equip and send out. It is to call out the giftings within people and to equip them for the work of the Kingdom. This is one of the reasons why the apostles and prophets are the foundations of the Church. The apostle can sometimes be rough. Apostling can be compared to fathering.

There is an old joke that a mother sees a tree and tells her child not to climb it because he might get hurt while the father sees the same tree and tells the child to go ahead and climb it because he might get hurt. The mother is pastoring the child- she wants to see him safe. The father is equipping the child for the future because he knows that the world is dangerous and the child needs to experience those risks in order to grow.

I have had the privilege of seeing this first hand in the church. The lead pastor of my home church is very apostolic. He wants to release people into ministry as quickly as possible. He sees the gifting in them and wants to foster that gifting and grow it. This is what an apostle does. Their tendency is to tell them to climb that tree and to go over and rescue them if they struggle. The pastor on the other hand wants to foster that gifting and nurture it until the person is completely ready. The pastor hates to see people get hurt because it goes against his calling as a shepherd. The apostle doesn't want to hold back anyone from their calling and it is his calling to release people into their destiny.

This is also seen where pastors want to keep their flock within their church. The pastor hates to see his children leave the home- he would rather everyone stay together as one happy family. He knows that his children are safe when they are under his protection. The apostle is like the father who excitedly blesses his children as they leave the home. The apostle receives his joy by knowing that his children are out living their destiny. He simply asks that they visit from time to time and send him cards and pictures for the refrigerator. The apostle is willing to risk the safety of his children for their greater good.

Can this lead to problems? Yes, it can. That is why the five-fold needs to work together. The pastor needs to listen to the prophetic/apostolic and be able to let go of people. The pastor can hold on to people too long. The apostle can release people too quickly before they are ready. The apostle needs to listen to the pastor and use his voice as a balance.

We as God's people need to understand this balance and to discern what God wants for us. We must listen to the words of caution from our pastors while not holding ourselves back from our calling. Timing is critical to this season. As the apostles rise up and take their place they are going to become a lot better at discerning timing. Let us continue to pray for a unity of the five-fold ministry within the Church.

Why Los Angeles?

2011-12-25T21:57:00.000-08:00

As I embark on full-time missions work in Los Angeles many may ask why does LA need missionaries? When we use the word missionary we often think of someone who is sent to a far away nation instead of our own backyard. For the past six years I have lived, worked, and studied in the greater Los Angeles area. For the past year I have lived in Los Angeles itself and I can tell you that LA needs a move of God as much as any other place on earth.

During the past year I have done door to door sales here in LA, before that in Orange County. I have worked in the hills of Hollywood, I have walked the streets of Compton, I have visited almost every kind of demographic that you can imagine. I have talked to grandmothers who saw their children get shot simply because they were standing on a sidewalk at the wrong time. I have made friends with those who grew up in the inner-city where waking up each morning meant you not knowing if you were going to live another day. I have heard the stories of those who made it out of those areas and those who still live it each day.

I have seen the homeless line the streets. I have over the past couple of months gotten to talk to some of them. The former car mechanic who now has to beg or barter for a meal. The children who have no one but the others in their little band of outcasts. The musician who came out here for a better life.

I have seen the prostitutes: Those who stand on a street corner selling their bodies to whoever will stop by. The woman in a luxury condo on the westside who thought I was her John. Then there are the ones who are trafficked and held against their will. Then again, all sex workers are held against their will, the enemy has enslaved them. Some are held by pimps, others by a drug habit, and others just can't imagine any other life.

I have met the ones who the world views as successful. Businessmen, actors, models, musicians. They are just as lonely and have just as much pain as the drug addict stuck in the inner city. They just look better to the outsider. But they need a touch from God just as much as anyone else. Los Angeles needs a touch from God.

Los Angeles has seen some of the greatest moves of God birthed from this place. The Azusa Street revival gave birth to the Pentecostal movement of the 20th century. Billy Graham had one of his first evangelistic crusades in the city. The 20th century missions movement and the idea of reaching the last unreached peoples were very much birthed out of the Los Angeles area. The Jesus People movement and the Charismatic Renewal both came out of Orange County which is right next to Los Angeles. Los Angeles is ready for the next great move of God. LA is key to God's plan for the nations.

The world looks at Los Angeles. It is a beacon of light to the world. Sadly, it is not a true light but a false light. The enemy has clothed himself in the glitz and glam of Hollywood and used it to promote immorality and perversion. God wishes to redeem it and for Hollywood to live out its destiny as a shining city upon a hill to reveal truth throughout the earth.

There is a saying in politics that as California goes- so goes the nation. I say that as Hollywood goes- so goes the world. Can we transform a nation by transforming a city? I believe that the transformation and awakening of Los Angeles is one of God's great desires. He has brought people, from every nation on earth, to Los Angeles so that every nation may be touched when revival comes.

I write this so that you will pray with me for Los Angeles. Pray that God will raise up the workers for the harvest is plentiful (Luke 10:2). And if the Lord wills consider partnering with me in prayer and finances. You can email me at the link on my profile.

The Aborted Mantles

2011-12-13T21:15:00.000-08:00

This Sunday I was in the House of Prayer and the Lord caught me up in a vision. In this vision I was within a room in heaven. In this room was shelves with thousands of thousands of mantles. But these mantles were unlike the ones I had seen in heaven before. These mantles were much smaller than the mantles I have seen in heaven before. Christ was there in the room, along with an angel, and our Savior explained that these mantles belonged to babies who had been aborted before they had the chance to be born. These were mantles that had never seen the light of day.

The angel started showing me a few of these mantles. One of them was the cure for aids, another the cure for polio. There was a baby who had the mantle of evangelism and was going to be a powerful apostolic evangelist within the islands of Africa- but was aborted. Another African-American child was called as a voice of freedom within the inner cities of America to bring racial reconciliation. These are just a few of the mantles that God had in reserve. Christ and the angel were showing these mantles and speaking of the children who had been selected to bear them with such love. Sadly these mantles were never released.

I then followed the angel to another room and in the middle of the room was a large mantle upon a stand. I asked what was this mantle because I knew it was not for a child but for someone already grown. The angel told me that it was the mantle of Mordecai that was being held in reserve to be released once again. There are a number of people who have been selected for this mantle. The calling of Mordecai is to raise up the Esthers. God is going to raise up Esthers who will go before the rulers of this world and plead for the lives of those who have no voice. These men and women will carry great favor. Before the Esthers take their place of position they must be prepared for it by the Mordecais.

Along the walls of this room were troughs filled with swords and sickles. Christ then told me that there had been a period of grace over this nation but His judgement could not be stayed for much longer. If we allow abortion to remain in our land, if we continue to abort His chosen ones, judgement will come. These swords and sickles represent the tools of judgement that will be released upon the earth if we allow this scourge much longer.

We are coming to a kairos moment in our nation for the ending of abortion. 2013 will mark the fortieth anniversary of Roe v. Wade. Forty years is length of a biblical generation. We killed a third of our generation before they could be born. I feel that the decisions made in 2013 will decide the future of abortion in our country for the rest of our history. We, as the Church, must make a stand for life. This election of 2012 will elect the president, senators, congressional representatives, governors, and state legislators who are going to be making the decisions of 2013.

Many Christians have given up on the idea that abortion can be ended. I proclaim that as both slavery and segregation ended in the twinkling of an eye so can abortion. Let the Mordecais and Esthers arise! Let the Church arise and proclaim life over this nation.

Shooting in Hollywood

2011-12-12T11:11:00.000-08:00

Last week there was a shooting at Sunset & Vine near the Radiance prayer house. You can read the LA Times article here. What happened was a lone gunman, who had just moved to the area, wandered into the street and started shooting at cars. One man, a music industry executive, was critically wounded. Things like this don't just happen without a prophetic significance. The following is what I feel God is saying through all of this.

The enemy has raised up his agents, many of them mere pawns, to abort the destiny of those God has called. God is calling forth many within Hollywood. He has given destiny to those in music, film, and television. Hollywood is meant to be a city shining upon a hill. But the enemy seeks to abort this destiny before it is able to be birthed. God desires for the kingpins of Hollywood to come to Him. The enemy is going to do everything He can to stop that. The accuser has brought sexual perversion, drug addiction, and the occult into Hollywood to enslave the creative ones. When that won't work then he will kill to accomplish his goal.

In 2012 God will be establishing His government in the Church. The apostles and prophets are going to rise up in power and authority to rule as God has called them. The gunman was stopped by two LAPD officers who happened to be in the area at that time. It was governmental authority who ended the enemy's attack against destiny. God is raising up His government during this time. They are going to put things back in order. We will see destiny come forth in this nation and we will see an end of premature death. By the grace of God the shooting victim still lives- let us pray for his recovery and that he will be a prophetic sign of what God is going to do within Hollywood.

The Son of God will rise along Sunset!

The Modern Abolitionist

2011-12-02T17:13:00.000-08:00

Recently, I watched the movie Amazing Grace. This excellent film, which I highly recommend, recounts the story of William Wilberforce and his crusade against slavery in England. God has been speaking to me some time about His desire to see those like Willberforce rise up in this generation and take their stand against abortion and human trafficking. Wilberforce, elected to British parliament at the age of 21, devoted his life to the ending of slavery. This movement, given momentum by the great awakening, took years to accomplish. But Wilberforce never gave up and eventually saw slavery ended within the British empire.

In this generation we witness a different kind of slavery. The sex trade. There are more slaves today in the world than any other time in history- much of them in the sex trade. These are women and children who are kidnapped and forced to do unspeakable things against their will. Their captors use threats, blackmail, drugs, and violence to keep these defenseless ones within their control.

God is raising up those who will take their stand and be the voice for the voiceless. Wilberforce was a voice for the Africans who were being enslaved. He forced the nobility of England to view the damage of the trade. We need to do the same. God is raising up those who will be champions of freedom. At The Call Sacramento a speaker recounted on how he asked someone who was doing work in East Asia to bring back some objects from the sex trade over there that they could put on display within the states. He held up the blood stained pajama pants from a small girl no older than seven. You could see the stains from her abuse from over fifty feet away. This is what is being done. This is what God is witnessing. His Spirit is grieved- what is the Church doing?

God is raising up those who will devote their entire lives to the abolition of this trade. Don't think it's isolated to other parts of the world. It's just as active here in the western world. If it wasn't for those of European descent there wouldn't be such a demand for the trafficking of women and children. Are we going to be the generation that devotes itself to ending this injustice? Or are we going to be yet another generation that ignores it. The great awakenings were coupled with the ending of slavery in England and America. The third great awakening is going to be coupled with the sex trade, abortion, and the rise of adoption.

My Reassignment

2011-12-02T12:49:00.000-08:00

The transition of 2011 into 2012 will also witness my transitioning from the marketplace to vocational ministry. Following is the support letter that I am sending out. I'm posting it here for two reasons. One, to update you, my readers, on what God is doing in my life. Two, to ask you to prayerfully consider partnering with me both in prayer and in finances. I am spending this last month of 2011 to transition out of my job and to raise support.

For the past two years God has assigned me to the marketplace. Recently I have felt called to leave my job, and the career that I have been building, in order to be a full-time missionary in the city of Los Angeles. For the past few months I have been involved with a ministry called Radiance International that launched earlier this year. Our vision is to see Hollywood transformed by the power of God and touch the nations. The primary focus of our ministry is 24/7 prayer and worship. We see this described in Revelation and it is the model that we choose to emulate as we seek to see heaven here on earth.

On earth as it is in heaven! That familiar line from the Lord’s Prayer is one of the biggest cries of my heart. As a full-time missionary, here in Los Angeles, I will be involved with several things. One is the prayer room; I will be spending about 20 hours a week leading prayer watches focusing on particular topics as we pursue the heart of God for the city, nation, and the world. I will also be involved with our street team that is launching this January. Our prayer house is located in the heart of Hollywood and we plan on hitting the streets to pray for those who need physical, emotional, and spiritual healing during the busiest club nights.

Much of my other roles are going to be defined over the next month or two as I transition into full-time ministry with Radiance. There are opportunities for international missions, teaching Bible studies, equipping college students, discipleship, and working with marketplace leaders, just to name a few.

This is a huge transition that has scared me for some time but I know that the timing is now. In order to step out into this mission I need to raise support. I am looking for a team of people to commit to $100 a month, or any other amount. It is my goal to raise support by the end of the year so that I might enter into the house full time starting with the new year.

I covet your prayers. Please pray for protection as I minister on the front lines. I am excited to see what God is going to do during 2012 and beyond. Let me know if you have any questions at all.

Blessings from the city of the angels of our Lord,

Matthew Prewett

If God leads you to give financially then please email me at matthewprewett(at)gmail.com for details on how you can give a tax-deductible donation.

Doug Addison: Restoration, Repayment and Reconciliation: God's Plan for 2012

2011-10-24T01:04:00.000-07:00

We have been in a strategic time in which God is continuing to realign things that will bring about amazing results on earth and in our lives. If you have been following the series of prophetic words that God has given me this year, I have been talking about how God is bringing justice and repaying people for all that was lost, stolen, or cut short during the past nine years (from 2002–2011).

God spoke to me that the enemy has overplayed his hand against us and that if we would ask Him to, He will bring repayment. There is not a time limit on this prophetic word, because God is outside of time, but I highly recommend that you continue to ask God to repay all that you have lost. Your repayment might come to you in various forms and increments. So watch for things like new favor, unexpected money, raises, promotions, restored relationships, new spiritual gifts and God's power in your life.

Prophetic Word on Rosh Hashanah

Rosh Hashanah (Jewish New Year) ended this year at sundown on Friday, September 30th. In California sunset occurred at 6:54pm. At 6:50 the presence of God came upon me and I received a five-minute long prophetic download. Here's some of what God spoke to me.

As the sun sets on Rosh Hashanah (Friday, September 30th) an old season came to a close. We are now in three months of transition from October through December. Don't be discouraged by this transitional time, as it may look opposite from what you may expect. God is rearranging things, bringing new angelic assignments and lining things up for a fresh new start in January 2012.

Things that are Coming in 2012

We are going to see new medical breakthroughs in the coming new year. With the onslaught of destructive disease and viruses, God is offsetting this attack by initiating radical medical discoveries and cures.

There will be new inventions and business strategies released from Heaven. Some people will be shown how to make a million dollars overnight. Business partnerships will be formed to release finances for Kingdom projects.

New insight will come from God on how to deal with some major political and social "hot buttons" that have separated people in the past. God is releasing the Spirit of Reconciliation that will bring healing of differences between people groups and nations.

I heard two strategic series of dates this year: November 14-17, 2011 and December 9-14, 2011. These will be significant times of connection and in some cases restoration. Pray that God's purposes will be accomplished during these days.

Nine-Year-Old Children Set Apart

When God spoke to me He said that because the enemy had overplayed his hand so strongly starting in 2002, that children born 2002 (this includes some children born 2001) will be used greatly and have a high destiny on their lives. These young people have a high level of creativity and many of them have already experienced a great deal of trial and resistance. Many of them will begin moving in a greater level of wisdom and anointing over the next couple of years.

Angelic Interaction

This is a time of increased discernment as God is releasing the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation. Dreams and angelic encounters will also increase this month. The purpose of all of this is found in Ephesians 1:17, "...so that you may know Him better." This is a time to ask God to open our spiritual eyes and ears so that we can grow in deeper intimacy with Him.

Season of Dry Bones is Ending

On October 5th I was writing on my computer and God spoke to me that this winter will bring an end to "the season of dry bones." At the very moment I wrote those words: "This winter will bring an end to the season of dry bones," a freak rainstorm hit the roof of my house. God confirmed the word with a very loud and hard rain for about thirty seconds and within a moment the sun came out. I then knew that this would happen suddenly for many people, and when things open up, it will be big. Satan has been trying to hold things back because this next move from God will be huge and have worldwide impact.

Ephesians 1:17-18 "I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know Him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance in His holy people..."

Blessings,

Doug Addison
InLight Connection
Email: respond@dougaddison.com

Son-ship or Servanthood? You decide.

2011-10-18T00:36:00.000-07:00

While I was driving, last Sunday, I was wrestling with God on a few issues and I heard Him say "I will use you whether you submit or not." My first thought was how will God be able to use me while I am living a compromised life and not being totally consecrated as I'm supposed to be before Him. His reply was to then ask me if I wanted to live as a servant or a son. That question made me instantly cry. I was reminded of His heart. He doesn't need me to be perfect in order to use me. He can and has used me in the midst of rebellion. He wants me to live a life of submission because it is better for our relationship.

God isn't calling us to a life of righteousness out of pure selfishness. God is calling us to a life of communion. I can't commune with God while I am actively sinning. I'm not communing with God while I'm cussing out someone or lusting after a woman. I am communing with God when my heart is desiring what His heart desires. His greatest desire is for us to have the same communion with Him that He has with Himself. At the beginning of time He spoke and said "let Us create man in Our image." Our whole being is for that communion. He is most glorified when we are living in perfect fellowship.

God doesn't need servants- He has the heavenly hosts for that. He created us to be sons. Yes, a good son desires to serve his father. My earthly father is a great man and has done tremendous things for me. For that reason I seek to do anything I can do for him. But it is out of love and relationship. In the same way our Heavenly Father desires us to serve Him. He wants a relationship of love.

Steps of Obedience

2011-08-21T17:45:00.000-07:00

Many times God asks us to step out in obedience. Many of these steps only make sense after we step out. Other times we may never understand the reason behind that step. A week ago I experienced one of those steps that then leads to another step.

I had made the 40 minute drive from my home, in Los Angeles, to my church in Orange County. I had no sooner walked into the sanctuary (where worship was already underway) before I had the urging to leave. It made no sense to me. There was a very sweet aroma in the Spirit but I could not partake. I only knew that I had to leave. As I was walking to my car I was asking the Lord where to go. I received the instruction to visit my grandparents in Corona, which is an additional 25 minute drive. I gave them a call and was able to invite myself over for lunch as they had just gotten back from their church.

On my way there I was still trying to analyze what had happened but couldn't make sense of it. We were having a wonderful visit until my grandmother had a throat spasm/choking fit from what we learned later to be an allergic reaction to an ice cream bar. My grandfather was praying over her and massaging her back while I called 911. By the grace of God she started breathing by the time the paramedics arrived to take her to the hospital. I was then able to be a support to my grandfather while they ran a battery of tests to ensure that there were no other complications from the episode as it had left my grandmother very weak.

Had I not responded to that leading to leave the service I would have never received the instructions for the next step and I wouldn't have been there for my grandparents. His ways are truly higher than ours. Proverbs states that a man plans his ways but the Lord will direct his steps. There is nothing more true than this. May we walk in perfect submission and communion in the Spirit. Many times He will ask us to do things that may seem even contrary to what is accepted to be right but it is not for us to question His ways. I pray that we will all learn to walk with Him in greater closeness.

2011: The year of the sharpened sickle

2011-01-25T23:04:00.000-08:00

Since writing my previous post the concept of the sickle has been burning on my heart. I feel that there is several aspects of that word in relation to this year.

1. Harvest of souls

There is going to be an explosion of evangelism. God is raising up His evangelists and pouring His power upon them. This is the season of the teaching evangelist. We are going to see the raising up of many end time harvesters. God is sharpening the sickle and showing them how to utilize it.

2. Harvest of promises

God is going to bring many promises to fruitation. We have been believing for a season of favor to come. Now is that season of favor where we will see many promises come true.

3. The ripening grain

Many of us have been sowing in intercession. Our prayers and proclamations have gone out as seed. This year we will see much of that seed spring forth and bear fruit.

4. The end of waiting

Many of us have been waiting at the edge of the harvest field. We have seen the grain ripening and have wished to join in the harvest but have been sidelined for various reasons. The Lord is calling His evangelists and teachers into the harvest field. Come and join!

Rick Joyner: All Christians Should Know the Voice of the Lord

2011-01-20T11:21:00.001-08:00

Rick Joyner: All Christians Should Know the Voice of the Lord

This coming year the goal of our study is to be able to discern the voice of the Lord better, first for our own guidance, but also in the unfolding events of our times. Nothing is more important for us to do this year than to love God more and follow Him more closely. Only then can we love each other the way that we are called to love.

As we have learned with so many prophetically-gifted people in our church and ministry, if they will inquire of the Lord about a person, He will show them things that can help them. If they inquire of the Lord about a city, He will show them things about the city that can help it. The same is true for a church or a nation, a ministry, a mission, an industry, and so forth. It is the same gift of the Holy Spirit that reveals all of these things. Even so, after a time, prophetic people will often start to specialize in hearing God for individuals, or for churches, cities, nations, etc.

Understanding the Voice of the Lord

When I'm flying my plane, I will sometimes turn the speaker on to listen to the controllers rather than wear the headset. Almost every passenger who flies with me says they cannot understand a single word that the controller is saying and they wonder how I can. More than the volume or tone of the speaker, the reason they cannot understand the controller is because the words that are being used, or the way that they're being used, are unfamiliar to them. To prove this, I have sometimes asked the controllers if they knew the score to a big game, and when they start talking about sports or something my passengers are familiar with, they can understand them fine.

My point is that many do not understand the voice of the Lord for the same reason—the words, or the way the words are being used, are unfamiliar to them. This is basically what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:12-14:

Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God; for they are foolishness to him, and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised.

Many Christians have a belief that the Lord will only speak about spiritual things, or about what He is doing in His Church, but this is not the case. Often, He will speak to us about the things that we are interested in just so we can begin to know His voice. In His own walk on the earth, the Lord spoke to people about the things that were important to them. God cares about everything we care about. God is so big that we tend to think He will only get involved in the big things, but He seems to enjoy getting involved in the most personal, even seemingly trivial matters with His people. He'll speak to you about your child's little league team or your diet. It does not have to be a problem for Him to give us counsel either—it's mostly about relationship.

As we see in John 10, the Lord's sheep know His voice and they follow Him because they know His voice. All Christians should know the voice of the Lord and easily be able to distinguish it from all of the other voices in the world. However, not every Christian is a prophet or has prophetic gifts. The basic difference between hearing from the Lord on a personal basis and prophecy is that if we have a gift of prophecy it is for others, not ourselves. If you have a gift of healing, it is not to heal yourself, but others, and the same is true with all of the spiritual gifts.

The Only Way to Mature is Through Experience

For this reason, the most prophetically-gifted people I know do not hear prophetically very well for themselves. This is because the Lord has made His Body to depend on one another so we will have to walk together as we are called to accomplish our purpose.

Think about this principle with the two best dream interpreters in Scripture—Joseph and Daniel. They were both extraordinary at interpreting what others received, but neither one of them could interpret their own dreams well. Daniel's revelations actually made him sick, and he was told to seal them up until the end of the age when their interpretation would be given.

I am making this distinction here because many people who start hearing from the Lord begin to think that everything they're getting is for the whole Body of Christ, or for the nations, when often it is just for them. Not being able to distinguish this has brought much confusion to the Body of Christ. This is one reason why much of the Body has had such bad experiences with the prophetic that they don't want to have anything to do with it now.

Learning to distinguish what the Lord is saying to us personally and what He may be saying to others simply takes maturity. I have prayed often for the power to be able to lay hands on people and just say, "Be mature in Jesus' name!" but it has never worked. The only way to mature is through experience.

You can't blame church leaders for only wanting prophetic ministry that is mature, because it takes a lot of work to help people mature. However, if you want a mature prophetic ministry, this is virtually the only way to get it. The maturing process for both the prophetically-gifted and those who will relate to them enables a true relationship to develop where the prophetic ministry can be useful.

Most of the people who read this Word for the Week are relatively mature Believers. However, we can be mature in one area but quite immature in others. The goal for our study this year is that regardless of how mature and experienced we are in knowing the voice of the Lord, we will go twice as far as we have before this year in revelation, knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. We will need this in the coming year, but this is why all of His gifts were given to the Church—we need them.

Rick Joyner
MorningStar Ministries
Email: info@morningstarministries.org

Luke Holter: "You Will Drink of Victorious New Wine"

2011-01-02T18:49:00.001-08:00

2010 was a year of hardships for the Church but lift up your heads, because in 2011 you will celebrate victory over the things that mastered you in 2010. The victorious Believer will arise in 2011 and be as bold as a lion. The power of Love will carry you into victory this New Year and the Church will get a glimpse into who she is.

Recently, I was traveling to speak at a conference in San Antonio, Texas, when the Holy Spirit began to speak to me about 2011. I had been searching in my heart as to what the Lord had for the Church this next year; I so desperately wanted to get a word from the Lord on it. I spent several weeks seeking, and at the most unexpected time He gave me an answer that I believe will both uplift and encourage the Church in this hour.

After arriving at the hotel, I could feel the Holy Spirit when I got into the room. I sat down and started praying and inquiring of the Lord what He had for me. I heard the Holy Spirit say to me, "2011 is the year of Victorious New Wine." I could feel the weight of this statement and began to ask what does it mean?

Victorious Over Your Enemies

The Holy Spirit said to turn to the story of Abram and Melchizedek in the Book of Genesis. As I began to read the story I was astounded at the invitation coming to the Church in 2011.

The story goes something like this: Abram was fighting the armies of Sodom in the valley of Shaveh (the Kings Valley) and was victorious over his enemies in battle. Then the priest Melchizedek came out with bread and wine and offered them to Abram to bless him for the victory. Then the King of Sodom told Abram to go ahead and take the spoils from war and Abram said that he will not – because Abram didn't want anyone claiming they made Abram rich. This was a powerful concept to not take the spoils so your enemies can't boast.

Genesis 14:17-23, And the king of Sodom went out to meet him at the Valley of Shaveh (that is, the King's Valley), after his return from the defeat of Chedorlaomer and the kings who were with him.

Abram and Melchizedek: Then Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; he was the priest of God Most High. And he blessed him and said: "Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of Heaven and earth; and blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand." And he gave him a tithe of all. Now the king of Sodom said to Abram, "Give me the persons, and take the goods for yourself." But Abram said to the king of Sodom, "I have raised my hand to the LORD, God Most High, the Possessor of Heaven and earth, that I will take nothing, from a thread to a sandal strap, and that I will not take anything that is yours, lest you should say, 'I have made Abram rich'—

In 2011 - We Will Overcome!

I do believe that 2010 has been a hard year for us as a nation as well as for the Church, as an apostolic governing Body. We have seen many hard situations economically, as well as personally. 2010 has been a year of God testing character and the enemy trying to win the war in our minds concerning our destiny, but I'm telling you that in 2011 we will overcome!

I believe even as March approaches that we will start to see a powerful breakthrough and victory over the enemy that devastated our economy, families, and lives in 2010. We must stay strong and fight because we are fighting in the Valley of the King and we will be victorious!

2011 will be a down payment of the Kingdom on earth! The tide will turn and you will see the Lord "Like a FLOOD" smash the works of darkness in your lives. He will show you kindness and will rescue you from those things that overtook you in previous years.

When the enemy reminds you of the struggles of 2010 put your head back and laugh and take a drink of new wine. When the enemies of your past come back to get you off course from your inheritance, remind yourself that the victory is already yours and the Lord alone will cause you to be bold as a lion and crush the head of the enemy!

You will drink of victorious, new wine which is the very Blood of Christ Jesus. It is the Blood of Jesus that the victory is in, and thus the very invitation to overcoming is in the Blood!

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

2011: A year of favorable transition

2011-01-02T00:54:00.000-08:00

Each year I ask the Lord to reveal what the coming year is going to bring. Several years ago He gave me a blueprint for the coming years. 2011 was going to be a year of transition between the establishment of a new natural order and the establishment of apostolic government over His Church. During 2011 we will see a greater laying of foundations as the apostles are being prepared for their season. Several years ago we saw a similar move with the prophetic. This year of transition is going to be key for a number of the offices.

2011 is a year of the sickle. We are going to see the passing of several mantles. The office of evangelist is going to see a measure of favor and power poured upon it. There are many evangelists who have been playing other roles while waiting for a release. I don't know if this is the year of full release but I hear the phrase "sharpen the sickle" for the "fields are ripening unto harvest."

2011 is the year of the intercessor. During this transition year there will be a lot of warfare over the lives of those called to the apostolic office. God has raised up intercessors to cover them and fight on their behalf. Those, who are being warred over, won't feel the full intensity of that warfare. God is also going to show His apostles and prophets divine strategies in the battlefield and a greater authority over the angelic realms. We can direct God's heavenly host to fight much of our battles for us.

2011 is the year of apostolic preparation. God is going to be showing His prophets what a true apostle looks like. He is going to be inclining the ears of His apostles towards the prophets. We are going to see the beginning of a realignment between the apostolic and the prophetic. 2012 will see the maturation of that partnership as the two offices will work together as one. God has cloaked His apostles in garments of preparation in order to protect them from the eyes of the world during this past season. These garments are going to come off in 2012 and this year will see the formation of new mantles to replace them. There are mantles of old that have been waiting in heaven for the end of the age. These mantles are going to descend upon those who have allowed themselves to become new wineskins during this past season. When this unveiling happens we will see the true power of the apostolic.

2011 is most of all going to be known as a year of favor to the Church. God desires to release great grace and favor upon His bride. We are going to see increased access in the marketplace. We are going to see greater wealth come into the Church. We are going to see the world start to look to the Church for answers to their problems. This is all as we look forward to the establishment of apostolic government. We are going to see the Daniels and Josephs start to rise up to take their place. This will be a year of their positioning. Much of it will be confusing to us but will be more clear in retrospect. 2011 is going to be an amazing year filled with favor, grace, and fruitfulness both in the spirit and in the natural.

The Oil of Intimacy

2010-11-29T23:25:00.000-08:00

Today I noticed oil coming from the fingertips of my left hand. I have experienced this a few times in worship but never before during my daily activities. I didn't just experience this once but three times today. As I was reflecting on it I felt God say that it was symbolic of a new season of intimacy. Christ is consecrating His bride for He desires to draw us deeper into Him in this coming season. We are to accept the anointing of Christ and enter into the Holy of Holies. Christ desires to impart the fullness of heaven to us. If we are willing to submit ourselves to Him and to give up everything else then we will experience the fullness that God has for us.

I feel that 2011 is going to be a Levitical year for many of us. It is going to be a year where God will draw us into the secret place and teach us more about what it means to serve him. Many of us know what it means to minister to others. But as priests we are also meant to minister before God. And as sons and daughters that is our truest and most high calling.

(Note: Before anyone gets overly excited about oil from heaven, and heads over here with a bucket, this is a mere secretion and not a gushing stream. It is something that can be felt but not seen. A blessed manifestation but not anything to glorify. It is a mere sign that God gives me from time to time.)

Love is a commitment

2010-10-23T20:12:00.000-07:00

"Love is a commitment that will be tested in the most vulnerable areas of spirituality, a commitment that will force you to make some very difficult choices. It is a commitment that demands that you deal with your lust, your greed, your pride, your power, your desire to control, your temper, your patience, and every area of temptation that the Bible clearly talks about. It demands the quality of commitment that Jesus demonstrates in His relationship to us."
— Ravi Zacharias (I, Isaac, Take Thee, Rebekah: Moving from Romance to Lasting Love)

Tiffany Ann Lewis: One with God

2010-09-12T19:29:00.000-07:00

Tiffany Ann Lewis: One with God

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek... Psalm 27:4a

This great psalm is the "anthem" of the High Holiday season. It is read twice daily from the beginning of the Hebrew month of Elul straight through to the end of the festival of Sukkot/Tabernacles in preparation for the High Holy days (Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, and Sukkot/Tabernacles).

Traditionally, this is a time for prayer, fasting and soul searching, yet the bridal overtones are astounding. Let's take a step through the door at verse four and I'll show you what I mean.

"Oneness" I Have Desired of the Lord

I call it a "door" because, in Hebrew, the number four is represented by a letter that has the pictograph of a door; the dalet. Therefore, spiritually speaking, verse four opens the door to what we read next. "One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek..." It may surprise you to learn that the word "thing" is not expressed anywhere in the Hebrew Bible but was inserted by translators. Let's take a closer look at the passage in Hebrew for I believe we will discover something outstanding that is revealed in this "one thing."

The Hebrew word translated as "one" in this passage is echad. Echad is a very interesting word because it represents a unity while recognizing diversity and multiplicity within that oneness. A noteworthy place, especially at this time of year, where we see an example of this is in the dwelling place of God, the Tabernacle of Moses. The curtains were fastened together to create one (echad) glorious entity, the Mishkan (Exodus 26:6). Another example is in Ezekiel 37:19 where it is written that God will take two sticks and make them one (echad) stick in His hand. And last but certainly not least, we also see it in Genesis 2:24 when "...a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one (echad) flesh."

The bridal theme that is woven in Psalm 27 is revealed even more clearly as we look closer at echad in the Hebrew font. It is not written echad, with a "d" on the end but rather as echat with a "t." This seemingly insignificant detail is stunning because changing the end letter to the "t" makes it a feminine word. For David to use echat with the feminine ending would not only be incorrect grammar but it would be totally out of context. I believe his choice of the word echat reveals to us that he understood and possessed the bridal heart as he penned this psalm.

What did he want? What was he asking for? Keeping in mind that one "thing" is not written in Hebrew, I wonder, could King David have been seeking and desiring oneness or union with God? Could he have been saying "oneness I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek"? One with God. Hummm...that's a lot to ponder. What is one? What is oneness? "Union" is probably as good of an understanding as anything we might suggest. The pondering takes on new light as we read John 17:20-21. The Master said, "I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in Me through their word; that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us..."

Engulfed in the Wonder that God Desperately Desires to Connect with Those Whom He Has Created

Imagine for a moment being one with all that God is, the very essence of His being. Being united with all that is pure and all that is good. Imagine your heart beating with His. Imagine His thoughts implanted in you; imagine His Divine will united with yours...imagine.

...the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints. To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:26-27

What is all this pointing to? I believe the answer is a true, deep and abiding intimacy with the Lord. Knowing Him, encountering Him, and being engulfed in the wonder that God desperately desires to connect with those whom He has created.

Marriage is the most intimate of relationships, and using the natural to define the supernatural, the Apostle Paul quoted Genesis 2:24 and said, "This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the Church" (Ephesians 5:32). Intimacy is cultivated in communion. This spiritual union unites the soul with everything He is. As we draw near to the Prince of Peace we will have peace. As we seek the wonderful Counselor we will receive His counsel. As we fellowship with the Comforter we will be comforted. As we engage with the God of love we will know a love that is so fierce that not even death can contain it.

The Lord Never Desired to Dwell in a Building

Why this message now through this psalm of the season? Because we need the presence of the Lord dwelling powerfully in our lives more than ever before, and I believe that the types and shadows found in Scripture reveal that we can have it. As I mentioned earlier, the Tabernacle of Moses embodies echad. This great structure was God's dwelling place. Interestingly, it was divided into three separate areas yet was one holy habitation. The first area was the outer court where all could enter, the second was the inner court where only the priests (Levites) could enter, and last but not least, was the holy of holies where only the high priest could enter once a year, on Yom Kippur, with the blood of the sacrifice.

The Lord never desired to dwell in a building; He wants to dwell in us, to be one (echad) with us. We are the dwelling place of God. "...you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit" (Ephesians 2:22). This is what drew Jesus to the Cross. As He breathed His last breath, the veil that blocked access to the Holy of Holies was split from top to bottom.

The Holy of Holies can be seen as a symbol of intimacy, for it is a space for only two: the priest and the Lord. Inside this chamber there is only once piece of furniture, the Mercy Seat, which also reveals the bridal paradigm. Let me explain.

God's Love for His People is Like a Husband's Love for His Bride

The Mercy Seat was placed upon the Ark of the Covenant. "And the cherubim shall stretch out their wings (kanaph) above, covering the mercy seat with their wings, and they shall face one another; the faces of the cherubim shall be toward the mercy seat. You shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, and in the ark you shall put the Testimony that I will give you" (Exodus 25:20-21). This is considered the most holy of all pieces of furniture, for inside of it were the Tablets, the bedrock of our faith – the marriage contract binding God's people together with Himself. Thus the Mercy Seat can be seen as a symbol of God's love for His people, a love that is like a husband's love for his bride.

Even the wings of the cherubim reveal this marital relationship. The word for "wings" in Hebrew is kanaph (pronounced kaw-nawf', Strong's #3671). Not only is kanaph a wing like you would think of represented here, it is also the corner of a garment and the corner of a tallit (prayer shawl) – a garment that every devout Jewish man wears. God's instructions for this garment are found in Numbers 15:38, "Speak to the children of Israel: Tell them to make tassels on the corners (kanaph) of their garments throughout their generations, and to put a blue thread in the tassels of the corners (kanaph)."

The tallit can also serve as a huppah, which is the covering that a bride and groom stand under when they exchange their wedding vows. Looking at the Mercy Seat one might see the cherubim with their four wings and imagine those wings as a huppah, the bridal canopy.

We Can Come Any Time, Any Day, to the Throne of Grace

One thing do I desire – union with God and to be hidden under the wings of His mercy. Beloved, we can experience this today. We can come any time, any day, to the throne of grace and find whatever we need for any situation we may be facing. We can find the peace, the advice, the comfort, the love. We can find everything that God is, right there at the throne of grace, and the tallit (prayer shawl) reveals one possible way to get there – through the portal of prayer and meditation.

Through prayer and meditation we can transcend the worries of this world, and Psalm 27 is as good of a place as any to begin. He is our light cutting through the darkness and depression. He is our Salvation, seriously, whom shall we fear? He's got us in the palm of His hands and nothing can separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus. Truly, I would have lost heart time and time again, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.

When everything is falling apart...press into the prize: oneness with God. Him in us – us in Him. Everything is better together. Amen and Amen.

Psalm 27

A Psalm of David. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell. Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple. For in the time of trouble He shall hide me in His pavilion; in the secret place of His tabernacle He shall hide me; He shall set me high upon a rock. And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me; therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord.

Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice! Have mercy also upon me, and answer me. When You said, "Seek My face," my heart said to You, "Your face, Lord, I will seek." Do not hide Your face from me; do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; do not leave me nor forsake me, O God of my salvation. When my father and my mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.

Teach me Your way, O Lord, and lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies. Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries; for false witnesses have risen against me, and such as breathe out violence.

I would have lost heart, unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord!

Tiffany Ann Lewis
Dancing with the Flame of the Lord Ministries
Email: tiffanyann@tiffanyannlewis.com

The call of the businessman

2010-08-26T00:47:00.000-07:00

In the ancient middle-east, commerce took place at the city gates. If you had any business to conduct that is where you would go. Represented there at the gates, alongside of the leading merchants, were the spiritual voices of that town along with the judiciary. These three groups comprised the elders of the city. We see here a foundation of prophetic, wisdom, and finance. These three must come together once again in our culture.

There is a call going forth to the millennial generation. God is calling many of them to the realm of business. God wants to create a funding structure for the Church. There is a flexibility that is created when churches have businessmen (and women) that they can turn to for special projects. Many great movements (The Call comes to mind) and ministries have been birthed because God laid it on the heart of a few wealthy businesspeople to donate significant sums of money.

But these businesspeople will not just be conduits of wealth. They will impact society as they create it. They will correct much of the injustice that permeates much of large corporate America. They will ensure that proper labor practices are followed overseas. They will create businesses and run departments that glorify God. Whatever their heart finds to do will be done as an act of worship to God. This is where wisdom and justice has to meet business and economics.

In addition, these businesspeople will be a great asset to the Church. They will improve the stewardship of resources within the Church. But they won't do things as the world does. For the kingdom way often confounds the wise. This is where the prophetic comes in. At times they will give away entire fortunes. At times they will walk away from successful business ventures. But all of this will be under the leading of the Holy Spirit. The same God that gave Abraham, Jacob, and Job enormous wealth building abilities will release it over this generation.

God gave Solomon great wisdom. Solomon used this wisdom to create wealth. Kings and queens came from throughout the earth to view the wealth of Solomon. May this happen once again. May the wealth of the world come into the Kingdom. And may the world come to the Church and see the glory of God. There are those businesspeople being raised up right now who will shine that light of God's glory as beacons in this world.

The New Nazarites

2010-08-22T23:30:00.000-07:00

A number of years ago there was a movement of the Spirit in which many young people took the vow of a nazarite. A nazarite is one who has decided to set himself (or herself) apart for God. You can read the details of an Old Testament nazarite in Numbers chapter six. I was one of those young men. For 18 months I didn't cut my hair, drink alcohol, or consume anything from the grape. During this period of time I devoted myself to the call of revival at Cal State Fullerton. It was an amazing time of zeal, passion, and fire for the Kingdom of Heaven. Through various circumstances I felt led to end that vow and to take a step back from that particular assignment.

Recently I have been feeling the stirrings of the nazarite once again. This time it is going to look different but the idea of consecration is the same. I have decided to go to Sacramento on Labor Day weekend to renew my vows of consecration. Thousands of others will be doing the same in the place of the sacrament that weekend. But this time it will be different. It will not be accompanied (for myself that is) with an outer sign as before. It will merely be a lifestyle of consecration.

The nazarites of old were voices crying out in the wilderness. They exemplified the spirits of Samson and Elijah- they called a generation back to God. They lived their lives in radical obedience. There is a new company of nazarites arising in this hour. They will live their lives with the same kind of radical obedience as the long-haired ones. They will have the same passion and zeal for purity as those who paved the way. But they will be voices within the culture. They will live in the world but not of it. They will be as Daniel of old. Daniel adopted the language, dress, and culture of the Chaldeans. But he was still that voice of consecration.

These are the new Nazarites! They will take their stand for purity wherever they are. They will arise from the ranks of business, entertainment, fashion, politics, government, and education. They will devote their lives to seeing the Kingdom of Heaven be made manifest. They will take their stand against injustice and give their lives in intercession. I have chosen to respond to this call. I have decided to place my life on the altar of surrender. It was a choice I made some time ago but it is a vow that I am renewing at this time. What is the Lord calling you to do?

The Spirit of Samson

2010-08-01T20:26:00.000-07:00

God is raising up the Samsons in this day. These are those who will take the fight to the enemy. Samson wasn't content with waiting for the Philistines to attack. Rather he went to their strongholds and defeated them. In the same way we are called to go into the places of the enemy. To tear down the gates of their strongholds and expose their nakedness.

Will you allow yourself to be used in a style of warfare that most Christians will be uncomfortable with? Your methods will not be conventional. The religious ones will condemn you. Even you will not understand much of it. God will have you do things that are impossible to understand. He will have you do things that may even appear wrong. This is the spirit of Samson.

But in all of this do not forget your weaknesses. Do not allow yourself to compromise. Be ruled completely by the Spirit of God. Do not allow your destiny to be sidetracked. But do not be discouraged- for you will live out that destiny. It belongs to you and no one will even take that from you.

Don't focus on what the enemy is doing. Don't be distracted by the schemes of the devil. But be focused on what God is doing. Keep your gaze upon Him. Move when His Spirit falls upon you in power. When He stirs within you go and grab ahold of the gates. Expose the enemy for who he is. Bring confusion into the camps of the enemy. Destroy the structures of darkness.

The Dominion Mandate

2010-07-25T10:04:00.000-07:00

At the beginning of time God spoke to Adam and told him to take dominion of the entire earth. Adam, and his descendants, were to tame and subdue the wilds of nature. They were to be fruitful and fill this earth with those who carried the image of God. Thousands of years later Christ instructed His disciples with a similar mandate- to go forth to the ends of the earth making disciples of all nations. In this new mandate we are to go forth and spread the light of the Kingdom wherever we go. These two mandates go hand in hand. As we go forth we are to be fruitful and multiply, both literally and spiritually. It is not enough to make converts but we are to raise up disciples capable of raising others up as well. Our mandate will not be complete until the whole world hears and there are worshippers from every tribe, tongue, and nation.

We must make a Kingdom impact on all spheres of society. It isn't enough to simply touch every nation. We must touch every part of that nation. Government, business, entertainment, education, the arts, and sports must all be brought underneath the Lordship of Christ. It isn't enough to simply make converts- we must transform those spheres so that they reflect the glory of God.

God is raising up those who will go to those spheres of influence. Those people will see these spheres as their mission field. They will give their lives to reaching those spheres. They will intercede daily for those places. They will love the people in those spheres. They will demonstrate excellence as they labor. They will win favor as Daniel, Joseph, and Nehemiah did. The world will not see them as missionaries. Most of the Church will not either. They will see them as businesspeople, artists, actors, teachers, politicians, and athletes. But their mandate will be as glory carriers. They will transform those spheres and bring them under the dominion of the Kingdom.

Bringing these spheres of society underneath the dominion of Christ is something more than mere conversions. But rather it is going in and being people of excellence and being the movers and shakers of those realms. It wasn't enough for Daniel to be an intercessor and a minister to those around him. But Daniel rose in favor among those in power and became one of the most trusted advisors to several kings. Daniel made his mark on society. In the same way we must pursue excellence in every field that God calls us to.

Are you a teacher? Then be one of the best- pour yourself into your students. Accountants, be one of the shrewdest yet honest accountants around. Coaches! Create winning teams. Politicians, rise up as shining stars of light. Actors, pursue excellence in your work. People have listened to men of faith such as Ronald Reagan and John Wooden because of what they accomplished- not because of their faith. Your character and relationship with God will get you to that place. Be the one who is honored in the city gates.

The Prophetic Uprising

2010-05-09T08:32:00.000-07:00

A couple of years ago I had a vision of a mountain range. In this vision I saw prophets being placed upon the peaks of this range. When they had taken their place they could see the prophets on nearby mountains. I knew that the Lord was speaking that the time in the caves had ended and that the prophets were going to become visible once again. The prophets were not going to feel isolated any longer. There was a release of power and authority as well at this time.

Recently, the Lord has been speaking of another uprising that is taking place. This is an uprising in the valleys where the people live. The prophets have declared that this is a new season and this declaration has been heard by the bones that are dry. God is renewing the prophetic within His church. We will see the prophetic arise in power once again. The prophetic will become abundant once again as we see prophecy become commonplace. No longer will it be unusual to hear the voice of God. With this move there will be another release of power and authority. As the prophetic becomes commonplace God will be promoting many of His faithful prophets who have endured faithfully during the past season. There will be a shifting in their ministries as God moves them into a greater prophetic role.

God has called His people to be a prophetic people. He desires all of us to prophesy. He desires all of us to chase after His heart and to speak what He is saying. No longer will this communion be left to those who hold the office of prophet. Will you hear this call? Will you respond? Will you choose to live the priestly prophetic life? God is calling His people to live according to His heart. Will we be willing to live in perfect communion with Christ's heart? This is our commission as priests to the God Most High.

The Strong Angels

2010-04-25T21:24:00.000-07:00

There is a type of angel that I call "the strong angels." Others would probably simply call them warrior angels. These are angels who have been trained in the art of war. They are like the Marines. First ones to go into a conflict and they don't leave until everything is completed. I first saw these angels over the campus of Cal State Fullerton. I was given the privilege of seeing them move across the campus as God's angelic army moved into position to take that campus. They came against every demonic stronghold. Over the next year I saw every territorial stronghold and demon come down.

About six months ago I was in the prayer room. I was caught up to heaven and during my time there I was taken into a training room. In this room was a number of strong angels in training. These were ones that had not seen earthly combat before but were being prepared to be sent there. I knew that God was preparing something new on this earth if He needed to send more of His warriors to accomplish it.

A few weeks ago during one of our conferences my eyes were opened and I saw a great angelic host in the place. All around the walls were hundreds of these strong angels. Some of them were battle hardened and had seen centuries & millenniums worth of combat on this earth like the ones I had seen at Cal State Fullerton. Other angels were fresh recruits with their training complete. They had come into our meeting to observe our intercession and participate in our worship. They joined with us as we worshipped. After some time they then left and went to certain assignments throughout the region.

I write these things not to brag of what I saw. But I write these things so that we will know what God is doing in this hour. We are on the verge of something great. The prophets have been speaking of these days for years. Whether you call it revival, revolution, an outpouring, or an awakening it is something huge. We are getting ready for one of the greatest moves of God in history. We are preparing for a move of God that will usher in Christ's second coming. The angelic hosts know this and are being marshaled for this even as we speak. The enemy has an idea of what is coming and he has been attempting to torment God's people with increasing vengeance. I believe that is why we have abortion- it is simply the enemy trying to kill the prophets and apostles before they can see the light of day. But that is a post for another time.

We must partner with what God is doing. We must ask Him where He is positioning us. Positioning is so important in this season. When we are positioned in God's greater plan we come into partnership with all of the other players. It is then that we come into alignment with His angelic hosts. We can then interact with them and operate alongside of them. They will remove obstacles for us so we do not have to fight but can simply move into a territory and take it for the Kingdom. We can command them to war against spirits so we do not have to fight them. God is bringing us to a higher level of warfare. These revelations are part of that.

Doug Addison: Four Prophetic Words Being Fulfilled Right Now!

2010-04-05T20:19:00.001-07:00

Doug Addison: Four Prophetic Words Being Fulfilled Right Now!

I want to give an update on four prophetic words that I released over the past few months, as we are seeing them begin to unfold. Last year I prophesied that God had brought us all into a wilderness time beginning in 2006. I also saw that in the spring of 2010 something new was going to be released that would begin to catapult people into a new season. I saw a great realignment of people within the Kingdom of God and an attack coming in the area of identity theft. Here are the original words and my thoughts regarding them:

The Wilderness Started in 2006

Several years ago God spoke to me and others about something new from Heaven that was going to be released on the earth in 2005. I was telling people everywhere I went and was helping to prepare for a revival that we knew was and is still to come. Then 2005 came and went with nothing new. In fact, everything began to look the opposite. I did not understand it at the time, but Bob Jones, a prophetic friend of mine, told me that I had not been mistaken with what I had prophesied. He said it just came in a different form than we all expected.

In September 2009 I had a prophetic dream in which I heard the audible voice of God tell me that He really did want to bring something new in 2005, but the majority of Christians were not ready for it. Because of that, God brought us into a time of wilderness which was designed to reveal our motives, heal and prepare us for His greater intentions.

The first month of the wilderness began in January 2006. In my life and ministry I can look at the calendar and see that things began to look completely opposite than what I had expected or heard from God. We had tried to start an outreach center in Hollywood, but suddenly it was like hitting a brick wall. As a result, we moved and lived for three years in Moravian Falls, North Carolina. I got a lot of similar feedback from people everywhere who had experienced the same thing in 2006. (Click here to read the article I wrote last year on it on the ElijahList.)

The Wilderness is Over on the First Day of Spring

I was speaking at a conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in January 2006 with Heidi Baker and Mel Tari when this wilderness time officially began. Just this month, on the first day of spring (March 20, 2010), I was in Albuquerque again speaking at the same church with Mel Tari. God reminded me that it was 50 months ago (January 2006) that the wilderness had begun, and He told me that on the first day of spring of 2010 the wilderness time has officially ended!

Spring Forward

As part of the prophetic insight God gave me for 2010, God showed me that when we set the clocks forward for Daylight Saving Time, we will all begin to "Spring Forward" spiritually. Then, when we set the clocks back, things will begin to "Fall into Place." This is beginning to happen right now. I am experiencing it personally, as I am seeing prophetic words and promises God gave me years ago begin to be fulfilled. Many people are reporting feeling new energy, vibrancy, and spiritual hope. We are starting to see breakthrough in the areas of ministry, business, finances, and relationships, and many will begin to see changes almost immediately. This is the season to start something new! Start a new diet, exercise, a business, ministry, or write a new book. This is a time of new beginnings as strategies from Heaven are coming to earth.

Isaiah 43:19 (NKJV) Behold, I will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert.

As God releases new things from Heaven, we will experience a great shift of positions. We are seeing this happen as well. I heard three words: Resign, Realign and Reassign. People are being divinely realigned by God right now to increase our Kingdom effectiveness. It has happened in my own ministry and with many people everywhere. I saw a chessboard, and God is strategically positioning us for this next season. (Click here to read the article on the ElijahList).

Spiritual Identity Theft

In January 2010 I released a prophetic word about spiritual identify theft, a plan of the enemy to get people to miss their destiny by attacking their identity in Christ. Just last week I had a spiritual experience in the middle of the night in which I battled a dark spirit that had come to literally steal the identity of people. At first I thought it was retaliation against me for releasing the prophetic word. But as I began to share it, I am getting feedback that people everywhere are getting attacked right now in the area of theft. People are getting things stolen, websites and email hacked, and being ripped off of what rightfully belongs to them. (Click here to read the article on the ElijahList here).

When satan attacks us in a particular area, it is an indicator that this is an area of our life where God is bringing blessing or wants to use for His Kingdom. Since God is releasing new things from Heaven, the enemy will try to distract us and get us to believe that nothing is changing. This is a lie and we need to get "eyes to see" what God is doing in this time of our lives.

Prophetic Word: Year of Destiny

I am prophesying that the wilderness is over, we are springing into new life and finding our identities in Christ like never before. This is a year of destiny and we will begin to fulfill things that have been promised to us. It is a year that we need to develop ourselves personally in the unique way that God has called us. It is time to take action and not be passive. New doors of opportunity are opening and we have new strength and resources to walk through them. The future is now.

Matthew 7:7–8 (NLT) Keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And to everyone who knocks, the door will be opened.

Doug Addison
InLight Connection
Email: respond@dougaddison.com

Mental Breakthrough

2010-03-28T18:43:00.000-07:00

A couple weeks ago I was leading a set in the prayer room. And in that place I heard God say that there was an angel of mental breakthrough there. This angel was going to be released, through our worship and intercession, over the region of Southern California. When this angel is released, which is going to be very soon, we will see dramatic healings break forth.

This mental breakthrough doesn't stop with mental illnesses such as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia. We will see healings of autism, learning disorders such as ADD and ADHD, and dyslexia. Any illness or condition of the mind will be healed. Even "minor" disorders that have gone undiagnosed will be healed. It is up to us to believe in this breakthrough and to proclaim it over the region.

Catherine Brown: The Dream: Africa Ablaze with God's Glory

2010-03-14T10:32:00.000-07:00

Catherine Brown: The Dream: Africa Ablaze with God's Glory
Feb 23, 2010

During the night before I left for Uganda (Friday 15th January) I had a powerful dream and saw the continent of Africa with fires being lit all over it. East Africa was ablaze and this was the first part of Africa to ignite, but the fire of God was not limited only to the East. It touched Nigeria, the west, and ran like a river of fire down from the north to the south also. The continent changed to a scroll and I was instructed to swallow the scroll in my dream. I did this and my belly became full of the fire of God burning within me. The fire began to flow from my belly and different African nations were discernible in form in the fire. The fire speaks of the coming revival and a move of God in Africa. During my ministry trip in Uganda, God spoke to me several times about the prophetic destiny of Africa and, in particular, Uganda. These revelations are detailed in this report.

The Dream: "The Enslaved Shall Become the Emancipator"

During the night on Wednesday, 20 January 2010, I had a powerful dream and saw again the continent of Africa, and understood I was looking down through many centuries of time into the past. I witnessed nations come from the west to enslave Africans and my heart was broken. Then an amazing thing happened in my dream as we transitioned to present-time revelation: The "tables were turned" and the one who had formerly been enslaved was now no longer a slave; and this African person reached out in mercy to the one from the west who had made them a slave, and immediately bridges of mercy appeared all over Africa.

The release of mercy caused Africa's borders to extend as bridges of God's mercy were sent to reach the nations. The bridges speak of African Believers anointed with the mercy of God to bring restoration to those who are now enslaved to sin in the west. Africa grew in size in my dream as God's mercy was extended—this speaks of the advancement of God's Kingdom on earth through the ministry of African servants of the Lord.

God spoke to me by His Spirit and said, "The Enslaved shall become the Emancipator." Under the anointing described in Isaiah 61, African Believers are being sent out to the nations to bring deliverance to western nations who are now entrenched (and thus enslaved) in sin. It is my firm belief that this is God's kairos time for the west to receive Africa's anointed, end-time leaders as they are commissioned to serve God's purposes and plans in the nations. As I shared the dream and its interpretation, I prophesied that Africa had entered her sovereign time-line for revival and would experience an exodus of redemption.

It is my sincere conviction that Africa is a gateway continent, which means that whatever is bound and loosed in Africa, will therefore be bound and loosed on the earth. Through Africa, the west can receive blessing or cursing, depending on who is doing the binding and the loosing! If the Church in Africa will rise up and take her place in divine destiny, God is going to release mighty waves of His redemptive glory through African ministers and ministries that will bring transformation to the nations.

Time for a Change of Mindset

On a personal level God has used wonderfully anointed African brothers and sisters in my life to transition me to the next level of my destiny in Him; without their obedience and input to my life, I would not be standing where I am in the purposes and plans of God. The first time I ministered in the USA, I was graciously received by apostle Brian and Candice Simmons, formerly of Gateway Church in Connecticut. I recall standing in the hallway and a little black boy jumped out of his mama's arms and ran down the hallway and jumped into my arms, wrapping himself around me. I wept tears of joy as God confirmed my call to be a mother to Africa.

When God chose to ordain and commission me into apostolic office, He sent an apostle all the way from Kabale, Uganda, to my home region to anoint and appoint me. I work closely with a number of incredible African ministers, who are my ministry partners. What I am trying to convey is that it is time for a shift in our mindset. It is not about what the west can bring to Africa; it is about how black and white can come together in the divine purposes of God to execute His will in the nations. May God grant us wisdom and revelation to understand our calling and its context in this hour as we walk in Holy Spirit-inspired alliances.

Keys that Must Not Be Lost

Just before I wakened, I had a second dream in which I noticed two keys lying on the ground. They were in danger of being lost, but I was instructed to bend down and to pick them up. I recovered the keys and my dream ended. The keys have numerous applications and speak to us of:

1. Black and white co-labouring together as end-time harvesters in the equality of our Kingdom identity as sons and daughters of the Living God.

2. Africa and western nations forming cross-continental, collaborative, end-time alliances to release divine strategies for the pulling down of unrighteous strongholds and the establishment of the Church in righteousness of Christ.

3. The Church and the government in Africa working together for God's glory. It is time for the Church to shift into God's governmental paradigm in prayers, decrees, and spiritual legislation and application. May God grant the Church in Uganda grace to stand for His righteous purposes. Africa's holy spiritual victories shall become victories for many other nations on the earth.

Vision of the White Horse and the Revival Elephant

I received this vision during worship at our conference on Thursday, 21 January 2010:

In a vision I saw a magnificent white horse riding towards me; it was powerful and immediately I thought that this could be the type of horse that Christ might ride upon as the Lord of Hosts. Suddenly, the vision changed and before me was a majestic African elephant running at full speed and with absolute focus. It was a breathtaking picture of beauty and power.

The Holy Spirit said to me, "The western world thinks revival is coming on a white horse, but tell the earth to get ready because revival is coming in an unstoppable 'elephant stampede.'" The elephant speaks of the tribes of Africa as they go forth carrying the glory of God to change the nations. This does not mean that western nations will not be used by God in end-time revival, but God wants us to understand the place of Africa in His end-time destiny for nations.
Catherine Brown
Photo: At the State House with Faith Kabana

Later that morning, I was privileged to meet with one of President's Museveni's private secretaries, Faith Kabana, and shared with her about the dreams and vision. She and the group who meet faithfully every day to pray in the State House were very much encouraged. We prayed for a bridge of glory and mercy to be established between our nations and believe God has laid a foundation of a righteous Kingdom connection for His glory.

A Sign and a Wonder—Uganda, Africa: "It is Time for Revival"

All night on Friday, 22 January 2010, I had intense stomach pains and was awake most of the evening. I used the time to pray and wait upon the Lord. All night long heavy rains poured down as a deluge from the skies, accompanied by thunder and lightning. I personally love the sound of heavy rain, and it blessed me to experience it afresh in my beloved Uganda, Africa. In the early daybreak, a lightning strike hit the ground and immediately my mobile phone switched itself off and then switched itself back on again, and the time read exactly "6:21". I was convinced God was speaking to me in a sign and a wonder. Mobile phones may switch themselves off when they run out of battery power, but I have never known a mobile phone that could switch itself back on unaided!

The time on my phone pointed to a Scripture reference:

Tell him: "We were slaves of Pharaoh in Egypt, but the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand."—Deuteronomy 6:21

This wonderful sign confirmed the "Exodus of Redemption" (the given Scripture relates to the exodus of the Israelites from bondage and oppression to the Egyptians and deliverance by the mighty hand of God. Israel did not leave Egypt empty-handed, but plundered the camp of the enemy). I had been prophesying the previous three days about Uganda and Africa coming into revival. A sign is given to point us to God; and God was using a mobile phone (a means of communication) to confirm His word that this was Africa's kairos time, especially for Uganda and East Africa, to experience a powerful move of God. I marveled silently at God's goodness, and faith soared.

"Revival is About the Power of My Presence"

Later that morning, I arrived at the NDE conference I was attending in Wakiso, Uganda. Another fellow minister from the USA (Pastor Rick McKinnis, Senior Pastor of Wellspring, Connecticut) was sharing at the pulpit and I was prompted by the Lord to join him to share the sign and the Scripture I had received. As I walked forward I was conscious we were standing in a holy moment. It was (and is) my belief that when the lightning hit the ground during the storm and my phone switched off and on, that God simultaneously released something of His revival power by His Spirit in the land.

As I shared about what had happened and prophesied to Africa, I was completely overwhelmed by God's presence and power and was unable to stand. My fellow ministers supported me as the power of God swept over me and I prophesied revival had been birthed in Uganda. I shook violently. Like Isaiah in Isaiah, chapter 6, I was "undone" and had to be assisted to my seat, and eventually to our vehicle. God's presence came with incredible power and with the fear of the Lord. Some were silent, others wept, a loud shout of birthing rent the tents, and I am convinced that revival was birthed in Uganda. For some hours afterwards I was barely able to move and deeply affected by the encounter. All I could do was worship quietly and lay my head down. Over and over the Holy Spirit spoke to me, "Revival is about the power of My presence before it is about the presence of My power."

I was privileged to co-labour with apostles from Uganda, the USA and other anointed ministers from the United Kingdom. I do not want to convey a message in which it sounds as though I am trying to elevate myself in any way. I long to be "invisible" in the recounting of this divine encounter, yet it is important to mention people and places by way of validation of testimony. Pastor McKinnis shared that it was his understanding what we had experienced in Wakiso was similar to the beginning of the recent outpouring in Kansas. May God fan the flames of revival in Africa and in the nations of the west!

I would like to share a testimony with you from one of our GGM partners whom I know personally and who attended the NDE conference in Uganda. It is used with Pastor Anthony's permission. This testimony is from a Kenyan pastor who was sharing with a pastor from Burundi about what happened in Uganda. Be encouraged, be blessed, be moved by the heart of God to pray for REVIVAL in Africa and for the nations of the west to receive God's blessing from our African brothers and sisters.

A Testimony From Pastor Anthony Wafula, Kenya

I felt a very strong thundering through my stomach, a heat in my chest and cold breeze on my scalp; I shivered and (felt) a great outpouring of God's power as the words came out of your anointed lips: "You were slaves in Egypt, but the Lord delivered you out with a strong hand." This prophecy didn't sound as if it was coming from a human vessel; it was like a burning angel, set ablaze, voicing out. I never saw you till the time you had been brought back to the chair by two people; but while prophesying, I saw a ball of light coiled in wave-like rings Heavenward. After the meeting, I shared this with a Burundian pastor while trembling, and he confirmed the same to me as he was standing beside me. He said he saw a great beam of light, like rolls of fire, and he could not look there again. When you said, "The Lord brought you out with a strong hand," threats were being cut off my body. God bless you, servant of God. Mum, as you move, as you reach, as you touch and bless my brothers, bless me too, make me your son in GGM; I am a totally changed Anthony. On Sunday, I stood in the church, and it's like the same anointing was flowing; after the message, two great Gangsters who have been troubling people, killing (them) and hijacking peoples' cars, confessed and testified of their evil deeds and were saved! It was the second week they had come and were hiding in the church, but this Sunday they couldn't resist God's power—it was joy and celebration in the church.—Pastor Anthony Wafula, Kenya

Thank you for all your prayers!

Yours in His grace,

Catherine Brown
Founder, Gatekeepers Global Ministries (GGM) and
Co-founder, Scottish Apostolic Networking Enterprise
Email: admin@gatekeepers.org.uk

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Revelatory Entrepreneurship

2010-02-28T18:13:00.000-08:00

I have spoken earlier of how God is raising up stewards of Kingdom wealth. The Lord has commanded us to take dominion of this earth. This is known as the Creation Mandate. The Kingdom Mandate, as I sometimes call the great commission, is to make disciples of every nation. Part of this is to make disciples in every sphere of society. To advance the Kingdom of God and make His name known in every sector of this world. We are to bring all things under the rule of Christ. One of those areas is the realm of business.

God is releasing a special breed of business men and women. These people will receive divine strategies from God as they dwell in the place of glory. God will release heavenly revelation as they commune with Him. They will be the ones who understand and accept the rights of sonship that we have as Christians. These men and women will launch businesses and start large corporations. They will be the movers and shakers of our day. They will come up with new products and new business models. They will rework old models and improve on them. By so doing so they will bring much wealth into the Kingdom. God will use them to bring employment to the body of Christ.

These men and women will have much respect in the Church for their wisdom and the blessing that they are. For they are conduits of wealth and creative power. The world will respect them for their creative insight. These entrepreneurs will operate with such a creative ability that many will come to them for ideas. They will have more ideas then they can implement themselves. They will be able to tweak existing businesses so that a failing business becomes wildly successful overnight. Whatever they bless will be blessed. There will be an authority granted to them to bless businesses and organizations. They will be blessed with supernatural breakthrough.

Lord, would you raise up those entrepreneurs who will receive their strategies from You and You alone. Release this creative power to Your sons and daughters who are laboring in the fields of business. Release a power of authority to them so that whatever they touch will see success. May they find honor in the city gates. May they be honored before men so that You will be honored through them. May they be used to make Your name be known. AMEN!

Is God a God of Judgement or Grace?

2010-01-17T11:06:00.000-08:00

Recently, Pat Robertson made quite a stir with the suggestion that the earthquake in Haiti was a result of a pact that the nation had made with the devil. Many Christians had two responses. The first was that God doesn't work that way and would never pass judgement against a nation. The other is that we can't speak on behalf of God. In the following I will give my personal opinion on whether God ever passes judgement in this manner and if we can declare such disasters as judgements. I am not weighing in if this particular earthquake is or not for the fact that God has not personally spoken to me about this matter. I do believe that Pat Robertson makes some good historical points and I suggest you watch the video before passing judgement on him as it is far less severe as many have made it out to be.

We have to be careful when we declare certain things as judgements of God. There is a difference between consequences and judgements. For instance, if I have sex outside of marriage I run the risk of contracting an STD. That isn't God's judgement but merely a consequence of my behavior. Secondly, there is a difference between God releasing His wrath and removing His hand of protection. Satan seeks to torment the people of this earth. God has restrained him. There are times when, in His perfect will, He allows Satan to carry out his torment. An example of this in scripture would be the invasions of Israel. God removed His hand of favor because of the pacts that the Israelites made with Bael.

There are other times that God will judge a land. We see this in some of the prophecies of the Old Testament when God promises vengeance against the nations who oppress Israel. We also see this in 2 Chronicles 7:12. But God is always a God of grace and love. He will always allow a nation to return to Him. He will restore them if they choose to follow His ways once again.

It is important to know that we as Christians stand in the gap. We need to intercede, as priests, for God to continue to pour out His mercy. Moses did this when God wanted to destroy all of Israel. It was because of Moses' appeal that a nation was spared. Another example is when Abraham bargained with God for the sparing of Sodom. It would have been spared for a mere ten righteous men. We as intercessors need to stand in the gap. We need to live as the holy priesthood that we are. It is Christ's righteousness, made manifest in us, that turns away the wrath and judgement of God.

Is Haiti's oppression over the last hundred plus years a result of a pact of the devil? I don't know the answer to this. But here is what I do know: when the righteous make a stand a nation is changed. Uganda experienced a great revival a few years ago. The president, in a national assembly, handed the nations flag over to a group of intercessors. He dedicated the nation to Jesus Christ and charged them to pray for the nation. Uganda is one of the few nations in Africa that have experienced a drop in the AIDS rate while other nations are experiencing an increase. If God will bless a nation that turns to Him will He not curse a nation that opposes Him?

Some have then said why has God not passed similar judgement on other nations. I can't speak to that. But I can speak to the curses over those peoples as well. Even my own German people are facing the slow extinction of our race as a result of what we did during the Nazi regime. I feel that America is going to have to come before judgement if we don't remove the curse of abortion from our land. God will not ignore the cry of babies' blood. He passed judgement and killed the firstborn in Egypt for a similar genocide.

I believe that God still passes judgement today. He is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He operates the same way in the Old Testament as the New Testament. He speaks to His people even today. I do believe that at times He will speak His heart to His prophets. If God pours out His judgement then His people will know it. But what is the ultimate judgement? In my mind it is God removing His hand of mercy from us. If a people turns to the devil for their security and salvation how can we expect God to protect them from the torment of the very same devil?

One prominent prophet spoke of the fault line in California. He said that he had a vision of an angel holding the plates and restraining the earthquake that many experts say we could have at any time. Many experts say that we are overdue for "the big one." I believe that it is God's mercy that we have not experienced it. I don't know how much longer will God rest His hand of protection on the state of California. We have rebelled so greatly. I know the prayer of a righteous man avails much. It is my prayer that God will continue to spare California and that a company of intercessors will arise. I mention this to demonstrate that all of us have sinned and rebelled against God. There are many nations and regions within nations that have made pacts with other gods. We must break these curses and come back into alignment with the ways of heaven.

God's ways are mysterious. At times He will reveal them to His people. But in those cases that He doesn't we need to be careful not to speculate. Speculation is dangerous. But know who God is and know where you stand before Him. Be the priest and prophetic voice that He has called you to be. For you are His ambassador to this earth. May we all be agents of His grace and mercy. For as the kingdom is truly established the need for His wrath becomes less. But let us allow ourselves to fall under conviction before we judge others. For we have plenty to repent for here in America.

Victoria Boyson: The Power of Love

2009-11-28T16:54:00.000-08:00

Over the past year God has shown me a tremendous amount about His love. Victoria shares some about how powerful His love really is. I encourage you to read this word and to receive the love that God has for you. When you do it will then flow out and touch those around you.

Victoria Boyson: The Power of Love

Recently, as many of you know, my laptop was destroyed - run over by a semi. People have been curious about how it happened, but the question in my head wasn't how, but why? Why did it happen? The Lord warned me months before that there was going to be an attack against my laptop. I know, it sounds odd, but that is the truth. So, I was very careful to backup and copy everything of any importance.

However, the question "why" still harassed me for weeks after it happened and heavy sadness settled on me. I sought the Lord about it and I thought about what was on the computer that would have been lost due to the incident; what wasn't copied elsewhere? I have several books I'm writing on there and work I've done for others, but all of that was copied on to other computers. Then it dawned on me—the only thing that was not backed up was what I'd recently written about the power of love.

It was about the power love possesses to destroy the works of darkness. Wow! It was about God's heart working through people to bring the lost to Him and liberate them from spiritual darkness, bringing them into a relationship with Jesus Christ. It was about the generations loving and appreciating one another.

The Enemy's After Our Love

The Lord impressed my spirit then that the enemy was after our love! I began to weep at the thought of it. By the enemy's pursuit of it, it showed how terrified he is of it. The Lord reminded me of the last few years in my own life and the enemy's constant pursuit to destroy my ability to love.

"And many will turn away from me and betray and hate each other. And many false prophets will appear and will deceive many people. Sin will be rampant everywhere, and the love of many will grow cold" (Matthew 24:10-12 NLT).

The attack on our love has increased and our ability to love has been assaulted. With many in the Body of Christ, it's been a vicious battle, wrestling with issues of forgiveness and justice. But His Word says, "We are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against the mighty powers in this dark world, and against the evil spirits in heavenly places" (Ephesians 6:12 NLT). The enemy uses people to fight against us, so it's not always easy to remember who our real enemy is.

Honestly, I can't say that I see an end to this battle for our love coming anytime soon—the enemy's not going to quit—he's got too much to lose to give up. But we can become wise to his plans and schemes against us and learn from every battle we encounter. And most of all, we need to remind ourselves daily of the power of God's love.

Unconditional Love

God's love is limitless—hotter than fire and stronger than anything. Look at the power in these words: "I am convinced that nothing will ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels or demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of Hell can separate us from the God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord" (Romans 8:38-39 NLT).

How deep is the Father's love for us? His unfailing love is as high as the heavens and reaches to the sky (see Psalm 57:10). His love is unconditional, meaning it has no conditions. God does not put stipulations on His love. His love is real, limitless, and changeless. It is the only love we do not have to earn in some way.

His love is limitless, but ours isn't—His love is unconditional, but our earthly love is full of conditions. We cannot love like this apart from God. And when we (fallen yet, redeemed) allow His love to flow through us, then Hell trembles. His Word in Luke 6:28 NLT says, "Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you." But our love debates this concept, it's only by His love can we truly love.

Relentless Pursuit

Years ago, I had an encounter that revealed the relentless power of God's love, which showed me God's love physically in action.

I was ministering at a women's conference in the south and we were nearing the end of a weekend of meetings. The message had been delivered, the altar call had been given and many women had been ministered to. God had done a great work in everyone that had come forward. There were a few women remaining at the altars still, but I was ready to end the meeting. I stood ready to bring it to a close when God stopped me. "We're not done yet," He said.

Knowing He didn't want the meeting to end, I continued to call people to come forward. I knew there was someone else the Lord wanted to minister to, but no one came forward. I then felt the Lord tug at my heart. He wanted me to sing the song Jesus Loves Me. So, I asked the pianist to play and I sang to them. And the power of God's love coated the place—it was beautiful. I would've been satisfied with that, but God knew what He was after.

Unbeknownst to me, God had been working on the heart of a woman in the back of the church all during the meeting. I didn't know it, but she'd left and come back several times. Still, she did not respond to my invitation to come for prayer. That is, not until I sang that simple song. As I finished singing, she literally RAN to the altar. Before I knew what was happening, she flew into my arms; I barely had time to catch her.

She no sooner got to me than the power of God hit her and she collapsed into my arms. We somehow got her to the floor and continued to pray for her. As she lay in my lap, a demon spirit began to manifest in her. It was pretty up close and personal for me, so I kinda freaked a little. My first thought was, "Somebody should do something!" Then I realized, I was the "somebody." Still fairly new in this type of ministry, I realized they were all expecting me to handle the situation. All eyes were on me—they were all watching what I would do next...gulp.

My eyes turned toward this dear woman laying unconscious in my lap, and the love the Lord had for her burned in my heart. That love turned into intense anger toward the demonic spirit that tormented her. Without even realizing it, I started speaking to that demon in a voice so full of power and authority it didn't even seem like my own voice. I commanded that demon to let her go and it did. She was free!

We all began to pray for her, rejoicing in everything we saw God do for her, and God filled her that day with His spirit, restoring her soul with His love. She was exhausted but delivered, and we rejoiced with her. She'd been sought out by God's love, captivated by His love, freed by His love and restored by His love.

I want you to understand something; I did not even see her in the back of the church. I didn't pursue her for Christ's sake. It was God's intense love for His daughter that kept pursuing her again and again, and not wanting to close the meeting because of His love for her—His pursuit of her. It makes me cry to think of His love for her and how passionately He pursued her. She wanted so badly to leave that place, but HE kept bringing her back again and again.

I went back to that congregation a year later and met up with her again. I honestly didn't even recognize her—she was so changed by the power of God's love. She was a different person. The woman who hugged me now was not the same person I'd met a year earlier. Her whole family had been changed by what they'd seen God do for her, all by the power of His love.

So, why are we surprised that our love is under attack? It's the most powerful weapon we possess, and we need to fight to protect it at all cost.

When Christ told us to bless those who curse us, it was for our sake, it was to protect our hearts from cold love.

The stronger our ability to forgive and even bless those who've been a curse to us, the stronger our love will be—the greater the impact God will have through us.

When you want to hate but love instead through God's power, you unlock the richness of Heaven. You unleash God's power on yourself and those around you!

If you want revival,
if you want revolution,
if you want God...then love!

P.S. For those of you who were curious about my laptop—God is good and He's provided me with a new one through the love and generosity of a wonderful couple. May the Lord richly bless them.

Victoria Boyson
Speaking Life Ministries
Email: victoria@boyson.org

Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

I am thankful

2009-11-25T17:28:00.000-08:00

This time of year we can get swept up with all of the shopping, feasting, and football that we forget what this is truly about. Thanksgiving is a time, during the season of harvest, that we reflect back on all of the things that we are thankful for. In that end I present some of the things that I am thankful for in no particular order:

An amazing church family

Awesome spiritual mentors who see me for who I truly am

A band of brothers who aren't afraid to call me out when I need it

Spiritual sisters who put up with me and bring out the fun goofy side of me

The fact that I received clarity when it comes to my career

A great living situation with two great guys

My Macbook Pro

New friends that I've met through Twitter

A new job, with amazing opportunities, that I know I will love

Being able to live in Southern California which is absolutely amazing

Great friends who keep my life interesting

God preserving my health

Most of all I am thankful for this past year. In many ways it has been the most painful year of my entire life. But through it all I have learned so much. God has taught me so many things about who He is and who I am in Him. Things that I previously knew as head knowledge has now become heart knowledge. God is so good. I know that He will bring to completion what He has begun. I am so thankful for the fact that He hasn't given up on me. I am His beloved son in whom He is pleased. Hallelujah!

Let Your Earthly Destiny be Defined by Heaven

2009-11-23T00:10:00.000-08:00

About a month ago I had the opportunity to share a message for my church's prophetic intercession class. I spoke about our earthly and heavenly destinies. The earthly destiny must be defined by our heavenly destiny. If we don't then our ministry, and our walk, will be compromised. I also speak about how we learn what our earthly destiny is. I am making it available here for streaming and download.

Cal Pierce: "The Kingdom Health Care System: The Marriage of Health and Healing in the Body of Christ"

2009-11-14T14:21:00.000-08:00

This is an excellent word about the importance of being good stewards of the bodies that God has given us. I have felt what Pierce has on many occasions while praying for people.

Cal Pierce: "The Kingdom Health Care System: The Marriage of Health and Healing in the Body of Christ"
by Cal Pierce

We are in a season of a major shift in the Body of Christ. We have just celebrated our 10th Anniversary of Healing Rooms Ministries. Kenneth Copeland released a powerful message over us at the banquet. His word was a confirmation that God is going to shift us into a Kingdom increase in our next 10 years. That increase is going to be a marriage of health and healing in the Body of Christ.

I have spoken at probably 200 conferences in the past 10 years. I can't tell you how many times, at those conferences, that I prayed for people with physical problems such as bad knees or diabetes that were overweight or obese. I knew I was praying for the symptom and not the root cause. In America today we have a pandemic of obesity. Over one-third of our population is overweight. This puts us at risk for heart disease, diabetes, arthritis, and many other physical problems. We have the most advanced medical industry, spend more per capita on health care than most countries, and yet we are some of the sickest people. Why is this? Is it possible that we have developed a system of disease management, rather than true health care?

The Lord Desires that We Prosper and Be in Good Health

The Lord tells us in 3 John 2 that in all respects He desires that we prosper and be in good health. We get healed to achieve health. We don't get healed to get sick again. As Christians, the Holy Spirit is in us for the fulfillment of the will of God. He wants His temple healthy. He is interested in partnering with us in accomplishing good health. If we are sick or weak our ability to fulfill the destiny God has for us is compromised.

If sickness is part of the curse we have been redeemed from, (Galatians 3:13), then we can live a long life in health. In Genesis 6:3 God tells us how long we can live in health.

Then the Lord said, "My Spirit shall not strive with man forever, because he also is flesh; nevertheless his days shall be 120 years."

Redemption reestablishes this covenant that God has given us. Science today has discovered that man can live 120 years with proper nutrition, exercise, and Kingdom help. The whole man, in spirit, mind and body, can be preserved complete for 120 years (1 Thessalonians 5:23).

Our Age Does Not Determine Our Health

Our age does not determine our health. We have this mindset that when we reach 50 years, it's all down-hill from there. When I reached 50, I started receiving mail from senior groups, health insurance companies, rest homes and cemetery plot sales people. This wasn't encouraging. Now that I am turning 65, I decided to do something about my health.

I was beginning to fit the picture of a deteriorating senior citizen. God gave me a dream that I was to become strong. He showed me how, at any age, with good nutrition and exercise, our bodies will gain new strength. Within five months, I lost 35 pounds, strengthened my body to have energy that I haven't had in 20 years, and every pain and ache has left. I now tell my staff, "I'm not planning to retire for another 50 years." At our conferences, I now teach and impart, not just the message on healing, but also the message on the health we can have after we are healed.

Cal Pierce
Director, Healing Rooms Ministries
Email: healing@healingrooms.com

About Cal and Michelle Pierce: Cal is Director and Michelle is Co-Director of Healing Rooms Ministries. They teach at conferences around the world about the provision Jesus provided in the atonement for our healing, and bring forth the encouraging and enlightened Word of God. Cal is also a member of the International Coalition of Apostles (ICA).

Inspired by John G. Lake's healing ministry, Cal Pierce visited Lake's gravesite once each month for over one year to pray. During a 40-day fast in 1999, he heard God say, "There is a time to pray, and a time to move." The Lord was calling him to re-dig the generational wells of healing in Spokane. Cal called in intercessors and began training up healing teams. On July 22, 1999, the Spokane Healing Rooms of John G. Lake were re-opened in the same location they were 80 years ago, and have since moved to two nearby buildings to accommodate the rapid growth of the ministry. The ministry now has an international impact.

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It's in the Glory

2009-11-11T11:59:00.000-08:00

What are you seeking? What are you chasing after? Scripture records that David was a man after God's own heart. What was his desire? What did he chase after? Psalm 27:4 says the following:

One thing have I asked of the LORD,
that will I seek after:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to inquire in his temple.

This is what we need to chase after. Too often we place other things above this desire. This should be the cry of our heart. We were created for the glory of God. We were created to commune with Him. Our quest in this life should be to inhabit the Presence of God. To enjoy His sweet aroma. Come, taste and see that the Lord is good! But often we place our own ministries, anointings, and churches above this quest. How often do we try to seek after an anointing when we have a problem instead of seeking the Presence? We think that we will be healed if we have the anointed healing minister lay hands on us. We think that we will receive breakthrough if the anointed deliverance minister prays over us. We think that if we receive the impartation then we will be able to move under the power of the Spirit.

We are meant to receive these things in the glory. There is a place for these ministers and they are sent by God to bless us. But God is calling each and every one of us to be like them. He doesn't want us to sit and watch His ministers on a stage. He is calling a nameless and faceless generation to respond and move in the power of heaven. Before we move in the power of heaven we need to learn what heaven is. This is only done by spending time there through worship.

Our cry first and foremost must be the presence of God. If we learn how to live in the glory of God then everything else will fall into place. If we learn to live according to His ways then we will not need to worry about the earthly reality. We are meant to inhabit the heavenly places. It is our birthright and our covenantal mandate.

Once we inhabit the heavenly places we can learn how to receive things in the glory. This is something that God has been showing me. Most of us have experienced impartation from man. How many of us have received impartation in the glory without anyone praying for us? God wants to teach us how to receive from Him. This is only possible if you are willing to position yourself in His presence.

But positioning ourselves within the Presence and glory of God needs to be done in humility and in worship. We don't go in only when we want something from God. Instead we should inhabit that place always. David chased after the heart of God. We want to have the same communion with God as the three members of the trinity have with each other. It is when we choose to make it a lifestyle that we receive the harvest from that lifestyle.

May you enter into the glorious rest of God and dwell there all the days of your life.

Freedom from your past

2009-11-11T01:42:00.000-08:00

"When one door closes another opens. But often we look so long so regretfully upon the closed door that we fail to see the one that has opened for us." -Helen Keller

Too often we live this life asking ourselves "what ifs." What if I had taken that job opportunity? What if I had become a lawyer instead of a nurse? What would have happened if I had handled that romance differently? What would have happened if I hadn't put my foot in my mouth like that? I don't think this is a healthy way of thinking. It leads to self-doubt and a lack of faith.

Earlier this year my life in many ways fell apart. God tore everything down so He could rebuild it and address the foundations of my life. I am very grateful for the experiences of the past few months but at the same time I have to admit that they were the most painful times of my life. One of the things that were removed from my life was my engagement to a beautiful woman of God. She was the love of my life and I had given her my heart completely. Her breaking up with me was very painful for me. However, God was gracious to me and showed me how even this was part of His greater will and He had my best in mind.

Our wedding date was supposed to be on July Fourth. I spent that day alone. Just me and God. As I sat at Pinkberry, enjoying my frozen yogurt, I looked at my watch and realized that I would have been getting dressed and preparing for pictures had everything happened as I thought they would have. I then heard God clearly say to me that this was the last day I was to reflect on what might have happened. God had closed that door and I was not supposed to wonder anymore. I was not supposed to think about that path anymore.

Too often we live with the mindset of "what ifs". This is an improper mindset. We are not meant to live in the past. We are meant to live in the present. We are supposed to forget what is behind us and to press on towards the goal for which Christ has called us to (Phil 3:14). At the same time we need to address those things that are in our past so that they no longer hinder us. If the past is weighing us down then we need to throw it off of us. One of the ways that we do this is to choose to not live with doubts and second thoughts. We need to allow the refining fire of God to fall upon us in its power and cleanse us from all impurity.

When God sets us free we are free indeed. We are not prisoners of our past or our own mistakes. The moment is now! Peter was not hindered by the fact that he had denied Christ. Paul did not let his past as a persecutor keep him away from his ministry. Paul chose to embrace his identity in Christ and run the race with that mindset. The key is the present. Are you making the same mistakes today? Then ask the Lord for freedom. Are you choosing to live by the old mindsets? Then adopt the mindset of heaven. In heaven there is redemption. God chooses to work with the ones who have messed up and have made mistakes. God is more powerful than your past. He is more powerful than your sin. He is a God of redemption and restoration. His blood covers all.

Some would say that this life of no regrets is wrong. Some would say that it is pride. I say that it is a false humility that says that our sins are too great for God's restoring grace. History is full of God taking the most vile of sinners and using them in His service. To believe any less is to doubt the power of Christ's blood. His blood is the most powerful thing on this earth. And we have been covered by it.

Sometimes God closes a door. When He does we are to look for the open one. Don't think that it is judgement. That is the trap that I fell into. I thought that it was a consequence of my past. In some ways it was- in other ways it was God's grace working in mysterious ways. If we only look behind us then we will never see God opening the future to us. We are meant to take possession of the land that God lays out before us. We are not meant to be experts on our own past. We need to learn from our past so that it will not repeat itself, which is simple wisdom, and press onward. Christ came to set you free! He is not going to beat you up and imprison you again because you made a mistake.

Lord! I thank you for each and every person reading this post. I pray that your Spirit will fall upon them in power right now. I pray that they will be set free from the old mindsets. Lord will you break off the chains of their mistakes. Break off the chains of their past. May they move in the freedom that You have given them. We praise You Lord God! We praise You for You have set us free and we are free indeed. We declare that we will not move back into the prisons of our minds. But we declare that we will walk according to the freedom that You have given us by the power of Your glorious blood. Hallelujah! Amen!

A shameless plug for Freedom & Fashion

2009-11-02T01:21:00.000-08:00

I don't do plugs too often on here. I've plugged a conference & I've shared an awesome song that my friend Jaeson recorded. Readers on this blog probably would never expect that I would do a plug for a fashion show. But that is just what I'm doing right now. This group, organized by some friends of mine, is in keeping with much of what I see God doing. God is raising up men and women who will take every sphere of society.

Freedom & Fashion is utilizing the fashion industry to raise awareness about slavery, sex trafficking, child labor, etc around the world. All of this is done with them being upfront with their Christian beliefs and backgrounds. But they are taking it to the world and partnering with both secular and Christian organizations and businesses. By doing so they are making their voice heard and shining light into darkness. Groups like this make me very pleased.

But I'm asking you for something here. I'm asking you to check out their site. Read what they are about. Be inspired by them. Ask God how He wants to use you to influence society. Then ask God if He wants to use you to help Freedom & Fashion. Secondly, come out to the event if you are in the Los Angeles area on November 19th. It's going to be a lot of fun. You'll get to see me which is always great. But most of all you will be supporting a great cause.

Anna Anointing

2009-10-29T15:21:00.000-07:00

The following audio file is a message that I shared with our Monday night youth meeting. We always get a kick out of Monday nights because we usually have anywhere from two to five youth workers per youth. But God has been using it as a training ground for the team. He has been teaching us a lot and we have been able to pour into the youth. These are those who will be the giant slayers of tomorrow.

Please endure the first few minutes of the message. I'm glad I listened to it, I never knew I used that many "um's." But it gets better- trust me. Let me know, in the comments or on Twitter, what you think. I appreciate any feedback. If you would prefer to download it you can using this link; or you can listen to it via the embeded audio.

Steve Harvey and "The Greatest Introduction of all Time."

2009-10-19T11:56:00.000-07:00

This might not be what you think of when it comes to worship but this comedian knows how to glorify Jesus. This is an amazing declaration of who Jesus is. May His name be praised in all arenas of society!

That's My King by Dr. S.M. Lockridge

2009-10-16T15:01:00.000-07:00

A man of God releasing the truth of heaven:

Ivan Roman: "God is Raising Up a People to Walk with Him as Enoch - To Be Naturally Supernatural and Fall in Love with Heaven"

2009-10-04T20:28:00.000-07:00

I believe that Ivan touches on some powerful truths in this word. This is the future of the Kingdom. God wants all of His people to walk like this. After reading this read my previous word about the new breed of revivalist. I believe that they will minister out of this mindset. God is calling forth a people who will be known first and foremost as His sons and daughters. They will know who they are in Him and the anointing that they have will flow out from that place.

Ivan Roman: "God is Raising Up a People to Walk with Him as Enoch - To Be Naturally Supernatural and Fall in Love with Heaven"

During dinner recently, I heard the voice of the Lord say in my spirit, "Who are they? They prophesy like prophets. They love the lost like evangelists. They heal like healers." Then I heard the Lord say, "They are My sons and daughters." One of the most important messages in this hour is the message of "sonship." Before we can walk in the fullness of our destiny we must have the revelation of who we are and Whose we are. This last days outpouring is not for superstars, but for sons and daughters.

"And it shall come to pass afterward that I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh; your sons and your daughters shall prophesy, your old men shall dream dreams, your young men shall see visions."—Joel 2:28

In prayer recently, I asked the Lord, "What does a manifest son of God look like?" I heard the Lord say, "Enoch." I began to study the life of Enoch, and although there is not a lot about him in Scripture, there is enough to inspire us to be supernaturally natural. As Christians we shouldn't separate who we are from what we do—we are children of God; everything we do in life should flow from this place. We are called the temple of the Holy Spirit; we are carriers of the glory of God.

On the Cross, Jesus' last words were, "...It is finished" (John 19:30). In the Greek that phrase literally means paid in full. Paid in full was a term used in Christ's day in the marketplace. The work of the Cross must be released into the marketplace instead of being limited to a good church service. Christianity was never intended to be an event but a lifestyle. As we peer into the life of Enoch with fresh eyes, we will understand more clearly our role in this life: to walk with God as His sons and daughters.

What it Means to Walk with God
and How to Do it

One of the few things noted about Enoch in Scripture is that he "...walked with God..." (Genesis 5:24). I believe Enoch's greatest endeavor was to walk with the Most High. Fellowshipping with the Lord was His greatest passion. This is a great contrast and warning to many today. Success in the Kingdom is not how well known we are on earth. I heard Bill Johnson, Pastor of Bethel Church in Redding, California, once say, "We are to be known in Heaven and feared in hell." Friendship with God—walking with God—is what matters at the end of the day. How well we know God should be the pursuit of every Believer. Our identity should never be found in what we do for a living, or even in what we do for God. Our identity must spring from our relationship with our Father.

"And Enoch walked with God; and he was not, for God took him."—Genesis 5:24

The word walked in the Hebrew is halak, which means to walk up and down. The understanding is Enoch had numerous visitations into Heaven. We are in a season where the door of Revelation 4:1 has been opened and the invitation is still the same, "...Come up here." This statement may be very controversial, but the Lord is raising up people that live in the reality that Heaven is their home now. There will be such a revelation of this that, like David, we will say, "I am a stranger in the earth..." (Psalm 119:19).

"These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them."—Hebrews 11:13-16

My prayer has been that the Lord would allow me to peer into Heaven and have a glimpse of eternity—my real home. When the reality of eternity touches our hearts we won't hold on to temporal things the way we do. God is raising up a company of people that possess the heart of Enoch. To walk with God in the supernatural, to fall so in love with Heaven that God says, "Since you are here so much, why don't you just stay?" People that have a heavenly, eternal perspective behave and speak differently like the mystics of old; they stand out from the rest of society.

In the midst of busyness, the Scripture says to "Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10). I encourage you to learn to find stillness in any environment. As a traveling minister, I have found it necessary to treasure moments of silence, whether it be in a busy airport, or on a crowded plane. In the midst of noise I can find quiet in my heart. In doing this I'm not reaching out to a God that is somewhere off in the expanse, but to my Father and Friend who dwells in me. A genuine relationship with God inspires people around us; not with mere doctrine, but with passion—a real knowing of God.

"Enoch lived sixty-five years, and begot Methuselah."—Genesis 5:21

We see from this Scripture that Enoch had a child, so we can speculate that he had a wife. We read in Jude that he was a prophet (see verse 14). Enoch wasn't hiding off in the caves somewhere. He had responsibilities as a father and a husband and yet he was able to find time to walk with his God. Enoch's life is to be an example to us of a lifestyle of prayer and the supernatural, not merely listening to the Spirit in a Christian setting, but walking in the Spirit—in a continual attitude of prayer with one ear toward Heaven.

Isaiah 50 says that the Lord awakens our ears morning by morning. Continual communion with God is possible, and it's desired by the Father. The most common excuse in North America is, "I don't have time." The thing that the Lord desires of us is our time! In Revelation 3:18 Jesus says to come buy from Him gold refined in the fire. It is interesting that Jesus says to buy from Him. The question then is, "What is the price of the gold?" A friend of mine asked the Lord this question. The Lord responded, "Your life, but I'll take your time for now." According to Matthew 6:6, it's very important to go into a secret place to pray to have alone time with God.

Smith Wigglesworth is quoted as saying, "I don't pray more than 15 minutes, but I don't go more than 15 minutes without praying." When the understanding of prayer becomes more about fellowshipping with our God—Father and Friend—it will no longer be our duty as Christians, but a privilege and the longing desire of our hearts. Modern technology is awesome, but it can be a great distraction from the simplicity of devotion to God.

We Must Be Willing to Allow the Holy Spirit to Set Us Apart

Lastly, Enoch means dedicated or consecrated. If we desire to walk with God like Enoch walked, we must be willing to allow the Holy Spirit to set us apart. I had a dream recently where a man I recognize as a prophetic voice said to me, "Do you want to know the keys to visitation?" He said, "Who may ascend into the hill of the Lord?" Immediately in my spirit I heard, "He who has clean hands and a pure heart."

Then the man looked at me and said, "In quietness and stillness." As we quiet ourselves before God and wait in His presence, His Holy Spirit will begin to release His very nature into our beings. Holiness is not a bad word. Holiness is to be like Christ. Holiness is not about what you do or don't do—it's not a set of rules. Out of our relationship with God we begin to learn what He loves and hates; then we choose because of love and do the things He loves.

As we learn to rest in the presence of God, His manifest glory will begin to remain upon us. The leaders in Jerusalem perceived that Peter and John were uneducated and untrained men, but marveled when they heard them speak—they knew they had been with Jesus (see Acts 4:13). When we spend time with Jesus, His presence stays with us. The angels love the presence of God, and if you are a carrier, they are surrounding you as well. People who walk with God change atmospheres wherever they go, at their mere presence. In the book of Acts it says people laid the sick out on mats so that Peter's shadow could touch them, and they would be healed.

Charles Finney once walked into a factory and the workers fell to their knees crying out, "What must we do to be saved?" The reality of the presence and glory of God is being released to the Church. Our eyes are opening to see how the light of God's glory dwelling in us affects the world around us.

"To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory."—Colossians 1:27

What the Life of Enoch Teaches Us

Enoch is a type of a manifest or mature son of God. His life shows us that in the midst of having responsibilities (children or work) he was still able to walk with God in deep communion. God is calling us to walk with Him—to be supernaturally natural—having our heads in the Heavens and our feet on the earth, walking out His plans.

The life of Enoch teaches us many things: to find our success in being a friend of God, to live a life where the presence of God is cherished above any earthly treasure, and that Heaven is our home now. Know that when we walk with God, His desires become our desires and His likes become our likes. I've heard the invitation to come up here, and to that I say, "Yes, Lord!"

Ivan Roman
A Friend of God Ministries
Email: ivan@afriendofgod.org

About Ivan Roman: Ivan Roman has a passion to see the Body of Christ walk in intimate friendship with God. Ivan moves in a prophetic and healing anointing that flows out from a heart of love. He has traveled the nations seeing signs, wonders and miracles almost daily. After one year of traveling, Ivan attended Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry under the leadership of Bill Johnson and Kris Vallotton. Ivan currently travels around North America and the nations; he also oversees the Jesus Revolution ministry here in Albany, Oregon that began in August of 2007. Recently Ivan has joined with Denny Cline, Pastor of Albany Vineyard, in a mandate to join the generations in releasing the next generation of leaders. Ivan and his wife Erica have three children.

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

Modes of Fasting

2009-10-02T13:53:00.000-07:00

Recently a lot of people in my church have been fasting. God has laid upon our hearts to do various kinds of fasts for various reasons. I will often have people ask me questions about how to fast or what to fast. It can be funny when they ask if something is ok or not. Fasting is an individual choice before God. We are not meant to be religious about it or worry about what others will think. This is a season of breakthroughs and many are choosing fasting as a mechanism to realize those breakthroughs. For this reason I decided to share some common fasts and my tips/experiences with them.

Water fast- Once my pastor recommended to a woman that she go on a water fast. After three days she told him that it was so easy. He was rather surprised that she found it easy and she told him that she normally didn't even drink water, mostly just soda, so giving it up wasn't much of a sacrifice. Contrary to this woman's understanding a water fast is when you abstain from everything except water. I have done it a couple of times and the clarity and focus that you receive is incredible. Most of the time this is what scripture refers to when it comes to fasting.

Juice- Because of our fast paced American lifestyle it is often hard to do a water fast and still carry out our daily activities. For this reason juice is awesome. However you will often get more hungry than with water only. I think a water fast is easier and better (for myself personally) than a juice fast unless I am working or studying. Most people recommend that you stick to real fruit juice. Sometimes I will supplement with a little bit of protein powder if I am doing it for more than a day or two.

Liquid/blended beverages: I have done this once or twice. The first time was for almost a week as I was interceding for someone who was going through a rough time. Abstaining from solid food was a sacrifice and the lack of food filling my belly reminded me to pray for her. I was still able to function at 100% (I had a heavy school and ministry load at the time) with protein shakes and smoothies.

Abstaining from a particular type of food: This can be effective if done for longer periods of time. I feel that the less you give up the longer the fast has to be. For instance giving up sweets for a day isn't much of a sacrifice. I often go a day or longer without sweets. But when I gave them up for 40 days I saw an impact. Common things to fast is meat, sweets, a favorite drink or snack, etc.

Daniel fast: Different people tailor this differently but in my opinion a true Daniel fast is eating only fruits and vegetables. This means no animal products, grains, sugar, etc. Only fruits and vegetables- preferably in their non-processed forms. Some people believe raw.

Vegan fast- I've done no meat before for a week (which was a major sacrifice but not too hard). But vegan is quite hard for me. I like it as it is not as restrictive as a Daniel fast- you can eat grains, etc. I am quite skinny and wouldn't be able to go too long on a Daniel fast without adverse reactions. But a vegan fast enables me to get most of the calories that I need. Vegan is abstaining from all animal products: meat, dairy, and eggs. I'm actually nearing the end of 40 days right now. I have lost weight as it is hard to substitute for all of the dairy calories but I must say that it can be effective.

This is not an exhaustive guide but only some of my own experiences. Use Google to find out more information or leave a comment with any of your questions. I look forward to the discussions that will follow.

Ultimately fasting is between you and God. Do not allow anyone else to contradict what He has told you. My first fast was a two day juice fast, people told me I was crazy and shouldn't do it, but I knew that God was directing me. Allow God to direct you when, how long, and what to fast. I won't fast unless I believe that He is telling me to do it. I've seen problems when people fast out of religious reasons. But I do know that God is calling many of us to lifestyles of prayer and fasting. May our lives reflect a heart of surrender as we serve Him before the throne.

Mark Chironna: "A New Day is Dawning: There is Coming a Breaking Through, a Rising, and an Opening"

2009-10-01T20:39:00.000-07:00

Mark Chironna: "A New Day is Dawning: There is Coming a Breaking Through, a Rising, and an Opening"

Prophetic word of the Lord given by Dr. Mark Chironna on Sunday, July 26, 2009 at The Master's Touch International Church in Longwood, Florida:

For there have been days of sadness and sorrow. For some, there have been days of strange warfare. For others, there have been days of taking thoughts captive that never entered the minds of sons before. For some, there have been deep longings. For others, there have been deep yearnings. For some, there have been long seasons of silence. For others, there have been long seasons of pleading.

But for all, there is coming a dawning. There is coming a breaking through. There is coming a rising. There is coming an opening. For the eyes of the Lord are turned toward His sons, His daughters, His children, and He sees and knows and is intimately acquainted with the sufferings and the tests and the endurances that His people have been going through.

He will make His people a praise in this season. He will make His people a glory in this hour. For His affection is upon His people. His Church is His Beloved. His Church is His Bride. He will not forsake her. He will not disown her. For He now is revealing, through the tests of the sons and daughters of God, to principalities and powers, His manifold glory.

This season has not been for naught. This season has not been to wear you out. This season has not been to tear you down. This season has been to prove and manifest to the forces of darkness that the Church cannot be hindered; the Church cannot be stopped, and the Church cannot be thwarted for she will rise in this hour with greatness and glory. She will have weapons on the left and on the right. She will have dominion in arenas she never had dominion before. And God will make her young again.

I Am Going to Restore the Seasons of Loss

For hear now what the Spirit of Grace would say to those who have ears to hear: "I am making you young again. I am going to restore the seasons of loss. I am going to restore the seasons of denial. I am going to restore the seasons of betrayal. I am going to restore the seasons of strife, and when I restore them, and it will be in yet a little while, I will turn the captivity of My people and there will be laughter again in Zion. There will be joy again in Zion.

"I have seen the sacrifice of praise that has gone up from the ends of the earth. I have seen My people, who in the midst of their warfare, have lifted their hands high and have shouted the shout of victory even while the powers of darkness have seemed to prevail over their minds, hearts and spirits. Yet, even in the face of demons, My people still praise. Even in the face of dark forces, My people still rejoice. Now watch, for I am about to crush satan under your feet."

Song of the Lord, Bishop:

The Spirit and the Bride are calling deep within
The Spirit and the Bride are calling deep inside
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come.

We're waiting for You right now
To come in Your splendor and power
The yearnings deep within us cry
We want to hear Your lullaby
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come.

My heart within me cries
And the Spirit testifies
A new day is dawning in my life, even now.
The roaring of the lion has ceased
The powers of Hell cannot be released
For lo, He comes to bring increase
To your life
He rides upon your praises, high
He comes to you and you draw nigh
And as you lift His Name on high
He comes
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come Lord Jesus; even so, come
Even so, come; even so, come
Even so, come.

Dr. Mark J. Chironna
Mark Chironna Ministries
Email: markchironna@markchironna.com

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

Bill Yount: "Stay Alert! Your One Moment to Change History is Very Near!"

2009-09-26T13:29:00.000-07:00

This word touches on some things that God has been showing me over the past few months. Too often we focus on how God is using us now instead of considering the long haul. This life is a marathon and not a sprint. We need to have a mindset that we are in this for the long haul. Too many great men of God burnt out too early in their ministries because they didn't have this mindset. Stay alert for YOUR time!

Bill Yount: "Stay Alert! Your One Moment to Change History is Very Near!"
Sep 26, 2009

"And the child (John the Baptist) grew, and waxed strong in spirit, and was in the deserts till the day of his shewing unto Israel."—Luke 1:80

Many men, women and children throughout the Bible were seemingly born for a certain special moment in time. They were unheard of for many years, and then all of a sudden their name becomes a household word down through the generations. Even after Jesus' own birth, He is not heard from until He shows up in the temple at twelve years of age. It almost seemed like a premature showing, wandering away from His parents. From twelve years of age to age thirty, He just seemed to disappear. All the Bible can tell us is that He grew in wisdom and favor in God's eyes. There's nothing recorded about those formative years between twelve and thirty. Nothing really significant, just that He became a common carpenter. Eighteen years are a mystery, but in His last three years He made history and changed everything forever!

Could this pattern of Jesus' own life be an example for us today? Could it be that our lives are still being prepared for that one special moment in time that we were created for?

I am learning that it's in our everyday, ordinary, mundane grind of life, with all of its problems that could drive us crazy, that becomes the "fertilizer" that produces the supernatural in our lives! When I think of fertilizer, I think of manure. Know that when you have a whole lot of this kind of fertilizer around you, and it seems eternal, something supernatural is about to happen and your one moment to change history is very near!

In One Moment the Unknown Will Be Heard From!

We will never forget the moment when flight 1549 of US Airways miraculously landed in the Hudson River near New York City. This seemingly ordinary pilot, Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who faithfully put in forty long years on the job, suddenly became known all over the world as the "Miracle Man."

His secret of fame? As reported by msnbc, "He got his pilot's license at 14, flew fighter jets in the Air Force, investigated air disasters, mastered glider flying and even studied the psychology of how cockpit crews behave in a crisis. He had been in training his whole life for this kind of crises. When the ultimate test came on a descent over the Hudson River, he spoke into the intercom only once and gave perhaps the most terrifying instruction a pilot can give—'Brace for impact'—with remarkable calm." The stewardesses also train long hours behind the scenes for this type of trauma.

I believe his forty years of everyday life in flying experience and preparation took him into a miracle zone over the Hudson River and it created that one moment to make history! He met his miracle!

The Captain at Sea Who Miraculously Survived Being Held Hostage by Pirates Stated..."I Am Not the Hero!"

At first the world was celebrating Captain Richard Phillips who was at sea when the news broke of his miraculous rescue. This faithful captain at sea proved that he was willing to give his life for his crew. According to BREITBART, he made it very clear, "I'm just the byline. The heroes are the Navy, the Seals and those that have brought me home."

CNN reported: "In the end, it was a single moment that brought the hostage crisis to its dramatic finish. Three gunshots. All three fatal. Fired in the dark by three specially trained U.S. Navy SEALs as the pirates' boat rocked in the waters off Somalia. 'Phenomenal shots—75 feet away,' said Navy Vice Adm. Bill Gortney who oversees the region."

According to navyseals.com, "U.S. Navy SEALs is comprised of the most elite soldiers in all of the U.S. Armed forces...The training includes the dreaded 'hell week', where soldiers are truly put to the test. For most people, this test is completely impossible to pass."

By the way, these three Navy Seal heroes were never heard from. Their exploits are only mentioned by Navy officials. In my research, it appears that if you are chosen to this highest ranking caliber of the military Navy Seals, your public identity is taken away and you are never heard from. Their many years of training are for that sometimes "one second" moment of rescue. Their one moment to make history was really a "one second" shot that was heard around the world, and we may never know who they were. Maybe we should take note that some of our names won't be recognized until Heaven.

The Next Sixty Seconds Could Be Your One Moment You Were Born For!

I sense an urgent alarm going off in the Spirit over the Body of Christ: "Stay alert!" In your hiddenness and seemingly overlooked life, you have been in training and preparation for a "God" moment in time. Although you have been used many times in many ways to bring God glory, there is a special season of "one moment" history-making opportunities that are upon us that will explain why we haven't really been heard from yet.

Nothing has been wasted. Even the years the cankerworm and the palmerworm have seemingly eaten away at, your life is now becoming an investment, giving you priceless experience in preparation and training. Even your losses will soon be seen as gains, for you have won Christ through them! All things have been working together for your good because of your growing love for Him. He definitely is not through with any of us. It's all been preparation. His divine nature has been increasing inside of us.

Stay alert! The next sixty seconds could be your one moment you were born for!

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

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

Aslan on the March

2009-09-21T09:43:00.000-07:00

I was somewhat discouraged a few weeks ago. Sometimes I feel that I have not seen the fruits of my labors and intercession. How long must we cry out before we see the transformation that we desire? When will God fulfill the words that He has spoken to His prophets? When will I see His promises come to pass? I then came across this word that I wrote three years ago this month. When I read it I started to weep as I realized that much of it has already come to pass. While the fullness of this word has not been completely fulfilled much of it has. I look around at those around me and see the fruit. Many of my brothers and sisters are being given prophetic dreams almost every night. The prophetic flow is incredible in both its abundance and power. Many of us, myself included, are being enabled to see clearly into the spirit realm. It is a beautiful thing as we contend for the fullness of heaven to be made manifest here on this earth.

Here is the word from September 2006:

Aslan, the Christ, is on the march. We are not aware but Winter is starting to break. The grip of the Enemy, on this world, has been attacked. The dark cloud over the Church is lifting. As the clouds are being rolled back our Lord is raising up the leaders of tomorrow. These leaders are the ones who are seeking after the power in the present moment. Do not be discouraged; you who have been laboring in the Vineyard of our Lord. The vines you have been tending will come to harvest. The Lord is going to come and prune those vines that you have been tending and will cleanse them of all disease. Those vines will form the mass of the army that you will lead when the time comes. Behold! The Lion of Judah is on the march! His banner is lifted high and it is victorious. His banner does not know defeat and never will. You will join the throng under that banner and taste victory firsthand. That will be the moment of power the likes of the world has not seen before. There will be an outpouring of the Spirit in those days. Our armor will be mended by then and we will be strong. Yes, we will be strong in His mighty power. The prophetic will flow freely, dreams will be commonplace, healing will be daily and without number, and love will be abundant. Those days are what we are to look forward to. For in those days the veil between us and the spirit realm will be lifted and we will be able to see the battles that are being constantly waged with the dark forces of this world. The Lord of Hosts will dispatch His heavenly armies to support our struggle and to go where we send them. A few will be blessed enough to be called as leaders of the Empowered and they are being called out today. Do not run from the calling of the Lord. It is difficult to seek the empowerment in this dark age but you will be blessed to be one of the chosen few to usher in the Victorious Kingdom. One day every knee will bow and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. We are called as warriors who will never know defeat.

Jesus is the Victor- Hallelujah, Amen.

Lou Engle: "Urgent Call to Prayer: Signs of the Times"

2009-09-20T12:22:00.001-07:00

Lou Engle: "Urgent Call to Prayer: Signs of the Times"
Sep 20, 2009

Convergence

It is critical that the Church in America understands the times and what needs to be done now. The natural things speak of the invisible. Natural happenings on the earth are revealing something that is going on in the spiritual realm. There is a great spiritual conflict with a rising tide of Islamic boldness being manifested. Several happenings are converging this week.

First of all, our President has recently proclaimed, honored, encouraged the Muslim holy days of prayer and fasting called Ramadan. He was very silent on the National Day of Prayer, but very vocal on the support of Ramadan. Interestingly, at the same time, a major Christian leader of the Emergent Church called for forty days of fasting and prayer in the same Ramadan period with the goal that the Church will better understand our Muslim friends. We are all for understanding, but we must have spiritual discernment as to the spiritual dark powers that are being invoked into our nation.

Cause for Concern

At the same time, on the 25th of September, Muslims are calling for a Muslim Day of Prayer in Washington DC: (http://www.islamoncapitolhill.com/). They are calling for 50,000 Muslims to gather and pray on the DC Mall. This is the exact word of one of the Sheikhs who is leading this historic gathering: "Muslims should march on the White House. We are going to the White House so that Islam will be victorious, Allah willing, and the White House will become into a Muslim house." These are not empty words. They speak of a dark spiritual intent and a coming day of great trouble to America.

A Divine Moment

Now, one of these events is enough to awaken us to this significant throbbing moment, but when they all converge, it becomes a massive spiritual alarm that must be responded to by the praying Church. However, I believe in this moment of divine providence that God has raised up on the stage of history, a little "Esther" that if we pray and fast for her, she could be a major voice to expose the dark under-belly of Islam and radiate a bright hope for a day of salvation for Muslims in America.

Headlines

Rifqa Bary
Photo Courtesy: Fox News
On Monday, Rifqa Bary, a young 17-year-old woman, will be in the headlines of U.S. news. Four years ago, while living in a very devout and radical Muslim home, Rifqa met Jesus in a powerful way as her Savior. She hid her conversion, began praying secretly, and began hiding her Bible from her parents. Then, on Facebook, her love for Jesus was exposed to the radical Muslim community in Ohio.

Rifqa's father demanded that she renounce Jesus or he would kill her as is commanded by the Koran. As a radiant Believer in Jesus she refused to renounce her Lord and fled to Orlando, where she was taken in and cared for by a Christian Church and family. Now, the father is appealing to the courts to bring her back under his custody. Major television networks have already covered her story. How must the Church of America respond in this moment for our sister who is a part of the Body of Christ?

A Major Sign

This convergence, I believe, is urgently summoning us in the midst of the rising tide of Islamic influence in America to recognize that our God is above every god and that if we return to Him with all of our hearts and call upon Him with fasting and prayer, then God could use what the enemy meant for evil to bring about a great day of salvation for Muslims in America, of which Rifqa is but a major sign.

Here is The Call

First of all, we cannot be passive as a Church to let these kinds of developments go on without being challenged in the spirit. Our fight is not against Muslims, it is against principalities, powers, and forces of darkness.

We are calling the Church of America at the end of Ramadan, from September 21st through 25th, to five days of concerted prayer. On Monday, we must pray that God would grant supernatural wisdom to the courts so that the testimony of Jesus would be proclaimed and that the best situation for Rifqa and her family would take place. We must pray for Rifqa to be bold in proclaiming Jesus that even thousands of Muslims would hear and be awakened to the love of Christ. She has already said that this is not about her, but about many Muslims coming to Jesus. We must pray for her lawyers who are being bullied, threatened, and challenged on every side.

On Friday, September 25th, the Muslim Day of Prayer, we are calling the Church of America to fast and pray that Muslims would be moved by the Holy Spirit, convicted by the testimony of Christ, and even be visited by Jesus in dreams. We must pray that God would restrain the spiritual powers behind Islam and grant us the great awakening that we desperately need for America.

Let us hear the call to prayer and not miss this moment.

Lou Engle
The Call
Email: response@thecall.com

"I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!"

2009-09-18T12:49:00.000-07:00

"I can't carry it for you, but I can carry you!" - Samwise Gamgee

One of my Twitter friends (@rnsheets) posted this quote from the Lord of the Rings. Samwise says this to Frodo when he sees the pain that Frodo is going through with his assignment to destroy the ring. Frodo is being overcome by this burden but it is something that he has to do. Samwise, being the loyal friend that he is, decides to do all that he can do.

I believe that we can learn from this example. A lot of the time we can't carry the burdens of others- they aren't burdens that we can take on. But we can carry the people carrying the burdens. We can lift them up. When Moses wearied of lifting his hands Aaron and Hur lifted them for him. They couldn't take Moses' assignment from him but they could come alongside of him to lift him up.

God often gives us particular assignments. I have been given a number of intercessory assignments during this season. There are things that I am contending for. They are mine to carry. I can't expect others to carry them for me. But I do have those who will carry me when I am weary. I am blessed to have those who intercede for me daily and who check up on how I am doing. This is what the body of Christ is all about. We are meant to carry others when they are unable to carry themselves. We are meant to lift others up when they are at their lowest. We are meant to speak truth and life when they need it the most. In doing so we fulfill the love of Christ.

We are assigned to particular people at certain times. Samwise was assigned to Frodo- he knew it in his heart. Aaron and Hur were assigned to Moses. There are those who have been assigned to me and there are those who I have been assigned to. Let us make their victories our victories and their breakthroughs our breakthroughs. Let us contend for their success with the same passion that we contend for ours. Let us see them as Christ sees them. Would that we be known as ones who are loyal and faithful to the end? Would we be ones who are wise enough to hear what we need to hear? Then let us respond to what we hear and see in those around us.

Keith Miller: "Wisdom and a Fresh Anointing of the Holy Spirit for New Seasons and New Beginnings"

2009-09-16T15:51:00.000-07:00

My church had the privilege of hosting Keith Miller this last weekend. He is a powerful man of God who walks in the anointing of a prophetic revivalist. He is also one of the most humble, gentle, and just plain nice men I have ever met. The love of God radiates through him and touches each person he encounters. One of the things that he shared this past weekend was about the spirit of wisdom as a river that flows from us. This word, from earlier this month, contains some of what he shared.

Keith Miller: "Wisdom and a Fresh Anointing of the Holy Spirit for New Seasons and New Beginnings"

The Lord wants to anoint us with supernatural wisdom that will cause people to say, "How did he get so smart?" They said that of Jesus. "And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, 'Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!'" (Mark 6:2b). You see, we need that again in the Church. We need to set the standard for the world.

Jesus lived His life plugged into the Flow of the Spirit of Wisdom, so His life, on a day to day basis, demonstrated skillful living that glorified and demonstrated the reality of the Kingdom of God.

Don't you want an impartation from the Spirit of Wisdom? I believe we're coming into new seasons and new times in the Lord. It's not that it's new to Him, it's new to us. The Church needs to operate in the Spirit of Wisdom and understanding now! We need to raise up a standard, not by our ability, but by being plugged into the Spirit of Wisdom; this is not information or performance, but skillful ability and understanding that releases authority and strong leadership.

Dear friends, we are seeing major changes all around that will affect, and have affected, each of our lives; and more are on the way. If there was ever a time for you and I to live and operate out of the Spirit of Wisdom, it is now! Please know that I'm not talking about what your ability is or a few nuggets of thoughts. These things are a blessing, but I'm talking about something more—something deeper, wider, and greater. I'm talking about living and operating out of a River of Wisdom.

A River of Wisdom is different. When I say a River, I'm talking about the perpetual flow of the Holy Spirit in the area of wisdom. O dear friends, how we need this now. My heart is to see God's precious people living out of the deepest part of the blessing of the Lord...to flow with all that He is in you. As you read this article, ask Him to fill you with all wisdom and understanding, for His ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.

The Bible in John 7:37-38 declares that out of your heart or belly will flow rivers of living water! Notice it declares rivers of living water. One of those rivers is the River of Wisdom! Let the River of Wisdom flow!

Spirit of Wisdom Defined

The Spirit of Wisdom is not just information. The Spirit of Wisdom is a supernatural endowment of an ability to do something above one's own ability. It is actually the skillful ability to do what God has called you to do. There is a river of wisdom being released to the Church right now, and it isn't analytical ability, but it is a skillful and creative ability.

The Church is about to minister out of a wisdom that is going to confound the wisest people on the earth. The world will start asking, "Where did he get that ability? He didn't go to school for that!" Believers say, "I got it in a dream." People will be mystified by this. The Spirit of Wisdom is supernatural ability. The Lord demonstrated this in Psalm 136:5a: "Him who by wisdom made the heavens." Wow! By wisdom He made the heavens.

Benny Hinn describes it like this: "Wisdom is living skills; it is the ability to apply the knowledge of God's Word to our lives daily. It involves the application of God's truth to human experience on a day to day basis. Properly mastered, it can lead to a happy, successful, and prosperous life." (from Welcome, Holy Spirit)

The Spirit of Wisdom flows from Heaven, straight from His throne; it comes out of communion with the Lord in intimacy with Him. It flows from His presence, which is the "center pipe" of the lampstand in Zechariah 4:2 from which all the other six operations of the Spirits also flow.

Gift of Wisdom versus Spirit of Wisdom

There is a distinct difference between the gift of wisdom and the Spirit of Wisdom. In 1 Corinthians 12:8, "...for to one is given the word of wisdom through the Spirit, to another the word of knowledge through the same Spirit," we see the gift of wisdom, or a word of wisdom. We give words of wisdom when the Holy Spirit uses us to deliver a particular piece of information, possibly about a healing, a wayward child, etc.

The Lord wants us to take it up a notch and experience the continuous flow of the Spirit of Wisdom. He is moving us into the function of the Holy Spirit where we will walk in the perpetual, ceaseless flow of the unlimited anointing on a day to day basis, not every once in a while. So we want more than just a word of wisdom, we want a river of wisdom; we want the Spirit of Wisdom.

Function of Spirit of Wisdom

Remember in John 7:38b it says, "Out of his (your) heart (belly) will flow rivers of living water"? (Emphasis mine) That's more than just one river. These rivers symbolize multiple flows or functions of the Holy Spirit. Think about the Spirit of Wisdom as a river of wisdom flowing out of your life. As it was stated earlier, wisdom is not analytical ability, but creative power. So the Spirit of Wisdom is an impartation or a river of creative ability to function in what God is calling you to do.

As I write this, I'm feeling the zeal of the Holy Spirit very strongly. Rivers represent several different expressions or functions of the Holy Spirit ministry. One of those flows is the Spirit of Wisdom. So, as a Believer, you have the potential to have a river of wisdom flow from you, flow through you, and around you, just like it says in Ephesians 1:19, "By His exceeding great power for you, through you and around you."

Wouldn't you like to tap into Jesus, the "center pipe" of the lampstand that is described in Zechariah 4? Jesus is pretty wise, isn't He? He sees the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning. He's the Alpha and Omega. Wouldn't you like to have that kind of wisdom? He has the blueprint plans for your life right in front of Him. He has what God has already ordained for you. He hears from the Father, "Jesus, go get it," and then He tells the Holy Spirit, who transmits it to you.

I know the potential for me in any area is unlimited because it is not based on how well I can do things, but it is based on how I learn to flow with the river of wisdom. Since He gives me supernatural ability to do things, I want to be able to cause people who have not seen me in three years to say, "Oh my, look at this guy! Where's he getting this stuff from?" And I can give the Lord the glory for it all.

So, the Lord wants to anoint us with supernatural wisdom that will cause people to say, "How did he get so smart?" They said that of Jesus. Mark 6:2b "And many hearing Him were astonished, saying, 'Where did this Man get these things? And what wisdom is this which is given to Him, that such mighty works are performed by His hands!'" You see, we need that again in the Church. We need to set the standard for the world.

Benefits of the Spirit of Wisdom

Look at this passage in Proverbs 4:5-13 which is all about wisdom:

Get wisdom! Get understanding! Do not forget, nor turn away from the words of my mouth. Do not forsake her, and she will preserve you; love her, and she will keep you. Wisdom is the principal thing; therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Exalt her, and she will promote you; she will bring you honor when you embrace her. She will place on your head an ornament of grace; a crown of glory she will deliver to you.

Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many. I have taught you in the way of wisdom; I have led you in right paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hindered, and when you run, you will not stumble. Take firm hold of instruction, do not let go; keep her, for she is your life.

Promotion

The Spirit of Wisdom will bring promotion. Grace is favor, or supernatural ability to do what you can't do; He does it for you. I have always had this kind of favor. I would wonder, Why do I always get these breaks? I used to call it luck. Once a man told me, "By the way, I am going to give you a race horse." I said, "I don't need a race horse." He said, "Oh you don't have to do anything." I said, "Well, how much does it cost to feed that thing?" He said, "No, I'll feed it too. I just want to put your name on it." I asked, "Why?" He said, "Everything you touch turns to gold." It was because of God's favor.

I believe the Lord allowed me to touch that side of life because I came from such a bad background. We were very poor. When I was young, I stole clothes off the clothesline to help my brothers and sisters. Can you imagine going to school and being asked, "Hey, isn't that my shirt?" It's kind of embarrassing. I used to go to the grocery store at 4:00am to steal the food that was set outside the store for stock. I knew that side of life.

The Lord's goodness allowed me to know His favor, and that is what is so awesome about His plan. He sees the beginning from the end and the end from the beginning. He later allowed me to prosper in business, which released not only finances, but also important life lessons. Riches don't entice me anymore. I have already had them and I was empty. It can't compare to what I have now. I would never trade the anointing for any amount of money!

Long Life

Did you know that wisdom will extend your life? The Lord told me once, "Keith, a lot of My people are dying prematurely due to stress. If they would just embrace the Spirit of Wisdom, they would have a lot less stress." Remember, Proverbs 4:10 above says, "Hear, my son, and receive my sayings, and the years of your life will be many." When people try to live by their own abilities instead of plugging into His ability, stress increases.

God has purposes and plans for every Believer. His plans are bigger than what you can do. They will either drive you or excite you. We usually go through a season where we're driven by our vision until we get worn out and weary and give up, and that's when God kicks in and begins to do it through us. But we don't have to live like that! We can actually live in His wisdom. Jesus Himself said, "Take My yoke upon you...For My yoke is easy and My burden is light" (Matthew 11:29-30). Wouldn't you like to live in the ability of the Spirit of Wisdom?

An Ornament of Grace

Wisdom will place on your head an ornament of grace and crown your head with glory. God says, "Let Me put an ornament of grace on your head." Everywhere you go that ornament is there. Rejoice, because grace gives you favor with God and man. Grace gives you what you don't deserve. Grace makes things easy. 2 Timothy 2:1, "You therefore, My son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus." The word strong means to be enabled or energized by grace; when we operate out of the function of Wisdom we are energized by Grace not our strength!

The reason why many things are so hard is because we are trying to do it out of natural wisdom instead of the Spirit of Wisdom. And we wonder why it doesn't bring the Lord glory when we struggle and finally get it done. I'm tired of what we can do. Let's see some things that only God can do.

Proverbs 4 refers to "a crown of glory." The Spirit of Wisdom and understanding will promote you, put an ornament of glory over your head, and then crown you with glory. Have you been in meetings where the glory was so strong that you felt the weightiness of the Presence? Remember when Moses had to put a veil over his face because of the glory? Wouldn't you like to be crowned with glory? When this happens, you become more God-conscious than self- or sin-conscious. Do you know what that would do for you if you became more God-conscious than sin or self-conscious? How much better is the new covenant? You want to be crowned with glory, the weightiness of His character, His nature and His power for your life.

Peace

Happy is the man who finds wisdom and the man who gains understanding, for her proceeds are better than the profits of silver, and her gain than fine gold. She is more precious than rubies, and all the things you may desire cannot compare with her. Length of days is in her right hand, and in her left hand riches and honor. Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her, and happy are all who retain her. The LORD by wisdom founded the earth; by understanding He established the heavens. By His knowledge, the depths were broken up, and clouds drop down the dew.—Proverbs 3:13-20

Christians should be at peace knowing that the things He is asking of you He is not asking you to do in your own ability. He will give you the Spirit of Wisdom to perform the very thing that He is asking of you. See, it is an incredible thing for the river of wisdom to flow in your life. You will look at yourself in the midst of it all and think, "I can't believe this is even me." Guess what? It's not!

When you begin to minister out of the Spirit of Wisdom, you won't be in a state of emotional reaction. Jesus operated in a constant flow of the Spirit of Wisdom. His works, words, and teachings astonished the multitudes. Jesus provided the disciples with a great supply of opportunities to marvel. He commanded the fig tree to wither (Matthew 21:20), calmed a raging sea with a word (Mark 6:51), and boldly declared to the skeptical Pharisees and Herodians, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" (Mark 12:17). All who heard Him were astonished with His teaching (Luke 4:32), His understanding, and His answers (Luke 2:47). He did many wonderful things, even raised the dead, and things don't get much more astonishing than that!

In Acts 6:10, Stephen spoke with such wisdom, that those who were resisting could say nothing! "And they were not able to resist the wisdom and the Spirit by which he spoke." This is incredible manifestation of the Spirit of Wisdom through a person. Jesus said this in Luke 21:15, "For I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist." This is a function out of the Spirit of Wisdom rather an emotional response.

As a Believer the Lord wants you to function in the Spirit of Wisdom in everyday living, so that you will be able to speak life to the hurting. You can lead many to Christ through the operation of the Spirit of Wisdom. "The Lord GOD has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary. He awakens me morning by morning, He awakens my ear to hear as the learned" (Isaiah 50:4).

Many people will be lead to Christ through the operation of the Spirit of Wisdom. Daniel 12:3 says, "Those who are wise shall shine like the brightness of the firmament, and those who turn many to righteousness like the stars forever and ever." Wow, what a powerful tool to lead many to the Lord...by the Spirit of Wisdom flowing through your life! We are the light upon the hill, and His glory shall be seen upon us which will lead many to the Lord.

Living Wittily (Intelligence, Clever)

God's people should be the wittiest people on the earth. We should be the ones who set the standard. We have the advantage, but we seem to always make excuses like, "Well, if I had what they had..." The truth is you have the advantage over people who aren't born again. You have the advantage because you have the Holy Spirit living in you. Even Jesus Himself said, "It's to your advantage that I go away so He can come" (John 16:7). He was referring to the Holy Spirit.

Nehemiah 9:20a is one of my favorite Scriptures, "You also gave Your good Spirit to instruct them..." God has given us His best, and the word for "best" means "beautiful, bountiful." The Holy Spirit is His best one who can instruct us. The word "instruct" means "to shoot like an arrow; to guide wittily, like a wise master builder." Christians should be the ones operating in the most skillful realms of ability and wisdom, because we're plugged into the One who is orchestrating and bringing forth everything that He has purposed since the foundations of the earth.

Don't you want to live your life wittily so that people around you start to take notice? The truth is God wants to do something in our lives that gives Him glory. You shouldn't limit yourself to your education and your natural ability. I believe with all of my heart that this is for every Believer, and it doesn't matter whether you're 10 or you're 70.

Heavenly Blueprints—God's Plans for Us

You can begin to operate daily in the river of wisdom. Courses of action from God will enable you to be a wise master builder, building by custom-made Heavenly blueprints just for you. God has rivers of wisdom available to us for our lives. He has ordained our days for us before they ever come to pass, as Psalm 139:14-18 says:

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvelous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand; when I awake, I am still with You.

I love that my days are fashioned for me in the Lord's book in advance! Ephesians 2:10 also speaks of Him knowing our days in advance. It says: For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

In John 15:15-16, Jesus Himself said, "No longer do I call you servants, for the servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you, and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you."

Do you want the fruit in your life that He has ordained and prepared? Do you want wisdom in order to walk out His eternal blueprints for your life? Wouldn't you like to have all those things? A river of wisdom will bring this about. Wisdom is more important than any riches of this earth, as Proverbs 8:11 says: "For wisdom is better than rubies, and all the things one may desire cannot be compared with her."

Spirit of Wisdom Impartation is Transferable

In February I preached this message in a church in Austin, Texas. I told them, "I am going to ask the Lord to release this for you." I prayed for the impartation for the activation of the river of wisdom and understanding. In attendance was a gentleman who had a business; he could hardly pay his rent. After this, in March or April, he invented a product to refurbish computer components. Now he can't keep up with the orders. He just wrote me a check for $15,000 to build an orphanage, because the Lord is blessing him so supernaturally in the area of finances. God wants to do that for you, in the areas of ministry and for your family.

Since I preached that message we have had several people report that they received an impartation or activation in the Spirit of Wisdom so that their businesses, ministries, etc., have accelerated 20 times over. This is because as a man believes, so shall he receive. Every Believer can live in a river of the wisdom of the Holy Spirit—not just every once in a while, but daily.

The Lord wants you to enter into another level of the Spirit of Wisdom. I am going to ask and believe for you to receive the activation of it. The Holy Spirit is the wisest person on the earth, isn't He? He knows what is going on in Heaven. By one Spirit we have access to the Father. So, when you connect with the Spirit of Wisdom or the river of wisdom, you are truly plugging in to a greater level of the wisest Person on the earth. You are going to flow with the Person who knows everything that is going on in Heaven and who has access to the One who has your blueprints.

Why don't you make these faith declarations with me out loud now in prayer:

We're coming into sync right now with the plan of Heaven for our lives upon the earth. As it is in Heaven, so shall it be in our lives. We're going to walk in such a realm of the Spirit that we're going to gain strength; we are going to increase and we're going to be fruitful because we're going to operate by the Spirit of Wisdom. We're going to build as wise master builders, not with wood, hay or stubble. We're going to build with gold and silver.

The Holy Spirit is going to search out the deep things of God and reveal them to us, then He is going to give us wisdom to be able to implement and see the fulfillment of those things. We thank You that we're a people who are being led and instructed to live wisely and wittily by the Holy Spirit. Our steps are ordered by the Holy Spirit. Our lives will confound the wise.

This year is going to be the greatest year that we've seen for building the Kingdom. This is going to be the greatest year of building according to the blueprints of Heaven. We're going to be amazed at what You are going to do this year. And Lord, because we've embraced the Spirit of Wisdom, You're going to promote us. And because You're going to promote us, You're putting that ornament of grace on our heads right now. And I thank You for the crowning of glory. And I thank You, Lord, that we're going to have long life, because we're going to know a sense of rest in the Spirit that we've never known before, because we're not going to do it by our strength and our ability but by the river of wisdom.

Now, Lord, I thank You that right now You are releasing an ability to teach like we've never been able to teach before. I thank You, Lord, that You've given us patterns to build by, but now the Spirit of Wisdom is going to see the fulfillment of those patterns. I thank You, Lord, that some of those things that we have waited for for ten or twenty years, that this year there is going to be a 30, a 60 and a 100-fold increase of them. I thank You for it in Jesus' mighty name! Amen.

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

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

Francis Frangipane: "TAKE UP THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT--THE WORD OF GOD--AND GO TO WAR!"

2009-09-15T14:05:00.000-07:00

Francis Frangipane:

"TAKE UP THE SWORD OF THE SPIRIT--THE WORD OF GOD--AND GO TO WAR!"

"If we advance protected by the Blood of the Lamb, if we war armed with the Word of God, and if we shoulder in our hearts the Cross of Christ, we will truly be more than conquerors through Him that loved us."

Christ not only came to set captives free, He came to train and empower the recently freed to be warriors. We may not always walk perfectly, but because God causes all things to work for good, we still can walk triumphantly. How can we, imperfect Christians, walk triumphantly? The Bible says we overcome "because of the Blood of the Lamb and because of the word of [our] testimony, and [we do] not love [our lives] even when faced with death" (Revelation 12:11).

These three things--Christ's atoning blood, our testimony of God's eternal word, and choosing to not love our own lives--secure us in the place of victory. We are a covenant people, a people purchased for God from every nation. Yes, we still sin, but God has placed the iniquity of us all upon His Son, Jesus Christ (Isaiah 53). When the enemy comes to accuse and condemn us for our failures, we must remind ourselves that every sin we have ever committed has been nailed to Christ's cross. The entire "certificate of debt consisting of decrees against us, which was hostile to us," has been paid in full by the Blood of Jesus Christ (Colossians 2:14)!

As much as we need the blood of Christ, to functionalize our victory, we also need a living knowledge of God's Word. Many Christians are awakened spiritually, but they do not know God's promises in the Bible. To be successful, we must know God's Word, believe it, and speak it with faith when we pray. We overcome by the "word of our testimony."

Third, in our world of excess and self-gratification, we must learn the wisdom and power of carrying the Cross ("they did not love their life"). By becoming true disciples of Jesus Christ, the Cross keeps us focused on our transformation. It also keeps us from the quicksand of self-pity, gratuitous over-indulgence, and unforgiveness.

To aid your fight of faith, we've prepared a brief collection of Scriptures. Remember, God's Word will not return to Him without accomplishing the purpose for which He sent it (Isaiah 55:11). Let us, therefore, "hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23).

Don't murmur when you pray, proclaim the Word of God with authority. Indeed, the Holy Spirit tells us to take up "the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God" (Ephesians 6:17). If we advance protected by the Blood of the Lamb, if we war armed with the Word of God, and if we shoulder in our hearts the Cross of Christ, we will truly be "more than conquerors through Him that loved us" (Romans 8:37).

The following are just a few of the many mighty promises of God. We urge you to print these verses, memorize them and pass them on to your friends and fellow intercessors.

Spiritual Warfare Verses

"Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in Heaven: and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in Heaven" (Matthew 18:18).

"The Son of God appeared for this purpose, to destroy the works of the devil" (1 John 3:8).

"'No weapon that is formed against you will prosper; and every tongue that accuses you in judgment you will condemn. This is the heritage of the servants of the LORD, and their vindication is from Me,' declares the LORD" (Isaiah 54:17).

(Isaiah 42:13, 1 John 4:4, James 4:7, Matthew 28:19-20, Matthew 16:18, 2 Corinthians 10:3-5, Luke 10:19, 2 Corinthians 2:14, Isaiah 49:24-25)

Divine Shelter of God

"For He rescued us from the domain of darkness, and transferred us to the Kingdom of His beloved Son" (Colossians 1:13).

"The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer, my God, my rock, in whom I take refuge; my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold" (Psalm 18:2).

(1 John 5:18, Psalm 91:1, Romans 8:28)

Fear

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear" (1 John 4:18).

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me" (Psalm 23:4).

(2 Kings 6:16, Hebrews 2:14, Hebrews 2:14-15)

Deliverance, Forgiveness and Salvation

"He will again have compassion on us; He will tread our iniquities under foot. Yes, You will cast all their sins into the depths of the sea" (Micah 7:19).

"If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" (1 John 1:9).

(Isaiah 53:5, Psalm 32:7, Psalm 91:3, Hebrews 7:25, Romans 8:34, Luke 4:17-19)

Peace

"Be still, and know that I am God" (Psalm 46:10).

"In peace I will both lie down and sleep, for You alone, O LORD, make me to dwell in safety" (Psalm 4:8).

(Romans 16:20, Philippians 1:28, Psalm 110:1)

The Power of the New Covenant

"And they overcame him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even when faced with death" (Revelation 12:11).

(Colossians 2:13-14, Matthew 26:26-28, Zechariah 9:11-12)

Healing

"But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed" (Isaiah 53:5).

(Hebrews 13:8, Matthew 4:24, Isaiah 53:4)

Family

"For I will contend with the one who contends with you, and I will save your sons" (Isaiah 49:25).

(Acts 2:17, Acts 16:31)

Discernment

"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly" (John 10:10).

(1 Corinthians 2:15, Ephesians 6:10-18)

We hope these Scriptures will be a blessing and an empowerment to you.

Francis Frangipane
Ministries of Francis Frangipane
Email:francis1@frangipane.org

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

The Oasis in the Desert

2009-09-09T08:17:00.000-07:00

God has brought many of us into the desert place. But this is not the desert place that we usually talk about. This is the oasis. It is a place of refreshment and renewal. God is calling us to come and rest in His presence. It is the secret place where there is only us and Him. Where there is no distraction from other people and the cares of the world are left behind in civilization.

God wants to teach us how to rely on Him. He wants to clense us from the longings of the world. He is removing the Egypt from our hearts. In particular He is delivering us from the control of fear. This is the place of glory. In the oasis you will find His restful Presence. In His Presence there is fullness of joy. There is no suffering, no sorrow, no pain; but only His peace, love, and joy. It is time for us to allow Him to do His work. We need to accept His inner healing. He wants to take away all of our pain. He wants to cleanse us from all of our hurts. He wants to remove all of the fear that we have taken on.

The world creates fear. Fear causes us to put more stock in the lies of the enemy than the truth of God. Fear robs us of faith. Faith is from God. We are meant to be a people of faith that walk in love. I have heard it said that faith is the currency of heaven and love is its culture. We are meant to live in an atmosphere of love and faith. Fear can't exist in that place. God is delivering us from that spirit of fear and control. The enemy has controlled us for too long. It is now time for the Spirit of love to engulf us.

Come to the oasis. Come to the place of rest. Drink of the living waters. Frolic in the streams of cleansing. Swim in the rivers of His joy and pleasure. Allow Him to nourish and comfort you. He will reveal to you who you are in Him. He will show you how He looks at you. Stop viewing yourself through the eyes of Egypt but view yourself through the portal of heaven.

We have come to the place of refreshment where there is no more labor. His grace is here!

Prayer over LA financial district

2009-09-08T00:19:00.000-07:00

I recorded the following using my iPhone while I was driving past LA's financial district about a month or two ago. I thought I would share my prophetic intercession.

Cindy Trimm: "A Word of Encouragement: God Has the Final Word"

2009-09-07T01:39:00.000-07:00

I just read this word that came out on the ElijahList today. It spoke to me greatly- it was a kairos word for my life. I have experienced a huge amount of opposition over the past two weeks with an escalation over the last four days. I have been attacked on so many sides. I have received threatening phone calls asking me to do things that I am not comfortable doing. I have a family that disagrees with where I am spiritually. People from my past have shown up in my life and old hurts have bubbled up. I look around and wonder if there is anything left that hasn't been shaken. But in the midst of the storm I know that God has me in the place that He wants me. I know that He approves of where I am. In addition I have my pastoral, apostolic, and prophetic coverings who are keeping me on the right track. I have brothers who have come alongside of me over the past few days giving me the encouragement and strength that I need.

This word puts it all in perspective. It speaks greatly to my situation and I hope that it does to you too. This portion jumped out to me:

I entreat you: There is humiliation before honor, price before promotion, stigma and scandal before success, attacks before accolades, but I hear God say, "When thou passest through the water, I will be with you and through the fire, you will not be burned." I hear the Word, "Hold fast to the profession of your faith…and having done all, still stand."

Your problem and crisis situation is a divine announcement that God is getting ready to either prosper you and/or promote you. Do not resist the situation. Do not throw in the towel. Do not ignore the situation. Do not demonize the situation. Do not pretend the situation is not there. Wrestle with it in prayer.

Focus on what God is doing in your life. Allow Him to use this time to refine and strengthen you.

Many blessings,

Matthew

Cindy Trimm: "A Word of Encouragement: God Has the Final Word"

He sent a man before them, even Joseph, who was sold for a servant: Whose feet they hurt with fetters: he was laid in iron: Until the time that his word came: the word of the LORD tried him. The king sent and loosed him; even the ruler of the people, and let him go free. He made him lord of his house, and ruler of all his substance: To bind his princes at his pleasure; and teach his senators wisdom.—Psalm 105:17-22

We are living in a critical and prophetic hour where all things are shifting and being brought back into divine alignment. I sense there is a major attack on the Body of Christ and leaders. I am in prayer that you, your mind, your strength fail not. I am prevailing in prayer and I am decreeing and declaring that you shall be victorious and you shall recover all.

Dare to Press In

Dare to press into God through prayer. Dare to see your storms as an opportunity to advance spiritually, financially, socially, ministerially, and for personal growth and development. Dare to walk on your prophetic turbulent waters, see and experience the power and presence of God in a new way (see Matthew 14:23-33).

According to these verses, not only will you overcome that which has overtaken you, but you will also be ushered into a new realm of power and a new place of worship. I decree and declare to all of you that favor is upon you.

He has anointed your head with fresh oil. During this time, we all need to let go in order to see and experience Jehovah-Jireh, Jehovah-Gibbor, Jehovah-Rapha in our lives. You need to give up trusting in your own way and designs in order to experience God's all-sufficiency. Lean not on your own understanding.

I further exhort all of you, to stop talking to the snake. Take the time to hear and talk to God. He only is the Author and Finisher of your faith.

I encourage you from Psalm 46:10: Be Still, and Know That I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. Indeed God Has the final word.

Kingdom Blessings,

Dr. N. Cindy Trimm
Cindy Trimm International
Email: info@cindytrimm.com

ElijahList Publications

310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

Kim Clement: "I Will Completely Annihilate Any Suggestion from Your Enemy that You Will Not Survive This Time"

2009-09-02T13:01:00.000-07:00

Many of the dates prophesied in this word have already passed. However, I believe we are still seeing the manifestation of those prophecies and will continue to do so through the end of the year. There is a release of breakthrough- now is the time to walk in it.

Kim Clement: "I Will Completely Annihilate Any Suggestion from Your Enemy that You Will Not Survive This Time"

Prophesied on June 26, 2009 - Portland, Oregon:

"I Can Make You a King Before Your Enemies"

"Blow the trumpet in Zion! Blow the trumpet in Zion! Sound the alarm," says the Spirit of God. "For surely tonight in the midst of you, I have sent My word. I have sent My word to heal. I have sent My word to come and bring courage, for," God says, "many have lost their courage, but I have come to tell you that I am going to bring you courage and strength. For My word tonight will completely annihilate any suggestion from your enemy that you will not survive this time.

For God said, "Because of the spirit of resilience and because you have come before Me with joyful sounds, even as David came before Me with joyful shouts even in the midst of his pain, I heard him," says the Lord, "raised him up, made him the King of Judah and then the King of Jerusalem."

God said, "Can I make you a king before your enemies? Can I crown you before your enemies? Can I bring them down before you? Can I feed you and nourish you in the presence of your enemies?" For God says, "Enough of this swaying power, enough of the prognosticators that would tell you that your end has come." God said, "This is just the beginning. Courage be given unto you tonight, for I will sweep you up in one moment and take you to a place where you will have great victory," says the Lord. "This summer I will restore to you what the enemy has stolen away from you and give it back to you. Therefore shout and rejoice, for this is yours," says the Lord!

"Suddenly" Will Happen, Says the Spirit of God!

"Yes," the Spirit of God says, "prepare yourself, for the people have said, 'Where is He? Where is He? Where is the God of Moses? Where is the God of Elijah?' They have said, 'We have labored and we have plowed, and yet we have seen nothing,'" but God said, "You weren't looking, because I cast a mantle on you. I have cast a mantle on you so that you could get out of your field, so that you could kiss your mother and your father goodbye in that field, and move to a higher place," God said.

"You've said, 'Lord, what am I going to do? It seems like nothing's working out for me.'" And God said, "Have you forgotten the word 'suddenly'? Have you forgotten 'suddenly'? Do you realize that I work by 'suddenlies'? Suddenly the Spirit was there, suddenly the angel was there." God said, "During the summer months there will be 'suddenly' things that will begin to happen. Suddenly I will appear. Suddenly things will change. Suddenly the door will open. Suddenly, suddenly, suddenly, suddenly, suddenly, suddenly will happen," says the Spirit of God!

Prophesied on June 27, 2009 - Portland, Oregon:

"As You Shout I Will Shout with You!"

The Spirit of the Lord says, "There is a key that has been given to My people. There is a key that has been given to My people. It is the key of David. A dimension of praise is going to enter into the house of God, into the courtyards of the Lord. A new dimension of praise is going to come collectively as the people gather together, and proclamations will draw angelic visitations. Proclamations of God's greatness will cause and draw and invite angelic visitations. Do not say this is not the day of the angel. Do not say that God cannot do it.

For God says, "As you shout I will shout with you, as you sing I will sing with you. As you rejoice I will rejoice with you." God says, "I rejoice over you with joy. Do you want Me to come amongst you and rejoice with you," says the Lord? "I will rejoice over you as you rejoice over Me." God says, "As you shout tonight, I'm shouting with you."

There will only be one voice, one sound, one trumpet, one shout—because that's what they did with Joshua. And when the sound of the one trumpet and the sound of the one shout took place, the walls came down. God wants to bring walls down for you.

I hear the sounds of the demonic strongholds endeavoring to shut them up. You cannot shut us up. Since when did you think that was even possible? You tried to shut up David, and he became a greater voice. You tried to get rid of the children of Israel. You tried to get rid of Moses—little bulrushes saved him. Who do you think you are to even endeavor to come and suggest in the presence of God that you will annihilate this race called the holy people? Who are you to say, "I will annihilate," demonic strongholds, this nation, this holy nation. Ha!

Who are you to say that you have come into the very presence of a peculiar people, a chosen generation? Who are you? God has arisen and His enemies are scattered. On this nation, let the enemies that have risen up and held up their swords in glee be brought to shame and nothing, says the prophet of the Most Holy God. These are not people that have come dressed in robes and flattering religion garments. These have come with their hands open wide with the sounds of praise.

The Spirit of God says, "There are enemies that are being brought down by the sounds of a praise that have not been heard plentiful, in its plenty, for it has been stingy. But they are not afraid to behave in a manner that seems uncultured. But when was it that I came? It was when the people of God arose, and the enemies scattered."

Tonight throughout this nation I am sending a word. Beware of the sound that is about to be born in the earth. It will scatter the tribes of lucifer. It will scatter the tribes of the demonic strongholds that have endeavored to hold on for dear life, hoping that the Blood-washed people would shut their mouths.

You couldn't shut Daniel, you couldn't shut Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego. You couldn't shut David. You couldn't shut Moses. You couldn't shut Gideon. You couldn't shut Ruth. You couldn't shut Esther. You couldn't shut Mary. How are you gonna do it now?

"They Shall Be Exposed Again"

The Holy Spirit says through the voice of the prophet tonight: "Beware, for the sheiks have made their move toward this nation, for those that have disguised themselves in the earlier days of 2000 have endeavored to do the same thing. But," God said, "believe it or not, My chosen generation, My holy people, because you have stood and you have shouted My praise throughout this nation, let Me assure you, they shall be exposed again. For they said, 'Under Obama's power we will be able to infiltrate.' They have said, 'Because of this President, Obama, we will be able to get into the borders and we will be able to infiltrate them.'" God said, "Not so soon, baby, not so soon! Why?

"Because," God said, "I told you long before I was the One that would take over the reigns of the Chief. And," God said, "I will harness the powers of Hell and they will be afraid, but they will come, and before they can reach their target," God says, "in the winter of this year there will be rejoicing again in America, in the Christmas season, because of what I will expose.

"And I will change things so drastically, that," God said, "even in the highest places there will be exposure. But I will bring you to a place, America, of great, great victory. And even economic upheaval will change through the summer months and I will give you back what your enemy tried to steal away from you." Rejoice, for this is your day of victory," says the Lord!

Change in the Year 2010

The Spirit of God said, "Hear before you sit in your seat." For God said, "The enemies are the scornful of this nation sitting in Senatorial committees and they are deciding things that everyone is afraid of." God said, "Who put them in charge? Since when did somebody die and put them in charge?" You say, "But they will bring legislation." God said, "Who said that? You watch how I will change things in the year 2010. Even your President will bow his knee in a very special way and say, 'We've got to do something. We've got ourselves into a mess now. There's only one Person that can get us out of it—it's the Lord God Most High.'" And so it shall be!

They say to themselves, "Let's go to the windy city. Maybe we'll leave New York and L. A. and we'll go to Chicago." God said, "They will be exposed in that place, because of the wind that shall blow in a very, very powerful way. The wind shall be a sign and it shall blow across three to four different states and they shall say, 'This is the most unusual wind that has ever taken place in the history of our nation.'

But God said, "It is a wind that will be welcoming, the wind of the Holy Spirit that shall come upon this nation. Churches that have died and tried shall come alive," says the Spirit of God. Empty buildings will be filled with rejoicing people. And the warriors of God that have risen that have been down and out, I will bring them back to life," says the Lord.

"I will take you into the White House. I will take you into every house that is controlled and monopolized in this nation, and I will fill the houses with great sounds of rejoicing! This is the day when I am unlocking the seals so that you can receive the blessing of God. Get ready for the wind of the Spirit. It shall blow," says the Lord!

Let us thank Him for His Word, for His Word is yes and amen. Holy Spirit, I pray that you would breathe upon everyone watching all across this nation and the nations of the earth; they are watching the United States of America. "What shall happen to them, shall they go down?" Demons have whispered into the ears of national leaders, statesmen, "We shall take our hands and we shall remove from them the glory that they had." God said, "This is impossible, for I have too much of the soil and territory in My hands." There has been a whispering amongst the nations and the statesmen of the earth: "The downfall of this nation, shall we see it?"

"I Shall Be Your Defense"

"It shall be a horrific thing that shall transpire. It shall happen even when the sun started shining and blazing, that North Korea shall say, 'Let us take a chance.'" The Spirit of God said, "But it is too late. For you see, America, you have brought about the possibility of this attack, but I have already formed again the downfall of Kim. It shall not have to be the United States that fights. It shall be inside. They shall remove father and son." And the Spirit of God said, "I told you there shall be a united Korea! And let My words go down and be engraved in the hearts of My people.

"This nation has suffered enough. And I shall be your defense and take you on a rocket and launch you to the highest place spiritually than you've ever been before in the history of every revival; this shall be the greatest ever. I am opening up the Heaven over Washington D.C. It has been those that have worked and labored and fought and prayed, and they have stood the test of time. I am opening up the Heavens over Washington D.C. so that I can pour rain, and there will be one transfusion after the other. They shall go from 'O Positive' to 'JC Positive.' They shall go from 'A Negative' to 'JC Positive.' I shall change their blood. I will cause even the great Senators and leaders of this nation, so they shall suddenly come alive."

Debt-Free

And God said, "There will be a change within the expression in this country. Get ready, for you will have the celebration of a lifetime, because," God said, "I'm about to bring you back to your current state and make you debt-free by the year 2010. It shall be the beginning of you being debt-free," says the Lord!

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

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

The New Breed of Revivalist

2009-09-02T07:40:00.000-07:00

God is raising up a new breed of revivalist. They are those who will not wear mantles of old. They will not operate in the anointings of those who have gone on before. They are cut out of a new and yet more ancient cloth. The Church will try to categorize them but will be unable to. We will be unable to determine if they are apostles, evangelists, prophets, or pastor-teachers. For they will operate in all of the five-fold ministries. They will be like chameleons in the spirit. For whatever the situation requires- they will be.

At times they will operate in one anointing, at other times in another. Nothing will be constant. They will carry the mantle of Christ. They will operate in His anointing. They will not be well known but will be nameless and faceless. Humility will be one of the few common characteristics that they share. They will move in great power- for they will not move as men and women of earth. They will minister from the heavenlies. They will operate from the very throne room of God. They will operate as heavenly and not earthly vessels. There is a purity of spirit that will be seen. They will answer to God Himself for it is Him that they seek to please. At the same time they will know what it is like to have proper Godly submission to those who are in authority over them.

God is releasing this new breed in this hour. He is raising them up. I see a few prototypes. I see the forerunners starting to arise. And we will see more and more of them. For it is them who will lead the Church into the Kingdom. It is them who will advance the Church into the Kingdom age. We are coming out of the Church age and into the Kingdom age. They will die to flesh for flesh cannot exist in the heavenlies. Their bodies will inhabit earth but their spirits will inhabit heaven. When we look at them we will see Christ and Christ alone in them. We won't see a man or a woman but we will see the very glory of heaven radiate through them.

These are the glory carriers of this generation. The new breed will carry an open heaven wherever they go. The heavens open up before them. Their authority is exercised from the very throne of God. They know the heart of God intimately and minister from that place. They are, first and foremost, sons and daughters of the Most High. They live to seek His face and to make His name known. They will minister in the Glory. The Glory will minister through them. As they reach out their hands to minister those hands will be the hands of heaven reaching out to mankind.

No longer will there be one man on a stage. But a nameless and faceless generation will operate as one. The new breed won't care about making a name for themselves. They will actually prefer anonymity. They will prefer obscurity. They exist to make known the name of God and to see His glory revealed to all mankind. They will reflect the glory of heaven as Moses did. Through them we will see the fullness of the Kingdom. They will usher the Church into the Kingdom age and through this move we will see the promised end-time revival. The Church has not seen men and women like these. Many will compare them to the Old Testament prophets for they will carry that same kind of authority. But the new breed is so much more. They are not limited to the prophetic but operate in all of the anointings. Christ has saved His mantle for these men and women. He has saved His mantle for this generation; for it is this generation that will see the initiation of the end-time revival. They will truly move as Christ did for it is His anointing that they carry and not that of any man.

Luke Holter: "The Two-Fold Season of Jacob Brings Breakthrough"

2009-09-01T09:06:00.000-07:00

I believe that many of you will be blessed by this word. It is crucial that we differentiate between oppression and testing of character. This is a word that has much power to transform your life. I encourage you to read it and then to reread it after a day or two. Let the fullness of this word impact the depths of your spirit.

Luke Holter: "The Two-Fold Season of Jacob Brings Breakthrough"

I have been hearing many reports from other ministries and friends that are finding themselves in a deep struggle as of late. They feel caught up in struggles both economically, spiritually and personally right now. I have noticed in my own life over this time period—a measure of straining, testing and breakthrough in personal and spiritual issues. It has been very exhausting for many people and some have even left the ministry or are beginning to "fold up their tents," so to speak, and retire. It has become increasingly hard for certain individuals and ministries to function in a prosperous way or find a sustainable measure of breakthrough.

This brought me to prayer and the Word of God where I found myself reading, pondering, arguing, laughing, and eventually getting a prophetic download from the Holy Spirit. I was searching and asking, "Lord, what is going on here? Why are things so tough right now? What is the major issue? What are You after?"

The Holy Spirit said one phrase to me that I believe unlocks a strategic view for the Church as well as myself in this season. The Spirit said, "This is the two-fold season of Jacob." The moment the Holy Spirit spoke those words to me I felt something mighty hit my spirit! The Holy Spirit said the two-fold seasons of Jacob are the seasons of "Wrestling" and of "Jacobs Ladder." The Holy Spirit took me to two very specific Scriptures in the Word concerning Jacob in Genesis 28:12 and 32:24-31.

Wrestling

Jacob's Dream at Bethel:

"Then he dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to Heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it."—Genesis 28:12

Jacob Wrestles With God:

"So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man.

"Then the man said, 'Let me go, for it is daybreak.' But Jacob replied, 'I will not let you go unless you bless me.' The man asked him, 'What is your name?' 'Jacob,' he answered. Then the man said, 'Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with men and have overcome.'

"Jacob said, 'Please tell me your name.' But he replied, 'Why do you ask my name?' Then he blessed him there.

"So Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, 'It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared.' The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip."—Genesis 32:24-31

We think it is the enemy that is slowing us down when really it is the Lord testing and building our character! It is the Lord Himself trying to do a good work within us and making our faith as pure gold! I felt the Holy Spirit say, "Don't stop wrestling with God!" People are giving up on this journey of God which is producing character, both personally and corporately, due to a major misunderstanding of what God is doing. We are going to miss this great work of producing "wisdom and perseverance" if we dismiss this testing as demonic oppression.

The enemy has a plan to destroy the Church and this now move of God. Now is the time that this generation must learn to decipher between "what is oppression" and "what is testing of character." The Lord is going to give us wisdom from the Holy Spirit so we don't lose momentum on this journey to major breakthrough! This generation is being given a specific opportunity for openness and authenticity before the uncreated God of the universe!

Producing Character

This generation is wrestling with God, and in this process God Himself is training us to wrestle. God is teaching us to be strong and have endurance, perseverance and steadfastness. This generation will receive a "reversal of seasons." Just as Jacob first had the dream of Jacob's Ladder and later wrestled with God, this generation will wrestle with God and receive breakthrough which will open Jacobs's ladder.

The breakthrough that is coming is literally the Heavens being opened! Angels ascending and descending! God is dedicated through intimacy and diligence in prayer to bring large-scale breakthrough in personal lives, churches and regions.

As we say, "Yes" to God producing character in us, we will come into agreement with where He is taking us. God is looking for a generation that will be a container for the times. God is looking for a generation that will allow the old wineskin to be broken. A generation that will rise in a confident relationship with the Father and stand in strength!

After his wrestling match with the Angel of the Lord, Jacob walked with a limp. The Holy Spirit says, "That is what I am looking for. I am looking for a Church and a new generation that will come out leaning on her Beloved. I am looking for a Church and a generation that will walk differently."

People could look at Jacob after that point and tell that he walked differently after his Heavenly "contending encounter." That is what God is after in this now move of God—a generation that is motivated by intimacy and a desire to walk it out differently. God wants a generation that longs to see God face to face!

Jacob's Ladder Brings Breakthrough

Jacob's Ladder is the season of an open Heaven. During this season the Lord is going to be opening the Heavens in a mighty way and that literally is the breakthrough. The breaking is Heaven and it's self-responding to the diligence of prayer and the steadfastness of God's people. This is a time when those who have been tested and tried and found full of love and faith will be "accelerated" in the Body of Christ.

There is a generation that the spirit of religion has tried to abort! This spirit of religion is standing in the midst of the Church and saying to a new generation, "You don't belong here." And the Holy Spirit is looking for a people and a generation that will stand up in the Church and say, "Get out!" to this spirit of religion. God desires a generation that will fight for the birth of this movement!

The place at which Jacob stopped for the night and had his Heavenly encounter was in reality Mount Moriah, the future home of the Temple in Jerusalem. The ladder therefore signifies the "bridge" between Heaven and Earth, as prayers and sacrifices offered in the Holy Temple provided a connection between God and the Jewish people. Moreover, the ladder alludes to the giving of the Torah as another connection between Heaven and Earth.

God is going to pour out His Spirit in geographic regions and Churches. The Lord is looking for a place to call "home." The Lord is saying, "Who will build a house for Me, and where can I find rest?" The Holy Spirit is saying that if a people set themselves aside to do things differently and co labor with the Lord, He will build a bridge between Heaven and Earth!

In the Gospel of John 1:51, there is a clear reference to Jacob's dream in Genesis 28:12, and it points towards Jesus Christ who is called with his title of Son of Man: "And He said to him, '"Truly, truly, I say to you, you will see Heaven opened, and the angels of God ascending and descending on the Son of Man.'"

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

Luke and Grace Holter are currently leaders with Fairmont Christian Center in Houston, Texas. Luke moved to Houston to work with the homeless and to be obedient to a direction from the Lord. Bringing with him eight years of experience in leadership and life coaching, as well as a unique set of giftings, Luke's passion is to connect people's hearts and give language to take on their destiny. As an expert in real life issues, Luke and his wife Grace are Apostolic Prophetic Leaders, and College Pastors. Luke is an author as well as being certified through the AACC (Association of Christian Counselors) as a Biblical Counselor. Luke is currently writing a book "Disarming the Monster", which will be available in early 2011. The book is about overcoming spiritual abuse and rejection through the power of relationship and forgiveness. Luke and his team have also started a prophetic etiquette school called "Prophetic Etiquette 101."

Permission is granted (and you are also encouraged) to reprint these articles in hard copy form, as well as sending them to your own email lists and posting them on your own websites. We ask only that you keep ElijahList website, email contact info, and author contact information intact.

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

Eagle Vision

2009-08-31T10:05:00.000-07:00

Recently one of my Twitter friends (@randallnewton) brought up the symbolism of raptors (birds of prey that include eagles, hawks, and owls). This made me think about how a raptor sees. I am going to use the term eagle to refer to raptors as eagles are symbolic of the prophetic. The hunting style will apply to most all raptors.

An eagle will soar high above the landscape and let the wind carry it. It will just hover in one place for a period of time as it looks for prey. When it sees its prey it will dive down to capture it. Some of the greatest bird flight speeds are these dives. Nothing will stand in the way of that bird obtaining his prey as he sees no obstacle.

My brother is a licensed falconer and is able to capture wild raptors. Because of this I was able to witness how they capture these magnificent birds. They will drive along until they see a raptor then they will toss out a small cage, with a heavy weight on it, and a mouse or rabbit inside. Around this cage are small fishing line nooses. The raptor doe not see the cage- he only sees the prey. This bird will then swoop down and get its talons caught in the nooses. In this way a falconer obtains his bird.

I believe that this is a powerful picture of the prophetic. We must have the eyes of an eagle. Nothing will distract us once God gives us a vision of what we are to go after. Nothing will stop us from going after the things of heaven. We won't even see the barriers of the enemy but will press on. Nothing will distract us from what God has given us.

Our God fights the battle for us. He will eliminate the devices of the enemy before we encounter them. We are not meant for slavery. We were redeemed, bought with a price, and will never taste enslavement again. Furthermore, even if we do get entangled we don't have to worry about being weighed down. Our Savior broke the chains. The weights of slavery are gone. We can fly away with the cage around our talons. We can ascend into the glory where all devices of the enemy fall away. We are meant for freedom. We are meant to soar high. And we have been given the eyes of an eagle. Focus on what God has given us!

Must you?

2009-08-30T19:23:00.000-07:00

The following is from two tweets that Francis Frangipane posted on his feed. I edited it for grammar and undid some abbreviations. I think the story makes a powerful point on several levels. I will let it speak to you on the levels that the Spirit has for you.

100 years after Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, a man approached the great church father with a problem- his business interests and Christianity conflicted. He ended by asking, “what can I do? I must live!” Tertullian replied, “Must you?”

You can find Frangipane's twitter feed at: http://twitter.com/ffwebsite

His website is at: http://frangipane.org/

A new sound: Jaeson Ma's "Love"

2009-08-28T16:57:00.000-07:00

My friend Jaeson Ma just released his new single "Love." I believe this is one example of one of the many new sounds that is being released. This is truly a new sound birthed in heaven. The anointing is all over this. Please read the story behind this single here on Jaeson's blog. I found the story to be incredibly exciting. I then watched the music video and was amazed even further. I ask you to watch the video and then buy the single on iTunes. Please spread the word! This sound is going places. Through it the Kingdom will be advanced.

Francis Frangipane: "THE REAL JESUS IS CALLING US TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM"

2009-08-26T13:48:00.000-07:00

This is a word from quite some time ago but very encouraging. Christ does call us to complete conformity. Not just some. There is a common prayer that says "more of You and less of me." We should instead pray "all of You and none of me."

April 26, 2007

Francis Frangipane:

"THE REAL JESUS IS CALLING US TO DO THE IMPOSSIBLE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE STORM"

"The real Jesus will require you to look the impossible straight in the eye and believe God for His power."

Not only is Jesus our Savior, He is also the "Author and Perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2). Grab with both hands the thought that He is the "Perfecter of our faith." The faith Christ started in you, He is now working to perfect.

The fact that Jesus is the "Perfecter of our faith" is important because even if we seek to move in prayer and spiritual authority, even if we fearlessly continue to persevere, even if we continue forward with motives purified by love, it is the power of faith that undergirds all.

Now the idea that Christ seeks to perfect our faith makes a fine doctrine, but in the practical outworking of our lives, we deeply resist the idea. For we know that faith, in order be perfected, must be tested.

When I speak of faith, I do not mean a thorough compilation of Bible facts or an intellectual assent to our need of salvation, both of which are elements of spirituality, but not the very substance. To amass Biblical knowledge primarily takes time; to possess true saving faith, I will tell you again, takes courage. Christ desires we obtain a trust in Him that can actually withstand and overcome the terrible storms of life--faith that brings the reality of Heaven to earth.

Faith, therefore, is more than head knowledge; it is our lock upon the goodness and power of God so that no matter what we face outwardly, inwardly we stand secure. And no matter what the world looks like outwardly, it has the potential to be transformed by our faith. As Hebrews 11 makes clear, all those who possessed true faith changed the world around them.

Perfect or Protect?

Knowing that faith is much more than religious doctrines, I wonder: Do we truly know the Jesus of the Bible and what He seeks to give us? Too often, I think, we desire a Savior who, after assuring us of eternal life, leaves us alone until our next crisis. We want Him to comfort us but never convict us; we desire Him to heal us but not inhabit us. We want the Holy Spirit to help us obtain the "American dream." Yet what we have is a Holy Spirit who, instead, seeks to give us the dream of God: man living in the image of Christ (see Genesis 1:26).

This means that God's goal is not merely to save us, but to conform us to Christ. He seeks to perfect us, not merely protect us. To perfect faith, God intentionally allows conflicts to storm against our souls. I know we picture Jesus gently holding us, patting us on the back, saying, "There, there, it'll be all right." Listen, that is not the voice of Jesus; that is the echo of your mother speaking. Thank God for mothers, but Jesus is seeking to get us to stop being such babies. He wants us to grow up into His image.

Remember, I am talking about the real Jesus now, the one who said, "All things are possible to him who believes" (Mark 9:23). If the Jesus you are following is not leading you into the realm of the impossible to make changes in your world, you are probably following the wrong one.

You see, we do a disservice to people when we tell them, "Give your life to the Lord and He will keep you from trouble." That is not true. We would be more honest to say, "Give your life to Christ, and He will empower you to overcome trouble and adversity." Yes, He will take care of you. But He will not do so by putting you in a harmless world void of problems; rather, He will perfect virtue in you by developing character and by requiring faith--all of which creates the spiritual shelter of a transformed life.

A Storm, a Ghost or Jesus?

Get used to the idea that Jesus is seeking to perfect your faith. Plan on the fact that He will probably set you in some otherwise impossible situation to force your faith to the surface. Sooner or later, the real Jesus will require you to look the impossible straight in the eye and believe God for His power.

Consider the incident when Christ sends His disciples ahead of Him by boat across the Sea of Galilee; that night He crosses this same sea Himself walking on water (see Matthew 14:22-33). Yet, He decides to wait until a storm is rolling in with contrary winds and waves before He sets out. He could have waited for a calm day or simply arrived at the other side, supernaturally, without stopping alongside the boat in the middle of the sea. No, He comes to the disciples with something in mind--He comes to teach a lesson on trust.

Please note that this is a violent storm and that He offers no preliminary instruction, no "Basic Water-Walking 101." He doesn't let them practice on puddles or wait until winter so they could walk on frozen water first. He waits for a storm to teach water-walking, which is by all accounts harder to do on rolling waves than on a placid sea. Then, on top of that, He does not come in daylight; He comes at night. So Jesus comes to the disciples in the middle of the sea, in the middle of a storm, in the middle of the night to teach them to walk on water. He doesn't make it easy. But this is the real Jesus with His real disciples. And we can add to the degree of difficulty the probability that they are physically tired and more than a little fearful about the storm.

Scripture says that the sight of a figure walking on the water, coming out of the blowing wind and spray in the darkness of the night, turns the disciples' fear into terror. They cry out, "It is a ghost!" (Note: Some of the things we label as "ghostly" or demonic are really the Lord stirring life to set the stage for a lesson on faith.)

As Jesus approaches the roll of the boat, He calls out, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid."

When Jesus says in the midst of your storm, "It is I," it is a call to faith. When He says, "Take courage," it is a call to action: True faith will always, at some point, require courage.

Peter says, "Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water."

This is wonderful, really. Here is an insight not only into Jesus Christ, but also into Peter's relationship with Jesus. Ever since Peter has known the Lord, Christ has required him and the disciples to do impossible things--heal the sick, feed multitudes with a lunch pail of food, and raise the dead. Over and over Peter has seen Jesus work miracles; over and over Jesus has empowered Peter to do what he saw Jesus just do.

That night on the stormy sea, Peter has this amazing discernment: "If it's really the Lord, He will tell me to do what He is doing--something impossible. If it's the Jesus I know, in a moment, He will be telling me to walk on the water, too." And true to form, Jesus calls out to Peter, "Come!"

Now Peter is not about to walk on the water, not really. When he steps out, he is walking on the word "Come." He knows that the power to accomplish the impossible resides in Christ's word, and it is this supernatural reality upon which he steps.

You see, this is all about trusting the integrity of Jesus Christ's command. Do you think Peter feels power when he steps on the water? I don't think he feels anything besides the storm. No goose bumps. No "glory chills." Peter sits on the topside rail of the rocking boat and swings his legs over the churning water. Peering through the wind and rain, he looks at Jesus. Then he slips down, stands upright in the water, and begins to walk!

Splash! One step. Splash! Then another and another until Peter walks right up to Jesus. This is no little walk. Admittedly, anyone can walk on water for the first step. It is the second step and beyond that is difficult. Peter walks until the waves grab his attention; then he begins to sink. Jesus saves him, of course, and when they get into the boat the wind stops.

Maybe we would expect the Lord to say, "Peter, you did it!" Maybe Peter was expecting praise for his short water-walking career, but no, Jesus rebukes him saying, "Why did you doubt?"

Christ sees the beginning of something great within Peter and He does not want it contaminated by pride or self-pity. Most of us want a medal every time we do something for God, but He is not about to let Peter or us build a monument to our accomplishments, especially when we are just beginning. If this miracle of Peter's were done by some of us here in America, in two weeks we would have tours, T-shirts and commemorative celebrations of the day we walked on water. But Jesus will allow none of that for His disciples. He sees greatness emerging in Peter and He will not press any of His disciples toward anything other than full conformity to His image.

Remember: God's goal is that we become Christlike. The real Jesus is going to call us to do the impossible. This means that we will be called to do what we have never done before. You will see Jesus ahead of you, probably in some kind of storm, but it will be the beginning of a miracle that will change you--and the world around you.

Let's Pray: "Lord, forgive me for seeking a safe life instead of a supernatural life. I want more of You. Call me out of the boat of my familiar, predictable world. Master, for the sake of reaching the lost, increase my faith until I am standing with You on the water of divine potential. In Jesus' name, Amen."

Francis Frangipane
Ministries of Francis Frangipane
Email: francis1@frangipane.org

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

Chuck D. Pierce:"Between August 24 and October 17, There Will Be Great Changes in the Financial System"

2009-08-19T10:18:00.000-07:00

God has been speaking quite a bit lately to me about the transference of wealth that is coming. Last night I was prophesying over a friend and was speaking a lot of the same things that Chuck Pierce said in this word. God had given her a dream that revealed some of these same things. Less than an hour later I read this word and was blown away with the confirmation. May you be blessed as you read this word and contend for the things of heaven to be made real.

Chuck D. Pierce:"Between August 24 and October 17, There Will Be Great Changes in the Financial System"
Dear Friend of the Wind:

I have just returned from "Let the Eagles Gather: The International Gathering of Prophets, Apostles and Intercessors" held in Orlando, Florida. During worship in the morning, the Lord began to open a heavenly realm and release the following:

A New Identity and Economic Shift

We must have a new identity as we go into this new season. I see shafts of light coming from a heavenly realm. It is almost like the Lord has paths of light for you to step into. Powerful revelation is being held and stirring above you. Step by faith and watch as your path comes alive and you walk differently. Some of you do not know your next step, and I am here to say that you can walk in your new path and walk in a way that you will be seen differently.

This is a strange time when the enemy is attempting to conform you to the world's blueprint. The trials and reports of the world will cause you to be captured by unbelief. But you can step into a favor that will cause the world to seek your help.

Watch for an economic shift by the end of this month. Between August 24 and October 17, there will be great changes in the financial system. Be aware that the banking system has not finished making its changes. We will start into an accelerated shift in structure. The government is in an open rearrangement.

Keep the Oil in Your Lamp Ready

The Lord says, "You have brought the enemy into this land and allowed the enemy to amass his troops. You have allowed the enemy to come in and develop a philosophy, a mindset, and an army. Now you must move and gather in new ways.

"For the Protectorate of My covenant in this land is no longer in place. You have got to start gathering in new ways because the Protectorate of My covenant is no longer in place." (I think this is no longer speaking to this country, but a Kingdom people.)

"I, the Lord, AM going to start amassing and gathering you in a new way, and you must move forward with Me. Do not resist this rearrangement. Now I must draw you up higher, for you are looking with the world's eye. I have needed to gather you as eagles so you go forth with new strength and vision.

I must draw you high above the rivers because the rivers are now beginning to fill in such a way that unless you draw up higher and move into a new view of the earth, you will find yourself in a boundary you are not to be in.

There is going to be a rain coming in where you are, which will lift you up in the present so you can see the changing boundaries for your future. I am going to draw you up above the Cascading Fall. The washing of the water of the WORD is coming from higher than you know.

You must draw near and come higher because I must align you with My host. I must align you with the army of Heaven. There are hosts in Heaven that I am waiting for you to align with before I send you into boundaries for the future. I have been working and forming you. I have been equipping you to prepare you for your future. Keep the oil in your lamp ready."

This is a gathering that God is ready to equip you to be the head and not the tail. This will represent God's Kingdom expression in days ahead. He is doing things deep within you that He is going to have you express. He is shifting His mode of operation and diverse expression of how His manifold wisdom will work in His people.

Blessings,

Chuck D. Pierce
Glory of Zion International Ministries

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

40th Anniversy of Woodstock

2009-08-17T23:46:00.000-07:00

I wrote the following last Saturday after an amazing day. One of the pastors at my church asked me to tag-team with her for the morning session of our retreat. I got to speak for a few minutes and then release the prophetic word of God. It was an incredible time. I got to see many experience breakthrough. I got to see friends that I have been interceding for go to another level in their worship. God is good!

I’m here tonight witnessing the birth of a vision. God has imparted that we have been interceding for months. Over the past few months I have been partnering with God on His vision on reestablishing the tabernacle of David and a birthing of a new sound. I have talked about this previously in my blog post entitled “Dancing to the Unseen Sound.”

Today was the 40^th year anniversary of Woodstock. On that day they consecrated the music of a generation to the enemy. This event was opened up with prayer by a Hindu cleric. The event was held in Bethel, NY. Symbolically they went into the house of God and opened up the 2^nd heaven with demonic worship. Rebellion and immorailtiy perverted the music of a generation due to what happened at Woodstock.

We are at a kairos moment in this hour. What will be the music of this generation? God wants this generation to ascend and receive the sound of heaven. Today we released this call to this generation. God opened up the heavens and imparted some great things to a new breed of prophetic worship leaders.

These worship leaders will receive the sound of heaven and it will flow through them. It will be birthed in the spirit and birthed in the natural. They won’t need sheet music. Many times they won’t even know what they will play until they start playing. At that moment the sound of heaven will be downloaded to them. As this sound flows forth it will break the atmosphere. These worshippers will carry the open heaven with them. It will be effortless for them. They will carry this sound to the nations. The darkest places on earth will receive this sound and be transformed into places of light.

The opposition that comes before breakthrough

2009-08-17T02:05:00.000-07:00

It is always most difficult right before breakthrough. It is darkest before dawn. Do you feel that things are getting worse instead of better? Do you feel that your life is headed into the pit instead of towards the promised breakthrough? Stop blaming yourself! This is normal. Before breakthrough there is always opposition. The greater the breakthrough the greater the opposition will be. When Moses first asked Pharoah to let the Isrealities go their labors were increased. They blamed Moses for this instead of looking forward to what God was going to do.

It is for this reason that we must remain united with the heart of God. When we partner with Him He will share what He is about to do. When we face opposition we need to ask Him what He is about to do. Great opposition always comes before great breakthrough. When nothing is going your way ask two things. First, are you in God's will? If the answer is yes then you are facing the opposition that comes before breakthrough. Then ask God what you need to do to make that breakthrough your own. Keep your focus on Him and not your circumstances.

Recently, I was facing quite a bit of opposition. It was a very miserable week. I was barely able to function. I knew that a huge breakthrough was around the corner. In fact God had promised me, several months ago, breakthrough on that date. In some ways I had it easy because I knew it was coming. I kept my focus on God. I contended for the breakthrough that was coming. I listened to worship music and soaked with devotional music from IHOP. I even fasted one day. And the promised breakthrough came. I mention this as an encouragement on how to treat opposition.

Another way to treat opposition is to look at it as a prediction of breakthrough. Is there opposition in a particular area? Perhaps it is because God is bringing breakthrough in that area. I encounter this quite a bit while interceding for services or meetings. For example if there is a heaviness then often God is bringing an impartation of joy. Another example would be an attack of depression before God brings healing of mental disease.

Don't focus on the opposition. Focus on what God is doing. Don't let opposition distract you from the glory. Don't focus on yourself. Focus on your God. Keep your gaze heavenward and you will experience breakthrough after breakthrough.

This weekend one of the prophetic voices at my church shared that this is the season of breakthroughs. Not breakthrough but breakthroughs. I release this word over you and ask that our Lord will reveal to you His plans for you. He is ever faithful and will continue to bless you. He wants to bring you breakthrough. So walk in the breakthrough. He has done it! Step into it. This is the season of victory. Stop focusing on the opposition but press through until you reach the other side.

Stewards of Kingdom Wealth

2009-08-12T23:22:00.000-07:00

Many prophets have been speaking about God releasing Kingdom finances. Many have prophesied that there is a shift coming in where the wealth of the world will be transferred into the hands of the saints. This has been resonating with me over the past couple months. Students of history will find that more millionaires were made during the great depression than any other time in history. I know that there are opportunities being created right now. God is going to give many people the wisdom on how to seize those wealth making opportunities.

God is raising up those who will be stewards of Kingdom wealth. These are people who will control wealth instead of letting it control them. God will use them as conduits of His finances. The world will look at them and consider them great business men and women. But their success will be because of their dependance on the Holy Spirit. He will guide them in all of their decisions. Some of their decisions will appear foolhardy at first. They may appear risky. But the return will be great because it is orchestrated by God Himself.

These stewards will be used to finance churches, missions, orphanages, and many other ministries. But they will also be used to bring employment to the body of Christ. They will give jobs to those who have a hard time finding jobs. They will impart job skills to many in the body. Unemployment will not be known to those around them. All will be provided for in one way or the other. These stewards aren't going to live the "high" life- instead they will live the glory life. They will have the maturity that one is used to seeing in great men and women of God. They are not any lesser than those who serve in full-time church ministry. In fact the pastors and apostles will depend on them for wisdom and guidance at times.

These men and women are being refined right now. God is breaking many of them in preparation. Some are in fact experiencing the greatest level of lack that they have ever had. This is to break them of old mindsets. The control that wealth has must be broken. For they will have authority over wealth. God will use their hands to create wealth. He will utilize them to bring the wealth of this world underneath His dominion. Breakthrough is coming! God is raising them up! And great wealth is about to be released. The treasuries of heaven hold more wealth than anyone can imagine. The wealth of this world pales in comparison to the wealth of heaven. The servants of God will dominate finance once again.

OC Ablaze Conference plug

2009-08-12T19:48:00.001-07:00

I just wanted to make a shameless plug for a conference that my church is hosting with Keith Miller and Jeff Jansen. It was off the charts back in April when Jeff Jansen came out and ministered with us. We are expecting for even more. For information you can check out the Facebook event page or contact me with any questions. Hope to see you there!

Matt Sorger: "Just Show Me the Stuff!"

2009-08-02T21:56:00.000-07:00

Matt Sorger: "Just Show Me the Stuff!"
Jul 10, 2009

I am witnessing an alarming trend in some of our charismatic circles and services. I travel full time on the road all across the United States and other parts of the world. Each week I am ministering in another state to a new group of hungry Believers wanting to live in the fullness of God's Spirit. Several times in the last few months I have encountered a disturbing and grievous observation. Before I share it with you, let me give you some of my personal background.

A FIRM FOUNDATION

I was saved at the age of 14. I am thankful to have been raised in a solid Bible preaching, Spirit-filled Church. The Word was always given a priority. An understanding of living a holy, sanctified life was always preached with conviction. I took my first steps of walking, living and ministering in the Spirit there. As a young pastor I was given some room to begin to spread my wings as the anointing and power of God began to move through my life. I took full flight when I launched out from pastoring six years ago to travel full-time in a "prophetic revival" ministry.

My years before pastoring were spent seeking God as a young person, spending time in personal devotion and study of the Word, as well as nearly four years in a great Bible school in Rhode Island where I served as class president during my time there. Upon graduation I stepped into the pastoral ministry. I learned many valuable things during those years that I carry with me to this day. Life experiences have a way of shaping you into the person God has called you to be.

I want to define to you what I consider "prophetic revival" ministry. For me "prophetic" means hearing and then declaring a true word from God, either through preaching and teaching God's heart as revealed in His Word, or declaring and speaking forth an unctioned word from His heart. But even that kind of prophetic word will be solidly rooted and grounded in Scripture. "Revival" holds a dual meaning for me. I see it as stirring up the Church for a deeper passion for God and learning to live and walk in the power of the Holy Spirit and then seeing that passion overflow through the lives of Believers into the world around us. The power of God in the life of the Believer cannot be contained by oneself. It must overflow and impact the world around us.

AN ALARMING TREND

Now I must share with you an alarming trend I have witnessed taking place. I have even experienced it in my own meetings! Because this is hitting so close to home I can no longer be silent. I am a man of deep convictions. And it is time for me to share them with you. Recently, after a meeting I was standing near my resource table greeting people. A woman approached me to share of the wonderful overflow of the Holy Spirit she had experienced from the meeting the day before. She could sense a whole new level of God's presence with her. It was clear she had been deeply touched. But she proceeded to share something with me that caused me to raise a "red flag."

She said, "You know, when you started preaching, I thought, I have heard this before. I really came looking to hear something I had never heard before. But the presence of God in the meeting did have a profound impact on me, and I am not the same." I rejoiced over what the Lord had done for her, but at the same time I was grieved.

That same week a pastor I was having lunch with shared with me his thoughts concerning the meetings we were holding. We had only finished one day of meetings when he shared his thoughts with me. The night before I had preached a word the Holy Spirit had placed on my heart. After the preaching of the word I proceeded to be led by the Spirit in calling some folks out from the audience and prayed for them with a clear demonstration of God's presence and power. I left the meeting rejoicing.

The pastor didn't quite feel the same. He said to me, "You know, if the preaching of the Gospel could have gotten the job done, it would have been done a long time ago. What we need are the signs. I just want to see the stuff. I don't want you preaching. Preach just a few minutes. We want the miracles." Only once before had I had such pressure put on me to "perform." It became apparent very quickly to me that what they were really wanting was a "charismatic show." They wanted the "signs following" with no preaching of the Word. I'm sorry, but I am making an announcement to the world: I am a WORD preacher.

I see an alarming trend. In the prophetic movement, it seems we may be unintentionally cultivating a mindset where the truth of the power of the Cross and Blood of Christ are no longer good enough. We need signs, signs and more signs. A life transformed by the power of God's amazing Word is no longer enough. "Let me hear and see something new. Something I have never heard or seen before, something that will wow me!" So we have hundreds of hungry Believers fascinated by and following stories of supernatural encounters that have been, at times, exaggerated by charismatic personalities.

Trust me when I say I have seen stories stretched and exaggerated to be something they never originally were. And I have seen people eat it up like popcorn and cotton candy. I want you to hear my heart in this. I am all for supernatural encounters. I have had many myself and I know of others in ministry that have had some beautiful, real, life-changing supernatural encounters with God. But I am not into charismatic hype or manipulation. Just say it like it is. Don't exaggerate, add to or blow something up just to make a good story or to sell a bunch of CDs. I am not being negative. I am seeking to bring balance back into a movement I am so proud to be a part of—a movement that didn't just want to hear empty words, but wanted it backed up with real substance, power and glory.

I want the real thing! I want the real manifest presence of God. I want the real miracles, the real signs and wonders, the real angelic encounters (as God chooses to give them to me.) I don't want a hyped-up version. I don't want to just hear something new and different, just for the sake of hearing something I have never heard before. I want my everyday life encountered in a real way by God's Word and anointing. I want to hear something that I can apply to my life. I want the fullness of God's Word to renew my mind, change me from the inside out, and fill my life with real power and glory.

People who only want to hear something they have never heard before are in serious danger of opening themselves up to a Gospel that is different from the one we find in Scripture. If you are running around only looking for a new revelation without first putting into practice the hundreds of revelations given to us in God's Word, you are looking in the wrong direction. God has called us to be solidly grounded in Him, to preach the Gospel, and to impact the world around us as salt and light.

I love the prophetic. I love the supernatural. But the moment we start wanting signs without the Word of God, we are in trouble. And this is what I have been seeing. Recently I had two pastors in different parts of the United States both proceed to tell me that they wanted the preaching of the Word to be kept to a bare minimum with an emphasis placed on "the signs and the wonders." I need to set the record straight: signs FOLLOW the preaching of the Word. If you become a sign seeker apart from the Word of God, you will become ungrounded and will reproduce that in your ministry. It will build an unhealthy and weak foundation in people's lives.

THE MOST PRECIOUS SIGN

The sign I am most after these days is the sign of a life transformed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I want to see people hungry to truly apply the Word of God to their lives and not just want to hear something new, but put into practice what they already know. I want to see people walking in love. I want to see people living righteously. I want to see people knowing who they are in Christ so the devil can't continually beat them up. I want to see people experience the abundant life Jesus came to give them. I want to see people preaching the Gospel in power, laying hands on the sick, casting out demons and raising the dead. But we can never forget that the power of the Gospel is revealed through the foolishness of preaching. Not just preaching our good stories, but preaching the Word of God with power and authority. A sign without the Word points nowhere.

I want to encourage the Body of Christ in these days to evaluate everything you have believed and be sure it is pure Gospel. Go back and read the New Testament from cover to cover and ask the Holy Spirit to write upon your heart the full counsel of God's Word as revealed in the New Covenant. Ask the Holy Spirit to lead you into all truth and to be sure your foundations are strong and solid. Never neglect God's word. It has the power to change your life. As you soak in God's Word and in His presence, you will truly live a Spirit-filled, Spirit-empowered life that will make a real difference in the world around you.

Go and be the salt and light God has called you to be. And always remember—there is power in God's Word and in the Holy Spirit to give you power for life!

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

ElijahList Publications
310 2nd Ave SE,
Albany, OR 97321
www.elijahlist.com
email: info@elijahlist.net
Phone 1-541-926-3250

The Mantle Room of Heaven

2009-08-02T11:36:00.000-07:00

About two years ago God gave me a vision of a room in heaven. In this room many mantles were displayed. These mantles were held on stands that are similar to the ones used to hold breastplates and suits of armor. I then heard God say that these are mantles of old that are ready to be placed upon new wineskins.

These mantles have not been seen on this earth for generations. God is preparing us for a new move the likes of which the world has not seen before. These are the mantles that were worn by giants of the faith. God has been waiting to impart them once again. We must become purified. The Church must become ready in order to receive these mantles. We, who want to receive the fullness that heaven has to offer, must allow God to transform us into the new wineskins.

We must allow the Spirit to have complete control over our lives. In order to be the new wineskin we need to give up all control and allow Him to reign through us. We can't allow ourselves to be governed by tradition or institutions. There is a new move that is coming. We need to rely on the Spirit and Him alone. The new wineskin is one in which the new wine can flow freely and unhindered. We are merely meant to hold the wine of heaven. The wine of heaven is meant to be poured into us so that we might pour it into other people. Our flesh can not get into the way of the flow. It is for this reason that we must be transformed into the new wineskin.

The combination of new wineskins and mantles of old will be unstoppable. Nothing will be able to get in the way. Those who allow themselves to be transformed and receive heavenly impartation will overcome any obstacle. These will lead the coming move of God. These are the forerunners. These are the prophets, apostles, evangelists, and pastor-teachers of this generation. They will overcome all things and usher in the Kingdom of God on this earth.

Lord, I pray that you will continue to transform me into the new wineskin. May all of my flesh continue to die away. Pour out more of your refining fire upon me. Burn away all of me so that only you remain in me. May the world look at me and see you. I pray as you continue to sanctify me that I will receive heavenly impartation. Give me the mantles of old. Pour out the fullness of your Spirit upon me. I desire to see heaven invade earth. I desire to see the fullness of your kingdom. Give me heavenly anointing so that I might be used to usher in your kingdom. For yours is the glory, forever, and ever, AMEN!

Carmen Burnham: "There is a Mixture that I Need to Separate Out of the Midst of My People, My Bride"

2009-08-02T00:30:00.000-07:00

The following is a very timely word that I just read today. Please pay special attention to the last section about preparation in the secret place. I feel that God will be bringing us to this place over the next few months. The circumstances that bring us to that place might not be pleasant but the Lord's work will be beautiful. Allow Him to romance you and you will be blessed beyond belief.

Carmen Burnham: "There is a Mixture that I Need to Separate Out of the Midst of My People, My Bride"

"And His brightness was like the sunlight; rays streamed from His hand and there (in the sunlike splendor) was the hiding place of His power."—Habakkuk 3:4

While in prayer, I often listen to the Rivera's CD "Live Soaking Sessions 1." My favorite track, "Show Me Your Face," started playing. I often cry in deep longing before the Lord, "Show Me Your face." The cry of my heart is ever deepening tears and longing to see Him face to face.

During that song, I experienced a visitation of the Lord's face upon mine. I was beholding Him. I heard, "We know that when He appears, we shall be like Him." Face to face, I was experiencing a greater osmosis of internal transformation at a deeper level than ever before. As we take the time to behold Him, the face of our internal countenance becomes the likeness of Him to the point that we manifest what we see the Father doing.

The Covenant Bride

Down through the corridors of the ages has existed the COVENANT of the Priestly Bride. She is the Bride that has longed for the manifestation of the Messiah. His manifested name for this age is the King of Glory. Once she realizes her identity, she keeps herself from the defilement of the world and fights for righteousness like the generals of old: Debra, Daniel, Samuel, the sons of Zadok and Elijah, to name a few.

She recognizes and prepares for the time of visitation with Him. For He is the One for whom her soul has craved above all else. The preparation is a separation and a consecration that leads to such purification. This happens because she spends so much time in His presence in which she is becoming like Him. She knows much of Him through her inner experiences of Him. She so desires to be like Him that she surrenders her being totally to the workings of His Spirit, unconditionally.

Whatever the cost, she perceives it is worth her everything. She loves not her life unto death. She does not bargain with Him to hold onto any golden calves or falsehoods of self or even normal needs. She knows that anything else is fool's gold. As a result, she is a fashioned weapon in the Hand of His Glory. He will give you power to stand against the forces of Hell, a dominion power that drives evil out.

There is an unveiling of truths within the Priestly Bride. It will result in the greatest movement of the Holy Spirit in this age. The forces of satan are trying to bring confusion, deception and despair. There is a tremendous raging for the mind of Believers everywhere. How do we overcome? The Bible states, "We overcome satan by the Blood of the Lamb, by the word of our testimony and we love not our life unto death."

We are in a season of receiving greater dimensions of these Truths, as well as in the season of God putting the missing pieces together.

"My Church Shall See My Power and My Glory that Has Not Been Seen for Many Generations and the World Has Never Known"

The Prophetic Word from the Lord: "My Church shall see My Power and My Glory—power that has not been seen for many generations and power the world has never known. There is a tidal wave of My glory coming. There is an anointing coming that many have longed for. It will be a collective anointing of the old and the new, the known and the unknown.

"It will hit and it will collide with the kingdom of darkness as the lightning strikes forth from the east to the west. Many will collide with My anointing as Paul did on the road to Damascus. Many will experience the molecules of the miraculous invading, permeating their very beings, healing their spirits, restoring their souls, driving out illness, disease and the demonic.

"There MUST be an invasion of My dominion power that will turn the world upside down. There will be an invasion through the brilliant radiations of My Divine nature that stirs the heart awake. It will resurrect My Divine DNA within the spirit, soul and body to rise to the power of My Ascension Glory. It will shine like the sun to expose this present darkness. There will be explosions of My almightiness that sets the captives free on every level, every dimension.

"Who will carry this glory? He that overcomes!

"I Am Preparing My Bride in the Secret Place"

"I am preparing My Bride in the secret place, in the hidden place, for the enemy must not see and must not look upon what I am doing, whom I am preparing.

"Those who will allow Me to draw them away into the Bridal chamber and allow Me to shake from them what must be shaken will come forth and carry what has never been seen—those who can believe Me for the unexpected movement in kings and kingdom—then those who carry My heart and My word without mixture will come forth.

"There is a mixture that I need to separate out of the midst of My people, My Bride. Oh, My people let Me wash your eyes, the eyes of your heart, with the precious Blood of My Son so you can overcome. Let Me invade the deepest recesses of your innermost being to heal, to expose and to deal with those things that are not of Me and not like Me. I will remove the thorns, thistles and calluses that have been unknowingly imbedded in your heart.

"Do not be afraid of My surgical Holy Spirit hand, for My hands are filled with healing love. I will never hurt you. I will never leave you. I will work with you very tenderly, there in the secret place. This secret place feels like you are once again in the wilderness, but it is indeed My room of operation. My hand is not shortened like a man's hand. My hands hold the fullness of your destiny. Did I not say, "A bruised reed He would not break and a dimly flicker flame He would not quench"?

"So is My Servant, so AM I to you as you yield to My inner workings. I take great joy, great delight in your heart of liquid gold. I am creating within your heart a combustion chamber of My Divine Glory, for this is the hour of My Divine Manifestation."

Carmen Burnham
Conquerors in Christ Ministries
Email: VanquishedFoes@aol.com

About Rev. Carmen E. Burnham, MSW: Carmen has known and loved the Lord since age six. Receiving the Baptism in the Holy Spirit in 1974, her experience was dramatic and powerful. He truly delivered her from the pit to the palace! In 1980, she prayed, "God take me into the depths of you." He answered her by leading her to work for a noted Christian Counseling Ministry for 10 years. She worked in the then-pioneering field of inner healing, deliverance and mental health. At that time, the Lord shocked her by confronting her with her own need for deliverance and inner healing. He brought her through her own personal journey into wholeness. What God revealed to her was priceless and life changing. What she learned is not known to the Body of Christ. She knows firsthand that many of His people are wounded and held unknowingly in bondage by the enemy and has a longing that they could know what she knows in order to help them. Burdened for the wounded, she answered the Lord's call.

The Fight for Unity

2009-07-22T13:32:00.000-07:00

The following is a paper that I wrote for my New Testament class last semester. I adjusted the format slightly (removed citations to improve readability). God has been speaking quite a bit about unity lately so I thought I would share this. It's a bit academic but I hope that it blesses you and makes you think about the armor of God from a different light. If we are able to reflect the unity of heaven then all other things will come easily. Love and unity are two of the biggest things holding back the Church from its fullness.

Ephesians chapter six gives us one of the most famous passages in the Pauline epistles. Unfortunately, this passage often suffers from poor understanding in the Church today. In this day and age of topical preaching we often isolate passages such as this from their larger context. The theme of Ephesians is the unity that we, as the Church, have in Christ. In order to properly understand the armor of God we have to view it as a final charge for the Church to stand firm in what Paul has instructed them. We must read it as a first century reader would have. To do that we will examine the historical aspects of the Roman armor and the context of the passage in the larger scheme of Ephesians. Finally we will explore the applications for today.

The Roman military is known as one of the greatest in history. To this day they are studied in the most prestigious military academies in the world. Is it because of their superior weaponry? No, it is because of their tactics and discipline. The reason that the Roman army was able to defeat every military force of the ancient world was because of their unity. It is my belief that there is no mistake that Paul chose to compare the heavenly armor to that of a Roman foot soldier. It is not merely due to the fact that they were known at the time. It was God ordained that Paul would use, as a metaphor, the armor of the most disciplined military in history. The theme of Ephesians is unity. We can't think of just one soldier but instead must consider the entire army. Paul is not calling us to be ninjas for Jesus. But instead is calling us to take our place among the ranks of a far larger army.

Most of the pieces of the Roman armor are self-explanatory but this paper will focus on a few of them. First the belt of truth- this was not a mere belt to hold one's pants up. Instead this was a belt that was meant to "gird the loins." Its purpose was to hold up the garments to ensure that they would not entangle the soldier. In addition this belt, which was more like a leather apron, served to protect the lower abdomen. The obvious interpretation of this is that truth keeps us from tripping on our own shortcomings as well as serving to protect some of our vitals. When one considers the garments of the day they would also realize that it is this belt that is responsible for protecting the reproductive organs from brush, snakes, insects, and other dangers. This is, in my opinion, symbolic of the fact that if we are not girded in truth we will not be able to further the Kingdom of God. Truth is necessary to protect some of our most vulnerable areas so that we will survive as individuals and be able to raise up more disciples.

One of the most misunderstood pieces of the armor is the shield of faith. The shield was just as important, if not even more powerful, than the sword. The Roman shield was made of wood covered with leather. This shield, which was four feet tall and two and a half feet wide, could be soaked in water before battle. With this soaking they were very effective in stopping fiery arrows. The Romans would often use their shields, much like riot police today, to form an impenetrable wall. With this wall they could force themselves through enemy ranks. Soldiers behind them could hold their shields above to protect from projectiles. If one soldier fell another would instantly take his place. It was this unity that made the Romans a force that conquered every nation on earth.

The only offensive weapon explicitly mentioned is the sword. This sword (the gladius) was a short sword just over two feet long. It was used primarily for stabbing at stomach height. As the wall of soldiers would advance they would push back the enemy ranks with their shields. They would then reach underneath the shield with their sword to stab at the stomach, legs, and knee caps of the enemy. The use of the sword was to finish the enemy off. The word of God carries that same power. The ability to completely finish the enemy with one strike. It must be accompanied by faith. It is our faith that pushes the enemy back and off balance and it is the word of God that dispatches that same enemy. We must wield faith and the word with equal power.

There is a key weapon that is conspicuously absent from this armor. That is the javelin. The Roman soldier would carry several javelins. Before the opposing armies would clash the Romans would unleash several volleys. These javelins would often penetrate and destroy the shields of the enemy. Why is it that Paul left this key weapon out? It is my opinion that prayer takes that place. It is our intercession, and the power of the Spirit, that weakens the enemy before we engage. By the time that spiritual battles come the enemy is already weakened. The death of Christ has destroyed any real power of the enemy. It is up to us to finish the job. The enemy has no authority over us. We have been covered by the blood of the Lamb (helmet of salvation), we wield the sword of the Spirit, and are covered by faith and righteousness.

As we look at the structure of the book of Ephesians we see a progression of unity. First there is our unity in Christ. Paul then builds on that unity by teaching us about the unity that we should have with our fellow Christians. From there Paul talks about our family and work relationships. After all this comes a charge to the Church. "Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of His might" (6:10). This is a fight for unity. What is the attack against? The unity that Paul is commanding us to have. For when that unity breaks down our relationship with Christ breaks down. When our relationship with Christ breaks down the enemy is victorious. This is a fight for our very souls. This command to "be strong" is one of five plural imperatives within the passage. It is a command not for us as individuals but a command for the body of Christ to stand up in unity. This is a charge from a general (Paul) to his troops (the Church) before commissioning us for war. The entire book of Ephesians is outlining what we are fighting for. This passage is merely the instructions on how to fight.

There are some key terms that are used in this passage. These terms provide an outline on how this fight must be waged. "Be strong in the Lord" reminds us that our battle is waged only in the power of God. We are able to wage war due to the fact that we are seated in the heavenly places in Christ (2:6). After we strengthen ourselves in the Lord we must "put on" the armor of God. Again this is a reminder that it is not us but is Christ in us. Just as we are clothed in garments of righteousness so are we able to wear this armor through the sacrifice of Christ. After we take up this armor we are to "stand firm." Again we see the imagery of Roman solidarity here. We are to put on the whole armor, stand firm, and pray at all times. For this is not a battle against flesh and blood. If it was against mere men our job would quite simple. But instead it is a battle waged against the forces of darkness that have sworn to destroy us.

There are a number of timeless truths as well as applications that can be made for today from this passage. There is a fight for unity that has been waged for the last two thousand years. It is more desperate today than ever before. Today, in America, the Church is more fragmented than at any time in history. We must be unified within the Church and no longer allow doctrinal disputes to divide us. The Jew versus Greek controversy in the early Church was not merely racial or cultural; rather it was primarily a doctrinal one. We must not allow non-essential doctrine divide us and keep us from fellowshipping together. Furthermore we must not allow anything else divide the Church. Generational differences, socio-economic class distinctions, and cultural preferences all divide the Church today. We must fight for unity to be restored.

There must be a unity within our relationships. The unity between believers is key and unity must start there. But it must flow from there into the home. Some might say that it starts at home and goes out. But I would disagree with that viewpoint. I believe that there is an important progression that Paul makes from unity within the body to the unity in the family. The two must be mastered at the same time because each effects the other. How can a marriage be united if one is not first united with their brothers and sisters? It is a lot easier for me to be united with my fellow staff members at church than with my family. But the unity within the Church can teach one how to be unified with our family members. One has to be united, in Christ, with their family members. First their spouse, then their children, and finally in their employer-employee relationships.

A key point to remember is that Paul reminds us that this battle is not against flesh and blood. This is a battle against the powers and principalities of this dark world. Too often we today forget this on those rare occasions when we fight for unity. Instead of focusing our attacks on what is attacking us we instead turn on those who are in the ranks with us. This is dangerous to say the least. When we see a brother who is no longer fighting for unity we must try to restore him. In no way should we see him as the enemy but instead we should shelter him. I have seen people forced out of churches in order to preserve a false sense of unity. That is not unity. It's not unity when like-minded individuals congregate and force out any who has the slightest difference. Unity is when a diverse group of people gather together and fight as one. How do we do this? By praying continuously for all of our brothers and sisters.

The book of Ephesians is one of the most powerful of Paul's epistles. In this book we find our identity in Christ. From there we learn on how our unity in Christ affects our relationships with those around us. As a final charge Paul instructs us on how to fight for this unity. We must pay close attention to this passage for our very lives depend on it. Our God is a god of unity. Our sworn enemy opposes anything of God and it is for this reason that he seeks to destroy unity as he does. Our most powerful attribute, as the Church, is our unity. Today, even more than ever, we must fight for that unity. As we keep our minds in the heavenly places and stand firm in His mighty power we will see victory.

Bibliography

Gundry, Robert A Survey of the New Testament 4^th edition

Snodgrass, Klyne The NIV Application Commentary- Ephesians

Wikipedia.org http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gladius

Heavenly Anointing Oil

2009-07-21T14:50:00.000-07:00

Last week during intercession we were praying for the establishment of the Tabernacle of David in the Orange County region. As we were praying God began to show me some things. The first thing that He revealed was the need for the annointing to preceed the establishment.

David was annointed as king by the prophet Samuel. This was a sign that God was setting him apart as his servant. David was a prophetic, priestly, and kingly intercessor. While his office was king he had priestly and prophetic aspects as well. He wore the ephod of a priest. He ministered as a levitical musician at times. David also prophesied as seen in some of his psalms. As God restablishes the Tabernacle of David we are going to see prophetic and priestly worship join with prophetic, priestly, and kingly intercession. But the annointing must precede the establishment.

God then showed me that He was about to pour this annointing out on this generation. There is a room in heaven that has the vats of annointing oil. This oil has been prepared for this time. It has been held in waiting. The angels stand guard over this oil and wait for the day when it will be poured out. The angels cry out and ask how long until they get to use this oil. How long must they take care of this oil? When will they get to release it over the earth?

I then heard the call: "the time is at hand!" "Roll out the oil!" This cry came from the very throne room of heaven. This order was then carried by the angels until it got to the doors to the storehouse. The doorkeepers responded by proclaiming "the time has come! Open the doors and roll out the oil!" The doors were then opened and the angels began to roll out the oil. From inside the storehouse came the angels who had been waiting for this very moment. The barrels began to be rolled to where the heavens were open over the regions that were about to be anointed.

The angels rolled this oil out to where the division between heaven and earth was no more. I looked up and could see the angels peering down to earth. They were ready to release the oil. But it wasn't time yet. The time for release was not yet. It was almost there but our generation was not ready to receive. The time is near! Look up to heaven my friends. Open yourself up to this anointing. Receive the anointing oil from heaven. The oil of consecration that will demonstrate how you have been set apart. For you have been chosen for such a time as this. You were born for this hour.

RELEASE! Open up the floodgates of heaven so that the oil may be poured down upon this generation. The oil of consecration for Davidic worship. It will fall upon those who have their hearts ready and their gaze directed heavenward. Upon those who have chosen to devote their lives to worship and intercession. Upon those who have decided to dwell in the courts of the Lord all of the days of their lives. Let the worshippers arise! Let the dance of consecration begin as we worship the King. And let the oil of consecration fall upon us. Let us bathe in the heavenly rain of nard, myrrh, and heavenly herbs not even seen before on earth.

Garris Elkins: "Shout 'GRACE' to Your Jericho Walls"

2009-07-16T20:26:00.001-07:00

I found this to be a very encouraging word. Gives one perspective on the story of Jericho.

"Shout 'GRACE' to Your Jericho Walls"
By Garris Elkins
Jan 18, 2009

When the children of Israel entered the Promise Land ten cities stood as obstacles in their way. The first of these cities was Jericho. In Joshua 6:2 God said, "I have given you Jericho." Jericho was a promised victory. Israel was not yet an army – they were simply a group of desert wanderers with a promise. They had no army. Their resources had worn thin from years in the desert. Their only weapon of warfare was their obedience to God.

The Shout was the Focal Point

The Church stands before 2009 in a similar posture. We are facing a Jericho that is standing in the way. The world systems are unstable. Financial fear is trying to lure the people of God into its fear. There are a lot of walls standing in the way of promise. God is positioning His Church to bring down those walls just as He did in Jericho.

We all know the story of Jericho (see Joshua 6). This was a walled city. There was no way in. God instructed Israel to march around the city once for six days. On the seventh day they were to march around the city seven times, shout, and then they would have the victory. The shout was the focal point in the story. 1.5 million voices would rise together. This was a shout of grace. A shout that said, "Our only hope is if God shows up."

This shout of grace was wonderfully desperate because Israel had no way into Jericho unless God did for them what was impossible for them to do in their own strength. That is the nature of grace. Grace releases God's favor. Favor brings the victory. When we shout "grace" at our Jericho, God releases a supernatural favor that no wall can withstand.

What we miss in reading this story of Jericho is the size and dimension of what took place. The city of Jericho covered only six acres of ground. If you consider the outer fortifications the size of the entire city was only nine acres in total. At the time this event took place, the children of Israel numbered about 1.5 million people. This is the relative size of cities like Dallas, Philadelphia, Phoenix and San Diego.

Try to get the image of what took place at Jericho. A city of nine acres was surrounded by 1.5 million people. Tens of thousands of people deep, as far as the eye could see, were a rotating mass revolving around only nine acres. There was no single file line of people. This was a mass of humanity.

For six days no one spoke a word. For six days Israel walked around the city only once each day. On the seventh day they walked around the city seven times. This was not a silent event. You don't move this many people quietly. The sound of 1.5 million people marching was powerful and loud. The earth shook. The dust cloud alone from so many feet pounding the earth would have looked like a dust storm of all dust storms.

On the seventh day, at the completion of seven circumnavigations of Jericho, 1.5 million voices rose up and shouted at the walls of Jericho and the Word says the walls of the city fell down flat.

"So the people shouted, and priests blew the trumpets; and when the people heard the sound of the trumpet, the people shouted with a great shout and the wall fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city, every man straight ahead, and they took the city." Joshua 6:20

This was no timid shout. This was an aggressive and prolonged shout as Israel closed ranks over nine acres of land. I see people running forward and shouting with arms up and raised. 1.5 million people rushed straight ahead and closed the gap over the rubble that used to define the city of Jericho. This former obstacle vanished off the map.

Shout 'Grace' to Your Jericho Walls

"What are you, O great mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become a plain; and he will bring forth the top stone with shouts of 'Grace, grace to it!'" Zechariah 4:7

Where are your walls of Jericho for 2009? Those walls will not fall by human wisdom and reasoning. Another church program will not do it. Only the shout of grace will bring it down. The shout of grace in obedience to God was the weapon of supernatural warfare for Israel. When we shout grace we are making a statement that unless God shows up we won't be able to move ahead.

In 2009, God is asking His people to position themselves in unusual prophetic postures to perform unusual acts of obedience. God is asking us to shout "grace" to the walls that stand in the way of His promise. This is not a timid shout. It is loud and without apology. It comes after days of prolonged obedience and marching in the dust.

Many individuals and ministries have been on a long dusty march, but now a plan for victory is before us. The plan for this season is the same plan for victory in all of recorded history – the battle plan is always a plan of grace.

The cultures we live in are waiting to see God's miraculous provision demonstrated in His people. We are the ones who possess the shout of grace. The sound of grace is waiting to be echoed in every city and every nation upon the earth.

Today as you stand before the walls of your Jericho - shout out loud the word, "Grace." With that shout of grace will come the dismantling of the walls of those encampments that stand in the way of the promise.

• Gather your mounting bills and shout grace over them.
• Stand with your spouse and shout grace into your future.
• Shout grace over a wayward child.
• Assemble your ministry team and shout long and hard the word of grace to every obstacle that stands in the way of your vision and calling.
• Stand on the high places of your city and shout grace over the broken and lost.

Once you shout the grace of God, walk straight ahead and see the glory of God. Under your feet will be the remains of fear and impossibility.

Garris Elkins
Living Waters Church
Email: info@livingwatersmedford.org

About Garris Elkins: Garris Elkins is the Senior Leader at Living Waters Church, a Foursquare Church in Medford, Oregon. His ministry is to strengthen and encourage the Church through teaching and prophetic ministry.

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Francis Frangipane: "Healing the Land Beneath Our Feet"

2009-07-10T18:37:00.000-07:00

Francis Frangipane writes about something that is amazingly powerful. If we master this then we will see the Kingdom of God come in a measure of power not previously seen. This word came at a time when we were battling this very issue at my church. In fact we are continuing to deal with this issue. It is my prayer that God will enable me to be that humble person who lays down his life for others. May you be as blessed and convicted by this word as I was.

"Healing the Land Beneath Our Feet"
by Francis Frangipane
Jun 13, 2009

As a speaker in citywide and regional prayer conferences, I am often asked to unmask the "spiritual power" opposing the Body of Christ in the conference region. City leaders and intercessors have even asked if I knew the "name" of the principal spirit that is resisting the Church in their area.

"Do you want to know the name of the most powerful spirit opposing most Christians?" I ask. Eager faces respond affirmatively.

"It's Yahweh."

My questioners, who suddenly look like a tree full of owls, are always bewildered by my answer. They are sure I misunderstood their question. Then, I explain. I remind them that, according to the Scriptures, "God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble" (James 4:6). So, if we are divided in our hearts from other churches, if we instinctively look down on other Christians or if we are at all self-promoting in attitude, we are walking in pride. As such, the Spirit that stands to resist our endeavors is not demonic; it's God.

The Lord will not excuse our pride just because we sing three hymns on Sunday and consider ourselves "saved." God resisted lucifer's pride in Heaven and He will oppose our pride on earth. What is most sad is, religious pride has been so homogenized into our Christian experience that we don't even perceive it as being wrong. Yet it is without doubt the most offensive blight upon God's people.

The Lord does not want the lost added to churches where they must assimilate the poison of pride at the same table as salvation.

The One Who Seeks and Judges

Jesus said of Himself, "I do not seek My glory..." Yet, how many of our actions are expended doing the exact opposite of the nature of Christ! Our choice of clothes and cars, homes and roles in life so often have self-exaltation working in the background. Jesus continued, "...there is One who seeks and judges" (John 8:50). Listen carefully to His words, for every time we seek to exalt ourselves we run face to face with God. One dimension of the Father's heart is that He "seeks (glory) and judges" those who, through pride, exalt themselves. Indeed, my friends, consider with godly fear our American tradition of self-promotion. Though it is highly esteemed among men, it is actually "detestable in the sight of God" (Luke 16:15).

The Old Testament is replete with examples documenting the Almighty's opposition to man's pride. Time after time it was not Israel's enemies that thwarted national prosperity; it was God. From generation to generation, the Lord allowed Israel's adversaries to humble His people, to drive them toward desperation, humility and finally repentance. There, in brokenness and honesty, God could deal with their sins and finally lead them into national revival.

Listen how the Lord pleaded with Israel: "Oh, that My people would listen to Me, that Israel would walk in My ways! I would quickly subdue their enemies, and turn My hand against their adversaries" (Psalm 81:13–14).

So also with us. We need the might of God to be unleashed against our foes. For truly, terrible powers of darkness have invaded our land, and our adversary stalks our streets seeking whom he may devour. Our hope, however, is not merely in confronting the enemy, but in allowing God to confront us. Our victory over the enemy is directly attached to our full surrender to God.

If we truly learned of Him, we too would be "meek and lowly in heart" (Matthew 11:29). And God, who gives grace to the humble, would rescue us from the spiritual enemies of our nation.

Heal Our Land

The promise of the Lord is familiar. He says, "If My people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray, and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from Heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" (2 Chronicles 7:14). You say, "But I'm humbling myself and praying." Yes, but our humility to God is not complete until we learn to humble ourselves to one another.

The fact is, because of pride, we have yet to accept what the Lord means in His words, "If My people." We still interpret His phrase, "My people" to mean "our people"—our limited circle of friends, relatives and Christians whose culture or style of worship is, more or less, like our own.

However, when the Lord thinks of His people, He sees a more expansive group. He includes all who have been born again in a city. All of us who "are called by (His) name," though we are diverse in gifts and assignments, must find unity of spirit before Him. And this begins with an amazing strategy: we must humble ourselves.

I know this goes against the grain of our historic church relationships. Satan has not only divided us from others, he has made us proud that we are separate. We think being separate is a virtue. But consider: only one group of people consistently found the Lord confronting and resisting them in the New Testament: the Pharisees. Literally translated, the word "Pharisee" meant "the separate." Of all the religious groups in the first century, it is the pride of the Pharisees that, today, the Church most resembles.

We pray, "Lord, heal our land." But the land He intends to heal first is that which exists beneath the feet of the humble. It is the world of the praying meek, who find the transforming power of God as their companion.

The Lord's remedy for our society is hidden within the life-relationships of Christians. We are always so mindful of what others have done wrong to us, but where have we failed others? What can we do to heal the land that exists between us and those whom we have hurt?

You see, as we become those who "humble themselves and pray" about what we have done wrong, healing from God begins to flow. When white Christians humble themselves and ask for forgiveness from African and Native Americans, God begins to heal the land under their feet.

If God resists the proud, remember also, He gives grace to the humble. Grace is more than being covered; it is being cleansed and changed by the power of God. Grace is God's transforming power doing in us what we cannot do for ourselves.

When we pray, "heal our land," it is the land beneath the feet of the humble that God promises to touch and restore to blessedness.

Let's pray: Dear Father, You said the healing of our land begins with the humbling of ourselves. Master, reveal to my heart those with whom I am estranged. Grant me courage to forgive and honesty to see where I contributed to the strife. I long to be an ambassador of reconciliation. Therefore, lead me to bring healing to the relationships in our world, and so bring healing to the land in which I dwell. In Jesus' name. Amen

Francis Frangipane
Ministries of Francis Frangipane
Email: francis1@frangipane.org

The Swords of Heaven

2009-07-06T13:27:00.001-07:00

The other night I had a vision of heaven. In this vision I was in the throne room. As I was seated upon the throne with Christ He got up and led me past the throngs of worshippers. He led me out of the throne room and showed me what I would consider a portal to earth. Through this portal I could see any region that I wanted. Angels were using this portal to access the earth. After viewing this portal Christ then led me to another room.

In this room were many swords. I could see rack after rack of swords. There were every kind of sword. Every culture was represented. I remember seeing the Roman gladius, the Japanese katana, and various European swords as well. I then saw a giant sword, about 20 feet long, mounted upon the wall. In my vision I asked what this sword was for. Jesus answered that this sword belonged to Michael the archangel. It was being saved for the last days when all of the enemies of Israel will surround it. Michael will take up that sword and with one stroke cut off the heads of all the surrounding nations. In doing so he will deliver Israel.

I meditated on my vision for some time. I wondered the significance of the swords. God reminded me that the sword represents His Word. There is a Word for a particular moment. We don't have one sword throughout our lives. But God gives us different swords for different seasons. He will provide us with exactly the sword that we need at the present moment. Just as there is a sword that is waiting for Michael to use for one moment in history- so are there swords being held in waiting for you and I.

Lord, I pray that you will release divine strategies to your people. I pray that you will reveal to them the words that they need in the present moment. Equip them with the proper sword for this season. Enable them to receive it. Continue to reveal your heart to us and to educate us in the ways of heaven. For yours is the glory forever and ever, Amen!

Paul Keith Davis: "Our Consolation During Times of Darkness"

2009-07-05T21:20:00.000-07:00

The following is an encouraging word from Paul Keith Davis from earlier last month. I was blessed by this word and wanted to share it with you all. Pay special attention to his words about the spirit of fear. I have been seeing this spirit trying to work more and more in the last few months. Our enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy. During this season he is using fear to rob our blessings from us. In addition, he is using this fear to divide the body. We must be aware of the enemy's strategies so that we may combat them. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the powers and principalities.

Paul Keith Davis: "Our Consolation During Times of Darkness"
Jun 8, 2009

Historically times of spiritual darkness in the world also mark a time of incredible opportunity to develop intimate relationship with the Lord as "friend." Those who embrace this opportunity will be known as "disciples" (instructed ones) and partakers of His divine nature. It is through His Holy character that divine power is granted to us that provides everything we need "pertaining to life and Godliness."

The Scripture points out we have received His precious and magnificent promises by which we become partakers of His divine nature having escaped the corruption of this world and its lusts:

"Seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and Godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust."—2 Peter 1:3-4

A friend is known as a close companion or comrade; those having a reciprocal relationship or mutual exchange one with another. According to Exodus 33:11, the Lord spoke to Moses face-to-face as a friend speaks to a friend! The Lord's friends can also be trusted. We must come to a place of trustworthy stewardship of His revelation and His glory. The apostle Paul admonishes us in I Corinthians 4:1-2 to not only become carriers of the mysteries and power of God, but to also be trustworthy stewards.

The friends of the Bridegroom assist in the planning and arranging of the soon coming marriage. The Lord must be able to trust His friends with His power and this divine message that is going to be delivered to His people for this purpose. Those who are mature and virtuous will perceive this to be a season of visitation and camaraderie with the Lord. Even with storms raging all around us we can say, "all is well with my soul... as long as Jesus is my friend." These will not care anything about the famine, the pestilence and the storms as long as they have Jesus for their friend.

Restoration and Recovery

The friends of Christ will initiate a season of spiritual and natural restoration.

"Return to the stronghold, O prisoners who have the hope; this very day I am declaring that I will restore double to you. For I will bend Judah as My bow, I will fill the bow with Ephraim. And I will stir up your sons, O Zion, against your sons, O Greece; and I will make you like a warrior's sword." —Zechariah 9:12-13

Our enemy, whose desire is to steal, kill and destroy, has successfully plundered the inheritance of God's people throughout the centuries. Nevertheless, divine justice requires recompense. This includes not only our spiritual heritage but also natural resources rightfully belonging to God's people. This will be a major source of resolution for the Church during economic crisis.

Past relationships that the devil has destroyed will also begin to be reconciled. Relationships destroyed by rumors, gossip, and propaganda will supernaturally be mended by the Lord if we petition Heaven through prayer and supplication. This is something important to the Lord that we must contend for.

The restorer of the breach will recondition us by the Spirit of Truth and a new wall of protection will be constructed to surround the Bride of Christ. The Lord is the restorer of the breach and the repairer of the broken walls. He is the restorer of former streets and dwellings and the One who un-stops old wells. According to Isaiah 58:12:

"And those from among you will rebuild the ancient ruins; you will raise up the age old foundations; and you will be called the repairer of the breach, the restorer of the streets in which to dwell."

The Lord's ultimate desire for His people is to restore and renew the breach between Heaven and earth and impart to them a spirit of valor and courage; then we will carry the battle to the enemy gates and plunder his camp by aiding and directing those who once failed to find their rightful place in the Body of Christ. We will begin to find those of our brethren living in fear and seclusion and rejuvenate them into a new walk with Christ.

Overcoming Fear

Many people are experiencing fear on multiple levels. Fear of failure imprisons countless Christians by inhibiting them from exercising their spiritual gifts and walking in obedience to the Holy Spirit. Others are overcome with feelings of dread concerning their marriage and/or the physical, emotional and spiritual well-being of their children. Still others are struggling with insecurity concerning their financial well-being and future. All of these are legitimate concerns that we can and must transfer to the Lord for His care and oversight. 1 Peter 5:6-7 declares:

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you."

Several years ago I wrote an article with Bob Jones derived from an experience he had with the Lord showing our anointing to deal with the "spirit of fear." The revelation portrayed and typified our spiritual adversaries by "Goliath," and like David, the young champion of Israel, God's people were being anointed to deal with the relevant issues of our generation with hearts of valor.

Clearly, spiritual giants are once again raising their ugly heads in a desperate attempt to keep God's people from our promises. Even so, impartation of grace and favor will see us through with the emergence of some of the greatest champions the Church has ever seen.

In this experience Bob was shown that one of the "Goliaths" of the last day generation is the spirit of fear. 2 Timothy 1:7 promises:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind."

Fear is defined as, an emotion characterized by alarm, anxiety and tension, often caused by an expectation of danger or pain; it is a dread birthed through anxiety and tension, whether real or imagined, producing timidity and fearfulness.

The "spirit of fear" is a form of bondage and spiritual slavery. It is a ruthless taskmaster attempting to steal the seeds of destiny and purposes being awakened within the hearts of God's people. The Lord knew us before the foundation of the world. Those who belong to Him were in Him before creation was fashioned. He foreknew all who would desperately search for Him and to those He deposited divine seeds of Kingdom design and destiny. Those seeds are now being awakened and activated within many and it is our adversaries determined desire to prohibit that from coming into full fruition. We are on the threshold of another "Great Awakening."

The Debilitating Fruit of Fear

In these revelations, we were shown that there are many debilitating spirits that feed off of fear that will circumvent our calling and destiny. Awareness of this plot is mandatory so that we can embrace God's provision to overcome.

The first revealed fruit of fear was insanity and mental instability. The desire of the adversary is to create such fear in the hearts of people that he would actually cause impairment in our thinking that opens the door to various forms of delusion, depression and anxiety.

Insanity is birthed from a root of fear. A lack of sound judgment provides options that we would ordinarily shun or not even consider, such as drugs and alcohol. This is just one expression of "spiritual insanity." There can be many including unhealthy relationships, financial irresponsibility or the excessive pursuit of entertainment or the squandering of precious time that we need to redeem for His Kingdom.

The second spirit accompanying the spirit of fear was fear of sickness and infirmity. It is the plan of our adversary to create such insecurity and anxiety involving reports of sickness and disease that we would not pursue our divine destiny and heavenly purpose with determination and faith. This could certainly be the case with the numerous outbreaks of the bird flu, swine flu and other epidemics. The Church will come to know more ardently that by His stripes we are healed and greater is He within us than he that is in the world.

The final adversary revealed in the experience birthed out of the spirit of fear was fear of financial failure. Clearly, our nation is experiencing notable financial difficulties. Economic analysts and experts have openly acknowledged that this downfall is further fueled by public fear and misconceptions.

That instability has also been facilitated by reports of corporate abuse and unscrupulous business leaders and poor political decisions. We believe it is still the Lord's intent to use our nation to help facilitate the birthing of divine purposes and stand in strong support of Israel. Clearly, there are issues of repentance and a return to righteousness that must be realized within the Church which will release times of refreshing from His Presence (see Acts 3:19).

The Enemy's Plans

Unresolved fear will give place to one or all three companions that travel with it. These spirits attempt to defile the righteous and hinder the Church from entering her place of anointing and fruitfulness.

The first step in overcoming the designs of the enemy is to bring them out darkness and obscurity into light. The enemy hates for his plans to be exposed. This was explicitly demonstrated in 2 Kings 6:11-12. By obtaining a clear comprehension of his schemes we are more amply able to fortify ourselves through the Word of Truth and appropriate it through prayer and proclamation.

When Israel heard Goliath they trembled and when they saw him they fled. This analogy is given to portray our adversaries plan and purpose. It is the grace of God to allow us to understand these things so that we can take our position through faith and prayer to overcome.

"For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, 'Abba, Father.' The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and joint heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together."—Romans 8:15-17

Champions in the Order of David

There will be a company of people who arise from the wilderness having conquered the "lion" and the "bear" with confidence in God's anointing and willingness to overcome His enemies. The future "Davids" will be both worshipers and warriors who have discovered the Lord's voice in the wilderness.

The spirit of fear functions as captain of satan's host. Like David, we are insufficient in our own strength to overtake this adversary. However, we do not come in our own name nor in our strength but in the name of the LORD of hosts, the God of the armies of Israel, whom he has taunted (see 1 Samuel 17:45).

The Smooth Stone of Apostolic Authority

When we function in God's government through genuine apostolic authority, we will then destroy this antagonist and plunder the enemy's camp. David was able to bravely stand before "Goliath" because he knew his promise and to Whom he belonged.

Likewise, he recognized the seed of corruption and ungodliness from which Goliath came. The clear distinctions between the two are going to become apparent in the coming season. No longer will the line be blurred separating those who belong to the Lord Jesus and those who have yielded to ungodliness and corruption.

"To grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go on BEFORE THE LORD TO PREPARE HIS WAYS."—Luke 1:74-76
There is presently a challenge coming to the forefront to confront the intimidations and trepidations many are experiencing concerning their ministries, health, finances and families.

Although the brothers of David witnessed the anointing oil poured upon him by the prophet Samuel, yet they were the very ones who chastised David for his willingness to confront the champion of the enemy army. Nonetheless, that did not deter him from fulfilling his destiny and demonstrating the Lord's victory.

We cannot allow the chastisement from within our own camp to hinder us from this commission and purpose. The demonstration of the Lord's mantle as Warrior and Captain of the Heavenly Host will overcome "Goliath" and release the armies of God to plunder the camp of the enemy. Many of our brethren are held captive by the forces of the adversary. It is the Lords desire and intent to free them. Hebrews 12:28-29 declares:

"Therefore, since we are receiving a Kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear. For our God is a consuming fire."

Presently, we are being given a choice—Faith or Fear. Faith works through love but anger and disillusionment is the offspring of fear.

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

The spirit of Moses is being poured out

2009-06-27T18:34:00.000-07:00

The Lord is pouring out the same spirit of deliverance that He poured out upon His servant Moses. This same spirit is going to be poured out upon those who will declare freedom over God's people. God wants to set His people free from the bondages of worldliness, sexual immorality, and religiosity.

Last year God showed me that He was bringing prophetic intercession and prophetic worship together. This is something that I have talked about before and will go deeper into in a future blog post. He showed me that He was doing this during a 120 day period from July 4th through November 1st of this year and that it was going to echo the life of Moses. There is an assignment from the enemy upon those who are meant to dwell in the Tabernacle of David- specifically the intercessors/prophets. They are experiencing an incredible level of attack during this season. Just as the enemy tried to kill Moses before his birth so is he trying to destroy these people before they move into the fullness of their callings. The enemy is throwing all that he has against them and has tried to exploit every weakness. It is for this reason that God is refining them during this season so that they might experience true freedom. All of the flesh is being burnt away so only He remains. Any flesh that we have is a foothold for the enemy. Much of our trials in the present moment are being used by God to refine us.

The life of Moses can be divided into three sets of forty years each. The first was as prince of Egypt, then shepherd of Midian, and finally as deliverer of Israel. Forty years is the Biblical length of a generation. I like to refer to this as the three lives or generations of Moses. Each set of forty is being echoed in this 120 day period that is about to start.

Moses spent the first length of his life in the lap of luxury. He experienced all that the world had to offer. But he was caught in this tension. He knew the ways of God and his place as a Hebrew. But he was also well schooled in all of Egypt's idols and knew his place as a prince. Finally, at the age of forty he snapped and killed a man because of how he was mistreating a fellow Hebrew. It was this action that sent him into exile. Moses had enough with trying to live in two worlds at once. We can't live in the Kingdom and still be attached to the world. We must choose who we will serve. The gods of this world or Yahweh. Moses was in turmoil due to this struggle and it was this turmoil that drove him to anger.

Moses spent the next forty years tending sheep in the desert. It was during this time that God refined Him and spoke to Him. God was removing the Egypt from the heart of Moses. The Egypt had to be burnt out so that Moses could be the deliverer that He was born to be. Moses had been affected by the ways of Egypt more than any other Hebrew. It was because of this that He was chosen by God to confront the gods of the Egyptians. Moses was given an authority over them because he had come out of that system and received freedom.

Finally Moses was sent back at the age of eighty. It is never too late to live out your destiny. It took Moses eighty years before he took his place as prophet over Israel. The scriptures state that he was the greatest prophet who ever lived. This was made possible by the humility that came from forty years of submission in the desert. He was found faithful and given a nation to lead. God gave him a cry "Let my people go!"

In this hour God is raising up those who will declare to the enemy to "Let my people go!" They are those who know the bondages of the enemy. They are those who have been held in chains and set free. God is assigning some to challenge particular principalities. We will see a greater level of freedom come to the Church as these men and women rise up in power and declare freedom over entire regions.

Here in Southern California, specifically the LA and Orange County area, we are going to see Jezebel's hold broken. We are going to see in this year, through the restoration of the Tabernacle of David, a release of the captives. Manipulation (specifically when it comes to the prophetic), porn addiction, fornication, materialism, religious spirit, and idolatry are all going to come down. The restoration of the Tabernacle of David and the defeat of Jezebel go hand in hand. The two are going to come simultaneously. God spoke to me that the union of prophetic intercession and worship is being birthed this July 4th and will continue to be fostered until we see its fullness in December. For it is in December when the two streams will truly come together and join their hearts as one.

During this next season be in prayer for what God would have you do. Ask Him to reveal where the systems of the world are entrenched in your heart. Intercede for those in bondage. Declare freedom over your church and over your region. Listen to what God has to say to you personally. He is going to be speaking deep into you and revealing heart issues that you did not know you had. Embrace the refining fire that is being poured out upon you. You were made for such a time as this. Receive what God has for you.

Lord, I declare freedom over each and every person who reads this. May they experience you in all of your glory and majesty. May they experience your beauty each day. Reveal to them your destiny for their life and may they walk in it. Shower them with your love. Baptize them with your fire so that they may be the consecrated vessels that you created them to be. Continue to raise up your end-time army. Continue to purify your bride so that we might live as a Holy priesthood. May you give us the grace to usher in your Kingdom and Dominion. May we see Heaven invade Earth in all of its fullness. For the glory belongs to you forever and ever, Amen!

In His glorious service,

Matthew

My journey as an intercessor

2009-06-27T18:21:00.000-07:00

Recently I was asked, on Twitter, on how I discovered my gift as an intercessor. This question made me pause and look back at my journey and how I have gotten to where I am today. It also made me reflect on how my views of intercession have changed over the past three years.

I spent most of my childhood in churches that did not emphasize prayer. Prayer consisted of, at the most, 15 minutes at the end of a Bible study. In fact the sharing of prayer requests would take as long as the prayer time itself. I experienced a few longer prayer meetings but was usually bored. The exception was when I would join my Dad when he would go and pray with his friend Bud. Bud is a wise old man a bit older than my grandparents. The three of us would pray for an hour or longer as we lifted up our requests to the Lord. We would lift up those in our churches, our families, and our city. I very much enjoyed these weekly meetings with these two prayer warriors as I was in my teen years.

Then I moved for school and started attending a Vineyard church. At that time I started to be exposed to larger prayer meetings. I was surrounded by prayer warriors. I loved to be in those prayer meetings and began to grow as an intercessor. But I didn't consider myself one. I compared myself to people who would lie on the floor of their bedroom praying for five hours straight. I couldn't do that. I didn't have that kind of endurance. And thus I would tell people that my gifting was in the prophetic and not in intercession.

Fast forward a couple years and I had the opportunity to meet with Kirk Bennett. Kirk is a mighty man of God who was a founding member of IHOP-KC and now heads ZHOP in Charlotte, NC. It was a very intimate setting which changed my life. During that time he shared, from scripture, on how the primary role of the prophetic is intercession. A prophet is meant to be an intercessor. A prophet doesn't just get downloads from God so that he can write them down and share them with others. He or she is meant to pray them forth.

This changed my viewpoint of who I was. I realized that I was an intercessor. And over time God has taught me more and more. That meeting with Kirk was just over a year ago. Since then God showed me things about what I call throne room intercession. We are meant to pray FROM heaven. Too often we sit down here on earth and cry out to God to hear us. But we are, in Christ, seated in the heavenly places. Our prayers should reflect this. My intercession shifted when God showed me this.

I now will often, when the Spirit prompts me, make declarations in my intercession. Before I would pray "Lord, please bring healing tonight to those with mental illness." Now, if the Lord speaks a word about mental illness, I will declare something like "we come against all mental disease in Jesus' name- we declare healing tonight!" This is taking the authority that is ours in Christ Jesus. One has to be sensitive to the Spirit in order to pray like this. I don't pray for hours a day. Often my prayer times are quite short. Sometimes one sentence is all that is needed.

Recently there were some things that I needed to war against. So I dropped by the prayer house when no one was there. I cried out to the Lord and complained about the way things were. Then He started speaking. Under the Spirit I started to make declarations and came against certain spirits and principalities. It probably lasted 15 minutes. But it was all that was needed. I broke what needed to be broken at that time. There are other times when my intercession will be quite longer. But I prefer my intercession to be brief and my communion to be long. I want to be close to His heart.

It's all about being close to His heart. Intercession is aligning our heart with the things of heaven. It is about bringing heaven down to earth. At the age of 23 I have learned a lot about intercession and have been blessed with that gift. I have been blessed with a breaker anointing. But I know I have much more to learn. And I know that I will learn all that I need to know by sitting at the feet of the Father and looking at the example of Christ who is the great Intercessor.

Lord, may you release the gift of intercession upon each and every person reading this. Reveal to them your heart for their lives. Show them your ways. Teach them how to pray. Bring them up into the heavenlies and teach them how war is waged in heaven. Do not allow them to lean on their own understanding but may they acknowledge you in all their ways. Raise them up as the mighty men and women that they are. Continue to raise up a generation that will seek your face. Pour your Spirit out upon us so that we may advance your Kingdom. May You reign over all things, Amen!

Luke Holter:"The Ground in Texas is Pregnant and Waiting to Give Birth!" An Angel Over Texas

2009-06-22T14:38:00.000-07:00

As I read this word I had a very strong witness in my spirit. I happen to have a real heart for Texas with the Houston and San Antonio areas in particular. In fact, I feel that God might move me out there next year. We as the Church need to be praying for this move in Texas. Let us pray that Texas, as the Lone Star State, will be a beacon of light to this nation.

Luke Holter:"The Ground in Texas is Pregnant and Waiting to Give Birth!" An Angel Over Texas

Since the beginning of 2009, the Lord has been preparing the ground in Texas to give birth. Recently one of our friends, Shawn Bolz, from California, came to Houston to speak at a conference. He uttered a powerful prophetic word over our ministry, along with one of our other team members. On the second night of our "Deep unto Deep" conference, Shawn saw an angel in our main sanctuary. Shawn said that the angel was holding two broken swords and had come to bring revival to Texas and breakthrough for our ministry, our city and the state.

Many things we have been praying and believing for started to happen. We had advancement with our direction and desire as a team; our senior pastor, Jason Morse, was just sent to Kenya, Africa; and many from our team have been invited to participate and speak in global crusades. We are experiencing a beginning, pivotal move and direction from the Lord!

The ground in Texas is pregnant and waiting to give birth! This angel, I believe, has been assigned to this region—to assist in bringing forth a move of God in Texas! To bring forth all the oil that is under the ground of the Church in Texas.

A Vision of a United Church

So much of the word of God has been sown into the ground in Texas, and the religious spirit has kept this birth from coming forth. But the Lord says, "I am sending in and rising up a generation that will kill this goliath. Now is the time when I will raise a standard in Texas through a lovesick people who are abandoned to the heart of the Father!"

The Lord gave me a vision of the united Church of Texas lifting their voice in unity and the songs they were singing were causing large clouds to appear. The clouds broke open and the water soaked into the ground. As the people kept singing, the ground began to break open, seeds started to bud, and large apple trees came out of the ground, then fruit began to fall from the trees back to the ground.

It is through the power of prophetic worship that this religious spirit will be confronted. There is a "working together with the Lord" that will bring forth a move in Texas. As we sang to a pregnant earth, the clouds came and the water broke. I believe this is bringing a reality for us of Heaven invading earth.

We need to call upon the power of the Holy Spirit to activate the word sown into the ground by bringing the rain. The rain is a symbol of a great outpouring in Texas. This outpouring is not only for Texas (although this was specific for Texas in my encounter). I believe there will be a "connect the dots" outpouring all over the world!

I believe that the Lord is rising up a generation that will be called the "sons of thunder" and this is not gender specific. It is those who will thunder the love of God and bring the physical manifest love of God upon the land and people. This is a prophetic people, a group of young people, that will move in prophetic power bringing forth the oil of love. Bringing forth the balm of Gilead (see Jeremiah 8:22).

In Texas, the oil is coming up! The Holy Spirit will activate the promises of God and the secret things spoken over Texas that have been laid in the ground. I saw oil springing up from the ground, and Texas will be known for the "oil of healing" and the "oil of intimacy!" Texas will be known for digging deep into the heart of the Father and bringing up knowledge and revelation.

Many Have Prophesied Over Texas

We have recently had Chuck Pierce, Dutch Sheets, Shawn Bolz, Rob Hotchkins, and many others come to Houston, Texas and give powerful words of the coming outpouring over this state! At this recent conference we were told that we would battle this religious spirit, God would not let us fail, and the Lord would use us to overcome! The Lord is looking for those in Texas that will not give up and will continue to move forward in the power of the Holy Ghost!

I am so desperate to see this outpouring break open here in Texas! This is a time for the Church of Texas to bring forth Jesus to all! This is a time for the Church of Texas to arise and embrace prophetic worship! William J. Seymour, who was the main face of the Azusa Street revival, was from Houston, Texas and the move was rejected at that time because of the religious community. We have a heritage in Texas for revival and we have NOT lost it. I feel that the Lord is asking us to take a stand in the southern church against the spirit of religion and racism. We are to break the old mold and create a container for the times.

Shawn Bolz once told me that one of the names of God in Hebrew is Baal-Perazim, which means "Master of the Breakthrough." This is seen in 2 Samuel 5 when David defeated his enemies in that land! We can grab hold of this for our region! I encourage pastors, churches, business owners, politicians, educators, and families in Texas to come into "prayer agreement" over your family, occupation, and the land itself.

We shall prophesy and sing forth through this birthing process...it will be birthed!

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

About Luke and Grace Holter and Prophetic Sheep: Luke and Grace currently are leaders with Fairmont Christian Center in Houston Texas. Luke moved to Houston to work with the homeless and to be obedient to a direction from the Lord. Bringing with him eight years of experience in leadership and life coaching, as well as a unique set of giftings, Luke's passion is to connect people's hearts and give language to take on their destiny. As an expert in real life issues, Luke and his wife Grace are Apostolic Prophetic Leaders, and College Pastors. Luke is an author as well as being certified through the AACC (Association of Christian Counselors) as a Christian Psychologist. Luke recently wrote a book Disarming the Monster, which will be available in June of 2010. The book is about overcoming spiritual abuse and rejection through the power of relationship and forgiveness. Luke and his team have also started a prophetic etiquette school called "Prophetic Etiquette 101."

Is it really physical?

2009-06-18T15:14:00.000-07:00

This is a followup to my previous post "Getting Physical with Jesus." One of my followers on Twitter (@rlaska) stated that he believed that it was more of a "physical analogy of spiritual realities." This gave me some pause to think. I initially disagreed but after some thought realized that @rlaska had a good point. For most people it will only be an analogy. But I believe that with time, when we press in to a greater level of intimacy, we can experience it in the physical dimension as well.

For myself it is probably a hybrid of the two. I would compare it to a phantom feeling. I feel the sensation but know that it isn't caused by a physical source. Compare it to a muscle twitch or spasm that is spontaneous versus one caused by an external electrical impulse. While the analogy is weak it is one of the best I can think of right now. As we develop a greater level of intimacy it will become more and more real in the physical realm. As we get closer to the heartbeat of heaven we will experience the things of heaven in greater strength. I know some people who experience the glory of God in an incredible level of physical reality.

The goal of the Kingdom is to bring heaven to earth. The division between physical and spiritual is no longer there. It is up to us to enter into that reality. We need to experience God in all of His fullness. I don't want any one of us to get hung up on semantics (I know @rlaska wouldn't either) instead I want our focus to be on God. We need to chase after Him. He has been chasing after us since before we were born. As we respond He will draw near. Let us pursue greater and greater levels of intimacy with our God until the day of our marriage supper.