Carol Kelley: "Many Will Walk Into New Ministry Assignments"

In late November 2014, the Lord showed me in a dream that during this coming year many will walk into new ministry assignments, both individually and together, with other Believers in the Body of Christ. For some, "old wells" of ministry will be unstopped and restored (see Genesis 26:18); others will discover new sources of "living water" (see verses 19-21). God will make room for you, give you fruitfulness, and lead you into a broad place (see verse 22).
Look to God to lead you in new directions. Seek His confirmation in your spirit, through His Word, and through the godly counsel and wisdom of others (see Proverbs 8:33; 12:15; 13:10; 19:20-21). The Holy Spirit will empower you, giving grace, courage, and strength as you step into the Lord's call for you.
Claim the promises He has already given you. Perhaps you have waited months, years, even decades without seeing these promises come to fruition. Take heart in God's faithfulness (see 1 Corinthians 1:9), and that He will do what He has spoken (see Joshua 21:45; Numbers 23:19; Isaiah 46:11; 1 Thessalonians 5:24).
If you have become discouraged, ask the Lord to renew and multiply your hope: "This I recall to mind, therefore I have hope. The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness. 'The Lord is my portion,' says my soul, 'therefore I have hope in Him.' The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the person who seeks Him" (Lamentations 3:21-25).
Alignment and New Opportunities
"Alignment" is a word I have been hearing for several months now. God has been telling me He is setting things into alignment and preparing events to come together in His time. At the end of October I heard, "Yes, I have new opportunities for you, and will open doors and lead you into them at the right time. Look forward to and walk into your future with joy and confidence. I am providing all you need – physical strength, finances, and alignments."
A month later He told me, "Look ahead to the future, not back to the past. Your best days are still ahead! Learn from the past, but don't live there or dwell on it. The past is over and done, covered by My love and grace. (Photo via Pixabay)
"I am doing something new (see Isaiah 42:9, 43:19, 48:6; Revelation 21:5)! Live in the present and celebrate what I am doing now. Yet it is also good to plan for the future, to have hopes and dreams. Why would I promise to give you the desires of your heart (see Psalm 37:4) if it wasn't alright to have them?
"Forget what lies behind, and look forward to what is ahead. Press into the call I have for you (see Philippians 3:14-15).
"I know the plans I have for you, plans for good and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope (see Jeremiah 29:11). Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off (see Proverbs 23:18)."
May the God of all comfort (see 2 Corinthians 1:3) bless you during this coming year, renew your hope in Him, and lead you in new paths of ministry and service to Him.
In His grace,
Carol Kelley
Email: opendoors5000@gmail.com

I'm Moving to Berkeley!

Earlier this year I had the privilege of spending almost two months with TheCall. About seventy of us gathered for 50 days of fasting and prayer in preparation for TheCall Berkeley. We saw great miracles in our midst as we contended for the Kingdom of God to be manifested within our generation. We saw the heavens shake and witnessed angelic armies moving at the sound of our prayers. It was a great honor to serve alongside of those who have been laboring for years in Berkeley. I knew before I went up there that this trip was going to shift the trajectory of my life and prepare me for the next season of my life. I just didn't know what that was.

While I was up there for the 50 days I felt the Lord speak to me that I was supposed to move up to Berkeley and make that my home base for the next two or three years. He also spoke to me that this would be the time when I am supposed to launch my own ministry organization. This was something that God originally spoke to me around five years ago but had directed me to wait for the proper timing.

Over the last two months I have prayed into this move and sought council from my spiritual coverings. I am now confident about this direction and have received blessing from those who I have been serving under over the past few years.

My main focus will be to partner with those who are already advancing the Kingdom of God in the city and campus of Berkeley. The organization I will be launching is going to focus on mobilizing and equipping the Millenial generation for the purpose of strategic level spiritual warfare intercession. With that as a nucleus we will also equip our generation to be Daniels, Esthers, and Josephs within the seven mountains of culture as they bring the light of the Kingdom to all of society. Along with the seven mountain mandate will be a strong focus on evangelism as I intend to see another Jesus People movement arise in the Bay Area.

I will be partnering with those who have carried the baton of intercession for the last several decades. Much of the prayer movement is dominated by those with gray hair. They have much wisdom to impart and desire to see the next generation raised up. I don't want to replace what God is doing with the generation of my fathers but to come alongside of them and let them hoist our generation upon their shoulders. We are at a time of an Elisha outpouring as God is releasing a double portion upon those who know what it is like to wash the hands of the fathers and mothers of the faith. 

In addition to Berkeley I will also be doing ministry throughout the state. It excites me that I will be living less than 90 minutes from our state capital. This will be strategic as we prepare for the elections of 2016 and seek to see an exposure of the corruption that currently inhabits Sacramento. I will be only two hours from the courthouse in which one of my ancestors used to hold court as one of the first judges within California. Knowing that I am so close to this, and other generational wells, is exciting for me. Also, it was at UC Berkeley that my own father grew in his understanding of the Holy Spirit and received spiritual deposits that have shaped his spiritual walk to this day.

UC Berkeley is one of the most influential universities in the world. What happens at Berkeley ripples across the universities of North America. What happens at Berkeley is manifested in the Bay and from the Bay it touches the world. When Berkeley radiates with the light of the Risen Lamb then every nation will see the light.

Would you partner with me as I make this move? I will be seeking employment in the Bay as I launch this new ministry endeavor, build a team, and develop ministry partnerships. It is my plan to cover my own living expenses by working in the marketplace. However this move requires funds as I am relocating from Southern California and moving to a very high rent area. I also require funding to cover the ministry expenses that will occur as I seek to advance the gospel in Berkeley.

Would you consider making a one time gift in these last few weeks of 2014? And would you also pray about being a monthly partner with this new endeavor? 

RIghteousness vs Holiness

Too often we confuse holiness and righteousness. We mistake the call to holiness as a call to righteousness. We are never called to righteousness but instead have been called to a life of holiness. Holiness and righteousness are quite different and we must not confuse the two. The confusion between holiness and righteousness have brought many into the bondage of legalism. A proper understanding and pursuit of holiness will bring freedom to the one who responds.

Holiness is often mistaken as the absence of sin. Holiness is not living a life free of sin but is living a life set apart for a higher purpose. We have been called to separate ourselves from the common and set ourselves apart for the pursuit of the things of God. Just as there were vessels set apart in the temple so are we set apart for the Lord's purpose. We must be careful to fill ourselves with the Holy Spirit and keep ourselves from any other spirit or anything that would hinder the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

We don't have to worry about living a righteous life. God has never called us to be righteous. Our righteousness is found in Christ. We are found in Christ and have been clothed in His righteousness. In the eyes of the Father we are perfect for He sees the righteousness of Christ as our covering. Our only call is to draw into the Most Holy Place of God's Presence and clothe ourselves with His righteousness through an intimate relationship.

Holiness is a higher call than righteousness. Righteousness is the call of legalism and bondage for it is impossible for us to be righteous on our own. Our righteousness is as filthy rags. But holiness is different. Holiness is more about the heart posture and the intention of ones self. Holiness is about focusing ourselves on the things of heaven instead of the things below. Holiness is about seeing ourselves as image bearers and refusing to defile ourselves with the things of this world. Let us be holy as He is holy!

The 2nd Great Reformation is Coming

It has been almost 500 years since the first great Reformation. The reformers rebelled against a Catholic Church which had, in many ways, become apostate. The reforms they brought to their churches also forced the Vatican to revaluate themselves and we saw the counter-reformation. The first Reformation restored an understanding of grace by faith alone as well as the priesthood of the believer.

For 500 years the Church has walked in the heritage of this reformation. A movement that saw the written word of God revered as it should be. A movement that put the scriptures into the native tongues of the masses and enabled the common lay person to read the Bible. Unfortunately this reformation, while a major step towards the image of the end-time Church, did not go far enough. In other ways it went too far. Christ has never wanted a fragmented and divided Bride. We spend too much time fighting each other instead of fostering the bonds of brotherly love. 

As we move towards the second coming of Christ we are going to see the true Church come together in unparalleled unity. We will see mergers of denominations and congregations. But most of all we will see acceptance and respect for one another. Instead of focusing on our differences we will celebrate the diversity within the Body of Christ.

There isn't room for division when the Church is under persecution. Minute doctrinal differences cease to be important. As we approach the end-times we will experience greater and greater persecution. The majority of mankind lives in nations where the Church is not free. As the end-time harvest occurs one of two things will happen. It will be persecuted by tyrannical governments or the Kingdom of God will transform the nation's government. I believe in many cases we will see heads of states touched by the gospel- but more often than not it will be the blood of martyrs that will advance the Gospel of Christ.

There are three key elements of the Body of Christ that must come together in order to facilitate this great move of God that is coming. When God reforms and restores His Church we will see these three streams mingle once again.

The first element is the Word of God. The reformed tradition has carried a reverence and dedication to the written word of God. The supremacy and inerrancy of Scripture will be recognized in the end-time Church. Too many Churches have placed opinion, tradition, preferences, political expediency, and cultural relevance above the Word of God.

The Church must also adopt a complete reliance on the Spirit of God as well as a hunger for His Presence. We have seen a new found discovery of the power of the Holy Spirit over the past 100 years. All flesh will speak in tongues- not just one segment of the Church. We will see a greater adoption of the spiritual gifts, particularly prophecy and healing. There is a very small segment of the Church that is truly walking in the power of the Spirit. This coming move of God will see a baptism of power and authority released upon the entire remnant of the body of Christ. Part of this will be seen in a breakdown of the barriers between clergy and laity. No longer will people go to Church to be idle spectators- they will go to Church in order to be active servants of one another.

The final element that needs to be restored to the Church is a reverence for communion. We are going to see Church services center around the Lord's Supper once again. We see this in the Catholic, Anglican, and Orthodox traditions to name a few. However, most of Protestantism has lost an understanding of the Lord's Supper. In many churches it is an empty ritual tacked onto the end of a service once a month. When properly celebrated it ushers in the Presence of God in a powerful way and releases freedom and breakthrough to the participant. I firmly believe that we need to return to a sacramental understanding of the Lord's Supper.

In many ways the first Reformation went too far- in other ways it didn't go far enough. These three elements mentioned rarely coexist in a congregation but are in fact three elements of the same river. God will bring together the streams of Reformed Biblical orthodoxy, Pentecostalism, and the traditional Eucharist to form a mighty end-time Church. The expressions of this river will differ depending on the congregation but we will see these three streams represented throughout the entire Body of Christ.

The Spirit of Martyrdom

Over the past year God has been increasingly speaking to me about martyrdom. The idea of being used as a witness in my death and giving my life for the gospel of Christ has been burning in my spirit for almost two years now. I firmly believe that if I experience death (that is if I don't live to see the second coming) that I will die the death of a martyr. I have actually caused alarm to some of my loved ones by my burning desire to give myself in this way.

The first century Church believed that martyrdom was not meant to be sought out but was one of the highest honors that one could receive. To be found worthy to die for the name of Christ was a joy above all joys. Ignatius of Antioch wrote that his upcoming death would enable him to be "a true disciple of Christ." Those who have died for the Name have been poured out as drink offerings for the Kingdom of God and their deaths are as incense before the throne of God.

The word for martyr comes from the Greek word for witness. The original word was used for those who suffered persecution for their beliefs. It didn't necessarily involve death. But in the early centuries of the Church it started to be used for those who gave their lives for the gospel.

But martyrdom begins long before we come to the place of death. Christ's sufferings started long before He came to the cross. We are called to take up our cross and die daily to our flesh. In many ways we are all called to be martyrs of sorts. The Lord is calling all of us to adopt a spirit of martyrdom. Our lives are not our own but have been purchased with a price. We have been saved for the Kingdom life. When we are dead to the flesh then this world has no power over us any longer.

We are called to the resurrected life. But we can't enter into the fullness of Christ's resurrection without first entering into the fellowship of His suffering. We can't have the glory of heaven with our flesh still alive. God is calling us to enter into the fire of refinement. God is calling forth His consecrated ones in this hour.

God doesn't need men and women of renown. God isn't looking for people of greatness. He is looking for those who are willing to lay down everything that they have and allow Him to have all of them. The time of the divided heart is over. God is calling forth His end-time martyrs. Those who will live a lifestyle of martyrdom. Those who will be living witnesses through their words and deeds. Some of us will have the great joy of partaking of the fellowship of His death. But all of us are called to participate in His sufferings and to take up His cross daily as we crucify our flesh.

The American Church preaches a prosperity message too often while neglecting the crucifixion. Yes, the Kingdom is here! We have all things in Christ and we are able to fight from a place of victory. I firmly believe that we will see a greater and greater manifestation of the Kingdom. But we can't ignore those scriptures that speak about participating in the sufferings of Christ. Consecration isn't a strategy we employ in order to curry favor with God. It is a posture of the heart so that we might be completely dead. For when we are completely dead then it will be Him operating within us in all of His fullness. We are mere vessels for the will of God.

If God wants to bring me to the top of the seven mountains then so be it. If God wants me to serve as a janitor or as a nameless intercessor then so be it. I am a mere vessel in His employ. But whatever my purpose or destiny I want it to be pure. I do not want to be the one that stands in the way of the fullness of God's spirit in my life. I don't want to be the one who keeps myself from embracing the fullness of His will. How many times have I had to circle the mountain as Israel did when they resisted the will of God? How many times have I buried my talents out of fear? How many times have I ran as Jonah did or resisted as Barak? Or compromised as David and Samson.

We have been made perfect in Christ! We have been clothed in garments of His righteousness which is perfect. And He who has known death, resurrection, and glory is seated upon the throne interceding for us. Let us throw ourselves upon His mercy and embrace the lifestyle of the martyr. Not our will but His will be done in our lives. Let us put our flesh to death daily and embrace the work of the Holy Spirit in our beings. As we do this we will see a greater manifestation of His glory in our lives.

Waiting For God's Timing

For years we have lived in a microwave culture that is growing increasingly impatient. Recently, I found myself waiting for my food to warm up and wishing that there was a device that could cook my food in a short enough time that I wouldn't have to wait. I laughed at myself when I realized I was complaining that a microwave was too slow.

Our culture values youth and looks down at old age. We love stories such as Zuckerburg who became a billionaire before the age of 30. Our generation ignores the Biblical stories of Simeon and Anna while wanting to relate to Timothy and Josiah. 

The problem is that destiny takes time. Character must be developed. Deposits must be made and healing needs to take place before God can release us into the fullness of destiny. We have to be patient with the process. Joseph spent 14 years in Egypt before stepping into his destiny. Daniel was an old man, not a mere teenager, when he was thrown to the lions. Even Jesus was 30 before stepping into the fullness of his ministry and we expect our calling to happen overnight. Paul spent years in the secret place after his conversion before he was launched into his apostolic ministry.

Sometimes we are ready but our community is not yet ready. Aaron was probably ready for years for his role as priest of Israel. But Moses had to be ready before Aaron step into his role as Moses' mouthpiece. Joshua and Caleb were ready to step into the promised land but the rest of the nation was not. As a result they had to wander the desert for 40 years before they could cross over into their inheritance.

Sometimes we aren't able to walk into our destiny because the stage isn't set yet. Sometimes something else needs to happen before God can place us where we are meant to be. John the Baptist had to wait to start his ministry until a few years before Christ was ready to enter the stage. David had to wait until Goliath challenged the people of Israel. Embrace the time of preperation while you are waiting. Don't despair when you know you are ready but God isn't moving yet. Your time is coming!

Don't give up on the promises of God. Don't despair when you have to circle the mountain. Don't let self-doubt riddle you. Don't second guess what you know is true. Discern where God would have you in the present moment. Embrace the fullness of this moment and allow God to use it in your life. Submit yourself to His will for your current season. Be patient when you have to wait. God is faithful to bring you into the fullness of your destiny. For it is Him who holds you in the palm of His hands.