2011: The year of the sharpened sickle

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

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"

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

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

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

"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

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