Author: chronos

  • Train Wreck

    Train Wreck

    Dream

    Union Station

    [published in the December 2014 MorningStar Journal, p32.]

    (early hours November 2nd, 2008)

    Obama button

    I am in a Democratic Party convention or celebration of some type. I know this because I look down and see a name on my name tag that is not mine, but instead “Eve Porter” (a young Democrat I used to debate in high school). The convention is set in the grand hall of a train station in Washington D.C. (Union Station?).

    The scene shifts to the train platform. I see a brand-new shiny “silver bullet” style passenger train being unveiled at the platform. It was like a send-off celebration of this train. Everyone there got on board. I was in the front car. I marveled at this new train. It was modern, sleek, computer controlled, and had a sweeping windshield through which I could see panoramically out the front. But there were no human controls or any sign of an engineer. The only control was a large red button (like a panic button) mounted on a pedestal.  I took this to be the emergency brakes of the train. I looked up and left and saw a digital readout (like you would see on a newer subway car). As the train got going, this readout read “60” mph in red LEDs.

    silver bullet train left to right

    After the train departed the station, I had a sense of time passing. As I settled in and got busy with routine activities, I also had this distinct sense that everything economically appeared to be returning to normal, thus I could just relax and enjoy the ride. The markets were coming back. The economy was on the rise. Everything seemed well.

    panic button pedestal

    Since I was in the first car, I could clearly see way down the tracks. We seemed to be in a dimly lit tunnel. There were several train tracks adjacent to ours to the left. I could see the headlights of an oncoming train. At first, I simply assumed it was on one of the adjacent tracks. But as I peered down the tracks, I wondered – is this train on the same track as we are? By the time I figured it was, I immediately hit the red button. But it was too late. The oncoming train didn’t slow much at all, and collided head-on into us at full speed. Catastrophic train wreck.

    End of dream.

    Interpretation

    I had this dream 2 days before the 2008 National elections. On November 4th, the Democratic Party swept the Presidency, Senate, and Congress by sizable margins.  So the dream pretty clearly portended the immediate election results. What’s more important though, is the imagery of the silver train.

    I believe the “silver bullet” train represents a movement of the Nation into the policies and governance of the Democratic Party in the wake of the 2008 global financial crisis. Particularly, President Obama’s progressive vision (along with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reed and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi) of government and public policy being the answer to catalyzing and stewarding recovery. The fact that this train was new and shiny, represented a new direction for the Nation. “Silver Bullet” is a word play on the idiom of a singular solution to a major prevailing problem. The major prevailing problem being the economy and the global financial crisis.

    Notably in the dream, as time went on I felt reassured that everything was returning to “normal” economically and in the financial markets, pointing to the economic and financial implications of the dream. This too has been fulfilled in the – all be it weaker than hoped – recovery of 2009-2016. Certainly, the financial markets returned to new highs. However, in the dream I “snapped to” realizing this economic recovery was a false dawn and false hope, and more economic trouble was coming to the nation.

    No Controls

    The “run away” aspect of the train (no controls), I believe has a two-fold interpretation. First, it represents the unfettered run from 2008-2010 which the Democratic Party used to implement their vision of governance for the United States. Legislation was passed, regulations were created, taxes were raised and money was spent without much political opposition or restraint. Second, because there has been little or no brakes on spending, the Federal debt doubled by the end of the Obama Administration. The ballooning Federal debt is a financial ticking time bomb and is widely viewed as unsustainable.

    Trump Train

    With the selection of Donald Trump as the Republican nominee in 2016 came the newly coined phrase: “Trump Train”. At the same time, the Democrat’s progressive “silver bullet” train continued from President Obama to Democratic nominee Secretary Hillary Clinton. This then set up one of the most tumultuous general elections on record.

    No one saw the Trump Train coming. The Democrats were certain Hillary would win. But, the Trump Train, taking a page from the Democratic playbook got on the same political “track”, targeting lower and middle-class labor (a traditional Democratic stronghold). The forgotten man in the heartland of America (the “flyover states”), especially the rust belt became the deciding vote. The Trump Train won the election based on surprise victories in three crucial states: Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania. All rust belt, traditional Democratic and labor union strongholds.

    Train Wreck

    The Trump Train crashed into and stopped the Democrat’s Progressive Liberal movement ushered in by President Barack Obama in the 2008 election. That movement didn’t see the Trump Train coming. The crash halted its progress.

    train wreck

    Now, a train wreck is not a good thing. There was a cost to stopping this progressive train, and the nation is left deeply divided with many angry people. Many would describe the Trump administration as a train wreck. His campaign was populist, but his popularity numbers aren’t high. That said, stopping a political movement rooted in secular humanism was crucial and really a form of ‘God’s grace shed on thee’. Protecting religious freedom and returning to our Christian heritage also important. Standing against abortion and appointing constitutional constructionist judges, incredibly important. Standing by Israel is maybe even most important of all. However, doubling-down on the American formula of self-effort and supercharging a capitalistic system where the top priority is making money and winning is not the Christ centered answer or way forward.

    60 red led readout

    What does the number “60” mean? I believe 60 biblically represents man (6) being weighed in the balance (10). Given that we the people of the United States have allowed God to be pushed away in one way or another, and instead have turned to man and man’s wisdom to solve the problems of our day, we must remember it is God who weighs us in the balance.

    Financial Implications

    In the original interpretation of the dream (read the Morningstar article for that), I felt the train wreck was a warning of economic trouble ahead. But now we can see more clearly that the other train was actually another political movement – the “Trump Train” – and that the clash in the political realm (which is ongoing) will also result in economic trouble, division and diminishment as well. A nation divided in sin cannot stand.

    In the dream there was this specific economic/market aspect that was highlighted as important (don’t get comfortable that the market recovery was real and lasting). This relates to the message God is sounding the alarm for in this hour: that we remain largely unrepentant of economic sins on both sides of the isle. Of what? Our love of self for one, our pride in our human achievement for another, but also our love for money is to the point of addiction. Most everyone in the US can only agree on one thing right now – we need more money : markets to go up, benefits to increase, taxes to go down, spending to increase, and the economy to expand even if it means expanding debt.

    Not only does this financial equation not add up, but more importantly : Who is god in all this? We (both parties and the American people) have become slaves to debt, scrambling to find ever increasing earnings to service our debt and spending habits. Further, no one would claim our financial markets and publicly traded companies are Christ-centered. No, they are unapologetically EPS and returns centered – pure money making machinery hiding behind a robo-veil of “shareholder’s interests” – as ‘god’ if you will.

    Who would deny that the financial markets are driven up and down by greed and fear? And what about the banking system being designed to exploit the poor (through charging higher interest and fees or denying credit) instead of helping the poor (charging no interest as the scripture shows)? All of which are sin in God’s sight. So whether we are willing to admit it or not, we continue to worship at a type of altar of Baal and remain on track for further financial judgment (2001, 2008 were the first two rounds) as the God’s way of course correction and repentance.

    So, What to Do?

    LOAF_OF_BREAD

    Critically, the answer lies not in unbridled capitalism (worship of self and money), nor in progressive government being provider (worship of self and money), nor blaming people who believe in these approaches, but rather in repenting for our wickedness and return to seek God’s face, trusting Him as our Provider.

    Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds from the mouth of God

    Matthew 4:4

    I believe the terror of 9/11 was a harbinger of judgment and a call for the Nation to return to God. The financial crisis of 2008, the same. But, we as a people have not yet filled the bowls of repentance, nor have we changed our wicked ways (worship of self; idolatry of money). Let’s continue to pray for God’s mercy. Let us pray that God’s people – the Church – arise, and we as a Nation return to God’s great purposes and plan.

    Jesus remains our great and glorious hope. Let us return to Him as a people.

    Return to Me, and I will return to you

    Zechariah 1:3

    As the Pilgrims and our Founding Fathers honored Him, may we also do.

    The doctrines of Jesus are simple, and tend all to the happiness of mankind.” – Thomas Jefferson

    Lord, may we once again be One Nation Under God.

  • 40 Days

    40 Days of Worship

    We’re all beginning to sense a momentum and expectancy for God to do something amazing!

    40 Days of Worship – Hear what other leaders are saying!

    40 Days of Worship – Hear what other leaders are saying Part 2

    Here are the gatherings being hosted in Fairfield County:

    • Monday, Sep 9, 2013 7:30pm
      Christ the King Church, Trumbull
    • Wednesday, Sep 11, 2013 7:00pm
      Huntington Chapel, Shelton, Venue: Huntington Green
    • Thursday, Sep 26, 2013 7:00pm
    • Presbyterian Church of Old Greenwich, Old Greenwich
    • Friday, Sep 27, 2013 8:00pm
      New Vision International Ministries, Bridgeport
    • Saturday, Sep 28, 2013 7:00pm
      Walnut Hill Community Church, Bethel
    • Monday, Sep 30, 2013 7:00pm
      Christian Heritage School, Trumbull
    • Friday, Oct 4, 2013 8:00pm
      Fraternidad Cristiana, Venue: Stamford High School, Stamford
    • Saturday, Oct 5, 2013 7:00pm
      Stanwich Congregational Church, Greenwich
    • Sunday, Oct 6, 2013 6:00pm
      Black Rock Congregational Church, Venue: First Presbyterian Church, Fairfield

    40 Days of Worship

    Impact Connecticut

    ‘Like’ Impact Connecticut on Facebook

  • Shaken Leaders Arise

    Joey LeTourneau
    Joey LeTourneau

    I Hear a Call to “Rise Up with Expectation”

    Shaken Precedes Sending

    I believe there is a generation of leaders arising who have been so shaken in their own lives that they will shake the world. Their eyes will no more be on the people, or on perception, for the fear of man has been put to death. It is a generation of leaders, young and old, female and male, shaped and scarred – who are now beginning to realize their grace for this time.

    And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness. Acts 4:31

    In Acts 4:29-34 we read of a room that was shaken, so that those within it could be sent. Shaking precedes sending. New, and renewed, shaken leaders are arising to join the Lord in a new way. Jesus knows a way to lead us through such narrow paths, and the shaken process we have endured will empower us to thrive there with Him, where the world is waiting for those who will show them Jesus through the love-filled scars of how God intimately met them in their own journey.

    We must be leaders not focused on what we are doing, but so focused on what the Father is doing that we change the world’s perception of Who He is. We have been shaken with purpose, so we will be Jesus to the world.

    These are leaders who are shaken from the governing of human perception and results oriented security, whose vision is fixed instead upon the Presence of heavenly reality. They are leaders who unite the most differing opinions not just because of their ability or negotiations, but because of their undying focus upon their First Love. They do not lead people together in their doctrine or opinions; they lead people directly to the Lord where all can be found together united by the beats of His heart for His people.

    The world needs to taste of the grace that has been poured into our shaken places. God’s grace is the definition of perfection in this world, so being shaken makes you fertile soil for Jesus to be revealed. These will not just be listened to for their leadership but will be followed because of the First Love whom they won’t compromise in following. He is their Vision! They will teach the world a new way – and show us the contagious life of First Love leadership.

    To Those Who Have Been Shaken:

    promisedland1_225px

    To not be moved by the world, we have to be shaken from past mindsets of the world. New requires a process, where the promises we often wait for are mined like diamonds. When Joshua led the Israelites across the Jordan River, it was only his generation that he led. The previous generation died in the wilderness. They would not let themselves be shaken from their old vision or past mindsets to join the Lord in a new way.

    Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ… 1 Peter 1:13

    My question is this: What if two generations had crossed over instead of one? What if two generations had taken possession of their Promised Land? What if it wasn’t just the new, but also the renewed? What if two generations had taken this new ground, been fruitful, and multiplied? Imagine how much more life would have been born of the Lord!

    It’s not just about the “new,” but like Jesus, it’s about the new that comes to fulfill the old. Jesus did not come to destroy the old law but to fulfill it! The old was made new, which set the stage for widespread multiplication.

    We so often talk of all Job lost and everything that he went through, and I can’t imagine what it must have been like. But to me, the key to Job is found here:

    Now the Lord blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning… Job 42:12

    To those who have been shaken, consider Job who experienced a latter part of his life that was more blessed than the first, he truly experienced a “latter rain” (Joel 2). We can focus on the loss the shaking has caused or, we can see it as a precursor for even greater grace revealed.

    Rise Up With Expectation

    I hear a call to rise up with expectation, not away from our wilderness but because of it. In God’s upside down Kingdom, the wilderness of shaking is actually chosen fertile ground for next season’s multiplication! Similar to what Peter said above, gird up the loins and old ways of your mind, and believe in the grace that is being brought to you.

    wilderness1_300px

    Are you one of these shaken leaders God has called upon – now unmoved on the inside so you can transform culture on the outside? That is what our wilderness season’s offer, for us to demand a profit from our trials that we can spend on the world. Let them become a wilderness of oneness, pressed to the heart of God and like a butterfly from a cocoon ready to launch out into the new. The world may have brought shaking upon you, but God will use that shaking to reveal Himself through you to the world!

    To those who have been shaken during this past season of life, I want to honor you. You have been chosen. I believe the latter part of your lives will be more blessed than the former. You have been in a wilderness of oneness and prepared for launch. You will not only see what you lost restored, you will see it restored abundantly, and a new kind of multiplication will spring forth. Profit from the wilderness process with even greater focus on your First Love and step forward into the river Jordan.

    Your shaking has made you a new breed of leader who has abandoned the pressures of perception and expectation to live out a culture of leadership that Jesus Himself has set the course. The world around you is not just waiting for a new, great ministry; they are waiting for Christ in you, the hope of glory!

    You are part of a new breed of leaders who will not be moved by pressure, but who will move many others by your unearthly passion and enduring love. The grace you receive into these wilderness places will be the grace the world tastes from your life, so rejoice! Your past season may have felt like a wilderness, but to God, it’s now a harvest field of promises that He wants to reveal through you to the world.

    But imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises… Hebrews 6:12

    I can only imagine what would have happened had two generations crossed over the Jordan into the Promised Land, but I believe we are about to find out. Shaken leaders arise!

    Joey LeTourneau
    M.A.R.K. 10:14 Family/Heavenly Hope Ministries
    Email: joey.letourneau@gmail.com
    Website: bringhishope.org / uncommonvision.org

    Joey LeTourneau, his wife Destiny, and their four daughters live near Denver, Colorado. They travel extensively, empowering the Body of Christ to draw near to their First Love and live out the life-giving testimony of Jesus to the world around them. They desire to see the Father’s heart fully revealed to the world, and through such see a multiplication of life so abundant the whole world will know the true nature of our Father! Joey has authored two books, Revolutionary Freedom, and his new release, The Life Giver.

    elijahlist.com

  • CT 40 Days

    Rick McKinniss
    Rick McKinniss

    Dear Partner in the Great Work,

    I am very excited to announce to you a major initiative to advance the Kingdom in our corner of the vineyard called Connecticut.

    Beginning September 4 through October 14, we have planned 40+ unity gatherings for worship and prayer on 40 consecutive days at 40+ different locations all across the state! The main reason I am writing you is to invite you and your congregation to get in on the party!!

     

    First, some background. Many of you had a part in the 7 Nights of Worship we sponsored a year ago over seven different months across the state. They were great! Each meeting was well-attended; both by worshipers and by the presence of the Lord. At the conclusion of that initiative a prophetic challenge came forth to do 40 consecutive days of worship in the upcoming season. That word was tested by over 100 Connecticut pastors and leaders on three separate occasions. Each time the confirmation was strong–“Let’s go for this!”

    So, we began the actual planning. In one month’s time, the calendar was laid out with all 40 dates covered–some with multiple gatherings. You can see the calendar and other important details on the new website: www.impactconnecticut.com

    Also on that site you will find a brief video that casts the vision for the 40 Days initiative. But allow me to summarize here. There are three primary purposes for this undertaking:

    • First is to offer the Lord an extravagant expression of worship. That is always appropriate, of course. We hope to continue to build an altar of praise from which the Lord can express his gracious, saving Kingdom rule in our state.
    • The second purpose is repentance and prayer. By repentance we don’t mean listing out a long catalog of all our sins (though that is not a bad thing to do). But rather we mean a turning and crying out for the Lord’s Kingdom to come into the midst of our present great needs as a state and society wandering far from God.
    • And thirdly, these gatherings continue to express the unity we seek to foster in the Body of Christ in Connecticut. We believe it is time for a unity of heart to take us into expressions of united outreach and ministry in our cities, towns and regions of the state.

    So, how can you get involved?

    You can check out the calendar. If there is a gathering near you, we encourage you to contact the host site and offer to co-sponsor that meeting. You can bring your people and your passion to this statewide party. If there is no meeting already planned in your town or area, you might want to host one. We can add new gatherings to this initiative. All you need to do is contact our project manager for the 40 Days, Joellen Putnam (joellen@wellspring.net), and she can help you get signed up and ready to go with promotional materials. This deal is not proprietary, we just want to fill the state with the Lord’s presence and see his Kingdom advance.

    Thanks again for your faithfulness and partnership in this great work.

    Letterhead-footer-Pastor-Rick

  • Power of Choice

    Wade_Taylor_150px
    Wade E. Taylor

    The Power of Choice and Our Willing Obedience

    And He said to them all, “If any man will [willingly choose to] come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

    Each of us who desires to personally know and serve the Lord must first make this life-changing decision to “take up our cross.” When we willingly do this, our present relationship to the Lord, and also our eternal position in the ages to come, will be greatly affected.

    If we accept this challenge (“If anyone will come after Me”), the taking up of our cross must become a practical, daily reality in our lives. Many do not realize, or take seriously, the tremendous value of all that our Lord will make available to us as a result of the “willing” submission of our lives to His Lordship.

    Come, My beloved, let us go forth into the field; let us lodge in the villages. Let us get up early to the vineyards; let us see if the vine flourish, whether the tender grape appear, and the pomegranates bud forth: there will I give thee My loves. Song of Solomon 7:11-12

    The Word of God tells us that our salvation is through faith, and is a gift of God.

    For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast. Ephesians 2:8-9

    Once we have received this “gift” of eternal life through the Blood of Jesus and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, we will begin to face choices that affect our rate of spiritual growth, as well as our position in the eternal ages before us. Therefore, we must recognize that there are spiritual laws which apply to our spiritual development.

    If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. Isaiah 1:19

    The “if” indicates there are “conditions” that must be met before we will be enabled to partake of the spiritual nourishment which is promised. To be “willing and obedient” is to become “one” with our Lord in both thought and action. This means that we must set the direction of our will away from disobedience and toward being obedient – our will merged into His will. Only to the extent that we have died to our “self-life” can our lives reflect His life.

    The “good of the land” that we are to partake of results from this identity with Jesus. He will then be able to invite us to enter with Him into an active personal relationship: “Come, My beloved…let us get up early to the vineyards.” Here, in union with Jesus, we will receive spiritual understanding and strength that will enable us to fully follow Him and expand spiritually.

    The Lord is much more interested in our coming into a “quality” relationship with Him than we are, but He is a perfect gentleman and will not force either Himself, or His desire, upon us. Thus, He begins each of these promises with a conditional “if.”

    The Lord has placed within us not only the capacity for obedience, but also the potential to rebel. We may shake our fist against Him, if we so choose. Therefore, when we submit ourselves in joyful obedience to Him, in anticipation of all that will follow, we are not responding as puppets, but rather, out of a willing desire and love for Him.

    The Power of Choice

    We have within us this “power of choice.”

    For example, at times, we may not feel like worshipping the Lord. But during these times, as we set the poise of our will toward the Lord, and give to Him our sacrifice of praise, our worship is especially appreciated by the Lord. Usually it is after an act of obedience such as this that the Lord will pour out His grace upon us, and an overflow of blessing will emerge.

    This can be applied to any aspect of our lives where obedience is required by the Lord. Yet, if we look only toward being blessed, or the reward, we will miss something. We must press on, for it is in the sufferings of the “refiner’s fire” that the pure gold, His Divine nature, is brought forth in our lives.

    The Lord has shown us how this is to be accomplished: “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” If we truly desire to follow the Lord, then we must actively resist our flesh by denying all carnal desires, and take up our own cross in obedience to His Word.

    What Is This Cross, And How Do We Take It Up?

    For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary [cross] the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. Galatians 5:17

    Thy willThere is an ongoing warfare, a struggle between our natural desires and His spiritual desire for us. Thus, there are two contrary wills at war with each other – “I will” and “Thy will.” When the “Thy will” (His purpose for us) is contrary to and crosses out the “I will” (our own wants), our cross is formed. (To better picture this, draw a horizontal line, showing “I Will.” Then draw a vertical line through it, showing “His Will.” There is a visual rendering of the Cross.)

    As we die to our own self-will, and then submit to and come into alignment with His will for us, we are indeed taking up our cross, thereby becoming one with Him (because our life is merged into His life, only the vertical member of the cross is left, we have become one with Him).

    We are to overcome all self-centered feelings, such as spiritual indifference, laziness, self-will, and rebellion, and then apply these to the Cross, that we might prosper in the outworking of His will for us. We then become an upright, fruit-bearing branch on the tree of life, as a reflection or extension of His life and purpose. We are doing as He would do.

    The Apostle Paul cried from the depths of his being:

    Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12

    Notice that Paul said, “That I might apprehend.” He understood that he had a choice to make. We too have a responsibility to apply the Cross to the very root of our self-lives – our hungers, fears, and our reactions – that we might better follow Him.

    …The Kingdom of Heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Matthew 11:12

    There is a spiritual battle to be won in entering the Kingdom realm. Those who truly love the Lord and who desire to be rightly related to Him in His Kingdom will press through every hindrance or obstacle.

    The most important time for us in all of eternity is “right now.” We are making choices and decisions today that will affect our eternal position and reward. Eternal life is not future; we have that now as part of our redemption. “Where” we will be is a settled fact. “What” we will be in eternity will be the result of the accumulated choices and decisions that we are making now, in our daily life experiences.

    Growing In the Outworking of Our Willing Obedience To Him

    Our “new creation life” is as a “seed” that has been deposited within us, which is being formulated and developed into completeness. When eventually it is released into the “soil” of eternity, it will unfold, revealing the full manifestation of what it had become during our present life experience.

    Seedlings growingAny seed, when planted, grows to express its particular nature. We need not add anything to it, but simply expose it to the right elements. Then, it will develop into the fullness of what it is. The extent to which we spiritually develop in the “here and now” will become our “measured state” (30, 60, or 100-fold) for all eternity.

    Our present life (our spiritual development) primarily involves the formulation of this seed through the outworking of our willing obedience to Him (overcoming) in taking up our cross daily. Then, when we find ourselves in the “atmosphere of eternity,” the life that had been developed within this “seed” will be released into its full expression, in His eternal presence and purpose.

    The promise of the Lord is “to him that overcomes.” As we overcome through our willing obedience to the Lord (taking up our cross), He will bring into our life experience this “good land,” providing the atmosphere to fertilize and water the soil of our obedience. This will prepare us for the coming harvest, in which that which we have become will be lifted up from the earth into His higher purpose.

    We must allow this process to find its full outworking in our lives. Then, when we stand before Him in that day, He will look upon each one of us and give us a new name, according to what He sees.

    To him who is overcoming, I will give him to eat from the hidden manna, and I will give to him a white stone, and upon the stone a new name written, that no one knew except him who is receiving [it]. Revelation 2:17 Young’s Literal Translation

    As we look back over our lives, the price that we paid will be as nothing, as we will be satisfied and fulfilled as we enter into our eternal relationship of communion and fellowship with Jesus.

    Wade Taylor
    Wade Taylor Ministries / Parousia Ministries

    Email: nancy@wadetaylor.org
    Website: wadetaylor.org

    Wade Taylor graduated to Heaven on February 29, 2012. He served others as a teacher and spiritual father for over 50 years. He was respected and loved by many for his quality of spirit and walk with his Lord. He was an anointed author, bringing forth deep truths of the Spirit with a clarity and simplicity that drew the reader up into a closer walk with the Lord Jesus Christ.

    http://www.elijahlist.com

    If you enjoyed this article, read related article: Harness of the Lord

  • Transform World 2020

    70 straight hours of prayer and worship live at IHOP Kansas City interceding for the world to be transformed in Christ: 7 challenges. 7 mountains. 7 regions.

    March 24-27th 2013.

    Live streaming now – click here http://transformworld2020.com or here http://www.ihopkc.org

    The Transform World movement was catalyzed when 120 Christian leaders met in Seoul Korea 2003. The first global gathering was Transform World Indonesia 2005, which culminated with 112,000 crying out to Jesus in the national stadium (Indonesia largest Muslim population in the world). It has since spread around the globe, embracing the transforming revival and awakening active in Latin America, Asia and Africa (more have come to Christ in past 20 years than rest of history) with the further hope and expectation of transformation reaching the Western world.

    Click here http://www.transform-world.net/new/ for more info.

    tw2020 logo

    tw2020 Schedule

    tw2020 Schedule2

  • GUIDING VOICE IN THE STORM

    VOL IX  /  ISSUE 2  /  FEBRUARY 2013

    A GUIDING VOICE IN THE STORM

    by Carter Conlon

    It is becoming evident that a spiritual awakening is our only lasting hope for the future of our nation. America once was given great favor by God and although our history has not been perfect, the essence of our law was founded on the Judeo-Christian ethic. We had at least a measure of respect for the Word of God and an understanding of His ways of dealing with those who had gone before us. Yet over the years, we began to ignore the warnings of God and embarked on a journey led by our own senses and our own reasoning. We find a similar situation in the book of Acts: “Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, and said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul…And when the south wind blew softly, supposing that they had obtained their purpose, loosing thence, they sailed close by Crete” (Acts 27:9–11, 13).

    Paul had warned the captain and crew from the onset that this journey would end in destruction, only to be ignored and relegated to the bottom of the ship. Similarly, we have disregarded the revealed knowledge of Almighty God and, casting off moral restraint, proceeded to set sail in our own direction. We turned to praise the gods of silver and gold, wood and stone—things originating from the minds of men. If that were not tragedy enough, the Church in large measure followed the course of society and became attached to the value system of this world. This has left us with theological perspectives focusing on prosperity and success that have tremendously weakened the testimony of Christ in our nation.

    CASTING OUT THE TACKLING

    “But not long after there arose against it a tempestuous wind, called Euroclydon. And when the ship was caught, and could not bear up into the wind, we let her drive”(Acts 27:14–15). Just like those on the ship with Paul, we arrogantly set our course against the ways of God and now we find ourselves in a storm, facing circumstances beyond our control. We are being driven by the wind with seemingly no direction and no moral compass.“Which when they had taken up, they used helps, undergirding the ship; and, fearing lest they should fall into the quicksands, strake sail, and so were driven. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship; and the third day we cast out with our own hands the tackling of the ship” (Acts 27:17–19).For years we have done our best to hold this country together. Now, out of desperation, we are beginning to cast overboard the tackling of the ship. The tackling represents certain standards that were once bedrock in this nation, such as the sacred right of unborn children in the womb to live. I am not a doctor, and I am not suggesting there may not be circumstances that need to be considered. But when we begin to murder our unborn children for the sake of convenience, we have crossed a line, which is terrifying at the least. Not only that, we have cast out the sanctity of marriage as defined by God from the beginning of time. God designed one man and one woman to be joined and to be fruitful in the earth. Yet now it seems that anything goes. It doesn’t matter if the Bible calls it evil; we are now calling it good.Very soon we might even have to deal with the throwing overboard of the right of free speech and self-government, all in favor of a new morality. In the ferocity of a storm, people are willing to do things that they would not do under normal circumstances. When they have already lost their spiritual moorings and fear begins to set in, they will throw almost anything overboard in favor of what is believed to be safety and security.This is precisely why the role of the Church is so pivotal at this juncture in history. We have before us a window of opportunity to be a guiding voice in the storm. It is a window that I feel will be open for only a short season, which is why we must be prepared now.

    READY FOR THE CALL

    Paul was ready when the call came to him. He had been in the bottom of the ship, praying in the midst of his own struggles and fighting through his own belly of hell. All along, Paul knew that he was being carried on this journey by the spiritual ignorance of those who refused to heed the Word of God.Imagine the taunting of the enemy that he had to fight. “This is hopeless, Paul! Your life is not going to amount to anything. How are you ever going to affect this journey or this generation? Do you really think that anyone on this ship will listen to you? Just go ahead and get bitter. Get vengeance on those who have caused this ignorant journey!” Yet, despite the hardship and the battles Paul faced in the belly of that ship, he chose to pray. Suddenly, in the midst of all the difficulty, a window opened. He was called to the deck of the ship, and the people were ready to listen.What would have happened if Paul had not been ready when the call came? What if he had been down there grumbling with the rest of the prisoners—if his whole focus had been on himself and his own security? If that had been so, Paul probably would have stood on the deck with no more hope or encouragement than anybody else around. He may have had some ideas, but he would not have had the mind or the word of God for those who desperately needed it. That is why it is so essential that you and I be in prayer now. We must get a word from God! He will speak if we are willing to listen and set aside our own ideas about what our future should be.Paul was willing to listen, and as a result, the Lord gave him this word of exhortation for those on the ship: “For there stood by me this night an angel of the God to whom I belong and whom I serve, saying, ‘Do not be afraid, Paul; you must be brought before Caesar; and indeed God has granted you all those who sail with you.’ Therefore take heart, men, for I believe God that it will be just as it was told me”(Acts 27:23–25, NKJV).

    Although the lives of the 276 would be spared, notice that it was not an entirely pleasant word that God gave to Paul. God was essentially telling him, “You are going to go through the storm. You are going to remain in chains and be brought before Caesar, a man who thinks he is god. But you will stand before him and testify of the one true God in heaven and in earth.”

    Paul embraced this call on his life, despite what it would cost him personally. He was intent on living to glorify Christ and reach the lost. This, of course, is where it gets hard. We all love to come into the Lord’s presence to receive something—perhaps peace, deliverance, direction, a word of encouragement. But what happens when the Lord says, “I want you to embrace My burden for a lost society and yield your body as a living sacrifice to My plan, even though it may cost you personally?”

    It is a battle that we all have to go through, for not one of us wants to be inconvenienced. We do not particularly like the thought of following the journey of Paul—the hardship and the difficulty that often results from choosing to fully embrace Christ. However, I want to suggest to you that nothing else will make a difference in this generation. We have had seminars, radio shows, television programs, conferences—yet our society is going to hell in a handbasket. What we have presented to this country has not worked. In fact, it has sent this generation in an entirely adverse direction. It is time to put aside these things and return to prayer and to the embracing of the will of God for our lives.

    A COMPELLING TESTIMONY

    As he stood on the deck of that ship, Paul’s life was a compelling testimony of the keeping power of God. He clearly possessed an inner strength that was supernatural, and he was filled with the absolute joy of being fully surrendered to Jesus Christ. It must have provoked those traveling on that vessel with him to stand in amazement and wonder, “What makes this man so confident? He is in the same predicament we are, yet he seems to be so full of hope! Why does he see a future when we see destruction? What is inside this man that makes him different from us?”

    Paul’s life moved those around him to consider the ways and the work of God. That is what the Church is supposed to be—a compelling testimony to this world. Jesus once used a parable to illustrate this idea: “Then said he unto him, A certain man made a great supper, and bade many: and sent his servant at supper time to say to them that were bidden, Come; for all things are now ready. And they all with one consent began to make excuse” (Luke 14:16–18). Most historians relate this initial group of people to Israel—the Jewish people. We know from the Scriptures that they will respond eventually, but for a season they will refuse to come to the Lord at His invitation.

    The master then said to the servant, “Go out quickly into the streets and lanes of the city, and bring in hither the poor, and the maimed, and the halt, and the blind” (Luke 14:21). This is thought to represent the three years of Jesus Christ’s public ministry on the earth. He focused on the lame, the poor, the maimed and the blind, inviting them into the house of God. In those days, such people would not have had access to the holy place. But through Jesus Christ, an entrance was made for all people to come into the presence of God.

    “And the servant said, Lord, it is done as thou hast commanded, and yet there is room. And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled”(Luke 14:22–23). Most historians agree that this represents our present church age. That means that your life and mine should be a compelling testimony. We ought to present to this generation irrefutable evidence of the reality of Christ, alive within us.

    This is exactly what happened in the second chapter of Acts. Ordinary people went into the presence of God and prayed in one accord, even though it was an unpopular time. Jesus had just been crucified, and the crowd outside was intent on killing all followers of Christ. The one hundred and twenty in that Upper Room would have known the dangers of identifying themselves as His disciples. Nevertheless, they chose to pray and obey as God began to unfold to them a plan for each of their lives—not their plan, His plan. And so they came out of that Upper Room just as Paul had come out of the belly of that ship—completely gripped by God. Their lives, their hearts, and their speech were all undeniable evidence of the power of the Holy Spirit to transcend the natural borders of their humanity. They stood in the midst of that society, boldly declaring that there is a God who did die, who did rise from the dead and who does inhabit His people. As a result, at least three thousand in that anti-Christ crowd stood in amazement and asked, “What must we do to have that kind of relationship with God?”

    Note that a casual Christianity will not elicit this kind of response, as has been made evident in our generation. We have tried putting coffeemakers in the back of our churches. We have done surveys, built bowling alleys and swimming pools, and held parties and potlucks, assuming that this would bring people into the kingdom of God. But in reality, it is the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit alone who draws people! Oh, the foolishness of this church age!

    Do we have the courage to examine ourselves in this hour; to admit that our ways may not be God’s ways; that our plans might not be God’s plans? Do we have the courage, as Daniel did, to open the window, face Jerusalem, and pray in humility (see Daniel 6:10)? “Lord, we have done a disservice to Your testimony in the earth. We have not brought about deliverance, because we have dealt casually with the holy things of God. We have failed to come into Your presence and seek Your will, to walk in the holiness that You require of Your people.”

    GET THE VICTORY NOW

    Despite our foolishness as a church age, the window to Jerusalem is still open, just as it was in Daniel’s day. The window to God’s power, provision, and mercy is still open if He can find a people who are willing to get on their knees and say, “Lord, whatever it costs, I am asking You to use my life for Your glory. Help me to walk righteously, for I know that You do not answer the prayers of people who regard iniquity in their heart. Help me to turn from sin and to do what is right. Help me to stand in the marketplace, not as a coward, but as a believer filled with your Holy Spirit, standing and making an open declaration of what is right and what is true. Help me to walk in the supernatural, that I might be a guiding voice in the storm.”

    God is calling His Church everywhere to go back to prayer; to have a willingness to stand no matter what may come. And here is where it starts: Get the victory now!

    Paul got his victory before he appeared on that deck, for he had been at the bottom of the ship, praying. He had found victory—not from his situation, but rather in his situation. His situation did not necessarily change, but his heart, his mind and his perspective did. Remember that when he was brought up on deck, he was still a captive. He was still in chains, still being led on the journey to stand before Caesar. Nevertheless, he stood in absolute victory!

    Likewise, you must get the victory now. Get the victory over whatever sin is captivating you; get the victory over a divided heart. Get the victory now so that you will have the courage to go all the way with God, with a single focus on glorifying Christ and saving the lost. Be prepared to hear from God, and be willing to yield to His plan for your life. As you do so, the Lord will be faithful to provide you with all that you need to finish the journey in a manner that will bring glory to Him alone. He will give you hope when those around you are in despair, and He will cause you to become a guiding voice in the storm. Hallelujah!

    Carter Conlon
    ©2013 Times Square Church
    reproduced with permission from TSC

    CARTER CONLON
    Carter Conlon is senior pastor of
    Times Square Church, where he
    has been on the pastoral staff
    since 1994.
    TIMES SQUARE CHURCH
    Times Square Church was founded in 1987
    by Pastor David Wilkerson, author of
    “The Cross and the Switchblade.” It is an
    interdenominational church located in the
    heart of New York City.
    This newsletter is an edited version of “A GUIDING VOICE IN THE STORM,” a sermon given on December 2, 2012 in the sanctuary of Times Square Church in New York City. Other sermons are available by visiting our website at tscnyc.org. You are welcome to make additional copies of this sermon for free distribution to friends. However, for all other forms of reproduction or electronic transmission existing copyright laws apply. This sermon cannot be posted on any website or webpage without permission from Times Square Church. Unless otherwise noted, all scripture references are from the King James Version.
     …click here for video of sermon  …click here for PDF of sermon
  • 7NOW – Feb 22

    222 7NOW Chuck Pierce

    Over the course of the last seven months the body of Christ has been gathering in regional expressions of unity to worship the Lord together and to pray for revival in our state.  An overflow crowd of 2,000 packed the Shubert Theater in New Haven to worship and pray for three hours!  The Rome Ballroom on UCONN’s campus was filled with students and area believers to pray for revival at the university.  Called 7NOW/CT—seven nights of worship for Connecticut, this has been a grass roots relational movement of seeking the Lord.  Momentum is building to see a move of God in our state!

    Now an eighth gathering has been planned for February 22 at 7:00 PM at The First Cathedral in Bloomfield.  Prophet Chuck Pierce, who has been used by God as a voice to the nation, will return to Connecticut for this gathering.  It was a prophetic word from Chuck released on June 9 to a similar gathering that launched the vision for 7NOW/CT.  Come to The First Cathedral on Friday, February 22 at 7:00 PM for a night of united, cross-cultural worship; for prayer for our state; rand for a fresh word of encouragement for the advance of the Kingdom here in Connecticut.

    Rick McKinniss, Senior Leader
    Wellspring Church

    facebook page

    http://ctnow2012.com

    7NOW Dec 8th…

    7NOW Jan 25th…

    Open to all.

  • Decision & Commitment

    Bob Jones smaller BW

    Bob Jones
    January 2013

    DECISION & COMMITMENT FOR 2013

    This is the year to make a decision and commitment! The decision brings us to commitment so we can commit our entire life this year. Then we will serve God and obey the written word and the Holy Spirit in the way He directs our lives. When we make this commitment to God we will see the faithfulness of Isaiah 11:5.

    And righteousness shall be the girdle of His waist and faithfulness the girdle of His loins. (Isaiah 11:5)

    Through obedience to the written word we learn righteousness; right standing with God. By developing relationship with God we take on the divine nature of Christ and sanctify the imagination (thoughts). When we surrender our soul to our spirit we allow the spirit within us to rule over the soul.

    And having been set free from sin, you have become the servants of righteousness (of conformity to the divine will in thought, purpose, and action). (Rom. 6:18)

    In this way our thoughts, purpose and action will be committed to God’s will. And being led by the Holy Spirit of Truth, Who leads us into all truth; we walk the highway of holiness. Then our entire bodily members will be in complete obedience to the Holy Spirit because we are obedient to the law of Love. (Rom. 13:10) It’s from the place of mature love the greater works flow. Then what is seen in our sanctified imagination we speak according to the will of the Father bringing “on earth as it is in Heaven” into the natural realm.

    Christ was obedient unto His death on the cross. Christ was separated from the Father when He cried out “My Father, My Father why have You forsaken Me?” When Christ became the atoning sacrifice for man’s sin, the Father could not look upon Him. Therefore, obedience is greater than sacrifice. Christ yielded all His bodily members to the Father so we could become the righteousness of God through His Son. Jesus lived His earthly life totally committed to the Father’s will. Therefore the Father’s will was being done on earth as it was in Heaven. For God so loved the world He gave His only begotten Son. This was the Father’s greatest act of love, giving His Son to mankind. (John 3:16)

    It is in the DNA of every Christian to hear the voice of God and be led by His Holy Spirit. John 10:4 says His sheep hear His voice and follow after Him. His sheep commit to follow Him because they know the voice of the Good Shepherd. We must follow His voice and be totally obedient to what He tells us to do. Obedience leads to righteousness and righteousness leads to sanctification. Sanctification is the beginning of holiness and holiness is the beginning of the greater works. The greater works begin with unconditional love toward one another.

    And he replied, You must love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. (Luke 10:27)

    God is calling for us to conform to His way with all of our natural being; heart, soul, strength and mind. We are being called to walk the straight and narrow way, the road less traveled or perhaps better known as the highway of holiness. We must surrender to Him the dictates of our own heart in order to walk according to His will.

    For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, says the Lord. (Isaiah 55:8)  

    When we make the decision to walk the way of righteousness and arm ourselves in commitment, we begin to walk in sanctification. Sanctification is the belt of truth we put around our waist and commit our mind, will and emotions to God in thought, purpose and action.

    Stand therefore [hold your ground], having tightened the belt of truth around your loins and having put on the breastplate of integrity and of moral rectitude and right standing with God. (Eph 6:14)

    You shall know the truth and it will set you free. The truth we gird our mind with is His Word. His word will always tell us what to do. The real thing that we commit our self to is love.

    Love does no wrong to one’s neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law. (Rom 13:10)

    This is the word for 2013; make a decision for Christ that you’re going to walk in righteousness. And make for yourself a commitment to obey the works of righteousness which is our thought purpose and action. We live with the consequences of decisions we make whether good or bad. Let’s choose to make God the Master of our life and let Christ ride in the saddle of our mind. Let us commit ourselves completely to Him this year! That which we have committed to God He is faithful to commit to us. Once we have made the decision to commit our whole being unto God and come into His righteousness, we must not stray from it.

    For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day. (2Timothy 1:12)

    Bob and Bonnie Jones: Bob Jones is known as a contemporary prophet with a great love for the Lord Jesus and His truth. His prophecies have spanned over four decades as the Lord has enabled him to foretell earthquakes, tidal waves, comets, and weather patterns. Like Daniel who functioned at an incredible level, Bob has often told leaders their dreams and experiences, as well as the interpretation. After his death experience in 1975, God sent him back to minister to Church leadership and reach the multitudes with His love, truth and equipping the saints with understanding of the spiritual gifts. God promised Bob that he would see the beginning of one billion souls coming into the Kingdom in one great wave of the end time harvest. Bonnie has a great love for the Lord, the Word and the Cross of Jesus. She loves children and enjoys blessing them with a gift of joy, truth, love and encouragement. Bonnie moves in a seer prophetic gifting as well as healing and miracles. Her passion is to see women set free from the fear of man and step into their gifts and calling. She is a great advocate of women stepping forth into their rightful place beside their husband.

    bobjones.org

  • Doing or Transforming

    20130112-111451.jpg

    Francis Frangipane:

    The Transcendent Life

    Typically when I remind Christians that their core destiny is Christlikeness, most nod, affirming the general truthfulness of my statement. However, I can tell that they really do not believe becoming Christlike is the reason they exist. If they did, they would have a plan. They would be in obvious pursuit of their transformation.

    Yet, when people think of their destiny, they often first think of something they will do for God, a task that involves the visible demonstration of a unique gift or ministry function. But neither our gifts nor a specific calling represent the core reality of our destiny. It is not what we do for the Lord but what we become to Him that matters. It is this inner surrender of the heart, this deliberate turning of our soul Godward, that defines our true progress.

    Our responsibilities and gifts may be as varied as the seasons of our lives – and certainly we should spend time attending to them. But I am speaking of the deeper reality that must develop within us: becoming like Christ.

    I am sixty-six years old. During my life I have served God in a variety of tasks. Yet whether I was church planting or selling computers, doing odd jobs or starting a training school, I never confused my calling with my destiny. Becoming like Jesus is why we exist.

    Your Life Focus

    The sad fact is we have seen ministry leaders whose gifts and callings were so powerful, so captivating, that they seemed capable of bringing Heaven itself to earth. Then, to our shock, we discovered later that these very same individuals were secretly in the grip of the most disgraceful sins. How could such things occur? When our primary goal is the development of our gifts or calling rather than our character, we become increasingly vulnerable to satanic deception.

    You see, a time will come when, in increasing degrees, we begin to master our gifts. We learn how to preach and prophesy effectively; we can minister in perfect pitch in song or praise. We even master the tears of sincerity in our altar calls and ministry. Outwardly our spirituality is convincing, yet inwardly our soul is bored with our staged, religious performance. The challenge of our calling is gone. No one discerns our inner decline, not even our closest friends. In that state of mind, a door swings open to the world of the flesh. Scripture says, “Desire fulfilled is a tree of life” (Proverbs 13:12).

    The life that sustains us – that should ultimately fill us – is not drawn from seeking our calling but seeking the Caller Himself. This was Paul’s goal when he passionately wrote, “That I may know Him.” This “being conformed to His death” was the “one thing” Paul said he truly focused on (Philippians 3:10, 13). Paul lived a transcendent life that unfolded “from glory to glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18).

    Beloved, God created man to be “in the image and likeness of God” (Genesis 1:27 AMP). The image of God is Christ, and it is our conformity to Christ that fulfills the purpose of our existence. We do not need crowds to see us perform nor applause to affirm our ministry. When we pursue the image of Christ, we possess the meaning of life.

    Francis Frangipane
    Ministries of Francis Frangipane
    http://www.frangipane.org/

    Francis Frangipane is the founder of River of Life Ministries in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and has traveled throughout the world ministering to thousands of pastors and intercessors from many backgrounds. Francis’ heartfelt prayer is to see established in every city Christlike pastors and intercessors, united before God, revealing the love of Christ to their communities. Since 1985, he has written fourteen books plus a number of study booklets. Over the past decades, Francis has served on a number of other ministry boards. However, in recent years he has gradually resigned from these various boards. As of June 2009, he has also retired from his position as senior pastor of River of Life Ministries. In this more simplified life, Frangipane is devoting himself to prayer and the ministry of God’s Word.

    elijahlist.com

  • 7NOW 1/25

    7NOW = 7 Nights of Worship across CT

    Dear Partners in the Great Work,

    I want to extend an invitation to our seventh gathering of the Seven Nights of Worship for Connecticut (7NOW/CT) on Friday, January 25, at 7:00 PM. We slated this final meeting for Walnut Hill Church in Bethel, CT months before the words “Sandy Hook” took on the tragic significance they now hold for all of us. Walnut Hill Church is about a mile from Newtown and hundreds of their congregation live in that town; four of their flock were killed in the massacre. Now, at the end of this month we will gather at Walnut Hill to worship the Lord as a united Body and to pray for his intervention in our state.

    Please advertise to your flock this opportunity to worship the Lord and to cry out to Him in the face of this tragedy.

    God Bless, Pastor Rick McKinniss
    www.wellspring.net

    http://ctnow2012.com

    prior post of 12/8 7NOW night…

    Open to all.

  • Take The Snake By Its Tail

    Joseph Prince

    Joseph Prince
    “Destined to Reign” Devotional Day 365
    (from YouVersion)

    Exodus 4:2–3

    So the Lord said to him, “What is that in your hand?” He said, “A rod.” And He said, “Cast it on the ground.” So he cast it on the ground, and it became a serpent; and Moses fled from it.

    God wants to take the natural things in your life and make them supernaturally blessed. He does this by asking you to give Him what you already have in the natural, and He will do the supernatural.

    That is why the Lord told Moses to cast his rod on the ground. And when Moses cast his rod on the ground, which represents him giving the rod to the Lord, that same rod became the rod of God. With that rod, the Red Sea was opened. (Exodus 14:16) And when that rod was used to hit a rock, water flowed out of the rock. (Exodus 17:5–6) It was no longer a natural rod, but the supernatural rod of God!

    But why did the rod become a serpent when Moses cast it to the ground?

    Moses never realized that there was a “snake” in his rod. You see, because of the fall of man, there is a touch of the curse — a snake — in every natural thing, including your career, natural strength, talents and ministry.

    So how do you deal with the “snake” that is in all the natural things in your life?

    First, cast it to the Lord. Then, do what the Lord told Moses next: “Reach out your hand and take it by the tail”. (Exodus 4:4)

    Now, it could be fatal to take a snake by its tail because it can easily turn its head around and bite you. So why did God say that?

    When you take it by the tail, God will take the head! He wants you to let Him handle the head, and not grab it or hold on to it tightly in fear or self-effort. That is how you see your career, strength, talents and ministry supernaturally blessed.

    Beloved, there is a snake, a touch of the curse, in everything in the natural. But give what is natural to the Lord and see the touch of the curse replaced with the supernatural touch of God!

    Thought For The Day
    Give what is natural to the Lord and He will make it supernaturally blessed.

    http://www.josephprince.org

    https://www.youversion.com

  • Newtown

    How do we Respond?

    sandy hook

    26 innocent women and children were shot dead Friday. They were our neighbors. 20 students killed by former student Adam Lanza. He was 20 years old. The 6 teachers and administrators were heroes. They did not shrink back, giving their own lives to save others. The Newtown community is devastated. The Nation is in shock and unbelief.

    Everyone is asking: Why?

    Everyone is saying: What can be done to prevent this?

    Most feel saddened, frustrated, fearful and powerless.

    I watched a nurse being interviewed on site vocalize the frustration many are feeling: “I wanted to do something to help, but it was too late. There was nothing I could do. They were already dead.” (paraphrase)

    One of our town’s sports organizations is collecting teddy bears for the children of Newtown. A positive, symbolic gesture birthed out of compassion and desire for action. Others around the country are sending wreaths, donations and other gifts. But, if you are like me, you ask: is that all we can do?

    In the vacuum this disaster has left, the President, politicians, interest groups and the media are beating the drum of increased gun control, mental health and security laws, programs, and regulations. Petitions are flying around the internet tapping into human frustration and desire for action and control. However, the reality is: man-made solutions only offer an illusion of control and do precious little to avert disasters like this. Yet, with certainty, impulsive regulation risks further diminishing liberty and freedom.

    Consider CT already has tough gun control laws. The guns were stolen. It did not prevent the tragedy.

    Consider Nancy Lanza was well-off and could afford the best mental health care for Adam. It did not prevent the tragedy.

    Consider Sandy Hook had just installed a state-of-the art security system this fall. It did not prevent the tragedy.

    However, there is something we can all do which will eradicate senseless killings like this, but it is largely hidden from view. It doesn’t appeal to the self-centered nature, which is ultimately the crux of the problem and critical to the answer.

    The Answer

    The answer as to what can be done is more profound than anything man can devise or legislate: we must repent and turn back to God. He will save us from ourselves. He will protect us. The answer is Jesus.

    The Difficult Questions

    Why did this happen?

    Where was God in all of this?

    I think these questions are best answered by looking back at 9/11. 3000 people died that morning when evil visited the U.S. Everyone was asking those same questions.

    I believe the most God ordained response back then came from Anne Graham Lotz (Billy Graham’s Daughter) when she was interviewed on Larry King Live…

    KING: And what do you say to people who obviously must ask you the endless why?

    LOTZ: You know, when we get to heaven, I expect a lot of people will be asking God that: Why? And I believe one of the reasons is, you know, it’s a wake-up call, Larry. And I feel like we’ve seen some wonderful things come out of this tragedy on September 11th. And one of the things is that I think it was “The Wall Street Journal” said that God has shown up.

    You know, we’ve turned back to God in a way. We’re calling on Him. We have a little phrase “God Bless America” everywhere, which is refreshing, because after 1963, basically we’ve told God to get out of our schools, and we’ve told Him to get out of the marketplace, get out of our businesses, get out of our government. And you know, it’s all right if he stays in church or in a synagogue, but we’ve not wanted Him on the streets.

    And so God who is gracious just, I believe, has backed out of our lives, and I think it’s time we invited him back in.

    So one of the positive things for me after September 11th has been that we’ve called on God and asked Him to come back and be a part of our national life.

    (full transcript here…)

    If we have ears to hear, essentially Anne Graham was saying this: the tragedy is another wake up call for the people of the United States to return to God. The question is not: “Where was God in this? How could He let it happen?” The question is: “Where are we in God?” If we have kicked God out of our schools, businesses and government, how can we expect him to be there for us? Yet, somehow we still expect God’s protection from evil. Sounds like quite an incredible self-serving and self-centered perspective, doesn’t it?

    Umm, excuse me God, could you just limit yourself to church buildings? We don’t really need you in daily life given advancements in science and technology. Besides, it’s not really fair to have to choose You on Your terms instead of our own terms. You know, we have free will. Also it’s not really fair to those who don’t believe in You anyway. You understand, right? Maybe you could just come rescue us when we need help or are dying. Thanks. We’ll take it from here.

    Obviously the position we have taken as a Nation is preposterous. It is just hypocrisy. Somehow, we want the benefits of God (blessings) without the commitment (love for God). Jesus said “If you love me, keep my commandments” (John 14:15).

    If you doubt this message behind 9/11, I encourage you to read the book: The Harbinger. You can also watch this interview Rabbi Jonathan Cahn on Sid Roth.

    The lessons of 9/11 apply to Friday’s tragedy.

    We the people, through the Supreme Court, removed God and prayer from our schools in 1962 (Engel v. Vitale) and 1963 (Abington School District v. Schempp). So, why are we surprised that we are without God’s protection when evil befalls us? Have we checked with God on this? Read Deuteronomy 28. Here is an excerpt:

    …if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God…Blessed shall be the fruit of your body…The Lord will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated

    …if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God…Cursed shall be the fruit of your body…The Lord will cause you to be defeated before your enemies

    So yes, it’s that simple: we must turn back to God. We must allow God back in our schools through prayer. Our children and teachers are worth it. Now is the time. How many more have to die?

    For anyone who objects that such prayer isn’t constitutional because of “separation of church and state”, consider the ample history of our Nation’s practices before, during and after the U.S. Constitution and the first Amendment were written:

    1. In 1789 the First U.S. Congress passed a law hiring Christian Chaplains to lead Congress in prayer. Every session of Congress since has been so opened in prayer (read more here…)

    2. The principal textbook of 18th century American schools was The New England Primer. The framers of the Constitution were taught from it. There was absolutely no effort to remove it from schools after the Constitution was written (editions of the Primer were used in schools through ~1930). (click here to read…)

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    3. The founding fathers saw no “entanglement” with respect to prayer and religion within government or schools. In fact the opposite was true (read quotes here…). The colonies’ form of self-government was indisputably founded under God (read Fundamental Orders of CT and Mayflower Compact). The 1st amendment establishment clause was written to prevent the corruptions of the state imposed Church of England, as this was the very tyranny the Puritans and Pilgrims left all for in order to pursue religious liberty in a new land.

    In fact, the country was consecrated to God right after that first amendment was passed in Federal Hall, NYC. On April 30th, 1789 at St. Paul chapel, NYC (incidentally part of Ground Zero), George Washington led the first Congress in prayer on the day of his inauguration (the first Federal capital was NYC). If there is any doubt, listen to the wisdom in our First President’s prayer:

    “It would be peculiarly improper to omit in this first official act my fervent supplications to that Almighty Being who rules over the universe, who presides in the councils of nations, and whose providential aids can supply every human defect, that His benediction may consecrate to the liberties and happiness of the people of the United States a Government instituted by themselves . . . In tendering this homage to the Great Author of every public and private good, I assure myself that it expresses your sentiments not less than my own, nor those of my fellow-citizens at large less than either. No people can be bound to acknowledge and adore the Invisible Hand which conducts the affairs of men more than those of the United States. Every step by which they have advanced to the character of an independent nation seems to have been distinguished by some token of providential agency; and . . . can not be compared with the means by which most governments have been established without some return of pious gratitude, along with an humble anticipation of the future blessings which the past seem to presage…“

    Now pay particular attention to the close of Washington’s prayer and it’s biblical truth:

    “We ought to be no less persuaded that the propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained .”

    If you think it’s just antiquity, ask yourself this: where did common law come from? Answer: The Bible. No one is suggesting we throw our laws out.

    Ask yourself: why is it acceptable for the President, the Governor and the First Selectwoman to lead an inter-faith prayer service in the Newtown high school auditorium mourning the tragedy, but it is illegal for teachers and students to pray in the Newtown schools where the tragedy took place? Many prayers went up from students and teachers that tragic morning on 12/14. No one wants to ban those. Do you see the hypocrisy? We must get understanding. We must get wisdom. This is foolishness!

    Ponder this “coincidence”:

    The first massacre of this type (mentally disturbed mass shooting at a school) is generally considered to have occurred in 1966 when Charles Whitman killed 13 from the clock tower at The University of Texas, just a few short years after prayer was banned from schools. Since that time, many many similar types of mass shootings have occurred in our schools. Mesa. Fullerton. Grover Cleveland. Stockton schoolyard. Lindhurst. Westside. Columbine. Virginia Tech. Chardon. Sandy Hook. Need we go on? How many more children have to die before we humble ourselves and say its OK to pray? 1000 more? 10000? This is the real “Why?” question each one of us should be asking.

    In concert with this (and for further inspiration), read the heartfelt testimony of Darrell Scott (father of a Columbine shooting victim) before Congress in 1999. (click here to read…)

    How Do We Respond?

    We don’t have to be frustrated by a lack of action. We don’t have to grasp at straws and jump on board the Politically Correct action bandwagon. There are three biblical responses all of us can implement. All are modeled after: “What did Jesus Do?”

    1. Prayer.

    As a Nation, we must return to prayer. Jesus started every day in prayer. Often before the sun came up. He prayed continuously. So must we (1 Thes 5:17).

    2. Compassion.

    How can we have compassion toward the victim’s families? We can pray. We can comfort. We can mourn with them. We can release healing for the wounded in Jesus name. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted” (Matt 5:4). We also can offer help and moral support, not only to them, but toward each other in our own neighborhoods. Maybe a random act of kindness. Maybe not pushing our way onto the train or subway. Maybe not cutting someone off on the road. Maybe not thinking about what our little ones are getting for Christmas as much as thinking about helping someone we don’t know.

    3. Repentance.

    Jesus was not silent. He warned and rebuked a wicked generation in the hopes of saving them. The first sermon of Jesus’ ministry was: “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near” (Matt 3:2). Similarly it was Jonah’s message to Nineveh: “Repent or face destruction” (Jonah 3:4)

    Repent for what?

    What have we done that’s so “wicked”?

    – loved ourselves more than God
    – served our own agenda and called it God’s
    – built our own kingdom and called it God’s kingdom
    – made money our life blood
    – put comfort and materialism ahead of sacrifice and obedience
    – massacred 55 million innocent children through abortion

    Imagine if 200 shooters were released into prenatal care wards across the country, killing 4000 children every day. Are these not the youngest and most innocent of all? Do they not have “… their entire lives ahead of them — birthdays, graduations, weddings, kids of their own.” Why does anyone have the right to take their life?

    – promoted adultery, promiscuity, fornication, pornography, lewdness, sexual perversion as excitement/entertainment
    – called homosexuality a civil right instead of sin
    – endorsed the lie that God does not belong in government, schools, business, academia and mass media

    We need to admit: I’m part of the Problem.

    We need to call the Church to repentance first.

    First, we must not blame someone else for the problem (“the heathen” are the problem). We must look within our own hearts and see where we are culpable.

    Remember, “Judgment starts within the house of God” (1 Peter 4:17) and “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways…” (2 Chron 7:14).

    We may not be aborting children, promoting homosexuality or banning prayer, but the honest truth is: We do serve ourselves. We have trusted in the “Almighty Dollar”. We are self-centered. We do have have strife and division amongst us. We have not forgiven. We are self-promoting. We have trusted in ourselves more than God. We worship “being in control”. We are prideful. We divorce too quickly. We fall to sexual temptation. We do not love our neighbors as ourselves. We do not discipline our children as we ought. We have made an idol of our children and family units. If we are guilty of these things, is it no wonder we have no moral authority to stop abortion and reverse prayer bans?

    So, let’s start here. With us. Within the Church. What business do we, God’s people, have heralding a message of “repent” if we are unclean ourselves?

    The number 20 in the bible means Holy (2 Chronicles 3:8). Let us not forget the blood spilled in this tragedy: 20 children dead. 20 year old shooter. God is calling us to 20:20 vision, returning to Holiness.

    “Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.”

    Hebrews 12:14. Sandy Hook tragedy was on 12/14. God is calling for a move of Holiness in the United States. A great definition of Holiness is not conforming to this world (Rom 12:2). The Methodists called for Holiness during the 1st and 2nd great awakening. It was known as the Holiness Movement. Hebrews 12:14 was one of John Wesley’s favorite scriptures. We too must pursue Holiness as part of a 3rd great awakening. “Be Holy for I am Holy” (1 Peter 1:16).

    I would encourage all to read through the following material and consider it’s implication: (read about Baal here…) Ancient Baal was simply a god fashioned out of serving yourself. We must divorce all foreign gods and idols, known and hidden. Read Ezra 9-10. Make no mistake, idols and foreign gods do exist today in the U.S. and in the Church. They are not made of wood or stone, but are very real. Remember that 5 out of the 7 churches in Revelation 2-3 were told to repent.

    Can Only Be Done Supernaturally

    These actions and accompanying emotions (for example: having compassion, rebuking, warning) can seem to be at odds with each other within our human limitations. But Jesus acted in all simultaneously and supernaturally through the Holy Spirit. So must we. Remember, Jesus is as fierce and unrelenting as a lion yet as gentle and compassionate as a lamb. So must we be. He never shrunk back from the truth.

    If we have compassion for the families affected, but shrink back from vigilantly warning the Nation, we fail because we are not helping people in the long-run (for eternity) and the devastation and death will continue.

    If we warn and rebuke in anger without hope and compassion, we don’t have love (1 Cor 13:1), and we are totally ineffective.

    And finally and most importantly, if we call for repentance without having “taken the plank out of our own eye” (Matthew 7:5) we utterly fail, because we are hypocritical, religious and worthless. One thing unbelievers can rightly discern about “Christians” is that we are all-to-often hypocrites.

    When we put it all together by the Spirit as Jesus does, we do well and please the Father.

    This is the true Christmas Spirit.

    PRAY.

    HAVE COMPASSION.

    REPENT.

    BE NOT SILENT.

  • Field of Dreams?

    Field of Dreams?

    Rick Joyner – Morningstar Ministries

    NOTE FROM RICK: This is a word that was first circulated in The Morning Star Journal, Volume 6.2. Because so many have reread this and felt that it addressed our present situation, we decided to resend it as a Prophetic Bulletin. With the exception of a few word changes for the sake of clarity, this is exactly what was circulated in April 1996. I still agree with the interpretation included.

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    MorningStar Prophetic Bulletin #75 – December 10, 2012

    Prophetic Bulletin by Rick Joyner

    A Field of Dreams or Nightmares?

    While praying about the future of our economy, I was given a vision of a long, lush green field. I felt that this represented a long period of economic prosperity, which has generally been the case since that time. While praying in August 1995, I saw this field in a vision again, but with much more detail. The end of the field was covered in fog. Not far into the fog there was a very steep cliff. In the middle of the cliff, there was a narrow, twisting, steep path that appeared like a descending bridge. It had the same green grass on it that the field did and went all the way to the bottom.

    Those who walked into the fog almost all missed the little path and fell over the cliff. Some of these died, but nets below the cliffs caught many of them. However, these nets were not there to save the people but to trap them. Others entered the fog carefully, dropping to their knees and searching for the path, which they seemed to intuitively know was there. Most of those looking for the path were able to find it and carefully started down on their knees. A few people had parachutes, and they jumped off the cliff into the fog.

    At the bottom there was a sea with four kinds of ships in the harbor: slave ships, warships, luxury liners, and hospital ships. Most of the ships were slavers. The next greatest number was warships. There were only five hospital ships, all of which were on clean, well-kept docks right in the middle of the harbor. The two luxury liners were docked at each end of the harbor. An abundance of supplies were on their docks, but both the docks and ships looked filthy and poorly maintained. No warships were docked, but all kept moving about in the harbor.

    The people who fell into the nets were put on the slave ships. Most of those who made it down the steep paths headed for the hospital ships, but many did head for the luxury liners. Of those who headed for the luxury liners, some were captured and made to board a slave ship.

    The luxury liners were closely guarded, and obviously under the control of the warships. The warships occasionally took people from the slave ships and luxury liners, and they were taking whoever they wanted—they could not be resisted.

    Those from the hospital ships were also taking people from the other ships. However, they only took the weakest or those who were so sick or wounded and not expected to live.

    The crewmen of the hospital ships were shown respect because they wore brilliant armor that seemed to confound everyone else. Those who were jumping off the cliff with the parachutes were all landing on the hospital ships or their docks.

    When a slave ship would fill up it would depart, making frequent turns as if it knew where it was going. The warships were also making so many turns that it seemed impossible to tell which way they would go next. Any ship that happened to be in the way of a warship when it turned was blasted and sunk by the warship. If the warships turned toward each other, they started shooting at each other until one was sunk.

    Because of the fog, many ships collided with other ships and sank. The water was filled with sharks that quickly devoured those who fell into it. The confusion, despair, and fear over the harbor were as thick as the fog. When the fog thickened, these fears would intensify. When the fog would thin a little, hope would begin to rise in the people. When the fog lifted enough so that the open sea could be seen, the ships would begin heading for it.

    The hospital ships were also the only ones who seemed to be sailing as if they knew where they were going. They could sail right through the chaos in the harbor and into the open sea at will. One or two of them were constantly going out to sea, disappearing for a time, and then they would return. Then another would go and do the same.

    As I followed one of these ships to the open sea in the vision, all of a sudden it was as if I was standing on the bridge of the ship. The farther out we went, the more the sky cleared. Soon it became bluer than I had ever seen it, except when flying in a high altitude jet. I was so intrigued by the sky that I had not been watching the sea. When I looked back at it, I saw that we were actually flying at a very high altitude.

    I thought that we were going out into space, but soon we descended toward what appeared to be a whole new world. It was composed of islands, each with a different culture of people on it. The wounded on our hospital ship were placed on several of the different islands, so that each wounded person was placed with those from his or her own culture.

    These islands were at perfect peace, and there were beautiful white bridges connecting them to one another, with a constant flow of people on the bridges. On each island vast foundations were being laid for a great city.

    Even though each island was very different, and different from any place that I had ever seen, I felt immediately at home on each one. They were each like paradise, and though they seemed to be on a different world, I knew that they were somehow very close to the one I had just left.

    Interpretation and Insights

    That I can now see the end of this field indicates that the end of our economic prosperity is now in sight. What I saw at the end was much more catastrophic than I had ever thought. There are some very dark times ahead, but at the same time there is a whole new world being built right in our midst that is more wonderful than we can even imagine.

    To the degree that we have built our lives and faith on the economy of the world, we have built on a very shaky foundation. We know that the time will come when everything that can be shaken will be. The time that we have been given until that happens is for the purpose of preparation. Let us build our hope and trust on the kingdom that alone cannot be shaken.

    Those who kept walking into the fog just as they had been walking in the open field, not discerning or not acknowledging the change, either perished or fell into slavery. Those who immediately fell to their knees found a safe way down, but it still led down. They had to stay on their knees all the way; no one could have stood up on that slope because it was too steep and narrow. Falling to our knees speaks of prayer. As soon as we see the fog, or confusion, we must pray for every step we take thereafter.

    That no one ascended, but all went down to the bottom of the cliff, spoke to me that the economy of the whole world was going down. Many will survive what is coming, but not at the level they are presently. Much of our present standard of living has been built upon credit, borrowing from the future, and the future is now here. We are fast approaching the time when the bills will have to be paid. That will cause a drastic reduction of our present lifestyles.

    I felt that the slave ships were banks. During the Great Depression, banks were so over extended that most of them failed. Somehow, they have now positioned themselves to not only survive another economic collapse, but will actually be in a place to enslave those who are in debt to them.

    The warships were all different sizes, and I felt represented different powers. Their efforts were not coordinated, but they all seemed to be in as much confusion as everyone else, and all seemed to be at war with one another. They lived by plundering the other ships and each other. I believe that in the times ahead, small wars will be flashing up almost everywhere and without apparent reason. Anyone who gets in the way of those with some power will be in trouble.

    The luxury ships were so filthy that it seemed only slightly better to be on one of them instead of a slave or warship. It was obvious that the luxury of the future will not be as we know it today. Also, the luxury ships were constantly being plundered by the warships, making them almost an intolerable place to be. Even a hint of luxury in the future may only serve to make us targets.

    I knew that the hospital ships were the church. They were glistening white with red crosses on them. They were so bright and clean that they stood out dramatically in this vision. White speaks of purity, and the red crosses spoke to me that they were bearing the cross. Red is also the color of sacrifice. These ships were so beautiful that anyone would have wanted to be on them. The church will become the most desirable place in the world to be, and the church will become the pure vessel she is called to be when she takes up the cross, committing herself to the life of sacrifice. In the times ahead, the life of sacrifice and service to others will be the most desirable life in the world and will actually be a glorious place to dwell.

    The people on the hospital ships each wore brilliant, silver armor. They, too, stood out dramatically whenever they appeared, and this caused everyone to show them great respect, even the warships. This spoke to me that when believers learn to wear their armor, they will command the whole world’s respect and have authority because of it.

    The docks of the hospital ships were also spotless and were overflowing with supplies. There was far more wealth on them than on the luxury ships, but the wealth was being used for service, not luxury. Because the individuals with the armor and the hospital ships commanded such respect, no one was trying to plunder their great stocks of supplies, even though they were obvious to everyone.

    When a hospital ship pulled between two warships that were fighting, they would stop fighting and give them their wounded. It seemed that this was one of the primary purposes of these ships, to simply stop the fighting whenever they could.

    In the midst of the chaos of this place, the dignity, resolve, and purpose that the Christians and their ships moved with was stunning. The greatest feeling came over me when I stood on the bridge of the ship leaving for the open sea. That feeling was freedom. As soon as we entered the open sea, we ascended into the heavenly places. Once out of the fog, we did not travel on the earth. When we came back down, it was to a seemingly new earth, even though I knew somehow that it was right in the middle of what I had left.

    That I entered this extraordinary freedom on a hospital ship speaks of finding our true peace when we take up our crosses to serve others. When we do this, we will begin to dwell in the heavenly places. Then we will see the earth very differently—we will see what God is doing. I really felt that those paradise islands were already right in our midst, but we just could not see them yet.

    At the very time when the world descends into a terrible chaos, which will probably begin with economic chaos, God is building bridges between people that will be the foundation of a glorious future. The end of this age is the beginning of the one over which Christ will reign. In Revelation 17:15 we are told that, “The waters which you saw where the harlot sits, are peoples and multitudes and nations and tongues.” The sea often represents mass humanity in prophetic language. That the sea at the bottom of the cliff was in the most terrible chaos represents what the kingdoms of this world are headed for. The islands represent that the Lord is also laying a foundation for His kingdom right in our midst at this same time. That I knew these islands were close to the sea of confusion spoke to me that what the Lord is about to build on the earth is also very close at hand.

    The bridges are right now being built between people. The bridges were for interchange, and it was obvious to me that each island was building something wonderful, as if it were the very best from their culture in order to share it with the other islands. That new foundations were being laid for cities represented a whole new beginning for the earth. What is now being built for the Lord, for the sake of His kingdom, will remain and be a foundation for the age to come.

    http://www.morningstarministries.org/

    Rick Joyner is the founder and executive director of MorningStar Ministries and Heritage International Ministries and is the Senior Pastor of MorningStar Fellowship Church. He is the author of more than forty books, including The Final Quest, A Prophetic History, and Church History. He is also the president of The Oak Initiative, an interdenominational movement that is mobilizing thousands of Christians to be engaged in the great issues of our times, being the salt and light that they are called to be. Rick and his wife, Julie, have five children: Anna, Aaryn, Amber, Ben, and Sam.

  • Hell is Real

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    Bill and Annette Wiese

    Author and hell survivor Bill Wiese answers the six most common questions about hell

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    As my wife and I speak at churches, schools and conferences around the world, we’re often asked questions regarding the subject of hell. Pardon the pun, but it can be a hot topic these days, given that many doubt its literal existence. Although God has given us many answers and instructions clearly in His Word—yes, even about hell—many people fail to read the Bible and thereby remain uninformed. We hope to change that by inspiring people to search God’s Word for themselves. After all, our opinions of what hell is like aren’t important—God’s are!

    Given that, here are six of the most frequently asked questions on hell, followed by simple and succinct answers that should stir you to dig deeper for what the Bible has to say on the matter.

    Agent Smith Fire

    1.  Why did God have to make hell in the first place?

    Just as prisons have been constructed to protect the innocent from those who break the law, hell has been prepared for the offenders of God’s law. Would you say that our governmental leaders are mean for constructing prisons? No—especially when you realize you don’t have to go there. If you do go, it’s your choice (see Deut. 30:19; Ps. 9:17; 86:5; 2 Pet. 2:9).

    Besides, hell was not prepared for man but for the devil and his angels (see Matt. 25:41). God never intended for men and women to go there. By contrast, He is preparing a place for us in heaven (see John 14:2). It is only by our stubborn will that we reject the provision He has made for our access into heaven. It is arrogant of us to desire to go to heaven yet demand our own terms of access. If you want to live in God’s house, you come by His way and not your own (see Luke 13:3; Rom. 10:9-10; 1 Tim. 2:4-6). If you want nothing to do with God, then there is a place prepared that has nothing to do with His goodness.

    Salvation is a free gift, but we must receive it in order to be saved. God loves you and is a good Father. He is trying to keep you out of hell and to divert you from your misguided course. Nevertheless, hell exists—and it will be your own fault if you go there.

    The simple solution is, don’t break God’s law. Jesus said, “Unless you repent you will all likewise perish” (Luke 13:3; see also John 3:36; Rom. 10:9-10, NKJV). Remember this point: Just as prisons were not the first thing our founders had in mind when they came to this country, so too hell wasn’t God’s first intent when He made humanity.

    2.  Isn’t God mean and unloving for sending people to hell?

    God is not sending anyone to hell! He sent His Son to keep us from going to hell (see John 3:16; 6:40; 12:47).

    All of us are on the road to hell automatically (see Matt. 7:13-14; John 3:17-18) because we all are born in sin and already condemned (see Matt. 18:3; 19:14; Ps. 51:5).

    If Jesus hadn’t come to die in our place, we all would end up in hell. Because we are sinners, we cannot live in His perfect kingdom as we are. We must be given a new heart and spirit.

    We become new creatures in Christ (see 2 Cor. 5:17) when we trust in His Son and His shed blood for our sins (see Rom. 5:8; 1 John 1:7). He will not let sinful humanity into heaven, as we would corrupt or defile heaven just as we have the earth (see Rev. 21:27).

    People think He is mean for allowing so many to suffer in hell, but they don’t realize He is the same God who suffered an excruciating personal death on the cross to keep us out of hell. He loves everyone, even those who deny Him and mock Him (see Ps. 145:9; Rom. 5:8; 1 Cor. 15:3-4; Eph. 2:4-5).

    If you play a game, you must play by the rules that are established. You don’t apply the rules of another game when you play Monopoly, right? Why do we think God should follow our rules and not we His? He is the designer, not us.

    God is not mean. He has provided a way for everyone to live with Him in heaven for all eternity. It is we who are mean and unloving for not acknowledging His existence. God’s Word will teach us the truth about heaven if we will only read it.

    3.  Where was God when the disaster struck?

    Let’s establish first things first: Disaster usually does not come from God. Evil forces exist on the earth, and we must pray for God to intervene and stop the evil (see John 10:10). God can, of course, send a plague or disaster if He chooses. If He does, then it is usually because rebellion and sin continue after His many warnings have been sent but ignored.

    Jesus told us to pray that His will be done on the earth as it is in heaven (see Matt. 6:10). Yet, for the most part, men do not pray.

    So, if we don’t pray, His will is not always done. If we would pray, God could get involved to a greater degree, as prayer gives Him the access to intervene (see 2 Chr. 7:14).

    We live in a fallen world, and people choose to sin and disobey God every day. There is also a spiritual law of sowing and reaping at work in our world, and destruction is a result of sowing sin (see Prov. 13:21).

    In addition, God has given humanity dominion in the earth (see Gen. 1:28; Ps. 115:16). He also has given the born-again Christian power over the devil (see Luke 10:19). The mess that the earth is in is not God’s fault but man’s.

    If God weren’t intervening through our prayers, then we would have destroyed ourselves long ago. There are no disasters in heaven, and this is His will for the earth, too.

    4.  What about the person in the jungle who has never heard of Jesus?

    You don’t have to worry about him; the Bible says God is fair and just (see Deut. 32:4; Ps. 96:10,13; Acts 17:31). If that person looks up at the heavens and cries out: “God, I want to know You. Please reveal Yourself to me,” then God will somehow make Himself known to that individual. He even gives people dreams and visions to keep them out of hell: “For God may speak in one way, or in another … in a dream, in a vision of the night … He keeps back his soul from the Pit” (Job 33:14-15,18).

    God warns us throughout our lives in many ways in order to keep us out of hell. He warns us through His creation (see Rom. 1:20), our conscience (see Rom. 2:15), His Bible (see 2 Tim. 3:16).

    If the person in the remote jungle doesn’t cry out to God to reveal Himself and doesn’t believe in the Son of God as the only Savior, then he will die in his sins, as the Bible says: “The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God” (Ps. 9:17).

    There are signposts of warning all along our road of life. Bible teachers say there is a warning about hell in each of the 260 chapters in the 27 books in the New Testament.

    If you equated those warnings to actual signs on a highway and equated the 27 books to 27 miles, then there would be a signpost every 540 feet, or about every six seconds when traveling 60 mph. If we ignore all those signs and then drive off a bridge, it is our own fault, not the sign-maker’s.

    God will find a way to make Himself known to all of the people in our world. The more important question is this: Now that He has made Himself known to you, whom do you say Jesus is?

    5.  Is the fire in hell real or just metaphorical?

    Revelation 9:2 states that there arose a great smoke out of the pit and that “the sun and the air were darkened because of the smoke of the pit.” How could a metaphorical fire produce smoke that darkened the sky?

    The rich man who had been sent to hell said he wanted a drop of water to cool his tongue because he was “tormented in this flame” (Luke 16:24). If it were only mental anguish or something other than real fire that tormented him, then why would water suffice?

    The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary notes that the parable of the tares in Matthew 13, which discusses eternal judgment, includes the Son of Man, the world, children of the kingdom, children of the wicked one, the devil, the angels—all literal figures. Holman then states: “It is then natural to conclude that the burning of the tares should also be taken literally.”

    If you take the Word of God literally, then it is easy to arrive at an interpretation of literal fire. I understand there are metaphors and idioms; but it’s obvious when they are being applied, such as when Jesus said He was the bread of life (see John 6:48). His Word is representative of bread, and He is the Word.

    To say that all the verses in question are allegorical would require some proof. Jesus mentioned hell in 46 verses, and 18 spoke of the fires of hell. The word He uses for hell in 11 instances is Gehenna. Gehenna was the Jerusalem city dump, and it burned continually. The unclaimed dead bodies were thrown into that fire, and the wild dogs and maggots ate the flesh.

    This is a graphic picture Jesus wanted the people hearing Him to see so they would recognize He was giving them a severe, sobering warning. Why would He compare hell with a place were bodies burned if the fire of hell was something quite different?

    6.  Is it fair for someone to live in sin and at the last moment “get saved”?

    It doesn’t seem fair. Most of us would think that person deserved hell. The truth is, we all deserve hell. Salvation is not based on our good works. We all are evil in God’s sight (see Ps. 143:2; Rom. 3:10-12,23). Only repentance brings salvation (see Matt. 3:2; 4:17).

    The point is this: For God to save an extremely wicked person, whether it happens 10 seconds or 10 years before death, shows how loving and forgiving God really is. He is not trying to keep people out of heaven but to get them in. If we can get it in our minds that getting to heaven has nothing to do with our being good, then we can see how He can save a wretch at the last moment.

    Look at the two thieves on the cross. One said, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us” (Luke 23:39).

    But the other one corrected him: “‘Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.’ Then he said to Jesus, ‘Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.’”

    The one thief was humble and knew he deserved his punishment. He also knew Jesus was God. He called on Him at his last moment, and Jesus saved him. That is how loving our God is.

    You and I might not always be that loving, but God will be. Just imagine, the other thief now has all eternity to think that he was right next to the only one who could have saved him from hell and he didn’t know it—or believe it. What an eternity of the deepest regret.

    I’m not saying you can live any way you want and then plan to get saved at the last second. God knows your heart, and only true repentance with a sorrowful heart brings salvation (see 2 Cor. 7:9).

    Also, you don’t know that you will have an opportunity to get saved before you die. Many people die suddenly. Do not take a chance with your soul. Make the right choice today (see Deut. 30:19).

    original article in charisma magazine…

    Website: Soul Choice Ministries…

    Video: Bill and Annette Wiese on Sid Roth…

    Book: 23 Minutes in Hell…


    Bill Wiese is a former real estate broker in California who in 1998 had a terrifying vision of hell. He and his wife, Annette, have since founded the evangelistic ministry Soul Choice. He’s the author of 23 Questions About Hell, which releases this month, and the best-seller 23 Minutes in Hell.

  • Harness Of The Lord

    Bill Britton
    Date Unknown (late 20th century)

    bill britton

    There is a terrific operation of the Spirit going on today to bring the Sons of God into an absolute confinement to the perfect will of God. This is the Day of His Preparation the day in which He is preparing the channel through which He shall pour forth His Glory for all the world to see. This channel is His Body in the earth that glorious company of people who are being conformed through much tribulation and fiery tests to the Image of the Son of God. This is His “battle axe and weapons of war” with which He shall subdue kingdoms and overcome all His enemies. This is His “mighty and strong One” to whom He shall commit the work of judging this world. This is His Overcomer, His “great army” with which He shall bring the nations into submission. The weapons of their warfare are not carnal, natural weapons but they are mighty weapons, mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds. These are those who shall “be strong and do exploits.”

    But before God can commit this great and tremendous ministry into their hands they must submit themselves to the discipline of the Lord letting Him truly be the Lord of their entire lives. We have long since dealt with the question of open sin but now God is dealing with the inward rebellion of our own wills. Some good Christians are not now being so dealt with for they are not in this Firstfruits Company but nevertheless there is a real dealing of God going on within those who are called into the High Calling of God. This is a very real thing and is the work of the Refiner’s Fire. To those who are going through it some of its aspects are horrible but very necessary and the end result thereof is glorious as we are brought into absolute and complete submission to the will of our Lord.

    It was in a minister’s conference and convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma that God gave me a vision which I want to share with you concerning this harnessing of our own wills. There were more than 30 ministers present in this particular Thursday morning service and God, the Father of spirits, was present to deal with His sons, to correct them and discipline them to absolute obedience to His will. There was such a stern dealing in the Spirit that no one could go to the pulpit and minister, there was a reluctance among the ministers to say anything except that which was directly ordered by the Spirit. And as those men of God sat there in the awesome presence of Almighty God, some of them having many years of ministry, some missionaries, all of them capable of getting up and preaching a powerful sermon, I was impressed by the way they responded to the discipline of the Spirit. And in the midst of this terrific dealing of God with our spirits, the Holy Ghost gave me a vision …

    Image

    I SAW THE KING’S CARRIAGE

    On a dirt road in the middle of a wide field stood a beautiful carriage, something on the order of a stagecoach but all edged in gold and with beautiful carvings. It was pulled by six large chestnut horses: two in the lead, two in the middle and two in the rear. But they were not moving, they were not pulling the carriage, and I wondered why. Then I saw the driver underneath the carriage on the ground on his back just behind the last two horses’ heels working on something between the front wheels on the carriage. I thought, “My, he is in a dangerous place; for if one of those horses kicked or stepped back, they could kill him, or if they decided to go forward, or got frightened somehow, they would pull the carriage right over him.” But he didn’t seem afraid for he knew that those horses were disciplined and would not move till he told them to move. The horses were not stamping their feet nor acting restless, and though there were bells on their feet, the bells were not tinkling. There were pom-poms on their harness over their heads but the pom-poms were not moving. They were simply standing still and quiet waiting for the voice of the Master.

    4 horses running wild

    THERE WERE TWO YOUNG COLTS IN THE FIELD

    As I watched the harnessed horses I noticed two young colts coming out of the open field and they approached the carriage and seemed to say to the horses: “Come and play with us, we have many fine games, we will race with you, come catch us.” And with that the colts kicked up their heels flicked their tails and raced across the open field. But when they looked back and saw the horses were not following they were puzzled. They knew nothing of the harnesses and could not understand why the horses did not want to play. So they called to them: “Why do you not race with us? Are you tired? Are you too weak? Do you not have strength to run? You are much too solemn, you need more joy in life.” But the horses answered not a word nor did they stamp their feet or toss their heads. But they stood, quiet and still, waiting for the voice of the Master.

    Again the colts called to them: “Why do you stand so in the hot sun? Come over here in the shade of this nice tree. See how green the grass is? You must be hungry, come and feed with us, it is so green and so good. You look thirsty, come drink of one of our many streams of cool clear water.” But the horses answered them not so much as a glance but stood still waiting for the command to go forward with the King.

    COLTS IN THE MASTER’S CORRAL

    And then the scene changed and I saw lariat nooses fall around the necks of the two colts and they were led off to the Master’s corral for training and discipline. How sad they were as the lovely green fields disappeared and they were put into the confinement of the corral with its brown dirt and high fence. The colts ran from fence to fence seeking freedom but found that they were confined to this place of training. And then the Trainer began to work on them with His whip and His bridle. What a death for those who had been all their lives accustomed to such a freedom! They could not understand the reason for this torture, this terrible discipline. What crime had they done to deserve this? Little did they know of the responsibility that was to be theirs when they had submitted to the discipline, learned to perfectly obey the Master and finished their training. All they knew was that this processing was the most horrible thing they had ever known.

    SUBMISSION AND REBELLION

    One of the colts rebelled under the training and said, “This is not for me. I like my freedom, my green hills, my flowing streams of fresh water. I will not take any more of this confinement, this terrible training.” So he found a way out jumped the fence and ran happily back to the meadows of grass. I was astonished that the Master let him go and went not after him. But He devoted His attention to the remaining colt. This colt though he had the same opportunity to escape decided to submit his own will and learn the ways of the Master. The training got harder than ever but he was rapidly learning more and more how to obey the slightest wish of the Master and to respond to even the quietness of His voice. And I saw that had there been no training, no testing, there would have been neither submission nor rebellion from either of the colts. For in the field they did not have the choice to rebel or submit, they were sinless in their innocence. But when brought to the place of testing and training and discipline, then was made manifest the obedience of one and the rebellion of the other. And though it seemed safer not to come to the place of discipline because of the risk of being found rebellious, yet I saw that without this there could be no sharing of His glory, no Sonship.

    harness_parts

    INTO THE HARNESS

    Finally this period of training was over. Was he now rewarded with his freedom and sent back to the fields? Oh no. But a greater confinement than ever now took place as a harness dropped about his shoulders. Now he found there was not even the freedom to run about the small corral for in the harness he could only move where and when his Master spoke. And unless the Master spoke he stood still.

    The scene changed and I saw the other colt standing on the side of a hill nibbling at some grass. Then across the fields, down the road came the King’s carriage drawn by six horses. With amazement he saw that in the lead, on the right side, was his brother colt now made strong and mature on the good corn in the Master’s stable. He saw the lovely pom-poms shaking in the wind, noticed the glittering gold bordered harness about his brother, heard the beautiful tinkling of the bells on his feet — and envy came into his heart. Thus he complained to himself: “Why has my brother been so honored, and I am neglected? They have not put bells on MY feet nor pom-poms on MY head. The Master has not given ME the wonderful responsibility of pulling His carriage, has not put about ME the gold harness. Why have they chosen my brother instead of me?” And by the Spirit the answer came back to me as I watched: “Because one submitted to the will and discipline of the Master and one rebelled, thus has one been chosen and the other set aside.”

    A FAMINE IN THE LAND

    Then I saw a great drought sweep across the countryside and the green grass became dead, dry, brown and brittle. The little streams of water dried up, stopped flowing, and there was only a small muddy puddle here and there. I saw the little colt (I was amazed that it never seemed to grow or mature) as he ran here and there across the fields looking for fresh streams and green pastures finding none. Still he ran, seemingly in circles, always looking for something to feed his famished spirit. But there was a famine in the land and the rich green pastures and flowing streams of yesterday were not to be had. And one day the colt stood on the hillside on weak and wobbly legs wondering where to go next to find food and how to get strength to go. It seemed like there was no use, for good food and flowing streams were a thing of the past and all the efforts to find more only taxed his waning strength. Suddenly he saw the King’s carriage coming down the road pulled by six great horses. And he saw his brother, fat and strong, muscles rippling, sleek and beautiful with much grooming. His heart was amazed and perplexed, and he cried out: “My brother where do you find the food to keep you strong and fat in these days of famine? I have run everywhere in my freedom, searching for food, and I find none. Where do you in your awful confinement find food in this time of drought? Tell me, please, for I must know!” And then the answer came back from a voice filled with victory and praise: “In my Master’s House there is a secret place in the confining limitations of His stables where He feeds me by His own hand and His granaries never run empty and His well never runs dry.” And with this the Lord made me to know that in the day when people are weak and famished in their spirits in the time of spiritual famine that those who have lost their own wills and have come into the secret place of the most High into the utter confinement of His perfect will shall have plenty of the corn of Heaven and a never ending flow of fresh streams of revelation by His Spirit. Thus the vision ended.

    INTERPRETATION OF THE VISION

    “Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it,” (Habakkuk 2:2). “Harness the horses; and get up, ye horseman,” (Jeremiah 46:4). I am sure that many of you who can hear what the Spirit saith to the Church have already seen what God was showing in the vision. But let me make it plain. Being born into the Family of God feeding in the green pastures and drinking of the many streams of the unfolding revelation of His purposes is fine and wonderful. But it is not enough. While we were children, young and undisciplined, limited only by the outer fence of the Law that ran around the limits of the pastures (that kept us from getting into the dark pastures of poison weeds) He was content to watch us develop and grow into young manhood, spiritually speaking. But the time came to those who fed in His pastures and drank at His streams, when they were to be brought into discipline or “child-training” for the purpose of making them mature Sons. Many of the children today cannot understand why some of those who have put on the harness of God cannot get excited by the many religious games and the playful antics of the immature. They wonder why the disciplined ones run not after every new revelation or feed on every opportunity to engage in seemingly “good and profitable” religious activities. They wonder why some will not race with them in their frantic efforts to build great works and great and notable ministries. They cannot understand the simple fact that this Company of saints is waiting for the voice of the Master and they do not hear God in all this outward activity. They will move in their time when the Master speaks. But not before, though many temptations come from the playful colts. And the colts cannot understand why those who seemingly appear to have great abilities and strength are not putting it to good use. “Get the carriage on the road,” they say, but the disciplined ones, those in God’s harness, know better than to move before they hear the voice of the Master. They will move in their time with purpose and great responsibility.

    And the Lord made me to know that there were many whom He had brought into training who had rebelled against the discipline, the chastising of the Father. They could not be trusted with the great responsibility of mature Sonship so He let them go back to their freedom, back to their religious activities and revelations and gifts. They are still His people, still feeding in His pastures, but He has set them aside from the great purposes for this end of the age. So they revel in their freedom feeling that they were the Chosen Ones with the many streams of living water not knowing that they have been set aside as unfit for His great work in this end of the age.

    He showed me that though the chastising seemeth grievous for the time and the discipline hard to endure yet the result with all the glory of Sonship is worth it all and the glory to follow far exceeds the suffering we endure. And though some lose even their lives in this training yet they will share alike in the glory of His eternal purposes. So faint not saints of God for it is the Lord that doth bring thee into confinement and not thine enemy. It is for thy good and for His glory so endure all things with praises and thanksgiving that He hath counted thee worthy to share His glory! Fear thou not the whip in His hand for it is not to punish thee but to correct and train thee that thou mightest come into submission to His will and be found in His likeness in that hour. Rejoice thou in thy trials in all thy tribulations and glory thou in His cross and in the confining limitations of His harness for He hath chosen thee and He hath taken upon Himself the responsibility of keeping thee strong and well fed. So lean thou upon Him and trust not in thine own ability and thine own understanding. So shalt thou be fed and His hand shall be upon thee and His glory shall overshadow thee and shall flow through thee as it goes forth to cover the earth. Glory to God! Bless the Lord! He’s wonderful! Let Him be Lord of your life, friends, and complain not at that which He bringeth to pass in your life.

    PLENTY IN THE TIME OF FAMINE

    For in the hour when famine sweeps the land He shall feed by His own hand those who are submitted to His perfect will and who dwell in the secret place of the Most High. When terror stalks the land those in His harness shall not be afraid for they shall feel His bit and bridle and know the guidance of His Spirit. When others are weak and frail and fearful there shall be those who shall be strong in the power of His might and shall lack for no good thing. In the hour when the traditions of the religious systems have proven false and their streams have dried up, then His Chosen Ones shall speak forth with the true Word of the Lord. So rejoice, Sons of God, that you have been chosen by His grace for this great work in this last hour.

    The fence which kept the colts in their own meadows and their own pastures mean nothing to the team in the harness for the gates open to them and they go forth pulling the King’s carriage into many strange and wonderful places. They do not stop to eat the poison weeds of sin for they feed only in the Master’s stable. These fields they trample under their feet as they go forth on the King’s business. And so to those who are brought into absolute subjection to His will there is no Law. For they move in the Grace of God led only by His Spirit where all things are lawful but not all things are expedient. This is a dangerous realm for the undisciplined and many have perished in sin as they leaped over the fence without His harness and His bridle. Some have thought of themselves as being completely harnessed and submissive to Him only to find that in some avenue of their life there dwelled rebellion and self-will. Let us wait before Him until He puts His noose around us and draws us to His place of training. And let us learn of the dealings of God and the movings of His Spirit until at last we feel His harness drop about us and hear His voice guiding us. Then there is safety from the traps and pitfalls of sin and then shall we abide in His House forever!

    Bill Britton served as Vice President (and co-founder with Wade Taylor) of Pinecrest Bible Training Center (now called Bethany Bible Training Center) for the first three years of its existence and was a great blessing in helping to establish the work at Pinecrest.

    For more of these and other messages:

    Bill Britton Ministries
    P.0. Box 707
    Springfield, Missouri 65801-0707

    Email: harness707@aol.com
    Fax: 417-865-3191
    Phone: 417-865-1075

    This is a faith ministry, made possible by members of the Body of Christ. Not copyrighted, may be translated or reprinted without further permission. All message free as the Lord provides.

    billbrittonministries.com
    pinecrest.org
    bethanybtc.org

  • New Day Dawning

    Paul Keith Davis
    A New Day Dawning: God’s Weighty Presence
    Nov 30, 2012

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    The coming days will bring greater dimensions of darkness in the world; yet our hope is for the appearing of God’s weighty Presence.

    As I am putting the final touches on this article, my daughter-in-law is preparing to give birth to my grandson, Isaac. It was prophesied before his conception that his birth would be a prophetic sign for our ministry and mark timing for the Body at large. I do believe something is about to arrive and the dawning of a new day is imminent. The child of covenant and promise is about to be birthed.

    Even so, I find myself in this spiritual dilemma; I’ve seen the great needs of our generation, yet I’m being compelled by the Spirit to pull aside and “wait on God.” Presently, I have been required to remain at home for a season. I am daily spending hours in prayer, meditating on God’s Word and waiting upon the Spirit. There is something of vital importance that we must obtain in this season that is essential to move forward. Perhaps many others are in a similar place.

    The Open Door

    As emphasized in Revelation 3:20, the Lord stands at the door and knocks and to him who hears and opens the door to his heart, the Lord will dine with him. This is an individual commission and requires an individual response. On the other side of the “open door” we will find Living Word revelation vital for this season and the Heavenly blueprint.

    The fullness of the ministry model God has ordained to respond to the great needs and challenges of the 21st Century is not presently on the earth. It is something that we must obtain from behind the veil in the unseen realm. It is the hidden manna reserved and set apart for this generation that will equip the Bride of Christ without spot or wrinkle and empower her for the harvest.

    Hebrews 8:4-5 tells us how Moses discovered the Heavenly pattern for his generation:

    Now if He were on earth, He would not be a priest at all, since there are those who offer the gifts according to the Law; who serve a copy and shadow of the heavenly things, just as Moses was warned by God when he was about to erect the tabernacle; for, “SEE,” He says, “THAT YOU MAKE all things ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN WHICH WAS SHOWN YOU ON THE MOUNTAIN.”

    It seems that oftentimes Moses was required at the most inopportune time to pull aside and ascend the mountain of God to receive insight, instruction and empowerment. It was on the mountain that Moses obtained the heavenly pattern for the Tabernacle and God’s ordained order of worship. So it is today.

    Lessons Learned

    Great value is placed upon learning from our past mistakes. In the prior generation many distinguished leaders found themselves captured by doing things for God and unknowingly lost their sensitivity to the voice of His Spirit. It is imperative that we guard against doing so much for God, when our invitation is to do things with Him. Even so, that is in no way an endorsement on complacency.

    Our highest purpose is to have relationship with Him. Intimacy with the Lord is the essence of our design in Creation and the highest purpose in the restoration of all things. To walk with God in the “cool of the day,” is still our foremost aspiration. It is in that place of “union” that we are empowered to influence our culture and manifest His Kingdom.

    The earth is entering into a season of travail. World systems will be powerless in responding to the needs that are about to be present in the earth. Even those obtaining revelation through spirits of divination are prognosticating essentially the same thing. Only when anointed with the Holy Spirit can the Church impart wisdom and revelation that will provide genuine light in this dark generation!

    The day is fast approaching when the prophetic ministry of the Church, through the spirit and power of Elijah resting upon a company of people, will once again encounter the “prophets of Baal” in a Mount Carmel showdown. We must contend for that higher standard.

    When the genuine is present, it makes the counterfeit appear all the more perverted. The Church should not fear to take the prophetic gospel to the marketplace where our enemy is presently attempting – often successfully – to dominate. This generation is desperate for authentic spiritual representation from the Kingdom of Light.

    In another Old Testament example, the 400 prophets of Ahab each received spiritual revelation containing measures of truth, yet the origin was a deceiving spirit the Lord allowed because of Ahab’s unrighteous leadership. A true prophet of God, Micaiah, was then summoned and was able to soar above the deceiving spirit and receive a true revelation from God’s heart (1 Kings 22:1-28).

    Spiritual discernment and a good foundation in truth clearly identify false revelation, thereby motivating the Believer to press in all the more earnestly to receive the genuine. The Spirit of Truth will render the false spirits of revelation powerless, as with Paul, Elijah, and other loyal servants of the Lord. Instead of their prophecies bringing numbness to us, those with the true revelatory mantle will precipitate immobility and disarray in the camp of the enemy. Light dispels darkness. Amen.

    David’s Example

    Although David’s destiny was one of greatness and divine favor, he was required to endure times of separation and hardship before being released into the fullness of his calling. It was during these difficult times that character was being forged to prepare him for being a king. Decisions he made in the wilderness helped formulate the pattern of David’s life when he ascended to the throne.

    A similar situation has occurred for many in the Church. It appears our enemies are prevailing, despite great promises given to us by the Holy Spirit. However, it is during times of disappointment and hardship that divine character is formed in us; we are purged and purified from our own carnal plans and agendas and equipped to faithfully accommodate the anointing. Righteous decisions that are made during these dry intervals will reap immeasurable dividends throughout the coming seasons of great prosperity that we are transitioning into.

    While experiencing the baptism of trials, it is challenging to wait upon the Lord for His perfect timing in releasing all His promises to us. Like David, we cry out to the Lord, “How long must we endure these difficult and trying times?” Patiently, the Lord admonishes us to “be still” and wait for the completion of His sanctifying work of grace within us, allowing the full release of His anointing through us.

    However, our tendency during these times is to “do something.” So we often misinterpret ministry activity as “doing the will of the Father” and confuse endless motion with progress. In Matthew 7, Jesus describes many who were involved in ministry but their eternal destiny was outer darkness.

    Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven; but he who does the will of My Father who is in Heaven. Matthew 7:21

    In doing the Father’s will, we access the Kingdom of Heaven and find favor and grace during times of need. In the Scripture, one of the Hebrew terms translated as “salvation” is yeshuash, which denotes deliverance, welfare, prosperity, and victory. Its unique application bespeaks deliverance from present troubles and the assurance that the Lord is aware of our condition and will intervene on our behalf. He assures us, saying:

    ‘I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for calamity to give you a future and a hope. Jeremiah 29:11

    Our Savior’s plans for us are for welfare and prosperity, not calamity. However, wilderness experiences are allowed to establish godly character in us and to allow us to sow seeds of righteousness that will reap bountiful harvests in the seasons ahead. We must pray with the same assurance as David, despite the external circumstances and trustingly realize that the Lord is faithful to His promises. Not one of His promises has ever failed in all of history.

    Beholding God’s Beauty

    After years of walking with the Lord, David gave expression to his heart’s longing. He had ultimately concluded there was only one thing he truly desired and one thing that would fully satisfy the purpose of his life: to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of his life and to behold the beauty of the Lord and meditate in His Temple (Psalm 27:4).

    David’s passion was to gaze upon and perceive the Lord’s beauty and delight in His loveliness. His expression signifies an experiential comprehension of the beauty realm of Heaven. Can we behold the King in all His beauty?

    In Isaiah 33:14-15, the Holy Spirit through the prophet Isaiah asks a revealing question: “Who can live with continual burning?” Or, in other words: Who can live in an atmosphere where there are perpetual expressions of God’s justice? The prophet provides the answers:

    1. The one who walks righteously.
    2. The one who speaks with sincerity.
    3. The one who rejects unjust gain.
    4. The one who shakes his hands so that they hold no bribe.
    5. The one who stops his ears from hearing about bloodshed.
    6. The one who shuts his eyes from looking upon evil.

    Such a person lives in a state of consecration and purity, which allows them to dwell in the heavenly heights; their refuge will be the impregnable Rock. Such a person’s heavenly bread will be provided and their spiritual water source will be sure. Such a person’s eyes will see the King in all of His beauty and will behold the far-distant land (Isaiah 33:14-17).

    Although the Lord first appeared as the suffering Lamb, He is now being revealed as the victorious King. Presently, Heaven is unveiling the Lord’s great glory and kingly authority. It is our outstanding privilege to be offered the opportunity to possess anointed eyes to see, behold, and perceive the revelation of the King and His Kingdom design.

    To Behold by Revelation

    According to biblical scholars, the Hebrew word chazah means “to see, behold, or select for oneself.” It appears fifty four times, and in every period of biblical Hebrew. Chazah literally signifies the ability to see “in a prophetic vision or as a seer in an ecstatic state.” In Numbers 24:4 the word means to see by way of a prophet’s vision, to see with intelligence and by an experience.

    The oracle of him who hears the words of God, Who sees the vision of the Almighty, Falling down, yet having his eyes uncovered,

    Through biblical promises, opportunities are given to apprehend experientially the glory attributes of God in perceptible and tangible ways as we “wait” upon Him. The sum of David’s passions were captured in that one thing.

    May it also be our chief desire to see, behold, comprehend, and explore the mysteries and infinite riches of the Lord’s goodness and beauty and discover His plans and purposes for this unique hour in which we live so that we can build according to God’s ordained model.

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

    Paul Keith Davis has written numerous articles appearing in various Christian publications, including the MorningStar Journal, Charisma and Church Growth International. He has also written four books including “Thrones of Our Soul,” “Engaging The Revelatory Realm of Heaven,” and “Books of Destiny,” all dealing with prophetic mandates placed upon the end-time generation. His newest book, “Angels That Gather,” provides a Biblical outline for the harvest and insight to help access our end of the age inheritance. Paul Keith and Wanda reside in Orange Beach, Alabama. Together they have five children and five grandchildren.

    http://www.whitedoveministries.org

    Elijah List Publications 528 Ellsworth St. SW Albany, OR 97321 www.elijahlist.com email: info@elijahlist.net Phone 1-541-926-3250

  • A Night to Remember: 7NOW

    7NOW = 7 Nights of Worship across CT

    7NowCT 12.8.12 KW

    Momentum is building as churches across Connecticut unite in worship and seek spiritual awakening in our region, Leaders from various social, cultural, and denominational backgrounds are gathering for seven nights of worship in locations across our state. we need you to be a part of this historic season!

    Recently, internationally known minister Chuck Pierce shared this word for our state: “If you would worship together over the next seven months…you will gain access to the double keys that are above you in my heavenly realm.” (Chuck Pierce, June 9th 2012.)

    Now is the time for churches to unite in worship and declare the Lordship of Jesus Christ over our cities. You are invited to join us for 7 months of unity nights.

    http://www.facebook.com/pages/7-Nights-of-United-Worship/265481293564819?ref=stream

    http://ctnow2012.com

    Open to all.

     

  • Mountains Turned to Plains

    Charles Spurgeon

    “Faith’s Checkbook” daily devotional

    (originally titled: The Cheque Book from the Bank of Faith – 1889)

    November 25th’s entry…

    Who art thou, O great mountain? before Zerubbabel thou shalt become a plain; and he shall bring forth the headstone thereof with shoutings, crying, Grace, grace unto it. (Zechariah 4:7)

    At this hour a mountain of difficulty, distress, or necessity may be in our way, and natural reason sees no path over it, or through it, or round it. Let faith come in, and straightway the mountain disappears and becomes a plain. But faith must first hear the word of the Lord—”Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, saith the Lord of hosts.” This grand truth is a prime necessity for meeting the insurmountable trials of life.

    I see that I can do nothing and that all reliance on man is vanity. “Not by might.” I see that no visible means can be relied on, but the force is in the invisible Spirit. God alone must work, and men and means must be nothing accounted of. If it be so that the Almighty God takes up the concerns of His people, then great mountains are nothing. He can remove worlds as boys toss balls about or drive them with their foot. This power He can lend to me. If the Lord bids me move an Alp I can do it through His name. It may be a great mountain, but even before my feebleness it shall become a plain; for the Lord hath said it. What can I be afraid of with God on my side?