Published on December 4th, 2008 | Guest Posts, Technology

The Goodness Of God

Graham Cooke

Published on December 4th, 2008 | Articles, Guest Posts

by Charlie Hamilton

Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life. John 8:12 (Emphasis mine)

Let us consider for a moment what the Lord means by “the light of life.”

Just the way the Lord phrased those words (within His Word) ought to enlighten us as to its meaning.

The light OF life – in other words the light comes from the life.

So many well-meaning people throughout History have sought to obtain the light. However I believe many have missed the key element – the life.

Why do I say that?

Because people approached this spiritual matter from the wrong direction – they tried to obtain the light without first obtaining the life (being born again) and then further manifesting His life (by becoming His disciples).

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Cor 2:14 (Emphasis mine)

Let me be bold for just a moment.

Just because you go to McDonalds does not make you a hamburger and just because you go to church does not make you a disciple.

Jesus meant that following Him (as His disciples) would provide them with the light of life.

How?

By really living the life that’s in Christ we shall reflect the light that’s in Him.

In a nutshell – it’s developing an intimate relationship with Jesus Christ that will allow His life to be manifested in our lives, which will then allow the light of His glory to shine through us.

Disciples are those who follow Christ. In so doing they shall have the light of life.

Lets look at this truth in another verse.

In the light of the king’s countenance is life; and his favour is as a cloud of the latter rain. Proverbs 16:15 (Emphasis mine)

Notice here in proverbs “in the light of the king’s countenance is life.”

Jesus is our King. His kingdom is the kingdom of light. As we follow our King he makes his face to shine upon us and his light illuminates our way.

In him was life; and the life was the light of men. John 1:4 (Emphasis mine)

Beloved we have a King and a kingdom, which cannot be shaken. In Him we live and move and have our being. In the KINGS LIFE IS THE LIGHT.

Here is God’s three-point plan for us to obtain the fullness of this life:

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. Mark 8:34 (Emphasis mine)

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:27

We need to understand that this a conditional promise. There are three specific conditions to it.

Jesus was very clear when said whosoever will (future tense) come after me…

1) Let him deny himself
2) Take up his cross (daily)
3) Follow me

Remember beloved, the light comes from the life (that’s in Christ).

To have the light we have to live the life. Jesus is both the life and light.

Jesus said… “When I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5

Christ is our only real hope, which the Bible says is an anchor to our soul. It’s Christ in you the hope of Glory.

Just like what goes up must come down, what goes in (Christ) must come out.

Blessings,
Charlie†

Published on December 2nd, 2008 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from Paul Keith Davis at White Dove Ministries.

Mantles of Revelation and Power

By Paul Keith Davis

I wrote this article on Joan of Arc several years ago after reading Mark Twain’s incredible book on her life. The Lord has been bringing this article to memory often in recent days and I felt its truth is pertinent to this present transition season. We are entering a time when the deposit of God’s Spirit that rested upon prior great champions will be reinstituted on those who have been prepared for them. This will be a first-fruits harvest that will provoke the body forward into a season of great harvest.

There are very valuable Kingdom principles that we can learn from the life of this wonderful prophetess. Her courage, valor and obedience will typify many in this last days generation who will give themselves totally to God’s plan and purpose. I trust this article is a blessing to you.

The Maid of Orleans

Few women in history are as intriguing as Jeanne D’Arc, the French peasant girl born in 1412, who heard and obeyed heaven. To some she was a saint, to others a heretic, but history chronicles her as emerging from obscurity to become her nation’s youngest military leader.

In 15 months she changed the course of European history. Her eventual martyrdom was Satan’s attempt to destroy her divine gift, but that same impartation can be inherited by today’s “Joan of Arcs” through God’s divine justice.

A Supernatural Voice

For her, the unlikely destiny began one summer afternoon at the age of 13. On that fateful day she saw a brilliant light and heard the audible voice of the Archangel Michael, leader of God’s armies.

Michael addressed her as “Joan the Maid” with the added admonition to live a pure and virtuous life. He announced her destiny as a God appointed deliverer to lead the army of France. Joan reported “I recognized that it was the voice of an angel. This voice has always guarded me well and I have always understood it; it instructed me to be good and to go to church often.”

To Joan, the voices of God’s spiritual messengers could be distinguished in the same fashion as one person communicates with another. She received audible expressions from the spiritual realm that charged her with the formidable task of uniting a fragmented army and altering the fate and leadership of her nation.

A Deliverer is Born

The extreme hardship of one hundred years of war with England preceded the appearance of Joan. The English occupied considerable portions of France with plans of further expansion until the prophetess shifted the momentum to the French.

The messengers of Heaven conveyed to her a twofold commission: first, to lead an army against the English in defense of Orleans, a crucial and strategic city for the French; and secondly, to restore the throne to its rightful heir, the Dauphin of France, a term used to identify the heir apparent who later became Charles VII. France had not had a crowned king since the death of Charles VI in 1422. Instead, the French crown had passed to the infant king Henry VI of England through a treaty signed by Charles VI.

This twofold mandate was an unthinkable task for an illiterate teenager living in the 15th century. Even so, the messengers from Heaven gave explicit directions. Joan possessed the uncanny willingness to risk life and limb in obedience to their instructions. She relinquished herself totally to the cause of Heaven that launched her into this supernatural arena.

The Mandate Established

To share this vision with the Dauphin of France, Joan journeyed over 300 miles through enemy territory for her first encounter with Charles VII. Charles actually staged a test to determine the authenticity her revelations.

When Joan entered the huge meeting hall filled with over 300 guests the Dauphin was not seated on his throne. Instead, he was dressed as a commoner and had mingled with the crowd. Led by her supernatural Council, Joan walked directly to Charles and addressed him as the imminent leader of France. Moreover, she also divulged divine insight involving his life known only to he and God. This validated for the eventual king that Joan of Arc was no ordinary maiden.

Subsequently, Charles and his councilmen embraced her vision and allowed her to lead 4000 troops in support of the besieged city of Orleans on April 29, 1429. The victory was swift and sure!

Phenomenal Victories

After capturing smaller forts that bordered Orleans, Joan surrounded the occupied city and led the assault against the English. Joan was gravely wounded in the conflict, as she had earlier predicted. Nevertheless, by the end of the day she returned to the battle. The mere sight of their courageous leader rallied the French army who promptly routed the remaining English forces. So moved were these hardened soldiers by Joan’s anointing and heroism that they “gave up swearing and prostitutes and committed themselves to a virtuous life.”

Joan insisted the men under her charge conduct themselves in a manner becoming professional soldiers. She allowed no swearing or lewd behavior and expected commendable character. The men willingly followed her leadership and affectionately bestowed on her the title “maid of Orleans.”

In subsequent weeks, several other French cities enduring English occupation were liberated by Joan and her army. So convincing were the early victories that in one confrontation only three French soldiers perished compared to over 2000 English casualties.

After accepting the surrender of Troyes, Joan persuaded Charles to return to Rheims for his royal coronation. In fulfillment of Joan’s directive given by the Lord through Heavenly messengers, CharlesVII was officially recognized as monarch of France.

Her Betrayal and Death

Despite her conquests, betrayal from French leaders led to Joan’s capture; this too according to her own predictions. In embarrassment, English rulers determined to prove her success resulted from witchcraft and sorcery. They added to her charges heresy-the act of challenging the authority of the Church. The representatives of the Church who tried her believed God spoke only to priests. It flew is the face of their belief system for God to communicate directly with individuals.

For nearly five months Joan of Arc was imprisoned, not in a facility for women but with English soldiers. Nevertheless, strengthened by the Lord and His Heavenly messengers, she remained steadfast throughout the ordeal.

To validate the charge of heresy, the English employed clergyman and theologians who strenuously examined Joan with the malice intent of discrediting her testimony. Remarkably, her wise and skillful answers alleviated their entrapping questions. According to Joan, Heavenly messengers regularly brought to her God’s perfect council.

Ultimately, the tainted court rendered a guilty verdict and condemned Joan to be burned at the stake. At 9 a.m. on May 30, 1431 the 19 year old messenger of God was wrongfully executed. As the flames began to consume her body, a cross held before her eyes was Joan’s sole request. Her final word was the name Jesus.

Five hundred years after being burned at the stake for heresy, Joan of Arc is declared a saint and revered by the country she saved.

A Call for Justice

The loving eyes of our Heavenly Judge see and record every action of humanity. In this end-time generation the books of Heaven will be opened and restitution offered for injustices committed against God’s covenant people.

As with Joan of Arc, Satan has battled the saints of God for millennia and seemingly prevailed. Nevertheless, God, as the Righteous Judge, will render a final verdict on behalf of the saints. Daniel recorded:

I kept looking, and that horn was waging war with the saints an overpowering them until the Ancient of Days came and judgment was passed in favor of the saints of the Highest One, and the time arrived when the saints took possession of the kingdom. -Daniel 7:21-22

Divine justice, released in this age, will be a key to empower God’s people. Joan of Arc’s life was a prophetic model. There will be many who follow her standard with faithful and obedient hearts and commissioned in awesome ways. Every seemingly lost commission, anointing, and spiritual gift will be redeemed and released to willing candidates.

For thousands of years God’s children have been martyred, persecuted, and plundered, but Heavenly justice will decree that all be fully restored and compensated.

All things take place under the all-seeing eye of God, and He has promised to restore all that our adversary has ruined. Clearly Joan and others like her, received a martyr’s reward in eternity. Moreover, they sowed spiritual seeds that will reap the most outstanding deposit of divine grace never before demonstrated.

I Will Restore

The Joel 2:25 promise of restoration is one of the paramount passages of this day.

God pledges:

I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten, The crawling locust, The consuming locust, And the chewing locust, My great army which I sent among you. -Joel 2:25

Joan of Arc was God’s appointed representative during a crucial juncture in human history. Abuse of authority from corrupt political officials eradicated the Heavenly deposit entrusted to her. God’s just nature will mandate a manifold restoration of this and other lost anointing through faithful and obedient vessels prepared to apprehend and demonstrate this destiny and the Lord’s redemptive virtues.

Published on December 2nd, 2008 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from Paul Keith Davis at White Dove Ministries.

The Latter Glory

By Paul Keith Davis

Sometimes the greatest prophecies come in the midst of the most unlikely circumstances. Following Israel’s Babylonian captivity, the remnant that saw the majesty and splendor of Solomon’s Temple likely found it difficult to believe Haggai’s prophecy when he said:

Speak now to Zerubbabel the son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua the son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and to the remnant of the people saying, “Who is left among you who saw this temple in its former glory? And how do you see it now? Does it not seem to you like nothing in comparison?

But now take courage, Zerubbabel,’ declares the LORD, “take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,’ declares the LORD, “and work; for I am with you,’ declares the LORD of hosts.

As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!’ For thus says the LORD of hosts, “Once more in a little while, I am going to shake the heavens and the earth, the sea also and the dry land.

I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,’ says the LORD of hosts. The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,’ declares the LORD of hosts. The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,’ says the LORD of hosts, “and in this place I will give peace,’ declares the LORD of hosts.” — Haggai 2:2-9

Nothing before or since has ever compared to the wonder of Solomon’s Temple. Even so, this incredible prophecy points to a time of extraordinary restoration and promise. Today many still find it difficult to believe that the glory of this latter-day house will exceed the glory of the early apostolic church. Nevertheless, God has promised it and His Spirit will see it fulfilled.
God WILL Tabernacle in a body of people in these last days to exhibit His holy character and do exploits that will exceed any previously demonstrated in human history. We must begin to gear up for this reality.

The Plumb-Line of Truth

Through the prophecies of Haggai and Zechariah a small band of people were determined to fulfill God’s Word. One of those great promises is found in Zechariah 4 stating:

For who has despised the day of small things? But these seven will be glad when they see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel– these are the eyes of the LORD which range to and fro throughout the earth. -Zecheriah 4:10

The plumb line of truth is now in the hands of our “Zerubbabel.” This great leader is a spiritual type of Christ. The “hands of Zerubbabel” laid the foundation of the Church and now the same “hands” will bring the capstone with shouts of “grace, grace.”

This points to the anointing, power and authority demonstrated by the Lord Jesus Himself to establish the Church’s foundation being once again demonstrated at the end of the age to bring the capstone or closing out of church history and the introduction of the Kingdom realm. How can this be achieved? Only, through amazing and exceptional favor with shouts of grace-grace.

The feast of Tabernacle’s is a spiritual prototype of this reality illustrating God’s manifest presence functioning through a sold out radical group of people called the Bride of Christ. This season will see tremendous demonstrations of the Spirit of Truth as the leaven of tradition and man-made teaching is extracted.

There is an angelic host working closely with the Spirit of Truth to establish revelatory truth in the hearts of believers and in the nations of the earth. Our resolution must be to continually follow the Word that perpetually proceeds from the Father’s heart.

The Word of Separation

The Living Word described in Hebrews 4:12 is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. This is an expression of God’s manifest presence. It is not a place in which we give lip service that is not consistent with the desires of our hearts. We saw a token portrayal of this reality in the last generation when anointed vessels stood before God’s people and revealed secrets of the heart known only to them and God. This was not merely a nice spiritual gift but a token of the end-time scenario when God takes up residence in a body of people to do the greater works.

Our council is to cooperate with Heaven and do only what we see the Father doing and say only what we hear Him saying. The Lord is opening our eyes and ears with the spirit of understanding so that our discernment is taken to greater levels to accomplish this purpose.

There will be righteous leaders emerging today who will be shepherds of love and truth. It will not be their intent to harm or abuse the sheep. Many of these leaders will have known failure and profound restoration through which they discovered divine love. They will have been healed of their brokenness but in the process, contrition will have become their standard.

The righteous shepherds will lead the sheep to calm waters so that the body of Christ can discover God in personal ways. Many of the shepherds will be emerging from obscure and isolated places. They will bring an anointing to calm troubled waters presently in the Church and will carry authority to speak into people’s hearts.

The preparation process has been long and difficult but God has given us new life at different times to encourage us to continue to press in to Him. Now the Lord of the Harvest has arisen. Everyone is called to have a role in the harvest; the harvest of souls and the harvest of promises begin with the humble and contrite and those who tremble at His Word. (See Isaiah 66:1-2)

Standing in the Gap for This Generation

The eyes of the Lord are roving to and fro looking for a righteous agency on the earth to stand in the gap. The Lord is asking, “is there no man when I call? Is there anyone to answer? I am speaking is there anyone listening? Is my hand shortened at all that it cannot redeem? Or have I no power to deliver? Don’t you know who I am?”

There will be a remnant of people on the earth who hear and respond to this call. According to Isaiah 50:2 the Lord asked:

Why was there no man when I came? When I called, why was there none to answer? Is My hand so short that it cannot ransom? Or have I no power to deliver? Behold, I dry up the sea with My rebuke, I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish stink for lack of water and die of thirst.

God’s Spirit can change things quickly. He is giving His people an instructed tongue that we may sustain the weary with a word from Him. He is presently awakening many saints morning by morning that He may give to them eyes to see and ears to hear instruction like His disciples.

The righteous prayer of Job intervened for those around him despite their folly.
It is time the fortune of God’s people be restored as well. The Lord turned the captivity of Job and restored double when he prayed for his friends. We are entering the season of the double-portion.

For I will accept him so that I may not do with you according to your folly, because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has…The LORD restored the fortunes of Job when he prayed for his friends, and the LORD increased all that Job had twofold — Job 42:8 & 10

Many in the Church are coming to the end of a time of pruning and judgment as it is beginning in the world. God’s desire is for our light to shine brightly as many people head our way in this dark season. It is time for those who overcome to arise with a measure of His glory resting upon them. This will literally be the fulfillment of Daniel’s prophecy when he wrote:

Those who have insight will shine brightly like the brightness of the expanse of heaven, and those who lead the many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever — Daniel 12:3

It is time for the accomplishment of divine purposes and a wave of harvest. The Lord is laying claim to this generation of young people as well as the seasoned and mature. It will be both the Joshua’s and the Caleb’s. The Lord is healing the fracture He has created in a third day harvest of the wounded and persecuted. His will is being accomplished in a mighty way so that a harvest can be achieved.

Trials in the earth will increase while at the same time end-time truths from the book of Revelations become increasingly clear. Great understanding will be delegated to the Church concerning these mysteries. The book of Revelations is a love letter to the Lord’s bride and prepares her to be joined to Him.

Destined for Victory

The Lord has already triumphed over the adversary and made a public spectacle of him. Many in a First-Fruits harvest will comprehend that reality more fully and appropriate it. The Lord delegates His victory to us when we are joined to Him.

One of our greatest callings in this hour is to no longer be considered the Lord’s servants, but His friends. We have a Friend who is eternally positioned on His throne of victory and authority and we need a more complete vision of this to fully activate our faith. Commissioning from the Throne Room can be a living reality as promised through God’s word. He is saying “come up here!”

The Lord’s Church is required to discern the times and seasons and possess the mind of Christ for this day. It isn’t His desire to hide it from us but reveal great understanding so that the worldly may see God’s blessing and wisdom upon His people. That is what the grooming of the last decade has been intended to accomplish. The pain of our past is the preparation for our future.

Brokenness without the spirit of understanding breeds hopelessness; but
brokenness with understanding imparts the hope of our calling in God. The Lord’s Spirit has been pruning and uprooting our fallen nature and carnal plans in order to inject His own pure nature. His ultimate purpose is to reveal the Fatherhood of God and make us His mature sons and daughters.

Though it seems we have failed in many ways, these years have actually cultivated humility in many. The arm of the flesh and our own strength cannot accomplish the end-time mandate. It will not be by the might of man nor the power of our own ingenuity; but by His Spirit alone. Our job is to yield and learn to co-operate with Him.

Like Jacob, the Lord has destroyed our dependence upon human strength and changed our nature. A new name is being given according to Revelations 2:17 to those who overcome in this fashion.

“A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob,” declares the LORD. “As for me, this is My covenant with them,” says the LORD: “My Spirit which is upon you, and My words which I have put in your mouth shall not depart from your mouth, nor from the mouth of your offspring, nor from the mouth of your offspring’s offspring,” says the LORD, “from now and forever.” — Isaiah 59:20-21