Published on September 13th, 2010 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from Graham Cooke at Graham Cooke Ministries.

Love Without Strings

Graham Cooke

Sometimes, when we think we love someone, actually what we love most is what he or she gives us. If for any reason that changes, then our relationship could be adjusted to reflect our disappointment or even bewilderment. We are always changed by our experiences of being loved. What makes us mature in loving is when we see our contribution to others as the bigger part of love. We love because we want to be an expression of who Jesus is for us. We love without strings or thought of reward.

Love gives permission to change and support the process. It does not wait on the sidelines until change is complete before it rejoins the relationship. Love is a willingness to share the journey and be part of the story. Life can be a comedy, a tragedy, usually a drama, always an adventure, and unfortunately, occasionally a soap opera. Real love always plays a leading role never a bit part.

We want excitement, not boring predictability, yet we often fail to understand that real love is mostly about how we overcome circumstances, not how we avoid them. Life is unforeseen, unpredictable, and made up of pleasure and pain. To navigate the twists and turns of our journey without using love as a compass and guide, means we will neither discover nor become the relational equivalent of True North. This is the most genuinely true alignment that can exist in the harmony between people.

Love does not accept a negative. It will challenge fear in an appropriate manner. Love stands up for love. The evidence of our lack of love is that we are afraid to be hurt or rejected. That can mean that we relate to people in the present so as to prevent ourselves from being hurt, as we once were in the past. That is dysfunctional and sad. We are governed by a present/past mindset that is protective in a completely wrong way. Perfect love casts out fear. The antidote to fear is to fully understand the power of love.

Love is not about opening yourself up to another. It is choosing to be your real self no matter what occurs. Love is about how we love, not who loves us. “I am what I love, not what loves me.” This has become one of the most powerful identity statements that I have ever made. It has produced a freedom that has revolutionized my relationships. Real love cannot be rejected, because it never seeks a return. Love is not an investment. It is the right thing to do. It is a part of our righteousness. That is, it is not just about doing the right thing, but more about being the right person. Be true to yourself and love others.

When the relationship of one person to another becomes toxic, love is still possible even if trust is negotiable. In real love, we always believe the best of someone. If their pattern of behavior does not change, eventually the lack of trust will bring us to a crossroads. It is no longer possible to believe the best, but we can believe that they have the potential to become better. Love relates to people’s potential rather than their actual nature.

Love overcomes our own hurts and wounds. How do we love someone when love is not returned? In exactly the same way as if it were! We love for the joy of loving. Love means that we don’t have to “fix” people. We simply resource them with how we see them, think about them, and value them. Doing something for someone else without the need for recognition or gratitude will benefit the giver as much as it will the recipient. Love expressed, increases.

Love does not control another’s destiny nor stifle their identity. We are learning to love openly and generously. Love that is founded on dependency can become toxic. We can suffocate people with our expectations and demands. We can over-protect like a security blanket that smothers people and allows them no freedom to discover life. Love releases people. It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. It is not our responsibility to change people but to give love freely and without strings. We earn the right to give advice. Loving-kindness opens up the door of trust.

We are accepted in the Beloved. The Father has put us into the place of His truest love and utmost affection. He put us into Jesus. He loves us exactly as He loves Jesus, even though we are at this time very different in lots of ways. We are learning to be made in His image. In the process of learning, we are loved as though we have made it! Being in Christ is a paradox. We are in Jesus with all the benefits of being like Him while we are learning to become as He is.

With true love, the process is as good as the end result! God gives love not by measure, but in fullness. Therefore, if we are worthy of love to begin the process, the same love that empowered us to start will compel us to finish. There are no degrees in the love of Heaven. Love is love, God is love, and so are we.

Published on August 27th, 2010 | Articles, Guest Posts

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

Secretariat

By Paul Keith Davis

In 1973 Secretariat rose out of obscurity to become recognized as one of the greatest racing horses in history. At that time interest in horse racing was at an all-time low in the United States, but this exceptional horse changed all that. Because of Secretariat’s prior history, no one thought he had much of a chance at the Kentucky Derby. Experts believed that the race’s distance or field offered little chance for a record-setting performance. Yet, to the surprise of everyone, Secretariat ran the first quarter-mile of this prestigious race in slightly more than twenty-five seconds, setting a new world-record pace. But could such a large and broad-shouldered horse maintain that stride and pace for another mile? Everyone wondered.

Surprisingly, Secretariat did better than just sustain that pace. He increased it with each quarter of the race, finishing the one-and-a-quarter mile distance in less than two minutes—an achievement unmatched before or since.

Suddenly a media frenzy began to flourish around this beautiful red horse. Observers described him as “truly magnificent.” He graced the covers of Time, Newsweek, and Sports Illustrated. A champion had been born!

The Preakness

Excitement began to build as the Preakness, the second race in the coveted Triple Crown, approached. The nation’s attention was turned to this beautiful horse, about whose attributes commentators struggled to find appropriate adjectives. One announcer claimed that in human vernacular Secretariat would be a Heisman Trophy winner, a Rhodes Scholar, and Miss America all in one stunning, awe-inspiring being.

In a unique way Secretariat’s performance at the Preakness was even more brilliant than his victory at the Kentucky Derby. Secretariat was in last position out of the starting gate but still did something unprecedented in this historic race: He sprinted full-bore around the first bend, and by the time he turned onto the back side, he was racing to the lead. Now, the turns on this track are tight, and horse-racing aficionados considered it suicidal to take the first bend too fast. Nevertheless, Secretariat did the extraordinary in his second of three monumental races. Veteran racing experts were awestruck, declaring, “Horses don’t do what he did here today. They just don’t do that!”

As he had at the Kentucky Derby, Secretariat won the Preakness by two-and-a-half lengths. Many believe the pace of this race was also record-setting, but because of a controversy over the time clock, the speed was never verified.

With two victories under his belt all that stood between Secretariat and the Triple Crown was the Belmont Stakes. One journalist said that if Secretariat were to lose the Belmont, “the country may turn sullen and mutinous.” World attention was focused on this single race, which some would later describe as “the greatest race ever run.”

The Greatest Race

On the morning of the Belmont Stakes Secretariat awoke with a seemingly mystical determination. His trainers later told reporters that he was “rearing and bucking, flaring his nostrils and rolling his eyes.” He was somehow filled with anticipation for the race. Reportedly “he burst from the barn like a studhorse going to the breeding shed and walked around the outdoor ring on his hind legs, pawing at the sky in a magical, unforgettable instant, now frozen in time.”

Secretariat totally intimidated his competition approaching the starting gate; a supernatural atmosphere appeared to surround him. He did not merely walk to the gate—he romped to his position.

The Belmont was the longest of the three races. After the starter’s gun had sounded, initially a horse named Sham gave Secretariat a formidable challenge. The first six furlongs were run in a staggering seventy seconds, with Sham incredibly keeping abreast of Secretariat. However, the pace proved more than Sham could sustain, and the challenger injured himself in the last race he would ever run.

Meanwhile, Secretariat continued to command the lead during the second half of the race. As one commentator put it, “It was as though he were running on the wind.” Midway through the race it was clear Secretariat would win the Belmont and become the first new Triple Crown winner in twenty-five years. Yet, even more astonishingly, instead of coasting to a safe victory, Secretariat maintained the same record-setting pace; he did not merely want to win—he intended to run the greatest race ever.

Certain no horse could maintain this pace for so long, many observers and journalists felt jockey Ron Turcotte was foolish to continue to push Secretariat at this tempo and risk collapse and the loss of the Triple Crown victory. But the jockey had little to do with it: Secretariat was running at his own pleasure. This was a day of destiny. Turcotte later commented that Secretariat had a mind of his own for this race, and he [Turcotte] simply held on and enjoyed the ride.

As the last quarter of the race lay before Secretariat, every fan, journalist, and observer grew mesmerized by the fortitude and sheer talent of this amazing horse, whose victory turned out to be one of the greatest events in sports history. His Triple Crown performance is unmatched in U.S. horse-racing history. It was the greatest single performance he had ever witnessed in a sporting event, recalls legendary golf champion Jack Nicklaus. When this mythic race was over, Secretariat had defeated his closest competition by thirty-one lengths and set an all-time record of 2:24, a feat previously considered impossible.

The Secret of Secretariat’s Success

What a great champion God created for us to learn from! Secretariat had a secret, which was only discovered at his death. During an autopsy, medical examiners found that Secretariat had a perfectly healthy heart that was almost two-and-a-half times larger than an average horse’s heart. Secretariat’s heart weighed a staggering twenty-two pounds, whereas an average horse’s heart weighs about eight-and-a-half pounds.

Secretariat had been given a supernatural heart. Almighty God, the Creator, had given this horse a special endowment and greater capacity than any other race-horse in recorded history.

When I asked the Lord why he gave Secretariat such a large heart, he replied quickly and concisely: “Because it pleased Me to do so.” No matter what veterinarians’ conjecture or animal-biologists’ suppositions might attest, God had simply decided to create a great champion. As Isaiah 42:5-6 declares:

Thus says God the LORD, Who created the heavens and stretched them out,
Who spread out the earth and its offspring, Who gives breath to the people on
it And spirit to those who walk in it, I am the LORD, I have called You in
righteousness, I will also hold You by the hand and watch over you,
And I will appoint You as a covenant to the people, As a light to the nations . . .

So in this generation of prophetic destiny, at a unique time in human history, the Lord Jesus will demonstrate divine power and Kingdom virtue through obscure champions with “supernatural hearts.” These champions’ hearts will be enlarged with passion and desire for the Redeemer and with Heaven’s compassion, which they will be able to transmit to a needy generation. Many, like Secretariat, will arise from obscurity to run some of the greatest races ever run.

Isaiah 22:22

In a prophetically symbolic way, Secretariat’s twenty-two pound heart could represent the generation soon to emerge with a commissioning from Isaiah 22:22:

Then I will set the key of the house of David on his shoulder, When he opens
no one will shut, When he shuts no one will open.

The key to the house of David signifies a governmental people who, like King David, will be anointed as both worshipers and warriors. David is regarded in Scripture as a man after God’s own heart. He possessed a special capacity in his heart for God and His Kingdom revelation. So shall the emerging generation of radical worshipers and warriors, who in a day unprecedented in history will champion fresh standards of excellence and victory.

David’s heart prophetically portrays the nature of the champions of the Lord’s army. They are dreaded by the forces of darkness, who will recognize Christ’s victory that they convey. As the Psalmist recorded:

Once you spoke in vision to Your godly ones, And said, “I have given help to
one who is mighty; I have exalted one chosen from the people. I have found
David My servant; With My holy oil I have anointed him.” —Psalm 89:19-20

God gave David the power to become a champion of Israel and God exalted him as a hero chosen from among His people and anointed him with holy oil. David was a champion of Israel foreseen and identified by the prophetic voice of that day.

There have been forerunners and prototypes in years past but now an entire body of people is being groomed for this lofty purpose. This great and weighty mystery is the hidden truth of godliness. In the Lord Jesus, God was made visible in human flesh and vindicated through the Holy Spirit and preached among the nations. The Living Word or Bread of life once again desires to be made flesh through a body of people joined with Him in a holy consummation. As we live not by natural bread alone but by the living Word proceeding from the mouth of God, the bread of abundant life, even so the hidden truth of godliness will become part of our spiritual DNA.

Eye has not seen, and ear has not heard, nor has yet entered into the human heart, the great blueprint of Heaven, the Lord desires to reveal to His people. Mysteries reserved deep in the heart of the Father, locked away in the mind of Christ, and dispersed by the Spirit who searches the deep things, await the passionate embrace of a latter-day company of overcoming, holy, victorious ones. Abba, His Spirit, and the Bridegroom say, “Come.”

Published on August 7th, 2010 | Articles, Guest Posts

This guest post comes to us from Francis Frangipane at Francis Frangipane Ministries.

Breaking The Bondage Of A Passive Spirit

Francis Frangipane

The Spirit of God does not want us merely to tolerate oppression; He desires we conquer it. He has not called us to passivity; He has called us to war! God has anointed us with the power of His Holy Spirit and Jesus has given us His authority over all the power of the enemy (see Luke 10:19).

This authority of the Lord is not just for guard duty or defensive maneuvers. The Holy Spirit desires that, as we follow Christ, we take the battle to the enemy as well. When David sings in Psalm 18 that, under God’s anointing, he can “bend a bow of bronze,” he also states: “I pursued my enemies and overtook them, and I did not turn back until they were consumed” (Psalm 18:37).

Let’s make this clear: David was first a worshiper of God. He did not pursue his enemies without first pursuing God. But when the Lord led him into war, he thoroughly defeated his foes.

I will tell you a solemn truth: Either we pursue our enemies or our enemies will pursue us. We must develop Christ’s attitude toward evil. He came “to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3 8). The Bible says, “Hate evil, you who love the Lord” (Psalm 97:10). The Holy Spirit is looking for determination in us so that, like David, we will pursue our enemies until they are consumed. It is, in fact, this aggressive attitude of heart that causes us to grow into mature Christlikeness.

Jesus could live with and forgive human failure, but He never allowed evil spirits to control Him. He was aggressive toward His spiritual enemies. There is no neutral ground. There is no room for a passive spirit in God’s army.

Attack and Counterattack

Let’s take a classic example of our need to act aggressively against our enemy: the battle for the mind. If you are frustrated repeatedly by fear, self-pity, anger, immoral thoughts or fleshly lusts, you know that these ideas and feelings will not go away by themselves. Your mind must be renewed through repentance and the knowledge of God’s Word. And if there is demonic activity exploiting your sin nature, that enemy must be confronted in the authority of Jesus’ name. Whether you are fighting fear, lust, anger or any other sin, you are in a war for your soul.

Some people respond to this by saying: “I don’t have a problem with an evil spirit; my battle is with the flesh.” I agree. Frequent failure in a particular area might genuinely be rooted in the carnal attitudes of our old nature. But if you have repented repeatedly and still cannot find lasting freedom, perhaps the issue is a combination of sin and the devil’s manipulation of that sin. The real power behind recurring failure may well be demonic.

Yet, even if you confront that demonic entity in the authority of Christ, your fight is not over. The enemy will wait until you relax your guard and try to reenter your life. Recall Jesus’ warning: “Now when the unclean spirit goes out of a man, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, and does not find it. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came’” (Matthew 12:43-44).

Jesus explains that even if you have had a genuine deliverance from the hand of God, a time may still come when that “unclean spirit” seeks to return to the “house from which” it came. The house it seeks to reenter is the darkness created in your soul by your pre-repentant thought-life. The way it seeks access is to masquerade as your own thoughts. Jesus warns that if the unclean spirit returns and finds your soul unguarded, it brings “seven other spirits more wicked than itself” (Matthew 12:45).

You must discern this counterattack. The enemy will try to infiltrate your mind, seeking to plant a thought or sow a sinful idea in your soul. Then he will attempt to water that seed with corresponding temptation. Beloved, we must capture those initial, invasive thoughts. We must be vigilant to recognize and conquer the oppression before it leads us back into sin. We must take authority over it before it can multiply. If we fail to use our authority, though, the enemy will attempt a full-scale invasion. Jesus says that “the last state of that man becomes worse than the first” (verse 45).

Thus, we must be aggressive in our prayers and actions! Satan will attack and counterattack. To win, in the midst of everything else we do, we must guard our hearts and minds. To do this we must exercise spiritual authority aggressively.

Present Attitudes and Future Victories

An Old Testament story captures well my concern with the effects of a passive spirit. Elisha the prophet was about to die and Joash, king of Israel, in an unusual show of affection, wept over the man of God. Yet a test remained. After promising victory to the king over Aram, Elisha told Joash to take the arrows and “strike the ground,” but Joash struck the ground just three times and stopped. At this the prophet became angry and said, “You should have struck five or six times, then you would have struck Aram until you would have destroyed it. But now you shall strike Aram only three times” (2 Kings 13:18-19).

Elisha was angered by the passive spirit in King Joash. He saw that the king did not possess the perseverance to pursue his enemies until he fully conquered them.

What does this mean for us? The prophet’s anger actually mirrors the Lord’s displeasure toward the passiveness or laziness of His people today. Is it hard to believe that Jesus would actually be angry with His Church? Then consider the Lord’s word to the church in Laodicea, a church that was overly concerned with its own comfort and passive in its attitude toward spiritual realities. Jesus said, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth” (Revelation 3:15-16).

Jesus would rather we were hot or cold than lukewarm. Does He still love those He rebukes? Of course, but He calls us to change our attitudes. It is not that passivity or laziness is such terrible sin, like murder or adultery. It is simply that such attitudes create a psychological prison around believers that actually holds us hostage to our other sins.

The Lord is not pleased with the spiritual passivity and indifference so prevalent among His people. We are aware daily that terrorists could attack with massive destruction, or we watch the advance of perversion in our cultures, yet many Christians remain prayerless and inactive. This is in spite of the Lord’s promise that if we will come before Him, humbling ourselves in earnest prayer, He will empower us to pursue our enemies and defeat them. But instead of seeking God’s face on behalf of the lost, too many of us are immobilized by the grip of a passive spirit.

I am not talking about the level of energy in our bodies, but the level of fire in our obedience. Elisha could see that King Joash was a quitter by the passive way he struck the arrows. Beloved, God has given us authority and He has given us spiritual weapons of our warfare to help us, but we need to get up and fight. We need to repent of a passive spirit and stand with Christ’s authority in this day of battle. For if we fail to do either — pray or act — we might actually lose the soul of our nation. Our defeat might come, not because God’s help was not available but because we saw the advance of evil and did nothing.

For maximum benefit, pray this prayer out loud:
Lord God, I thank You that You have given me authority over all the power of the enemy. Forgive me for allowing my voice to remain silent and my will immobilized by a passive spirit. I realize that to be an overcomer I must pursue my enemy until he is consumed. You have given me authority over the plans and works of evil. You have created me to be a minister of Your righteousness. You have filled me with Your Holy Spirit and with fire. This day I confront, renounce and take authority over the power of the enemy. I break the bondage of a passive spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Published on July 11th, 2010 | Articles, Worship

The Pursuit Of Joy

By Charles Hamilton

Many people strive to be happy. It’s even written in our constitution that as citizens of the United States we should pursue happiness. However, once we are born again and become citizens of the Kingdom of God, we must pursue something more noble. We must pursue fullness of joy.

What’s the difference? Happiness is not a state of being. It’s totally dependent upon external circumstances, however joy on the other hand is a spiritual condition. If you don’t believe it, simply have a bad day and your happiness melts away like wax under the heat of the sun. Joy is eternal and will sustain you even in the worst of times. Wisdom therefore is the pursuit of joy. There is a key verse in scripture that shows the wisdom of the ages. It’s in Psalms 16, verse 11 which says.

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

As you can see from this verse its God who will show us the path of life. The key secret being that in His presence there is fullness of joy. Not just a little bit of joy here or there — but fullness of joy. We discover therefore that joy is not some outward expression based upon external circumstances but rather joy is a person — the person of Jesus Christ. We learn then that simply seeking to be happy is rather a pointless pursuit. Why? Because we have good days and we have bad ones. If we’re waiting for the conditions in each day to be perfect — they rarely ever are.

Our conclusion therefore, is the pursuit of the person of Jesus. Because in His presence there is fullness of joy… and oh by the way… at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore. People today seek after external pleasures without ever once considering Jesus. They are looking in the wrong place for their happiness because they will never find it apart from Jesus Christ. We were created by God to have Jesus living in our lives and when we refuse Him — we were designed to malfunction. Apart from a personal relationship with Jesus Christ we will be forever bound by external conditions and circumstances. If we have a good day then we’re doing good… If we have a bad day… well you can finish the sentence. So, seek to know Jesus and purse Him in all you do. Because in His presence is fullness of Joy and at His right hand there are pleasures forevermore.

Published on July 3rd, 2010 | Articles, Guest Posts

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

The Voice of the Sign

By Paul Keith Davis

Obviously, the question most often asked in recent days concerns our prophetic perspective of the calamities associated with the oil spill. This is something that we are very personally and intimately involved in as it is occurring right outside our home. Clearly, I have spent countless hours praying over the subject both as a defense mechanism for our region and prophetic understanding of its implications.

In the process, I personally felt it was imperative to not take a hindsight position and prophesy after the fact with various impressions or opinions. That posture has a place of value to spearhead intercession and mobilization of resources; even so, I have felt a greater need for a more sure word of prophecy that bears the insignia of Heaven and provides valid direction and insight to mobilize God’s people.

The biblical pattern has always been that prophets foretold key events with direction and insight attached to it. When the event occurred as prophesied, a greater measure of faith could be attached to the message associated with it. Exodus 4 outlines the model for ministry in the life of Moses; spiritual signs were given with a voice or message. It is the message that is of paramount importance.

And it shall come to pass, if they will not believe thee, neither hearken to the voice of the first sign, that they will believe the voice of the latter sign. Exodus 4:8

According to Amos 3:7, the Lord will do nothing unless he first reveals His secret counsel to the servants the prophets. Furthermore, Jeremiah articulated God’s perspective in Jeremiah 28:9 saying:

“The prophet who prophesies of peace, when the word of the prophet comes to pass, then that prophet will be known as one whom the LORD has truly sent.”

It is imperative that we now contend for a greater measure of prophetic understanding and foretell events before they occur with the corresponding heavenly message. With that said, I felt it essential to only prophesy of what we may have seen before the event. In December 2006 I had a prophetic experience that I now believe has direct application.

Further below I will share a transcript of the full message as I preached it in 2008. However, there are two quick points I would like to highlight. In this experience I saw what appeared as a “manhole” being lifted from the bowels of the earth. In various times of sharing this message throughout the last three years I have used the expression “manhole” as the best description of the image I saw being opened over the “bowels of the earth” or the “bowels of hell.” (I used both expressions in various accounts of sharing the experience)

When I finally began to understand the implications of this experience with the oil spill, the Lord reminded me that this is a “man-made hole” that has opened the bowels of the earth to this deep reservoir of oil. The footage shown on news networks of the oil billowing up into the Gulf are almost identical to the images I saw as the manhole was lifted and clouds of evil began to pour out. In my experience the lid or manhole looked like this:

As a further confirmation, there was an article published in Petroleum World magazine entitled, “The Well from Hell.” In the article the author made this statement:

According to the New York Times , BP’s internal “documents show that in March, after several weeks of problems on the rig, BP was struggling with a loss of ‘well control.’ And as far back as 11 months ago, it was concerned about the well casing and the blowout preventer.” The problem is that this methane, located deep in the bowels of the earth, is under tremendous pressure.

This article utilized some of the exact language that I used while describing my experience. Furthermore, while in Connecticut in early June we were discussing the oil situation and one of our hosts commented that he had listened to me share my prophetic experience concerning the lid being lifted over the bowels of the earth. He reminded me that I saw spirits ascending that had the appearance of Hitler and other tyrants of the past. He pointed out that Hitler was born on April 20 and this event started on April 20. Just in recent days we have seen an escalation in anti-Israel sentiment that is demonically inspired.

This seemed to be a further affirmation of the application of the experience. The Bible predicted that during the last days darkness would cover the Earth and deep darkness the people; but also marked the exact time that God’s people would ” arise and shine for our light has come.” (See Isaiah 60:1-5)

The Oil Spill

From my perspective, I feel this is not an act of God but the foolishness and greed of mankind that the enemy has influenced and fueled as the “devourer.” Even so, God will use this as a signpost that we have crossed a line of demarcation in end-of-the-age events.

The good news is, I heard a Voice say in my 2006 experience that great hosts of Heaven will be dispatched to work with Christians to prepare and equip them to walk in realms of glory to facilitate the harvest and become the mature sons of the Kingdom. That is our hope and the object of our prayerful focus and determination.

When evil abounds, grace will much more abound. This is not a time for fear, but faith filled decrees and proclamations in agreement with God to activate His people to meet the challenges of this age and overcome the enemies attempt to hinder and impede the harvest.

The following is a written transcript of a message preached in 2008 in which I share this experience.

Encounter

December 2006 I had a revelatory encounter that I have shared in various places of travel. But the Lord is beginning to give us the next installment of understanding it. I was very restless one evening and couldn’t sleep. I prayed for a while and finally went to bed.

The moment my head hit the pillow, I went into a revelatory experience. I saw as it were a lid that looked like a manhole being lifted from the bowels of hell. The unique thing about this experience was that as I was experiencing it, I was also articulating audibly what I was seeing. Wanda was able to listen as I spoke what I saw. I watched as these spirits came pouring up out of hell, and I even recognized the appearance of some of them.

I saw spirits that had a resemblance to Hitler and Stalin, and other tyrants of the past. . . I knew we had crossed some form of timeline in the plan of heaven, and that this end-time darkness had been released on the earth.

I watched as these spirits were coming out of hell and literally manifesting themselves in the bedrooms of people. And I watched as these spirits were teaching individuals how to walk in realms of evil and darkness.

When it seemed I couldn’t watch anymore, I heard a Voice come booming out of heaven. And the Voice said, “The sons of light must respond in like manner.” I watched as angels were coming out of Heaven and were manifesting themselves in the bedrooms of individuals and speaking to them and training them to walk in Heavenly realms never before so freely accessed by a generation of people.

And the good news of this message and what the Lord is doing now is revealing to a certain degree the nature of these angels being dispatched from the Throne room. Interestingly I had this experience on a Friday afternoon, and I went through the weekend contemplating it. On Monday morning the Holy Spirit told me to write the experience down and e-mail it to Neville Johnson.

It turned out that very day he had exactly the same experience. He even saw the identifications of the same spirits of darkness being released by name. He shared his experience with friends that morning and received my email 12 hours later outlining the exact same experience…“Out of the mouth of two or three witnesses, let the Word be established.”

If you’ll remember in the experience that Neville and I shared together, there would be angels coming out of Heaven to meet with saints to prepare them for this calling. Now we are discovering these are not just going to be ordinary angels. These are angels of a very extraordinary nature coming from standing in the presence of Almighty God. Isaiah 63:9 declares:

In all their affliction He was afflicted, And the angel of His presence saved them; In His love and in His mercy He redeemed them, And He lifted them and carried them all the days of old.

The Angel of His Presence saved them! We’re finding out that this could have been more accurately translated in the original language, “Messenger of His Face.” The word used here for “angel” is most often translated “messenger.” The word for “Presence” is most often translated “face.” The Lord sent the Messenger of His Face to save them.

So what I’m prophesying to you this evening is, “That messengers of His face are coming from Heaven to empower us to become messengers of His face.”

It says in some rabbinical writings, that the “Angels of His Presence” are high level angels, also known as the “Angels of His face.” According to the Book of Jubilees, “Angels of His Presence,” are angels of sanctification, and are among the highest order of angels. According to rabbinical tradition the “Angels of His Presence” are the carriers of His Glory.

There was an incredible promise given to the patriarch Jacob. He had one of the most fantastic experiences ever given to a human being. There was something that distinguished him from his brother Esau; I submit to you it was his un-denying desire, even though his methods were poor, to be blessed with a very specific and unique blessing. A very specific and unique blessing is what He was contending for.

If you’ll remember, Abraham had been given a promise that he would have a son through Sarah. However, the promise seemed impossible since the Bible says his body was as good as dead. Then, the Lord appeared to him for the first time in human history as El Shaddai.

I was in Dallas, Texas, several years ago, preaching on the ministry and anointing of El Shaddai. I had shared that El Shaddai was the “All Sufficient-One, the many-breasted One,” like I had read in dictionaries. There happened to be a professor of Hebrew in the meeting. He came to me after the meeting and said, “Can I help you a little bit.”

He said, “What you shared about El Shaddai is not inaccurate, it’s just incomplete.” He said, “The truest definition of El Shaddai is, ‘I am the God of utter ruin and devastation and I am here to do for you what you cannot do for yourself.”

Abraham was not able to fulfill the promise now in His own strength. God did for him what he could not do for himself. That’s called the El Shaddai blessing. Can I submit to you what Israel needs in this very hour is the El Shaddai blessing. Can I equally submit to you that the Bride of Christ needs the El Shaddai blessing.

That blessing was then transferred and imparted from Abraham to Isaac. Isaac received the blessing given to Abraham; to be fruitful and multiply and occupy the land of his sojourning. That was the blessing that Jacob had to have, even if he were to become a “supplanter” to get it.

When the time came, Isaac laid his hands upon Jacob and blessed him with the El Shaddai blessing. He said, “May God Almighty, or El Shaddai, bless you to make you fruitful and multiply, and occupy the land of your sojourning.”

That very day that blessing opened the Heaven’s over Jacob. With that blessing Jacob traveled one day’s journey. When evening came he laid his head upon a rock and saw the Heavens opened and angels ascending and descending. We need the El Shaddai blessing to open the Heavens for us as it did for Jacob.

We need the El Shaddai blessing tonight to open the Heavens and release the “Angels of His Presence.” The Bible tells us over in Genesis 48:3, when Jacob is recounting this experience to his son Joseph, he said, it was El Shaddai that appeared at the head of that ladder when the blessing was given to him. In Genesis 28:13 he said:

Behold, the Lord stood above it and said, “I am the Lord, the God of your father Abraham and the God of Isaac; the land on which you lie, I will give it to you and to your descendants. “Your descendants will also be like the dust of the earth, and you will spread out to the west and to the east and to the north and to the south; and in you and in your descendants shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

When Jacob awoke from the experience he said, “This is none other than the House of God and the very gate of Heaven.”

Later on we then find his descendants, the children of Israel, in Egyptian bondage but they had a promise of deliverance. There was a very specific and unique anointing that was released to them to bring them into this promise that was given to Jacob.

The Bible records in Exodus 23: Behold, I am going to send an angel before you to guard you along the way and to bring you into the place which I have prepared. Be on your guard before him and obey his voice; do not be rebellious toward him, for he will not pardon your transgression, since My name is in him. But if you truly obey his voice and do all that I say, then I will be an enemy to your enemies and an adversary to your adversaries…But you shall serve the Lord your God, and He will bless your bread and your water; and I will remove sickness from your midst.

That was no ordinary angel; it was the Angel of His Presence. That was the Pillar of Fire in the burning bush; that was the Pillar of Fire that met Paul on the road to Damascus; that was the Pillar of Fire that we saw revealed before thousands one generation ago to reveal the secrets of the hearts.

The Lord manifests Himself as the Angel of His Presence, but He has in His jurisdiction angels of His presence or messengers of His face.

Remember what Gabriel said when he appeared to a little 15-year old Jewish girl? ‘I am Gabriel, and I stand in the Presence of Almighty God.’ The greatest revival that the modern church era has ever seen was commissioned in a very unique way.

A little free-will Baptist minister withdrew into a cabin deep into the woods of Indiana. He was having supernatural experiences for which he had no grid of understanding. He had told his wife that day, “I’m going into my cabin to pray, and if God does not meet with me, you’ll never see my face again.” He said, “I’ll die in that cabin before I leave it, without the Lord coming to talk to me.”

Three o’clock in the morning, after having prayed and weep until his eyes were practically shut; he sat on a chair with no more prayer left in him. 3 o’clock in the morning, deep in the woods, no electricity, no running water, no wife to hold on to if he got scared, when suddenly a ball of Fire came into the cabin. And if that weren’t enough to scare you, a man came walking into the room and stood under the ball of Fire.

The Angel said, “Fear not, for I am sent from the Presence of Almighty God.” Can I submit to you tonight that we need to hear an angel come and say, “I am sent from the Presence of Almighty God!”

The man was released into a commissioning. The Angel said, “Your peculiar life and your misunderstood ways are to indicate that you’re to carry the ministry of healing to the nations of the earth. You’ll pray for kings and princes and monarchs.”

He said, “How can that be? I’m an uneducated man, and a poor man, and I live among poor people.” The angel said, “As Moses was given two signs to validate his ministry, so will you.”

That was on May 7, 1946. By 1948, the entire world was in revival. Millions of people came into the Kingdom. Millions of people were healed supernaturally by the power of God.

Never before has any generation been more desperate than ours to see a demonstration of the power of God. But we’re discovering there is something greater than that; that is, to encounter the God of Power.

Right now all over the nation there are people that are following signs and wonders. But I submit to you there will be a company of people emerging today and signs and wonders are going to follow them!

And the secret that is going to release us into that mandate is when the Messengers of His face come who are the carriers of the Glory of God.

The prophet Moses stood face to face before the Lord Jesus, under a covenant sealed with the blood of bulls and goats. I had an experience where I saw the Apostle Paul sticking his bony apostolic finger right in my chest. He said, “Moses had to veil his face because of the residual glory under a covenant sealed with the blood of bulls and goats.” He said, “You have the covenant sealed with the blood of Jesus Christ, what’s your problem?” This is his admonition from 2 Corinthians 3.

In other words he wasn’t saying that we should timidly say, “Can I come into Your Presence?” He was admonishing us to prepare ourselves and come boldly before the Throne of grace and meet with the Lord face-to-face. We can’t do that flippantly… there is Throne room protocol; but the grace to live in that place was purchased at the cross and it is attainable.

Zechariah 6:1-2 declares: Now I lifted up my eyes again and looked, and behold, four chariots were coming forth from between the two mountains; and the mountains were bronze mountains. With the first chariot were red horses, with the second chariot black horses, with the third chariot white horses, and with the fourth chariot strong dappled horses. Then I spoke and said to the angel who was speaking with me, “What are these, my lord?” The angel replied to me, “These are the four spirits of heaven, going forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth.

I submit to you there is a host of Heaven that has been reserved for this end-time confrontation that go forth after standing before the Lord of all the earth; the very same ones that will bring the Bride of Christ into her end-time mandate will be the very same ones that cover and protect Israel.

You and I are called to be messengers of His face; we have a calling to see the Lord face-to-face. Jacob had an experience with God. He saw the Lord face-to-face and lived to tell about it. Moses saw the Lord face-to-face and carried the Glory of God. There is about to be a release from Heaven that is to begin to cause you and I to be illuminated, and we’re going to shine with the Glory of God.

Daniel said, we’re going to shine as the brightness of the expanse of Heaven, and we’re going to lead many to righteousness. The Lord Jesus said, “The Son of man is going to send forth His angels that gather out of His Kingdom all stumbling blocks and everything offensive; then the righteous shall shine like the sun in the Kingdom of our Father.

We have an invitation to “come up here.” I believe the El Shaddai blessing is going to be released upon us to open the Heaven’s like it did for Jacob. The Lord is going to do for us what we can’t do for ourselves. Then He gets all the Glory. No flesh is going to glory in His Presence.

Angels of His Presence – Messengers of His Face

I believe they just came in. Something just shifted in the room a moment ago. I’m contending for this to take place now. Wouldn’t it be incredible if we could leave Israel carrying with us messengers of His face? Wouldn’t it be incredible if the Angel of His Presence descended to protect the borders of Israel?

He will cover them and He will protect them. I submit to you that the enemy is trying to escalate things before their time. Several years ago I heard the Lord say that the Prince of Persia is once again trying to withstand the birthing of God’s purposes. And the way he was trying to do that was to facilitate things that are legitimately going to happen, but he is trying to initiate them before its timing.

It says in Zechariah 14:1-3, “Behold, a day is coming for the Lord when the spoil taken from you will be divided among you. For I will gather all the nations against Jerusalem to battle, and the city will be captured, the houses plundered, the women ravished and half of the city exiled, but the rest of the people will not be cut off from the city.

But it doesn’t stop there. “Then the Lord will go forth and fight against those nations, as when He fights on a day of battle. In that day His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives, which is in front of Jerusalem on the east; and the Mount of Olives will be split.

My point in all this is all about Jerusalem. It says on some level that there will be a splitting of Jerusalem. It says it here in Zechariah; But not right now! I’m not sure what it’s going to look like when this prophecy is fulfilled, but I know when it happens, the Lord Jesus is coming down to set His foot upon this mountain.

And you see the battle is taking place in the heavens right now, as the enemy is trying to make these things happen before the right timing. He’s been trying to bring you and I into a battle before we are ready for the battle. But I’m telling you angels are coming to visit with people to facilitate the preparation. He can do for us in a day what we think will take a year. The messengers of His face are the carriers of His glory.

End of the Transcribed Message from 2008

Conclusion

I feel confident the circumstances surrounding the oil spill highlight spiritual parallels marking the release of great darkness in our nation and around the world. Correspondingly, the prayers of the saints in agreement with God will facilitate the release of Heaven’s host to work closely with the Last Day Church to:

1. Fulfill Biblical End-Time Admonitions
2. Prepare for the Harvest
3. Activate the Bride/Sons of the Kingdom
4. Function in our Role as Priests/Kings
5. Stand in the Gap for Israel in a Greater Way

All spiritual seeds are coming to maturity simultaneously, just as the Bible predicted. I see these events as a signpost in the natural to emulate spiritual realities primarily targeted against Israel and the Church. The ultimate objective is to hinder our ability to achieve our mandate and influence our generation socially, economically, spiritually and culturally.

It is my prayer that God will take what the enemy intends for evil and utilize it for good by opening doors of opportunity for Christian ingenuity and words from God to help resolve this overwhelming situation involving the oil spill.

On a personal note, I believe the enemy is attempting to utilize these events to circumvent the promised outpouring for our region. We must look at it as a personal assault on our inheritance and begin to take a stand as the mighty men of valor described in the Bible. I’ve always admired the story of Shammah in 2 Samuel 23:11-12 saying:

Now after him was Shammah the son of Agee a Hararite. And the Philistines were gathered into a troop where there was a plot of ground full of lentils, and the people fled from the Philistines. But he took his stand in the midst of the plot, defended it and struck the Philistines; and the LORD brought about a great victory.

At the time of harvest the enemy routinely rushed in like a flood to steal the inheritance of God’s people. The lentils could represent all things brought to the place of harvest promised during the latter days. Shammah is a representation of God’s Army filled with courage and valor imparted through God’s lion-like nature who refuses to run even when faced with overwhelming odds. That noble act will strike God’s heart and He will give a great victory to His remnant. That is what I am believing for!

Published on June 26th, 2010 | Articles, Guest Posts

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

The Cloud Is Moving

By Paul Keith Davis

I love it when God confirms His word! Around September 11, 2009 I was given an extraordinarily vivid dream that has since provided a source of great encouragement. In the dream I saw a hand being extended holding an open Bible. I was told to turn to a certain chapter of the Bible and begin to read. After reading several verses in this passage I came upon a “Scripture” that simply said, “increase, increase, increase, increase, increase.”

Obviously, there is no passage of Scripture that says this precisely, but it was a symbolic representation of God’s desire to release escalating measures of increase for the coming days. The passage that I was reading was from Numbers 10. Admittedly, Numbers was not a book that has been on my radar in recent days. I have focused much of my attention on Revelations, Daniel, Zechariah and the Gospel of John. Therefore it was a seemingly random and obscure passage for me to read at the time, yet I knew the dream was from the Lord.

As a result, I determined not to tell anyone the specific passage that I was given so when the confirmation came I could have complete confidence that it was from the Lord. The following week I participated in a conference in Knoxville, Tennessee that included Bob Jones. I thought perhaps the Lord would activate Bob’s revelatory gifting and speak to me from Numbers 10. However, by the time I left the conference no mention was made of this passage.

I then flew directly from Knoxville to Dallas, Texas to participate in a Rosh Hashanah conference with Chuck Pierce and Glory of Zion ministries. I was quite excited to be a part of this gathering and felt a certain sense of appreciation to the Holy Spirit for His quick fulfillment of a prophetic word the Lord directed me to give Chuck the year before. It was a revelatory experience involving a huge white tent and the release of the healing anointing comparable to that demonstrated during the tent revivals of the 50s.

This was the first tent meeting they had conducted on property they purchased outside of Denton, Texas. When I arrived the tent was exactly as I had seen in the experience the year before. I still carried in my heart a desire to understand the implications of Numbers 10 but admittedly was not focused on it when the service began that evening.

To my amazement, following worship Chuck brought forward two individuals with silver trumpets to inaugurate the Feast of Trumpets and the beginning of Rosh Hashanah. This of course is taken from Numbers 10:1-2 and the declaration given to Israel for the purpose of calling a holy assembly and alerting the people for times of movement.

Make yourself two trumpets of silver, of hammered work you shall make them; and you shall use them for summoning the congregation and for having the camps set out. When both are blown, all the congregation shall gather themselves to you at the doorway of the tent of meeting.

I was even more amazed when Chuck declared that he was going to do a brief teaching from Numbers 10 as a prophetic announcement for the services and the coming season in God. There was my confirmation!

Moving With God

Numbers 10 is a chapter devoted to the preparation of God’s people to move with the cloud of His Presence into a place of promise. Very specific and meticulous instruction was given to Moses when the time came for the cloud to move to another location. Clearly, from this prophetic insight, the body of Christ is being called to a holy assembly and preparing to follow the movement of His Presence. The cloud is moving!

The specific verse that I was reading in my dream that was translated “increase, increase, increase, increase, increase” was actually Numbers 10:28 saying, “This was the order of march of the sons of Israel by their armies as they set out.”

My interpretation of this passage as it relates to the coming increase is derived from our necessity to follow God’s meticulous order outlined by His Spirit. The Lord has a prescribed way that He desires for us to align ourselves with Him in order for His blessings of favor and grace to accompany us, resulting in progressive measures of increase. Much of that order can be found in Isaiah 66:1-2 saying:

Thus says the LORD, “Heaven is My throne and the earth is My footstool. Where then is a house you could build for me? And where is a place that I may rest? For My hand made all these things, thus all these things came into being,” declares the LORD. “But to this one I will look, to him who is humble and contrite of spirit, and who trembles at My word.

Three things will help align us with God for the coming days:
1. The Spirit of Humility
2. A Broken and Contrite Heart
3. Trembling in Reverence and Awe at God’s Word (Rhema & Logos)

Praise, Times & Seasons, Habitation

The Lord clearly instructed Moses to have three tribes precede the Tabernacle as they began to march-Judah, Issachar and Zebulun. (Numbers 10:14-16)

The standard representing Judah was that of a lion. Clearly, the Lord is presenting Himself as the Lion from the tribe of Judah. He came once in a manger and offered Himself as a suffering lamb. However, now He comes roaring in resurrection power to appropriate His overcoming victory through a body of people identified as the Bride of Christ. Praise must go before us along with a clear understanding of times and seasons as depicted in the blessings of Issachar.

We are now entering an “appointed time” for advancement and especially the recovery of lost heritage. While in South Africa following Rosh Hashanah very clear revelatory insights were given concerning Zebulun and the blessing of Moses found in Deuteronomy 33:18-19 saying:

Of Zebulun he said, “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going forth, and, Issachar, in your tents. They will call peoples to the mountain; there they will offer righteous sacrifices; for they will draw out the abundance of the seas, and the hidden treasures of the sand.”

The name Zebulon means “a habitation” but the land of Zebulun was once ostracized for its darkness and apostasy. However, one visitation from the Lord Jesus and it became known as a land of illumination and a source of great Light. (Matthew 4:15-16.) This blessing provides a prophetic picture of many places being positioned for divine visitation. I believe this will be especially true along certain coastal areas that have received prophetic promises through the blessings of Zebulun. Naturally, that is not to say this will be limited to coastal areas but this word is identifying those places with this promise.

A New Season

I believe this past fall festival season has been one of the most important in recent memory. Very clear and precise revelations have been granted concerning God’s desire to release not only demonstrations of His Spirit but also a more pronounced measure of His Presence. We are called and commissioned in this season to bring in a wave of harvest that will consist of future harvesters; the Cloud is moving in that direction. Along with our emphasis on evangelism there must also be a corresponding emphasis on equipping, mentoring and preparation.

Published on June 2nd, 2010 | Articles, Guest Posts, Worship

This guest post comes to us from Graham Cooke at Graham Cooke Ministries.

Living Your Destiny

Graham Cooke

All of the tests you presently face are there to develop you into the person you need to be to live your destiny. Everything you are going through has been aligned by God to forge you into the person He has called you to be. Your destiny is unfolding before your very eyes. You have a battle to win, and He must prepare you for it.

When we embrace the idea that God has a plan for us, no issue should be able to stop us. The statement, “This situation will be the death of me,” is completely incorrect. The truth is that this situation will make you into who you are destined to be.

God partners with our present situation to prepare us for the future He has designed. He uses every test, every challenge, every hurdle, every issue to sharpen us for what is to come.

We can use the prophecies over our life to navigate our way through our present circumstance. God wants to establish intimacy as a way of life. He wants to cover us in His favor. This process starts by God establishing the fact that He is our source. Quietly and deliberately, God will strip away every crutch we have been relying on and obliterate anything that detracts from His ability to provide for us.

He wants to take away the false sense of security most of us have been clinging to. God is not in the business of playing second fiddle to anything—and certainly not to the many ways we try and take care of ourselves.

Lesson one is to go into the future and bring back the traits and intimacy we will need to fulfill our destiny. We must understand what that intimacy will look like. How must our relationship with God evolve and grow in order for us to become the person He has destined us to be?

When I was 31 years old, I had a dream about the kind of relationship with God I would have when I was 45. It was so alluring, so magnificent, so amazing, that I did not want to wait 14 years to get there. I was so hungry when I woke up that I immediately began to pray for that kind of intimacy to happen right away. I discovered something in the process of fighting for that word—I didn’t have to wait until I was 45 for it to come to pass. I had been looking prophetically at a 45-year-old who had lived in that intimacy for ten years!

Our timeline is not always God’s timeline. He often wants to bring breakthrough far sooner than we dare hope. I wanted that intimacy at age 31, thanks to God creating a deep hunger in me for it. I thought about it, meditated on it, prayed for it, and began to come into powerful times of worship. An hour worshipping God would turn into two and then three and sometimes six. I desperately wanted to know God, and God always answers an extreme desire for intimacy.

Prophetic words come to pass as our intimacy and reliance on God develops. Intimacy is a part of our destiny. Look at the prophetic words over your life and ask yourself about the intimacy you will need to live in that kind of wonder. Become hungry for that relationship, and your destiny will come into focus.

In Genesis 18:9, God says a remarkably simple thing about Abraham, His dear friend: “I have known him,” (NKJV). God wants that same intimacy with us, and has guaranteed that it can occur through the love and motivation of Jesus. Intimacy draws us and keeps us in the presence of God. Jesus taught on the importance of this relationship in John 15:4-5—

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.

Intimacy is a reciprocal act; there is exchange and dialogue. It is not a one-way street. There is interaction between us and the Lord Jesus, and that interaction results in us staying, dwelling, and remaining where God has put us in Christ.

The enemy wants to knock us out of that place of intimacy. He knows how key that relationship is to everything the Lord wants to accomplish, so he tries to poison it from the start. Without water, a seed won’t grow; the enemy wants to kill the seed of our destiny before we grow even a single inch. But our job is to be so established in an intimate relationship with God that nothing can come between us and Him.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting,” David sang in Psalm 139:23-24. That is the very crux of intimacy—allowing God to look deep into us and remove any blockage between Him and us. Everything in our lives, every situation we go through, is about growing our intimacy with God.

Published on May 17th, 2010 | Articles, Guest Posts

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

The Radical Remnant

By Paul Keith Davis

Say to Zion, “you are My people!” For some time this has been the expression I have heard coming from the Lord’s Spirit. It is taken from Isaiah’s prophecies in a season of messianic promise when an anointed word will be placed in the mouths of God’s remnant who prophesy from an atmosphere of the anointing to accomplish three things: Isaiah 51:15-16

1. Found the revelation of God’s Kingdom in the heavenly places
2. Establish on the Earth what is founded in the heavens
3. Prophesy to the Zion Company (God’s Radical Remnant) a season of destiny and promise

We are living in a time clearly defined as the “harvest” generation. All spiritual seeds are coming to maturity simultaneously; both the seeds of light and darkness developing and requiring an active response on our part. This will cause some who have straddled the spiritual fence to take one side or the other in this heightened spiritual environment in which we presently live.

According to Revelations 3, we must either be blistering hot or we will find ourselves overcome by darkness. The times will no longer allow for lukewarm Christianity among God’s radical remnant. The spirit of anti-christ is coming to full maturity in the earth. Likewise, the Spirit of Christ is developing maturity in the hearts of a company who will demonstrate mighty expressions of spiritual authority and power in this day of spiritual restoration mingled with the promise of “new things.” According to Zechariah 8:11-13:

“But now I will not treat the remnant of this people as in the former days,’ declares the LORD of hosts. “For there will be peace for the seed: the vine will yield its fruit, the land will yield its produce and the heavens will give their dew; and I will cause the remnant of this people to inherit all these things. It will come about that just as you were a curse among the nations, O house of Judah and house of Israel, so I will save you that you may become a blessing. Do not fear; let your hands be strong.’

Throughout the Church Ages, there have been admonitions and promises given to those who overcome the spiritual adversity of their day to be sealed into the Kingdom and rewarded with significant spiritual blessings. “To those who overcome” is a noteworthy identification directing the destiny of the remnant of God’s people who are victorious in the struggle with our adversary who often counterfeits the genuine expression of God.

The Lord has prophetically promised to establish a Biblical government with apostolic authority necessary for the preparation of His end-time Bride. A great opportunity of grace is being released to the Church…we must embrace it. This will begin the process of separating the precious from the worthless allowing us to “taste the good word of God and the powers of the age to come. (Hebrews 6:5) The Lord can only trust us with the fullness of His rich power and Kingdom authority, when our character and nature is consistent with His.

Our previous lack of “comprehension” has greatly inhibited our ability to be the bright shining light in this dark world. This is beginning to change. The Lord is bringing forth a people of great spiritual understanding who will become beacons of light in the midst of deep darkness

This remnant will surface from the process of separation and washing in Truth will be anointed with Holy Spirit power and display the Lord’s victory over demons, disease and death. This previous “span” of time has provided a season of preparation and purging for the ones being groomed for this anointing and commissioning.

Washed By The Word

It is presently the Holy Spirit’s desire to create radical purity essential for entering the secret place of the Most High and union with Christ. The emphasis of the Spirit is now fixed on the cleansing and purifying work necessary for believers to enter a higher dimension of anointing and relationship with God.

That He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word that He might present to Himself the Church in all her glory, having no spot or wrinkle or any such thing; but that she should be holy and blameless. Ephesians 5:26-27

When Holy Spirit anointing quickens the Word with life and power, truth is allowed to penetrate into the very fiber of our being, transforming us into the likeness of Christ. When the ultimate process of sanctification has been achieved, we will be presented to the Bridegroom in the fullness of His image. That is being washed by the water of the Word.

The Holy Spirit will identify issues within us contrary to His nature and quicken the Word of Truth to provide a divine alternative; this is the process of “overcoming.” When we embrace the revealed Truth with our arms of faith, it will begin to change our nature and character to create purity and a Christ-like mind.

The mark of genuine Christianity is clearly recognized in the virtue of a consecrated life. This takes place when our thoughts and ways are consistent with His. It is in the possession of the mind of Christ we discover the secrets of His Kingdom and embrace the keys that unlock the vast resources of our promised inheritance.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. –Philippians 4:6-7

There is available in God a place of peace and rest that serves as a guard or garrison over our hearts and minds. The term “guard” is taken from “phroureo” meaning to protect by a military guard or to prevent hostile invasion or an unwanted besieging. A spiritual watch is assigned to govern and express the pure and powerful qualities of God inherent in the Living Word.

The Zadok Priesthood

There is an emerging remnant of leaders that can be prophetically characterized by the Zadok Priesthood portrayed in Ezekiel 44. This distinguished division of the Priesthood remained faithful to the Word of God during times of apostasy and infidelity.

For their faithfulness, they were rewarded with a divine invitation to minister to the Lord at His table. As they emerged from that place of intimacy and fellowship, a commission was granted to teach God’s people the difference between the precious and the profane and extract the clean from the unclean. According to Ezekiel 44:15-16:

But the Levitical priests, the sons of Zadok, who kept charge of My sanctuary when the sons of Israel went astray from Me, shall come near to Me to minister to Me; and they shall stand before Me to offer Me the fat and the blood,” declares the Lord GOD. They shall enter My sanctuary; they shall come near to My table to minister to Me and keep My charge.

This passage closely relates to Revelations 3:20-21. There is a present emphasis on the ministry of “inspired teachers” to prepare the body of Christ to receive the strong Apostolic and Prophetic ministries yet to function in fullness and maturity who will promote the separation of the “precious from the profane.” These anointed saints who “overcome” will provide fresh revelation of His Word reserved for this generation from a place of intimacy, fellowship and union with God.

God’s Government is coming forth to be properly placed in its role as the foundation with Jesus Christ as chief Cornerstone. These will be leaders in whom the Lord has found pleasure and can be trusted with the power and authority necessary for Kingdom purposes.

They will be the judges and counselors who will not judge by what their eyes see nor what their ears hear, but in righteousness make judgments of equity and justice. The refiner’s fire is thoroughly purifying these leaders so the anointing would not be lost nor the wineskins destroyed for lack of character. It will be a true impartation of the divine nature and Holy character established in the spirit and soul of the Lord’s leadership.

Inspired Priests

The term inspired priests is one taken from both Old and New Testament scriptures generally referencing teachers who receive their understanding of the Word “through a revelation of Jesus Christ.” (Galatians 1:12) The Apostle Paul stated that his revelation of the Word came not by the teaching of man nor by reading a book but by a divine revelation of Jesus Christ. The inspired teachers present truth that will begin to sanctify believers according to John 17:17; “LORD SANCTIFY THEM IN TRUTH; THY WORD IS TRUTH”.

One of the Old Testament redemptive names given to the Lord is Jehovah M’Kaddesh – The Lord Who Sanctifies (Exodus 31:13) The term holiness is derived from the Hebrew word “Kodesh” and is allied to “sanctify” and is translated as dedicate, consecrate, hallow or holy. “I am Jehovah M’Kaddesh – The Lord who sanctifies you”. This term’s main influence relates to moral and spiritual purity. In the New Testament, many scriptures relate to the process of sanctification, the sum of which is provided to the Church through the atoning work of Christ.

The inspired teachers will promote sanctification within the Church making her a suitable dwelling place for the fullness of God’s Spirit. His manifest Presence will empower believers to become partakers of His divine nature and His Holy character. All of these purposes, related to the inspired priest or teacher, are identified with the true biblical definition of discipleship. That is, teaching believers to become the Lord’s friend. This form of discipleship will also lead the church into the full revelation and realization of Galatians 5:22-23.

The main assignment of the “inspired teachers” will be to Biblically reveal the requirements of the Lord for the end-time Church to taste the good Word of God and prepare her to walk in the powers of the age to come. Through their revelation of the Word by the Holy Spirit, they will teach the remnant necessary steps of preparation and consecration in order to be viable participants in the glorious ministry yet to come.

Cleansing the Soul

The Lord is looking for men and women who live in agreement with His Word and stand before Him as His spokesmen. In this place, we become the expression of His voice. Those who are depicted as the “overcomers” will be granted a white stone with a new name imparted to them and allowed to share in the “hidden manna” reserved for the time of the end. There are secrets and mysteries yet to be unfolded from the depths of God’s Word that will transform the bride and make her ready for the Bridegroom.

Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. 2 Corinthians 7:1

Conversely, there is a demonically inspired “dark light” that will send deluding influences into the soul of man with delusions of grandeur. That is why we must continually cleanse ourselves from all that would contaminate and defile both body and spirit.

Delusions of grandeur and spiritual deceptions result in the manipulation of the church body through “selfish ambition” and “self justification.” These will utilize the “control” and “religious” spirits to accomplish a counterfeit agenda and twist the Word of God to suit that agenda.

The Lord’s servants will always be meek and teachable. The Holy Spirit is calling us back to the place of a humble heart and contrite spirit, trembling at His Word. From this place of devotion, we will easily discern the demonic influences the enemy tries to initiate and quickly dispel them. This process will keep us “hallowed” before the Lord.

Combining Spiritual Thoughts with Spiritual Words

Through His Church, the Holy Spirit is beginning to unveil mysteries of the Kingdom by articulating and giving expression to spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. (1 Corinthians 2.13) It will be Kingdom Truth not taught by human wisdom, but the Holy Spirit granting the proper interpretation of spiritual Truth through spiritual language. From this posture, we will begin to understand His ways and apprehend His thoughts. The Lord is promising to reveal His thoughts and ways, which are much higher than ours. His is a “higher way” of holiness.

Words, when anointed, become a spiritual “vehicle” that transports us from one realm to another…The natural word becoming spiritual through the anointing of the Holy Spirit. In John 6:63 the Lord stated that the words He spoke to them were both SPIRIT and LIFE.

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing; the words that I have spoken to you are spirit and are life. –John 6:63

Through the anointing of the Spirit, words attain a spiritual life of their own. The Spirit gives life to the message of the Kingdom that points to the cross and transports one from the natural into the Spirit realm. It is in that place we discover the hope of our calling and the immeasurable greatness of His unlimited power toward those who believe.

Jesus Himself was actually representative of the “anointed Word.” He was the Word of God incarnate in flesh and He was the Messiah, which translated means, the Anointed One. God’s inspired Word is a spiritual vehicle which delivers us from the natural realm to the spiritual. His anointing is the fuel that propels the vehicle. Without the anointing the vehicle cannot operate. The letter killeth but the Spirit giveth Life. (II Corinthians 3:6)

For the ministered word to become spiritual food, it must proceed from the Presence of the Lord through an anointed ministry in an atmosphere of the anointing. As His anointed word is quickened within us and we receive from it an impartation of Spirit and Life, we are then growing into “the fullness of His stature”.

Re-Reading the Scriptures with Spirit Eyes

A clear admonition is emanating from the Holy Spirit for us to truly re-read the written Word through Spirit eyes. Passages of scripture which we have read many times will now begin to take on new life as a fresh dimension of insight is deposited from the throne of Heaven.

For many passages, it will be as though we have never read them because of the unique hidden truth that will emerge in this day. Even the prophet Daniel foresaw our generation and understood the revelations he was privileged to observe were reserved for the time of the end. We have now entered that day and the present dimensions of Truth will be unveiled.

But when He, the Spirit of truth, comes, He will guide you into all the truth; for He will not speak on His own initiative, but whatever He hears, He will speak; and He will disclose to you what is to come. John 16:13

The result of this fresh revelation of Truth will begin to transform our natures from FEAR to FAITH. On the surface, it will make the coming days seem turbulent. Nonetheless, the end result will be the re-establishing of the church on a firm foundation of Truth and Faith.

Fear is a great enemy the Lord desires to overcome in His people. Like Joshua of old, we are given the admonition to be strong and of good courage without fear or reservation in our approach to this next Spiritual season.

With the dawning of this new day of Church history, God’s anointing is disbursed in the spiritual atmosphere so those ardently seeking Truth can lay hold of it and obtain great insight with understanding. As the Zion Company asks with sincerity for this deposit, it will be received. Our spiritual eyes will be illumined to see the scriptures from heaven’s perspective not merely man’s.

The spiritual realities that are being birthed in the earth now will have no end. They will literally flow into the millennial age and the coming manifestation of His Kingdom on the earth. Though we do not know when those days will be fully revealed, we do know that the purposes now being birthed will advance directly into that age.

The Zion Company will begin to taste the good Word of God and the power of the age to come. Like the beloved disciple John in his notable revelations, we will be allowed to eat the open book containing the full manifestation of the Lord’s redemptive plans and purposes. This will be the tasting of His Kingdom Word and a demonstration of Kingdom Might, in order to wonderfully introduce the Lord Jesus in Truth and Power, to an entire generation.

Published on May 17th, 2010 | Articles, Guest Posts, Worship

This guest post comes to us from JoAnn McFatter

Then the word of the lord came to me, saying: “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations “ Jeremiah 1:4-5

Your eyes saw my substance being yet unformed. And in your book they all were written. The days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them. Psalms 139:16

As with Jeremiah and David whose call came before entering into their mother’s womb, so it is with every man and woman born. However, through the provision of free will, God has left it to each one’s choosing as to whether or not that call will be lived out. Jesus said it, Himself:

For many are called but few are chosen. Matthew 22:14

The choosing comes by the decisions we make along the way as to whether or not we are able to be a resting place for the fullness of His glory. He will not put on us that which we are not prepared to carry, lest it destroy us. Destiny calls each one of us and it is the exercising of our free will that determines the outcome of that calling. As our hearts continually respond to the voice of our Creator, “I choose You! Above all else, I choose You!”, we navigate our way through our destiny.

He is our origin and He is our destiny. We were in Him before the worlds began and we return to reside in Him, and are even now residing, as we partake of His grace by way of accepting and receiving the benefit of the shedding of His blood.

It is the journey from here to there as we ‘run the race’ that plays out the days written in His book ordained for each one of us. It happens one day at a time, one decision at a time to choose Him above all else. In this living out of our lives, turning toward Him at every juncture and, once again, consciously making a decision to “choose Him” we find ourselves in the middle of our destiny, for it will only be found in Him.

And he has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings, so that they should seek the lord, in the hope that they might grope for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us, for in him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, for we are also his offspring. Acts 17:26-28

In our western mindset we have made our destiny to be an end to a means, a job or a title that we attain to. It is a form that we desire to create for ourselves, a position to be held such as a singer, a pastor, or perhaps a banker. I’m not sure that is what God had in mind at all. For many of us it might just be the reason that our destiny seems to elude us as the years wear away on our hopes of stepping into what we perceive as our destiny. We try to create a form within which we will function. Form first, and then function comes as a result of our Greek reasoning that has so enamored our culture.

Our true destiny is hidden in the function of living out the days He fashioned for us, not a title or job description. It’s not about being a prophet but rather the process of learning how to hear His voice and prophecy in love with the heart of the Father. In that functioning as a prophet we truly find our destiny, which is to become like Him. It’s the same for every job and or ministry title you can come up with. Though we all have different days written out for us in His book, still the process of learning how to function in it is the walking out of our destiny – to be like Him, to be one with Him.

Our destiny is not the end product but rather the journey to that end, our days lived out as God, Himself, has written them in His book. Our life lived in Him day by day is our true destiny as we become more like Him; The form in which that takes place, whether it be, as I said, as a teacher, evangelist, or a baker is secondary to the function of walking out that process. I’m afraid we lose the joy of that journey because we are waiting to attain a position or name or whatever. It’s the days that we have lived up to this point with all of the mistakes and all of the failures and even successes that make up our destiny.

I believe we get misled by regarding destiny as a noun, when, in God, it really is as much a verb as it is a noun. It is probably even more accurate to say it is a Person – the process of becoming one with the person hood of Jesus Christ. Regardless of the job the process is the same. It is in the functioning of our calling and the process that brings us to maturity concerning it that is our real destiny. It is the same for all of us.

So we are exhorted to “not despise the day of small beginnings” and to “count it all joy” as we maneuver through life, through the good, the bad and the ugly, through the gory and the glory of it all. Whether you are aware of it or not you are IN your destiny right now. All of our days are the summation of who we become in Him. The ones lived out behind the scenes are just as, if not more, important than the ones in front of people in that perceived place of successfully functioning in our calling. I find that very encouraging, knowing that this is ALL working toward the fulfillment of our destiny.

It’s about the choices we make in those days of disappointment, heart ache and being betrayed that bring us to the place of love and unity with God. We can choose to feel sorry for ourselves or to complain about where we are at and how long we are there or the seemingly bad break, that actually probably kept us from going through a door that would have led us in the wrong direction. Our other option is to look into His eyes and say, “ I choose You ! Whatever that looks like and however long that takes, above self and all else, I choose You! “

It is also about how we handle promotion, favor and prosperity. The point is not that we receive those things, it is about how we rule and reign in that position. Do we take advantage of it for ourselves or do we use it to pour out on others? Do we use our favor to strengthen and lift others in their calling, even above ourselves? In the midst of all the advantage it affords us is there still an automatic cry that comes from within, “ Lord, I choose You! You are my portion, You are my destiny!”

Song of Solomon says it well…..

Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave, its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame. Many waters cannot quench love, nor can the floods drown it. If a man would give for love all the wealth of his house, it would be utterly despised. Song Of Solomon 8:6-7

The questions asked when we pass from this life are more like, “Do we look like Him?” “Did we learn to love?” “Did we die daily to ourselves so that it is no longer I that live, but Christ living in me?” Our true destiny is IN Him, to become like Him, regardless of our calling. That puts us all on the same level before Him no matter what our job description or calling is. As the Bride of Christ we are to take on the very nature of our Bridegroom and move through life as He did. To look like Him, to act like Him, to respond like Him, to be one in Him is our destiny, regardless of the form. He IS our Destiny!

That in the dispensation of the fullness of the times he might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on the earth in him. In him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will. Ephesians 1:10-11

As we approach this “fullness of the times” there is a gathering together of those who function with this understanding. We are to be those who love as He loves to the extent that we become walking love and would be willing to lay down our very lives, preferring others before ourselves. That is our destiny in this hour. Regardless of what form our life takes, the purpose is to function in that kind of selfless love as we become one with Him in His likeness. That level of maturity, death to self, will draw His Presence.

We are called to be the Bride of Christ, fully functioning in our Destiny as we live, move and have our being in Him. It is only out of this place that He can trust us with the never before seen authority and creative word that is about to be released through those with the cry of “We choose You! Above all others and all else, we choose You!” We have walked out our destiny as we have made Him and Him alone our boundaries and borders, a city whose walls are made of His fire; His jealousy, His authority, His very presence upon us as we become His resting place.

“For I”, says the lord, “Will be a wall of fire all around her, and I will be the glory in her midst.” Zechariah 2:5

Published on April 17th, 2010 | Articles

By Charlie Hamilton

Do you remember growing up meeting a new friend at school or in the neighborhood? One of the things about a new relationship is that you quickly discover new things about people that you never knew. For instance your new friend could be a great dancer or a great cook. They could play several instruments or could be very artistic. You quickly learned what their favorite color was or their favorite song. Simply by spending time with your new friend you learned more and more about them. That’s why I believe Facebook is such a popular website because we love to discover new things about our friends.

In the same way that you learn new things about your friends by “hanging out” with them we learn new things about God by simply “hanging out” with Him and His Word. For instance one of the ways we learn more about God is through His different names. You and I only have one “real” name unless of course we change it.

But God has many names.

Why?

Because in discovering new things about God, as Charles Minucie would say, “no single name can contain Him and no single word can explain Him.”

The quality of any relationship is best seen in the quality of their communication. Therefore, God chooses to communicate who He is through His names.

One of the most important names for God in the Old Testament is Yahweh, or the English version Jehovah, from the verb “to be,” meaning, “I am who I am,” or “I will be who I will be.” This four-letter Hebrew word YHWH was the name by which God revealed Himself to Moses in the burning bush (Exodus 3:14).

Each name describes WHO God CAN BE FOR YOU.

When Abraham was ninety-nine years old (Gen. 17:1) God introduced Himself to Abraham as “El Shaddai” which means “I AM THE GOD WHO CAN DO FOR YOU WHAT YOU CANNOT DO FOR YOURSELF.

Both Abraham and Sarah could not have children on their own, although they tried for many years.

Who did they need God to be for them at that time? El Shaddai – the God that could do for them what they could not do for themselves.

God is the great “I AM __________________.” You fill in the blank.

Right now- right where you are “Who do you need God to be for you?”

Pick a name – any name – God can be that for you. Read through the different names of God in the Bible and become acquainted with them. Each name reveals a different characteristic or aspect about who God is.

Jesus Put A Face On God

You know the Bible says that Jesus came to declare God’s name(s).

John 17:6a I have manifested thy name unto the men which thou gavest me out of the world. (Emphasis Mine)

Jesus manifested God’s name(s) to the world through the various things He did. Through the miracles He performed, through the compassion He demonstrated, through the love He gave, through everything Jesus did – Jesus manifested who God was. So much so that Jesus could say “if you have seen me you have seen the Father.” (John 14:9)

What did Jesus mean by that statement?

It simply meant that every characteristic of the Father; every name of the Father was demonstrated in the life of Jesus. Jesus was a healer for the people. Jesus was a provider for the people. Jesus was a Shepherd for the people. Jesus was a deliverer for the people. Jesus was a teacher for the people. Jesus was a prophet for the people. In short everything that the people needed Jesus to be for them – Jesus became.

Knowing who God is for you is the single most important thing in the world.

Who do you need God to be for you? Pick a name – any name.

Some Names Of God

Jehovah-Adon Kal Ha’arets- Lord of Earth – Josh 3:13
Jehovah-Bara – Lord Creator – Isaiah 40:28
Jehovah-Chatsahi – Lord my Strength – Psalm 27:1
Jehovah-Chereb – Lord the Sword – Deut. 33:29
Jehovah-Eli – Lord my God – Psalm 18:2
Jehovah-Elyon – Lord Most High – Psalm 38:2
Jehovah-’Ez-Lami – Lord my Strength – Ps 28:7
Jehovah-Gador Milchamah – Mighty in Battle – Ps 24:8
Jehovah-Ganan – Lord Our Defense – Ps 89:18
Jehovah-Go’el – Lord My Redeemer – Is. 49:26, 60:16
Jehovah-Hamelech – Lord King – Psalm 98:6
Jehovah-Hashopet – Lord My Judge – Judges 6:27
Jehovah-Helech ‘Olam – Lord King Forever Ps10:16
Jehovah-Hoshe’ah – Lord Saves – Psalm 20:9
Jehovah-’Immeku – Lord Is With You – Judges 6:12
Jehovah-’Izoa Hakaboth – Lord Strong -Mighty – Ps 24:8
Jehovah-Jireh – Provider – Gen. 22:14, I John 4:9, Philip 4:19
Jehovah-Kabodhi – Lord my Glory – Psalm 3:3
Jehovah-Kanna – Lord Jealous – Ex 34:14
Jehovah-Keren-Yish’i – Horn of Salvation – Ps 18:2
Jehovah-M’Kaddesh – Sanctifier – I Corinthians 1:30
Jehovah-Machsi – Lord my Refuge – Psalm 91:9
Jehovah-Magen – Lord my Shield – Deut. 33:29
Jehovah-Ma’oz – Lord my Fortress – Jer. 16:19
Jehovah-Mephalti – Lord my Deliverer – Psalm 18:2
Jehovah-Metshodhathi – Lord my Fortress – Psalm 18:2
Jehovah-Misqabbi – Lord my High Tower – Psalm 18:2
Jehovah-M’gaddishcem – Lord my Sanctifier – Ex 31:13
Jehovah-Naheh – Lord who Smites – Ezekiel 7:9
Jehovah-Nissi – Banner – I Chronicles 29:11-13
Jehovah-’Ori – Lord my Light – Psalm 27:1
Jehovah-Rohi – Shepherd – Psalm 23
Jehovah-Rophe – Healer – Isaiah 53:4,5
Jehovah-Sabaoth – Lord of Hosts – I Sam 1:3
Jehovah-Sel’i – Lord my Rock – Psalm 18:2
Jehovah-Shalom – Peace – Isaiah 9:6, Rom 8:31-35
Jehovah-Shammah – Present – Hebrews 13:5
Jehovah-The Lord – Exodus 6:2-3
Jehovah-Tsidkenu – Righteousness – I Cor 1:30
Jehovah-Tsori – Lord my Strength – Psalm 19:14
Jehovah-’Uzam – Lord Strength in Trouble – Is 49:26
Jehovah-Yasha – Lord my Savior – Isaiah 49:26