Five-Fold Today - Solemn Assembly - Angels at the Altar of Intercession - Silenced in the Glory! - Emulate Me - Dying to Obey - Branch Living - Fellowship - Spirit-Led Witnessing - Heaven's Plan for You

March 16, 200l

Solemn Assembly

Jay Atkinson

I have several personal messages today from those that are encouraging and praying for me. That is real good, I would like to take this further in that the whole group needs prayer as to the love and unity that Jesus is looking for in us. We all need prayer, we all need to be praying for each other as well as for the entire body of Christ. Of course if everything is so written in eternity that we do not need to pray, then forget it but we all know better. I have many things to say concerning the nature of the beast and the pretentious prophecies that are coming out in favor of the right wing delusion but have so far been constrained, so pray that the Lord will give me revelation and firm direction and I do not speak ahead of time.

I hope that by this point that we all believe in the communion of saints from the glorified as well as all of us here. There is no pretension there. That means that it is our desire to know God's will in heaven as well as here on earth and we have a host in heaven at our disposal just waiting for that communion. There is power in prayer and there is a lot more power when it is done in unison. When we stand together, we are strong. I believe that the New Jerusalem will come down regardless of what any one of us do as individuals but I also believe that it will come down as we as a unified body pray it down. Look at the prophecies in Revelation and see that it is true, the sweet incense of the saints is our prayers. The stars that have been cast down from heaven are the divided churches. When we pray to Jesus, we lift Him up. When we all pray to Jesus as a group, we lift all men up as well. This is the new song. I have said it many times and nothing has yet dissuaded me from the fact that we are not to wait for Jesus to bring in the kingdom, He is waiting on us. Jesus is the head but He needs the body to move when He says come. It is not by our power or strength but by God's spirit but it is this action here on earth that will move the heavenlies to act on our behalf and on the behalf of all humanity. He is about to pour out the spirit upon all flesh.

We are coming to the point, maybe past the point, that we will have to call that solemn assembly. There is a shaking going on in the church, the storm is uprooting those that are not set firmly in love, holiness, unity and truth. Many of our brothers and sisters are being uprooted. Solemnity is not praise, not worship, not business as usual but a travail of the hearts of the saints in compassion for the lost outside of Christ and those Christians that have been taken captive. Judgment is coming and it is starting with us first, even now.

Jay
jay@latter-rain.com

Angels at the Altar of Intercession

Chad Taylor

And another angel came and stood at the altar, having a golden censer; and there was given to him much incense, that he should offer it with the prayers of all saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, which came with the prayers of the saints, ascended up before God out of the angel's hand. And the angel took the censer, and filled it with the fire of the altar, and cast it into the earth; and there were voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake..." (Revelations 8:3-5).

THE ANGELS HAVE BEEN RELEASED

For in this hour says the Lord the angels from My throne have been released to the earth to the altars of prayer and praise that have been created for Me. For there are those that I have released a spirit of David upon, to build a tabernacle of intercession and upon this altar My fire will come says the Lord. On this altar My wind of revival will blow, blowing the embers from this altar into the uttermost parts of the earth. Where they land revival will burst into flame, harvest fields will ignite and burn and My glory will be seen.

VOID AND VEIL REMOVED

For in this hour an alliance will be made between angel and intercessor, between Heaven and earth. The void and the veil shall be removed. For the first time many will see and be amazed. I will take My church to the Mt. of transfiguration and they will be transformed. Angel and intercessor shall walk together on the earth. Prophet and angel shall contend together for the nations says the Lord. They will stand on the high places and speak the oracles of Heaven. Unlike any other generation you will see Heaven on earth says the Lord, Heaven on earth.

For in this hour the fire from the altar of intercession and the fire from My throne shall mingle. This fire will light up the midnight sky and the glory of the Lord shall be seen. Kings will come to the brightness of your rising. The song of Simeon will be heard in the earth again, "For my eyes have seen Your salvation, which You have prepared before the face of all people, a light to bring revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Your people Israel..." (Luke 2:30-32).

THUNDERINGS AND LIGHTNINGS AND EARTHQUAKES AND VOICES RELEASED

For in this hour voices, and thunderings, and lightnings, and an earthquake will be released. My voice will be heard like the voice of many waters upon the earth. An army will hear Me and speak. In the hi-ways and bi-ways will they declare My will and purpose and I will turn the hearts of kings like water says the Lord. The hearts of kings like water. The steps of My intercessors will sound like thunder in the distance as they traverse other nations and other lands. The Red Seas will part to their steps and the waters of the Jordan shall stand up and they will walk on dry land.

The lightning of My revelation will illuminate the darkness of nations and tribes and tongues. Where ignorance and idolatry has ruled for generations now shall the song of salvation be heard! Where once darkness ruled My righteousness shall rule. An earthquake of My presence shall shake the church with boldness to take the land and occupy. An earthquake of My power shall shake the prisons that hold men captive in soul, spirit, and body and their doors will come open and their shackles released says the Lord. The captives set free.

GOD WILL SUSPEND TIME, AS HE DID WITH JOSHUA

Even as I suspended time as Joshua prayed, so shall I suspend time today. As My intercessors and prophets pray time will stand still. 24 hrs. will become 2 hours as My breath breathes upon them. Time and space will flee at the sound of their voices as My holy angels meet them at the altars of intercession. From that place the nations will shake and the ancient gates will be opened. The ancient gates will open at the sound of their voices says the Lord, the ancient gates will be opened. For in this hour a holy alliance will occur between the angels of Heaven and those upon the earth. The one will walk with other and their eyes will be opened.

"Thus saith the LORD to his anointed, to Cyrus, whose right hand I have holden, to subdue nations before him; and I will loose the loins of kings, to open before him the two leaved gates; and the gates shall not be shut; I will go before thee, and make the crooked places straight: I will break in pieces the gates of brass, and cut in sunder the bars of iron... (Is. 45:1-2).

Chad Taylor
www.consumingfire.com
Email: lionheart@gci.net
Lamentations 2:19...

Silenced in the Glory!

Debra Westbrook

Spiritual nearsightedness has descended on some of God's people in these days. It is not to be regarded as confusion or bound as demonic but is to be seen as orchestrated by the hand of God for a divine purpose for a season. God has allowed this veiling to quiet us down and keep us still in order to learn once again how to perceive accurately with clear vision. It is essential for the days ahead. He has limited our vision for a season to perceive a greater glory that is coming upon us.

In the midst of this time, I hear a call being issued forth from our God to follow Jesus up the mountain. (Please read Luke 9:28-36) The remnant is called forth once again from the place where they currently stand to come higher up the mountain with our Lord. As we ascend unto this place, we forsake all to follow Him higher. As we look at all that has gathered at our feet and formed in our lives, we see that we are required to leave it all behind to go to a higher place, a new place that we have not been before. All our preconceived notions and pre-packaged spiritual agendas regarding our lives, our ministries, our destinies and so much more are left at the foot of this mountain. We have but one purpose- we must follow Him. This is a corporate venture but each individual must follow Jesus with singularly focused vision, looking neither to the left nor the right.

The climb is treacherous with obstacles that cause us to be weary, impatient, lonely, and emptied of all our strength to even make one more step. Yet, Jesus leads the way and goes before us, ever beckoning us forth to keep persevering and keep pressing into this path that He has now divinely ordained for this season. There is a purpose which we shall soon see.

It is tempting to look behind and grasp what was or what could have been regarding our lives but that was for yesterday and today is a new day. All we see is our Lord and the climb that is ever before us. We can't take anything with that would hinder our climb or would distract us in any way. Our body aches, our minds may cloud, yet we climb. There is a divine silence again imposed at this time so as to focus on the task at hand. The air is filled with silence. His lone figure leading the way is before us and we still climb. What awaits us?

As we arrive at the top, suddenly, the appearance of this lone figure that we followed obediently changes before our eyes. He is transfigured, illuminated in glory! White and radiant, shining forth with the glory of God! This does not look like the Jesus that we followed from the valley floor below!

This is indeed an astounding revelation of the Son that we have not yet beheld before our eyes! God is pleased to reveal His Son to us that we would but marvel at His awesome splendor and glorious majesty. Yet, here is a word of caution to those who are climbing higher!

The purpose of our ascent is simple - God longs to reveal deeper revelation of His Beloved to His Bride. It has been veiled up to this time because of our faulty and fleshly misperceptions that have tried to bring Jesus down to our level, encapsulating His glory into a manageable form that we can handle and control. Peter's first response was to build a tabernacle. It is similar to our first response. We desire to camp out in a place that is manageable to us, refusing to move higher into greater revelation because there is a cost to our comfort. It challenges our apathy and complacency on every level. It crucifies our flesh, causing us pain and suffering. We just want to bask in the current level of glory, refusing to move ahead.

Suddenly, Peter is silenced in the glory by the voice of the Father. (We also shall be silenced in the glory if we attempt to control or package what God is desiring to reveal to us in the coming days.) His voice cries out, "This is my Son, whom I have chosen. Listen to Him." Here standing before us in glory is the Beloved of the Father, Jesus Christ. God brought us higher for this one thing. He will impart from the mountaintop to all who willingly and obediently forsake their lives to make the climb a divine revelation.

We can almost hear the Father's voice say, "Look at my Son! Isn't He marvelous! Isn't He glorious! Perceive Him with unveiled eyes! Look at the radiance of My glory upon Him! Stand in awe and wonder for in seeing Him, you shall see all that I long for you to be!"

God's remnant will stand in awe, marveling at the Son. The overflow of this revelation on the mountaintop will build His church when they return to the valley and the gates of Hell will not prevail against it.

We must cease striving and know that He is God. All that we need is in Christ Jesus. We must look no further than Him. Have we forgotten Jesus? Where is the Son in the Church today? There has been much that has taken our focus off of Jesus. His face has been hidden and obstructed from view. The radiance of His splendor no longer shines for all to see.

But this will change. Jesus once again will be showcased in all His glory through His Bride. So for those who have lost their way in the valley, walking with clouded vision, look up and climb the mountain with Jesus. Enter the cloud of His presence and be changed. Leave all misconceptions and veiled perceptions behind that have placed God in a box and open your eyes, for we shall truly see Him in greater glory!

Debra Westbrook
http://www.riversofeden.com/
d.westbrook@worldnet.att.net

Emulate Me

Jeanne Stewart

My Child -

Emulate Me!
I did only what Father told me to do ...
I did only what Father told me to speak ...
You must also.
Be totally Spirit motivated.
Revival or perish - this is your choice.
You are my messenger -
So speak ...
So move ...
So see ...
with MY Spirit within you.
Go forth with confidence for I have placed within you -
Hope ...
Trust ...
Power ...
Wisdom ...
Move in Me for you are -
My hands reaching ...
My voice speaking ...
My sight seeing ...
My ears hearing ...
Taste Me and see that I am good!
The sweetness to your hunger and thirst is to follow hard after Me.

stu4jesus@yahoo.com

Dying to Obey

Jim Grayson

In Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias. The Lord called to him in a vision, "Ananias!" "Yes, Lord," he answered. The Lord told him, "Go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul, for he is praying. In a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight." "Lord," Ananias answered, "I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your saints in Jerusalem. And he has come here with authority from the chief priests to arrest all who call on your name." But the Lord said to Ananias, "Go! This man is my chosen instrument to carry my name before the Gentiles and their kings and before the people of Israel. I will show him how much he must suffer for my name." Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord--Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here--has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength. Saul spent several days with the disciples in Damascus. At once he began to preach in the synagogues that Jesus is the Son of God. Acts 9:10-20

I've been praying and meditating a lot over the last few months about revival and restoration, and what it means to the Body of Christ. Consequently, as different aspect are revealed to me, I have, in turn, shared them with whoever reads these mailings. As I was thinking on the subject a few mornings ago, the Scripture above came to mind. It says a lot to us, beloved of God, and will also reveal a lot of who we are, where we are in Him...and where we're willing to go, or unwilling, to go.

Taking a look at the Scripture above, we see Ananias was a believer in Jesus and as he was praying, the Lord spoke to his heart and told him to go lay hands on and pray for this murderous fellow named Saul, a name Ananias knew well. Saul, as we know, had observed and approved of the stoning of Stephen and had imprisoned many followers of Jesus of Nazareth. His very name put a sense of dread into the hearts of followers of The Way. For this reason, Ananias questioned the Lord's reasoning, yet our Lord told him to go, that He had a plan for this Saul of Tarsus. Despite his apprehension and, perhaps, downright fear, Ananias obeyed. He didn't know for sure how things would turn out for him. He simply obeyed God. In essence, he "died to himself to obey."

Now, considering where we are at this present time in the Body of Christ, our Lord is asking most of us who know Him to go with Him to an unfamiliar place...a place of obedience and death to self; a place of restoring what the enemy stole from God's people centuries ago; a place of absolute love and absolute power, tempered by abject humility. The question is ever before us: will we follow Him, no matter where He goes or what He wants to change, or will we draw back, knowing the Word of God plainly says He takes no pleasure in us if we do? He's asking us to come to the place where we are dying to obey Him. In truth, few folks are there yet. I'm not and I daresay the majority of the Body of Christ isn't, either. In truth, if you think you are, then you've already proved you aren't.

Going back to the very beginnings of the early church, we see by the record of the Scriptures that the enemy was already hard at work in trying to draw a veil over the eyes of the Beloved of Christ Jesus. Gradually, the church, the Body of Christ, came to accept the spirit of Saul rather than the Spirit of God. I have heard Christians make snide remarks concerning the stubbornness and pride of the Jews in the Old Covenant but their smug religiosity reveals the same in themselves. The spirit of Saul brought what Paul said for us to avoid in Colossians 2:8:

"See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world."

Well, beloved, it did happen to us, centuries ago, for most of what we call "the God life" is based on human traditions rather than on the Word of God, especially here in the United States. We may be at the top in our technology but our knowledge of God is far behind many of the churches in other, less developed countries. They may be poor in material wealth but they are extremely rich in the Holy Spirit for, unlike we here in the US, they accept the whole counsel of God. We find ourselves still hiding behind denominational barriers, throwing stones at one another, straining at gnats while swallowing herds of camels. We have attempted to attain righteousness through human means, through rules and regulations, rather than the work of the Cross of Christ, and that through the shedding of His precious Blood. We have those who say His grace is not sufficient, that in some way or another, we must maintain our own salvation, which completely negates the work of the Cross. We still have churches in the US which will fight tooth and nail to prevent the fullness of Christ from entering their doors through the infilling of and the precious gifts of the Holy Spirit, pushing it all aside with the statement of, "We don't believe in that," because some aspects of the gifts turn us off or make us uneasy. We have traded the Spirit of God for the spirit of Saul and our traditions have made the Word of God to no effect.

We say we want revival but, in truth, we have no idea what that may be. We think it's something where everyone becomes more zealous for the things of God but it's meant to cause us to die to ourselves and follow Jesus, no matter where He goes. We expect God to build on top of our man-made programs and traditions, adding to what we have built ourselves, when all the while He's seeking to tear it all down and start over. When we see what He truly wants us to do and where He wants us to go, we do tend to draw back, hiding behind our feigned ignorance but it will no longer work nor is it acceptable to Him. Once someone has had the fullness of Christ laid out to them, as our Lord has plainly, and graciously, done in His Word, we have no further excuse for rejecting it. Saying our denominations don't believe in such things won't save us from the judgment of Christ for rejecting Him. When the people of Israel rejected what Samuel told them about having an earthly king, God told him, "They are not rejecting you, Samuel. They are rejecting me." Many is the leadership in the church which will have to answer for standing in the Holy Spirit's way for saying "no" to God. Before they even give Him a chance, they shut the door on the Holy Spirit and His fullness, choosing instead to remain as they are, where they feel safe amid comfortable, yet dead, surroundings.The Word says that it's a terrible thing to fall into the hands of the Living God. I fear many will find that out when all is said and done. May it not be so for any of us who call on the Name of Jesus.

When will we learn that God wants it HIS way? When will it dawn on us that He is not interested in our denomination (if He were, He would have plainly spelled it out in His Holy Word...but He hasn't), in our opinions, our prejudices against His gifts, our disdain for those who seek His fullness and a myriad of other, earthly things? When we will learn that the things of which we are so proud will ultimately bring our downfall? Our Lord resists the proud and, beloved, there is much pride in us here in the churches of the United States. We think we have "the goods" but what we're largely putting forth is man-made traditions designed to separate us from each other, the end result being our traditions and false doctrines will also move us farther away from our Lord Jesus Christ. We cannot continue to be more busy lifting up our traditions, our prejudices and our denominations than we are lifting up the unsullied Name of Jesus. It means death to us spiritually. Want to know why we're so powerless against the enemy? It's because long ago our forefathers embraced Saul instead of God.

It's not too late to change, beloved. We all have much changing and dying to do. We don't have to continue where we are. We can change. We can open the doors wide to the things of God, even if they aren't familiar. I pray the attitude of Ananias will permeate us all, so that our Lord's will may be done in and through us. Until then, we're just going through the motions. With God, it's all or none.

Please know this is offered in the spirit of love. I, above all men, am not deserving of the mercy and grace of our Lord Jesus, yet in His magnificent mercy and grace, He stoops to use even me.

You have my heart, beloved of God.
Our Jesus is Lord of all.

Love,
Jim Grayson

A Freshening Wind
afresheningwind@AOL.com

Branch Living

Mike Kruger

I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (NIV) John 15:5

Branches don't move on their own...they may sway in the wind, but they don't uproot themselves and move to another spot.
Branches don't feed themselves, but draw on the life source. It is the life source that produces the fruit. The Branch does nothing but draw on that life source.
The Branch does not say, "I want to be a tree." The type of tree it is, and the type of fruit it produces is dependent upon what type of vine or trunk is in existence.
The Branch cannot make the roots grow deeper.
The Branch cannot demand that rain falls or that the sun shines upon it.
When it comes down to it...the Branch can't really do anything for or by itself.

Lord, forgive me for getting my role mixed up with Yours. For You are the One for whom and through whom everything (including me) exists.

Written by Mike Kruger.
(no email adress available)
Submitted by the AP List
ap@myhome.net

Fellowship

Michael Clark

(1 John 1:7-8, NKJV). It would seem that the fellowship of the saints is defined by our walking in the light as Jesus did. And how did He walk? He walked in communion with the Father and did only what He saw the Father doing and spoke only what He heard the Father saying.

One person's light would be illuminating and kindling the other person's, until all were brightly shining and freely moving under the anointing of the Spirit.

But a meeting or a building does not a fellowship make.

Paul spoke of the knitting together of the saints as the body of Christ. He used this analogy to define what our relationship is to Christ and to one another. In his teaching there was no room for any exclusiveness among the saints. In fact he said that it is the duty of each of us to lift up the weaker brethren until we all are on a common plane in unity with the Father.

I remember the day a brother in the Jesus People found an old hymn and grabbed his guitar and taught it to us. The words of the hymn were as follows.

In Christ there is no east nor west,
There is no north or south,
Just one great fellowship of love
Through out the whole wide earth.
In Jesus Christ there is no east nor west.

Something about that song grabbed my heart. I knew that there was more truth in those words than I had yet seen in practice in the Church.

Tell me, if you were to drop something like a clothes iron on your toe, would the rest of your body ignore the pain in that toe and keep on standing on it? I think not. You would grab your toe with your hands and hop around in circles on one foot, crying out in pain! That is, unless your body has leprosy or some other sickness that keeps the pain centers from sensing what is happening to its members.

Everything goes to the professional ministers. The needs of Lonnie Lunchbox and Wanda Widow are to be met by giving what little they have to the professional preachers.

Tell me, is this how it was done in the early Church? What happened there? Did the apostles and prophets harangue the new converts about giving money to them so they could live in luxury as it happens today? Let's look at the text.

And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles. Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. So continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, they ate their food with gladness and simplicity of heart, praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily those who were being saved. (Acts 2:42-47, NKJV).

32 Now the multitude of those who believed were of one heart and one soul; neither did anyone say that any of the things he possessed was his own, but they had all things in common. 33 And with great power the apostles gave witness to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And great grace was upon them all. 34 Nor was there anyone among them who lacked; for all who were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the proceeds of the things that were sold, 35 and laid them at the apostles' feet; and they distributed to each as anyone had need.(Acts 4:32-35, NKJV).

No, you nurture it and even take the load of the body off of it as necessary until it is healed.

Notice that the monies gathered in the above passage were laid at the apostles feet. The apostles never put it in their pockets! Look at the sequence of these verses.

Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. (Acts 2:44-45, NKJV).

Now Peter and John went up together to the temple at the hour of prayer, the ninth hour. And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. (Acts 3:1-6, NKJV).

What we have today masquerading as the Church is not, and for the most part, is not what Jesus and Paul had in mind.

The same sister that I have spoken of wrote:

I think I know what I have been feeling. I'm feeling left out, ignored, like my portion is not valuable. And it's a very familiar feeling, and I don't like it.²

Churches are set up to make us feel insignificant, second class citizens in the kingdom of God. We still have that unbiblical division of clergy-laity that separates the body of Christ in our minds and makes us all feel like our portion is not valuable. Even when no clergy are present in our fellowship, we vie for position and power over one another. Lord help us all.

Or do we just need others to satisfy our lust for position, money and power and even sex? I have a hard time seeing the difference between what is called the Church today, and any other worldly organization.

I remember how disillusioned I was when I found that the Church was just as dysfunctional as my birth family was. I had thought that I had at last found a real family love relationship that was always missing as I was growing up. I soon found out that the words of love I was hearing were for the most part empty words designed to attract the weak, but not to fulfill their needs.

I think that there is an underlying cry for intimacy in each of our hearts that is not being fulfilled. Wives long for it from their husbands and are not getting it, so they spend hours watching soap operas and reading romance novels. Husbands often look for it from their wives and end up in pornography or an affair. Children join gangs to get what is missing at home. Girls fall prey to predators looking for that touch from daddy that is missing. The world is a mess because we do not know how to show intimacy. And intimacy is only safe in the heart of Christ as His heart is manifest through us.

Intimacy Must First Be with Jesus

The sister went on to say,

Your fellowship must be with Him, and theirs must be with Him, and mine must be with Him, and together we must look to Him. And not become weak by weak faith that looks to man; we must look to Him because as we do, we will see how trustworthy He is and our faith will increase in Him and it is our faith that overcomes the world....

As Madam Guyon was told, 'You're looking for something outside that is within you.' When people who are grounded in Him come together, the fellowship will be there automatically.

Jesus is the head from whom we are nourished and knit together and it is in this vertical knitting that we will all grow and be knit together horizontally.

She continues, ³My vision is that as each of us gets lined up with the Lord (under His headship) right where we are, in the situations He has given us, He will put us into the body as it pleases Him. Although I haven't always experienced it, the peace and comfort were unspeakable when I did have this experience of coming under my husband as he came under Jesus, etc., and then of meeting with other saints in the same way: all of us under His headship. That's all I see as necessary now. If we will let Him be the Head (of every aspect of our lives, as He grants us light) He will bless us whether we're meeting with other saints or not. And we'll know we are blessed. We won't have to look for someone else to make us feel better. Then when He does bless us further by bringing other saints into our lives, we are full and ready to minister to them, not weak and tired and hungry and in need.²

Paul spoke this thought again in Ephesians.

²But, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head--Christ--from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.² (Ephesians 4:15-16, NKJV).

First the head, then the body, every member doing its part and growing as it edifies itself in love. This is the answer.

This sister went on to tell me a story of something she experienced not long ago. She wrote:

"I was expecting an email or a PalTalk chat with someone, and it was important to me and I didn't know when it would be happening, so I left them both on all day. And all day my ear was turned to my computer. Listening for each little sound. Even (when) I would try to sit and spend time with the Lord I would jump up and run to my computer if I heard it, and leave the Lord sitting there. So I turned it off a couple times out of conviction.

So, it appears then that the lack of true heart felt love and fellowship that I spoke of earlier in the body of believers is a result of a lack of a true and heart felt love relationship with Jesus.

So, saints, thanks for bearing with my ramblings and pondering. I know what I must do. To find what I long for, I must continue to seek His face first and not that of a human.

Amen.

May the Lord bless and keep you as you seek Him out in your daily lives.

Your brother in Christ,

Michael Clark
Bayview, ID
johnone23@icehouse.net

Spirit-Led Witnessing

Doug Morrell

There is a weakness in the Body of Christ; it is a wrong idea, settled by time and tradition, which has laid hold of the church century after century, as disciples have met together and have pursued the Great Commission of our Lord Jesus Christ.

"Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, ..." (Matt 28:19, underline mine)

Without question this is Father's will. But there is another spirit at work; a crafty, evil, dark force hovering over each and every laboring saint of God who suggests that they go about the Great Commission in their own way and in their own strength. Or as has been so aptly said, "Trying to fulfill God's will in man's way."

We say, "We have understood God's will and now must move forward quickly if we are to complete this assignment ourselves." We believe that it is us who must somehow strategize this directive and execute the plan. We, in our zeal, read, hear, and take seriously the "Go" but we neglect to hear the most important aspect of the Great Commission:

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Mth. 28:20, underline mine)

It has never been our Lord Jesus' will that the whole work rest upon the disciple. When this does take place, as it most often times does, Lord Jesus, in all His awesome patience and grace, waits. Then, when we are totally spent in our futile efforts of doing only what we can do, we return once more to Him and cry out in anguish, "Lord God, have we not been about your will? Have we not tried to establish your church and proclaim your plan?" It is then, and only then, that He quietly whispers, "It is not by might, but by my Spirit." We are living in the age of the Spirit of God, and just as was the case in the Acts of the Holy Spirit, it is our Lord's desire and intention to continue the work He began through the Holy Spirit and in the strength of the Holy Spirit.

For instance, what would you think of a minister who abruptly abandons a successful, city-wide revival where the Spirit of God is moving in power, where many are coming to God's saving grace because he believes he has heard the Holy Spirit directing him to another assignment? An assignment not to thousands, but to one man? Most of us would suggest that he has been misled and has certainly not heard God's voice nor will. However, this was precisely the situation with Philip while he preached the gospel in Samaria. Philip was having a successful preaching ministry to great crowds in Samaria (Acts 8:5-8), but he obediently left that assignment to travel on a desert road. Because Philip went where the Holy Spirit sent him, all of Ethiopia was opened up to the gospel. Because he was in charge of the treasury of Ethiopia, this man's conversion brought Christianity into the power structures of another government. This is the beginning of the witness "to the ends of the earth" (Acts 1:8).

When Philip came up to sit beside him, he found he was reading exactly the right place, Isaiah 53. Beginning at that spot, Philip began to preach to him about Jesus. And he was won to Christ.

That is always what Spirit-led witnessing is...the right man in the right place at the right moment saying the right thing to the right person. This is one of the first evidences in the Book of Acts of the overall directing activity of the Holy Spirit.

Follow the Holy Spirit's leading, even if it seems like a demotion. At first you may not understand His plans, but the results will prove that God's way is always right.

May you grow in grace and in truth...

doug morrell christian outfitters

-- Live Christ Deliberately!

outfitters@christianoutfitters.com
http://www.christianoutfitters.com

Heaven's Plan for You

Gloria Shepherd

It is only in the surrendering of your will unto my spirit, says the Lord, that my perfect will for you will be accomplished in this hour --in you and through you to fulfill heaven's plans. For my heavenly blue prints for each of you can only be fullfilled as you surrender your will to me, and allow my will to be done through you and in you for this hour.

Many of you still struggle with surrendering fully unto me. You cling to your flesh as if it is worth holding on to, as if you would be losing something if you let go of it. You cling to self as if it is worthy of such great honor, and do not heed the cries of my spirit to loose that which is of the flesh in this hour. The hour is drawing near that you must be moved into position where I want you, yet many you have not yet allowed me to strip all the flesh from your bones. Many of you have not made the decision to answer your destiny call. You linger in Egypt with a desire to stay for a while longer. I have called you and called you, you hear but some of you do not heed my voice. You try to come leaving part of your heart in Egypt, so Egypt holds your heart captive and enslaved because you have not willing loosed the chains that have bind you there.

You cannot serve me and serve mammon. Only those who are willing to surrender themselves fully will enter into my kingdom in this day and hour. Only those wholly given over to me, will I use to establish my kingdom on earth in this hour. So be not deceived by the enemy who blinds you, no flesh shall enter into this work of heaven in this day. For my kingdom will only be birthed out of willing vessels of mine in this hour, so no flesh will glory in this work, or any man say this is a work of mine that I have done with my own hands.. I desire tha all my children walk in all the fullness of my heavenly plans for them. For my plans for you are not your plans, says the Lord, but they are my plans.

So rejoice this day, surrender unto my spirit, so that my heavenley plans will be accomplished in you, and my will will be done in you for the kingdom's sake. For I have chosen each of you to be born in this hour to fullfill this work on earth that is birthed in heaven. The choice is laid before each man, what road he will travel, which plan he will chose. Will you chose heavens plan, or your plan in this hour to be set in motion on earth? The choice is yours.

nitehawkdw@earthlink.net

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