Five-Fold Today - We're Not Finished Yet! - Truth and Mercy Must Marry - Ministry of Reconciliation - Will You Give Me Control? - Jealousy - Letting Go - Expect the Unexpected
We're Not Finished Yet!
Larry and Carol Taylor
The prophets Haggai and Zechariah came as contemporaries in the days of Ezra
and Zerubbabel during the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Temple upon the
return of God's people from captivity in Babylon. To those who had begun to
rebuild the word was relatively simple: finish what you started. But the
power and effect of their ministry inspired the people to take up again their
neglected destiny and complete the purpose of God for their generation.
The builders had become discouraged and distracted. The Jews had ceased their
work for two primary reasons. First, there was intense resistance to the
construction from within their own ranks as well as a well organized and
financed opposition from their enemies who had a vested interest in seeing
them fail. The other reason was even more crippling to the purpose of God.
Due to their selfish pursuit of their own interest, the people had simply
abandoned God's prophetic destiny. For some the words of the critics were
all it took: "this is not as good as the old days, not like what we had
before". For others the daunting activities of the enemies who sought to
turn the rulers of Persia against the building caused them to retreat into
passivity. However, the most crippling obstacle was that the Jews who had
been delivered from personal captivity were now content to build their own
homes and dwell in self-centered comfort while the purpose of God was cast
aside for other priorities.
"The Glory of the latter temple shall be greater than the former...." God
stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel the governor and Jehozadak the high
priest as well as the people through the words of Haggai. He said that God
was with them (Haggai 1:13&14) and God spoke through Zechariah that it would
not be by "might nor by power but by my Spirit, saith the Lord". The people
repented and began the work again with a fresh word, a fresh anointing and a
clear promise from God. The drought conditions and poverty they were living
in would be turned around. NOT WHEN THE TEMPLE WAS COMPLETED, BUT FROM THE
MOMENT THEY LAID THE FIRST STONE IN OBEDIENCE . Prosperity was to be their
reward for instant obedience and the persevering completion of the task that
they had been given. (Hag. 2:15-19)
FAST FORWARD TO NOW:
Renewal and revival have come. The prophetic and apostolic have begun to be
restored. The Spirit is empowering in even greater magnitude for signs and
wonders in the mighty name of Jesus. Let us lay aside every encumbrance,
every entanglement, the sin that so easily besets us. Let us come out from
among the "unbelieving believers" who hold to a form of godliness but deny
the power thereof. And most importantly, it is time to lay aside our selfish
pursuit of personal pleasures, goals and agendas and turn again to the work
that is at hand. The building of His house. We are living in the day of the
restoration of all things. The latter house glory described in 2:4 is the
destiny and prophetic purpose of our generation. Yes, the rejection of
brothers and the opposition of the Enemy has hurt. It is going to be harder
and take longer than we expected. There have been casualties. But, God's
word to this generation is to overcome all the opposition, you have a
commission from the King! Lay aside all distractions and plans for
self-glory. This is not about our ministries or businesses or plans or
churches. It is about Jesus. It is His Temple that is being constructed.
If we will give it the ultimate priority, then He will add "all these things
to us".
Larry & Carol Taylor
TRUTH AND MERCY MUST MARRY
There is a wedding that must occur which precedes the banquet between the
Lamb and the Bride. It is the marriage of truth and mercy. Psalms
85:10-11 says: "Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace
have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall
look down from heaven."
Throughout Scripture you find the yoking of truth with mercy. Proverbs
16:6 says: "In mercy and truth, Atonement is provided for iniquity." And
Psalms 25:10: "All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth to such as
keep his covenant and His testimonies."
This pattern is often found in human marriages. We hosted a wonderful
pastor recently who told me: "I look for the good in everyone and
sometimes I'm deceived. My wife discerns people instantly and she tells me
exactly what she thinks."
The husband here is Pastoral. He may see the shortcomings in people but
chooses to concentrate on their potential. The wife is prophetic. She
warns of possibly dangerous character flaws. Which one is the better
shepherd?
I know a similar couple where the husband's pastoral anointing graces a
gentle nature. His two rambunctious children do much as they please under
his watch. The wife is prophetic. She disciplines with a firm hand and a
stern eye. Which is the better shepherd?
The answer is that neither is complete in itself.
The embrace in Psalm 85 is a clear picture of the need for the prophetic
and the pastoral to come together. Must of us know this but few of us see
it occurring. Verse 11 gives us a clue as to why.
"Truth shall bring out of the earth," it says. The root word of "humility"
is humus, which Webster's defines as "the dark organic material in soils
produced by the decomposition of vegetable or animal matter." Truth should
be earthy and humble.
Humility is the decomposing of the arrogance of the flesh. While it's not
good to be worldly, it is good to be "down-to-earth." The prophet John
Sandford often expresses his thankfulness for growing up on an Oklahoma
farm because it made him "earthy'.
Unfortunately, few pastors think of prophets as being humble and earthy.
They often see prophets as mystical and ethereal. Air-heads, in other
words.
The young prophet is often unstable because his "earth" is still the red
clay of the Adamic nature. The fierce windstorms of testings force him to
anchor himself in Christ. As he dies to the flesh the soil beneath him
becomes enriched with nutrients. Rich soil, once watered by mercy from
above, can produce life! While it is misperceived that the prophetic is
ethereal, there is a mercy that is far more mystical and less earthy than
the prophetic.
The pastor who always looks for the best in people may be operating with a
mercy born from false hope. This is sensual and natural and comes from the
unredeemed areas of his soul. If a prophet were to prophesy from this
realm we would use the terms "soulish", "mixture", and even "psychic." If
he persisted his way would be bent into manipulation and control. This we
call witchcraft.
False mercy is no better.
The pastoral person operating in unsanctified mercy simply seems like a
nice guy. He fits our worldly idea of what a "pastor" should look and
sound like. "Love, Acceptance, and Forgiveness" was a hugely popular book
born from the pastoral and teaching outpourings of the 60s and 70s. This
title symbolizes the ideals (idols) of false mercy: Love. Accept. Forgive.
It neglects the severity of God, the chastening of sons, and yes, even the
Scriptural shunning of false brethren. It allows for wolves to enter sheep
pens and it shelters sin with a false covering. False mercy is as surely
from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil as soulish prophecy. There is
nothing good in the natural human heart, including innate goodness.
Once human mercy is offered up as a sacrifice Godly mercy can come down
from the heavens. It is this mercy -- not mercy that strains to find
virtue in wickedness -- that triumphs over judgment.
False mercy will drive the prophetic from a congregation. It sees truth as
unkind and intolerant. "We do not see our signs, there is no longer any
prophet, " reads Psalms 74:9. Without road signs people lose their way.
"Righteousness and peace have kissed each other," says Psalms 85, but
Proverbs 24:26 adds that "He who has a right answer kisses the lips." The
right answer is often released through the prophetic spirit while mercy
without truth is simply flattery. Conversely, truth is likened to wisdom
and wisdom is related Scripturally to honey. His truth is sweet.
Truth without mercy causes people to wither. Mercy without truth grows
weeds. For the prophet and pastor to marry there must be a spirit of
reciprocality . This denotes mutual respect, a giving that comes from both
directions. Completeness. Balance. An equivalent counterpart. A reciprocal
in mathematics means "the ratio of unity to a given quantity or
expression; that by which the given quantity or expression is multiplied
to produce unity.'
Math was never my subject, but it seems evident that the combining of
separate but equal powers causes multiplication and unity.
In physical marriage, two become one flesh. My wife's tenderness and
pastoral spirit has softened and smoothed my rough edges. My boldness and
defense of truth has strengthened her. Yes, she is still who she is and I
am still me.
In a spiritual marriage there is also an impartation of one to the other.
It can be expressed with nouns and adjectives. The Pastor (noun) becomes
Prophetic (adjective) producing a Prophetic Pastor. The Prophet (noun)
receives an impartation of the Pastoral (adjective) to become a Pastoral
Prophet. An adjective "qualifies" its subject. Consequently, the prophetic
qualifies the Pastor and the pastoral qualifies the Prophet.
Throughout Scripture the wedding of mercy and truth produces healing in
the land and a paved way before the Lord. Proverbs 2:3 even warns: "Let
not mercy and truth forsake you," while Psalm 89 says: "Mercy and truth go
before Your face."
Yokes are not designed to place one ox ahead of the other. They are
designed side-by-side so that two can pull as one. Even when yokes are
multiple as with Elijah and his 12-yoke team (24 oxen) the importance is
not the placement of the ox but the plowing of the field.
There can be much disputing about which is the "set man", or senior elder
in a congregation where there is multiple ministry.
In all truth, the "set man" sits at the right hand of the Father. He who
performs the ceremony is greater than those being wedded.
jlmoore@mcn.net
MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATION
We all have differences, but instead of pointed out the differences on how
we serve God, be blessed that we serve God. The Bible says that when
Jesus is high and lifted up, then He will draw all men unto Himself, not
when the way we worship is lifted up, or the what we think God should or
even others should be doing, but when He is lifted up.
Sometimes being prophetic we see ahead about what God is going to do
instead of seeing God Himself. Not when His plans are lifted up, but when
He is lifted up He will draw all men unto Himself. Seek first the kingdom
of God and His righteousness and then all these things shall be added unto
you.
God is judge, not us. He will do it the way He chooses, not our ways even
when we know what He is going to do, He still chooses how, when, and
where.
We need to find the agreements that we have and not the differences. When
we begin encouraging one another on things that we are in agreement in,
then we will be able to build a relationship and gain their trust, and
then we can, in love, share our differences and correct one another in
love and receive correction also.
Every joint supplies. It is not going to be my church that brings revival
but it is going to be His Church that brings revival to our cities.
Don't get me wrong we do need to be bold as a lion and not compromise, but
the Scripture also says to be gentle as a lamb. It was Jesus'
relationship with the disciples, despite their obvious differences with
Jesus (i.e. "shall we call down fire from heaven..") that caused almost
all of them to give their lives and service to Him.
When we as a church embrace the "Church," every joint not just charismatic
joints, but Baptist joints, Catholic joints, etc., then God will do what
He said He would do. God will pour out His Spirit on all flesh. The
Bible says where there is unity He will command a blessing.
PROPHETIC WORD
For truly I am doing a work in the earth like none other move of My
Spirit. Did I not say that there would be a generation that would seek My
face? Did not my servant Paul say that there is a generation that will
enter into My rest?
We have striving going on in Church. Striving for the answer,
striving for the key to their cities. Truly this is a day of the one man
show. I already have chosen that man: The Son of Man, My Son, the
Messiah.
I will bring My Church together, I will do it says the Lord. Did I not
give you all the ministry of reconciliation, not the ministry of fault
finding?
For the portion you judge with so shall I judge you. For the day is
coming when My chosen will stop increasing their church but will increase
My Church.
For truly the time is coming when my prophets will speak as ones
with authority. They will be speaking with a message that will be
universal, "Prepare Ye the way of the Lord!"
They will speak of getting back to God. They will be speaking on
decreasing your kingdom as God's kingdom increases. For My Word says
receive a prophet and receive a prophet's reward, for truly revival and
reconciliation is the reward.
As the message of My servants the prophets are embraced I will do as I
said and turn the hearts of the fathers back to children and the hearts of
the children back to the fathers. If you shall not receive this I will
curse the land.
There will be those in the "Spirit filled" churches that will not embrace
this Word and there will be those in the traditional churches that will,
for truly I will get the glory and not a man, a ministry, or a movement,
but I will receive the glory.
For that which I am about to do will not be able to be done by one man's
anointing but by the anointing of the Body of Christ. So I
say lay down your plans that do not include your brothers and sisters in
the others churches, lay down your plans that builds your ministry and
doesn't encourage the already existing ministries.
Lay down your plans that don't involve rooting up, and tearing down, for
truly I'm fixing the foundations that are man made and I am doing
reconstructive surgery, and then I will build and plant.
For truly when the surgery is over I will build and I will plant. For one
man waters, one man plants, but I will give the increase.
JSHADE@idoc.state.il.us
Will You Give Me Control?
2 Chronicles 20 v 15 - 19
In this time of preparation, a trumpet blows aloud declaring, "Stand still
and see the salvation of the Lord". It declares, "Stand still and see".
It involves your position and observance, and My power bringing deliverance!
How many times does My Word declare that I can do all things, that I am the
God of the impossible? Stand still and watch Me move.
The children of Israel stood still and watched as I delivered them from their
enemies. My people, throughout days of old, learned by doing their part of
obedience, in faith, that My hand would accomplish all that needed to be
fulfilled.
You see, O children, My work is not finished and I want to move in your lives
but your control prevents Me from taking full control. You can give Me the
accelerator of a car but if your foot is still over the brake I have not
received, from you, full control. I need full control, for by it I can
accomplish My plans in your life; and they will be for your good (Romans
8:28).
When trials arise, declare My control. When tribulations rise up, speak
out My Word. Declare to Me today, "Have complete control Lord". Speak it
out and let your actions prove your hearts desire . . . give Me the 'reins'.
So many of you, My children, draw near with your mouth but as soon as a trial
arises, your heart cries out, "How am I going to handle this?", instead
of "'I Am' is going to handle this."
You see, the man who has given Me full control of his life knows that I will
take the responsibility of solving every problem. His job is to give Me the
problem and obey My words of direction. I direct the steps of a righteous
man ( Psalm 37 v 23 ). I direct them into the place of rest, peace and
shelter. By no means does this mean all attacks from the enemy cease, but
it does mean that amid these storms, his heart I will keep in perfect peace
(Isaiah 26:3-4).
Arise O children of God and take your position. Stand still and see . . . .
I will do the rest. Stand on My Word and in My name, obeying My commands
and see the salvation of the Lord.
To be still does not mean to be lazy. It means to actively trust Me (faith)
and seek My will on every matter . . . at times this will be in complete
stillness, without saying a word, for in quietness and confidence will be
your strength (Isaiah 30:15-18). To still and see are words that
point the focus of a man to Me and My Word. They declare, refrain from your
ways and seek Mine.
I have the salvation . . . . I have the victory. By focussing on Me and
submitting full control into My hands, you will partake of My victory in
every area of your lives (John 10:10 & 1 John 5:4-5).
May the Lord truly enrich your lives with His blessings,
Yours in Christ,
Jealousy
HOLLIE L. MOODY
It is with a very heavy heart that I felt the Lord
speaking the following word unto me. I sought to close my
ears to it, and turn away from it. When I finally sat down
to write down these words, and the heaviness remained
within my heart and tears dripped down my cheeks, at the
same time as I felt this sorrow within myself, I also felt
it as the sorrow the Lord experiences over us as our love
for Him cools down from a blazing fire into a dim ember.
The Lord is jealous over us, and over our love for Him. He
will accept nothing less than being first and being number
One in our hearts and in our lives. If He isn't the only
One on the throne in our heart, He isn't on the throne at
all. If this is the case with any of us, let us hear what
the Spirit may be speaking unto us, and repent and return
unto our first love for the Lord, and let us do the first
works of that first love for the Lord once again.
*************************************
NEVERTHELESS, I HAVE SOMEWHAT AGAINST THEE...
He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says unto
the church.... I am He Who stands as the cornerstone and
the foundation of your faith. You have built upon Me. What
you have built has withstood the persecution of ages. What
you have built upon Me has overcome adversities and
temptations and the tests of time.
Yet I have a few things against thee.
You have become increased with the knowledge of Me. You
have had faith in Me, and through faith in My Name and in
My shed blood you have spoken the word of faith and raised
those who were dead in trespasses and sins. You have
spoken health and healing to those bound by spirits of
infirmity. You have ministered to the wounded through My
Name, and have bound up the broken hearted.
You labor for Me, and suffer persecution and reproach for
My sake. You have been patient through your trials and
times of testing.
I know you. I know your works for Me. I know the great
love you have for Truth. You serve Me so diligently. I see
all these things. I see what you accomplish for the
Kingdom.
Yet I have a few things against thee.
The great and wonderful things you do for Me, you no
longer do with the fierce burning passionate love you once
held for Me. I find no fault in what you do on My behalf.
I find fault with the fervency which is lacking while you
do these things. I would rather have your passionate love
than your lukewarm service. I can accomplish more through
you if you fall in love with Me once again.
I continue to use you because you are Mine, and I am bound
by My Word to honor and answer your faith. And you have
much faith.
Yet surely I testify unto you, that unless you return unto
Me with all your heart and mind and soul and strength, and
repent that you have left your first love of Me, I will
come quickly and will move you aside and pass over you to
those who will seek after Me with all their heart and mind
and soul and strength. They will be a people despised by
many. They will be a people esteemed by many to be of no
reputation. Yet it will be their relationship with Me
which will allow Me to work and to flow through them in
ways that will touch those who come into their presence in
even the most casual of circumstances.
As many as I love, I reveal their faults to them and show
them ways to correct those faults. I counsel you to
earnestly repent, lest I remove you.
He who has an ear, let him hear what My Spirit says unto
the churches.
hlmoody61@aol.com
Letting Go
Priscilla Van Sutphin
As I watched the end of the Moses movie made by TNT,
the Lord Impressed on me, how Moses, despite not being
allowed to go on further was asked to pass the torch to
Joshua and blessed him, and gave him the command of the
Lord to lead his people. Joshua stood long at the side of
Moses as a servant.
God at this time is going to be asking some who have
held tight to their position of leadership to turn the
reins of their churches back over to the Lord Jesus
Christ, and to the younger generation. This will not be an
easy task, yet as they are obedient when the Lord speaks
to them, they will be greatly blessed, especially if they
do so without constraint, and with gladness of heart.
" Let these words testify to you, says the Lord, that
in this age full of GRACE, that, then I wish you to turn
around and support the younger as I LEAD, and as I DID.
They will walk in unprecedented power and you will be
tempted towards jealousy when you see what I do.
Generations have longed to see what you will see ! Set
your eyes on ME and loose my church into the hands of the
Holy Spirit to lead and guide you. Do NOT set your hearts
against the young but help them and serve them. Let them
draw on your wisdom.
Great grace will be given those who will rely on ME
and NOT on their own opinions or theology. I AM against
your man made theology, and I will OPPOSE all that sets
itself against MY PLANS and revelation of them, for what
to do.
I AM doing a new thing in the earth. Be aware that My
glory will empower you to boldness as NEVER before in
doing MY will alone. It is because of MY goodness I will
give you MY GRACE AND GLORY, NOT because of YOUR goodness!
I ALONE am worthy of all honor and glory. Worship Me in
the beauty of holiness. Humble yourselves and I will lift
you up.
To those who resist MY wisdom, remember the words of
Peter to Ananias, " Why has Satan filled your heart that
you should lie to and Attempt to deceive the Holy Spirit?"
(Amp) When you don't give control to the Most Holy
Spirit, then you are walking in the deception that you can
do as YOU like instead of doing what I want you to do! Do
not see this as a minor thing. Remove the thorns of
rebellion and idolatry in your heart NOW while you can.
Ask ME to come and remove them, and I will heal you and
set you free.
On the tail of great power being poured out, the enemy
always seeks to destroy those on whom I have poured out My
glory. Know that I AM with you and will sustain you till
your work on earth is done. Be BOLD, be STRONG, be
courageous, be "bravehearts" for the Lord your God is with
you! Build MY CHURCH! Reach out to the LOST! Love one
another as I have LOVED YOU! Remember I am with you till
the end of all time!
Upstream Ministries
Expect the Unexpected
Ron Harriette Osborn
My Children, my Bride,
Stop looking for the obvious and begin to expect the unexpected. I have
been calling you for some time to put away the old and prepare for the
new. Did you think I have asked that of you only to give you more of the
old? No. I am doing a new thing in the earth today.
Did King Nebuchadnezzer expect Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego to walk out
of the fiery furnace without even the smell of smoke on them? No. Did
King Darius expect Daniel to survive the night in the den of lions
without even a wound? No. Did my people expect the waters of the
flooding Jordan River to pile up in a heap so that they could cross over
to the Promised Land? No. Had the generation before them expected to
cross the Red Sea on dry ground? No. Did anyone expect the sun and moon
to stand still as it did by Joshua's request? No.
Do you not see, can you not comprehend that I am God and nothing is
unexpected for me. I am about to do a new thing on the earth - something
you do not expect - but I have planned it from of old. Will you be a
part of it?
Will you lay down everything you hold so dearly and come to me with open
hands to be equipped to do your part? Will you rid your heart of all
desires, all habits, all relationships - all that you have allowed to
stand before your relationship with me? I tell you, they are idols &
must be laid - no, thrown - down.
Will you this day step over the fear of the unknown, over the idols
you've thrown down, over the past and its securities and come before me
and declare, "Lord, have your way with me - use me as you will."
If you are shackled to the past you cannot move forward. If you have
your heart set on your own way you cannot see mine.
I am doing a new thing. I am rearranging my army. I may ask you to
change places with another. Do not look at my reordering of the ranks as
promotions or as demotions. I am simply putting each warrior in the
place of greatest effectiveness. Rejoice that the positioning is by my
hand and is in my plan.
No one expected a mere boy armed only with a slingshot and five stones to
kill Goliath and open the way for the defeat of the Philistines, but it
was I who arranged the ranks that day.
I am calling together my army today and requiring of you that you cleanse
yourselves of all unholiness and of all that would distract you and to
incline your ear to the voice of your Captain.
Respectfully submitted,
July 16, 2000
We are not through yet! Let us not be satisfied that we have been personally
set free and blessed or become comfortable with a half finished job...there
is still a Temple to be built so that it (we) may be filled with His
Glory...we are the second generation to whom this specific prophecy was
spoken...IT IS A TODAY WORD AS MUCH AS IT WAS THE DAY IT WAS GIVEN...our new
covenant destiny is to reveal the knowledge of the Glory of the Lord in all
the earth! God has poured out His Spirit in the latter rain...the rebuilding
has begun...but we must determine today that we will take up again with vigor
the project!
GOINMIN@aol.com
By John Moore
By Jim Shade
Andrew Combe
Andrew
JonCombe@aol.com
Upstream10@hotmail.com
http://upstream.homestead.com
Harriette Osborn
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