Five-Fold Today - Revolution is Coming - I have Decided to Follow Jesus - Knowledge That Bears Good Fruit - Face To Face - Two Eagles and Fountains of Healing - Spirits Of Darkness, Beware! - I Would Have Given Them Bread - Release Laborers Into The Harvest - The Poor in Spirit - Ask Of Me
Revolution is Coming
Priscilla Van Sutphin
Grace and mercy are kissing each other says the Lord. Are you ready for a
revolution? This will violently, abruptly, suddenly erupt upon you and you
will not possibly be prepared for what I'm about to do. But HAVE NO FEAR !
You, My church, will fear for what I'm about to do will astound and confound
you! Do not try to pour this movement into the old wineskin of formalism.
The old wineskin is RANK and MOLDY. I am doing a new thing ! and you will
not be able to conform it to your religion, to your conformity of man's way
to "have Church", or to man's "order".
For once again, I will shake the heavens and the earth, the sea and the dry
land. And I will shake all nations, and they will come to the 'Desire of All
Nations', and I will fill this temple with glory,' says the Lord. 'The silver
is Mine and the gold is Mine,' says the Lord of Hosts. 'The glory of this
latter temple shall be greater than the former,' says the Lord of Hosts. 'And
in this place I will give PEACE,' says the Lord of Hosts. (Haggai 2:6-9)
True religion will again be established in My church and the lampstands who
do not conform to MY WILL, will be extinguished.
I am coming like a mighty rushing wind and NOTHING will be able to stop
what I have planned. The gates of hell will NOT prevail against My church.
But the FACE (the heart attitudes of the people) of My church will change
abruptly and like an altering of surgery - will not be recognizable in it's
old form.
What I do will be so shocking to some that they will attempt to box it
In and control it, but they will find themselves fighting with ME. Their
attempts
Will be strongly opposed. Keep your eyes on ME My Beloved ! I AM the Author
and Finisher of your faith !
I AM the King of Kings and I WILL have no other gods before ME. I am
not coming as the meek and gentle shepherd. I AM coming as a jealous
Bridegroom and I will destroy the strongholds of the enemy over whole
congre-gations - over whole cities, and nations. My glory will INCREASE and
be of great
offense to many. The Spirit of Might will empower the children and youth and
all who are open to MY WAYS to go forth in the POWER of Elijah to tear down
the altars to Baal in this land and to destroy the kingdom of darkness, all
over
the world.
Glory in what I am about to do ! Rejoice! for the glory of the Lord is
rising upon
you, and life as you have grown accustomed to will abruptly change and NEVER
be the same again. "Do you want a revolution?" { the Kirk Franklin song
is resounding in my mind as I write this.}
It will be a revolution of MY LOVE and GRACE ! LOVE ONE ANOTHER AS I HAVE
LOVED YOU and been patient with you !
As I have treated you - treat others. In this you will be blessed !
GREAT HEALINGS AND MIRACLES ARE AT THE DOORSTEP.
Open the doors of your heart and let the King of Glory come in !
Who is this king of Glory ? The Lord Strong, and Mighty in Battle !
The Son of Righteousness is rising with healing in His wings !
Be found in the shelter of His wings ! For He is your everything.
Love in Christ,
I have Decided to Follow Jesus
Becky McLendon
Remember church camp or Vacation Bible School when every one sang "I have Decided to Follow Jesus?"
Some where in every believer's life that song has been sung. Like many choruses and hymns, we sing the
words and follow the melody without looking at the words and HEARING what we are singing. I have been
getting line after line from this so called "simple chorus" and it is though the Lord is saying now LOOK and
LISTEN to what you are singing.
First verse : I have decided to follow Jesus. The quality decision that brings life, deliverance and
salvation to our soul and then some. Jesus says "If you love me, you will sell all that you have and
give to the poor and you will take up your cross and follow ME. You will take on My Name, (my
CHARACTER) and do the works that I do. You will follow Me in the celebrations and in the suffering
and do so as an act of worship to Me. You will spend a life time giving of yourself so that others can
be led to Me. You will lose your "life" as you know it to take up My life. Sound too hard? Why? I did
it for YOU.
Second verse: The cross before me, the world behind me. This is not a religious icon you are holding
before you, My child. This is the whole picture of the crucifixion and its purpose. All things before
this crucifixion proceed toward the cross, all things after this crucifixion point BACK to the cross. You
are leaving a worldly existence and trading it for a new citizenship. You are leaving behind the "life"
you so treasured, and pressing into ME. That involves dealing with a sense of "loss" ..when that
which was once precious to you becomes VILE in exchange for My glory. So when you place the
cross before you and the world behind you, you are saying you value Me more than all the riches and
pleasures this world can offer.
Third verse: Though none go with me, yet I will follow. This is easy for you to sing, but when you
actually SEE people pulling back as you press forward in your walk, will you be able to handle the
loneliness that you feel...the LOSS that you feel. For you see, some of the people you love the most
may not want to press in. You look two ways..ahead to Jesus and behind to those you valued as
friends and family. A dilemma occurs. Then the words of the song bring reality to you. Though none
go with me, yet I will follow. You choose life and press on.
The one line consistent in all verses: No looking back. No looking back. Did Jesus not say, "He who
puts his hand to the plow and then looks back is not worthy of the Kingdom?" That is a hard saying,
but since Christ is holy and just, and IS the Word of God made flesh, it comes to this: He means what
He says. Just thank God He gives us the GRACE to follow Him, because we in our own "strength"
cannot possibly FOLLOW Him. It all goes back to line one: I have decided to follow Jesus. He
reached out in love toward you from the cross. He shed His blood for your sins, and you reached up
to Him and repented and said "Yes I believe. Yes I receive." And REALLY meant it.
Have you Decided to follow Jesus?
Becky (Wayfarer)
olds@intrastar.net
KNOWLEDGE THAT BEARS GOOD FRUIT
Homer Owen
We have been talking a little bit about knowledge and wisdom and our need to pray towards walking in
knowledge, and yet we find an interesting scripture in 1 Corinthians 8: 1-3 talking about what knowledge
can do to us. "...we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge makes arrogant (puffs up), but
love edifies. If any one supposes that he knows anything, he has not yet known as he ought to
know; but if any one loves God, he known by Him."
Allowing the Word of God to be it's own dictionary we can see that there is knowledge and then there is
knowledge. Adam and Eve got all of us into a lot of trouble by eating of the tree of knowledge and we
can see today that most people are still partaking of this kind of knowledge. I personally believe that Jesus
was hung on the tree of knowledge in order to free us from having to obtain a lot of knowledge that we
really don't need.
When God gave the law it was a law for the tree of knowledge and He didn't leave anything out. "Christ
redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us - for it is written, 'cursed is
every one who hangs on a tree in order that in Christ Jesus the blessing of Abraham might come
to the Gentiles, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith." (Galatians
3:13-14)
If we are not careful we will try to attain to perfect knowledge in all of our doctrines and fail to know
Jesus. The knowledge we are to pray for is revelation knowledge of Him. Not about Him, but to get to
know Him. We can gather up all kinds of information and never come into the knowledge of Him.
"Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord; seeing
that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the
true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. For by these He has
granted to us His precious and magnificent promises, in order that by them you might become
partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world by lust." (2 Peter
1:2-4).
As we pursue Him we will naturally become like Him. He is in us and as we get to know Him we will see
how we are to allow Him to live out His life. Just think, you have God inside of you and He wants to be a
blessing to those you come in contact with today. Remember, He is not religious. Yes, He is Godly and
pure and wholesome and as we yield our members to Him we will take on good clean wholesome
characteristics. We will be just like Him. Glory!
Lord, we want to know you today. Help us by giving us a fresh revelation of yourself and your plans for
us today. This is coming to you from Homer Owen in Waco, Texas. My home page is
http://home.earthlink.net/~homerowen.
FACE TO FACE
Mike Danforth
Ex 33:17: So the LORD said to Moses, "I will also do this thing that you have
spoken; for you have found grace in My sight, and I know you by name."
Ex 33:18: And he said, "Please, show me Your glory." NKJV
This passage of scripture is in relation to Moses requesting that God show
him His glory. The word "show" in this particular verse means to see, to
perceive, to learn or understand. He wasn't asking God to show him the color
of His eyes, hair or some other visual attribute of His glorious countenance,
but he wanted to know who God really was. He wanted to know, if possible, the
full scope of His existence. "I want to know the very center of your Kabowd!"
(glory). Moses first contended for the presence of God, which eventually lead
him to the glory of God. Therefore, you could say the presence of God is the
introduction of, or the beginning of the knowledge of who God is. If you were
to take the last few hundred years of the church and compare it to what we
are about to enter into, it would be a mere introduction at best.
There is a deep cry beginning to sound forth from this generation, "Lord,
show us your glory! Like Moses we want to go from the face of your presence
into the face of your glory!" This glory, "Kabowd" refers to the wealth or
the weightiness of the full knowledge of God. The prophet Habakkuk declared,
"the knowledge of the glory of the LORD will cover the earth as the waters
cover the sea." (Hab 2:14)
The waters are the face or introduction, to the depths of the sea. The depths
are what lie beneath the surface of the waters. So it is with the church,
there is a knowledge or spiritual perception that goes much deeper than the
surface of our own present day understanding and experiences in God.
Whenever a scuba diver looks at an ocean he or she sees much more than the
ripples of the tide or floating kelp on its surface. They have knowledge or
perception of an existence that is very much alive, hidden beneath the casual
views of those just passing by. And so, there is a revelation of God's love
and power that has been hidden beneath the casual experience of modern day
Christianity.
Every encounter that we have had in Jesus Christ up to this very hour, has
simply been a tutor to our final glorious habitation. Jesus was the primary
introduction to the kingdom of God. He was the revelator of the Father's love
for all humanity. His presence and life gave us the ability to go beyond the
veil of limitations, into the face of eternity, where our greatest adventure,
is to know God.
In our desperate pursuit to know God we are dying to various ambitions, which
in times before, was the main scope of our willingness to serve God. Many
spiritual leaders over the years have defined successful living within the
perimeters of certain fame and notoriety. But the process of Christ being
formed in us is changing our perspective of what it means to have real
influence in the earth. It was the process of God's presence working in the
life of Moses that brought him into the undeniable awareness that the true
essence of God was yet to be discovered.
Because of Jesus Christ, we have found grace in His sight, and the name He
knows us by comes from our deep longing to know Him more. But what Moses was
once denied, we now have full permission by the Holy Spirit, to come boldly
before His throne and behold the beauty of the Lord. Because of the presence
of God working daily in our lives, we will not be satisfied until we stand
before Him "face to face". We are breaking through the light barrier of
yesterdays, taking on the appearance of His glory today, for the hope of
tomorrow.
Mike Danforth
TWO EAGLES AND FOUNTAINS OF HEALING FOR THE USA IN THE WILDERNESS
While on a prayer meeting at church I had this vision
and a word from the Lord:
THE VISION
Two eagles were shown to me. The first one had a white head, his eyes
were yellow, bright yellow and so his beak. He was looking downward
very intensely, all around.
Then He showed me a second eagle, and it was all black, his feathers
were dark black, shinny and soft as silk. His eyes were all black,
His eyes shone with light of their own but as one who reflects it.
His eyes were like shinning jewels, they look alive and shone like
water when the sun hits it, but I still could see they were black,they
were soft and smooth. There was something very regal about this one
as he moved looking around even though everything was dark nothing was
hidden to his sight, He could see all, and even though he was black I
still could see the shine of his silky feathers as black as pitch
darkness itself. I couldn't see what he was looking at through that
darkness, but I could see he was able to see and was doing so as
intensely as the white one in the daylight.
Both eagles were awesome. Both have their beaks bright yellow, same
beak same size. They were beautiful.
THE INTERPRETATION:
The two eagles are representative of aspects of the prophetic that the
Lord is to release. The first one, the one with the yellow eyes and
the white head who look intensely at all around downward may be the
one who weighs the things that are in open view and interprets the
signs, times and seasons. He is in the light of the day so as to say
for things that are in plain view.
The other one, the black one, I don't think there are black eagles,
but this one was an eagle and a very black one. He represents another
aspect, which is the one who deals with things that are hidden, in
darkness.The Lord will start to reveal the things that are hidden in
the hearts of men, he will uncover also the deeds of darkness. With
strong determination He will bring all things to the light, even as He
covers Himself with darkness as with light. He is Lord and He will
reveal Himself as Lord. The Lord is to invade the kingdom of darkness
from its very core, where it feels more fortified, impenetrable and
secure. His eyes will pierce the cover of their darkness with
darkness itself and leave them nowhere to run. He is fearsome to
behold. He is the One Who rules in the midst of His enemies with a
rod of iron.
THE WORD
Then the Lord spoke and said about this nation (USA) it is a
wilderness laid waste, wasted, polluted and dry. He said He is about
to open fountains in the wilderness for life and for healing. He is
the rock of Horeb from which the Israelites drank in the desert. He
is the rock that gives forth living water to all whom may want to
drink. He is the Rock and the Living Waters. He is The Rock and also
the cleft on the rock, all we need to do is hide in Him and He will
cover us with His hands while his glory passes by.
Unto those believers that have secular jobs that suffer the roughness
of the wilderness of Sin, He says He is the rock of Horeb within you,
as He releases the living waters it will not be a trickle but a
gushing forth with strength that will not only flood you, but flowing
from deep within you it will overflow into the lives of those around
you.
Drink of Him and be strengthened for Amalek is at the door, but drink,
so you too can be fortified to win over him in battle. For everywhere
there are believers there will follow the manifestation of His
presence with signs and wonders. Those are the fountains of the
wilderness and that is HIM. He will change the wilderness into a
lovely garden with the revelation of His presence.
Come Lord Jesus, our Love, our Friend. We need you. Come quickly !
Your servant in His love;
Spirits Of Darkness, Beware!
The Spirit Of The Most High speaks forth:
Oh, for large numbers of you spirits of darkness, your days are numbered and
you shall not escape the judgment that has been put off for all these many
years. Many of you are smug and full of yourselves, not at all unlike the
evil one whom you serve. In your smugness and in your ignorance you will be
totally caught unawares of that which I have been preparing for you. Even
that which is being brought forth here you will chose to ignore for that is
the way of you who find your satisfaction in performing evil unto My most
precious creation, mankind. This is especially true for you who have been
granted authority in high places.
For what I have prepared to come against you and to extract justice from you,
are My Servant Warriors, a special breed of warriors that I have been
preparing in My Crucible of Holiness. Even now these warriors are completing
their final preparations and soon they shall be receiving their battlefield
commission, ready and fully prepared and equipped to serve Me in bringing
about justice against you for all the evil and destruction you have
orchestrated against My beloved. When the King of Kings and Lord of Lords
directs this band of warriors to go forth on the attack, they will be totally
seeped in My Anointing, fused with My Power and covered in My Glory, fully
armored and brandishing My Rod of Iron from which authority you can not
escape. The first you will see of these warriors will be when they are
suddenly standing in your face, accompanied by a host of angels, taking
complete authority over you, for these warriors will be given your names,
your locations and your positions of authority as well as a brief of that
which you have done that marks you evil in My sight. Instantly upon meeting
My Servant Warriors you will truly understand what the word dread means for
you will be slammed by that dread which emanates from the power contained
within these My true and faithful servants. Do not even attempt to bargain
with My servants for they will grant you no mercy and show you no regard.
What they will show you is the direct way to the Abyss where you will be
confined until your day of judgment before Me.
Spirits of Darkness be prepared for the very worst you can imagine for it
shall soon be upon you. Your strengths and your powers will evaporate
instantly as My Servant Warriors take authority over you. You who have taken
such great delight in creating fear among people everywhere shall suddenly
discover fear personified within yourselves. A fear so great you will be only
able to gasp, for words will forever leave you.
Again I say, spirits of darkness beware!
Please send comments to hhickling@home.com
I WOULD HAVE GIVEN THEM BREAD
Oh, My people... They have sought for signs and wonders when I would have
given them bread - Bread For their souls and healing for their minds.
They have played the wanton on every hill and mountain without referring
to Me, the Mainstay of their lives. They have judged and rejected those I
sent to warn of their evil ways.
How long must I put up with this evil generation that seeks for a sign and
will not bow the knee to Me? Cry unto me and I will yet heal you of your
wanton ways.
Listen to my servants the prophets who are the watchmen to warn of the
wolves' approach.
Can I do more?
Can I send manna from heaven in answer to your prayers? Of course I can.
But test Me, says the Lord, and see if I will not give you bread for your
souls - Bread that will not grow stale, but bring you eternal life.
The bread that I speak of is My Body - Given to you as an eternal
sacrament - Those that eat it will never die but have eternal life. I
have said this before, and instructed you to keep this commandment in
memory of Me until I Come again.
For I have given you all the food that you need. Keep My Commandments.
Stay close by My side - and I will protect you in the evil and dark days
which are to come.
Do not seek your own pleasure - But assiduously seek My will for your
lives.
Through Wendy Barraclough
2 THESS 2. JOHN 6.
Release Laborers Into The Harvest
A WORD FROM PASTOR JANA ALCORN
Leader, now is the time to release laborers into the harvest. Passion
wanes when we delay release. I want to share steps for a quick thrust of
workers into the harvest. These things are essential for an effective
ingathering. This is a time for extreme commissioning!
1. PASSION
Above all, we must be consumed with passionate fire for the Lord and for
the things that touches His heart. Let us be "clad with zeal as a cloke."
(Isaiah 59:17)
Release the passionate ones. Don't hold them back until they learn what
you know. (smile) Let them go forth. Train them as they go. We must
demonstrate a burst of enthusiasm and affection so that the world will
know that we have been with Jesus. It is a shame when the Jehovah's
Witnesses and the Mormons are evangelizing with passion
while the Spirit-filled ones are still writing notes and listening to the
tape.
2. SERVANTHOOD
Desirable trends in the Body of Christ will never replace servanthood.
There is simply no such thing. God is not impressed with titles.
Ministers are simply servants, bond-slaves of the Master. The Bible says
the first shall be last. The first thing
God commissioned man to do was to get in the garden and work, to take care
of it. Now, the first shall be last. This is a time to dig in and work.
(Genesis 2:15)
The New Testament calls the minister a "workman". (II Timothy 2:15)
Don't sleep in harvest! (Proverbs 10:5)
Teach and exemplify servanthood.
3. SUBMISSION TO SPIRITUAL AUTHORITY
Throughout our lives, God speaks through authority. Whether it is our
parents, our Pastors, our Overseers, our teachers, our coaches, or
another leader in our life, God speaks through others.
When the leaders rebelled against Moses, all 250 were swallowed up. Even
tho the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church, a rebellious
spirit can open up its gates.
Obedience is an act, but submission is a characteristic of the heart. To
have authority simply means to have an influence to be able to "speak into
one's life." We have a biblical and spiritual obligation to be relational
in the Body of Christ. There is not one of us as smart as all of us.
Submitting one to another in the fear of God is a winning strategy in the
army of the Lord. (Ephesians 5:21)
"Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the
outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith." Hebrews 13:7 (NIV)
Leader, we must thrust forth workers now into the harvest. Don't wait for
all conditions to be favorable. If you regard the winds, you will not
sow. It is time for extreme commissioning!
INSIDE THE SEED
"Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me."
John 14:21
The manifestation of Jesus is no secret. John reveals it plainly. When
we obey Jesus, we show that we love Him and He, in turn, then shows
Himself unto us. "Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he
will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto
him, and make our abode with him." (John 14:22,23)
LEADERSHIP LINES
The soil says, "Don't bring me your need; bring me your seed."
Without a sense of urgency, desire loses its value.
Part of success is preparation on purpose.
You don't get paid for the hour. You get paid for the value you bring to
the hour.
We must risk going too far to discover just how far we can go.
You cannot succeed by yourself.
PROPHETIC WORD
"This is My time of extreme commissioning. I am going to use those whose
names are not known, nor do they desire to be known. Many will be marked
with a zeal and a passion that shall bring radical change.
I am sending ones that are willing to be sent. I am gathering those that
desire to be clothed with an anointing that will break them out of the box
of religious creeds. They will not be confined. It is time to loose them
and let them go so that the Master can carry them whithersoever He
desires. If you hold them, you will lose them.
All souls are mine. All sheep are mine. The Kingdom net will be full.
Don't be afraid of the new order. Don't be afraid of the evolutionary
ones. Utilize the power of passion and send them forth.
Yes, this is my time of extreme commissioning. It is breaking out and it
is building! You will stand and exclaim that a move of God is at hand and
the nets will break, says the Lord.
There shall be a networking that shall come because the harvest is so
great. Prepare and prepare now. Prepare for immediate occupancy, says
the Lord, for there is a breakout on the horizon!
God is raising up a voice that will be heralded in the power of the Holy
Spirit. He is empowering His people.
http://www.harvestinc.org
The Poor in Spirit
"Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the kingdom of heaven" -
Matthew 5:3
In today's devotion were only covering one scripture, but it is a very
meaningful one to our spiritual life.
We're going to look at "the poor in spirit", and find out what that really
means.
God says that "the poor in spirit" are blessed, which means fully
satisfied/spiritually prosperous. It is progressive. This progressiveness
of blessedness (being fully satisfied /spiritually prosperous) depends upon
the fulfillment of the conditions set down here, i.e., you must be "poor in
spirit" to be the blessed!
God says that "the poor in spirit"... "theirs is the kingdom of heaven".
That's a place I want to be.
Let's look at what this means in the Greek.
In Matthew 5:3 it means those who recognize their spiritual helplessness
before God (we're destitute before God). This is a broken and humble person
before God, and this is the kind of person God will bless. It initially
happens, I believe, when we get saved. We see our utter spiritual
helplessness before God and see our desperate need of God (we're poor in
spirit).
But I believe it doesn't end there. We still need to continually see our
utter spiritual helplessness apart from God. Yes, positionally, as a
Christian, you are IN CHRIST and what a great place to be! BUT don't think of
YOURSELF as any great person apart from Christ.
I need God every day of my life. Even as Christians we are utterly helpless
APART from Christ. "I need you, Lord, every moment of every day!" It
saddens me to see Christians so proud of THEMSELVES. I've been there, done
that, and it is not where God wants us. Away with Me-isms, away with self,
away with pride, away with "I CAN". We need the realization that I CAN'T,
but "I can do all things THROUGH CHRIST, WHO STRENGTHENETH ME" - Phil. 4:13.
Are you broken before God? Are you utterly helpless apart from Christ? If
not, it's time to admit before God that you do need Him and that APART FROM
HIM you are spiritually helpless.
If God has begun this work in your heart, my prayer is that you will continue
to stay broken before God.
Be blessed and be a blessing!
Jim (BibleFood@aol.com)
Ask of Me!
We live in unparalleled times. Not since the first century have more
scriptures been fulfilled in a single generation. Each unfolding word
brings down another mountain; it lifts another valley. In truth, the way
is being prepared for our King's return into this world.
The Great Revolt
The Lord forewarned that, during the end-time, "many will go back and
forth, and knowledge will increase" (Dan 12:4). Contrast our time with any
other in history: Not only are we traveling farther and more frequently,
but we do so in a world inundated with increasing knowledge. It has been
our privilege to behold the prophetic return of Israel to its land (Jer
16:14-15), and our misfortune to live when "the earth is...polluted by its
inhabitants..." (Is 24:5).
As though Jesus were reading a news summary of recent years, His
prophecies of two thousand years ago clearly describe our times. Thus, we
are compelled to discern accurately the significant times in which we
live. Indeed, of all the prophetic fulfillments of our day, one prophecy
in particular rises with immediate implications. It concerns the
"apostasy."
Paul warned, "Let no one in any way deceive you, for [the day of the
Lord] will not come unless the apostasy comes first..." (2 Thess 2:3).
The apostasy has traditionally been described as a time when many
quietly slip into a "great falling away" from true faith in Christ.
Depending upon your specific view, sometime before or after the apostasy
the rapture of the church will occur. However, the concept of apostasy as
merely "a falling away" is incomplete. The original Greek word for
apostasy, "apostasia," when used in classical Greek literature, meant "a
political revolt." From this we understand that the end-time apostasy is
not just a time of expanded moral compromise; it is a time of open
defiance and warlike aggression, a political insurrection, against the
laws of God.
This interpretation of the apostasy is not an isolated view. The NIV,
RSV, Today's English Version, Phillip's Translation and the New English
Bible all render "apostasia" as "the rebellion." The Living Bible
interprets the "apostasy" as the "great rebellion," while the Jerusalem
Bible assigns a proper name: "The Great Revolt."
As we gaze in awe at the fulfillment of so many other prophecies, let
us carefully observe: Mankind has entered an era of open revolt and
outright rebellion-an apostasy-against the moral standards of God.
Today, we are witnessing a large-scale rebellion against godliness and
moral values. Indeed, this brazen attitude has had a name for itself since
the 1960s: the sexual revolution. And "revolution" is exactly what it is.
Our moral standards have not only been challenged, they have been replaced
by a "non-standard," one which seeks to promote every sin from obscenity
to homosexuality and witchcraft!
Those caught up in this mutiny against morality boldly defy the sway
of God in our nation. They argue the only standard Americans have is the
standard of individual freedom. In their view, Freedom itself is the "god"
ruling America with Self-indulgence sitting at Freedom's right hand.
Yet, Jesus still wants this nation. Though the apostasy will certainly
intensify, we must remember it is only one of many prophecies unfolding in
our day. The same Divine Word which warned of the Great Rebellion also
purposed that God's kingdom shall crush and put an end to all nations (Dan
2:44).
Yes, evil shall mature into full rebellion, but good is also ripening
into full Christlikeness! (Matt 13:40-43; Jn 17:22-23) Yes, the apostasy
shall reveal the nature of Satan, but the true church shall manifest the
nature of Christ! Jesus is not only coming in the skies, He is coming "to
be glorified in His saints on that day, and to be marveled at among all
who have believed..." (2 Thess 1:10). What seems to be Satan's hour, full
of darkness and rebellion, is simply the opportunity for grace to abound
to the glory of God in the church!
Seated With Christ!
The Second Psalm, perhaps more then any other Bible text, accurately
portrays the spirit of our time. Indeed, it also proclaims our correct
response to Satan's bold advance. Although it was quoted by the early
church (Acts 4:25-26), God has set its full realization for the end of
this age.
"Why are the nations in an uproar, and the peoples devising a vain
thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take
counsel together against the Lord and against His Anointed: 'Let us tear
their fetters apart, and cast away their cords from us!' " (Ps 2:1-3).
Although "the rebellion" reveals itself worldwide in many ways, in
America many of our leaders have certainly been counseling together
"against the Lord" in their recent decisions. We see it in the legal
protection offered the gay movement and the shelter provided for satanic
rock music. Again, our anti-censorship laws, like armor plating, take
their stand against the Lord, shielding the perversity of our
entertainment industry. The cry of those in rebellion hammers relentlessly
upon the fetters of moral restraint!
This railing against God has not gone unnoticed in heaven. Is the
Almighty confounded? Has fear concerning recent developments gripped the
Lord's heart? No. The Psalm continues,
"He who sits in the heavens laughs, the Lord scoffs at them. Then He
will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury." (vv 4-5).
The Lord laughs at the foolishness of those in the rebellion, that
they imagine God's judgments cannot reach them. Why then, you ask, does
the Lord delay His full judgment? The Lord waits for us, His church. For
while the world shall demand, and receive, the reign of hell, the goal of
the praying church shall be for the reign of heaven. You see, all of God's
prophecies shall be fulfilled: those concerning evil and those concerning
good. The Lord has purposed to have a "bride without spot or wrinkle" and
a "kingdom" of wheat without tares. The transformation of the church will
be fulfilled as surely as the increase of knowledge, the return of Israel
and the apostasy itself.
Thus, with great fear and holy trembling, we must review what God has
promised concerning us! Let us remember, the Lord is not alone in the
heavens. According to His word, He has seated us with Him in the heavenly
places (Eph 2:6). It is time for our identity as Christians to shift. We
are Americans only by virtue of our ambassador status; our true
citizenship is in heaven (Phil 3:20). And if God is laughing at the
mocking of those in the rebellion, let us also, as His subjects, share His
confidence!
Thus, He commands us to sit with Him in the completeness of His
purpose. He requires us not only to live without fear but to stand in
prayer for these very nations which defy Him! Listen again to this Second
Psalm, for in the very context of worldwide rebellion against Him, it
records the most remarkable discourse.
"Ask of Me," the Father says to the Son, "and I will surely give the
nations as Thine inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Thy
possession" (v 8).
This request has little to do with the goodness of the church, but
everything to do with the virtue of Christ and the love of the Father
toward Him. Look around you: Twenty years ago this nation was cold in
prayer. Today, leaders of denominations comprising 180,000 churches in
America are calling their churches to unite in supplication for this
nation. Jesus has asked the Father for America, and in response the prayer
movement has been born!
As Christ's church, we do not deserve a national revival, but Jesus
does! As His representatives, in His name and virtue, we ask of the Father
for this nation! More than an expression of faith, our prayer is actually
an act of obedience: We are commanded to ask God for the nations!
Therefore, while the perverse strive toward complete rejection of God,
even as their mocking words fill the air with curses, God's unchangeable
promise to His Son, and to His church as Christ's body, is "ASK OF ME, and
I will surely give the nations!'' As violence, New Age religions and
witchcraft flourish in our schools, ASK God for this nation. While all
restraint is removed from the entertainment industry, ASK God for this
nation! While perversity dresses in normalcy, ASK God for America! While
abortion, partial birth abortion and the abortion pill remain protected by
laws, ASK God with confidence, with boldness, with faith for our land.
He who sits in the heavens, laughs. So, put away discouragement;
repent of fretting. The more we accept our place in the divine plan, the
more we shall laugh at the enemies' plans. The faith that relentlessly
asks God, pleases God. Now, as the fulness of the times unfolds, as the
world around us clothes itself in prophetic fulfillments, let us put away
unbelief; let us repent for withdrawal. For it is a time to boldly ask of
God. He has promised, He will give the nations as an inheritance to
Christ!
Meri Burlingame
July 22, 2000
Priscilla
Upstream Ministries
http://upstream.homestead.com
Upstream10@hotmail.com
homerowen@earthlink.net
MTIsound@cs.com
-- A Word through Luz Cintron
Luz Cintron
luceliscintron@email.msn.com
http://www.angelfire.com/il2/pearlsofwisdom/PW/index.html
Harley Hickling
Prophetic Word through Wendy Barraclough
131 Cheriton high Street Cheriton
Folkestone near Deal - England
Email c/o: davehowe@fdn.co.uk
Harvest Church -- On the Move for God!
Email: JALCORN@AOL.COM
Poor - Ptochos (Greek) - Means so poor that he can only obtain his living by
begging, he has nothing at all. It means abject poverty, utter helplessness,
complete destitution.
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