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

July 22, 2000

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.

  • Worship ME in the beauty of holiness !
  • Worship ME in spirit and in truth !
  • Worship ME with abandonment !

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,
Priscilla
Upstream Ministries
http://upstream.homestead.com
Upstream10@hotmail.com

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.
homerowen@earthlink.net

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
MTIsound@cs.com

TWO EAGLES AND FOUNTAINS OF HEALING FOR THE USA IN THE WILDERNESS
-- A Word through Luz Cintron

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;
Luz Cintron
luceliscintron@email.msn.com
http://www.angelfire.com/il2/pearlsofwisdom/PW/index.html

Spirits Of Darkness, Beware!
Harley Hickling

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
Prophetic Word through Wendy Barraclough

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
131 Cheriton high Street Cheriton
Folkestone near Deal - England
Email c/o: davehowe@fdn.co.uk

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
Harvest Church -- On the Move for God!
Email: JALCORN@AOL.COM

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.
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.

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
http://www.outdoorrec.com/crn/apnews.htm
The Apostolic Prophetic List: ap@myhome.net

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