Five-Fold Today Important Life Lessons - Elijah Revolution! - Take the Offensive - Faithful Shepherds - Rock Of Stumbling - Re-Focus
SOME IMPORTANT LIFE LESSONS
From my favorite Nurse/ Maryann
First Most Important Lesson
During my second month of nursing school, our professor gave us a pop
quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the
questions, until I read the last one:
What is the first name of the woman who cleans the school?
Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman
several times. She was tall, dark haired and in her 50s, but how would
I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank.
Just before class ended, one student asked if the last question would
count
toward our quiz grade. Absolutely, said the professor. In your
careers, you will meet many people. All are significant. They deserve
your attention and care, even if all you do is smile and say 'hello'.
I've never forgotten that lesson. I also learned her name was Dorothy.
Second Important Lesson ~ Pickup in the Rain
One night, at 11:30 PM, an older African American woman was standing
on the side of an Alabama highway trying to endure a lashing rain
storm. Her car had broken down and she desperately needed a ride.
Soaking wet, she decided to flag down the next car. A young white man
stopped to help her, generally unheard of in those conflict filled
1960s. The man took her to safety, helped her get assistance and put
her into a taxi cab. She seemed to be in a big hurry, but wrote down
his address and thanked him.
Seven days went by and a knock came on the man's door. To his
surprise, a giant console color TV was delivered to his home. A
special note was attached. It read: Thank you so much for assisting me
on the highway the other night. The rain drenched not only my clothes,
but
also my spirits. Then you came along. Because of you, I was able to
make it to my dying husband's bedside just before he passed away. God
bless you for helping me and unselfishly serving others. Sincerely,
Mrs. Nat King Cole.
Third Important Lesson ~ Always remember those who served you.
In the days when an ice cream sundae cost much less, a 10 year old boy
entered a hotel coffee shop and sat at a table. A waitress put a glass
of water in front of him. How much is an ice cream sundae? he asked.
Fifty cents, replied the waitress. The little boy pulled his hand out
of his pocket and studied the coins in it. Well, how much is a plain
dish of ice cream? he inquired. By now more people were waiting for a
table and the waitress was growing impatient. Thirty-five cents, she
brusquely replied. The little boy again counted his coins. I'll have
the plain ice cream, he said. The waitress brought the ice cream, put
the bill on the table and walked away. The boy finished the ice cream,
paid the cashier and left. When the waitress came back, she began to
cry as she wiped down the table. There, placed neatly beside the empty
dish, were two nickels and five pennies - You see, he couldn't have the
sundae, because he had to have enough left to leave her a tip.
Fourth Important Lesson ~ The Obstacle in Our Path
In ancient times, a King had a boulder placed on a roadway. Then he
hid himself and watched to see if anyone would remove the huge rock.
Some of the king's wealthiest merchants and courtiers came by and
simply walked around it. Many loudly blamed the king for not keeping
the roads clear, But none did anything about getting the stone out of
the way. Then a peasant came along carrying a load of vegetables. Upon
approaching the boulder, the peasant laid down his burden and tried to
move the stone to the side of the road. After much pushing and
straining, he finally succeeded. After the peasant picked up his load
of vegetables, he noticed a purse lying in the road where the boulder
had been. The purse contained many gold coins and a note from the king
indicating that the gold was for the person who removed the boulder from
the
roadway. The peasant learned
what many of us never understand: Every obstacle presents an
opportunity to improve our condition.
Fifth Important Lesson ~ Giving When it Counts
Many years ago, when I worked as a volunteer at a hospital, I got to
know a little girl named Liz who was suffering from a rare and serious
disease. Her only chance of recovery appeared to be a blood transfusion
from her 5 year old brother, who had miraculously survived the same
disease and had developed the antibodies needed to combat the illness.
The doctor explained the situation to her little brother, and asked
the little boy if he would be willing to give his blood to his
sister. I saw him hesitate for only a moment before taking a deep
breath and saying, Yes, I'll do it if it will save her. As the
transfusion progressed, he lay in bed next to his sister and smiled, as
we all did, seeing the color returning to her cheeks. Then his face
grew pale and his smile faded. He looked up at the doctor and asked
with a trembling voice, Will I start to die right away? Being young,
the little boy had misunderstood the doctor; he thought he was going
to have to give his sister all of his blood in order to save her. You
see understanding and attitude, after all, is everything.
Brother Alan
Greater Emmanuel International
God Wants to Bring an Elijah Revolution!
The spirit of Jezebel is an international principality, devastating nations
and multitudes of our sons and daughters. This demonic power not only came
against the man, Elijah, but also the God of Elijah. This same power comes
against the passion and heart of God today, the Bride of Christ.
As it was for Elijah and the people of God in his generation, so it is
today in our lives and families. We, as a prophetic people, need God's
Manifest Presence in order to overcome His enemies and win this battle!
When we compromise with sin and don't fully embrace the power of Holy
Spirit, Jezebel has an open door to spawn her offspring into our midst and
affect the church corporately. The Lord has promised, in His Word, to
remove our lamp stand unless we repent and return to our first love.
Jezebel separates us with religious and controlling spirits cloaked in the
name of righteousness. The fire of the Holy Spirit challenges and shakes
the government of society, church, and our very lives. When God's people
are in compromise or trying to control His Manifest Presence, the
convicting power of Holy Spirit eventually leaves the sanctuary. Delegated
to back rooms, the fire goes out on the altar and the church moves in a
form of religion without the power.
War is Declared!
No Common Ground
These things and many more give common ground to the Jezebel spirit.
Beloved, we will not be able to effectively confront demonic strongholds in
our own lives and families or society until we are changed.
How can we take back territory for God when we're bound up in compromise?
How will we confront the depravity of our world when we're engaged in its
darkness? When the holy fire goes out on the altar of the church, we are
left with dark barren houses.
Are You Barren?
Have you been seduced by intellectualism, elitism, a political arena of the
church, and the fear of man? Are you no longer yearning for the power and
demonstration of the Holy Spirit in your life? Would you rather be
respectable in the house of man or anointed in the courts of God?
A Masquerade!
Many leaders are afraid of the manifestations of Holy Spirit and consider
them mere emotionalism. They would rather have someone weeping quietly
during the service than having them being radically gripped by the love of
God. Not wanting to clean up the stall, they lose the "white horse" of
visitation and revelation.
May we become true defenders of the faith, stalwart soldiers of the
Kingdom, and totally given over to the will and purposes of God in our
lives and in the global world we live in. Let Your Hearts Cry Out!
"Lord, help us to be like the prophet, Elijah. Help us to confront the evil
in our generation. We need to be so transformed by your beauty that we,
too, can change the course of history. Make our hearts hungry and thirsty,
Lord. Fill us with Yourself so that we no longer move in man's political
arena but in Your passion and zeal. Change our lukewarm hearts into burning
flames of desire for multitudes to be saved, healed and delivered. Come,
Lord, in your Manifest Presence. Allow us to see into eternity. Visit us in
Your magnificence and glory."
Jill Austin
Take the Offensive
Mike Forest
It doesn't take one very long to realize that being a
Christian means that he has enlisted in the army of God
and is now involved in warfare. Of course the enemy
would like to sidetrack us into either giving the devil
more attention than he deserves or by believing that
because he was defeated by our Lord that there is no
conflict that we are to enter into.
The Word of God says that we are to fight the good fight
of faith. It is a good fight because Jesus has already
won the victory, and we are to stand in the victory of
our Lord and Savior who was manifested to destroy the
works of the devil.
One of the primary reasons why many Christians are being
defeated by the enemy is because to a large degree they
are fighting a defensive battle. What do you think would
happen if you participated in a sporting event and all
that you played is defense? You could have the best
defense in the world, but you would not win any games
without an offense, because the offense are the ones
that put the points on the board. . The Christian's
armour is mainly for protection, and this armour must be
put on every day, but the Lord has not only provided
protection from the attacks of the enemy, but He has also
given us mighty offensive weapons in which we are not
only to defend our position, but we are to use these
mighty weapons to attack the enemy and take back that
which belongs to God.
Back in the days when I was in school, you didn't fight
with knifes and guns like they do now. A very effective
way to win a fight back then was to use the sucker
punch. This would literally take the wind out of the
unsuspecting opponent and the element of surprise would
very often give the victory to the one who threw the
first punch. We cannot allow the enemy do dictate the
battle. If we do, we will find that our position is
weekend, and we will be fighting from a defensive
position. It is time that the Body of Christ rise up in
the power and authority of Jesus Christ, and begin to
attack the enemy and spoil his goods.
There are three primary offensive weapons that I would
like to talk about: They are The Name of Jesus, The
blood of Jesus, and The Word of God.
"In my name shall they cast out devils." (Mark 16:17).
The Christian has been given authority over the enemy
through the name of Jesus. The early church had
revelation on the power that is in the name of Jesus, and
it is clear that everything that they did was in that
precious name that is above every other name in heaven
and in earth. They baptized in the name of Jesus. They
healed the sick in the name of Jesus. They prayed in the
name of Jesus, and they cast out devils in the name of
Jesus. It is essential that we know that we have been
given authority over all of the power of the enemy, and
this authority is in the name of Jesus.
There is nothing that the devil hates more than the
precious blood of Jesus. The believer overcomes the
accuser of the brethren by the blood of the Lamb. Our
victory has been secured for us because of the blood of
Jesus. No wonder the enemy is so intent in attempting to
steal the blood out of our hymn books. There is power in
the blood of Jesus. There is victory in the blood of
Jesus. There is deliverance in the blood of Jesus. "That
through death He might destroy him that had the power
of death, that is the devil, and deliver them who
through fear of death were all their lives subject to
bondage." (Hebrews 2:14,15).
The Word of God is the sword of the Spirit, and Jesus
Christ used The Word of God very effectively against the
enemy when He was being tempted by the evil one. We also
overcome the wicked one by "the word of our testimony."
Jesus Christ has given the church the keys to the
kingdom of heaven, "that whatsoever you bind on earth
shall be bound in heaven, and whatsoever you loose on
earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matt. 16:19). God's
Word proclaims that "the weapons of our warfare are not
carnal but are mighty through God to the pulling down of
strongholds." (2 Corinthians 10:4). The strongholds of
the enemy are being torn down as we proclaim the truth of
God's Word. Jesus Christ said that "if you continue in my
Word, then are you my disciples indeed, and you shall
know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
(John 8:31, 32).
The name of Jesus, the blood of Jesus, and the Word of
God are three mighty weapons that the Lord has given to
the church for the purpose of taking back from the devil
all that was lost through the fall of man.
In His Love,
Mike
Faithful Shepherds
Faithful shepherds of My flock, I have seen your trials and I have seen
your persecutions and I know your heart; as Job was tested--for I knew
his integrity and righteousness; so have I allowed your testing. Know
that in these things you have been made strong, My faithful ones. You
cry out to me in the mid-night hour and you lift your voice to your God
with praise and adoration in the darkest of hours. I have seen and I
have heard and I am well pleased. I will take you into the desert for a
time for there is much I wish to impart to you. This is not a desert
that is void of Me but a desert of being completely alone with and in
Me. Embrace Me and all that I speak to you. For soon, very soon, I shall
send many your way—the broken, the poor, the wounded, the hopeless, the
unwanted, the frightened, the run-aways. Those that others would look
upon and walk away from; for they see with their eyes and not with their
hearts. They JUDGE who is worthy to speak to and who is not, BUT I SAY,
you have kept yourselves holy unto Me and unto My ways and will. Your
hearts have remained broken and pure. You come before Me in spirit and
in truth and I AM WELL PLEASED. I have put within you a compassion for
those that have no compassion, a love for those who are unloved. A
longing, a desire, a yearning, a compelling to reach out to those who
are unreachable and who have been cast aside by the world. In these
shall you build a mighty vineyard for My glory; it will bear much good
fruit and by this, man shall know and come to Me through you.
In this time many will run to My sanctuary which I have entrusted to
you, and it will be filled and flowing out into the streets. In this
sanctuary shall you leave a remnant of that which I have instilled in
you; for you have established it on solid ground and a solid foundation
in My Son.
There are times of trials and tribulation that shall come; there
shall come a shaking and a quaking of the church and I shall send a
consuming fire to burn away the chaff; a fire to begin refining those
who will be raised up, I will send My wind to fan this flame and My rain
to set the metal in them. I will purge the dross from this church and
all those who would contend with you shall contend with Me! In this will
come cleansing and refreshing, strength and substance, faithfulness to
Me and to the shepherds of the sheep. I will knit you one to the other
and to your God and nothing shall separate you from Me.
You shall be a sword that cuts through the darkness of the evil one and
the light of My Son that dwells within you shall expose him and bring
all things to light . I will begin to expose those that speak falsely
against My shepherds and My wrath shall be kindled against those who
will not repent.
Remain steadfast My chosen ones. For I now begin a new work in you
and as Jacob's ladder carried him from glory to glory so shall I carry
you. Look up! For I am extending My ladder to you. Grab hold and climb!
Reach out—I will not let you go!
Rev.Sharon Marks
ROCK OF STUMBLING
JOHN L. MOORE
Many are weary for they have labored removing stones from
the fields they were never assigned to, and exhausted,
they are tempted to fall asleep now during the time of
Harvest. The Lord would say arouse yourself and look
around, there is a field over the hill that has been
rightly prepared for you. The time of harvest is a time of
entering in and redeeming and honoring the times of those
who went before you. The time of harvest is to reap where
you have not sown and experience the reward of those who
have arrived late to labor but share in the full reward.
Beware the field of stones. This is the land of hardened
hearts and the Lord Himself with deal with this earth.
Cross over into the prepared field, the one staked for
you, measured by His hand and allotted as the land of your
anointing. Even the rows are measured according to each
harvester's pace. There is joy in this field, not burden.
Lay down the false burden before it lays you down for it
is a rock of stumbling, a stone of offense.
Miles City, Montana
Re-focus
Loleen Denney
Many of us have been in the thick of an overwhelming heavy duty battle, trying hard to fight off the enemy, but having a hard time hearing the
Lord above the roar of that battle. As I have been praying about how to get the upper hand again, I 'saw' this scene and heard this Word from
the Lord.
I 'saw' a group of people in a circle all facing outward with their backs to the Lord. They were fighting for all they were worth, kicking out and
punching as hard as they could. They didn't break rank of the circle, but a stage of panic was building as they realized that they were doing all
that they could but didn't seem to be gaining any ground and the enemy was fighting hard and dirty, kicking, biting, scratching fiercely. They
were getting very overwhelmed, weary, frustrated, and scared.
The next scene I 'saw' they all turned around and faced inward toward the Lord with bowed heads, listening to the Lord, periodically they
would turn their head (not their body), speak a word over their shoulder then turn their attention back to the center. The feeling went from
panic to overwhelming peace.
Then I 'heard': Get your eyes off of the battle and back on Me! As long as you are focused on the battle around you, you can not clearly hear
what I want to do through you to defeat the enemy. As long as your eyes are on him your eyes can not be on Me , as long as all you hear is
the battle you are unable to hear instructions from Me. Have I not told you I will be your rear guard? Have I not said you be about MY
business and I will be about yours. Have I not said I have stored up treasures in heaven for you. As long as your eyes are focused in the
wrong place I can not get your attention to release what I have prepared to release into your hands to defeat the enemy. He is used to your
old strategies, he knows if he keeps at you and you keep focused on him then you are defeated. Ignore him, focus on Me and what I want you
to do. I have a plan to defeat him with simplicity. Ask Me, I will reveal it, but your attention through it all must be focused on Me. You are so
busy facing and chasing the foxes you haven't turned around to see if I have the ultimate trap to stop the fox problem you are focused on.
Turn to Me, trust Me. Have I not told you I am able to do exceedingly abundantly above what you can ask??? Just ask Me with faith and
keep your eyes off of the problem and focused on Me. If you focus on Me then all it will take is you turning your head speaking the Word I
say and the emery will be defeated.
Because of Him I am
July 29, 2000
Brother Alan
http://www.greater-emmanuel.org
A Governmental Confrontation!
By Jill Austin
Ø God has created a cosmic courtroom where the battle between the forces of
Satan and the power of God is to be demonstrated.
Ø War was first declared in Genesis and has endured in each generation
through the ages. But today, I hear an urgent and fresh call of God for His
people to rise up in purity and fearlessness to bring about the consummate
showdown with this religious spirit.
Ø Blazing, holy fire consuming the profane; pure, consecrated passion
coming against demonic perversion; nobility of life exploding out of
superficial lifestyles; meekness and humility warring against the
strongholds of sin.
Do you have a secret life with God? Do you live a double life where you go
to church worshipping and praying, yet you're entertained in dark movie
theatres, polluting your eye gates with violence, witchcraft, and
uncontrollable fantasies! Perhaps it's Internet pornography? Or, are you
addicted to gambling?
Do you feel the tangible presence of Holy Spirit in your life? Are you
still on fire with an insatiable hunger for more of Him? Or, is your walk
complacent, apathetic, and boring? Are you comfortable and no longer
wanting to risk and live on the edge of faith?
Some hide behind the statement, "We want the Holy Spirit but we want
balance. We don't want to offend people and lose credibility in our
community." This deception is the fear of man masquerading as wisdom.
"Unless the Lord builds the house, you labor in vain."
Master Potter Ministries
office@jillaustin.org
http://www.jillaustin.org
MForest585@aol.com
Rev. Sharon Marks
The Father's Cry Ministries
sschmalfuss@snet.net
http://www.mcn.net/~jlmoore/index
jlmoore@mcn.net
Loleen Denney
Tree of Life MinistriesLatter Rain Discussion Archives
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