Five-Fold Today - God's Greatest Tool - A Time of Intimacy with the Father - Blessings In Disguise - Wise Up - Don't be afraid to empower women - Wheat and the Tares - Revolution - The Blacksmith Shop - Word to the Bride

August 19, 2000

God's Greatest Tool
Stephen Gray

Lately I have been meeting with several men whose lives are falling apart in front of their eyes. They are discouraged, disillusioned and depressed with what looks like failure. This seems to be an epidemic in the Church, with statistics showing divorce rates the same for the Church as society. They have looked around to find a Church that is plagued with selfish desires and self-agenda.

GOD'S GREATEST TOOL
It is important to understand in this time of refining that God's greatest tool is failure.

How is this possible? If you have been hearing and reading what God is speaking to His Church, "repent of your sin and clean your heart and hands I am calling you to My holy mountain" (my paraphrase, Psalm 25). Let me ask you -- in a culture bent on doing your own thing how would you think most Christians would respond? If you guessed trying to clean yourself up and remove the sin in your life, you would be right. How often have we made a decision to repent and change our life and move forward with God -- only to fall miserably back to our old life? We can easily become disillusioned at the daunting task of changing and trying to live a holy lifestyle. If we are not led in this process by the Holy Spirit (often through a mature mentor), we can become discouraged and decide this is impossible.

THE PROCESS OF SANCTIFICATION
It is important for us to understand the process of sanctification (which means being formed into the image of Christ) is impossible without God's Spirit-led direction. Our role, as A.W. Pink so correctly explains in his book Spiritual Growth, is to decide to put off the old man and devote ourselves to God. There is a famine in our land for mentors who would know how to disciple and guide less mature Christians onto the path of Spirit-led sanctification. This is one of the key results of idolatry of self in the church, the lost art of making disciples -- and why so many seem to have given up.

Obviously, we are called to confess (or agree with God) and repent, which will give us the power of God to free ourselves from these bondages. However, we are not called to walk under a spirit of condemnation or under a judgmental spirit. Paul tells us in Romans 8:5 to set our minds on what the Spirit desires. This is a key to victory over sin in our Christian lives, but he also first tells us in Romans 8:1 "Therefore there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." We cannot accomplish this cleansing or sanctification in our own strength. We are called to repent. But we cannot change ourselves without God's direction.

Many Christians today find themselves like Israel. They are wandering in the wilderness and have lost their way. Like the Israelites who obediently followed the glory of the Lord in the wilderness, we too must let the Lord lead us back into the promised holy fellowship with God. Our disobedience got us into this mess and only our obedience will get us out.

REFINED IN THE FIRE
Isaiah 48:10 says, "See, I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction." Notice this verse says GOD has refined you.

In the New Testament, 1 Peter 1:6-7 says, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith -- of greater worth than gold which perishes even though refined by fire -- may be proved genuine and may result in praise and glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."

Interesting the Bible talks about being refined as gold. Pure gold is a very soft transparent metal after the alloys are removed. In its natural state, gold contains these other metals which make it hard and dull. When gold is purified the other metals are removed in the refining process and the gold becomes pure, soft, easy to shape and easy to see through. Light shines through refined gold more easily (…are you starting to see?).

This is a wonderful picture of the refining fire that Malachi 3:1 talks about that is being sent to purify the church. God is doing this -- it is a divine process and we cannot do it ourselves. What we are to do is seek God for His light of revelation of our sin and than enter into the furnace through obedience and humility. God will not remove these impurities against our will. Paul knew this when he wrote in 2 Cor. 7:1 "Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and Spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God." Sanctification is God's process, which just means He will form us into the image of His Son. Our job is to cooperate with the Holy Spirit in this divine process.

THE PAIN OF PURIFICATION
This is why God is speaking about dependence on Him so strongly and why our independent nature as Christians is restraining God's work of cleansing. God must bring each of us to the end of our self. He must get us to give up and rest in Him. His most useful tool in this process is failure.

One man I met with recently is faced with losing everything dear to him -- wife, children, job, home. He wept as we talked and prayed. I told him, "Do you know how much God loves you and how grieved He is that you are entering into the furnace, because it is painful? However, your Father is excited and expectant because he knows when the impurities are removed, you will be more transparent for the light of His Son to shine forth."

We must be encouraged that the master craftsman of this universe is in charge of this refining process. We too must be excited and expectant as we walk through the trials God has placed before us as we look toward the end result. In this light James' words seem to have a deeper meaning, "Consider it pure joy when you face trials of many kinds" (James 1:2 NIV).

OBEDIENCE AND HUMILITY
Saints, pray for obedience and humility for His Church, which will bring forth the cleansing of the Bride of Christ.

I want to tell you what the Lord showed me about obedience and humility. They are two sides of the same coin. I once asked the Lord how did He defined humility. I was surprised by His answer. The dictionary defines humility as seeing yourself lowly or lesser than others. God sees humility as saying 'no' to your way and 'yes' to His. Humility is saying 'yes' as you take up your cross. True humility leads to radical obedience. Pride says, "I can be like God and do my own thing."

GOD'S WISDOM VS. SELFISH DESIRES
Recently, God gave me a mental picture of a city in America. I saw a man standing on a hill. People where coming up to this man and putting clothes and jewelry on him and kissing his ears. This seemed strange at first until the Lord said, "This man is a picture of many of My shepherds and leaders." We live in a culture where self has been so overindulged that the enemy has found a weakness in our armor. We have welcomed those who have spoken things we like to hear. Like King Ahab in 1 Kings 22, we have refused the hard voice of correction. We only desire to hear what pleases us or confirms our desires. This will lead us to destruction as it did this wicked king.

God in His mercy is trying to bring His Church to a place where we forsake our ways and depend only on Him. Remember the warning of the end times in 2 Tim. 4:3 -- "For a time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear."

We must realize there is no true knowledge or wisdom other than what comes from God. That is why the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom (Psalm 111:10) -- because we have humbled ourselves and have begun to walk in His wisdom. I have seen people who are touched in God's glory have a tendency to draw back because the fire is hot and painful as our sin is exposed. We must pray for true humility that leads to obedience. We must know that it means following the Master and entering into the furnace of His refining fire. When we are cleansed of our sin, our hardened hearts will be soft again and God's voice will be strong and clear -- and so will His ways.

Praying for Humility in God's people,

Stephen Gray
IXOY3@aol.com

A Time of Intimacy with the Father

Yolanda Ballard

Come closer, My little ones, there is so much I want to share with You of My love. I want to fill you to overflowing with My grace and truth. Just soak in My presence so I can refresh you and rejuvenate you and bless you.

You are My children and I am Your King, and I want to pour out upon you My kingly anointing. Come feast around My table. I bring you to My banqueting table, and My banner over you is love. I want to prepare your hearts to receive more of Me....to stretch your borders to receive the maximum capacity that I have to offer.

Don't settle for less than the best that I have to offer. I want you to receive full portion of Me. Be like a sponge and drink up. You have been so dry and crying out for so much more of Me. I have brought you to the place that you can receive. I have prepared your heart, and I am bringing you up to a higher level in Me....a level where you can get lost in My love and delight in My presence like never before.

So, rejoice, My children, and know that I am with you now and till the end of time. So, never cease to press into My presence into My secret place that I have prepared for you. For this is the reason I have called you that you may worship Me and delight in My presence and just bask in My glory. Do not let the evil one distract you with the cares of the world and the busyness that comes with being with a church.

Your chief joy is to be with Me. The answer to all your needs is in intimacy with Me. I am your all in all, and I will flow through you with My glory to touch those around you because you have been with me. And I will cause revival to fall because you have been with Me. And I will cause breakthrough in your churches because you have been with Me.

I am all you need. So, quit striving and rest and delight and refresh yourself in My love, says your God. And never forget this night and what I have shown you about my presence and about intimacy with Me.

bethsheeba@juno.com

Blessings In Disguise

Doug Morrell

"And it will be that you shall drink from the brook, and I have commanded the ravens to feed you there." (1 Kings 17:1)

Elijah, one of the greatest and most powerful prophets in the Old Testament, was God's answer to Israel's worst king.

It is interesting to think about the amazing miracles God accomplished through Elijah, but more importantly, you should focus on the relationship they shared. All that happened in Elijah's life began with the same miracle that is available to you; he responded to the miracle of being able to know God.

For example, after God worked an incredible miracle through Elijah in defeating the prophets of Baal, Queen Jezebel retaliated by threatening Elijah's life. And Elijah ran. He felt afraid, depressed, and abandoned. Despite God's provision of food and shelter in the desert, Elijah wanted to die. So God presented Elijah with an "audio-visual display" and a message he needed to hear. Elijah witnessed a windstorm, an earthquake, and fire. But the Lord was not in any of those powerful things. Instead, God displayed his presence in a gentle whisper.

Elijah, like you and me, struggled with his feelings even after this comforting message from God. So God confronted Elijah's emotions and commanded action. He told Elijah what to do next and informed him that part of his loneliness was based on ignorance: 7,000 others in Israel were still faithful to God.

Even today, God often speaks through the gentle and obvious rather than the spectacular and unusual. God has work for you to do even when you feel fear and failure. And God always has more resources and people than you know about. Although you might wish to do amazing miracles for God, you should instead focus on developing a relationship with him. The real miracle of Elijah's life was his very personal relationship with God. And that miracle is available to you.

There are two obvious additional points worthy of consideration. First, don't reject God's blessing because you don't agree with the package it comes in. In a nation that was required by law to care for its prophets, it seems ironic to me that God turned to ravens (unclean birds according to the Bible) and a widow (a foreigner from Jezebel's home territory) to care for Elijah. God has help where you least expect it. He provides for you in ways that go beyond narrow definitions or expectations. No matter how bitter your trials or how seemingly hopeless your situation, look for God's caring touch. You may find his providence in some strange places!

Secondly, God must sometimes dry up the stream before we move on. Elijah, like you and me, sat down at the Brook and took up residence. Now imagine Elijah with me for just a moment. Here he was sitting beneath the shade trees in his lounge chair, sipping tea, listening to his favorite newly released praise CD from down under, SPF 18 and shade glasses on. He was good to go. But God had another mission critical for Elijah and so "after a while" (it was not to be a permanent situation), the brook dried up.

The more clearly Isaiah saw God, the more aware Isaiah became of his own powerlessness and inadequacy to do anything of lasting value without God. But he was willing to be God's spokesman. Sometimes we become so rooted, enamored, and complacent in our current situation, location, and worldly assignments that God has to "dry up" our provision before we move out and up. Are you willing and do you purpose your life like Isaiah who said, "Here am I; send me" (Is. 6:8). Or is it more like, "Here am I; send me as long as I don't have to move to another city, change jobs, or ministry."

When God calls, will you also say, "Here am I. Send me!"?

Has your stream dried up? Don't blame God. Look for direction and like Elijah, you might just find yourself raising a dead situation to life.

Doug Morrell
Christian Outfitters

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

Wise Up

PAM CLARK

It is a time for wising up! The enemy still seeks to sow seeds to cause strife among My brethren, through false words, false accusations, false friends. Did I not tell you that this last hour would be the most dangerous? Consider your associations. Confirm and make sure that deep in your heart it is Me you are hearing say "Come up higher" for there are many who would lead you to a high place only to drop you into the chasms below.

My sheep know My Voice and a stranger they will not follow! Sheep often follow without truly looking up. I am calling you to Look up! O My people. For if you do not discern your surroundings you may be the enemy's prey.

False brethren and false teachers will tell you what you want to hear, but is it the Voice of the Master, the True Shepherd who leads and guides you into all Truth and Peace, who is speaking???

I admonish you to test the spirits and know who is Mine and who is not. Many wolves come cloaked. While outwardly their countenance is kind, inwardly they seek to devour you, yet I will protect you from their storm. Yet I say you can avoid even more by looking up and knowing that the Source of your Light is truly of My Father or is of your enemy and adversary, the devil.

Consider your accusations. Do they convict you, bring life and health to you, or do they betray you? If you truly know My ways you will see the Heart of My Son.

Trumpet Wind Ministries Prophetic Email List - TO SUBSCRIBE:
http://www.prophetic.net/2subscribe.htm

Don't be afraid to empower women

Yonggi Cho

"Don't be afraid to empower women," says the pastor of the world's largest church. Churches are wrong not to let women become spiritual leaders, David Yonggi Cho told church leaders at a "Discipling a Whole Nation" conference in Italy. "If you ever train the women, and delegate your ministry to them, they will become tremendous messengers for the Lord."

Most leaders at Cho's Yoido Full Gospel Church in Seoul, Korea, are women. The 700,000-member congregation is divided into 50,000 cell groups that meet in homes, and about 47,000 cell leaders are women, he said. Of the church's 600 associate pastors, 400 are women. "In ministry they are equal with men," he said. "They are licensed. They are ordained. They become deaconesses and elders."

Cho adopted the cell church principle in 1964 after he collapsed from exhaustion trying to minister to his then 3,000-member congregation. His male leaders balked when he told them to divide the congregation into cells that meet in their homes. "They said, 'Fine, but we are not trained to do that and we are not paid to do that. Why don't you have a long vacation?' This is the Korean way of saying 'Why don't you resign from the church?' "

When he asked the women leaders to do it, they said, "Teach us, pastor. We will do anything for you," he said. The church grew from 3,000 to 18,000 in the next five years. The cell churches started new cell churches and more lay leaders got involved in ministry, Cho said. "It is the will of God to have a growing church."

Source: Dawn Ministries

Wheat and the Tares

Michael Clark

Jesus told a parable about the harvest at the end time. We know it as "the parable of the wheat and the tares." It goes thusly.

24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 "but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 "But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 "So the servants of the owner came and said to him, `Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?' 28 "He said to them, `An enemy has done this.' The servants said to him, `Do you want us then to go and gather them up?' 29 "But he said, `No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 `Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, "First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn."'" (Matthew 13:24-30, NKJV).

The phrase, "while men slept," got my attention. The founding apostles and fathers of the Church were on watch for the "ravenous wolves" to spring up in the new Church as it was forming (See Matt. 7:15 & Col. 2:8). But as history bares out, Satan had the apostles all killed off early on, except John who was exiled to a remote island. In this since, these men "slept"(See Matt. 9:24). They being removed by the enemy, made room for Satan to come in and sow the tares who's teachings are still mixed in with the true doctrines of the early apostles to this day. "But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared." The seeds of the false were planted early on.

I did a study years ago on tares. In America they are called "wild oats." In the wheat country of the northwest, where I grew up, they are called the Bearded Darnel. The Darnel in itself is not poisonous. It could be eaten and cause one no harm. The problem is that it plays host to a fungus called the Ergot Smut fungus, which is deadly to both men and beast.

This is the problem with those who are hypocrites that find safe haven in God's field. A little leavening will spoil the whole lump. But in God's wisdom He forbids his servants from uprooting them before the harvest, least the wheat be ruined in the process.

The way the farmer deals with the wild oats, is to run them through a thrasher that first removes the chaff from the wheat and at the same time runs it over a sieve which allows the smaller Darnel to fall through and be cast off with the chaff. The deadly fungus goes away with it. Thus you see the need of trials in our lives to remove the chaff and to cast off the poisonous influences of the enemy.

Once the wheat is collected, it is ready to be ground into a fine powder that we know as flour. Loosing its own identity and taking on that of the Lord's. It then is made into that Bread of Life.

Jesus prayed:

21 "that they all may be one, as You, Father, are in Me, and I in You; that they also may be one in Us, that the world may believe that You sent Me. 22 "And the glory which You gave Me I have given them, that they may be one just as We are one: (John 17:21-22, NKJV).

Make us so, Lord. Blessings to you all, in Christ.

Michael Clark Bayview, ID, USA

visionpb@ior.com

REVOLUTION

Rick Joyner

A revolution is coming to Christianity that will eclipse the Reformation in the sweeping changes that it brings to the church. When it comes, the present structure and organization of the church will cease to exist, and the way that the world defines Christianity will be radically changed.

What is coming will not be a change of doctrine, but a change in basic church life. The changes that are coming will be so profound that it will be hard to relate the present form of church structure and government to what is coming. The new dynamic of church life will overshadow the Great Awakenings in their social impact, transforming cities and even whole nations. It will bring a sweeping sense of righteousness and justice to the whole earth.

However, we must not be fooled into thinking that this is an end of the night, or the end of man's battle with darkness. What is coming to the church is a metamorphosis from the cocoon stage to the emergence of the beautiful, soaring, butterfly that the church is called to be. For a time this transformation will release a life force that will be so great that it will dominate the news around the world. The church will truly be the light of the world and the salt of the earth. The light of the gospel will shine through the church to the degree that the whole world will see it, and the gospel will be clearly, and powerfully presented to every nation on earth. We are not quite to the flash point when this revolution will break out.

As we get closer it is becoming more clear what it will look like, and what it will accomplish. The future leaders of the church are now being given a vision of radical New Testament Christianity being restored to the earth. It is time to heed the call and allow the Lord to lead His people to the new wineskins that will be able to hold what is about break out upon the earth. Whenever there is a choice to make between the new and the old, choose the new. To be a part of what is coming, we must have the faith of Abraham who was willing to leave the security of the known to seek God in unknown places. The future leaders of the church will be willing to risk all to seek the city that God is building, not man.

Revolution or Civil War?

I have also written about a coming "civil war" in the church, but this coming revolution is different. The civil war was the result of the confrontation with, and removal of, several major spiritual strongholds within the church. The than that. It is not the result of a confrontation with negative forces as much as it is the emerging of Christianity from an immature devotion to forms, formulas, and rituals to become a life force that overwhelms evil with good.

Just as the American Civil war was fought around a few locations in just a handful of states, most of the church will not be involved in the actual battles of this "spiritual civil war," though it will affect us all to a degree. Likewise, most revolutions do not begin all at once, but are the result of social pressures and forces that build up over many years, or even generations. The revolution that is coming upon Christianity has been building for centuries. Attempts to ignite it on a church wide basis has come in almost ever generation, but it was not the time. However, we will not have to wait much longer.

These previous attempts to ignite a revolution in the church often accomplished positive advances for the faith, but did not bring the intended sweeping changes to Christianity. Just as forces within the earth break occasionally through a volcano or earthquake, the great revivals and moves of God over the last centuries have been where the great spiritual forces have been building and have occasionally broken through. However, what is coming will seem like the breaking forth of all of the volcanoes and earthquakes the world has ever known at once. This will be one of the major events in the history of the world. During this time, the foundation will be laid for the kingdom of God to come to the earth.

Discern the Times

As the Lord said, "the harvest is the end of the age" (Matthew 13:39). The end of the age will be the time of unprecedented harvest. He has saved His best wine for last, and determined that the last would be first. The last great harvest before the end will cover the earth with the knowledge of the Lord. The sense of the presence of the Lord will be everywhere. Unprecedented miracles will become common place. Home groups will explode into large congregations. Small congregations will suddenly have thousands. Sports stadiums and arenas will be the only adequate place for services in the major cities as long standing differences and enmities between churches and denominations melt under the intense heat of this great move of God that is coming.

Great revivals are taking place on several continents at this time. Christianity is presently growing faster than at any time in its history. Some have estimated that more have come to Christ in the last decade than during the entire church age from the first century. Estimates range from 200,000 to 400,000 people coming to the Lord every day! Of course, some of this is due to the fact that there are as many people alive today as there were in all of the previous centuries of man's history combined. Even so, there has never been a harvest like what the world is presently experiencing.

However, as I warned in my book The Harvest, a revival is coming that will be so great that many will think that it is the harvest that is the "end of the age" - but it is not it! It is only the gathering of the laborers for what is coming. That is where we are now. If we do not understand this, we will not be prepared for what is coming. It will be much greater than any previous revival, awakening, or move of God that the world has ever seen. When this great worldwide move of God breaks out, it will come like a tidal wave. The churches and ministries that are not prepared will be swept away by it. Just as surfers learn to discern the pattern of the waves, and then start paddling rapidly to be moving in the right direction when the big one comes, we must do the same thing. As the Lord warned, we spend a lot of time trying to discern the weather, but do not know the times. If the average Christian would spend as much time seeking to understand the times as they do just watching the weather, it could create a major awakening within the church.

What is Coming?

The armies of God in heaven and on earth are mobilizing now. When they march, it will be the most awesome and fearful sight the world has ever seen. In some places, this army will appear so fast that it will seem to have come out of thin air. Instantly, the greatest spiritual force the world has ever seen will descend upon the earth.. To those who are unaware of what is now taking place and waking up the next morning to the fact that your entire city, and in some cases nation, has been occupied by a foreign army. This is because the army has existed right in the midst of the cities without anyone realizing it, including many who are in the army.

This will happen suddenly because Christians will begin to stand up for the Lord, for the truth, and the gospel. Instantly, the church will become an overwhelming spiritual force. Whole cities will be taken for Christ before the evil forces of those cities even suspect an attack against their strongholds.

Because this is the true liberation army, salvation, healing, and restoration will flow like rivers of the glory of the Lord through the streets. Rejoicing is not an adequate word to describe the celebrations that will then break out across the earth.

The Lord instituted feasting as a primary way to worship Him in the Old Testament. It was feasting before the Lord that I saw breaking out in every city that was touched by this coming move of God. When the Lord is moving, people want to meet all of the time, just ,as they met in the temple, and then from house to house, in the book of Acts. This feasting was the result of a fellowship like has not been known on the earth since the first century church experienced breaking out everywhere. Huge streets were blocked off for spontaneous feasts. There will be large gatherings in parks, stadiums, and other public places. There will be many cities where home groups will be meeting on every block, every day.

I saw large worship services breaking out at truck stops and in airports. Wherever people were gathered, celebrations would break out. Some turned into spontaneous marches for Jesus. The marches will begin gathering multitudes as they go, while singing, worshipping, and proclaiming the glory of the Lord.

One interesting, aspect of what I saw was that Sunday morning was just about the only time that people did not gather to worship or celebrate. The reason for this was that people were sleeping after all that had been going on the day and night before. Gatherings would begin again Sunday afternoon.

A second interesting characteristic of what I was shown was that it was hard to find anyone who was a leader of what was happening. One person may be used to start a March or block party, but then someone else would start the next celebration. Anyone might begin speaking or preaching, and a large crowd would gather to hear them. The anointing and presence of the Lord were so great that anyone who was presumptuous would be obvious immediately, and they would quickly stop. As the celebrations and rejoicing continued, gift giving and sharing erupted. Because of this, whole cities were instantly rid of poverty and want. Because the joy, of this giving was so great, cities that were touched in this way would then seek other cities, and even countries to help. Whole news programs were devoted to the extraordinary works of charity that were taking place. These news programs and reports fanned the flames of generosity and sharing even more. This kind of love is a spiritual force that no evil can resist or stand against. The magnitude of this overflow of thanksgiving to the Lord by helping the needy almost instantly changed the spiritual atmosphere of the cities that were experiencing it.

Because faith works by love (Galatians 5:6), this great river of love will also release some of the most extraordinary miracles ever witnessed on earth. The greatest miracles are always released through compassion. The river of love that is going to break forth will empty hospitals, asylums, jails, and prisons. Broken bodies and broken hearts will be healed. This is an army of restoration that will take deserts and turn them into gardens like Eden.

Just as the Holy Spirit moved upon the earth when it was formless and void, or as some translations stated it, chaos, He still delights in taking that which is empty, void, or in chaos, and turning it into a beautiful new creation. People who are empty and void of meaning in their life are going to be overflowing with purpose. Cities that are in chaos will be transformed into demonstrations of harmony that will cause the world to marvel.

We, as Christians need to begin seeing the world's greatest problems as some of the greatest opportunities to see the gospel of the kingdom demonstrated. We must start loving those cities and nations, and as we do, our faith for them will grow. Faith releases the One who is the answer to every human problem. The greatest understanding that releases His power is the simple truth that "Love never fails" (I Corinthians 13:8). Everything that is done in His love will succeed.

The Dark Side

The light that is coming is great, but so is the darkness. Wherever the great spiritual awakenings and revivals are not happening, evil will be released in a much more concentrated force. In many places, lawlessness will increase so that there will almost be a complete breakdown of order and justice. In the end, where love does not prevail fear will. This will be a fulfillment of Isaiah 60:1-2:

"Arise,shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.

"For behold, darkness will cover the earth, and deep darkness the peoples; but the LORI) will rise upon you, and His glory will appear upon you.

Here we see that at the same time darkness is covering the earth, the glory of the ford is appearing upon his people. Never has there been such a conflict between the light and darkness, and never will they have been so easily distinguished. At that time, those who are not walking in the glory will be walking in deep darkness. Those who are not in the spiritual ecstasy of the love of God will be in the deep pits of depression and bitterness. When this last great move of God breaks out, the whole earth will be in the" valley of decision," and everyone on earth will have to make a choice between light and darkness.

How Do We Prepare?

As we get closer to the time of this coming revolution, true revivals will be breaking out from time to time. There will also be increasing debauchery and breakouts of violence such as was experienced in Rwanda. We must learn from both when they occur. We are in need of Christian news teams who have discernment, wisdom and the ability to articulate the important factors from these events when they happen. We must comply with the Eph 4 mandate for new testament ministry. True new testament ministry is a team. For it to be a complete team, we need all of the equipping ministries that are listed here. None of these ministries are presently functioning as the are called to be, and won't until they fit together as the team. The church is built upon the foundation of apostles and prophets, and neither of these ministries is presently functioning with the maturity and stature in which they are called. We must continue to pray for and pursue the restoration of these ministries to the church.

We must also keep in mind that even the greatest prophetic ministry still sees in part. To see the whole picture we must put the different parts together. We are told in Is 52:8 (NKJV): "Thy watchmen shall lift up the voice; with the voice together shall they sing: for they shall see eye to eye, when the LORD shall bring again Zion." Prophets were often called watchmen in the Old Testament. We see in this scripture that they will see "eye to eye," or in unity when the Lord restores Zion. When this unity comes, all of the prophets will have learned to fit their different pieces of the vision together.

One of the most dangerous things that can happen to Christians is for them to become isolated from other Christians who are in other movements or denominations. One of the most important things that we can do is to reach out and develop relationships with other streams in the body of Christ. There must be a realization of the truth that when one member suffers, we all suffer. When one member rejoices, we should all rejoice. We must learn to take it personally whenever any church from any denomination or movement comes under attack. We must learn to esteem each congregation as an important stronghold for the truth, and come to the aid of one another when assaulted.

The church is composed like a body with different members that have different functions. When we only gather with those who are like us, it is like having all of the arms together in one place, the legs in another, the eyes somewhere else, and so on. This is the primary deception that is keeping the body of Christ immobilized and unable to advance in a coordinated way. Because of this, we are very ineffective in taking ground, but also in holding it once it is taken. This is why the fruit of so many great revivals and movements can hardly be found even shortly after their peak.

When we take ground that we are not prepared to hold, it will leave things in a worse state than before. When a demon is cast out, it will wander around and then say, "l will return," and bring back seven more. It is encouraging to see so many churches and movements become skilled in spiritual warfare and aggressively determined to attack enemy strongholds to take ground for the kingdom. However, without a substantial degree of unity, it will be impossible to hold on to any significant gains. The gates of hell will not prevail against the church singular, As long as we are churches, plural, they will be able to prevail. We have no choice but to work together if we are going to accomplish anything of true significance that will last. On the night before the Lord was crucified He prayed for us:

"that they may all be one; even as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that they also may be in Us; that the world may believe that Thou didst send Me.

"And the glory which Thou hast given Me I have given to them; that they may be one,, just as We are one;

I in them, and Thou in Me, that they may be perfected in unity, that the world may know that Thou didst send Me, and didst love them, even as Thou didst love Me John 17:21-23).

If we knew that we had less than twenty-four hours left on earth, we can be sure that we would only pray that which is the most important to us. We know that the Lord prayed the most important desires of His heart that night. We also know that the prayers of the Son of God are going to be answered. Before the end comes, there will be a church that comes into the unity for which He prayed. Then the whole world will know that He was sent by the Father. Why can't this be us? What could we possibly have to do that is more important than seeing this most important matter to our Savior becoming a reality?

As John I states, it will be the glory that makes us one. 'We must become seekers of His glory. When the glory of the Lord breaks out in any kind of revival, renewal, or special advancement of the gospel-go. See it, touch it, experience it, seek to understand it, and be changed by it. However, let us do this from the strong foundation of a deep relationship to the local church. If this unity is not being practically lived out with a group of people in real relationships, it is not real.

A Warning

To navigate through the times ahead, the church is in desperate need of mature prophetic ministries. We do not have one at this time. We, at MorningStar, have taken some ground and are now seeing hundreds of people mature in prophetic gifts in our home church, with thousands more now walking in a level of prophetic gifting around the world. We are thankful for this, but I was warned by the Lord that we, Morningstar, would not survive what is coming if we did not grow dramatically in the prophetic gifts and ministries.

The greatest prophetic gifts in the world today are not at the stature of what will soon be needed in every congregation and city. We must continue to "Pursue love, yet desire earnestly spiritual gifts, but especially that you may prophesy" (I Corinthians 14:1). We must pursue all of the spiritual gifts out of love, but there is a special need for prophecy, for seeing ahead, so that we will be able to navigate through what is coming.

There are still too many encumbrances that have not been cast off that are clouding our prophetic vision. For many, television is keeping them from having visions. Other things like self-seeking and self-promotion, lust, wasting time, and a multitude of petty sins are like leeches draining believers of their life. We must learn the lessons from the mistakes that were made by many in getting carried away by what others were saving about such things as Y2K. If we are going to have a prophetic ministry that is deserving of such a high title, we must have the highest standards of honor and integrity. We arc in need of a deep, cleansing move of repentance.

The prophetic ministry is important, but one of its main jobs is to prepare for the greater ministry which is coming the apostolic ministry will be restored to the Church.. The ministry that was used to open the church age will be the one that closes it out. The apostolic ministry that is coming will unify the other equipping ministries that have been given to the church, raising all of them to levels of authority, and power unprecedented since the first century.

Just as there was a horde of pseudo prophets released to create confusion in the church when the Lord began a focus on restoring that ministry, there will likewise be a horde of false apostles released.

Our team received two very specific dreams warning about false "apostolic movements" that were built more on organization than relationship. The dreams indicated that these were trying to bring forth apostles that were really more like corporate CEOs, and the movement that they led had the potential to do great damage to the church. The enemy's intent with this false apostolic movement was to have the church develop a deep revulsion to anything that was called apostolic, just as he was able to do through discipleship and shepherding movements a few decades ago.

Unfortunately, this has been a pattern with the restoration of every ministry to the church. It seems inevitable that there will always be a "Saul" before there is a "David," However, when a "Saul" emerges and goes spiritually insane, we can be encouraged that the authentic will not be far behind. No true spiritual advance has ever come without opposition to it. So: if you love, you will still be opposed by the self-centered, love them anyway. By this you will grow in love, and will help set many captives free.

If you have faith, you will be opposed by the fearful. Determine to grow even more in faith, as this is a great opportunity to please God even more.

If you are humble, you will be opposed by the proud, Humble yourself even more, as this is your opportunity to grow even more in God's grace.

If you are reasonable, you will be opposed by the illogical and unreasonable. Do not leave your high position to fight on the low ground of the foolish. In due time, your steadfastness will expose the folly of your enemies, and lead others to greater heights.

If you are successful, you will be opposed by the jealous. Criticism is rooted in envy and will be the constant companion of success. Succeed anyway and you will bear fruit that remains, while critics are never remembered for long.

If you are honest and straightforward, the perverted of heart will still mistrust you, and assign ulterior motives to all that you say and do. Be honest and straightforward anyway Truth will prevail and is stronger than any lie.

If you are a person of great vision, you will be opposed by small people with no vision. Do not think that this is strange, but seek to rise to even greater heights so that you can see further. The higher you rise, the less you will be able to hear their murmuring, and you will begin to hear angels sing.

If you are a builder, you will be attacked by those who are friends of the destroyer. If they are able to tear down anything that you build, determine that you will build it again better. Build with God and you will by your works destroy the works of the devil.

If you discover the new wine of God, do not think it strange when you are opposed by those who have become old wineskins, just keep finding and serving the new, and the staleness of the old will become obvious to the true seekers of God.

The greatest of quests is to sail the River of Life to find its true Source. Those who do will be assailed from the banks by those who have stopped along the way. All who go further than they have been are an affront to them a reminder of their defeat. Do not waste your time with their arguments or you too will eventually stop. Press on and you will quickly leave them far behind, and your courage will inspire others to follow their true heart's desire.

In all that you do, do what is right, true and faithful. You will be opposed by the enemy of the truth. Always remember that the One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. The Lord "always leads us in His triumph." We cannot lose if we do not stop. Never, never, never give in.

Until the bridge between heaven and earth is complete, we still have work to do. If our time on this earth comes to an end, let us enter His presence with our feet still moving forward, our hands still laying stone upon stone, with our eves still searching for higher ground.

Submitted by the Diggers

THE BLACKSMITH SHOP

By Bobby Conner

In a vivid prophetic experience I was taken to the door of a blacksmith's shop. Standing there I was surrounded by shimmering swirling smoke I could hear the heavy hammer as it struck the anvil, another sound I could hear was the sound of rushing wind as it was being blown across the coals. Each time the mighty hammer fell upon the anvil the most beautiful brilliant burning sparks was sent flying forth. These white-hot flaming sparks were shooting into many different nations of the world. As these burning sparks fell into the nations they were ablaze, burning with the passion of the Spirit of God, each igniting wonderful "fires of Holy Ghost revival."

I pleaded saying "I want to get closer I must see what is being forged!" I had to see for myself what wonderful work was being fashioned and forged. I was completely compelled to behold what was being used to create such revival fires in the nations. In answer to my plea, I was brought even closer to the anvil. With each approaching step I could feel the heat as it increased. Such heat, as it radiated out, it was the most extreme and intense heat, however it was not unpleasant at all. Matter of fact it was right the opposite it was comforting and compelling, it seemed as if the heat was drawing me closer and closer. I was looking into the cloud of smoke. However, this smoke was not the black choking kind, but rather it was shinny and brilliant, it was the "Cloud of God's Glory." At last I was shown the hammer and anvil and what was being forged. It was a mighty "YOKE!". I was told "This yoke is being forged by the Lord for the purpose of joining together "ZEAL" and "WISDOM." God said I am joining the Joshua generation- (zeal) with the Caleb generation - (wisdom). The youth have extreme zeal and the older saints have wonderful wisdom. God is joining the generations. We will soon see this yoke being placed upon the shoulders of many who are now being prepared. They will be linked together as teams going into the ripe end-time harvest fields reaping souls for the Kingdom of God. The greatest reaping of souls is coming. We must set our heart upon the Lord so He can make us ready. We have come to the day spoken of in Psalm 110:3

"In the day of God's power the people will volunteer willingly."

http://bobbyconner.org/Article16.htm

Word to the Bride

Linda Evans

There is stirring word, the Lord has begun filling my heart with. This is a word of exhortation and encouragement to the Bride of Christ Jesus. This is a word of freedom and responsibility -- for these two always go hand-in-hand.

For years, we have been hearing a word of correction and exhortation to the leadership in the local fellowships of the saints. To the Pastors and the Priests have come word after word ... exhortation after exhortation... calling them to listen to the cry of the Body... to come back into balance in their leadership roles in the perfecting of the saints. A cry has gone forth from the Body, to allow the Freedom of the Spirit to move within the gathering of the saints, that the Will of our Beloved Lord would be more fully accomplished. We are all familiar with this exhortation... and many of those with ears to hear have responded in faith to the heart cry of the Beloved.

This Word, filling my heart today, has more to do with the "stewardship responsibilities" of the saints, as they each one, are called to press on in this Life of Faith we have been birthed into. The saints, the ordinary believers, need to see "their responsibility" for their own "daily growth" in Christ. So many speak out in denouncement of the "system of religion" .. condemning the "system" as being the reason for the lack of maturity in the saints. My heart this day proclaims it is the fault of the sheep themselves... the blame for not growing and not maturing needs to be taken by the one person who can make a difference! The saint him or herself! The younger ones need to be taught of this personal responsibility, and may we begin to speak of this now.

No one can stop us from growing in the knowledge and grace of our Lord, Jesus Christ .... except ourselves. We can continue to blame all others, but nothing can stop us, except our own complacency and lack of desire. The LORD desires us to grow in relationship with Him.. He will provide all that we need, if we will turn to Him for our needs!

We have hours and hours of time each week (outside of Church services) to nurture and nourish our Love Affair with Jesus. We have the Holy Spirit, we have the Bible, and we have the time, if we believe it is important enough.. to sit quietly in the Presence of our Beloved and learn of His Heart.

What takes place in church services worldwide, cannot stop the Bride from meeting with her Beloved, when she is stirred in Love to do so! What can keep two Lovers apart? NOTHING! What happens once or twice a week for a few hours in a church service, will not make nor break the Bride. What she does in her time alone with the Lord, and in the small gatherings of those bonded together, in commitment to grow in relationship with their Beloved Lover is what makes the difference in all our lives.

Most believers seem unwilling to take responsibility for their own LIVING Relationship with the Lord. We are more like the Israelites... we want Moses to go up on the mountain for us, and then just tell us what God has to say. How many are truly willing to climb to that place of intimacy with Him, to learn of Him, to take responsibility for knowing His Voice and for the obedience that the Hearing of Faith requires?

We would rather just sit back and blame the "system of religion" rather than acknowledge the problem is real, and that "we" are the solution. There are 6 more days each week, besides the one day of worship which is traditionally set aside for this maturing process .... 6 more days each week to fellowship in small groups ... 6 more mornings each week, to sit quietly at the Feet of Jesus, asking Him, by His Holy Spirit to unfold the mysteries of His Word ... 6 more days each week, to read and meditate on the writings from that great cloud of witnesses who went before us, and have left a written testimony of their Lives of Faith.

There are 6 more days each week, to enter into personal and intimate relationship with the Lord Himself ... to learn of His Spirit's leading in us, to seek His Counsel on the day to day issues of our lives ... 6 more days each week to devote to Jesus Christ Himself ... whether we are at work or at home, our hearts can learn to be attuned to HEAR His Voice, to listen for His Word in us teaching us through the daily circumstances we face.

We must begin to be attuned to the Lord every day, all day ... and we will begin to manifest a difference in our daily life. We can make the difference, by our willingness to set aside the time necessary for this Divine Investment. There are endless "classes" .. yes that we can take, but the class we need the most is RELATIONSHIP with Jesus Christ... to learn to know His Voice... to learn to walk daily with Him... not more classes "about" HIM ... Daily Living "WITH" HIM! This is our responsibility! NO one can teach you to walk WITH HIM, except you and Him. You must do this yourself, and He will teach you all you need to know!

Whose fault is it that the believers are not growing up.. not maturing, not being transformed by the Power of the Love of God?

It is our fault... the ones the LORD has given the responsibility to. We each will stand accountable for our own lives... for the disobedience and the obedience. There will be no one to blame then... why blame anyone now? Why not just begin a new life.. a life of stewardship and freedom and Love! No one can stop any of us from pressing on in the LOVE of God! No one can hinder the passion the Lord desires to birth in your heart! NO one can keep you away from the Intimate, Daily Life of Relationship with your Beloved Jesus Christ, except yourself!

Bride... begin to rise up this day and take personal responsibility for your own growing up! Feed upon the Word of God, the Scriptures and let the Holy Spirit give to you, your daily manna. "You" must come to JESUS to have Life. You will find the Holy Spirit, the TEACHER will teach you all things; He will lead you into All Truth; He will give to you all that JESUS has stored up for you to have! Don't wait any longer for someone to tell you to do this.. Just do it! You don't need the approval of man to grow in your Love Affair with Jesus! You must remember to hold firm to your "personal devotion to Jesus Christ", and your "utter and complete dependence upon Him" who is Your Life... all other yokes are of no value in this day of maturing. The Lord will send forth His Showers of Truth, His Latter Rains to bring you to a quick maturity, if you will but take the time... the 6 other days in the week... to put yourself into His Presence.. in the quietness and reverence He deserves. Get alone in your closet, and let Him begin to reveal Himself to you in ways you would never have imagined!

It is RELATIONSHIP with Him, that He is asking of you! Don't ignore this call to accountability... You must KNOW HIM.. even as you are known by Him!

BRIDE prepare yourself... for the Groom is gathering the Dowry even now! Take responsibility for your daily growing in Grace and Knowledge of Jesus Christ, dear Bride... He is waiting to meet with you!

In service to His Bride, your sister, Linda the Beguine

levans@netw.com

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