Five-Fold Today - A Light To The World - Bombshells and Heavenly Shelter - Seeds for Revival: Repentance and Love - Rise Up Mighty Warriors - The Happiness of Finding Wisdom - Spiritual Warfare and Sin: What Past?

November 29, 2000

A LIGHT TO THE WORLD

Stephen Hanson

GE 1:14 And God said, "Let there be lights in the expanse of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark seasons and days and years, [15] and let them be lights in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth." And it was so. [16] God made two great lights--the greater light to govern the day and the lesser light to govern the night. He also made the stars. [17] God set them in the expanse of the sky to give light on the earth, [18] to govern the day and the night, and to separate light from darkness. And God saw that it was good. [19] And there was evening, and there was morning--the fourth day.

ISA 14:12 How you have fallen from heaven,
O morning star, son of the dawn!
You have been cast down to the earth,
you who once laid low the nations!

ISA 14:13 You said in your heart, "I will ascend to heaven; I will raise my throne above the stars of God;
I will sit enthroned on the mount of assembly, on the utmost heights of the sacred mountain.
ISA 14:14 I will ascend above the tops of the clouds; I will make myself like the Most High."

(The Lord showed me at first what I thought was a scroll, but upon looking at it more it unraveled into another shape. The person holding it unraveled it into a long carpet-like shape and then it seemed to become a huge leaf. Inside this leaf were many, many jewels sparkling like the sun. They were beautiful to look upon. Then the jewels slid off this huge leaf into a stream of water. From there the jewels were lifted-up into the air and they became the stars in the sky. They sparkled brightly and shone with a brilliance that was incredible.)

The Lord then said:

"These jewels represent my people. For I have gathered you up from the four corners of the earth. You shine with the brilliance of an uncommon jewel. I have said in that day that you would shine like the stars in the sky. The moon has a brilliance all of its own as does the sun. I created them to be "great lights" in the sky. They mark out the days for your lives upon this earth."

"There was a light that shone very brightly at one time. He was brighter than any of the other angels that I created. He thought that he could become like Me. He was as a bright star in the sky at one time. But he fell because of his arrogance and pride. His name was Lucifer and now is Satan. For he fell and he took with him many of the other angels. His time of judgment will soon happen. He works his havoc upon my people though still. For he would cause some of you to think that your star shines brightly. I have indeed, called you to be "lights" unto the world. But your light shines only because of my brilliance. You are not a light only because of your own brilliance. Search your hearts and see where you have failed to see this. If a light was turned on in a room, and its light hit many of the objects there, would those objects talk about their own light?"

"Be a light to a dark world. Shine with the brilliance of the "Son" in your hearts. But know that it is my light within you and not your own. This world has lost much of its light due to the enemy's schemes; recognize this. There is a "true light" and there is a "manufactured light." Compare the light of a fluorescent bulb and that with the light of the sun. There is no comparison. He is an imitator. The true light came into the world and he has never been able to understand it. My light shines in the darkness."

"Let Me be the "source" of your light. And then your light will shine to a dark and confused world around it."

Stephen Hanson

cshanson@tri-lakesonline.net

Bombshells and Heavenly Shelter

Ching Co

Some days ago, I felt these words dropped in my heart "bombshells are about to explode". I've sit on this as I received nothing else.

Watching events unfolding in my own country and events taking place around the world, it looks like we are under heavy attack from all point. Added to that are the own pressures that we face day by day.

Yet in the midst of all these

1. What is God doing.
2. What are we supposed to do

I asked the Lord the same question and have waited for His answers.

WHAT ARE WE SUPPOSED TO DO

All of us who know the Lord already knew what we are supposed to do. Psalm 91 gives us the answer and many of us know this by heart. However, there is always a big gap between knowing it and living it out. I am struggling to find that place and need a lot of the Father's help.

WHAT IS GOD DOING?

God is at work in the nations. All these bombshells being dropped in our midst are symbolic of the activities also taking place in the heavenlies. From our side here, it may look like that we are losing ground. . . . but from the heavenly perspective, God is moving forward putting in place all that needs to be done for His plans and purposes to be unveiled.

DANGER ZONE

I felt the Lord impressing to me certain areas that we need to guard against during this season.

First, don't be dictated by your feelings. Many of God's children because of the long drawn battle that they've been in are feeling tired and yes some are surprised that they don't feel like talking much these days. Also, desire and zeal seem to have diminished too. These are not equal to loss of anointing.

Second, keep your focus on God and refrained from jumping to conclusion about anything. These might call for more time listening and less time talking. God is fighting the battle for us and it will be wise and prudent to be silent when we are not sure and certain about certain matters. God wants us to "leave matters in His hands."

JERICHO

In so many ways, this is another "Jericho season" for God's people. The walls are about to fall FOR GOD IS FIGHTING THE BATTLES FOR US.

PROMISE

"But now listen, O Jacob, my servant, Isreal, whom I have chosen. This is what the Lord says - He who made you, who formed you in the womb, and who will help you: Do not be afraid, O Jacob, my servant, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen. For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour out my Spirit on your offspring, and my blessings on your descendants. They will spring up like grass in a meadow, like poplar trees by flowing streams." (Isaiah 44:1-4)

"Do not tremble, do not be afraid. Did I not proclaim this and foretell it long ago? You are my witnesses. Is there any God besides me? No, there is no other Rock; I know not one. "(Isaiah 44:8)

"Sing for joy, O heavens, for the Lord has done this; shout aloud, O earth beneath. Burst into song, you mountains, you forests and all your trees, for the Lord has redeemed Jacob, he displays his glory in Israel." (Isaiah 44:23)

"I will go before you and will level the mountains, I will break down gates of bronze and cut through bars of iron. I will give you the treasures of darkness, riches stored in secret places, so that you may know that I am the Lord, the God of Isreal, who summons you by name." (Isaiah 45:2-3)

PRAYER

"Father, we come to Your throne this day and we say 'Teach us Your ways and let it be done to us and the nations according to Your will.' Amen!"

Blessings,

Sis. Ching Co
Cebu City
Philippines
ching@gsilink.com

Seeds for Revival: Repentance and Love

Tammie Gelis

The other day I had walked by a field that had just been plowed and ready to be planted and heard the father say the field is ready to be planted and much field is out there. But then he asked me what are the seeds that are being planted???

We are praying for Revival but yet see but small moves. What seeds have been planted for that?? I kept hearing the verse about us reaping what we sow. When I asked the father what the seeds have been even for the bits of revival we have seen he told me the seeds have been of man ego and mans pride. Mans conception of who I am and how I am supposed to act. But man has sowed seeds after his pride and from that will he reap.

Then I started asking the father what is it that will bring real revival and really see peoples hearts turn around and heard him say the following:

The seeds for Revival need to be repentance and love. I am calling my people to walk humbly before me. To recognize that without me they have nothing. To repent before me...but moreso not to be afraid to let another see you repenting. Not to be afraid of others seeing that you are human and that you make mistakes. For in this will many more be drawn than you could ever imagine. I am calling for a people that will go to each other and repent of the things they have done wrong against each other. Not just say well the father forgives that is all that is needed. But it softens a heart as you go to another and ask for that forgiveness as well. If you plant seeds of repentance you will reap revival. Teach my people to live humbly before me and each other. Humble yourselves, admit when you are wrong and watch the fruit that it will bear. Why is it that my church has become so complacent about recognizing sin as sin and the need for repentance?? Why is it we encourage each other and pat each other on the back when you should be saying if you want peace again go to the father and repent?

In repentance and turning there is life!! If the world sees a repentant church they too will fear me and come to me. They are looking for a humble and real people, will you be that kinda seed for me?? Will you bow your knee ??? Will you repent and let me be Lord over every part of your life??? If you will the world will. Be their example church!!!

Lastly he told me that the other seed was the seed of Love. I heard him crying if they would but love!!! I desire my people but learn to love another more than themselves. If you plant seeds of love there is no place for pride cause you are putting another ahead of yourself. If the world would but see love in my body it would draw many. If you would but learn to love as I love and love another you will see the power that it has. My love has the power to see fear disappear...but rather you instill fear into people. My love covers a multitude of sins....but you point the finger and condemn. My love sees the good in people....all you desire to do is point out the faults. My love walks closely to those who are wounded and hurting but yet you turn them away. What is it that will draw the world to the church??? Is it you biting and devouring one another??? Speaking bad of each other?? Putting other churches and pastors down?? The world has plenty of that but what it don't have or know is true love...unconditional love. When they see this that is what will draw them. That is what will soften their hearts. Will you love them as they come in??? Or will you look at the appearance and say you are not welcome here?? Will you come down off the mountain you have built for yourself long enough to say we love you we care and walk alongside them. Showing them that you are human and still make mistakes. I am looking for a repentant people, a real people and so is the world.

So plant seeds of love and repentance and you will reap revival. You will see and inflow into the churches that you have never dreamed of if these are the seeds that you plant and are growing upon. Nothing else will draw them.

Nothing else will last.

TGelis9638@aol.com

Rise Up Mighty Warriors

Yolanda Ballard

Rise up, mighty warriors! Rise up and fight. For this is the day of salvation.....the day to take back what the enemy has robbed you of.....the freedom, the liberty I have given you to speak My word boldly.

Speak it from the mountain tops, speak it from the valleys and the plains. Speak if from the desert places. Shout it loud and clear. Prepare ye the way of the Lord. For I am coming quickly, and I expect My bride to be ready.

So trim your lamps and prepare your marriage garments and sit in awe at My feet and know that I have called you for this time and this hour.....to prepare you to take your stand against the wiles of the enemy.

Prepare your garments and set your clock for this is the time and the hour. Set a watch before your mouth, and speak only that edifies. You will win the unlovely by the kindness of your words.

Do not be thrown off by what you see around you. Keep your eyes upon Me and praise Me and do My bidding on the earth for this is the time and the hour.

bethsheeba@juno.com

Excerpt from the book "The Happiness of Finding Wisdom"
by Dr. Kluane Spake

The Hebrews' HOUSE:

Suddenly we realize our purpose… we've been building a new house within ourselves. The book of Hebrews progressively discusses our Godly house, Therefore, holy brethren (believers), partakers of the heavenly calling (heirs of salvation), consider the Apostle and High Priest of our confession, Christ Jesus, who was faithful to Him who appointed Him, as Moses also was faithful in all His house. (Heb. 3:2, NKJ) The readers knew that Moses was found faithful-- now, consider that Jesus was faithful.

A key to understanding this portion of Scripture is right here. "Consider" or fix your thoughts, mark with attention this thought. What thought? That Christ faithfully endured and still endures. His building did not end, but still continues. He helps all of us build. He completes each building in loving perfection.

Moses built a dwelling in the wilderness, while Christ is the Great Builder of God's house. Jesus is the Apostle and High Priest over that which we profess and acknowledge – making certain that our confession builds our lives.

Heb. 3:3 For this One has been counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as He who built the house has more honor than the house. (NKJ) Moses contributed great effort to build a glorious house for God. But, we see a parallelism between Moses and Jesus begin to develop here to add to our understanding. As we interpret the word house for this purpose, we note that the Hebrew author uses the illustration of construction.

Heb. 3:4 For every house is built by someone, but He who built all things is God. (NKJ) Let's continue for our purposes, to realize that the house represents our lives. We may do the building, but God built all things. Whatever you become, God has greater honor than the house (your life) itself. The beauty of our structure must give all tribute to the architect. Our house can't grow like a plant – it doesn't evolve on its own. The analogy here says that God is the architect overseeing all building. We can't take the credit!
God works through the Son (Heb. 1:2, 2:10). Because Jesus builds God's house (tabernacling in us), He is of greater honor than Moses (who built the earthly Tabernacle).

Heb 3:5 And Moses indeed was faithful in all His house as a servant, for a testimony of those things which would be spoken afterward, (NKJ) This is a quote from Numbers 12:7. The Greek word usually used for servant is dulos, which means "bondservant." Dulos is not the word used in this text. Moses was not called a bondslave, slave, or attendant. Instead, the word used here is therapon, which means a "noble servant." This word occurs often in the Old Testament, but only once in the original Greek... it represents the unusual relationship that Moses was a servant of superior and noble position.

But even as great as Moses was, being a servant in the house of God was the best he could ever accomplish. By contrast we see Jesus (Heb 3:6), Christ as a Son over His own house, whose house we are if we hold fast the confidence and the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end. (NKJ) Christ was faithful OVER His own house because He was not a servant, but the Son.

Here was see a differentiation between Moses (living under the law) and the believer who's incorporated into the Sonship Company of Jesus. The New Testament house represents His body, His flesh (flesh of His flesh), and His bones (bone of His bone, Eph. 5:30). This text verse continues by saying, "whose house we are." Jesus was the Father's house – and we are the many mansions (abiding places) housed in Him (Jn. 14:2). We belong within His house… where He rules. Both individually and collectively, we constitute His house.

"Whose house we are" can also be translated, "We are God's house." The metaphor continues to describe us as a house. We are that house if... If what? If we hold fast. This passage presents the possibility of an unfulfilled condition. IF… And the criterion necessary to be His house? If we "hold fast." The Jews of that time had to hold fast through great persecution. They were not to return to the old systems, to old traditions, to predefined religious ways, to cultural expectations. They had to be "possessors" of God's Word and not merely "professors." Therefore, the mark of a well-built HOUSE is perseverance. And that holds true today.

"Hold fast" is also a nautical term. This same word is used in Acts 27:40 where it speaks of heading directly toward shore. "Whose house we are" only if we don't deviate or drift from where we're going. If we hold fast to correct concepts and don't drift into false ideologies.

They were to confidently hold steady. "Hold fast" to what? Confidence. Confidence (courage) in Christ Jesus proves whether or not you're a true possessor of salvation. We cannot BE A HOUSE unless we have confidence (courage). "With confidence" means that they must maintain consistent words and actions that demonstrate and establish the fact that they are true possessors of The Truth. We who are His house display our faith by walking in steady confidence -- no matter what the circumstance.

Plus, these believers had another assignment in addition to holding fast to confident courage. They had to hold fast to something else: "And the rejoicing of the hope firm to the end." "Rejoicing in hope" establishes and verifies a living witness as one who consistently trusts in the Almighty God. Rejoicing (the boasting of His glory) unto the end – until hope becomes a reality (Rom. 5:2-3, Phil. 3:3). Heb. 10:23 reminds us again, "Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.

By now the building of our spiritual "house" should have moved past having to continuously "repent from dead works." No longer should we be re-learning the "elementary principles of Christ" -- over and over. There's more to Christianity than milk (Heb. 5:11). There's more to learn than we know now. There's more growth for the mature to experience, more expanded concepts to realize, and more capabilities to apprehend.

Heb. 6:1 urges us, "...let us go on unto perfection (teleiotes)..." The Amplified version explains it further, "Therefore let us go on...advancing steadily toward the completeness and perfection that belongs to spiritual maturity." That idea of perfection (teleiotes) means completion or finished work, or being grown up. The author of Hebrews urges us to move on past our childhood into the fullness of maturity and completeness – into present truth – into a further building of The House.

Perfection is the process of aggregating wisdom. Jesus went through that process. Luke 2:39-40 says, And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom… Luke 2:52 And Jesus grew (progressively increased) in wisdom…NIV

The struggle toward perfection is an integral part of the overall restoration process. Eph. 4:11-13 expands this concept by telling us that the purpose of the five-fold ministries is the PERFECTING of the saints... unto a PERFECT (grown up teleios) man..." Those adult individuals are BUILT UP to form a PERMANENT DWELLING PLACE for God in the Spirit..."(Eph 2:21-22), a mature church that walks in unmistakable completeness -- a body that actualizes total redemption.

Thayer's Lexicon adds that "TELEIOS" means "brought to its end, finished; wanting nothing necessary to completeness; consummate human integrity and virtue; used of men, full grown, adult, of full age, mature." Its root word is "TELOS," which means, "a definite point or goal; properly, the point aimed at as a limit, i.e. (by implication) the conclusion of an act or state; the end to which all things relate, the aim, purpose." This forceful word defines our coming to full MATURITY in Christ.

This full-grown wholeness manifests itself in clear communications with God, absolute discernment, vivacity for life, equality, unconditional relationships, readiness to subdue difficulty, and an ease in yielding to Spiritual purposes. God can only have a mature relationship with mature sons.

Each believer must apprehend wholeness (sozo) before he/she is capable of connecting with another. We must grow up before we can discern the singular, consistent, divine, and global plan for the church/HIS HOUSE. Paul eloquently explains, "In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord" (Eph. 2:21). Here we see our individual houses joined to become one temple. But hear this… it isn't a cute thought for the sweet by and by. "It is joined together" – it is already done! It is a finished work that we must apprehend – connecting one to another. It's the valley of dry bones already fused, upright, and walking.

The time has come that the LORD'S house should be completed (Haggai 1:2-5). Permanent charges are eminent. God no longer abides in the temple made with hands. His ultimate purpose is to infuse His nature into the temple of our circumcised heart. This new inundated personality (the PERFECTED TELEIOS PERSON) boldly grasps the new concepts received from heaven and resolutely transmits them on wave-lengths never before imagined. There's a grand collective truth just beyond our own individual agenda – that's "US" together creating God's house. NOW.

Sword Ministries
Pastor Kluane Simonds Spake Ph. D.
http://www.spake.org/spake
spake@mindspring.com

Spiritual Warfare and Sin: What Past?

A. W. Tozer

I, even I, am He who blots out your transgressions for My own sake; and I will not remember your sins.
--Isaiah 43:25

One of the old German devotional philosophers took the position that God loves to forgive big sins more than He does little sins because the bigger the sin, the more glory accrues to Him for his forgiveness. I remember the writer went on to say that not only does God forgive sins and enjoy doing it, but as soon as He has forgiven them, He forgets them and trusts the person just as if he or she had never sinned. I share his view that God not only forgives great sins as readily as little ones, but once He has forgiven them He starts anew right there and never brings up the old sins again....

When a person makes a mistake and has to be forgiven, the shadow may hang over him or her because it is hard for other people to forget. But when God forgives, He begins the new page right there, and then the devil runs up and says, "What about this person's past?" God replies: "What past? There is no past. We started out fresh when he came to Me and I forgave him!" Faith Beyond Reason, 112.

"Lord, this concept is so foreign to our human understanding and our human way of doing things. Your grace in forgiving--and forgetting-- is beyond our comprehension. But I worship You for it today. Amen."

_______________________________________________________________
Read "Insight for Leaders" online at:
http://www.litmin.org/tozer.php3

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