Five-Fold Today - The Cost of True Revival - A Call To Prayer - An Hour of Purging - Remember, I Am With You Always - Longing for God - Three Simple Words - Raising Up Young Lions - God's Baseball Game
The Cost of True Revival
Jim Grayson
They said to me, "Those who survived the exile and are back in the province
are in great trouble and disgrace. The wall of Jerusalem is broken down, and
its gates have been burned with fire." When I heard these things, I sat
down and wept. For some days I mourned and fasted and prayed before the God
of heaven. Nehemiah 1:3,4
There is much talk of revival today in the Body of Christ. What we
must come to realize is there is a need for revival yet not that only but
for renewal in the Body of Christ. This comes through first admitting we
aren't where we need to be and repenting of it. Without repentance, revival
and renewal will never come. Also, we need to know that revival isn't
something that happens to us, that God comes along and dumps this on us but
it is a process, a cleansing, a tearing down of that which is useless and
stands in the way of God's plan and purpose. So much of what we see today
is man-made rather than God-made. I have asked the Lord what we need for
revival and
this is what I felt impressed to write. You may agree or disagree. Know
this: if you take the side of God in the future rather than organized
religion, you're going to be opposed, and heavily. You will become anathema
to them who long to remain in their ways. God will defend you, though,
beloved, so long as you remain in Him.
You cannot experience the true joy of the Lord until you have experienced
the desolation and despair of the wilderness. Only those who have can
relate. Would that be you, beloved of God's Own Heart? If so, then you
have found the pearl of great price and this joy, born of immense pain,
releases unimaginable love and awesome power, for now you can be trusted to
move mountains. Even the Lord Jesus endured a wilderness experience before
He moved in power and love to change the hearts of all who would seek Him.
The wilderness produces death to self, which helps to expose the life
previously hidden with Christ in God...Christ in you, your hope of glory.
It enables God's will to be done on earth, as it is in Heaven. The
wilderness is the key to "greater works". There are no shortcuts. In order
to see the greater works of which Jesus spoke, we must be so dead as to be
willing to see them in everyone but ourselves, if that is HIS will. We must
be willing to help everyone experience them ahead of us, even if we never
experience them at all. Do you want revival, beloved? This then, this way
of death to self, is the way, and the only way. So long as we stand in the
way with our own agendas and ideas, we will never see the revival we want.
So long as we are unwilling to tear down the denominational barriers between
us and work together, we will not see the works of the Lord Jesus on this
earth. We will see our own pathetic works, instead, and will attempt to say
they are of God. True revival means renewal for, behold, old things have
passed away and all things are made new. Your life of death has ultimately
led you to a life of unspeakable joy and freedom in Christ, Who sets us free
to serve Him. This is the point in our lives where we can truly "count it
all a loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Him." It's also the point
where you find the preconceived notions are gone, along with our useless and
binding
traditions of men, which have made the Word of God to no effect in our
lives.
Revival and renewal means we must be willing to end up with a clean
slate...all of God and none of us. Now, if He says, "Sell all you have and
come and follow Me," you will do so gladly and without remorse, and if He
speaks to the leadership of the church, of the Body of Christ today, and
instructs them to break down the walls, sell the church building, strip down
to your fighting weight, form home groups and give the money to missions,
the widows and orphans, they would, shaking off their fears of leaving the
traditions of men and set out on a new and fresh adventure with He Who Loves
Us Most. How many, I wonder, love the Lord Jesus enough to dare to do such
a thing, should He ask it of them? How many love Him enough to stop the
repulsive and unScriptural traditions of passing the offering plate and
trust God, and His people, to meet the needs of the Body, without resorting
to other means? Perhaps it's time to tear down our hulking and magnificent
edifices of "worship" in order to build the Kingdom of God.
Just as many didn't recognize the Messiah when He came because He didn't fit
into their molds of thought, so many will not recognize Him as He prepares
His Bride for His return. I promise you, and the Word of God backs this
up...He will not do things the way we think He will. God has His own plans
and our thoughts and ways just aren't there...they just won't fit in.
Some will see Him for Who He is and will do all that He asks of them, no
matter what that may be. If we want true revival, if we truly want to
prepare the Bride of Christ for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, we must be
willing to abandon all, sell all, leave all and follow Him.
As we start this new millennium, how many in leadership roles will
continue to believe that revival comes from putting up a sign on the church
lawn and obtaining a guest preacher for a week? How many will shun the
urgings of the Holy Spirit and rob those whom the Lord has placed in their
care of the glory of God, simply by refusing to change? Judgment starts in
the House of God. It always has and always will. Judgment always precedes
revival and renewal. For those who resist and grieve the Holy Spirit,
judgement will be swift and sure. We must yield to Him or be replaced by
someone who will. This goes for everyone. It goes for me, too.
The time for change has come. The revealing of the remnant is at hand. The
Holy Spirit is on the move. What will we do with the riches our Lord has so
graciously given us? What will we do when He commands us to yield to His
leading? The seven woes of Matthew 23 were for the religious-minded people
of Jesus' time and they're still applicable today. When the Holy Spirit
says to move or change, will we be a treasure in an earthen vessel or will
we be whitewashed tombs filled with dead men's bones and things unholy?
Will we
say, "Blessed is He Who comes in the Name of the Lord," or will the church,
like Jerusalem, condemn, reject and stone those sent to prepare Her for the
soon-coming King?
In Nehemiah's day, Jerusalem was a mess. He banded together with the people
and rebuilt the city walls through unity. Of course, there were nay sayers.
There always will be. We have the opportunity to bridge the gaps we have
placed between our different churches and prepare the Bride for His return.
Will we be dead enough to do it?
Jesus gave the seven woes to the religious minds of the day and they
put Him on a cross for it. What will the minds of today do with Jesus? I
feel we're soon to find out.
Be blessed in Jesus, beloved. You have my heart. Our Jesus is Lord of all.
In His Love,
Jim Grayson
A Call To Prayer
Sharon Marks
I will light a fire within; a burning desire; I will compel My people
to come before their God. There is a great outpouring to come on My
people as NEVER before. I will raise up the weak from the ashes of
rejection; I will give to My church a fulfillment in Me as they have not
known. For I shall change My church. They have not built well upon My
Foundation of Jesus Christ.
Some have allowed pride, deception, jealousy to over-rule their lives
and they have been caught un-aware. They have forgotten that in all
things I have said to call on Me. Yet they rely not on their creator but
their own creations. My Son did nothing that He did not ask of Me first,
and as I did so did He. I tell you My people that this is a time of
intercession; a time for many watchmen on the wall to be raised up. Pray
as never before. There are many battles to be fought and to be won BUT
you MUST pray.
The fervent prayer of My righteous availeth much indeed. Did not Moses
stay My hand and wrath against the people with His desperation of
prayer? Did not the prison doors spring open and set Peter free because
there were those united in one purpose in prayer; Did not Elisha have
fire from heaven come down because he prayed to Me with passion and with
desperation and it consumed the water and burnt the sacrifice before the
prophets of Baal? Do you not see the POWER and AUTHORITY you receive in
prayer? Why then do you treat it so casually? Where is your faith and
your belief?
For I tell you that unless My people come together in one united purpose
than the plans I have for you will be greatly affected and stalled. It
is the prayers of My people that bring forth the harvest, that bring
forth the word confirmed with signs and wonders. Some of you are lazy and
lax in your time with Me and pray half-heartedly and without passion or
desperation. I tell you these are very desperate times for My people and
you must pray as never before.
I am calling My people to prayer. I am bringing them to a new and higher
level of prayer and intercession. But first my people must lower themselves
for some are too haughty and prideful. Some are jealous of one another's
calling and do not know that each of you are to flow with one another and
not against. You are to be knit together in perfect harmony. Lay aside
your agendas; listen well to My prophets and heed their every word.
Do not shun correction but embrace it for in it is great growth in Me.
A great and mighty army is being prepared for the battle in the heavens
and soon they will march forth but know that also Satan has his own army
and he is also making ready for the battle; it is in your prayers that
this battle will be won or lost. Either My will for My people will be
escalated and vaulted forth or it will be put back to begin again. Why
do you wait for My hand to move when it is in your prayer the power to
move My hand? Take hold of the power and of the authority given to you
by My Son and speak it forth.
Pray My people PRAY for you shall decide your future.
smarks02@snet.net
An Hour of Purging
Yolanda Ballard
Come unto Me and seek My face in a deep and profound way. Seek Me in a
way you have never done before for I want to reveal to you more of your
Father's heart in the way of revelation for the year 2001. Come unto Me,
and I will reveal to you My heart for I am weary of the ways of man even
those who call themselves of My kingdom. For I do not know them, and I
am going to do a separating work in My body that only I can do for there
is way too much of the carnal nature portrayed from those who call
themselves believers in Christ.
Come unto Me for I will shake the heavens once again. As Lucifer fell
because of the sin of pride, many more will fall because they have not
repented of their selfish deeds..... for their main concern is to make a
name for themselves and build themselves a kingdom that will be based
upon their name. For I will raise up an army of nameless faces....those
who only go by the name of My Son. They live only to bring glory to My
Son. They will exalt His name alone and draw men only to Him by their
selfless deeds of love and compassion. Their main goal is to lift Me
higher, and to build My kingdom and to bring down the strongholds of the
enemy.
So draw close to Me and let Me purge your hearts of any religious pride
and contempt for My name for that is what it is when you rob Me of My
glory and lift up your own name. This is the time where I will do a
sifting like never before. I will sift the wheat from the tares, the
goats from the sheep....for I am raising up a pure and spotless
bride.....a holy army....that I can move through mightily.
I will shine My flood light even on the hearts of My people, and I will
purge all the impurities with the fire of My love. This is the time and
the hour for separation.....the wheat from the tares, the goats from the
sheep, and also I will separate the thoughts and intentions of the
hearts....that which is not of Me.....the false from the true.
So come unto Me and let Me do My work, My sifting and purging, My
cleansing work, for I will move through a clean vessel alone with My
power and glory for no man will stand in My presence whose heart is not
made pure. For this is the time and the hour for My purging, says your
God.
bethsheeba@juno.com
"REMEMBER, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS"
Amanda Davis
THE CENTER OF THE VEIL WAS RENT BY A HAND
This morning in my time with the Lord I had a unique prophetic
experience. These times, when they come, are the same in that they
begin by entering through the Gates of Praise and Thanksgiving. This
time was unique in that it took MUCH praise and worship to even REACH
the doors of the Throne Room-- and once the doors were opened a dark
veil covered the doorway.
I was taken back by the darkness but continued to sing praises to the
Lord. Suddenly, a pinpoint of light appeared in the center of the veil.
In my imagination, I thought the hole would continue to get bigger and
bigger as I sang but that is not what happened. The center of the veil
was rent by a hand. The hand had the scar of a nail that was placed
there for you and me. By instinct, I grabbed the hand and was thrust
through the darkness and into Light. The hand was that of Our Precious
Savior. He greeted me with a kiss on each cheek and we embraced.
We walked hand and hand down to where His Throne was. As before, He sat
cattycorner in the Throne with one leg over the arm of the Throne.
This time I got up the courage to ask why He sits like that in the Throne.
He said it was because He is comfortable with His authority and that He
wanted us to be just as comfortable with the authority God has given to
us in His name.
SWEET INCENSE THAT RISES TO THE THRONE
He said that He had a message to send to the intercessors. I took a
seat at His feet to listen. Suddenly, a cry came up out of Him that
was so strong that it shook everything around Him. To look at Him
made you wonder if it was these cries that caused earthquakes to
happen in the Earth. His head was back and His mouth was open and
groanings and wailings echoed throughout the Throne Room. I began
crying too but realized how superficial it seemed compared to this cry
that was coming out of Him.
His cries became hush and He began to speak,
"I have searched throughout the world for someone who will
stand in the gap for My people and I have found a group of people who
answered this call. I am pleased with these priests that minister
before me with their prayers of intercession. It is like sweet
incense that rises to the Throne. I have this word of instruction to
bring to help the intercessors in their time of ministry."
DESIRE FOR INTIMACY
He went on to explain that human beings were created with a need for
intimacy and that without it they would feel a lacking in their lives.
He showed me how in my own relationship with my husband and children
how it waxes and wanes with the amount of time we spend together.
However, He was quick to point out to me that even though there was a
flux in the closeness, we never ceased to be family. He began to cry
again when He talked about how the enemy had brought in counterfeits
(TV, novels, even busyness with ministry) to fill the place of lacking
we felt in our lives. He made sure that I understood that the
counterfeits were not the real issue...
...the lack of intimacy was.
He said, "WE [the Trinity] are a jealous God." He explained that the
world had put a negative connotation on the word jealous. Again,
through the tears He said, "It is true that WE [the Trinity] are the
God of the Universe but WE [the Trinity] are willing to take any time
Our [the Trinity] People will give us. You see, you were made in OUR
[the Trinity] image which means that WE [the Trinity], too have the
desire for intimacy. My word to My People is to grant some time each
day to spend with me alone."
PHYSICAL TIME GRANTED FOR INTERCESSORS
I understood that this was a time that was separate from the time we
spend praying for others. He indicated that the intercessors would
grow weary if they interceded on behalf of His people without having this
intimate time with Him. It will be a time of refreshing, restoration
and instruction. He also indicated that He was going to grant
physical time in the lives of those who had chosen to be intercessors
for them to intercede. I understood that He was saying that they will
not have to fit it into their busy schedules like they have in the
past. They will find the time come to them.
REMEMBER, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS
After this the Lord Jesus began interceding for the intercessors.
This prayer was unlike anything I have ever heard before. It was a
prayer of compassion, love, and yes, even passion. He asked the Father
to grant this group of people the time they needed to intercede. He
asked that the Father's heart be granted to each of us so that we can
pray through His love for all His Children. He asked that grace would
be granted to each of us that we may accept this position of working
behind the scenes without much earthly recognition. Then, He asked
the Lord to anoint each and everyone of us. I had such a sense that
every request He made to the Father on our behalf was instantly
granted.
Jesus stood and said "Remember I am with you always".
*Additional Thoughts: I believe the Lord has brought to us a pearl of
wisdom not just in our interceding for others, but in the fulfillment
and enhancement of our own lives through Him. I urge you, as we begin
this new year, that we will make that commitment to the Lord to give
Him a portion (tithe) of our time everyday. In this time with Him, I
believe we will receive instructions on how to best intercede for His
people. I believe we will be taught of the Holy Spirit things that
have yet been revealed. I want to bless each one of you that has
answered the call to intercede for His Body. If there are those of
you who have felt the call to be an intercessor but didn't know how or
weren't sure before and want to accept this call even now, I ask the
Lord to pass on to you all that was given this morning. I bless you
with the assurance that we have the most awesome Intercessor
interceding on our behalf. And, in the words of Jesus remember He is
with you ALWAYS.......................
In Christ,
Amanda Davis
Longing for God
A.W.Tozer
O God, I have tasted Thy goodness, and it has both satisfied me and
made me thirsty for more. I am painfully conscious of my need of
further grace. I am ashamed of my lack of desire. O God, the Triune
God, I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst
to be made more thirsty still. Show me Thy glory, I pray Thee, that
so I may know Thee indeed. Begin in mercy a new work of love within
me. Say to my soul, "Rise up, my love, my fair one, and come away."
Then give me grace to rise and follow Thee up from this misty
lowland where I have wandered so long. In Jesus' name. Amen. The
Pursuit of God, 20.
"...I want to want Thee; I long to be filled with longing; I thirst
to be made more thirsty still. Amen."
To Think God's Thoughts
To think God's thoughts requires much prayer. If you do not pray much,
you are not thinking God's thoughts. If you do not read your Bible
much and often and reverently, you are not thinking God's thoughts....
There also has to be a lot of meditation. We ought to learn to live in
our Bibles. Get one with print big enough to read so it does not
punish your eyes. Look around until you find a good one, and then
learn to love it. Begin with the Gospel of John, then read the Psalms.
Isaiah is another great book to help you and lift you. When you feel
you want to do it, go on to Romans and Hebrews and some of the deeper
theological books. But get into the Bible. Do not just read the little
passages you like, but in the course of a year or two see that you
read it through. Your thoughts will one day come up before God's
judgment. We are responsible for our premeditative thoughts. They make
our mind a temple where God can dwell with pleasure, or they make our
mind a stable where Christ is angry, ties a rope and drives out the
cattle. It is all up to us. Rut, Rot or Revival: The Condition of
the Church, 42.
"My thoughts aren't adequate, Lord, to enable me to lead Your people
through the quagmire of today's society. Nor are the thoughts of the
writers, the teachers, the preachers, and the psychologists that
bombard me from the pages and the airways. I'm only going to be
effective as a spiritual leader as I learn to 'think God's
thoughts.' Amen."
_______________________________________________________________
Three Simple Words
Paul & Debbie Baylis
For the Church of Jesus Christ there is a great sense of anticipation as we
begin a new year in His presence. Many in the prophetic
community believe that this coming year...is the year. No, I am not
speaking of the rapture. In fact, not one prophetic Word that I
have seen has said that the Church will be raptured. So what's all the
excitement about? The Lord says it best.....
Arise, shine; for your light has come! And the glory of the LORD is risen
upon you. For behold, the darkness shall cover the earth,
and deep darkness the people; but the LORD will arise over you, and His
glory will be seen upon you. The Gentiles shall come to your
light, and kings to the brightness of your rising. "Lift up your eyes all
around, and see: they all gather together, they come to
you; your sons shall come from afar, and your daughters shall be nursed at
your side. Then you shall see and become radiant, and
your heart shall swell with joy; because the abundance of the sea shall be
turned to you, the wealth of the Gentiles shall come to
you. The multitude of camels shall cover your land, the dromedaries of
Midian and Ephah; all those from Sheba shall come; they shall
bring gold and incense, and they shall proclaim the praises of the LORD. All
the flocks of Kedar shall be gathered together to you,
the rams of Nebaioth shall minister to you; they shall ascend with
acceptance on My altar, and I will glorify the house of My glory.
(Isa 60:1-7 NKJ)
Gotta love the 7th verse.
"they shall ascend with acceptance on My altar, and I will glorify the house
of My glory."
Did you know you are the house of His glory?
Is this the year?
In recent years there has been a heavenly whisper blended amongst the
building winds of change. Three simple Words that have
recently exploded into the hearts of many. Three simple Words that for us
defined this past year.
Have you heard them?
If not, listen carefully and you will; just beyond the winds of change and
the sounds of tradition they resonate from before the
foundations of the world, inviting us into a deeper intimacy, and divine
rest with our heavenly Father. Three simple Words that when
embraced and acted upon in Christ, bring us to the place where JESUS will
say to each of us...."Arise, shine; for your light has
come! And the glory of the LORD is risen upon you."
Is it possible that these seventeen Words will define the coming year? I
believe they will...given we have embraced the three
simple Words that defined the past year...
**
"Seek My face"
"Repent therefore and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so
that times of refreshing
may come from the presence of the Lord, "and that He may send Jesus Christ,
who was preached to you before, "whom heaven must
receive until the times of restoration of all things, which God has spoken
by the mouth of all His holy prophets since the world
began. (Acts 3:19-21 NKJ)
************************
paul & debbie baylis
Raising Up Young Lions
Martin Sayers
My children have been deceived long enough their blood is upon your heads
you who have led them astray. Behold your day is come and you know it not.
But My children shall know and I will cause them to leave you in your place
of desolation.
Even now as I raise up the young lions and send them forth in power, the
strength of their word will not be matched, for I have given unto them the
authority to rule the nations. They do not compromise My Word. Therefore,
do I give unto them power from on high and mighty signs and wonders shall
follow the preceding word of the roar of the young lions and many shall
believe and come unto Zion. Now this is that spoken of by the prophet Joel.
I assure you there shall be none like unto them for never before has there
been a people with hearts wholly given in obedience to the Holy Spirit of
the Lord.
I will make My face to shine upon them and their faces shall shine even as
Moses' face shone but this time it will be unveiled that the glory of God
will be proclaimed. There shall be an ever-increasing glory upon these
young lions, My preachers of righteousness, until nothing remains that is
unclean in their sight.
Isaiah 31:4 For thus hath the LORD spoken unto me, Like as the lion and
the young lion roaring on his prey, when a multitude of shepherds is called
forth against him, he will not be afraid of their voice, nor abase himself
for the noise of them:.
So also shall it be now with My lions and My young lions.
Marty@spiritofprophecy.com
God's Baseball Game
Bob and the Lord stood by to observe a baseball game. The Lord's team was playing Satan's team. The Lord's team was at the bat, the score was tied zero to zero, and it was the bottom of the ninth inning with two outs.
They continued to watch as a batter stepped up to the plate whose name was Love. Love swung at the first pitch and hit a single, because Love never fails.
The next batter was named Faith, who also got a single because Faith works with Love.
The next batter up was named Godly Wisdom. Satan wound up and threw the first pitch. Godly Wisdom looked it over and let it pass. Ball one. Three more pitches and Godly Wisdom walked, because Godly Wisdom never swings at what Satan throws.
The bases were loaded.
The Lord then turned to Bob and told him he was now going to bring His star player. Up to the plate stepped Grace. Bob said, "He sure doesn't look like much! Satan's whole team relaxed when they saw Grace. Thinking
he had won the game, Satan wound up and fired his first pitch. To the shock of everyone, Grace hit the ball harder than anyone had ever seen.
But Satan was not worried; his center fielder let very few get by. He went up for the ball, but it went through his glove, hit him on the head and sent him crashing on the ground; then continued over the fence for
a homerun.
The Lord's team won. The Lord then asked Bob if he knew why Love, Faith and Godly Wisdom could get on base but could not win the game. Bob answered that he did not know why. The Lord explained, "If your love, faith and wisdom had won the game you would think you had done it by yourself. Love, faith and wisdom will get you on base, but only My Grace can get you home."
Submitted by Ray McLain, author unknown.
January 12, 2001
John 14:12 - "In truth I tell you, he who believes in Me, the works that I
do will he do also, and greater works than these will he do, for I am going
to the Father."
AFresheningWind@aol.com
--A MESSAGE OF INTIMACY AND ENCOURAGEMENT
Clouds of Incense
Amanda@davis7.comAs the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O
God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come
and appear before God?
--Psalm 42:1-2But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates
day and night. --Psalm 1:2
Read "Insight for Leaders" online at:
http://www.litmin.com/tozer.php3
***************************By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus
Christ
has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that
Jesus Christ
has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the
Antichrist, which you
have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
(I Jn 4:2-3 NKJ)
giver12@home.comJeremiah 14:14 Then the LORD said unto me, The prophets prophesy lies in my
name: I sent them not, neither have I commanded them, neither spake unto
them: they prophesy unto you a false vision and divination, and a thing of
nought, and the deceit of their heart.
15 Therefore thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in
my name, and I sent them not.I will pour out your wickedness upon your own
heads and to all those who have spoken in My name and I know you not, do I
say this.
Five-Fold Today Archives
The Lord has given us the grace to reconcile the children to their Fathers
As One Body
Issue Oriented Discussion Newsletter
Index | Search This Site | Aristide.Org | The Latter Rain | Babylon the Great | The Kingdom | The Nicolaitans | Jezebel
The Baptism With the Holy Ghost | The Grand Delusion | World Trade Org | Liberation Theology | Jay Atkinson | Alphabetical Index