Five-Fold Today - Transition Wars - Going On The Defensive - Raging Storm - Upon the Rock - Stand Firm - And the Storm Blew In - Waves Of Salvation Are Coming In - Embracing New Dimensions - The Cost of Discipleship
Transition Wars
Jim Hodges
The body of Christ is in transition. We are presently navigating
challenging changes in many local churches around the globe.
The question some have is: "why all this transition and change?"
I think a part of the answer is that transition is a prerequisite
for destiny.
In Joshua's day, Israel transitioned from the desert into Canaan
in order to fulfill God's prophetic word to Abraham centuries
before and in order to fulfill their destiny. As you recall,
transition for them involved war; It is so today—we are in transition
wars!
In the tenth chapter of the book of Joshua, we read about the
warring encounter between Israel and a military coalition of
five Amorite kings. The encounter was inaugurated when these
five kings and their armies attacked the Gibeonites, a people
who were in covenant with Israel. Although that covenant had
been forged by deceit on the part of the Gibeonites, it was,
nevertheless, a covenant.
The Enemy's Attack On Our Covenant Relationships
The Amorite kings did not frontally assault Joshua and the army
of Israel. Instead they attacked their covenant relationship,
i.e., the Gibeonites. The enemy is attacking this way in our
day. The past several months have seen intense spiritual warfare
as pastors, elders, local churches, and apostolic teams have
been at odds with each other. Long standing friendships have
come under relational strain. People who have walked together
for a long time are now being attacked in their covenants. In
several situations where I have firsthand knowledge, it has been
discouraging to see this attack unfold. v
Identifying And Observing Our Enemy
From our Biblical story, please notice the following; the five
kings represent five-fold opposition. In other words, this that
we are experiencing is an all out, full-orbed attack.
The names of these kings give us some insight concerning our
enemy. Alfred Edersheim was most helpful in defining the meaning
of the names of these kings.
Adoni-zedek of Jerusalem – his name means: "lord of righteousness:.
Notice the similarity of his name with a previous king of Jerusalem,
Melchizedek. He was the king-priest of Jerusalem in Abraham's
day. His name means—king of righteousness and peace. Although
the term, Adoni, refers to the God of the Bible in some scriptures,
here it refers to a pagan king. Therefore he did not have an
anointing from the Lord God to rule Jerusalem like Melchizedek.
I believe he is a type of the usurper who governs by domination.
When you have a king governing without a priestly anointing,
you have government by domination. Adonizedek represents false
spiritual government and we definitely war against that in the
Body of Christ in this hour!
Hoham of Hebron – his name means: "god of the multitude".
Since he and all of the Amorite kings are enemies of the Lord
God, his name also represents a dimension of Satan's kingdom.
Jesus said that Satan's kingdom is divided. In other words this
is a disunited multitude and that speaks symbolically of the
spirit of sectarianism. This spirit has crept into the Church
and kept the Body of Christ from experiential unity. By the way,
Hebron means league, federation, and covenant. It is the place
where God cut covenant with Abraham. But Hoham or Hebron represents
false covenant.
Piram of Jarmuth – his name means: "coursing about, wild and
free".
This represents a spirit of lawlessness which according to II
Thessalonians 2 is from the enemy. Regrettably this spirit is
in the Church. It is illustrated by an attitude that says: "I
just do what I feel led to do or what seems right to me". A lack
of responsibility and accountability travels with this spirit!
Japhia of Lachish – his name means: "exalted".
This, of course, refers to false exaltation or pride. This is
exalting the wrong gods or the wrong things in our lives. There
is only One Who deserves exaltation and you know His name!
Debir of Eglon – his name means: "scribe".
The perversion of legitimate scribal ministry is legalism. This
is the spirit that opposes the flow of the Spirit of God. It
is more concerned about definition than about the release and
experience of life!
In our story, Joshua defended the Gibeonites and defeated these
Amorite kings.
Today, we must face these same spiritual strongholds as we war
our way through transition.
Present Transition Wars In The Body Of Christ.
The shift from pastoral leadership to apostolic leadership.
While we need all five of the Ephesians 4:11 leadership ministries
of Jesus to mature and equip the Church, our religious culture
and many churches continue to prioritize the pastoral paradigm
of leadership. However, according to the apostle Paul, the first
ministry of leadership in the church is that of the apostle (I
Cor. 12:28). In fact, there is no place in the new Testament
where a local church was founded or led by a pastor. Only one
pastor is named in the New Testament and that is Jesus (I Peter
2:25). It seems to me that we need to prioritize the apostolic
since the Scripture does! We contend for all five ministry gifts
of Christ, but the priority (prototype) is upon the visionary
leadership of the apostolic.
Shift in worship and intercession.
I believe the main issues facing the Church today are Davidic
issues, i.e., spiritual government and worship. The apostle James
quoted Amos at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15:15-18) and thereby
connected the NT church to the restoration of the Tabernacle
of David.
In Colossians 3:16 we are instructed to employ the Psalms in
our worship. What we find in them, namely the mingling of prayer,
praise, and prophecy, we also find in the book of Revelation.
Therefore both Psalms and Revelation should be the worship and
prayer manuals for the Church. Our worship here on earth needs
to increasingly conform to the worship services in heaven. When
that alignment takes place all heaven will break out here on
earth!
Furthermore, the harvest will come in! David's tabernacle is
restored so that the rest of mankind will seek the Lord (Acts
15:17). Our worship and intercession are directly linked to evangelism!
Shift from local church growth to city transformation.
The Lord's will is that every local church grow especially by
evangelistic harvest and not primarily by a weight transfer as
people change churches. But His agenda in our city and communities
is much larger than our local church. The Lord addressed cities
in both the Old and New Testament.
He wants cities transformed and nations discipled. This agenda
requires more than what one local church can do.
Recently, Jean and I participated in a City Transformation Celebration
Conference in Las Vegas with Pastor David and Sherrie Merrit.
The Lord used him to get over 25 pastors and leaders together
in that city at the local convention center. The mayor sent a
city council person to give him a mayoral proclamation and a
key to the city. The civil ruler is requesting that the Church
be the Church! Let's answer the call!
Shift from person prosperity to corporate Kingdom prosperity.
A balanced teaching on prosperity has been needed in the Church
so that a poverty mentality could be overcome among God's people.
However, some believers focus on their own needs and fail to
see that the purpose of prosperity is to finance God's Kingdom
enterprise in the earth. We are blessed to be a blessing!
We must go to another level in Kingdom-corporation finances!
When the anointed Josephs, Daniels, and Esthers emerge in our
day, they will have some awesome resources to manage!
Shift from an evacuation mentality to an occupation mentality.
Hey we survived Y2K and we are still here!
We might as well quit trying to get out of here and begin to
occupy the ground!
The Lord wants us to read Psalms 24:1 which says the earth and
its fullness belong to Him. Instead we are reading (not me) all
these fictional books on evacuating the Church from planet earth.
Let me ask you – should unrighteous covenant breakers be the
main stewards of the earth or should it be stewarded and managed
by covenant keepers?
As a corollary to this point, let me say that we, like Joshua,
should function in a conquest mode and not in a survival model.
We are not called to survive in the desert; we are called to
enter and conquer the land (the earth).
Conclusion
Church, we are in transition wars. We must battle our way to
destiny. The obstacles are great. Our Captain and His Kingdom
purposes are greater.
Jim Hodges
Going On The Defensive
Hollie Moodie
At the beginning of the year (2001), I had a vision. Over the following weeks and months, the Lord seemed to begin to open up unto me my understanding of this vision.
I sense the great need for God's Church to cease from being passive recipients and targets of the enemy's attack. With detailed instructions and guidance from the Lord, we are to go on the defensive to do warfare against the enemy. We are to do battle on behalf of others in the Body of Christ who have been under severe attack. They have not had the counter-attacks of their brothers and sisters in the Lord on their behalf.
The Lord is requiring that we do battle against evil in our midst, stand with those under spiritual attack, and allow Him to work restoration in those who are in need of it.
I ask that you prayerfully read the following words, and discern and judge these words.
********************
In my mind, a picture of a man and a woman formed. They appeared to be mature in years (perhaps early 40's to late 50's). The woman was in battle armor. She had a sword and a shield also. It was apparent to me that she was a seasoned warrior. The man also appeared to be a warrior, but I had the impression that it was the woman who was the greater warrior of the two.
I watched as the woman handed her sword and shield to the man. She then turned and walked away. She went and sat down beneath a tree. At first, she appeared ill at ease with this new situation she found herself in, but she remained where she was. I saw that she now had what appeared to be a telescope in her hand.
I turned back to the man and saw as he at first held the woman's sword and shield somewhat hesitantly. A group of people formed behind this man. The group consisted of children, teens and young adults. They were both men and women. The group of people attempted to walk past the warrior man, but he put his shield up and prevented them from doing so. The group of people stopped and stared at the warrior man.
The warrior man then looked off into the distance. I saw an army coming towards the warrior man and the group of people behind him. When this army came up to where the warrior man and the group of people were standing, the warrior man stepped up to them and began to slash at this enemy army with his sword.
As the enemy army became smaller, the warrior man beckoned one person at a time from the group of people behind him to walk past him. Soon, a steady stream of people was walking past the warrior man. I watched as this group of people approached a field that I hadn't seen until now. It appeared to be some sort of field of grain. The group of people went into the field. When they emerged, each of them carried a baby in their arms.
They ran with the baby past the warrior man and up to the woman who was sitting beneath a tree. The woman had been gazing through the telescope, but lowered it when the people came up to her and held the baby out to her. The woman eagerly accepted each baby that was held out to her and began to nurse them and nurture them. As she did so, she would also speak to the person who had just given her the baby. The person would then run over to the warrior man and speak to him. Then, the person went back into the field, later returning with another baby.
This occurred many times until the picture in my mind ended.
***************
Going On The Defensive
I feel that the woman and man represent the Apostolic and Prophetic. I don't necessarily feel that the woman is representative of all females, or the man symbolic of all men. I felt this went beyond the role of gender to the role of specific functions.
The woman is the Prophetic. The man Apostolic. The Prophetic has been a greater warrior in spiritual battles up to this point than has the Apostolic. That is about to change. The Apostolic and the Prophetic are going to switch roles, or functions.
This doesn't mean that all women who move in the Prophetic or Apostolic will now go sit beneath a tree. Neither does it mean that all men who move in the Prophetic or Apostolic will now go out as warriors. Once again, let me reiterate that I feel this is more about functions than gender roles.
The Apostolic will now be doing most of the spiritual battling. This battling by the Apostolic will release a group of people who will go out and harvest souls (as represented by the babies they carried from the field).
The Prophetic will care for and nurture these spiritual babies. The Prophetic will also have seen into the plans and movements of the enemy (symbolized perhaps by the telescope I saw the woman gazing through). The Prophetic will share this knowledge with the Apostolic. The Apostolic will then be able with this information to instruct those going out into the field.
I sensed a combining of ministries. There was a unity between ministries to come together and work as one unit to accomplish the task of harvesting the field.
Certain areas of information the woman / Prophetic passed along was in regard to the battle plans of the enemy. These plans include: a full frontal attack against marriages and families (marriages and families will be under severe attack financially and emotionally; many stressful situations will arise seemingly from out of nowhere) ; attacks against the integrity and moral purity of ministers (I sensed spirits of seduction and sexual impurity); attacks against congregations (illness and death will attack many congregations, and discourage the saints).
The woman's / Prophetic's words carried instructions to the man / Apostolic on ways and means to counter-attack these assaults upon the saints. The man / Apostolic implemented these instructions. The instructions
included: a return to prayer and fasting; rooting out any and all evil in each person's heart and in congregations; going on the offensive instead of the defensive.
Judges 20 and 21 were laid upon my heart as a model for this type of warfare.
The Benjamites had harbored sinners in their midst. All of Israel was gathered against Benjamin as one man. Israel first demanded that Benjamin deliver to them the wicked ones. Benjamin refused. Then, Israel went to
prayer and fasting, as one man, to inquire of the Lord as to how to proceed.
The Lord said to fight against Benjamin.
Twice, Israel fought against Benjamin. Twice, Israel was defeated at the hand of Benjamin. With each defeat, Israel wept and fasted before the Lord, and re-inquired of Him as to whether or not they were to fight again against Benjamin. Each time, the Lord once again instructed Israel to fight against Benjamin.
By now, Israel had suffered the tremendous loss of 40,000. Yet at the word of the Lord, for the third time, they went to battle against Benjamin. The third time, Benjamin was defeated at the hand of Israel. The army of Benjamin consisted of 26,000 men. 25,100 men of the army of Benjamin was defeated during the third battle.
The sin was now rooted out of the nation of Israel. Yet, instead of rejoicing in their victory against Benjamin, Israel mourned (Judges 21:2-3 ~ {2} "And the people came to the house of God, and abode there till
even before God, and lifted up their voices, and wept sore; {3} And said, O Lord God of Israel, why is this come to pass in Israel, that there should be today one tribe lacking in Israel?")
The rest of chapter 21 in Judges goes on to tell how the tribe of Benjamin was restored as a nation in Israel. This was done aggressively. This is how it is to be done in these days of attack against God's church.
God's people must aggressively root out evil in their hearts and in their midst, even to their own wounding. But only under the direct instructions of the Lord Himself as to how this should be done (prayer and fasting and repentance will reveal this to us).
After the sin has been rooted out, whoever or whatever was wounded in the process, must now be restored. We are to aggressively come against the enemy to root out evil and to bring restoration. We are to take back from the enemy what has been taken from us.
We may be tempted to be overwhelmed with discouragement and despair and hopelessness. This will cause us to be passive under attack. We will not use the spiritual weapons the Lord has provided us with (Ephesians 6:10-18),
and we will be defeated.
At His word, the Lord would have us to pick our weapons up and fight. We are to go on the offensive and do battle. The Lord will bring the victory. The Lord will bring healing and restoration.
In Him,
Raging Storm
Ching Co
In the past few weeks, I have been feeling a quickening in my heart, like "warning bells ringing in my ears" impressing upon me to prepare for an impending storm is coming upon the body of Christ.
As I waited for more informations to enable me to pray and prepare more effectively for this storm. I received these impressions which I'm submitting to the body of Christ for you to test and to discern.
FACING THE STORM
The first question I asked the Lord was whether He wants us to rebuke this storm or to face this storm and I felt Him impressing that we are to face this storm.
FORM OF THE STORM
I then asked Him in what form this storm will manifest itself. And I felt the Lord impressing to me that it will come in the form of FEELINGS OF DISSAPOINTMENT coming like waves after waves to overwhelm us. The arena and stage will be varied for each person, but the effect will be the same This will not only be between people to people but at times, we may find ourselves in situations where we will be dissapointed with God.
PURPOSE OF THE STORM
Then I asked Him what could be the purpose for this storm. And I then saw the picture of a camel passing through a needle eye which was explained to me that it will be something difficult to battle on our own strenght but we have to totally depend upon the Lord, and the purpose for this is for us TO CRUCIFY OUR FLESH (MIND AND EMOTION) TO DIE TO HUMAN EXPECTATION.
THE ARMY OF GOD
The Lord is raising up an army whose eyes and whole being should, must and will be totally FOCUS UPON THE LORD. And that nothing must distract them from this goal.
However the reality is many of us are still very much VULNERABLE TO WHAT WE PERCEIVE PEOPLE THINK ABOUT US and many times our emotions and state of minds are affected BY OTHER PEOPLE RESPONSES AND REACTIONS. Human perception has become like a botton that the enemy can press to bring us into a low or high gear.
As rubbing two stones against each other produces fire, and as iron sharpens another iron , so will it be in the body of Christ. As we face each friction and pressure in Christlike manner, the character of Christ is being molded in our lives. We will learn how to accept one another in love, to forgive one another in Christ and to walk together in the midst of our differences for the glory of God.
Our Father's love for us is passionate. And He is molding us to become an army full of His passion and zeal. With our whole being yielded totally to Him alone. With nothing in between Him and us, not even our own family, friends, ministry, work and business or whatever else is important to us.
THE WAY TO VICTORY
I was reminded by the Lord about the story of Moses and how He has to trained him in the dessert for 40 years. Also , the story of Joseph and how the Lord trained him in the house of Potiphar, and even in prison
before they were both brought forward into public ministry.
Moses' good intention was taken against him by the people that he was trying to help and he has to run away to hide (I believe in dissapointment ) into the desert (Exodus 2:12-15).
Joseph was wrongly accused by the Potiphar's wife and thrown into prison and even when he has rightly interpreted the dreams of the baker and the butler of the king in prison, the butler forgot his promise to speak to the king about Joseph's case and he remained there for two more years. (Genesis 39:20; 40:23; 41:1,9)
In these two stories, what the enemy has meant for harm, the Lord turn around and used them as TOOLS to perfect the man. In the valley of betrayal, dissapointment, being mis-understood, forgotten and ignored.
Like the prophet Habakkuk, the Lord will force us to face these issues and questions squarely in the face and will guide us to the Cross of Christ to crucify them there and as we do, God will teach us that our dependency and our focus should be upon the Lord and nothing and no one else.
Whatever the result of what we do, whether pain or gain, whether glory or shame, whether sucess or failure. All must be brought to the cross of Christ to be crucified there so that only God and God alone will be lifted up at all times.
WHAT TO GUARD AGAINST
We must be careful to recognize that we don't miss the lessons that God is trying to teach us this season and got carried away by the emotions or loss sight of the goal and find ourselves focusing on the situations or the personalities.
WHAT TO EXPECT
I felt that many of these events or scenarios will take place from within meaning that it will be among loved ones, between brethren in Christ , in the midst of those that we treasure and love and are working with closely and even between us and God, and this will make the struggle doubly difficult.
WHAT TO DO
We must be careful that we don't allow the enemy to use our mouth to speak negative things against others out of our pain or hurt. And we have to constantly remind ourselves that our battle is not against flesh but
against principalities in high places and furthermore we must remember that the Heavenly Father is using these to mold us into the image of Christ who when wrongly accused did not try to defend Himself before His accuser but trust all things to the Father.
The Father does not wants us to ignore these feelings when they do resurface. But He desires that we face them honestly and bring these to Him so that He can wash us thoroughly and repeatedly from these and make us
wholly clean and pure before Him. Like David, let our cry to God be "Behold, You desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart." (Psalm 51:6)
JUST LIKE JESUS
Many of us are coming to a place in our walk where like Jesus we will find our good intention being mis-understood, our friends deserting us, even people that we trust wrongly accusing us and even God seemingly silent to our cry for help.
Every mature children of God will not be spare this battle. This is a path that we all have to walk through sooner or later. But praise God that when we come out at the other end of the journey, we will find ourselves
becoming like vessels prepared for noble use. (2 Timothy 2:20-21)
Like the prophet Isaiah, we will then cry out "For the Lord God helps me: therefore have I not been ashamed or comfounded. Therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be put to shame." (Isaiah
50:7- Amplified Bible)
PRAYER FOR COVERING
"Heavenly Father, as we prepare to walk through the storm that comes against us. We ask You to guard our hearts always. Help us to fix our eyes upon Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Break us and mold us and put us back together for when it is Your hands doing the work in our lives. We know that we will be safe. We entrust ourselves into Your loving hands and even when we don't feel or see Your hands, we will trust Your heart for we know You desire only the best for each of us. In Christ name we ask these things. Amen!"
PSALM 23:4, 6 (AMPLIFIED BIBLE)
Blessing to you all,
Sis. Ching Co
Upon the Rock
Ras Robinson
The wind has become a storm. But remember that your
house is built upon the Rock Who is My Son. Nothing can move Him and He
lives in your heart. Strong winds have begun to blow. Have I not
already warned and alerted you? It is I Who control storms. But I am
looking for those who will pray and see the storm diverted and
thwarted. It is My pleasure to respond when you pray. For in your
prayer and by My response, I show forth my power and glory once again.
Look unto Me and you will find safety and solace. I will not leave you
nor forsake you. You are My beloved one! I have sent the Prince of
Peace to you. Let Him walk up and down in your heart. Let Him shine
forth through you today!
Matthew 8:24 And behold, there arose a great storm in the sea, so that
the boat was covered with the waves; but He Himself was asleep.
Fullness in Christ Church
Stand Firm
Fred Kelly
Here I am in your midst says the Lord. I walk amongst you, and I place My
hand upon your shoulder as I walk by you says the Lord. Because I wish to
impart unto you, that which My Son gave unto those that walked with Him.
When He walked upon the face of this earth. For yea I say unto you this day,
I give you more than that which He gave unto them at that time says God. I
come unto a people that has yield unto Me and has offered themselves unto
Me, to know Me in a deeper and in a real way. And as you reach out unto Me as I
walk by you, I impart more of My Spirit. Because I declare I would have a
people of the earth that would stand firm and would stand strong in the face
of the enemy, because I have won the victory says the Lord. And I declare
that I will have a people that will walk in that victory that I have given
unto you. For I've given you the authority in My Son's name Jesus. And as
you stand firm in that authority and go forth in the presence of My Spirit
says God, the enemy will flee from you, he cannot resist. For have I not
said in My word, for as you draw nigh unto Me and resist the enemy he shall
flee from you?
My word is truth and My word brings victory, and I shall
bring victory in your life this day declares God. For those things that the
enemy has tried to put upon you and is pushing you to the left and the
right, I shall destroy those things says God, and I shall break the yoke which has
tried to cause you to fall to the ground, and I shall remove them and you
shall be lifted up, and you shall mount up as if on wings of eagles and you
shall soar on heights beyond that which you have known before, when you
grasp a hold of My hand, when I touch you says God. For when I come into
your midst, when I am there, when I am walking with you, I declare I would
have a people that would say, I love you Lord, I love you Lord and I worship
you, and as you come unto Me and worship this morning says the Lord, I say
unto you I love you. And I declare I will have a people that will be the
warring army that I will have upon the earth. That will bring forth the name
of the gospel to those that are round about. For I've declared I will have a
people that is strong, I will have a people that walk in the wisdom and the
knowledge that I have imparted unto you. Seek that which I offer unto you
this day says the Lord, grasp a hold of it and know that I am your God.
fredkelly@prodigy.net
And the Storm Blew In
Robert I Holmes
I remember, as a child of just nine years old, going fishing with my
father and grandfather. We were in a 15 foot aluminium skiff, out in the
harbour south of Melbourne, Victoria. We were miles out (or so it seemed
to my juvenile mind), and the sea was gently rocking the boat as we
fished. I caught a Port Jackson shark, a gum boot and some clams that day.
Then something strange happened, the sea went still, the water smoothed
over like glass and the wind ceased. An eerie silence settled on the
harbour, and darkness shrouded our view. I looked to grandfather to ask
him a question, but he had moved to the back of the boat and started the
engine. "What's wrong" I whispered, and as if to answer me, the thunder
roared.
Have you ever heard the saying "The calm before the storm"? A very real
calm occurs before a very real storm. The ensuing fight for shore, the
rising waves, the howling wind and the sense of terror I felt as we
drifted toward the rocks are with me still today. The storm blew in,
catching us unawares.
I remember the walk I took as a fourteen year old into the hills behind my
parents' house one day. We backed onto some bush land nearby and I had
climbed the hills to be alone and ponder life (as a teenager has a want to
do). I think there was something illicit in about my journey, but that is
not germane to the story. I sat in the browning grass on a stone
overlooking the city and that same calm enveloped me. I knew it by now,
and the darkening sky threatened to wash me off the rock. I ran for home,
only to be hammered by the wind and rain again.
Today as I sit writing this article, another storm is blowing in. This
storm spurred me to write. The Lord seemed to gather over Sydney this
afternoon, an awesome wave of cloud rolling across from the West. The sky
blue above me and the clouds bruised purple behind. Storms break suddenly
and there is always a quiet before they come. Here in this stillness there
is a lower air pressure, a gathering tension, and a powerful release
preparing to break. The storm whispers, "Expect your suddenlies".
Expect your suddenlies
The Bible is full of references to the suddenness of God. Jesus of course
warned us that he would come suddenly in the end times (Mark 13:35,36).
But we see an unfolding picture of God's sudden movements pictured in the
Old Testament too:
There are many present applications to this trait of God. God's visitation
can come suddenly, and unexpectedly! He comes suddenly, and without
warning. This action never comes with a gentle word, a soft touch or a
kind reminder. Isaiah tells us that, "in an instant, suddenly, you will be
visited by the LORD of hosts with thunder" (Isa. 29:5,6). Suddenlies are
always followed by storms! He does not come bereft of power - but comes
endowed with awesome wonder.
Has God promised you something, but seems to have taken His time in
bringing it to pass? "The former things I declared long ago, they went out
from my mouth and I made them known; then suddenly I did them and they
came to pass" (Isa, 48:3). The promises of God to you may seem a long way
off, when suddenly the Lord will perform his will toward you. Be prepared
for Him to answer.
Are you hearing the Lord speaking through His servants today, declaring
the way of the Lord? Are you listening to the messengers calling for
holiness on the highway? "I send my messenger to prepare the way before
me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple" (Mal.
3:1). God looks toward his house, toward his people, longing to visit and
come. He can promise to come, and seem a long time coming, but rest
assured he will come suddenly, and we must be prepared.
Are you seeking God? Are you pressing toward His with all your heart? Are
you waiting in the midst of stilled waters, and calm has beset your soul?
As Jesus entered the waters, "suddenly the heavens were opened to him and
he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him,"
(Matt. 3:16). The Spirit came suddenly - and the Lord was commissioned and
prepared for ministry.
Are you in the midst of trail and temptation? Are you withering in the
midst of the wilderness of soul, perishing in the searing heat of the dry
time? Is the devil at your door pounding you? "Then the devil left him,
and suddenly angels came and waited on him" (Matt. 4:11). God can come in
an instant to your aide and the devil will flee. The Lord sent angels
suddenly to Jesus to refresh and revive him.
Are you on a mountain seeking God? Are you frustrated by not hearing His
voice or His apparent lack of communication? Have you sought him in vain?
"While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them,
and from the cloud a voice thundered" (Matt. 17:5). Peter, James and John
were up the mountain visiting with Jesus when suddenly he became
transfigured and they saw an awesome revelation of the Christ they
loved.
To have God come
I think my favourite would have to be when "suddenly from heaven there
came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire
house where they were sitting." (Acts 2:2). The Lord had told his
disciples to tarry in Jerusalem and wait there until the Holy Spirit came
upon them with power. This storm broke in the upper room, and the world
has never been the same. The sound of wind filled the room, he touch of
fire scorched the earth of their hearts and the power of God filled them
to overflowing.
The pregnant anticipation was over. The quiet disappointment of loss gave
way to the thrilling hope of glory; the stillness of inaction was blind
sided by the activation of power; the soft prayer of intercession gave way
to demonstrative acts of God and the doldrums of religious life gave way
to energised New Testament church!
Are you ready for the storm? Are you ready for your suddenly? Our God, the
awesome God most High is a God of action. He comes suddenly to those who
put their hope and trust in Him. Be ready for your suddenly.
shm@storm-harvest.asn.au
Waves Of Salvation Are Coming In
Bill Yount
It was wave after wave after wave. These waves were bringing in the
lost. I mean lost, lost! These waves were bringing the lost up out
of the lowest places of the earth. It seemed as though the sea was
giving up her dead, as though these souls were coming up from the pit
itself. There were pornographic stars, mass murderers, witches, many
from occult and Eastern religions. Souls that had committed
horrendous indescribable crimes. It was as though Hell itself was
vomiting up these souls. Hell was letting go of them. The gates of
Hell were opening and these souls were being released! These last
waves had the power to bring up the very bottom of the ocean.
As these waves kept coming in, the waves of salvation began covering
more and more of the shore and coming upon the earth. Like a flood,
the Spirit was coming in, lifting His standard upon the earth itself
and multitudes were being saved as the waves of salvation continued to
literally cover the earth. As these waves increased in magnitude and
became humongous tidal waves, the Lord said, "Truly as I live, all the
earth shall be filled with the Glory of the Lord like the waters cover
the sea."
blowtheshofar@juno.com
Embracing New Dimensions
By: Undrai Fizer
To those who are embracing the new dimension of the Holy Spirit, this is
what you need to know. You cannot seek to maintain the same, human routine
and the apostolic dimension at the same time. The dimension of this
experience
will completely "swallow up" the realm of "normal" existence.
You cannot continue to live in the daily routine of life and human
perception. There cannot be a regime of the familiar life that will partner
with the unfamiliar and the mystery of the kingdom. One lifestyle will win
over the other.
There are those who have experienced a glimpse of the powers of the
kingdom of God that may try to "balance" out the two lives. But the only
thing it will produce is this bland taste in the mouth, a feeling of nausea
and frustration of living. Food will lose it's power to fill. It will only
be suited for taste. It's the same as the prophet who ate the "whole roll."
In
his mouth, it was sweet as honey. But in his stomach, it was bitter.
There has to be a decision to fully live out the kingdom life. The
kingdom life will totally control all aspects of your living. It is a
literal change of the way we live.
There are those who may be afraid to live out this prophetic dimension.
Certain fellowships or ministries that may have grown tired of how they "do
church," may change styles of administration and add the "new prophetic
titles" and activities, but still crave the soulish, humanistic way of
living
and religious approach to God.
This will only cause a greater frustration in the ministry. This change
must be more than an external embracing of the new apostolic order. It must
be a total metamorphosis of the identity of the person. The kingdom life
will totally annihilate the experience of the "outer court" believer.
The outer court and Holiest Place cannot exist together. The old way and
the new way cannot remain partners in this realm of the prophetic dimension.
There are people right now that feel this drawing in into the Father's
passion. They seek the life of God. They seek the heart of the Father. The
flesh and the Spirit cannot live together. One desires to master the other.
In order to impart and minister this life to the Body, we will have to
accept the experience of the Holy of Holies, the dimension of the Father.
There cannot be the human routine and the kingdom routine. The kingdom will
have to totally re-educate us in living. It will have to be the foundation
of how
we live in every category. Our lives must be reprogrammed by the Father's
kingdom dimension.
Our patience will be tried and our frustrations will grow. Why? Because
the apostolic mandate is not just in knowledge or position. It must be
experienced and felt. It must be the controller of your life.
This life must be lived. It cannot become a philosophy or spiritual
interpretation. It must be experienced. The fellowships must be ready to
receive this change in their lifestyles of worship and living. Some of us
have felt this frustration as well by being part of a congregation filled
with "two houses." The house of Saul and the house of David.
These two dimensions cannot remain together. There can be no conferences
on joining these two "lives." One will always have a place in the heart
because it was once a place of protection and provision. It was a place
where friendships were formed (Jonathan and David). However, the new house
is one of prophetic proportions, living by the voice of the Father and His
desire. It is the house of kingdom living and expression.
The two cannot remain in agreement, no matter how much we try. The
kingdom life totally seeks dominion over the human life. It seeks to create
new ways of living and embracing life. God seeks to literally take over the
human
life and it's ways.
We must accept this, if we are to be successful in establishing
fellowships and assisting ministries that have been birthed from this
prophetic government.
Are we really ready for something like this?
Are you?
Undrai Fizer
www.exploringthevision.org
The Cost of Discipleship
Bonita Chapman
There is more to being a disciple of Jesus Christ that just getting saved and someday going to heaven. Too many Christians already fall into that category. But if you choose to really become a disciple, a true learner, of Jesus, then you are committing yourself to a lifestyle that will intrude into every aspect of your life.
Luke 14:25-26 Now large crowds were going along with Him; and He turned and said to them, "If anyone comes to Me, and
does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot
be My disciple. (NAU)
What does Jesus mean be "hating father, mother," etc? Does he mean to despise them? No, of course not. The Greek word
used here for "hate" is "miseo", which really means "to love less". It is a comparative term. But there are some things that are
necessary in our relationships with others if we choose to truly be a disciple.
Luke 14:27 "Whoever does not carry his own cross and come after Me cannot be My disciple. (NAU)
The cross was an emblem of reproach and shame, but Jesus carried it for us. Others seeing it said, "He's a lawbreaker." If we
follow v. 25-26, sometimes others will consider us to be lawbreakers, too, by not giving the kind of attention to world
relationships that they think we should. We may have to bear the reproach of being misunderstood in order that Jesus may
have the first place in our lives. We have to deny ourselves the "comfort" of depending on earthly relationships, and give
ourselves completely to him, whether we are understood or not.
Luke 14:28-30 "For which one of you, when he wants to build a tower, does not first sit down and calculate the cost to see if
he has enough to complete it? "Otherwise, when he has laid a foundation and is not able to finish, all who observe it begin to
ridicule him, saying, "This man began to build and was not able to finish.' (NAU)
It is foolish to begin something without looking ahead to see if you'll be able to finish it properly. This applies to Christian living
as much as house-building. To truly be a disciple demands a full commitment: to Jesus, to His Word, and to the walk of faith.
Others will be watching to see if you stop your commitment to Him because the cost grew too great, or you just ran out of
"steam." When you turn back, or don't finish, the commitment you began, you suffer, but so does the Kingdom of God. Don't
commit yourself to anything unless you are willing to make that quality decision to stick with it. Always consider the cost.
Luke 14:31-33 "Or what king, when he sets out to meet another king in battle, will not first sit down and consider whether he is
strong enough with ten thousand {men} to encounter the one coming against him with twenty thousand? "Or else, while the
other is still far away, he sends a delegation and asks for terms of peace. "So then, none of you can be My disciple who does
not give up all his own possessions. (NAU)
Who is our enemy in battle? Satan, of course. Before you run out to try and "put him in his place", make sure you have the
strength to overcome him. The only way you can do it is if your strength is from and in Jesus Christ, and the authority He has
given you through His Name. But you have to make certain that you KNOW, FOR SURE, that you have that authority to
overcome him. The devil can smell doubt like a cat can smell fish on a hot day. If you go out to fight with any doubt, you will
either "come to terms" with him or lose outright. And we have been told to overcome Satan, not to come to terms with him.
You can't try to sign a peace treaty with the devil. He doesn't keep treaties. Make sure you have your armor fully on. If
you’re not sure what your armor is, then read Eph.6: 12-18 to find out.
John 15:18-21 "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before {it hated} you. "If you were of the world, the
world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world
hates you. "Remember the word that I said to you, "A slave is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted Me, they will also
persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. "But all these things they will do to you for My name's sake,
because they do not know the One who sent Me. (NAU)
What is the world's reaction to one who really lives the committed, discipled, Christian life? Basically, it is hatred. The people
of the world are spiritually blind, and cannot understand you. But they sense that your life is a threat to their way of doing
things, so they hate you. The world doesn't want God or His people interfering with their lifestyle. They will persecute you, call
you names, and some will decide that the best disciple is a dead disciple. If you do not want the world to speak ill of you, or if
you want the world's love and acceptance, then you are not a committed disciple of Jesus Christ. (See Acts 20:22-24)
Acts 20:22-24 "And now, behold, bound in spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God. (NAU)
Rom 6:8-14 Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we shall also live with Him, knowing that Christ, having been
raised from the dead, is never to die again; death no longer is master over Him. For the death that He died, He died to sin once
for all; but the life that He lives, He lives to God. Even so consider yourselves to be dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ
Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the members of
your body to sin {as} instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those alive from the dead, and your
members {as} instruments of righteousness to God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law but under
grace. (NAU)
The cost of discipleship to Jesus includes purity of life. This purity cannot be a half-hearted attempt. If you want to follow Jesus
completely, you MUST be willing to set aside sin, and to strive to live consistently in the purity and righteousness that have
been made possible through Jesus Christ. The key here is that IT IS POSSIBLE to walk free from sin. If it were not possible,
but God demanded it anyway, then He would be unjust. But He is a just God, and He has made it possible, through Jesus
Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, to do it. All that is really needed is the DESIRE to live in purity and
holiness, and the willingness to be obedient each moment.
Rom 14:13-15 Therefore let us not judge one another anymore, but rather determine this-- not to put an obstacle or a
stumbling block in a brother's way. I know and am convinced in the Lord Jesus that nothing is unclean in itself; but to him who
thinks anything to be unclean, to him it is unclean. For if because of food your brother is hurt, you are no longer walking
according to love. Do not destroy with your food him for whom Christ died. (NAU)
To be a true disciple of Jesus Christ also means that you are willing to set aside your "own rights" in order to benefit the body
of Christ. You will no longer have the right to do as you please, if doing so will hurt someone else. We must learn to prefer
others above ourselves. However, this does not mean that you can choose to be disobedient to something God has spoken to
you just because someone else does not agree with it.
Rom 12:10 {Be} devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; (NAU)
John 14:15,21,23 "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments. … "He who has My commandments and keeps
them is the one who loves Me; and he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and will disclose Myself
to him." … Jesus answered and said to him, "If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him,
and We will come to him and make Our abode with him. (NAU)
I Jn 2:3 By this we know that we have come to know Him, if we keep His commandments. (NAU)
The real cost of discipleship is obedience. We must be completely obedient to God. What we see in His Word, we have to
obey, and what He speaks to us by His Spirit (which will always be in line with the Word) we must also obey. It doesn't matter
if you feel like it or not, or whether it suits your plans. It doesn’t matter whether what He asks is small or large. It
doesn’t matter if others will appreciate it, or understand it, or agree with it. You obey because He is God, and He has
the #1 position in your life. He is worthy of that obedience. You must always realize that anything He asks of you is always for
the GOOD.
I Jn 5:3-4 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments; and His commandments are not burdensome. For
whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world -- our faith. (NAU)
Phil 4:13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. (NAU)
Even though it may appear to be impossible to live this kind of life, it isn't. The reason is because we DON'T DO IT ON OUR
OWN. We rely instead on Him for our strength, and use the faith that He has given to us, and with those, WE CAN DO IT.
He Himself gives us those things that are required to do the job He has given us to do and to live the life he has called us to live.
Every one of us has everything we need to live that real life of discipleship. We are all generously equipped. Each of us has
been given the faith needed. Each of us can walk in His strength, and in His joy, and in His peace, IF WE CHOOSE TO DO
SO. It is the CHOICE that is the question for each of us. If we choose to walk the walk of discipleship, the reward is worth it.
The immediate blessing of living that life of obedience and love and commitment is worth it. And eternal life with him, living in
the new Jerusalem, is also worth all the effort it takes.
Rev 22:1-5 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of
God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of
life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the
nations. No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants
will serve him. They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They
will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for
ever and ever. (NIV)
IT COULDN'T GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS!!
© Copyright Word Life Teaching Ministries Fellowship, Inc. All rights reserved
March 7, 2001
Federation of Ministers and Churches, Inc.
FMCI1@aol.com 
~~ Hollie L. Moody
hlmoody61@aol.com
Cebu City
Philippines
ching@gsilink.comMatthew 7:25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds
blew, and burst against that house; and yet it did not fall, for it had
been founded upon the rock.
http://www.fullnessonline.org
fullness@airmail.net
Kingpriest@aol.com
wordlife@digitalexp.com
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