Five-Fold Today - The Stronghold of the Father - Perfection, The Way of Life - The Path I Have Chosen For You - How Many? - Christ Our Bride - Kingdom, The Higher Way - I'm 'Out-of-Church' But... - The Text Plus the Holy Spirit
The Stronghold of the Father
Amanda Davis
I accompanied the Father over a well-traveled wooden draw bridge supported by large iron chain links. I looked up at the massive stone walls to see look-out stands high above the ground. Lining the insides of walls of the open-aired stronghold were stalls of strong, massive horses. Their coats were still glistening from a recent battle and they were feeding in preparation for the next encounter. I noticed that weapons of all kinds were lying against the walls. I saw weapons of old, like ball and chains, stone hurlers, as well as, bows and rifles. My curiosity caused me to lag behind Him so I scurried up to inquire about this warfare station we were in.
I asked the Father, "Why are these weapons lying about rather than being used?"
He responded, "These are weapons of the past." I asked why they were not used anymore. He answered, "These weapons are not being used at the present not because they are ineffective but because the enemy has learned ways to defend against them. These weapons have not been discarded but retired for a season."
I inquired about the teachings in place on Spiritual Warfare and wondered if this information was replacing what we already know or adding to it?
The Lord paused and with resolve in His voice said, "There are 3 things that are the foundation for Spiritual Warfare teaching. Other techniques can be added but in order for them to work most effectively these 3 things must be present."
Three things& Only 3 things? This seemed too simplistic. My curiosity was so intense that my spirit became so unsettled that I had to take a few moments to calm myself so that I could again see and hear His voice.
He continued, "First, My Children MUST be able to hear the Commander's voice. Many of My Children have fallen captive to the enemy simply because they could not hear the directives that would have shown them the way out. I hear many of My Children say that I do not talk to them. This is a lie from the pit of hell. As a parent instructs their children continually, so do I constantly guide and direct. We have reached the time where ALL My Children MUST denounce the lie from the enemy that tells them they can not hear My voice and believe that they CAN hear because My Sons death made the way for it to happen. To believe this lie discounts My Son's sacrifice making it null and void in their lives & simply because they do not believe. As a mother hen gathers her chicks to her so do I long for My Children to hearken unto My voice. This is the time for My Children to press past the doubts and press into My presence. The time is short&resolve to do it no matter what it takes."
"Secondly, they must learn the timing to embark on the instructions they receive from The Commander. From where The Commander sits He sees the battlefield from all fronts. He best knows when to move you out and He best knows what type of weapon to use in which type of battle. My Son was endowed with the power to embark on His ministry of warfare when He was on the Earth but began His ministry only when The Commander gave Him the timing. So, when you hear the Commander's instructions wait for the trumpet to ring out before setting out in battle."
"Thirdly, they must learn to STAND with the armor of God on. Counting the cost in the war of the spirit world is not measured by how many warriors there are but by how much faith is exhibited. My Children need to set their face like flint not being willing to give up one single inch to the enemy no matter what he throws in their way. This type of resolve serves a crushing blow to the enemy. It strikes fear and hopelessness into the camp of the enemy to see that My People will STAND no matter what. When all My Children are moving with this same resolve it will be a wall of unified faith that will withstand the Battle of Battles ahead."
There was urgency in The Father's voice like I have not heard in the past. I felt like there was something coming just around the bend that He wanted to make sure we were prepared for.
Lord,
John 2:4 - Jesus said to her, Woman, what do I have to do with you? My hour has not yet come.
Isa 50:7 - For the Lord Jehovah will help Me; therefore I have not been ashamed. On account of this I have set My face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.
Eph 6:13 - Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
1Co 16:13 - Watch! Stand fast in the faith! Be men! Be strong!
Amanda Davis
Perfection, The Way of Life
Jasminka Deihl
Compassion - the heart of Christ, love so overwhelming and so big ... there are no words to describe it. It is kind of love in which the "I" doesn't exist anymore, "me" and "mine" are altered and completely gone.. It is the very nature of Christ, the depth of His being ...
In my spirit there is a vision of One Day - the Day when we will be able to walk in it, where the talk will not be necessary anymore, where saturation and immersion will be so complete and so total that LOVE will walk on this earth again.
Except, it will not be limited and contained in one person only, but it will have many willing vessels that will allow God to change their hearts, to transform their beings from earthy to heavenly.
Their minds will not be their own, but being Christ minded, they will open up the wells of their hearts, so that the fountains of the Living Water would flow out of them, and merging together they would become the River of Life that will saturate the whole earth.
Allowing Holy Spirit to do the work within us will motivate our hearts to love. It will open our spiritual eyes and ears, and will place us into the sphere of supernatural - the heavenly realm, where our greatest desire will be to be like Jesus.
Then we will not desire gifts but The Giver Himself - the fullness of His Person, and the realization of our greatest calling will take place. Only then the understanding of The Call will be so complete, that nothing else would ever do to bring about this total fulfillment of our PURPOSE in the world.
Is our love for Christ strong enough to allow Him to truly live within us - to experience this constant heartbreak and travailing in intercession for the world? Is that love in us strong enough to reach out, even into the flames of fire itself - to pull out the worst of the worst?
For there is nothing else that could sway this humanity from the path of destruction they are on, but overwhelming and passionate love of God -the heart of Christ beating within our very own chest.
For we are to be the mirrored image of Christ Himself. They don't know God whom they have never met, and all they have to go by is what and who they see in us.
When Philip asked Jesus to show them the Father, He simply said in John 14:9 "... he that hath seen me hath seen the Father, and how sayest thou then, shew us the Father?"
Our Purpose and our Destiny is to walk in the Fullness of Christ. "Not me but Christ living in me" is the goal we should be after - the true state of mature sons of God.
Jesus said that He was in the Father and Father in Him, and His prayer for us was that we too would be one in them. John 17:23 "I in them and thou in me, that they may be made PERFECT in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and has loved them, as thou hast loved me."
Perfection is NOT an imitation! Perfection is the REAL Christianity. It is called MATURITY, the wholeness ... It is His holiness and the very breath of His Spirit that is giving us His kind of life. Where wisdom, knowledge and understanding of His ways and His thoughts has become essential part of our existence and we are CONTINUOUSLY being guided by Him alone.
Then and only then "WHAT WOULD JESUS DO" will not be just a fashion statement, something that we wear on the outside, but it will be our way of life. The expression of the Father will clothe us from the inside out, His Glory will be upon us, and there will be no need anymore to ask WHAT WOULD JESUS DO; but we will be doing His will in each and every instance that will come our way.
Then, with the assurance that is born out of our relationship with Him, we could say with the POWER of the overcomer; "I SAY ONLY WHAT I HEAR FATHER SAY, AND DO ONLY WHAT I SEE FATHER DOES ..."
Jasminka
jasna37757@yahoo.com
The Path I Have Chosen For You
Dorothea Montague
My beloved people...
I am calling you today, calling you to put aside all apathy and come before Me to receive your marching orders. Each of you has been aware that I have been moving in your lives and yet you have allowed the enemy to lull you to sleep. O, My people, the time is now for you to awake and seek Me with all your hearts. Consecrate all possible time in your prayer closets with Me that I might reveal unto you, through My Word, the path I have chosen for each of you.
I am recruiting an army, composed of My chosen ones, to go into battle for the hearts of men in these, the last days. Time is of an essence and you must not procrastinate. Just consider the fact that your testimony of the truth of salvation, to someone, could mean the difference between their spending eternity in heaven or in hell.
My people, know that I am with you every moment and you shall speak forth powerful words that you will know are not your own but rather My words being spoken through you.The words you speak shall pierce the hearts of those who hear and they shall begin to seek Me in earnest.
Beloved, as this new year progresses you shall perceive that I am doing a new thing. I am bringing into being the miraculous signs and wonders such as you have never imagined. Have I not said in My Word?...
You, My people, by faith, shall speak a thing into being as you pray for others, be it healing for their bodies, salvation for their souls, be it the supplying of their needs or be it the answer to any prayer request brought before you. In order to prepare yourselves to receive My power upon you, to minister in this way you will need to saturate yourselves with My Word to keep your faith built up and strong.
My precious children, I need each of you to become My vessels to speak forth the words I shall give you, to the multitudes and see countless numbers come unto Me. Some of you shall become great authors and write books which are breathed by Me that will impact the hearts of those who read them. Some of you will become great preachers and teachers who will take up the mantles of those who have gone before them. Some of you will have powerful words of prophecy that will touch the hearts of all who hear. Some of you will have the ministry of helps, without which the others could not minister and which will be of no lesser importance. I tell you, My people, do not strive for any of these ministries in your own strength or you will be destined to fall. Without My strength and power you can do nothing so I would ask you to allow Me to have all power over you and that you only move as I direct you. You shall see incredible results in your lives and in the lives of those for whom you pray. My Word which says: "Ask and you shall receive" shall surely come into being.
O My people, support your youth and believe in them as you witness my raising them up into powerful ministries for Me. I shall instill within them all knowledge that they will need to go forth in My name and minister for Me.
http://www.angelfire.com/in/hislove
How Many?
Olivia Long
The Lord's heart is sorely grieved over the walk of many of His own - those who profess to KNOW Him in all ways but yet are far from HIM. HE has wept many tears and His heart has been grieved by those who go forth 'In His Name' while seeking their own agendas. So many of us have
been shedding His tears and feeling His pain as we eagerly await His Glory to fill HIS Temples but find His Glory has been staid because of pride, self exaltation and vain self glorification. Although my heart weeps for those "Christian" eyes that are blinded and ears that are stopped, I weep even more for the Lord. HOW MUCH MORE must HIS heart weep for HIS own? HOW MUCH MORE must HE be hurt by the very ones calling Him "Lord, Lord?" HOW MUCH MORE must HE continue to watch those who profess they are His, follow their 'own' self seeking agendas and plans? HOW MUCH MORE until HE stands to HIS feet and says: "ENOUGH IS ENOUGH?"
He has waited so patiently for those of His own who are only partly following Him to "see" for He would have NONE be exempt from HIS GLORY that is descending upon His Faithful and true. He truly has much grace for us .... However, HE will NOT be mocked and HE will NOT be deprived of His Glory Fillling His True Temples and that time is fast upon us. Even in His final crying out to His own, HOW MANY still will not have eyes to see or ears to hear?
HOW MANY still will not see that they do not follow Him in every way? HOW MANY will 'miss' His Visitation, His Glory and all that He has for His true followers? HOW MANY will say "Why didn't I see what I was doing?" HOW MANY will say "Why didn't I see the false doctrines I was spewing forth that had come from within another or from within my own flesh? " HOW MANY will say "Why didn't I see how I have hurt His own Beloved, in the guise of using HIS Name, while trying to elevate myself within the brethren and even within myself?" HOW MANY will say "Why didn't I see that my talk was not a true walk?" HOW MANY will say "Why didn't I see His warnings that I needed to heed before it was too late? HOW MANY will say "Why didn't I see that my time was truly running out for the necessary changes to be made?" HOW MANY will say "Oh Lord, Why didn't I see?"
HE will NOT be robbed and His Glory IS set to descend upon 'His holy temples.' HOW MANY will receive HIS Glory? HOW MANY because of their own self righteousness will watch it pass them by? Beloved, it is time that we stop "Exalting OUR 'Stand' OVER the Blood of Jesus." It is time to stop "Exalting OUR difficulties OVER the Blood of Jesus." It is time to stop "Exalting OUR stubborn and our 'oh so correct theologies' OVER the Blood of Jesus." This is the time for His Glory to inhabit His faithful and true. HOW MANY, HOW MANY will the veil be lifted from their blind eyes and their deaf ears unstopped to hear? HOW MANY?
(A dear sister and a strong sister in the Lord, from S. Africa, had sent me these scriptures the other day which He gave her while her own heart was weeping for HIM and with HIM. Very clearly He is speaking to us, HOW MANY will hear?)
Mic 3:1-11. And I said, Hear, I pray you, O heads of Jacob, and ye princes of the house of Israel; Is it not for you to know judgment? Who hate the good, and love the evil; who pluck off their skin from off them, and their flesh from off their bones; Then shall they cry unto the LORD, but he will not hear them: he will even hide his face from them at that time, as they have behaved themselves ill in their doings. Thus saith the LORD concerning the prophets that make my people err, that bite with their teeth, and cry, Peace; and he that putteth not into their mouths, they even prepare war against him. Therefore night shall be unto you, that ye shall not have a vision; and it shall be dark unto you, that ye shall not divine; and the sun shall go down over the prophets, and the day shall be dark over them. Then shall the seers be ashamed, and the diviners confounded: yea, they shall all cover their lips; for there is no answer of God. But truly I am full of power by the spirit of the LORD, and of judgment, and of might, to declare unto Jacob his transgression, and to Israel his sin. Hear this, I pray you, ye heads of the house of Jacob, and princes of the house of Israel, that abhor judgment, and pervert all equity. The heads thereof judge for reward, and the priests thereof teach for hire, and the prophets thereof divine for money: yet will they lean upon the LORD, and say, Is not the LORD among us? none evil can come upon us.
Isa 63:1 Who is this that cometh from Edom, with dyed garments from Bozrah? this that is glorious in his apparel, travelling in the greatness of his strength? I that speak in righteousness, mighty to save. Isa 63:2 Wherefore art thou red in thine apparel, and thy garments like him that treadeth in the winefat? Isa 63:3 I have trodden the winepress alone; and of the people there was none with me: for I will tread them in mine anger, and trample them in my fury; and their blood shall be sprinkled upon my garments, and I will stain all my raiment.Isa 63:4 For the day of vengeance is in mine heart, and the year of my redeemed is come.
Isa 62:1-12. For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name. Thou shalt also be a crown of glory in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of thy God. Thou shalt no more be termed Forsaken; neither shall thy land any more be termed Desolate: but thou shalt be called Hephzibah, and thy land Beulah: for the LORD delighteth in thee, and thy land shall be married. I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence, And give him no rest, till he establish, and till he make Jerusalem a praise in the earth. The LORD hath sworn by his right hand, and by the arm of his strength, Surely I will no more give thy corn to be meat for thine enemies; and the sons of the stranger shall not drink thy wine, for the which thou hast laboured: But they that have gathered it shall eat it, and praise the LORD; and they that have brought it together shall drink it in the courts of my holiness. Go through, go through the gates; prepare ye the way of the people; cast up, cast up the highway; gather out the stones; lift up a standard for the people.
Behold, the LORD hath proclaimed unto the end of the world, Say ye to the daughter of Zion, Behold, thy salvation cometh; behold, his reward is with him, and his work before him.
And they shall call them, The holy people, The redeemed of the LORD: and thou shalt be called, Sought out, A city not forsaken.
faithbuildersministries@the-i.net
Christ Our Bride
Tim Woodall
We are dead to sin so that we MIGHT be married to another. We are all married TOGETHER as the bride. So for now we simply have a relationship. We are being courted if you like. But we have to respond. The initial offer comes from Christ and we have to give up other interests for it to begin. We are the ones being led. He is the head.
But if we don't show the continuing interest then he won't want to proceed. But if we haven't felt the attraction or love then it's doubtless whether we've really entered into the relationship. It would be akin to accepting the offer, but never getting to know the person. So yes its faith initially to accept, hope to continue and love which makes it work. The feeling of security comes from building a strong relationship.
I then thought about the fall where Eve was made from Adam and how we are the the bride made from Christ. God had two natural sons, Adam who was flesh and Christ who was Spirit. Adam's wife was made from his flesh and Christ's bride is to be made from his Spirit. Adam had a helper made who was meet for Him and we are to be a Helper meet for Christ. Isn't that wonderful?? Christ wants us to help Him and we are being made perfect for that purpose.
Then I thought about how Eve was decieved, but Adam wasn't. So the problem right there at the beginning was that his love for his wife was greater than his love for God. Adam would not have been decieved because once Eve had eaten of the forbidden fruit she would have died spiritually and he would have seen that change in her. And I guess that's why we so few follow Christ - their love for the flesh is greater than their realisation of both God's love and his judgment. Had Adam obeyed God, would not God have provided the best possible answer for Him?? No doubt his wife realising the desperateness of her situation would have been at her most alluring. She would also have appreciated his innocence her eyes being opened. We have here the challenge of following the Spirit not only because of the difficulty of keeping on the pathway, but the challenge of fully entering onto it.
Yet the love of Adam for his wife is more perfectly mirrored in Christ who died for us in obedience to his Father. If we think about the fruit of good and evil it was good for food, pleasant to be desired and offered wisdom. Yet right next to it was the tree of life. My guess is that the fruit on this tree did not look very palatable or luscious. Had it been then they would have wanted to eat it. Had their natures not been confused by the mixture of good and evil then they would have gone straightway to that tree and eaten of it instead of wasting time trying to hide from God. But I suspect they were then blinded in an altogether new way from that truth.
Christ is our tree of life and the secret of course is that the fruit of life did not look as palatable as the tree of good and evil, but had it been tasted they would have discovered it had a far superior flavour without any unpleasant bitterness about it. If we love the character of Christ he removes all fear of judgment.
If we understanmd the height, breadth and depth of God's love we will be filled with the fulness of Christ. His spirit is the love of God poured into our hearts and will contend with our spirits that we are children of God.
Love believes all things, love you all,
Tim
Kingdom, The Higher Way
By Ron McGatlin
There is a much higher way of life than most people have ever seriously considered. It is the way that leads to the fullness of glory. Have you ever thought about the need for truly holy living and what it would look like and be like? Many may have imagined the power of God and what it might look and feel like in their lives. But there must be purity (holiness) before power.
In the passing church emphasis age most have been satisfied with being forgiven sinners. In the emerging kingdom emphasis age the potential exist to enter into realms of spiritual holiness and purity that will lead to the fullness of the glory of God.
The higher way is the way of love and humility. There is no strife, no frustrating need nor greed in love and humility. There is no fear and no pride - no need of retaliation or resentment. The higher way is not the way of natural man it is the way of God.
The thoughts and ways of God must become the thoughts and ways within man in the kingdom of God. Nothing that defiles can enter into the New Jerusalem lifestyle of the kingdom of God. The natural ways of doing business in the church and in the world will not enter the new kingdom age. These kingdom ways are not religious principles nor doctrinal points to consider in Sunday school. They are practical reality of God living with man on earth and changing the way we do church and the way we do business in every area of life.
There is a much higher way required to walk in the manifest presence and glory of God. Jesus taught of the higher way in Mat 5 & 6. He spoke of such things as loving your enemies, going the extra mile, turning the other cheek, and to look with lust was adultery in the heart and to be angry with your brother was as murder in the heart. Paul wrote of the higher way in Romans 12.
Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, "Vengeance is Mine, I will repay," says the Lord.
Therefore "If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
These higher principles were seen in the past by many as unattainable in the world at the time. Indeed they are not within the realm of reality for man in the passing church age. However, in the emerging kingdom age the maturing of "Christ in us" is taking us to a new level. Only God is Holy and only God in man can live in the fullness of true love and humility.
Soaking in the manifest presence of God and partaking fully of the Spirit that raised Christ from the dead can saturate man to the point that the thoughts and ways of God fill and rule his life. The higher way of love and humility will come forth and the glory of God will fill the earth.
Lots of Love,
I'm 'Out-of-Church' But...
Terry Cooper
I am an out-of-church Christian. I have been a part of 1 or 2 fairly small gatherings of out-of-church Christians for about 15 months now, and I want to flag up a concern I have for all those who for one reason or another have ended up in this position.
There is no doubt that being out of the worst elements of church is very attractive to many, especially for those who have suffered at the hands of other churches. You are free to think, believe and act how you like, and no one can tell you otherwise - for me, this means not having to hide what I think on certain subjects, although I have found that wrong teaching still exists out-of-church...
The problem I want to highlight is that for all of us in principle, and in practice for some of us more than others, God wants all of us to be part of a body where we (a) are accountable to someone and (b) are open to input and if necessary on-course correction from others. In other words, every Christian should be linked to an elder or elders so that (a) and (b) can operate in their lives.
The reality is that many out-of-church Christians have had really negative experience at the hands of elders and/or church and the last thing they are looking for is the prospect of spiritual abuse from another elder who does not fit God's blueprint, and who has the position without the necessary spirituality that should go with it. None of us though would object to joining a church where we could guarantee the elders displayed the attributes of Jesus 99.9% (allowing for human failings).
However, the only thing that matters to me is what the Bible says - I don't care what I think or what anyone else thinks -and the Bible simply does not recognise as legitimate the concept of a Christian who is not part of a church led by elders, and who is therefore not shepherded by and subject to elders. The problem for out-of-church Christians like me is that, at the end of the day, no one has authority over us. This is the problem highlighted in Jude 12, where certain individuals are negatively referred to as "feeding" or more accurately "shepherding" i.e. eldering themselves. The danger for out-of-church Christians is that they are, in effect, their own elders.
Where this can especially be a problem is that some people out-of-church most definitely do need more than others some kind of ongoing correction, supervision or input - call it what you will - but no one is really in a position to ensure they get it, because there is no fatherly authority in place. The danger is that people can carry on as they are enjoying their freedom but still entrenched in problems of character or false teaching which never get tackled.
-Terry.
The Text Plus the Holy Spirit
A. W. Tozer
When you are trying to find out the condition of a church, do not just inquire whether it is evangelical. Ask whether it is an evangelical rationalistic church that says, "The text is enough," or whether it is a church that believes that the text plus the Holy Spirit is enough....
I would rather be part of a small group with inner knowledge than part of a vast group with only intellectual knowledge. In that great day of Christ's coming, all that will matter is whether or not I have been inwardly illuminated, inwardly regenerated, inwardly purified. Faith Beyond Reason, 30,32.
"I too, Lord, 'would rather be part of a small group with inner knowledge than part of a vast group with only intellectual knowledge.' Fill us with Your Spirit and Your presence today. Amen."
lmi@flash.net
February 13, 2004
Help us hear your voice. Help us push the doubt and lies the enemy has put on us away. Increase our faith to believe we CAN hear all that You have to say to us. Teach us to STAND with our face like flint in the full measure of faith You have given each of us. Prepare us for what lies ahead. In Jesus Name, AMEN (So Be It)John 10:16 - And I have other sheep who are not of this fold. I must also lead those, and they shall hear My voice, and there shall be one flock, one Shepherd.
Clouds of Incense
Amanda@davis7.com
You will also declare a thing, and it will be establised for you; so light will shine on your ways. (Job 22:28)
So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. (Rom. 10:17)
montagud@telus.netIsa 22:4, 5. Therefore said I, Look away from me; I will weep bitterly, labour not to comfort me, because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. For it is a day of trouble, and of treading down, and of perplexity by the Lord GOD of hosts in the valley of vision, breaking down the walls, and of crying to the mountains
t.woodall@ntlworld.comIsa 55:8-9: "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the LORD. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.
Rom 12:14-21: Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion.
Ron McGatlin
Coventry, UK.
terryanddebbie@thecooperfamily.freeserve.co.ukSo they come to you as people do, they sit before you as My people, and they hear your words, but they do not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their hearts pursue their own gain. --Ezekiel 33:31
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