Five-Fold Today - Be Ready For That Hour Of Trial - When Heaven Touches Earth - Water Deeply - The Cost of Sanctification - Consecrate Your Mouth - We Will Peck Back at the Pecking Order! - Seize the Day!

July 5, 2002

Be Ready For That Hour Of Trial

Stephen Hanson

[10] Since you have kept my command to endure patiently, I will also keep you from the hour of trial that is going to come upon the whole world to test those who live on the earth. Rev. 3:10

[23] Don't have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels. [24] And the Lord's servant must not quarrel; instead, he must be kind to everyone, able to teach, not resentful. 2 Tim. 2:23

[6] In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. [7] These have come so that your faith--of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire--may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed. I Peter 1:5

"The mountains will quake and the rivers will run dry. There is a time coming when those who are here on the earth will be having a time of great testing and tribulation. You do not know the day or the hour. You do not know the dates. It is not important to know but it is important to know that you will be taken care of. It is important to know that in the coming years you must prepare for that time. It is true that I will save my church from the great trial that is coming upon the earth. It is still important to note however, that you will not be delivered "out" of it, but that you will be delivered "through" it. "

"What do you think that the purpose is of going through the trials that you have been going through now? I tell you surely, that they have come partly to prepare you for that time. You have gone through all types of trials and testings at this time. Some of it has been to perfect your faith. Some of it has been to purge the dross from you. Most of it has been for these things. But I want you to be ready for that hour and that time. A wise person prepares for Winter. A wise person prepares for difficult times. But I'm also not asking you to have fear in your hearts about these things. Consider the churches that were mentioned in Revelation. Remember that some were not ready and they could not endure. To them that could endure, they were kept safe from that time of trial. That is all that I need to say at this moment. I do not want my church to be splitting hairs about theological issues. Some say that I AM coming for my church at this time, while others say, "No, it will be later." Just be ready and know that much of this now is in preparation for that time. "

"To those who are like the church of Philadelphia, endure as a faithful soldier. Be ready, in season and out of season. Know that these trials are preparing you for that time. Know that I will not take you "out" of that time, but "through it." Be ready, I say, and do not fear. And do not get caught-up in senseless arguments about when these things will happen. But also do not delude yourselves about thinking that you will be taken out of everything that is coming upon this earth."

Stephen Hanson

http://www.angelfire.com/in/HisTruth
inhistruthprophet@earthlink

When Heaven Touches Earth

Paul Cain

The coming move of God is going to be a lot different than I ever thought—and I’m sure it will be different than you thought, too. The Lord is going to move in a completely new way, unlike anything we have ever seen before. It is good to look for precedents in Scripture and in church history, but many of the things that God will do in the days ahead are truly unprecedented. In fact, God has set somewhat of a precedent for doing unprecedented things. There never had been a precedent for a burning bush, but He used a burning bush as a powerful sign (see Exodus 3). Moses didn’t have any doctrinal or theological foundation to prepare him for his encounter with this burning bush. God simply put His glory on a bush that burned without being consumed, and Moses turned aside to see.

Like the burning bush, the church will again shine with the glory of the Lord. Though the bush was merely an inanimate plant impregnated with God’s glory, the church will be a living body that is glorious beyond description. Like the burning bush, we will be a sign that people will turn aside to see.

The holy radiation of God will drive out all kinds of illnesses in these last days, and it will be the number one cure for cancers, AIDS and all kinds of communicable diseases. God will once more do things that are unprecedented. He will do things that are different from anything He has ever done before.

In the day of God’s unprecedented acts, we need to be careful about saying, "Well, that’s not in the Bible." No one had ever experienced a burning bush prior to Exodus 3. Paul had no Bible verse directing him to go and stay in a certain house, nor did Ananias have a Scripture giving him revelation of the geographic location, street number or name of the man he was going to see. Ananias had no precedent to follow that would show him what had caused Paul’ s blindness or what God would do if he would go and lay hands on Paul. Although Moses, Paul and Ananias may have lacked scriptural precedents for how God was choosing to move in their lives, they had the witness of the power of the Holy Spirit and they obeyed when God called to them.

I do not know all the details of what God plans to do in coming days, but surely one of the key aspects is found in Isaiah 60:1-3: "Arise, shine; for your light has come, And the glory of the LORD has risen upon you. "For behold, darkness will cover the earth, And deep darkness the peoples; But the LORD will rise upon you, And His glory will appear upon you. "And nations will come to your light, And kings to the brightness of your rising" (Isaiah 60:1-3).

Just as Jesus stood on the Mount of Transfiguration and his three disciples saw Him shine (Matthew 17:1-8), God is going to have a whole company of people who are going to shine. The world will see the light, and all the nations will come. It is going to be the light of "a city set on a hill" that "cannot be hidden" (Matthew 5:14). It is time for the body of Christ to arise and let her light shine forth for the world to see.

A New Breed of Leaders

I see a whole new leadership and a whole new move of God for these last days. The Lord is going to speak mightily again, and He is going to cause heaven to touch the earth. It is not enough for the world to hear our teachings, our prophecies, or our expositions of Scripture if the heavens are not stirred to action. Multitudes of men and women might thrill at the words they hear, but it matters little if there is not a chain reaction of kingdom life on the earth.

The world is not so much questioning the reality of life after death, but rather it is watching us to see if we truly have a new kind of life after we receive Christ. Our inability to evangelize the world has been more the result of the world’s skepticism about "life after life" than about life after death. Are we really saved? Do we really have new life? When we do, a heavenly chain reaction will follow. Life will beget life after its own kind (see Genesis 1:24).

I believe an awesome, reverential fear and respect is coming back to the leadership of the church. Losing her self-imposed restrictions and her imprisonment to human traditions, the church is going to regain her power and emerge shining brighter than the noonday sun. We are going to be called upon by heads of state and kings of nations. The Lord is going to give heaven to earth so that we can evangelize the world. In the condition we are now in, the church would never be able to fully win the world. But, thank God, she is about to change. In order for the changes to occur, we, like Ezekiel, must "eat this scroll" that contains the Word of the Lord (Ezekiel 3:1).

What does it mean to eat the scroll? It means that we have to digest His message to the point where we become the message. We will never be able to reach the world unless that happens. God gave John the Beloved similar instructions about eating a little book (Revelation 10:8-11) and, like Ezekiel, John was able to prophesy in a way that caused a mighty chain reaction.

When we eat the scroll and get His Word in us so that it becomes a part of us, the world will behold the glory of the Father. The nations will respond to this kind of word—not because God’s servants are listed in Who’s Who, or because they raise the greatest offerings, or build the greatest buildings. Rather, people will respond because they know that ordinary men cannot speak with such authority unless the power of God is in them.

True Seed Faith

One thing I am sure God will challenge is the idea of "seed money." God makes it very clear in His Word that His people are to be the seed that is planted, not the "almighty dollar." He distinctly shows us that we are to be the seed that is planted, and we are to be fruitful in the earth.

Out of love for the Master they serve, God’s true disciples are those who forsake everything (Luke 14:26). The teaching that one can grow financially prosperous by giving more to the church is a perversion of truth. We cannot be His disciples until all we have, all we are, and all we ever hope to be has been laid before Him. Only then can He do with us and through us all that He wants to do. "If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me" (Luke 9:23).

This is what true discipleship is all about—the sacrificial life. The Lord wants the seed to be planted so that it can produce grain, but it must first be bruised and crushed before it can be living bread for the hungry (see John 12:24). Although the "seed money" principle may have filled the coffers of the church, it has left the ministry and the people sterile. There is no birthing. The womb is closed. Yet God is going to change all this. He is going to plant the right seed in the right soil, and life is going to come forth.

In the book of Acts, Peter and John were on their way into the temple when they saw a lame man lying at the gate. Fixing his gaze upon the man, Peter said, "Look at us!...I do not possess silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you: In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene—walk!" (Acts 3:4-6). Then Peter took him by the right hand and lifted him up. Immediately the man ’s feet and ankle bones received strength, and he began walking and leaping and praising God. This is what the world is waiting to see.

The first thing Peter told the lame man was, "Look at us!" However, the world is not presently looking at the church. In fact, most unbelievers pay no attention to us at all. What is going to impress the world is the power and the character of God in our lives. They will take note when we are able to say, "What I do have I give to you"—and then do mighty miracles in Jesus’ name. That kind of authority is going to be restored to the church.

A Heavenly Chain Reaction

There is going to be a release of power evangelism that will meet the needs of mankind. This will cause a chain reaction throughout the world. God is going to have a mighty army that goes into every place on the face of the earth, sharing this glorious gospel. The gospel of the kingdom is not just His Word—it is also His power. It is always associated with healing the sick and doing the works of God. This is the gospel that Jesus proclaimed and demonstrated, and He is about to do it again.

When heaven touches the earth, we won’t have to twist any arms to get people saved. Jesus is the Lord of the harvest, and He has given us the opportunity to proclaim His life-changing kingdom. We won’t have to strive in our own energy. We won’t have to go out and evangelize in the energy of the flesh, knocking on doors in hopes that someone will get saved. As never before, lost people will come to us.

In this spiritual chain reaction of the last days, we are going to know the times, understand what God is saying, and then go do something about it. We will have life to pass on to those who will hear, and they will receive life to pass on to others. When heaven touches earth, the world will know that we serve an awesome, life-giving God. His glory will be seen throughout the whole earth!

Paul Cain
Morningstar Ministries
http://www.eaglestar.org

Water Deeply

Ras Robinson

You have rivers of water at your disposal. There is no shortage. I am in charge of the watershed. All my reservoirs and rivers are full and overflowing. The channels are open. Conduits are limitless. You have access to all my water and you will never be able to use all of it. The supply that you need is yours for the taking. Today, in light of the need for watering deeply, I have a warning for you. The heat of summer will increase. It is inevitable. With all the good that is coming your way there is also the heating up that you can expect. Do not allow yourself to become dry. I counsel you to deepen your roots in the water of my Spirit. Anchor yourself firmly in me. Soon the sizzling days of the season will be upon you. No dehydration will come upon you if you water deeply on a frequent and regular basis. I want you to be strong when things begin to heat up. Water deeply.

Psalm 1:3 “And he will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season, and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does, he prospers.”

Psalm 42:7 “Deep calls to deep at the sound of Thy waterfalls; all Thy breakers and Thy waves have rolled over me.”

fullness@airmail.net

The Cost of Sanctification

Oswald Chambers

May the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely 1 Thessalonians 5:23

When we pray, asking God to sanctify us, are we prepared to measure up to what that really means? We take the word sanctification much too lightly. Are we prepared to pay the cost of sanctification? The cost will be a deep restriction of all our earthly concerns, and an extensive cultivation of all our godly concerns. Sanctification means to be intensely focused on God’s point of view. It means to secure and to keep all the strength of our body, soul, and spirit for God’s purpose alone. Are we really prepared for God to perform in us everything for which He separated us? And after He has done His work, are we then prepared to separate ourselves to God just as Jesus did? "For their sakes I sanctify Myself . . ." ( John 17:19 ). The reason some of us have not entered into the experience of sanctification is that we have not realized the meaning of sanctification from God’s perspective. Sanctification means being made one with Jesus so that the nature that controlled Him will control us. Are we really prepared for what that will cost? It will cost absolutely everything in us which is not of God.

Are we prepared to be caught up into the full meaning of Paul’s prayer in this verse? Are we prepared to say, "Lord, make me, a sinner saved by grace, as holy as You can"? Jesus prayed that we might be one with Him, just as He is one with the Father (see John 17:21-23 ). The resounding evidence of the Holy Spirit in a person’s life is the unmistakable family likeness to Jesus Christ, and the freedom from everything which is not like Him. Are we prepared to set ourselves apart for the Holy Spirit’s work in us?

From: My Utmost for His Highest

Oswald Chambers

http://www.gospelcom.net

Consecrate Your Mouth

Teresa Seputis

Consecrate your mouth before Me, and consecrate your heart before Me. I am looking for men and women to be set aside for My purposes, men and women who will speak My words and men and women who will be holy before Me. I must have your heart and I must have your mouth. You cannot proclaim My words of life and then speak death through gossip and slander. You cannot proclaim My words of faith and authority and then speak words of fear and doubt and unbelief. You cannot speak My words of blessing and then complain and murmur.

I must have Lordship over what you speak and over what you say. Therefore, I am asking you to consecrate your mouth unto Me. Let that which proceeds out of your mouth be holy. Let it be at My command and at My direction. I am asking you to give Me control over what you say. I am asking you to be set apart for My purposes and I am asking that your communication be holy, blameless and without fault.

I am asking that you stop defending yourself and allow Me to defend you. Did you not see how I defended Moses when Korah rose up against him? Did you not see how I defended Moses when Aaron and Mariam rose up to murmur and complain against him? Can you not trust Me to defend you? I am asking you to consecrate your heart before Me and I am asking you to consecrate your mouth before Me.

I desire to put My words into your mouth. I am releasing words of evangelism in many mouths. I am releasing words of life in many mouths I am releasing words of encouragement and words of wisdom and words of strengthening in many mouths. I am releasing supernatural revelation and words of prophecy into many mouths. Child of Mine, consecrate your mouth unto Me that I might put My words into it. Just as I will not put My holiness into unclean vessels and just as I will not pour My glory into dirty vessels, neither will I will not put My words into unconsecrated mouths. So consecrate your mouth unto Me that I may use it for My glory.

teresa@godspeak.org

We Will Peck Back at the Pecking Order!

Terri Derocher

Today we are joined hand to hand and arm to arm as we are sent into this battle of the Lord's together. You are my brother and sister in this body of Christ. Nothing will defeat us because of Christ in us --the hope of glory. When you discover my weakness, you will cover me with your protection and when I see your nakedness I will turn away and encourage those around me to lower their eyes and together we will pray for you to be covered and restored to wholeness in the body of Christ.

When we encounter one who is not yet a member of the body of Christ, we will display the glory and mercy of Jesus and then as this new one is led to this saving knowledge we will open our hands to let this one also in.

In the past----- the individual man or woman always tried to rise to the top as cream on the milk. The flesh squirmed and quivered and jumped and jostled as in a pack of hungry lions....then it was only by physical strength or beauty or keen prowess that an extra serving of meat was attained.....

NO LONGER will this be....Today we will prefer one another... over ourselves..... and we will Peck back at the pecking order! We will protect one another. We will intercede for one another. We will guard each others backs! I proclaim in the name of Jesus Christ...." We will be a strong rope, a strong chain of Holy Spirit Power that cannot be broken.... because the weakest link we be reinforced with power from Jesus Christ! Together --hand in hand--the Lord will send us into the pits of darkness -those pits of sickness and madness and violence and poverty and racism---We will go into those pits to bring those held in bondage OUT!!! The Lord will bring deliverance to the captives through the body of Christ. Then.......We will bathe them with mercy. We will soak them with truth. We will wrap robes of righteousness around their scar-inflicted backs. We rub their feet with hope. We will comb out their snarled hair with the hands of loving mothers and fathers. We will give the mother and father's blessings to the spiritual orphans. We will disciple the youth. Then .....when these are strong enough to stand...we will open our arms and they will join with us too....and add new strength and knowledge to us. They will be filled with the love of Jesus Christ and as those who remember so freshly what the prison cell was like ...they will lead us into new battle grounds and new prisons to set the captives free.

God Bless You in the Name of Jesus Christ---Terri Derocher

Forwarded by Breadoflife@pknet.com

"Carpe Diem" Seize the Day!

Patrick McBane

Ushering in The Day of the Lord!

The other day I was prompted by the Lord with a serious question, "If today was your last day on earth and you knew it, how would you live?" Answering a question like this reveals a lot about our eternal perspective and in some ways our eternal reward.

With the overwhelming changes that are taking place in the lives of people all over the world our perspectives are constantly being challenged. The Lord wants to take the spirit of urgency and transform it into a spirit of expectancy. Urgency is created through disobedience. Expectancy is created through obedience and hope. He is taking what was and making it - 'what is and is to come'. The Lord is also taking the casual familiarity we've had with Him and setting things in purity and righteousness.

When Peter spoke to the church about the coming Day of the Lord (2 Peter 3:2), part of his instruction was "to be mindful" of the words spoken. If there's one thing we've had enough of recently, it is words spoken and given across the body. When the mind is full of the truth and purpose of our Lord, then we cannot help but eventually respond according to that word. Conversely the mind filled with a substitute or counterfeit is void of the purpose and presence of God. Therefore, the believer is set in two very opposing positions, one of ever listening but never hearing and other of a reservoir full of living water ready to burst forth in Kingdom transformation.

A new day is dawning for the body of Christ. It is a day filled with purpose, promise, challenge and change. It is a day that will require a no holes barred, all or nothing abandonment before the Lord. It is a day of unprecedented fulfillment that will bring forth the harvest and return of Jesus Christ, the bridegroom and Coming King. As in every new thing that the Lord places in front of us it will require faith. The declaration from God's word must resound over and over in our spirits as we wait and respond to such a time as this. "This is the Day that the Lord has made, Let us rejoice and be glad in it." Ps.118:24

MCBANEP@PIOS.com

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