I am aware of prophecies about war in Korea. War in Iran. War between Hezbollah and Israel. Iraq and Afghanistan. War along our southern border. And even a cultural civil war in our own country. They can be disturbing stuff.
There is much being said and written about the collapse of currencies. The collapse of all kinds of systems and supports. Economic collapse. The signposts are everywhere.
Yet in the middle of all this prophetic bad news I have a strange simple peace. Not ignorance. I am not unaware. Just at peace.
I see the hand of God touching and healing people in fear with peace. Everywhere I look.
I suggest there is a prophetic corollary: where sin (evil and fear) abounds, does grace abound much the more.
The enemy is coming in; but like a flood God is raising up His Banner over us declaring Peace.
Jesus and the Angels in visitation always began by confronting disturbing situations by saying Fear Not and Peace be with you. Always.
Why would this time be any different? With all the fear and trepidation going on, should we consider it strange that the people of God would find themselves at peace in the Spirit? I wonder if that is the supernatural theme of this time. That in spite of EVERYTHING going on, People of Faith, and in particular, those filled with the Holy Spirit are finding peace.
I say prophetically, "enter into your rest, let the peace of God dwell richly among you, Fear Not, for I am with you and will never leave nor forsake you". That promise is better today than it was two years ago. We have now experienced this truth.
What will come? I don't know. The word says that God does nothing but He tells his servants the Prophets first. I have to admit that I see nothing on the near horizon. Maybe I'm blinded. But God is loving on us all, furnishing us supernatural peace in the middle of this Storm.
That may be equipping for days to come, it may be preparation, receive it in Jesus Name.
It's a Gift from GOD your Father.
Saturday, November 27, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The Greatest Sermon you will EVER PREACH
Life is hard. Change is hard to take. Consequences are unwanted. All are painful. Yet they are there. They happen. They come. How we respond to them is the real issue.
We are made great or destroyed by our response to the most painful difficulties in our lives. Think of the people you admire the most. Those who in spite of very hard situations, very difficult circumstances, very discouraging times, persevered and became an icon for the generations that followed. You know many stories of people who did exactly this. You also have stories of many who when hard times and pressures came, folded. Gave up. Failed. Things in themselves are neither good nor bad in and of ourselves, but our deciding what they are that defeats us.
I write this with a heavy heart. I have a friend facing very difficult times. I would take it from him if I could, but I can't. He will face this himself and for the most part alone. He will soon discover who his true friends are. They will be far fewer than he might imagine.
Yet in all the fog of the situation he is writing the greatest sermon of his life. The most powerful legacy for his children and grandchildren will ever know. He is going to leave a pattern that will be one his seed will follow for generations to come. How he deals with this difficulty will pattern the future for many.
His tenacity in leaning on the Lord. His faith. His trust. His fearlessness. His reliance on the Grace of God. His willingness to confront his fears and stand strong. He has always been one this kind of man, it's just been amplified, increased in this time of testing.
Ten years from now, while he is still in his strength (he would then be about my age today) his time of trouble will be done. He will be restored. He will be strong.....IF he does not fail.
AND he will be one who in spite of the worst things that can possibly happen will have demonstrated how God NEVER EVER leaves nor forsakes us. When he pulls his grandchildren up on his knee, they will see him as one who demonstrated nobility and honor in times of dishonor and ignobility. The shame will have been washed away. Gone.
To get there will require perseverance. Faith. The due season will come. It will be a better time. It will result in a latter house being greater than the former.
Of course, it is possible that trust in the arm of flesh can derail all the purposes of God in this. OH, YES, these are the purposes of God. I have never known a time when God is more glorified than when in the face of persecution and even death his saints sing praises and smile as they light the fire beneath their feet. Who worship God when the Lions and Tigers are loosed into the arena of Life to consume them.
There are times when it is hard, but we must face the facts that the Powers and Principalities hate us. That they will arrest us. That they will put us in jail. That they will kill us even. Why do we think we will escape? Paul, the Great Apostle did not, yet, we see him and his letters written from jail as powerful examples for facing incredible difficulty.
Paul said to his followers, imitate me as I imitate Christ.
My friend, do the same. Do that which you would have all who love and admire you imitate.
This is the greatest sermon you will ever preach.
We are made great or destroyed by our response to the most painful difficulties in our lives. Think of the people you admire the most. Those who in spite of very hard situations, very difficult circumstances, very discouraging times, persevered and became an icon for the generations that followed. You know many stories of people who did exactly this. You also have stories of many who when hard times and pressures came, folded. Gave up. Failed. Things in themselves are neither good nor bad in and of ourselves, but our deciding what they are that defeats us.
I write this with a heavy heart. I have a friend facing very difficult times. I would take it from him if I could, but I can't. He will face this himself and for the most part alone. He will soon discover who his true friends are. They will be far fewer than he might imagine.
Yet in all the fog of the situation he is writing the greatest sermon of his life. The most powerful legacy for his children and grandchildren will ever know. He is going to leave a pattern that will be one his seed will follow for generations to come. How he deals with this difficulty will pattern the future for many.
His tenacity in leaning on the Lord. His faith. His trust. His fearlessness. His reliance on the Grace of God. His willingness to confront his fears and stand strong. He has always been one this kind of man, it's just been amplified, increased in this time of testing.
Ten years from now, while he is still in his strength (he would then be about my age today) his time of trouble will be done. He will be restored. He will be strong.....IF he does not fail.
AND he will be one who in spite of the worst things that can possibly happen will have demonstrated how God NEVER EVER leaves nor forsakes us. When he pulls his grandchildren up on his knee, they will see him as one who demonstrated nobility and honor in times of dishonor and ignobility. The shame will have been washed away. Gone.
To get there will require perseverance. Faith. The due season will come. It will be a better time. It will result in a latter house being greater than the former.
Of course, it is possible that trust in the arm of flesh can derail all the purposes of God in this. OH, YES, these are the purposes of God. I have never known a time when God is more glorified than when in the face of persecution and even death his saints sing praises and smile as they light the fire beneath their feet. Who worship God when the Lions and Tigers are loosed into the arena of Life to consume them.
There are times when it is hard, but we must face the facts that the Powers and Principalities hate us. That they will arrest us. That they will put us in jail. That they will kill us even. Why do we think we will escape? Paul, the Great Apostle did not, yet, we see him and his letters written from jail as powerful examples for facing incredible difficulty.
The following excerpt is taken from The International Standard Bible Encyclopedia, First Edition, article "Paul the Apostle":
"When Paul writes again to Timothy he has had a winter in prison, and has suffered greatly from the cold and does not wish to spend another winter in the Mamertine (probably) prison (2Timothy 4:13, 21). We do not know what the charges now are. They may have been connected with the burning of Rome. There were plenty of informers eager to win favor with Nero. Proof was not now necessary. Christianity is no longer a religion under the shelter of Judaism. It is now a crime to be a Christian. It is dangerous to be seen with Paul now, and he feels the desertion keenly (2Timothy 1:15ff; 4:10). Only Luke, the beloved physician, is with Paul (2Timothy 4:11), and such faithful ones as live in Rome still in hiding (2Timothy 4:21).
"Paul hopes that Timothy may come and bring Mark also (2Timothy 4:11). Apparently Timothy did come and was put into prison (Hebrews 13:23). Paul is not afraid. He knows that he will die. He has escaped the mouth of the lion (2Timothy 4:17), but he will die (2Timothy 4:18). The Lord Jesus stood by him, perhaps in visible presence (2Timothy 4:17). The tradition is, for now Paul fails us, that Paul, as a Roman citizen, was beheaded on the Ostian Road just outside of Rome. Nero died June, 68 A.D., so that Paul was executed before that date, perhaps in the late spring of that year (or 67). Perhaps Luke and Timothy were with him. It is fitting, as Findlay suggests, to let Paul's words in 2Timothy 4:6-8 serve for his own epitaph. He was ready to go to be with Jesus, as he had long wished to be (Philippians 1:23)"
Paul said to his followers, imitate me as I imitate Christ.
My friend, do the same. Do that which you would have all who love and admire you imitate.
This is the greatest sermon you will ever preach.
Monday, November 22, 2010
A story I heard from Pastor Butch Deer - A Rabinnic Legend
A Rabbinic Legend speaks of the time before Abram (Abraham) was called out of UR.
The Legend:
It wasn't long before Abram, his father Terah and family (including Lot) left Ur of the Chaldees to Haran. Genesis 12:6-7
I love the story, even if it doesn't have any Biblical Merit.
The Legend:
Abram's father was a carver of wooden Idols. Abram wondered about all this and one day heard a word from the Lord.
His father was about to go away for a day. While he was gone Abram took a hammer and busted up every Idol in the shop that was for sale and under construction. There was one Idol in the corner he did not mess with at all. Instead he placed the hammer in that undamaged Idol's hand.
When his father returned he was livid. What did you do? Why did you destroy all these Idols?
Abram said, "But Father, that Idol over there did this." His Father said, "That's not possible, they are just dumb inanimate statues. They have no power to do this".
Abram threw up his hands and said, "That's what I have been trying to tell you".
It wasn't long before Abram, his father Terah and family (including Lot) left Ur of the Chaldees to Haran. Genesis 12:6-7
I love the story, even if it doesn't have any Biblical Merit.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
Starting Over - A Post I read for a friend today
Today's Prayer
Dear God, I thank you for the spiritual possessions you have given me through the experiences of life. If it were not for the trials I have come through; the things I have experienced, done, and seen; the manifestations of your grace in my life, I would not be as spiritually rich as I am. I pray that I will be able to share my testimonies with others; that my life and my words would help to draw people to you; that I will be able to make a positive difference in someone's life because of what you have allowed me to experience and to share with others. Thank you for the lessons I have learned. Most of all, thank you for being there with me through it all and for carrying me so much of the way. In Jesus' name I pray, amen.
Starting Over
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
11-20-2010
The brother in humble circumstances ought to take pride in his high position. - James 1:9
Do you find yourself in humble circumstances? If so, James tells us that we are to take pride in this "high" position. These two things would seem to be an oxymoron. Most of us would not consider humble circumstances a high position. Successful business tells us that being on top means being wealthy, attaining favor and status, or having power to influence. However, Jesus influenced not from power, but from weakness.
J.C. Penney is a name synonymous with department store. He first launched his chain of "The Golden Rule" stores in 1907. In 1910 his first wife died. Three years later, he incorporated as the J.C. Penney company. In 1923 his second wife died giving birth to his son. In 1929 the stock market crashed and he lost $40 million.
By 1932, he had to sell out to satisfy...creditors. This left [Penney] virtually broke. ...Crushed in spirit from his loss and his health suddenly failing, Penney wound up in a Battle Creek, Michigan sanitarium. One morning he heard the distant singing of employees who gathered to start the day with God: Be not dismayed, whate'er betide, God will take care of you.... Penney followed the music to its source and slipped into a back row. He left a short time later a changed man, his health and spirit renewed, and ready to start the long climb back at age fifty-six.
By 1951 there was a J.C. Penney store in every state, and for the first time sales surpassed $1 billion a year. [John Woodbridge, ed., More Than Conquerors (Chicago, Illinois: Moody Press, 1992), 340-343.]
The success of J.C. Penney can be traced to God's mercy in his life to bring him out of his humble circumstance. Do you find yourself in a humble circumstance? God is the only one who can help you see your humble circumstance from His viewpoint-a high position. It is a high position because of what God is going to teach you in this place. He does not intend you to stay there; it is merely a stopping place to learn some important things you would not learn otherwise. Press into God and trust Him for the outcome to your circumstances.Saturday, November 20, 2010
Pride and a Fall
I heard this yesterday:
We have had a fall in this country. The church has had a fall. Business has had a fall. Real estate has had a fall. People's work has had a fall. The economy has had a fall.
If there has been a fall, destruction of what we knew, then, what is the reason if this scripture is true (it is of course).
If there was a fall, there was pride before hand. There was haughtiness.
Pride in being the most powerful country in the world. Haughtiness in pushing our economic weight around. A sense that if we could put a man on the moon we could do anything. I have news for you, the USA couldn't put a man on the moon right now.
What is the solution. The church has become a ministry machine. It no longer works. As a result it's ineffective at dealing with the pride and arrogance in society.
IF we as a nation, church, people won't humble ourselves, God will have to humble us. He will have to deal with us. He will have to show us our position as he did with Nebuchadnezzar.
Once true humility is effected, pride crushed, haughtiness displaced, then we will find ourselves emerging from our great fall.
Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord or be humbled.
Pride goeth before destruction, And a haughty spirit before a fall. Proverbs 16:18Or as it is often quoted: Pride goeth before a fall.
We have had a fall in this country. The church has had a fall. Business has had a fall. Real estate has had a fall. People's work has had a fall. The economy has had a fall.
If there has been a fall, destruction of what we knew, then, what is the reason if this scripture is true (it is of course).
If there was a fall, there was pride before hand. There was haughtiness.
Pride in being the most powerful country in the world. Haughtiness in pushing our economic weight around. A sense that if we could put a man on the moon we could do anything. I have news for you, the USA couldn't put a man on the moon right now.
What is the solution. The church has become a ministry machine. It no longer works. As a result it's ineffective at dealing with the pride and arrogance in society.
IF we as a nation, church, people won't humble ourselves, God will have to humble us. He will have to deal with us. He will have to show us our position as he did with Nebuchadnezzar.
Once true humility is effected, pride crushed, haughtiness displaced, then we will find ourselves emerging from our great fall.
Humble yourself in the sight of the Lord or be humbled.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Prophetic Dream from Jim...Open Heaven
Jim shares a dream about a shift we are in the center of:
I had a dream last night where I was positioned near the moon in
space. I saw the moon shift in it's orbit. I marveled at this, and
wondered what caused this gravitational shift? Right then I looked up
and from deep space I saw a very fast approaching object. As it came
into view I saw that it was multiple large meteors. I knew that no one
had seen these, so that their appearing was unexpected. I also knew
that there was no avoiding them.
I do not believe this to be literal. Rather it supports tne idea that we
are in a season of shaking and shifting. I take the moon to represent
the church. The fast approaching meteors are coming fast, are
unexpected, and can't be diverted. I think it represents the conditions
which will cause a great shaking. The gravitational field will be
altered, in a metaphorical sense, as the Kingdom age begins to
manifest. I'm sure there's stuff I'm not seeing, but that's my initial
thoughts.
Jim
Manifestations of the Sons of God.
I received this in my email in-box. It's a word that I will ponder. Even if you are preterist in theology, there is an admonition here. I want to be a manifest Son of God.
So should we all.
Lisa Writes:
So should we all.
Lisa Writes:
I believe the Latter rain is falling and we have entered the time of the Manifestations of the Sons of God.I also believe this manifestation will be much greater than many believe even those who are expecting this to happen.I believe the Sons will minister on earth for 42 months to the "Foolish Virgin" church ( as the144,000) and will do so in immortal "Changed" bodies.I believe the Sons will feed the church during famine (literally and spiritually), minister to the church during nuclear war (unharmed) and strengthen the church so as not to take the Mark and will do signs and wonders bringing in the greatest harvest of souls ever in the history of the World.I see the Sons ministering in Fema camps and helping the Saints to lay down their lives for their faith."For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ." Galatians 1:12
Bless you.In His NameLisa
When Bad News Comes - Don't always trust your senses
I don't quote Napolean Hill prophetically. But when wisdom is written, and it is sound doctrine we do well to hear it. Hear:
The 5 Physical Senses: These are the physical “arms” of the brain through which it contacts the external world and acquires information therefrom. The physical senses are not reliable, and therefore they need constant self-discipline. Under any kind of intense emotional activity the senses become confused and unreliable.
By the simplest sort of legerdemain the five physical senses may be deceived. And they are deceived daily by the common experiences of life. Under the emotion of fear the physical senses often create monstrous “ghosts” which have no existence except in the faculty of the imagination, and there is no fact of life which they will not and do not exaggerate or distort when fear prevails. ~Napolean Hill (Master Key to Riches)
GOD WANTS TO DELIVER YOU
David Wilkerson Today
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010
When the three Hebrew children were thrown into the fiery furnace, a fourth man was there with them: Jesus! They didn’t get burned. In fact, their clothes and hair didn’t even smell of smoke. That’s the kind of deliverance God wants to bring you in your spiritual valley.
What is God’s motivation for wanting to deliver you? Is it because you have done something to appease him? Have you increased your prayer time? Do you spend more hours reading Scripture? All this is good. But Isaiah had the true revelation when he said, “Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee…Fear not: for I am with thee” (Isaiah 43:4-5).
God was saying to Israel in Isaiah 43, “You’re about to go through fires and floods. But don’t worry; I’ll walk with you through them all. And I’ll deliver you in the end simply because you are mine. I know you by name. And you are a delight to my heart.”
WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 17, 2010
When the three Hebrew children were thrown into the fiery furnace, a fourth man was there with them: Jesus! They didn’t get burned. In fact, their clothes and hair didn’t even smell of smoke. That’s the kind of deliverance God wants to bring you in your spiritual valley.
What is God’s motivation for wanting to deliver you? Is it because you have done something to appease him? Have you increased your prayer time? Do you spend more hours reading Scripture? All this is good. But Isaiah had the true revelation when he said, “Since thou wast precious in my sight, thou hast been honourable, and I have loved thee…Fear not: for I am with thee” (Isaiah 43:4-5).
God was saying to Israel in Isaiah 43, “You’re about to go through fires and floods. But don’t worry; I’ll walk with you through them all. And I’ll deliver you in the end simply because you are mine. I know you by name. And you are a delight to my heart.”
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
What to do if a Prophet brings bad news
The common prophetic ministry, particularly of house prophets and platform prophets is to bring only good news. To reinforce the status quo or the perceived dream. Today Ron from Blessed Economist wrote on this. He is right.
So if someone wants a word and you don't have good news what does a prophet do? It is not crepe hanging or gloom and doom to prepare people for changes that are coming in their lives. The good news is, all of these kind of Prophetic words carry as part of them in the end that in the rear view mirror things will be better. Of course it's true. Romans 8:28 has not been revoked.
When I have been in the unenviable position of bearing bad tidings, I grieve. It pains me. I get no joy in bringing a difficult word.
Now what?
If you are the recipient of a prophetic word that does not talk of golden sunshine and great prosperity in your future you first need to weigh it. Judge it. Don't reject it. Hear and ponder it in your heart. Then seek God for his Mercy.
For instance (and this is truly hypothetical) if you are suffering from a disease and the prophet tells you to prepare for the end, prepare. Faith in Faith will disappoint. Then, ask God to reverse the situation. Believe God for better. Perhaps HE will change the situation. Many times prophetic words are conditional. Jonah is an example. He brought the word of impending doom and then God relented at their repentance.
So, the prophetic word is NOT the kiss of death, it is a warning. One you must take seriously.
There are natural reactions to bad news, health, death, bankruptcy or legal problems. The grief cycle is alive and well. The healthy end to the grief cycle is to accept and then set about doing what you can and might to improve the situation.
First, make sure your heart is pure, sins confessed, ready for God to heal. He will if you are in the place of desperation. King Hezekiah got some bad news from the prophet. Here's how he responded to the Bad News from the Prophet in Isaiah 38:
So let's be clear about the prognosis here: Hezekiah is facing certain death. YET: God heals him. Gives him extra years. Was the Prophet wrong? NO, he brought the news that Hezekiah would die, it was the word of the Lord. Yet God relented and extended his life.
So what was the result for Hezekiah after having been healed by God? The Lord gives him another fifteen years which really only takes him to 54 years, not old age by any means. The fact that Hezekiah is so relieved and composes a song of praise in response gives weight to the view that there was more on his mind than physical death. But let's take a look at the effect this whole matter has on the last fifteen years of Hezekiah's life. We read it in verses 15 - 20 of Isaiah 38
Hezekiah resolves to walk humbly for the rest of his life; not that he was a proud man to start with, but the anguish of facing certain death and then the experience of deliverance has changed him forever.
There were two other episodes of Bad News that Hezekiah had to deal with. One happens in Chapter 36-7 of Isaiah. An evil king, a government comes against Hezekiah. He threatens to destroy him. To cause the people to turn against him. To dispose of him. Hezekiah seeks his counselors, officials but not yet the prophet. He knows instinctively that he MUST repent and puts on sackcloth and ashes. Then he does something I think anyone who gets bad news from a prophet must consider in following the patterns of Hezekiah. Isaiah 37:
His repentance and laying out all the accusations, true or otherwise, caused the Lord to change the circumstances that looked so dire. Once more the prophet speaks to the situation in Isaiah 37:33
And it was so. The city saved and Hezekiah preserved.
Yet, at the end of his life there came a time when Isaiah had to give a hard word to Hezekiah. Hezekiah had bragged about how wealthy he was to visitors and kings. How much treasure he had. Isaiah rebuked him and prophesied that the treasury would be looted as a result. Of course it happened. YET, Hezekiah's response was essentially, "I'll be dead soon and at least during my tenure there will be peace and prosperity". I am not so sure that had Hezekiah once more turned his face toward heaven that the word spoken over him could not have been reversed.
Chapter 39 of Isaiah:
At least his ministry was intact for the rest of his life. That was his motivation. He didn't care about the future. His children. His grandchildren. Or his country. Could this have been reversed?
When bad news comes, it will come from a prophet who has nothing to gain or lose by sharing the prophetic reality with you. A platform prophet won't. He wants to be invited back. A house prophet won't. He doesn't want to lose his position or paycheck.
It may not make friends and influence people, but a bold prophet must tell the prophetic truth. THEN the rest is up to God - and YOU.
When you get bad news from a Prophet, don't blame the prophet. He or She didn't make it up. He sought the Lord for you. A great understanding comes from the death of Ahab. He had made a pact with Jehoshaphat to go to war. Ahab asked what the Prophets were saying. 400 stood and said, "You will win this". "The day is Yours". Ahab wasn't happy about this report. In fact the true prophet of God had given him bad news before: 1 Kings 22
When Ahab asked the question, should we go to war, Micaiah said Sure, you will win. But it must have been said without tears. A true prophet in bringing a hard word will bring it in tears.
After some coaching the bad news was delivered. They would lose. Ahab would die.
Ahab's response? Put the prophet in jail with only bread and water.
And Ahab died as prophesied that day.
I suspect he had an opportunity to repent, to seek the face of God and set things right and like Hezekiah might have seen the Lord relent.
Pride is the enemy of our souls. It will keep us from facing the reality of our situations. Even when a word is hard, it can be turned, but the responsibility lies with the one who receives the word.
So, if you get a hard word, prepare, then seek God for his further purpose. Who knows, He may relent. If not, you have His promise to turn it all for GOOD.
I have been the recipient of hard words over my life in the past. I have faced certain disaster and yet the Lord relented. We must be bold and brave to trust God for the outcome whatever it is. There was such a day when I stood on top of bad news notices, bills, summons, lawsuits and cried out to the Lord.
That's another story, but we must have the willingness to put on the sackcloth and seek God when bad news comes.
So if someone wants a word and you don't have good news what does a prophet do? It is not crepe hanging or gloom and doom to prepare people for changes that are coming in their lives. The good news is, all of these kind of Prophetic words carry as part of them in the end that in the rear view mirror things will be better. Of course it's true. Romans 8:28 has not been revoked.
When I have been in the unenviable position of bearing bad tidings, I grieve. It pains me. I get no joy in bringing a difficult word.
Now what?
If you are the recipient of a prophetic word that does not talk of golden sunshine and great prosperity in your future you first need to weigh it. Judge it. Don't reject it. Hear and ponder it in your heart. Then seek God for his Mercy.
For instance (and this is truly hypothetical) if you are suffering from a disease and the prophet tells you to prepare for the end, prepare. Faith in Faith will disappoint. Then, ask God to reverse the situation. Believe God for better. Perhaps HE will change the situation. Many times prophetic words are conditional. Jonah is an example. He brought the word of impending doom and then God relented at their repentance.
So, the prophetic word is NOT the kiss of death, it is a warning. One you must take seriously.
There are natural reactions to bad news, health, death, bankruptcy or legal problems. The grief cycle is alive and well. The healthy end to the grief cycle is to accept and then set about doing what you can and might to improve the situation.
First, make sure your heart is pure, sins confessed, ready for God to heal. He will if you are in the place of desperation. King Hezekiah got some bad news from the prophet. Here's how he responded to the Bad News from the Prophet in Isaiah 38:
1 In those days Hezekiah became ill and was at the point of death. The prophet Isaiah
son of Amoz went to him and said, "This is what the LORD says: Put your house in
order, because you are going to die; you will not recover." 2 Hezekiah turned his face to the wall and prayed to the LORD, 3 "Remember, O LORD, how I have walked before you faithfully and with wholehearted devotion and have done what is good in your eyes." And Hezekiah wept bitterly. [NIV]
So let's be clear about the prognosis here: Hezekiah is facing certain death. YET: God heals him. Gives him extra years. Was the Prophet wrong? NO, he brought the news that Hezekiah would die, it was the word of the Lord. Yet God relented and extended his life.
4 Then the word of the LORD came to Isaiah: 5 “Go and tell Hezekiah, ‘This is what the LORD, the God of your father David, says: I have heard your prayer and seen your tears; I will add fifteen years to your life. 6 And I will deliver you and this city from the hand of the king of Assyria. I will defend this city.
7 “‘This is the LORD’s sign to you that the LORD will do what he has promised: 8 I will make the shadow cast by the sun go back the ten steps it has gone down on the stairway of Ahaz.’” So the sunlight went back the ten steps it had gone down.
So what was the result for Hezekiah after having been healed by God? The Lord gives him another fifteen years which really only takes him to 54 years, not old age by any means. The fact that Hezekiah is so relieved and composes a song of praise in response gives weight to the view that there was more on his mind than physical death. But let's take a look at the effect this whole matter has on the last fifteen years of Hezekiah's life. We read it in verses 15 - 20 of Isaiah 38
15 But what can I say? He has spoken to me, and he himself has done this.
I will walk humbly all my years because of this anguish of my soul.
16 Lord, by such things men live; and my spirit finds life in them too.
You restored me to health and let me live. 17 Surely it was for my benefit
that I suffered such anguish. In your love you kept me
from the pit of destruction; you have put all my sins
behind your back. 18 For the grave [c] cannot praise you,
death cannot sing your praise; those who go down to the pit
cannot hope for your faithfulness. 19 The living, the living—they praise you,
as I am doing today; fathers tell their children
about your faithfulness. 20 The LORD will save me,
and we will sing with stringed instruments all the days of our lives
in the temple of the LORD. [NIV]
Hezekiah resolves to walk humbly for the rest of his life; not that he was a proud man to start with, but the anguish of facing certain death and then the experience of deliverance has changed him forever.
There were two other episodes of Bad News that Hezekiah had to deal with. One happens in Chapter 36-7 of Isaiah. An evil king, a government comes against Hezekiah. He threatens to destroy him. To cause the people to turn against him. To dispose of him. Hezekiah seeks his counselors, officials but not yet the prophet. He knows instinctively that he MUST repent and puts on sackcloth and ashes. Then he does something I think anyone who gets bad news from a prophet must consider in following the patterns of Hezekiah. Isaiah 37:
14 Hezekiah received the letter from the messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the LORD and spread it out before the LORD. 15 And Hezekiah prayed to the LORD: 16 “LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. 17 Give ear, LORD, and hear; open your eyes, LORD, and see; listen to all the words Sennacherib has sent to ridicule the living God.
18 “It is true, LORD, that the Assyrian kings have laid waste all these peoples and their lands. 19 They have thrown their gods into the fire and destroyed them, for they were not gods but only wood and stone, fashioned by human hands. 20 Now, LORD our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that you, LORD, are the only God.b]">[b]”
His repentance and laying out all the accusations, true or otherwise, caused the Lord to change the circumstances that looked so dire. Once more the prophet speaks to the situation in Isaiah 37:33
“He will not enter this city
or shoot an arrow here.
He will not come before it with shield
or build a siege ramp against it.
34 By the way that he came he will return;
he will not enter this city,”
declares the LORD.
35 “I will defend this city and save it,
for my sake and for the sake of David my servant!”
And it was so. The city saved and Hezekiah preserved.
Yet, at the end of his life there came a time when Isaiah had to give a hard word to Hezekiah. Hezekiah had bragged about how wealthy he was to visitors and kings. How much treasure he had. Isaiah rebuked him and prophesied that the treasury would be looted as a result. Of course it happened. YET, Hezekiah's response was essentially, "I'll be dead soon and at least during my tenure there will be peace and prosperity". I am not so sure that had Hezekiah once more turned his face toward heaven that the word spoken over him could not have been reversed.
Chapter 39 of Isaiah:
3 Then Isaiah the prophet went to King Hezekiah and asked, “What did those men say, and where did they come from?”
“From a distant land,” Hezekiah replied. “They came to me from Babylon.”
4 The prophet asked, “What did they see in your palace?”
“They saw everything in my palace,” Hezekiah said. “There is nothing among my treasures that I did not show them.”
5 Then Isaiah said to Hezekiah, “Hear the word of the LORD Almighty: 6 The time will surely come when everything in your palace, and all that your predecessors have stored up until this day, will be carried off to Babylon. Nothing will be left, says the LORD. 7 And some of your descendants, your own flesh and blood who will be born to you, will be taken away, and they will become eunuchs in the palace of the king of Babylon.”
8 “The word of the LORD you have spoken is good,” Hezekiah replied. For he thought, “There will be peace and security in my lifetime.”
At least his ministry was intact for the rest of his life. That was his motivation. He didn't care about the future. His children. His grandchildren. Or his country. Could this have been reversed?
When bad news comes, it will come from a prophet who has nothing to gain or lose by sharing the prophetic reality with you. A platform prophet won't. He wants to be invited back. A house prophet won't. He doesn't want to lose his position or paycheck.
It may not make friends and influence people, but a bold prophet must tell the prophetic truth. THEN the rest is up to God - and YOU.
When you get bad news from a Prophet, don't blame the prophet. He or She didn't make it up. He sought the Lord for you. A great understanding comes from the death of Ahab. He had made a pact with Jehoshaphat to go to war. Ahab asked what the Prophets were saying. 400 stood and said, "You will win this". "The day is Yours". Ahab wasn't happy about this report. In fact the true prophet of God had given him bad news before: 1 Kings 22
7 But Jehoshaphat asked, “Is there no longer a prophet of the LORD here whom we can inquire of?”
8 The king of Israel answered Jehoshaphat, “There is still one prophet through whom we can inquire of the LORD, but I hate him because he never prophesies anything good about me, but always bad. He is Micaiah son of Imlah.”
When Ahab asked the question, should we go to war, Micaiah said Sure, you will win. But it must have been said without tears. A true prophet in bringing a hard word will bring it in tears.
After some coaching the bad news was delivered. They would lose. Ahab would die.
Ahab's response? Put the prophet in jail with only bread and water.
And Ahab died as prophesied that day.
I suspect he had an opportunity to repent, to seek the face of God and set things right and like Hezekiah might have seen the Lord relent.
Pride is the enemy of our souls. It will keep us from facing the reality of our situations. Even when a word is hard, it can be turned, but the responsibility lies with the one who receives the word.
So, if you get a hard word, prepare, then seek God for his further purpose. Who knows, He may relent. If not, you have His promise to turn it all for GOOD.
I have been the recipient of hard words over my life in the past. I have faced certain disaster and yet the Lord relented. We must be bold and brave to trust God for the outcome whatever it is. There was such a day when I stood on top of bad news notices, bills, summons, lawsuits and cried out to the Lord.
That's another story, but we must have the willingness to put on the sackcloth and seek God when bad news comes.
Saturday, November 13, 2010
Times Time and Half a Time -
18 Months ago during the darkest times of the economy (the nadir of which was March 9, 2009) I spoke in several places and wrote of the economy and what was about to come. I have posted a video of this talk. I wanted to have an unmodifiable record of what I believe I heard the Lord Say. It stands yet today. http://northerngleaner.blogspot.com/2009/03/economic-future-of-usa-and-world.html
Now time has passed, I am more confident than ever in what I believe the Lord is saying regarding the economy. He needs no supporting views, but I offer a couple for your consideration. Jeremy Grantham is considered one of the premier market analyst. He has more gray hair than I do. He has called the market right in a macro fashion for years. His current view on the future parallels with what was brought prophetically a year and a half ago.
There is a video and a transcript of the interview. http://seekingalpha.com/article/236462-jeremy-grantham-has-already-started-to-sell?source=dashboard_macro-view
IF you are interested in what your future and that of your children, business, and church will be in the next decade or so, this is worth watching or at least reading. There is much meat here. I must warn you however, if you are looking for happy talk and all upbeat news, it's not here. Yet, if you read between the lines you will see much to be celebrated. We are about to go thru a transition to a more sane time. I am convinced in the Spirit that this will usher in a great revival. It will look much different from what you thought it would be, but it will be revival rising out of pain and need.
Prosperous islands like Fargo North Dakota and St Charles / Geneva IL are deserts for Christianity. Fargo is nearly at the bottom of the list in churched cities (number 89). http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/holy-hometowns?cm_mmc=MagURL-_-Dec2010-_-metrogrades-_-holytowns
Just like Geneva St Charles. When the prosperity disappears, the need for Jesus will grow. So, these will be good times if the Church is ready for them. I hope we will be ready for this when it comes.
I find reading the transcript faster than listening to the video. So, you decide. Here's the link to that:
http://feeds.feedblitz.com/%7E/t/0/0/creditwritedowns/%7Ehttp://www.cnbc.com/id/40131748
I offer this as a signpost for hope, yet a warning for sound preparation. I read the Book of Jeremiah and see how the Prophet had to offer hope yet tell the truth about the duration of the siege. This is that time and serious prophets are preparing the people.
Now time has passed, I am more confident than ever in what I believe the Lord is saying regarding the economy. He needs no supporting views, but I offer a couple for your consideration. Jeremy Grantham is considered one of the premier market analyst. He has more gray hair than I do. He has called the market right in a macro fashion for years. His current view on the future parallels with what was brought prophetically a year and a half ago.
There is a video and a transcript of the interview. http://seekingalpha.com/article/236462-jeremy-grantham-has-already-started-to-sell?source=dashboard_macro-view
IF you are interested in what your future and that of your children, business, and church will be in the next decade or so, this is worth watching or at least reading. There is much meat here. I must warn you however, if you are looking for happy talk and all upbeat news, it's not here. Yet, if you read between the lines you will see much to be celebrated. We are about to go thru a transition to a more sane time. I am convinced in the Spirit that this will usher in a great revival. It will look much different from what you thought it would be, but it will be revival rising out of pain and need.
Prosperous islands like Fargo North Dakota and St Charles / Geneva IL are deserts for Christianity. Fargo is nearly at the bottom of the list in churched cities (number 89). http://www.menshealth.com/best-life/holy-hometowns?cm_mmc=MagURL-_-Dec2010-_-metrogrades-_-holytowns
Just like Geneva St Charles. When the prosperity disappears, the need for Jesus will grow. So, these will be good times if the Church is ready for them. I hope we will be ready for this when it comes.
I find reading the transcript faster than listening to the video. So, you decide. Here's the link to that:
http://feeds.feedblitz.com/%7E/t/0/0/creditwritedowns/%7Ehttp://www.cnbc.com/id/40131748
I offer this as a signpost for hope, yet a warning for sound preparation. I read the Book of Jeremiah and see how the Prophet had to offer hope yet tell the truth about the duration of the siege. This is that time and serious prophets are preparing the people.
When the Fine Tune Knob isn't Found
Father always IS. He's always communicating. He's always wanting to download. He's constantly attempting transmission on another frequency .... all hale as it were.
Yet, sometimes we don't hear. I don't hear. It's like I know there's a message there. I know it's HIM. I know I should be able to understand what is being said but the find tune knob is missing.
IF you have never heard the Voice of God you don't know what I am talking about. If you have you get this frustration at once. You know why. World, sin, issues, distractions. All difficult. All real.
What's worse is making it up. I know many who in the void of hearing from heaven will pander off words without consideration. People's lives are at stake. Destiny. Decisions. Futures. Even life itself. They write prophetic prescriptions blindly. That's malpractice.
It is a huge responsibility to carry the word of the Lord to another. It's no time to be light loving. It's time to be right.
It is more credible to remain silent at times like this than to speak up and say something from my flesh. Or some borrowed word. Or something I heard on TV. Or something that someone else said. Or rehearse a word from THE WORD as a Bible Silver Bullet. Good, but maybe not yet applicable. Jesus was careful even in confronting the Devil to use accurate words.
I promise NOT to give a word without certitude of it's Throne Room Credibility. Your promise must be to judge it carefully. We have too much recklessness in the prophetic.
It's time to reconsider the nature of the words we bring. Disciplined, not rash. Endorsed by the Father, not by man. Given in 1 Corinthians 13 love, not judgment.
I see too much immaturity in the prophetic. I don't want to be guilty of quenching the prophets, of forbidding the prophetic. BUT, I want to be sure that the word of God is not lost because the one delivering it is operating as a steam roller when a light duster might have been enough.
That is the prophetic word for the day. Be careful. Be certain. Deliver in love. And hear before you speak the WORD of the FATHER.
Yet, sometimes we don't hear. I don't hear. It's like I know there's a message there. I know it's HIM. I know I should be able to understand what is being said but the find tune knob is missing.
IF you have never heard the Voice of God you don't know what I am talking about. If you have you get this frustration at once. You know why. World, sin, issues, distractions. All difficult. All real.
What's worse is making it up. I know many who in the void of hearing from heaven will pander off words without consideration. People's lives are at stake. Destiny. Decisions. Futures. Even life itself. They write prophetic prescriptions blindly. That's malpractice.
It is a huge responsibility to carry the word of the Lord to another. It's no time to be light loving. It's time to be right.
It is more credible to remain silent at times like this than to speak up and say something from my flesh. Or some borrowed word. Or something I heard on TV. Or something that someone else said. Or rehearse a word from THE WORD as a Bible Silver Bullet. Good, but maybe not yet applicable. Jesus was careful even in confronting the Devil to use accurate words.
I promise NOT to give a word without certitude of it's Throne Room Credibility. Your promise must be to judge it carefully. We have too much recklessness in the prophetic.
It's time to reconsider the nature of the words we bring. Disciplined, not rash. Endorsed by the Father, not by man. Given in 1 Corinthians 13 love, not judgment.
I see too much immaturity in the prophetic. I don't want to be guilty of quenching the prophets, of forbidding the prophetic. BUT, I want to be sure that the word of God is not lost because the one delivering it is operating as a steam roller when a light duster might have been enough.
That is the prophetic word for the day. Be careful. Be certain. Deliver in love. And hear before you speak the WORD of the FATHER.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
I want to be just like CALEB
David Wilkerson Today
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2010
Caleb, whose name means forcible, fortitude, is a type of one who clings to the Lord! Caleb was inseparable from Joshua, representing one who continually walks with the Lord through all the distractions of life.
Caleb had accompanied the spies over Jordan, where the Holy Spirit drew him to Hebron—"the place of death." Abraham and Sarah were buried there, as were Isaac and Jacob and the patriarchs, and years later, David's kingdom would begin there. With awe Caleb climbed that hallowed mountain and faith flooded his soul. He prized that sanctified place and from that time on, he wanted Hebron for his possession.
It was said of Caleb that he "wholly followed the Lord" (Numbers 14:24). He never wavered to the very end and at eighty-five years of age he could testify: "As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in" (Joshua 14:11).
In his old age Caleb waged his greatest battle! "Now therefore give me this mountain [Hebron]..." (14:12). "And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb...Hebron for an inheritance..." (14:13). "Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb...because that he wholly followed the Lord" (14:14).
The message is glorious: It is not enough to have died to sin—to have entered fullness sometime in the past. The need is to grow in the Lord to the end! To keep your spiritual power and strength without wavering. To "wholly follow the Lord" even in old age!
Hebron—Caleb's inheritance—means a company associated! Associated with what? With death! Not only the death to sin in Jordan, but living in a place of death. Living with those who are associated with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! "Give me this mountain," Caleb had prayed. In other words, "Give me this walk of death to self!" It was here that Abraham had built an altar to sacrifice his son and it was here that Caleb and his tribe would live,constantly associated with that altar of living sacrifice.
Caleb's wholeheartedness for the Lord produced a holy fire for God in his children. While the children of the two and a half tribes turned away and embraced the world and its idolatry, Caleb's family grew stronger in the Lord!
God’s desire for all of us is that we enter a place of rest, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost. That requires following him “with all thy heart…and with all thy strength” to the very end (Mark 12:30).
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 11, 2010
Caleb, whose name means forcible, fortitude, is a type of one who clings to the Lord! Caleb was inseparable from Joshua, representing one who continually walks with the Lord through all the distractions of life.
Caleb had accompanied the spies over Jordan, where the Holy Spirit drew him to Hebron—"the place of death." Abraham and Sarah were buried there, as were Isaac and Jacob and the patriarchs, and years later, David's kingdom would begin there. With awe Caleb climbed that hallowed mountain and faith flooded his soul. He prized that sanctified place and from that time on, he wanted Hebron for his possession.
It was said of Caleb that he "wholly followed the Lord" (Numbers 14:24). He never wavered to the very end and at eighty-five years of age he could testify: "As yet I am as strong this day as I was in the day that Moses sent me: as my strength was then, even so is my strength now, for war, both to go out, and to come in" (Joshua 14:11).
In his old age Caleb waged his greatest battle! "Now therefore give me this mountain [Hebron]..." (14:12). "And Joshua blessed him, and gave unto Caleb...Hebron for an inheritance..." (14:13). "Hebron therefore became the inheritance of Caleb...because that he wholly followed the Lord" (14:14).
The message is glorious: It is not enough to have died to sin—to have entered fullness sometime in the past. The need is to grow in the Lord to the end! To keep your spiritual power and strength without wavering. To "wholly follow the Lord" even in old age!
Hebron—Caleb's inheritance—means a company associated! Associated with what? With death! Not only the death to sin in Jordan, but living in a place of death. Living with those who are associated with the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ! "Give me this mountain," Caleb had prayed. In other words, "Give me this walk of death to self!" It was here that Abraham had built an altar to sacrifice his son and it was here that Caleb and his tribe would live,constantly associated with that altar of living sacrifice.
Caleb's wholeheartedness for the Lord produced a holy fire for God in his children. While the children of the two and a half tribes turned away and embraced the world and its idolatry, Caleb's family grew stronger in the Lord!
God’s desire for all of us is that we enter a place of rest, joy and peace in the Holy Ghost. That requires following him “with all thy heart…and with all thy strength” to the very end (Mark 12:30).
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Kim Clement Prophesies over the Midwest Region
The Lord Says, "I Have No Choice But to Restore this Nation"
Prophetic Alert!
Prophesied on November 1, 2010 from The Den:
"Conquest" is the word I hear. Crusaders have endeavored to come in to take away and steal from this nation and steal from this land. Men that were once strong and stood as great men in a battlefield are now shaking in fear and trembling, saying, "What has happened and where is our nation going?" I watched them go from mighty men and warriors to men of fear, and they say, "Could it be one man that could bring us down?"
"It is true that this could happen," says the Lord, "but because I have chosen you before the foundation of the world, America, because I chose you to be a nation to proclaim the Gospel to the nations, I have chosen you and I will not allow this. Do not fear. Only be strong and courageous. Do not fear," says the Lord. "For there will be a great victory."
The following was prophesied on October 27, 2010 in Munster, IN (5pm service):
"I Have Stood With You Through Every Storm"
"I've been your friend. I've stood with you," says the Lord. "I've been your friend. I've stood with you. I've been your Shepherd. I've stood in storms. I've stood with you," says the Lord, "and I'll stand again."
The Spirit of God says, "I have stood with you through every storm. I have stood with you in the rain. I have stood with you in the wilderness. I have stood with you on the heavenly, high mountain tops. I have stood with you when the sun has not smitten you by day nor the moon by night. I have been your keeper. I have not slept. I have not slumbered. I have watched over you," says the Lord. "Therefore I say to you now as this wind comes over Illinois and Indiana, I shall breathe a wind upon you and I shall bring resurrection and I will multiply; I will bring the increase." And God said, "You shall say, We are debt free for the Lord has worked it out," says the Lord!
"This storm that has come to you, has been sent by Me," says the Lord. "The winds that howl as the prophet advanced to Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, for I spoke of a wind that would come and a wind that would go on, so unusual that men would begin to say, This wind, these storms, these tornadoes, we have not seen like this. For what reason? Captives of darkness have stood and watched over the Midwest and say, We must disrupt, for the growth and the increase and the acceleration, and the multiplication shall bring and raise a standard in the nation, shall raise a standard in the nation.
"And they shall say, What has come out of Munster? They shall say, We will rename you 'Monster.' The powers of Hell have looked and inquired; angels have gazed into. They have said, How can the Lord work in the whirlwind? How can the Lord work in the tornado? How can the Lord work in the storm?" But God said, "Nahum, My prophet, spoke out; and today, as Nahum said, so say I. The Lord excels in the whirlwind. The Lord excels in the storm. The Lord excels."
"A Banner is Being Raised Up, a Sound that Shall Supersede Every Great Move, Including the Azusa Street Revival"
(Kim overhearing the voices of the enemy): "What shall we do?" they say. "A people are gathered and they are one. How shall we cause a retreat?" saith the powers of darkness from the dungeons. "There are men and women of God that are being prepared for a sound that we have not heard since the 17th century. We know that if they do claim the promise that was spoken through the servants of yesterday, this that shall erupt from the wind, shall cause such a growth that even in your next phase you shall say, 'We have to multiply the services again,' and they shall say, 'This phenomena.' Powers of Hell, what shall we do, where shall we go, for we are being expelled from the Midwest."
"A banner is being raised up, a sound that shall supersede every great move, including the Azusa Street revival," says the Lord. "A baptism like you have never seen before shall display My magnificence," says the Lord of Hosts! Fall, fall, disappearance of darkness.
(Kim says in song): "I hear the sound, the sound comes to Me from the souls of men made free. I hear the sound coming from the ground, prayers that have been prayed that were never seen to unfold, prayers of mothers and fathers that have gone in the wind, to the One Who made them pray. And as they prayed, I heard their prayers each day. They shall arise. Their prayers shall be heard. I hear a sound coming from the souls of men," says the Lord. "Tonight I receive the sacrifice of praise giving thanks to My name."
Can you believe that God has no other choice but America? Yes, I believe that God has no other choice but America!
You say, Kim, that's pretty arrogant. Arrogant? When I heard it, I rebuked my flesh, I rebuked my mind, my desires. And the Spirit of the Lord said to me, "I will say it one more time," because I know His voice but I could make a mistake. So I said, I want You to say it again but I want You to give me a sign. And He said, "You're going to Chicago, you're going to Illinois. You are going to land in Chicago and you're going to come to Indiana. You are going to stand on a platform that I have chosen and sanctified to speak out what is about to happen with the changing of the guard."
He said, "I have no other choice but to restore America because I chose this land to be the nation and the land to spread the good news throughout the earth. There are other nations that will do it. There are other nations and countries that will do it, but I chose this nation to be a nation to spread the Gospel and I will restore it back to its former glory and give it even a double portion of My Spirit. I'm sending a baptism of the Holy Spirit like never before," says the Lord!
And then He spoke to me twice and said, "A very strange wind will blow over Illinois and Indiana," and He said, "When that happens I will place you there." And I had no clue this was going to happen when I flew in. And He said, "And when the time comes, I will send this wind, and then from that point onwards, I shall bring about such change."
The following was prophesied on October 27, 2010 in Munster, IN (7pm service):
"The Midwest is About to Burst – to Overflow"
The Prince of Persia and forces that have reigned in the Middle East have looked upon this nation and said, We will come and we will take this nation. We will change the name of America. We will change the flag and we shall put Allah. But God said, "There's a commotion, angels everywhere. They're listening to the sound. They're listening for the sound of praises, of triumph, of warriors. Warriors, lift your voice!"
There is a battle going on in the heavenlies, and tonight the Spirit of God says, "As the wind has come and blown over the states, the Midwest is about to erupt. The Midwest is about to burst – to overflow. You, your families, the people of America, God's people will drive back the forces that are coming to your shores." And God says, "For the angels are listening for the sounds of the warriors of the most high God."
He says, "There is wind blowing throughout your state. I have sent this wind," says the Lord, "for there will be a bursting forth as you have never seen before. I am about to destroy the very one that has come against your nation, against your shore," says the Lord. "There are angels everywhere. They want to hear the voice of triumph. There are demons surrounding this place and they don't know what to do; they don't know what to do. All they are doing is trembling as they hear the people of God lift their voice with a voice of triumph and begin to shout."
God says, "You have built Me a mountain, therefore what you have built here and what is about to burst forth," says the Lord, "shall bring about the most unusual manifestations that the earth has ever seen. You have entered into a season and already started where unusual miracles will take place."
But God said, "Will you always praise Me? Will you always praise Me? Will you promise to praise Me? Will you always pray and pray and pray and pray? Will you always love Me? Will you place Me first in your life? And when you eat of the fruit of the land will you remember Me? Will you remember Me? When your prosperity comes, will you remember Me? When I pour out abundance will you remember Me? Will you? I'm searching, I'm searching for somebody. I'm searching, I believe I found it."
The Spirit is moving throughout this place in a very unusual manner. God is not just singing you a song, my dear friends, He has sent a prophet to release something. You have entered the fall, the season has changed. "This is not temporary. This is a permanent thing," says the Lord. That's why God says, "Just like David, when he was desperate, he always worshiped Me. And when he became the King he said, I never want You to go away, I never want You to leave me, so I built You a mountain so that I would remember."
"You are About to Come to the Place that You've Been Fighting For"
"You are about to come into a place, a land that has been promised to you. You are about to come into the place that you've been fighting for. Believe it or not, you are about to come into the place that you've dreamed about, I promise you. You are about to come into that place, I promise you."
God says, "You are about to come to the place. You are about to come to the place that you've been fighting for. You are about to put your feet on the ground. You are about to put your feet on the ground. (I'm prophesying, I'm not singing to you.) You are about to put your feet on the ground, the ground of promise."
Now listen to what God says:
"In the presence of your enemies, I am building a house.
In the presence of your enemies, I will give you joy.
In the presence of your enemies, I will anoint you, wipe your debt clean.
"And they will say of you, We are provoked, like they were provoked with Isaac. We are provoked, for you have multiplied in your blessing; you have multiplied in your fields; you have multiplied with your stock. You have multiplied with your favor. I am taking it out of their hands and placing it in yours," says the Lord.
"Will you remember Me? Will you remember Me? When you taste of prosperity, will you do what David did? He built a memorial," says the Lord, "so you will never forget these days. You will never forget these days; they were hard." God says, "They are here, they have come."
"I Have No Choice But to Restore this Nation..."
We so take for granted what we have. America, the Spirit of the Lord says to you, "I have been expelled from every constitution, institution, the Constitution." But God has watched as He has chastised you and said, "This is what you asked for. Now the taxation, the punishment, the power from government has taken its toll. Now I have listened and from all over this nation the cries are coming, they are saying, Enough, we want You back."
I stood before the Lord and cried for this nation for the last seven months, three times a day, and I said, Is there another that You have chosen? And what He said shocked me: "I have no other, I have no choice. I have no choice but to restore this nation because I chose it to be the soil, to be the voice to the nations of the earth to spread My good news. I have not changed My mind, I have no choice." And I said to the Lord, Maybe I'm speaking out of my own desire. And He said, "I will take you to a house and to a city where you have the freedom to prophesy this – and a prophecy that you gave in 2007 and 2009 that a strange wind will blow – over that place I will begin the explosion in the Midwest."
I flew in yesterday; the plane was so badly knocked around by the wind, and they said that this is the worst they have ever seen in 70 years. And the Spirit spoke to me and He said, "This is the beginning. This is the beginning!"
"There Will Be Rapid Cures"
I'm under His complete control right now. Ovarian cancer is being healed as we speak. Gladys (speaking to someone at meeting), you are being completely delivered right now and in this next season that you go in, God says, "There will be rapid cures. Diabetes will be a sickness of the past." And even right now, this very minute, God said, "I will borrow from that future and give it to you tonight." And diabetes at this very, very point in time, the Spirit of this miracle comes upon you. Every person with diabetes begin to shout, begin to raise your hands and shout! It's happening right now. I want the manifestation of unusual miracles to begin tonight. I want it to happen tonight. I want it to happen this very minute.
In this next season of these unusual miracles, cancer will be a disease of the past. Yes. God says, "Because there is a fragrance coming from you tonight and there are people watching all over the world right now, I'm going to take from the future and disperse it in this building and to whoever is listening tonight." Everyone that has cancer, family members with cancer, begin to wave your hand and begin to shout right now! Cancer, you have no power, I rebuke you. I command you to leave right now!
He told me this clearly. He said within these 18 months, and I'm talking about up to the 30th of September, the beginning of the Jewish New Year, those who will believe this, those that will say, Yes, "I will make a deliverance possible to where you will be debt free," says the Lord!
"How precious, how precious, how precious, how precious is this altar," says the Lord. "How precious is this altar to Me." The Spirit of God says, "There shall always, no matter where the altar is built, there will always be souls of mankind dedicating themselves to Me. How pleasing it is as they come; how pleasing it is as they bow," says the Lord.
"Your families will not go without tasting of the salvation of the Lord, no matter whether they are in prison, a runaway, I shall find them."
"There Shall Be a Series of Unusual Manifestations that Shall Be Recorded"
"The wind that has come," says the Lord, "is not a normal wind. The tornadoes that have come are not normal. But I have promised where the wind would blow, from that place and from that city and state will come an eruption, a bursting forth, not only from this house but from the houses of those who have partnered and said yes." The Spirit of God says, "Now I have delivered unto you that which was in My prophet's heart." God loves to hear the altar is sanctified, your homes are sanctified.
Beginning tonight, and it shall go on and on and on, a strong wind shall blow of the Spirit. And God said, "I will not pass over you. I will come, and there shall be a series of unusual manifestations that shall be recorded. And these testimonies, as they are repeated, shall then begin to happen again. As testimonies are given, every time there is an unusual manifestation, giving a testimony means that I must repeat it somewhere else. For this is Jesus Christ, the spirit of prophecy. The testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy. Whenever you speak what I have done, I will then do it again, for it shall be a prediction of that which has happened to you, and shall happen again and again and again and again. Every time you open your mouth and you give the testimony of Jesus, I shall do it again," says the Lord!
"A series of one miracle, unusual. This is not the mundane, this is not the redundant. This shall be," says the Lord, "something that shall be an order of the day. And they shall say, Shall we build a tabernacle here, another over there? And you shall look back to Matthew 17 and say, Do not be silly. This will not be contained. It shall not be called a revival. This shall be something of an unusual happening that shall take place on a daily basis, and the people of this house shall begin this eruption and they shall burst forth and they shall say, Let us go to that place, for even as they sing, unusual things take place. Even as they shout, unusual miracles take place. I shall do it," says the Lord of Hosts!
Liver disease, cancers...this is happening everywhere. And I am not a miracle worker, I'm a prophet, but there are miracles happening and they shall be spoken about, for this night is the beginning of the launch.
Kim Clement
Prophetic Image Expressions
Email: hope@kimclement.com
Monday, November 8, 2010
An Extension of Given Grace
Right now there is a sense of well being all around. Things seem to be getting better. There seems to be new hope. The elections have offered many to think that a corner is being turned.
It's like the weather this fall. Seventy degrees this week in IL. Way warmer than normal. There is a sense that we are living on borrowed grace. We are.
This is a lull. A quiet. A time to prepare for what is about to happen. Things cannot and will not stay in this state for very long. I haven't yet seen what is on the horizon, just that something is.
This much is certain, the stage is set for rapid and radical change. How we deal with this will shape our future. Many won't do well. Many will be shocked. Some will give up. This situation will shake the last things that can be shaken. The world is on the edge. Something has to give. It will.
Here's what is certain, only focus on the King of Kings will save you. Any focus on anything or anyone other than HIM will prove to be your undoing. It will also be the beginning of a great move of God in the earth as the veils are ripped away.
If you have been a little spiritually queasy recently, wondering what is going on, it is - Going On
Enjoy the Grace of God...you will need it in the season to come. Watch and Pray
It's like the weather this fall. Seventy degrees this week in IL. Way warmer than normal. There is a sense that we are living on borrowed grace. We are.
This is a lull. A quiet. A time to prepare for what is about to happen. Things cannot and will not stay in this state for very long. I haven't yet seen what is on the horizon, just that something is.
- Economic?
- Terror?
- War?
- A change in leadership?
This much is certain, the stage is set for rapid and radical change. How we deal with this will shape our future. Many won't do well. Many will be shocked. Some will give up. This situation will shake the last things that can be shaken. The world is on the edge. Something has to give. It will.
Here's what is certain, only focus on the King of Kings will save you. Any focus on anything or anyone other than HIM will prove to be your undoing. It will also be the beginning of a great move of God in the earth as the veils are ripped away.
If you have been a little spiritually queasy recently, wondering what is going on, it is - Going On
Enjoy the Grace of God...you will need it in the season to come. Watch and Pray
AN OUTPOURING OF THE HOLY SPIRIT ON HOUSEHOLDS! A very encouraging word
David Wilkerson Today
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2010
Think of it, a private Pentecost falling upon an entire household with everybody there lifted into the heavenlies. It was miraculous! The praises were thrilling as all the relatives and children were getting saved and filled with God's Holy Spirit. All because one man set his heart to seek God until an answer came.
And here we sit, in the day of the outpoured Holy Ghost, with many homes where there is little or no evidence of his working and presence. Many of our Christian homes are now under the control of the spirit of the world rather than the Spirit of God. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is unity. Where he abides, there is rest and peace, unspeakable joy, and victory over the spirit of this world.
We need to take back the spiritual authority in our homes. If a Christian husband and wife are not in total unity, flowing together in the Spirit and love of Jesus, there is extreme danger ahead. One or both are not walking in the Spirit. When both are seeking God in private prayer and devotion to God, the Spirit works his wonders.
God is doing something new in the land right now. Something so powerful, so supernatural, it is terrorizing hell. The Holy Ghost has come to separate a people unto the Lord. Being successful is not nearly as important as hearing from God. To newly baptized saints, prospering means seeing Jesus in a new and living way. Houses, land, furniture, cars, clothes—all these things have lost
their charm to a people now passionately in love with the Lord of glory. The Holy Ghost has come to reveal Christ as the Savior of homes—our homes!
I have seen into the spiritual world and I see demons fleeing. I see powers of darkness trembling because God's true church, a once slumbering giant, has been provoked by the Holy Ghost to shake itself and rise up and claim its place of power and authority.
Entire families, entire churches, entire ministries are being turned upside down. God is saying, "Get serious about spiritual things and I will meet your every need!" The Father is doing great things all around the world and we can be a partaker of his mighty blessing.
MONDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2010
“While Peter yet spake these words, the Holy Ghost fell on all them which heard the word…. For they heard them speak with tongues, and magnify God” (Acts 10:44 and 46). This is speaking of the household of Cornelius.
Think of it, a private Pentecost falling upon an entire household with everybody there lifted into the heavenlies. It was miraculous! The praises were thrilling as all the relatives and children were getting saved and filled with God's Holy Spirit. All because one man set his heart to seek God until an answer came.
And here we sit, in the day of the outpoured Holy Ghost, with many homes where there is little or no evidence of his working and presence. Many of our Christian homes are now under the control of the spirit of the world rather than the Spirit of God. Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is unity. Where he abides, there is rest and peace, unspeakable joy, and victory over the spirit of this world.
We need to take back the spiritual authority in our homes. If a Christian husband and wife are not in total unity, flowing together in the Spirit and love of Jesus, there is extreme danger ahead. One or both are not walking in the Spirit. When both are seeking God in private prayer and devotion to God, the Spirit works his wonders.
God is doing something new in the land right now. Something so powerful, so supernatural, it is terrorizing hell. The Holy Ghost has come to separate a people unto the Lord. Being successful is not nearly as important as hearing from God. To newly baptized saints, prospering means seeing Jesus in a new and living way. Houses, land, furniture, cars, clothes—all these things have lost
their charm to a people now passionately in love with the Lord of glory. The Holy Ghost has come to reveal Christ as the Savior of homes—our homes!
I have seen into the spiritual world and I see demons fleeing. I see powers of darkness trembling because God's true church, a once slumbering giant, has been provoked by the Holy Ghost to shake itself and rise up and claim its place of power and authority.
Entire families, entire churches, entire ministries are being turned upside down. God is saying, "Get serious about spiritual things and I will meet your every need!" The Father is doing great things all around the world and we can be a partaker of his mighty blessing.
Sunday, November 7, 2010
What is the Penalty for NOT Recognizing a Gift from GOD?
Many people in churches and as leaders are ignorant intentionally or otherwise of those who are among them as Gifts of God. If they have been badly taught, if they have been blinded by Satan. I'm not talking about them. I am talking about people who know better, people who are set in leadership and who for ego need intentionally ignore a gift among them. These kind of people were condemned by Jesus. They knew the gift was among them, but they didn't recognize it. Or worse, tried to trip up or trick the gift, marginalizing it. This is Sin...or is Jesus wrong?
Jesus spoke often of this.
I have often thought of what it must be like in the homes of Reinhard Bonnke, Chuck Pierce, Kim Clement, Bob Jones or Bill Johnson. When those he grew up with and his own family who knew him "When" are around, is there any honor? If Jesus is an example, probably not.
Even if a Prophet or a worker of the Miraculous were among people, if they were NOT willing to recognize and embrace them as being from the Father, they received condemnation from JESUS!
It was the Religious who wouldn't recognize the gifts among them that Jesus was hardest on. Look at what he says about the Pharisees of the day:
Jesus was really hard on the Blindness, intentional or otherwise of the religious leaders of his day.
Jesus said to Nicodemus, unless you are BORN AGAIN you cannot SEE the KINGDOM of GOD. What is it that the intentionally blind can't see? Or worse WILL NOT see? They cannot see the principles, the operation, the manifestations, the intentions, the freedom, the giftings in people. They only see their own paradigm and close their eyes to all else. What of this? What do they see?
IF Jesus came again doing mighty works manifesting all the ministry gifts and all the Spritual Gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 in power, even today, He would not be received as who he is in His home church. Or among those who knew him coming up.
It's true today. I testify that those who know the Prophet, Teacher, Evangelist, Pastor or Apostle best reject and deny them most. They become Nazareth. They become Capernaum. It's a vicious cycle. I don't know many who can. It happens to me. I am received in the Ministry Gift I am graced for by those out of town, by those out of country, by those who didn't know me when. Those who know me best, family, friends and colleagues receive me least. I sometimes wonder why I even bother. Why not go where I am received? Why even bother with those who don't accept the gift? Shouldn't I do as Jesus instructed?
I guess we shouldn't be surprised. It has always been so....
Jesus spoke often of this.
They were deeply offended and refused to believe in him. Then Jesus told them, "A prophet is honored everywhere except in his own hometown and among his own family." Matthew 13:57
I have often thought of what it must be like in the homes of Reinhard Bonnke, Chuck Pierce, Kim Clement, Bob Jones or Bill Johnson. When those he grew up with and his own family who knew him "When" are around, is there any honor? If Jesus is an example, probably not.
I suspect that when these modern prophets sit around the Thanksgiving Table there are no words of Prophecy given that matter to those in attendance. It has to do with the inability to receive. Unbelief. SO, the question is, is it a sin to NOT BELIEVE?
He did not do many mighty works there, because of their unbelief. Matthew 13:28
Even if a Prophet or a worker of the Miraculous were among people, if they were NOT willing to recognize and embrace them as being from the Father, they received condemnation from JESUS!
Luke 10:13 “Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago, sitting in sackcloth and ashes. 14 But it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon at the judgment than for you. 15 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades.Note, His condemnation is not about HIM, it's about NOT recognizing and repenting when the gift is operating among them. AND He is really hard on Capernaum, his adopted home town after he abandoned Nazereth. He had a house there yet people living up and down the street didn't recognize him. Some did, but they came from out of town. Letting the paralyzed down thru Jesus's roof. Mark 2:1-12
It was the Religious who wouldn't recognize the gifts among them that Jesus was hardest on. Look at what he says about the Pharisees of the day:
Matt 23:31-33 "Therefore you are witnesses against yourselves that you are sons of those who murdered the prophets. Fill up, then, the measure of your fathers' guilt. Serpents, brood of vipers! How can you escape the condemnation of hell?"
Jesus was really hard on the Blindness, intentional or otherwise of the religious leaders of his day.
Matt 15:14 "They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch."
Matt 23:13 "But woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you shut up the kingdom of heaven against men; for you neither go in yourselves, nor do you allow those who are entering to go in."
Jesus said to Nicodemus, unless you are BORN AGAIN you cannot SEE the KINGDOM of GOD. What is it that the intentionally blind can't see? Or worse WILL NOT see? They cannot see the principles, the operation, the manifestations, the intentions, the freedom, the giftings in people. They only see their own paradigm and close their eyes to all else. What of this? What do they see?
Mark 7:5-7 He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors Me with their lips, But their heart is far from Me. And in vain they worship Me, Teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'Bluntly, they make it up, they do not receive the Kingdom around them. They have built a little fiefdom of nothing and as gatekeepers keep themselves protected from the Kingdom reality all around them.
IF Jesus came again doing mighty works manifesting all the ministry gifts and all the Spritual Gifts of 1 Corinthians 12 in power, even today, He would not be received as who he is in His home church. Or among those who knew him coming up.
It's true today. I testify that those who know the Prophet, Teacher, Evangelist, Pastor or Apostle best reject and deny them most. They become Nazareth. They become Capernaum. It's a vicious cycle. I don't know many who can. It happens to me. I am received in the Ministry Gift I am graced for by those out of town, by those out of country, by those who didn't know me when. Those who know me best, family, friends and colleagues receive me least. I sometimes wonder why I even bother. Why not go where I am received? Why even bother with those who don't accept the gift? Shouldn't I do as Jesus instructed?
Matthew 10:14 If anyone will not welcome you or listen to your words, leave that home or town and shake the dust off your feet. 15 Truly I tell you, it will be more bearable for Sodom and Gomorrah on the day of judgment than for that town.
I guess we shouldn't be surprised. It has always been so....
Matthew 10: 34 “Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to turn
“‘a man against his father,
a daughter against her mother,
a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law—
36 a man’s enemies will be the members of his own household.’c]">[c]37 “Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38 Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it.
40 “Anyone who welcomes you welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes the one who sent me. 41 Whoever welcomes a prophet as a prophet will receive a prophet’s reward, and whoever welcomes a righteous person as a righteous person will receive a righteous person’s reward. 42 And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water to one of these little ones who is my disciple, truly I tell you, that person will certainly not lose their reward.”
As a prophet, I want to impart, to bestow a prophets reward to all who will receive. To those who won't...well. Move on. This is for my brother Terrance.
Saturday, November 6, 2010
Divine Setups
TGIF Today God Is First Volume 1, by Os Hillman
11-06-2010
"Simon, Simon, satan has asked to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." Luke 22:31-32
Have you ever perceived yourself to be at one place spiritually only to discover that you were actually far from this place? Peter perceived himself to be so spiritually strong that he was prepared to suffer greatly for his Master. Yet Jesus knew where Peter really was in his own pilgrimage. He knew that Peter's enthusiasm did not match his reality. He was suffering from an attitude of self-righteousness. So, how did Jesus help Peter match his perception to his reality? Peter was the object of a divine setup.
First, notice that satan asked permission to sift Peter as wheat. Jesus determined that satan would be used to bring Peter to the maturity level both Jesus and Peter really desired. And Jesus was praying that Peter would pass the test. Jesus told Peter that he would deny Him three times that very day. Peter could not believe what Jesus was saying.
Sometimes the lessons we must learn are very painful. This experience was necessary in Peter's life. It was necessary to purge Peter from his sin of self-righteousness. This very lesson would allow Peter to come face to face with his own misperception of where he was in his relationship and devotion to Jesus. When he was forced to confront this, it nearly broke him apart. He wept bitterly once he realized he had done just as Jesus had predicted.
This confrontation with reality is necessary at times in our lives. Do not be surprised if Jesus allows you to experience some painful circumstance. You may be the subject of a divine setup designed to bring you to a greater maturity level in your walk with Jesus. It may not be a fun experience when you go through it, but you will, like Peter, become a leader whom God will use to lead others.Wednesday, November 3, 2010
When the Anointing and Mantle lifts you may never know
Many people who were at one time anointed for leadership, for ministry, for authority are about to find their mantle lifted from them. It will just be gone. They will try to do what they used to do and will find the Spirit has left them; like Sampson who wist not that the Spirit had left him.
Then she said, The Philistines are on you, Samson. And awaking from his sleep, he said, I will go out as at other times, shaking myself free. But he was not conscious that the Lord had gone from him. Judges 16:20
This happens in Politics. This happens in Church Leadership. This happens in denominations. This happens in particular with those who operate in the essential anointings. The Prophets and Apostles. They are about to be tested. Some will pass the test but many many will try once more to shake off the Philistines and find themselves in chains.
The calling of God is without repentance. It was true for Sampson. It was true for Saul. BUT, there comes a day when God removes his Spirit. He removes his touch of grace on their lives. Even if they backslide and end up in hell they will have been called of God but ended up in hell.
I personally know several people who have in the past have been significant prophets, apostles, bishops, pastors and leaders who are about to be stirred awake. They will find that the mantle has been lifted.
God's changes in the order is accelerating. Check your heart, check your place. Don't fall for the Delilahs in your life. Don't decide to burn a sacrifice you aren't supposed to. You are being weighed. Pray that you might be worthy to KEEP the anointing and the Mantle you once had.
Humble yourself or be humbled.
Relational Wisdom
This is from an article in Charisma. We need to measure those with whom we are in relationship:
How do we know whom we should connect with? How do we create and maintain healthy relationships?
First, let’s identify what constitutes an unhealthy relationship:
- People who constantly bring strife, chaos and stress into your life
- People who drain you and can’t seem to make it without you
- People who want to remind you of your past
- People who want to hold you back and keep you from your destiny
- People who don’t honor and respect your salvation and who entice you to sin
We must seek to create and maintain attachments that are healthy for us and bring blessing to us. What type of people do we want to attach with? Who do we want to enter into covenant relationships with? What should we look for in a healthy relationship?
- People who celebrate you
- People who challenge and motivate you
- People who make you better than you are
- People who see past your present and see your potential
- People who focus on your future, not your past
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